22 APRIL 1854, Page 4

furrigu ftu FRANCE.—The doings in honour of the Duke of

Cambridge and Lord Raglan have greatly occupied the Paris journals. Every day brought something new. Driven about in Imperial carriages, our countrymen seem to have received the utmost attention ; and descriptions are given of their dining with the Emperor, with Lord Cowley, and with M Drouyn de Lhuys ; of their visits of inspection to the barracks of the Regiment of Guides, to the Louvre, to the Opera, and to the grand waterworks at Versailles. " Partant pour la Syrie" has alternated with "God save the Queen" ; and " Vivent les Anglais !" has been blended with " Vive l'Empereur !" On Monday, the Empress gave them a fête at the Elysee, newly, hurriedly, and magnificently decorated for the occasion. The principal entrance was ornamented with carpeting and light-blue cloth ; an awning of blue and white was raised above carpeted steps, bordered with shrubs ; in the gardens, coloured lanterns, arranged in fanciful groups, hung in the trees, and festoons of lights stretched across the paths, recalling to the mind of the fascinated Parisian journalist "the gardens described in the Arabian Nights." The Palace itself, "restored and gilt with profusion," was illuminated by thousands of wax tapers ; and a great and distinguished company, including the Emperor and Em- press, the British officers, and great state officials, thronged the rooms. The Imperial couple retired at one o'clock, but dancing continued until daylight,

On Tuesday morning Lord Raglan departed for the seat of war, via Marseilles; and on Wednesday evening the Duke of Cambridge also set out for Constantinople, by way of Vienna. Marshal St. Arnaud started for Toulon on Saturday, and was to arrive on Thursday. Prince Napo- leon, after being feted at Marseilles, departed for Toulon ; whence he em- barked on the 17th.

The journals announce that a treaty offensive and defensive between France and England has been signed. Some of the journals report that the Government intend to collect an army between Brest and Cherbourg, " destined eventually to take part in the expedition to the Baltic." The Austrian Minister at Paris has gone to Vienna to be present at the celebration of the marriage of the Emperor.

At an interview granted on Monday to Sir Joseph Paxton, Mr. Laing M.P., Mr. Cecil Boothby, and Mr. Grove, secretary of the Crystal Palace Company, the Emperor expressed great interest in the enterprise, and promised to send contributions from the Imperial manufactories of Sevres, the Gobelins, and Beauvais.

Cardinal Wiseman had an interview with the_Emperor on Monday.

Russis..—The Journal of St. Petersburg of the 31st March (12th April) and of the let (13th) April contain respectively an official article on the English publication of the secret correspondence, and a declaration in reply to the English declaration of war. This latter document comprises a elaborate though vague recapitulation of the representations advanced by the allied Powers, as they are interpreted by the Russian Government, with a running commentary, to show that the English and French Go- vernments must be insincere, and that they have been led on by their first mistake in taking a hostile position. The Russian Government observes that Turkey was the first to convert a " temporary occupation " of the Principalities into actual war, and descends to such arguments as to complain that the occupation of the Principalities is "a mere pretext" for the war declared by France and England, since it is taken now apres coup," and " did not prevent the opening of negotiations." The Emperor, however, "accepts the situa- tion made for him"disclaims objects of aggrandizement; pronounces the conditions extorted by the Western Powers from Turkey to be a greater invasion of her independence than his own claims; with affected sincerity he promises to "applaud" the guarantee for civil and religious equality, if it be efficacious ; and declares that he enters into the contest to defend the influence of Russia, which the English Ministers publicly declared it their object to abate, and which is essential to the maintenance of order and the security of other states. The critical paper in the previous number of the Journal speaks of the publication of Imperial conversations in the English blue book as un- seemly ; disclaims the idea of dividing Turkey—" the expectations of the Emperor" relating "to the future; not to the present; his views were , quite eventual." His own memorandum is mentioned as a proof of this. It is asserted that the subject of these discussions was brought confiden- tially to the knowledge of the Sovereigns of Austria and of Prussia; and it is observed that France was at that very time creating the difficulties'at Constantinople.

It appears that neither the Austrian nor the Prussian Ambas- sador, although invited, was present in the chapel of the Imperial Palace at the reading of the bulletin announcing the passage of the Danube.

The Grand Duke Constantine, on the 1st instant, hoisted his flag as commander of the Russian fleet at Helsingfors. The plan of removing everything removeable and destroying all that is immoveable, adopted at the islands of Aland, is ordered to be carried out all along the Russian shore from Helsingfors to Cronstadt.

The same plan has been adopted in the Black Sea. The Invalids Russe contains an account of the removal of the garrisons on the Circassian coast, and the burning of the posts. It is a remarkable document, and opens as follows-

" After the occupation of the Eastern shores of the Black Sea in the last war against Turkey, the Government had directed its attention to the sup- pression of the infamous traffic in women and children, who form the prin- cipal article of commerce between the mountaineers of the Caucasus and the Turks. With this object, it had erected all along the coast between Ghe- lenjik and Gagri a series of temporary posts, and had established cruisers by means of galleys of a particular construction, manned by Cossacks from the Sea of Azoff. Thanks to this measure, fearlessly executed by the Cossacks, the object of humanity which the Government had proposed to itself had been until now achieved. At present, the circumstances under which these posts had been built having. changed, it became necessary to consider that in consequence of their position they had no land communication with each other, and that their garrisons, therefore, left completely isolated from the main body of our forces, could not be of any service in the general system of our future operations." Prince Menschikoff, ordered to destroy the forts after removing the gar- risons, sent out several steamers, towing transports and row-boats, from Ghelenjik ; and these ships were occupied from the 3d to the 10th of March in performing the duty allotted to them. The Russian journal states that two steamers, one French the other English, were signalled off Navaghinsk-

" The embarkation was suspended, and measures were taken to prepare for action : however, the enemy's ships remained in the offing, passed before ours, and the embarkation was resumed.

"In the mean time, opposite the post Veliaminoff, these two steamers stopped the hired transport Bzyb : two officers hailed her, and addressed to her commander, Lieutenant Tchebyscheff, the following questions. ' What steamers have you seen near the post of Navaghinsk ?' Answer—' Some Russian steamers of war.' What are they doing at that point ?' Answer —.There is an Admiral there, and he has not told me his instructions.' Who is burning the poste, you or the Circassians ?' Answer—' We.' Why do you burn them ? ' Answer—' Because such is the order given.' Where is your fleet ?' Answer—' I don't know ; but I believe it to be at sea, and very near.' "After having received these answers, the two steamers departed, having described themselves as the Mogedor and the Sampson." This appears to have happened on the 4th : next day, the garrisons of seven poste were disembarked at Novorosalisk ; but the whole operation was not completed until the 10th. Altogether, 5000 men, their families, the workmen, and a great part of the Russian stores, were saved. "Our military resources have thus been augmented by an important body of picked troops, accustomed to war by long service in the centre of an un- subdued country." The despatch of Prince Gortschakoff to the Emperor, elaborately re- counting the passage of the Danube, has been published ; but it adds important mportant to our former information on the subject.

Tennev.—There has been in general an absence of intelligence from the East this week, sadly trying to the patience of the anxious public. Reports of course abound. We are told that the Turks have evacuated and set fire to Kostendje, and also that Turkish reinforcements have been landed there ; that Folkschan, an important town on the Moldo-Walla- chian frontier, and a great depot of Russian arms, ammunition, clothing, provisions, and hospital supplies, has with all these valuables been totally destroyed by fire ; that Odessa has surrendered to avoid a bombardment, and also that it is only blockaded; and that the Cossacks have crossed the Danube at New Orsova. The truth would appear to be, that the hostile armies have done nothing but prepare. The Russians must have had enough to do in the Dobrubscha, which is little better than a desert, in making good their footing, bringing up provisions, and securing their communications. On the other hand, Omar Pasha ordered, it is said, to defer important operations until he should be joined by the French and English forces, has found employment in strengthening his position at Schumla, collecting his troops, and seeing that Mustapha Pasha with his army at Karasu is well sustained. The fleets are on the coast, but no- thing certain as to their operations has reached us.

At the latest dates, the number of the allies landed at Gallipoli was 5000 ; but it must be much greater by this time. The journals contain complaints of the bad arrangements made to receive them by the Turkish authorities; but General Canrobert, in his report to the French Govern- ment, declares that they were satisfactory. Horses are in great request, and not to be had.

Baron de Bruck had ordered all the Austrian vessels to quit Constanti- nople : it is not clearly stated whether this order applied both to ships of war and to merchant-ships, or only to one class. The onlyreason assigned i is, that the war-ships were to be sent away " to avoid the importunities of the Turks," who were constantly desiring them to join the allied fleet.

Pathetic accounts arrive from Constantinople, describing the hurried departure of the Greek subjects of Bing Otho, in obedience to the order of the Porte. Certain diplomatic documents have been published, show- ing that the Porte adopted this step, as well as that of giving the Greek Minister his passports, in consequence of the obvious share which the Greek Government had in the insurrection in Epirus and Thessaly. In his re- ply to the complaints of the Turkish Government, M. Metaxa does not deny the existence of great sympathy in Greece for the insurgents, but urges that the Greek Government had no power to prevent the invasion of Turkey. In a despatch to the British Consuls, Lord Stratford charges them to contradict reports put in circulation by the invading Greeks, that England and France are ready to assist them in overthrowing the author- ity of the Sultan ; and to explain that the British and French Ambassa- dors will protect Greeks ordered to quit the country by the Porte. He declares that the Allied Governments "regard with feelings of indignation and of reprobation a movement that tends only to the benefit of Russia, without possessing the merit of spontaneity" ; and that while pity is felt for the innocent families "drawn into, the consequences of a violent and unprincipled policy," there cannot be on the part of the Allies "any re- lation with the ringleaders, nor any dissimulation as to the sentiments which the conduct of a foolish part has not failed to'inspire."

The report of the death of the French officer Colonel Dieu is authorita- tively contradicted. ,

GREECE.—M. Metaxa, late Greek Minister at Constantinople, has ar- rived at Athens. At the celebration of the anniversary of Greek Inde- pendence, on the 6th instant, the British, French, Austrian, and Swedish Ministers, were absent. A Russian courier, bearing despatches to the Greek Government, has arrived at Athens. A German paper states that the enrolment of troops to join the insurgents is openly made at Athens' and that a legion was to be armed and clothed on the Russian model. The Russian party, under the War Minister, Sasso, desired to raise a Russian Grand Duke to the throne.

GERMAN Y.—Thick darkness hangs over German politics. The views of the Courts are still as much unknown as ever, and the only scrap of intelligence is that Baron Hess returned from Berlin to Vienna on Tues- day; result of his mission unknown. But there is leas doubt than ever as to the views of the great mass of the community. The commercial journals of Trieste speak out boldly as to the course which Austria should pursue ; and the free journals of all the other states are still more decided in their opposition to Russia. The Austrian army stationed along the Turkish frontier is now set down at 200,000 strong.

It is now certain that the three Russian war-ships at Trieste have been ostensibly bought by the Greeks. On giving up possession, the Russians fired salvoes of artillery. It is stated that a great part of their ammuni- tion has been smuggled into Montenegro.

It is officially announced, that from the 1st of May the state of siege will be raised in Hungary, the Voivodina of Servia, and the Banat, in Gallicia, Cracow, and the Bukowina. But cases yet undisposed of will still be tried before the courts-martial.

The marriage of the Emperor of Austria with the Bavarian Princess Elizabeth is to be celebrated at Vienna next week, with great pomp and circumstance.

DENMARK AND SWEDE:N.—While the Courts in these countries grow daily more unpopular, the Danes and Swedes continue to take the liveliest interest in the proceedings of our fleet. In Denmark, the unconstitutional Ministry is reinstated in office ; and, according to the telegraph, Bishop Monrad and the other conspicuous leaders of the Opposition have been dismissed.

ITALY.—The Sardinian Minister of Marine, Count Alfonso La Marmo- ra, has addressed a circular, dated the 12th, to all the maritime councils and captains of ports, announcing to them, that having been officially in- formed of the measures adopted by France and England in order to render the state of war as little detrimental to commerce as possible, the Govern- ment is resolved in a spirit of fair reciprocity to enforce the strictest neu- trality in its ports ; and especially forbids the fitting out of privateers under the Russian flag, the furnishing them with provisions or ammunition, and the receiving them into a Sardinian port with their prizes.

Prince Lucien Bonaparte has visited Bologna, Ancona, and Rome, and has everywhere met with great attention from the authorities. At Rome, on the 11th instant, he had a private audience of the Pope, which lasted for an hour and a half. The Pope is said to have expressed his deep gratitude to the French Emperor for all that he has done for him.

The Grand Duke of Tuscany has left Florence for Vienna. Unable to raise a loan to pay his expenses, he took with him all that the national treasury would afford.

Srorar.—Don Ramon Santillan, Governor of the Bank of San Fernan- do, was unceremoniously dismissed from his post on the 9th instant, and

Senor Llorente appointed in his place. The latter gentleman does not stand high in public esteem ; and it was believed he would be more pliant to the Sartorius Ministry than his predecessor, who had refused, it is said, to advance two million reals to the Government. This caused a panic, and a run at once commenced upon the bank, and continued until Wednesday, when the Easter holidays set in. Seiler Llorente tendered his resigna- tion, but it was not accepted; and the Government, through the Heraldo, denouncing the run as a political move, deebired that it would " burn its last cartridge" in resisting rebellion. The bank is said to be quite pre- pared to meet all its engagements. The Madrid Gazette of the 13th instant contains a host of regulations relating to the island of Cuba, believed to be due to the great exertions of Lord Howden. The object of these regulations is to establish a registration of slaves, which it is believed will prove an efficacious check upon the importation of Negroes from Africa, to encourage marriage among them, and to permit the importation of free labour, from Spain, China, or from Yucatan. The scarcity of labourers in Cuba, the desire of the Spanish Government to observe treaties, to prevent trade in slaves, and avoid disputes with England, and the wish to increase the amount of the island's productions, are the ostensible motives for this proceeding. The Black Warrior question, it appears, is not settled. The American Minister is described as demanding that General Pezuela shall be re- called ; that power shall be given to his successor to settle similar dis- putes on the spot ; and that a large sum shall be paid to the American Government.

17Nrren Srares.—The Franklin arrived at Southampton on Thursday, with advices from New York to the 8th instant.

The New York Chamber of Commerce, at its regular monthly meeting on the 6th, took up the question of privateering and the rights of neutrals. On the motion of Mr. Walter R. Jones, a set of resolutions on the subject were unanimously adopted. They declare that the system of privateer- ing is contrary to the dictates of sound morality, and inconsistent with the principles of justice ; that by its depredations individuals suffer, and no adequate national benefit is obtained ; that the Government of the United States is called upon to cooperate in the efforts now making in Europe to extinguish privateering. They also declare that the Govern- ment of the United States ought, in all its negotiations with foreign powers, to sustain the principle that neutral ships, unless carrying goods contraband of war, ought not to be interfered with, and that free ships should make free cargoes ; and that it is incumbent on the Government to exert a leading influence in this reform. Memorials embodying these views, it was resolved, should be presented to the President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the United States.

The bill for increasing the navy by six steam frigates had passed the House of Representatives by a considerable majority. An amendment to make the increase nine was proposed, on the ground that Great Britain had revived the right of search—a right to which America could never accede. [At the date of the debate the Orders in Council regarding neutrals were not before the House.]

Under the head of "Exceedingly Important Intelligence" the New York Herald favours its readers with a letter from a Washington cor- respondent, commenting on an article contained in a recent number of the Washington Union, menacing Spain with war. The Herald presumes, incorrectly we believe, that the Union is the organ of the Government. The story of the correspondent is, that the late United States Consul in London has bought up " all the old muskets of George Law [200,000] in behalf of the Red Republicans" ; that 100,000 are destined for Ireland, 25,000 for France, 50,000 for Italy, and 25,000 for Hungary ; that all these countries are to be revolutionized, in order that France and Eng- land may be prevented from succouring Cuba when attacked by the Americans. It is asserted that the United States Government is cog- nisant of these designs, and abets them. But, even if there were no other reasons, the fact that the Herald is a bitter opponent of the Go- vernment, and spares no pains to injure it, would be sufficient to make the authenticity of this marvellous story very doubtful.

The State of Connecticut, which only one year since gave an over- whelming Pierce majority, has this year given an equally overwhelming majority to his opponents.

The United States "go ahead" of "the Old Country " in postal reform. Arrangements have just been completed by which letters can be sent from America to Australia for four cents or one penny ; and thus the entire postage of a letter from any part of the Union to Australia will be only five cents,

The Cuban Gazette contains a decree forbidding all persons from writing in the newspapers who have not gone through a regular certified course of collegiate instruction in the public Universities. Among other reasons for this step are these,—that self-constituted scribblers "fatigue their read- ers with their wearisome productions" ; that they corrupt and ruin the pure Castilian tongue, and disgrace the national literature ; and that al- though the censors can arrest immoral and irreligious writings, they " have no power against the irruptions of the ignorant."

CAPS OF GOOD HOPE.—By the arrival of the Hydaspes, on Thursday, we have advices from the Cape of Good Hope down to the 25th February.

The elections were concluded, but the scrutineers had not made their official return at the time the Hydaspes departed. It is understood, how- ever, that the following candidates are returned : For the Western Dis- triet—Reitz, Rutherford, Barry, Ebden, Wicht, Zeederberry, Breda, and De Wit ; for the Eastern District—Stockenstrom, Godlonton, Wood, Blaine; Fleming, and Joubert.

The chief news, however, is the reported discovery of gold, near Smith- field in the Orange Sovereignty. Several nuggets, weighing 20, 23, 54 and even 88 grains, have been found in quartz. The gold is described as fine in quality, and is supposed to exist in considerable quantities.

While at the Cape, Mr. Bryer, one of the officers of the ship, was killed, and Mr. Willcox, chief engineer, severely hurt, by the falling of the shears, while lifting the screw. Mr. Bryer sacrificed his own life to save the lives of the others endangered, He saw symptoms of the coming

crash, and pushed all near him out of danger; but before he could escape himself the machinery fell.