WAR PREPARATIONS.
Intelligence reached London on Monday, that the paddle-wheel squad-
ron under Admiral Plumridge had captured the first prizes—five Russian merchant-vessels laden with articles contraband of war. Later news makes the number ten; but this is not yet authenticated. The fleet, when last heard of, was at Gothland. There were eighteen Russian sail of the line at Helsingfors.
The report that the Amphion frigate had got ashore off Dago was in- correct ; it should have been the steam-sloop Alban. She is now again afloat, and at the last advices had been sent to pilot some French men of war through the Belt.
A letter from an officer of the Duke of Wellington, published by the Plymouth Hail, gives a stirring description of the reading of the official declaration of war, and of its reception by the fleet. " April 4th.—At noon today the Old Duke looked as if he was dressed for a holiday ; she was covered with flags, forming a general signal to the fleet, which had anything but a holiday signification--it was the Commander-in- .chief's declaration of war, and ran, word for word, as follows. 'Lads! War is declared, with a bold and numerous enemy to meet. Should they offer us battle, you will know what to do with them. Success depends on the pre- cision and quickness of your fire. Also, lads! sharpen your cutlasses, and the day is your own.' "The Blenheim, Captain the Honourable F. T. Pelham, immediately answered, ' Ready and willing' ; the Neptune, Captain Smith, Ready' ; and every ship manned her rigging and gave three such cheers as are seldom heard in those waters. Ourselves and all the ship's company were then called upon deck, and Commodore Seymour read the signal to us ; and the men were beginning to follow the example of the other ships, when the old Admiral came forward, and, leaning over the poop-railing, said—' Now, my lads, you have just heard what the Commodore has said to you ; and all I have to say is, you must be cool and collected—don't throw your shot away. A shot tired in the air or the water is of no use. Make every one of them tell. We have quite a different system now to what we had in the last war. I have no doubt some of you have been in action before, but it will be different to what you have been accustomed to. Admiral Chads showed you the other day that a shell burst- ing between decks is not so dangerous as you imagine ; and if one comes on your deck, you must lie down, and it won't hurt you more than the common splinters of an ordinary action. Should we meet the Russian fleet at sea, as I dare say we shall, you well know how to dispose of them. We will now man the rigging, and give three cheers for the Queen, God bless her!' The men rushed to the rigging, and gave three times three for the Queen and one cheer more, and three for the Commander-in-chief. This was fol- lowed by the rest of the fleet ; and peal after peal came floating over the waters, until the most distant sounded like the echo of the other. Hands were piped down, men under punishment were forgiven, and an extra glass of grog given each man at supper-time."
At lthme, preparations and departures actively continue. Considerable detachments of Infantry and Artillery have embarked during the week ; but at present only four troops of Cavalry, and those in sailing-ships. The Earl of Liman departed for the East, via Marseilles, on Wednesday ; and on Thursday, Brigadier-General Airey and Brigadier-General Buller, accompanied by their staff-officers, sailed from Southampton in the Ripon.
Colonel Rose, late Secretary of the British Embassy at Constantinople, has been appointed her Majesty's Military Commissioner in the French expeditionary army. Colonel Rose's previous services have rendered him fully conversant with the warfare and politics of the East. The Cossack,.30, one of the steamers built for the Emperor of Russia by Mr. Pitcher, was launched on Saturday A foreign vessel lying at the quay-side in the Tyne, and having on board munitions of war, consisting of shot, was seized last week by Mr. Sandars, landing-waiter at the Customhouse. The forts at the entrance of the Tyne are to be armed with heavy guns. They were dismantled at the peace, and have since continued so.
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