24 FEBRUARY 1855, Page 8

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Fausee..—Throughout the week, the great question in France has been, " will the Emperor go to the Crimea ?" The reports on this subject have been abundant, but uncertain. It seems to be generally received as authentic, that the Emperor has formed an intention of joining the army before Sebastopol ; and that preparations have been made to go somewhere. The Constitutionnel, in its country edition on Monday, stated positively that the Emperor would not go; but, by orders "from the very highest quarter," that flat denial was struck out of the Paris edition. In a letter published by the Morning Post, dated "Paris, Tues- day" there is this statement— I am enabled to inform you that his Majesty has finally resolved on going to the camp before Sebastopol; but his departure will not take place so soon as had been originally contemplated—it is fixed for the 10th or the 16th March, or one of the intervening days. The Emperor will, I under- (stand, cause himself to be accompanied by a rather large military force,— namely, 400 of the Guides, the Cent Gardes, and a battalion or squadron of each regiment of the Imperial Guard. It is not likely that Sebastopol will fall before his Majesty contemplates setting out; but, even if it should, I am assured that that even would make no change in his intention."

Another report is, that the Emperor is about to attend a congress of sovereigns at Vienna, where Lord John Russell will represent Queen Vic- toria. One effect of these rumours is that the Emperor has been im- plored on all sides not to hazard the stability of the French Government, and the interests of Europe, by carrying out his intention ; and it is even asserted that Lord John Russell was the bearer of an autograph letter from Queen Victoria to the same purport.

General Niel returned from the Crimea, on Sunday, and immediately had an interview with the Emperor. The Moniteur of Tuesday contained a report to the Emperor by M. Nave, the new Minister of Finance. It announces the reimposition of the duties on commercial receipts and obligations as they existed before the law of the 7th August 1850; and states that with this aid there will be a surplus of 4,000,000 francs. The advance of 30,000,000 francs made by the Bank having been reimbursed from the proceeds of the recent loan, the floating debt is at this moment nearly the same as last year- 697,339,400 francs. The,bons du tresor do not exceed 218,000,000 francs, nor the fonds des caisses d'epargne 180,000,000 francs.

RUSSIA.—The Emperor's manifesto, ordering the forming of a general militia, is an important war document.

" We, by the Grace of God, Nicholas I, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russia; &c., make known : " Our faithful and beloved subjects know how much we desire to obtain without recourse to the force of arms, without a greater effusion of blood, the

el"ectwhich we heye constantly in view—that of defending the /lilts o. our co-re sionista, au.. genes.- ..,..sesktans in sue cast. Inat desire is also known to all those who have followed with attention and im- partiality the progress of events as well as the invariable tendency of our acts. We have been and will still remain strangers to any other mainspring of action, to any other view in matter of faith or conscience. Even now, true to those principles which we have adopted, we have announced our con- sent to the opening of negotiations with the Western Powers, who, with the Ottoman Porte, have formed a hostile alliance against us. We think that we are entitled to the same sincerity on their part, to the same disinterested- ness of intentions, and we do not lose the hope of obtaining the reestablish- meat of peace, so much desired, and so precious for the whole of Christianity. Nevertheless, in the presence of the forces which they array against us, and of the other preparations which they are making to contend with us,—pre- parations which, despite the measures taken for the opening of negotiations, are not discontinued, but, on the contrary, daily assume larger dimensions,— we are constrained, on our side, to think of measures to increase the means which God has given us to defend our country, to oppose a firm and power- ful barrier to all attempts hostile to Russia, to all projects that menace its safety and its greatness. " This, the first of our duties, we accomplish, and invoking the support of, the most High, with entire faith in His grace, with full confidence in the love of our subjects, animated. like ourselves with the same sentiment of de- votion for our faith, for the Orthodox Church, and for our beloved country, we address this new appeal to all classes of our subjects, ordaining :

"The formation of a general militia of the empire.

" The measures relative to the formation and organization of this militia have been examined and confirmed by us, and are embodied in detail in' special regulations ; they will be everywhere carried out with punctuality and zeal.

" More than once Russia has been menaced, and has undergone sad and cruel trials ; but she always found her salvation in her humble faith in Providence, and in the close and indissoluble bonds which unite the Monarch with his subjects, his devoted children. Let it be so again today ! May the Almighty, who reads every heart, who blesses pure intentions, grant us His assistance.

" Given at St. Petersburg, the 29th of January, of the year of Grace 1855, and in the thirtieth year of our reign. NICHOLAS."

The crews of the Russian fleet in the Baltic, according to the Russian Marine Magazine, suffered most severely from disease. The ships were fitted out in April, when there was still a foot of frozen bilge-water in the hold. They put to sea, and made two reconnoissances, and the crews were most carefully treated ; yet they were attacked by inflamed eyes, (20 per cent of the whole of the cases,) cholera, typhus, diarrhoea, catarrhal and gastric fevers. In the sailing which was only at sea from the 28th May to the 3d June, the rate of sickness ranged from 206 to 40 per cent ; in the steam squadron at sea for the same space, at a later pe-.

Hod, the rate ranged from 202 to 60 per cent; the whole number of cases of sickness amounted to 60 per cent of&the whole naval force.

The losses sustained by the crews of the vessels at Sebastopol are stated in the same number of the Marine Magazine to have been, up to December 15, including officers, 789 killed, and 3872 wounded ; 39 officers and 749 privates were slightly wounded, but remained on duty ; 13 officers and 1331 privates have in the mean time been restored to health. Besides these, four women and ten children have been killed, and nine women and six children wounded.

The Russian Government has abolished all processes before the civil tribunals against all persons engaged in the defence of their country. The measure will remain in force during the war.

GERMA.NY.—At the sitting of the Diet, on the 15th instant, a report of. present interest was read—that of the military commissioners respecting the reviews held in the year 1854, and the military inspection of the dif- ferent contingents. The report speaks favourably of the state of the troops in general, and acknowledges that several states have even ex- ceeded their engagements, notwithstanding the increase of the numerical strength lately decreed by the Diet. But, on the other hand, great com- plaints are made against many of the minor states, and especially of a great want of the necessary barracks, arms, ammunition, baggage-wag- gons, :tents, ambulance corps, and other requisites for active service in' the field. The report claims the mediation of the Diet for abolishing this unsatisfactory state of things. The Assembly accepted the report,. and promised to take the necessary steps with the states in question, to put an end to this abuse, and make them conform more strictly to their federal engagements.

The Prime Minister of Tuscany has forwarded to Count Buol the ad- hesion of his Government to the treaty of December 2. On the 16th,. Count Petrel's, the Neapolitan Ambassador, had an interview with Count. Buol; and from what passed it is surmised that Russian influence is still paramount at Naples, and that there is no prospect that Naples will join the alliance of the Western Powers.

Baron Hess and General Schlick have already arrived at Lemberg in. Gallicia.

It appears that the negotiations carried on between Berlin and Paris were impeded by the crossing of despatches. The King's project of a treaty crossed that of General WedeL The result has been an amalga- mation of the two, which it is supposed the King will accept. An in- telligent writer in the Indeperidance Beige states that the treaty, although not what was expected, "is at least satisfactory" ; that Prussia accepts the interpretation of the four points ; and that one effect of the treats will be to atop the Russian transit trade through Prussia. Baron Manteuffel addressed a note, on the 30th January, to Count Arnim, Prussian Ambassador at Vienna, taking very significant notice. of Count Buol's confidential circular of the 14th January, wherein he invited the German States to cast their lot with Austria and share with her the gains of the war. M. Manteuffel remarks, that the confidential despatch, although issued at the same time as an official circular com- municated to the Prussian Government, was not forwarded to OW, Prussian Government: yet he doubts not its authenticity. "As this document, as I have already observed, has not been communi- cated to us by the Austrian Cabinet, I feel myself relieved from the painful task of making any overture to your Excellency on the subject. It is useless- to dwell upon the impression which it must have produced here, and, I may add, in all Germany. His Majesty the King our master will not allow him- self, despite the sad and surprising symptoms, to be shaken in the conviction recently communicated to the Federal Assembly,—namely, that the funda- mental disposition of the federal act secures a sufficient guarantee for its maintenance; a guarantee which does not want strengthening by private assurances, and which no seductions could seriously compromiser" fl5aa diusins.--The accounts by the post reach down to the 9th, and by telegraph to the 12th February ; and besides these we have a despatch. from Lord Raglan. The statement that the British infantry had been marched down to Be.- laklava to form a corps of observation there in conjunction with the Im- perial Guard has been repeated, but has not yet been placed beyond doubt._ The recent letters, indeed, speak of the constant carriage of huts to the front by means of a corps of 250 Spanish mules in splendid condition ; and describe the beginning of the railway, of which, a fortnight since, a length of three miles had been constructed. The letters from the French camp confirm the statements that the condition of the British troops was rapidly improving. The English, clad in warm garments, they say, are already forgetting that they were on half-rations ; while in the French camp, if we may believe the same informants, the expectation of the assault had thinned the hospitals and reinvigorated the whole army. Nevertheless, it is reported, on good authority, that they had in hospital 20,000 sick on the 6th February : so that the dreadful distress is not wholly on our side. It is estimated that the Allied forces now amount to

110,000 men. The telegraph reports the arrival of Omar kasha on the 9th, and the holding of a council of war on that day. All the recent accounts seem to indicate renewed offensive operations on the part of the relieving army. Liprandi's corps, we are told, re- appeared before Balaklava, 35,000 strong, on the 7th, and began to in- trench themselves on their old position about Kamera. On the two fol- lowing nights the Allies were under arms. It is conjectured, however, that the main object of this movement is to place this division of the army in readiness to fall on in case an assault should be attempted on Sebasto- pol; and in the mean time to obtain a position, if possible, whence the railway can be shelled. Large convoys of provisions—one account speaks of 400 waggon-loads—have been seen to enter Sebastopol; and on all sides renewed activity among the Russians is said to be visible. The position of the Allies at Eupatoria continued to be strengthened by the arri- val of Turkish troops ; but the report of an intended attack on that post by the Russians is again repeated.

[From the London Gazette, Feb. 20.]

From Lord Raglan to the _Duke of Newcastle.

" Before Sebastopol, Feb. 6, 1855.

"My Lord Duke—I mentioned to your Grace on Saturday that the weather had broken. The frost was very severe on that night, and the thermometer down at 13, and the wind was very high and piercingly cold. Sunday was rather milder, and yesterday was fine. Today the glass has fallen, and there is every appearance of rain. sin happy to state that the medical officers consider that the general condition of the men has improved, although apparently there is no'diminu- tion in the number of the sick.

"The enemy has made no movement of importance ; but great convoys of waggons have been observed to go into Sebastopol laden either with ammu- nition or provisions.

"I enclose the casualties to the 4th instant.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Collingwood Dickson, of the Royal Artillery, an ex- cellent officer, whom I have before had occasion to bring to your notice, was slightly wounded on the 4th instant, when making a reconnaissance in com- pany with some French officers. I have, &c. Reirmssr."

Return of Casualties from January 26th to February 4th.

Royal Artillery-1 officer wounded. 1st Regiment of Foot-2 rank and file wounded. 7th Regiment-1 rank and file wounded. 30th Foot-1 rank and file killed. 44th Regiment-1 rank and file killed. 49th Regiment-1 rank and file wounded. 97th Regiment-1 rank and file wounded. 2d Battalion Rifle Brigade —1 sergeant wounded. Total-2 rank and file killed ; 1 officer, 1 sergeant, 5 rank and file, wounded.

Telegraphic Despatch from Prince ifenschikof, dated 12th January. "On the 30th we succeeded in discovering subterraneous works of the French leading towards the fortifications. With the aid of artillery we de- stroyed, on the 2d, a portion of the enemy's gallery. " ()a the 6th, the French, trying the same means, attempted our counter- mines. The attempt turned to their own disadvantage. "On the 8th, the play of a new mine enabled us still more to destroy the enemy's works.

" Meantime, our artillery successfully replied to the fire of the besiegers. " At night detachments of volunteers continually harass the enemy in their trenches, and, by obliging them to beat to arms, compel them to sus- pend their works."

A New Spectacle.—" The entrance to Balaklava presents a most extraordi- nary appearance at present. After descending into the valley from the plateau on which the camp stands, and passing over the plain, all torn and trodden into mud by incessant traffic of horses, men, and carts and camels, which extends up to Kadikoi, you suddenly turn round by a mound on which stands a battery, sweeping the plain, and behold a new wooden world that has arisen by magic in a few days along the hill-side over the road to Balaklava. Rows of white huts strew the ground. A little town, called Buffalo Town, Log Town, Hut Town, or Sutler's Town, according to the fancy of the speaker, has been erected on the right-hand aide of the path, about three-quarters of a mile outside Balaklava, for the expelled sutlers; arid, from the din and clamour, one might imagine he was coming to some well-frequented English fair. A swarm of men, in all sorts of grotesque uniforms, French, English, and Turks, throng the narrow lanes between the huts and tents, and carry on bargains in all the languages of Babel, with Greek, Italian, Algerine, Spaniard, Maltese, Armenian, Jew, and Egyptian, for all sorts of merchandise. . . . . There are about 150 huts and tents clustered together on this hill-side. Close beside it is the new battery. Then more huts and tents, occupied by the cavalry. On the other side of the cleft in the mountain ridge through which the town is approached are the huts and tents of the Highlanders, Turks, French, Marines, and Rifles, suarding the lines towards Kamera, and rising one above the other till they cover the tremendous crag which frowns down at the sea 1200 feet below. . . . . The huts and tents of the Fourteenth, and long rows of wooden sheds for the mules, and the tents of the sailors guarding stores, and the huts of the landing-wharf, are all crowded along the steep and at the edge of the bay on the other side of the town ; so that the place altogether would give one the idea that he was looking at some great migratory population just settled for a week, or had fallen across one of the mushroom canvass cities of Australia. Of course, those who are nighest get first served to the huts, and are best able to put them up. If Birnam Wood were formed of white deal boards, Macbeth would see his worst suspicions realized could he but witness the moving forest of timber marching up to the front. He would 'behold literally miles of men and of mules and ponies all struggling along through the mud with boards, boards—nothing but boards. In calm wea- ther they get on well enough, but a puff of wind puts an end to all progress, and a strong gust lays men and horses in the mire. However, they are slowly working up towards the camp ; but it cannot be conceived by a per- son not on the spot how hard it is to take up even one hut, and what a great quantity o timber has to be moved ere the building is complete. The weather is fine, but cold. It is not transport we want, it is a road to put our transport on."—Times Correspondent, Feb. 6'

The Railway.—" The pick is at work, and the peculiar idiom of the navvy strikes the ear as he salutes the sojer,' and asks after ' the foitin 'afore Sebastopowl,' from his perch up among the rocks outside Balaklava. The line of railway is nearly surveyed, but it has not yet been marked out be- yond the mound outside Kadiekova, over the plain which leads up to the plateau on which our camp stands."—Times Correspondent, Feb. 6.

TIIRKEY.—Kosrew Pasha, nearly or quite a century old, died, at Con- stantinople, on the 1st instant. He was brought, when a child, to Con- stantinople from Georgia, and sold to the Sultan Abd-ul-Hamed. He lived to see that Sovereign die; Salim, his successor, murdered by Mus- tapha; and Mustapha, in turn, dethroned by Mahmoud. Under the last- named Sultan, Kosrew rose rapidly to fortune. A friendship subsisted between them ; Kosrew became Pasha of Egypt ; but there Mehemet Ali proved too strong for him, and ho was forced to give way ; subsequently, he became Capudan Pasha, when that post led to huge fortunes; but since the accession of Abd-ul-Medjid he has lived retired. He and Men-

schikoff were personal friends, and Kosrew was oppostft to the present war. As he was a slave of the Imperial house, he soul( not-he liberated, and his wealth lapses to the Sultan.

By a convention recently agreed upon between the liatish.aol Turkish Governments, 15,000 or 20,000 Turkish troops will bes ej:,r idto British i

pay, and officered by Englishmen. The convention not yet been

ratified, nor will it be for some weeks; but that is onl Eater of form.

The Tenth Hussars, 650 strong, now gradually arriving in Egypt from Bombay, will not, it is believed, proceed to the Crimea until the spring. Other cavalry regiments are on the route from India.