30 JUNE 1855, Page 8

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FRANCE. —The Honileur of Sunday contained an elaborate reply to the comments of the Journal de St. Petersbourg on M. Walewski's circular. The reason for writing this paper is to refute the Russian assertion that

the Western Powers are responsible for the rupture of the Vienna Con- ferences. It consists, therefore, mainly of a repetition of old arguments, statements and counter-statements; and casts back the charge upon the Russian Government which constantly and repeatedly eluded and rejected the proposed prineiple of limitation. At the close of the article lies the sting that it contains- " France and England brought to the Conferences those sentiments of moderation with which they constantly showed themselves animated in the different phases of the crisis. Provoked to a war which we attempted to prevent, and the initiative of which rests entirely with Russia, we have ex- cluded her flag from every sea, and at little cost we could prevent its ever reappearing in the Euxine ; we offered to allow it to do so on the condition of a limitation of her forces in that sea. Limitation is a security which the general interests demand. It is not our fault if Russia, by a too long policy of aggression, has exposed herself to the demand of such concessions; and those only are responsible for the continuation of the war who, up to the last day of the Vienna negotiations, obstinately refused to grant on that point any serious guarantee to Europe."

Tun CREWEA.—Intelligence from the seat of war comes down to the 26th June. The most interesting news is the illness of Lord Raglan and Sir George Brown. They have both been suffering from diarrhcea, but are now recovering.

Death has deprived us of the services of General Estcourt, who through- out the campaign had filled the responsible post of Adjutant-General. He was the brother of Mr. Sotheron M.P. His death is ascribed to cho- lera. A letter was received from him on Monday, written in the most cheerful and confident tone, and giving the fullest assurance that, accord- ing to his judgment, Sebastopol would soon be in the hands of the Allies. The electric telegraph reported his decease to Lord Panmure on Tuesday. Another death, deeply lamented, is that of Captain Lyons, of the Mi- randa. Authentic details of the circumstances that led to his loss have not been published, but the statements in the newspapers substantially agree. One account is, that in his anxiety to reconnoitre Kaffa, he ap- proached too near that port, and that, "standing on the paddlebox of his ship," he received a rifle-ball in the leg. This wound he disregarded ; but the heat and the excitement checked the healing process, and he died. Another account is, that mortification resulted from two slighted wounds, one from a shell in his foot, the other from a ball in his leg. It may be remarked that the Miranda is a screw-steamer, and therefore has no paddle-box. Captain Lyons, the second son of Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, and brother of the Countess of .Arundel and Surrey, was in his thirty-sixth year : he served last year with distinction in the White Sea, and his recent exploits in the Sea of Azoff are almost as much matter of news as the intelligence of their fatal termination.

A despatch from Lord Raglan to Lord Panmure, significant in itself, is the more so when taken in connexion with the death of General Est- court and the illness of Lord Raglan. Writing on the 14th June, he says—"Your Lordship will be concerned to learn that the army still suffers from cholera, and that it has increased since the last report. The men in general, however, look healthy ; and I hope that the duration of this sad malady will not be long. The reports of the state of the Sardinian army are today a little more satisfactory." The details of the action on the 18th had not arrived in London yes- terday; but several telegraphic reports from General Pelissier, and one, without date, from the head-quarters of the British army, relating to subsequent progress, have been published. " June 19.—The besieged, nota ithstanding our want of success yesterday, which, doubtless, he will not fail to exaggerate, has taken fright tonight, and has been firing at random for a considerable time with all his guns. At four today there was an armistice to bury the dead." " June 20.—The besieged, closely: hemmed in near the central ravine, has burnt the little faubourg which is at the bottom of the Southern harbour. We are constructing batteries, with very heavy guns, on those of the works conquered on the 7th, which directly menace the great fort." " June 21.—We are actively making approaches towards the Malakoff tower. The enemy appears to be exclusively occupied in repairing and strengthening his works. A little cholera still prevails, but it does not spread. The general health is good." " June 24.—I have nothing new to announce to you. We are pushing approaches against Malakoff and the construction of the advanced battery, which will complete the investment of the port. We arc also drawing closer with our Left Attack. There are still some cases of cholera."

The latest date is the 26th June, but it merely states that there was nothing to communicate. The English despatch was received early yesterday morning. "The French and English are proceeding with their approaches against the enemy's works, and are erecting new batteries, to be armed with heavy guns. The enemy continues to repair the damage done during the last attack. Very little fire on their part. We retain possession of the Round Russian Fort in the Cemetery, from whence they were driven out on the 18th, and the Mamelon at the gorge of the valley which divides the English left attack from the right of the South Harbour." Prince Gortsehakoff, -informing his Government of the repulse on the 18th, states that the French left six hundred prisoners in his hands. Much delay in the transmission of news has been caused by a break in the communication at Giurgevo and between Bucharest and Presburg. Some signs of weakness on the part of the enemy ooze out from the German journals in the Russian interest. Thus it is stated, that General Osten-Sacken has left Admiral Pamphilo in command at Sebastopol, and has fixed his head-quarters in one of the Northern forts. Another story is, that the Odessa folks anticipate an expedition to the mouths of the Dnieper, as well as to Nicolaieff at the mouth of the Bug; and in con- nexion with this report we find a third,—namely, that divisions destined for the Crimea, have been ordered to assemble at Nicolaieff The reason for this last step is, that since the operations of the Allies in the Sea of Azoff, the Russians have found it difficult to feed their troops in the Crimea.

According to the InvalfWe Rune, the Russians determined to abandon Anapa because its irregular fortifications were not calculated to resist a land and sea attack on the part of the troops at Kertch, and because a defence would have only prevented the disposal of the troops in positions more conformable to the situation.

An armistice for the purpose of burying those who fell on the 7th was agreed to on the 9th : hostilities were suspended for six hours, and many took advantage of the lull to get a look at the Mamelon; among them two correspondents of the Times.

" The hill is far steeper than one would imagine by looking at it from a distance ; and, although the distance to the top cannot be more than two hundred yards, the pull is very hard. So much the more marvellous seemed that quick rush which brought, the other day, our gallant allies to the foot of the embrasures in leas time than most of the visitors today took to get up to it. The Russians had time enough to fortify the Mamelon, and I assure you they did not lose it. From the simple parapet it had been in the begin- ning, it had by assiduous labour become a strong outwork of the Mala- koff tower. Even amid its ruins—for it is the most complete wreck imaginable—everything shows the value they had set upon it, and the care they took to make the most of it by the fixing of the gabions, the strength of the embrasures, and the traverses. These latter had been taken advan- tage of to form a cover for the troops not required as gunners or sentries, bound over with fascines and earth, or rather stones: they are made up into a kind of subterranean caves. But not all the care and trouble taken could save them from destruction. I never saw a more complete state of wreck. The embrasurea knocked into formless mounds, the traverses overthrown, burying all under them, the guns dismounted, with here a wheel, there a muzzle sticking out of the heaps of stones and earth,—whoever wanted to know what English and French guns could do ought to have gone to the Mamelon today, and whoever wished to have an idea what the struggle was ought to have counted the mass of dead bodies."

Despatches from Admiral Lyons and Captain Lyons detail the opera- tions against Taganrog, Mariopol, and Gheisk, and give a fuller account of the abandonment of Anapa, and the dismantling of that fortress by the Allies.

The English squadron of the steam flotilla arrived off Taganrog on the 1st June. It was rather deficient in means of attack calculated for the shallowness of the water ; but Commander Coles of the Stromboli con- structed a raft of casks and spars to carry a 32-pounder, and Lieutenant Haughton of the Ardent stowed a number of hammocks in -a cutter and lashed upon them a 32-pounder—thus two effective gun-boats were de- vised. But, fortunately, in the evening of the 2d, there came three English and six French steamers, towing several ships' launches from the fleet. This seasonable reinforcement "of exactly the description of force required," Captain Lyons writes, gave the assailants an overwhelm- ing force, although there were 3500 troops in the town. In all, forty boats mustered round the Recruit steamer, and at dawn on the 3d June they proceeded to summon the place.

"The town," says the diary of an officer, "was exceedingly picturesque, situated upon an elevation of some 120 feet above the sea ; the buildings exceedingly large, and of white stone, roofed with iron, two stories high, and those exceedingly lofty. Several largo churches were to be seen, with handsome domes, large trees and gardens intervening. The ladies came out in a variety of colours; horsemen and droskies were to be seen going the pace, we, in the height of our imagination, taking the four-horse dreg- kies for fly ing artillery. Mounted Cossacks and few troops at present."

"Having concerted measures with M. de Sedaiges, commanding the French steamers," Captain Lyons again writes, "I proceeded at three a. in. in the Recruit with the vessels and boats, and accompanied by the lightest French steamers, (M. de Sedaiges being on board one of them,) towing their launches. Having anchored the Recruit at 1400 yards from the mole-head, and col- lected all the boats astern, I sent Lieutenant-Commander Horton with a flag of truce, accompanied by a French officer with similar orders from M.. de Sedaiges, to demand the surrender of all Government property of every description whatsoever, and of all grain, flour, and provisions, (which I considered as contraband of war, knowing that, even in the event of its not being Government property, it could only be intended for the supply of the Russian army in the Crimea,) the whole to be delivered over to us to destroy ; the troops to remove during this necessary destruction to a place five miles from the town, and within sight of the ships ; the inhabitants to withdraw, except those appointed by the authorities to open the stores and assist us•' any approach of troops, or any infraction ot these terms, if accepted, to be considered as cancelling them, and to be punished with instant bombardment ; one hour to be allowed for a decision, and no modification of the- terms to be entertained. At the expiration of the hour, Lieutenant Horton and the French officer were informed that the Governor refused the terms ; and that, having troops at his disposal, he intended to defend the place. On this these officers came off, and the flag of truce was hauled down from the Recruit. Shortly after- wards, the Recruit commenced firing ; and the boats proceeded, under the command of Commander Cowper P. Coles, of the Stromboli, in tow of one another and accompanied by the French boats, until, having arrived in the- required position, the tow was east off, the boats' heads pulled round to the beach, and so heavy a fire opened, that, although the enemy made repeated attempts to get down to the houses lining the beach, so as to save the long- range of storehouses from destruction, they never succeeded in doing so in sufficient numbers. Lieutenant Mackenzie (the senior Lieutenant of this had charge of a separate division of light boats, with rockets and one gun to cover the approach of Lieutenant Cecil Buckley of the Miranda ; who, in a four-oared gig, accompanied by Mr. Henry Cooper, boatswain third class, and manned by volunteers, repeatedly landed and fired the different stores and Government buildings. This dangerous, not to say desperate service, when carried out in a town containing upwards of 3000 troops constantly endeavouring to prevent it, and only checked by the fire of the boats' guns, was most effectually per- formed. The Recruit, from her light draught of water, was enabled to take an effective position at 1400 yards; and so was the Monette, French steamer ; and the Danube, with 24-pounder howitzer and rockets, was very useful. By three p.m. all the long ranges of stores of grain, plank, and tar, and the vessels on the stocks, were in a blaze, as well as the customhouse and other

Government buildings, and unfortunately, but unavoidably, the town in many places; and, our purpose being amply effected, the boats returned to the Recruit. The loss of the enemy in men must have been severe, as many were seen to fall. They deserve credit for the obstinacy with which they endeavoured to gain positions to prevent our effecting the object we had in view ; but it was impossible to face the continuous and well-directed fire kept up. Their loss in grain of different descriptions I cannot estimate ; but, as it comprises all or very nearly all in store at Taganrog, it must be enor- mous. The only casualty. in carrying out this service was one private of the Royal Marine Artillery severely wounded in the face by a musket-ball." Captain Lyons mentions the names of Commander Coles, Lieutenant Mackenzie, and Lieutenant Buckley ; and testifies to the cordial co- operation of the French officers. At gariopoI the flotilla met with no resistance. A satisfactory answer not being returned to the flag of truce, the boats got into position ; when a man on horseback with a flag of truce galloped down to parley. lie said that he was not the Chief Magistrate, but deputy for the townspeople ; that there were no government stores in the town ; and that 600 Cossacks had retired from the town hoping that it would be spared. He was re- commended to advise the townspeople to retire ; and they had the dis- cretion to obey.

"Shortly afterwards, the Fire Brigade and Marine Artillerymen landed, and then the scene of destruction commenced. Some of the houses filled with fine wheat were rather difficult to open ; but, somehow or other, in cases of emergency, sack overcomes all difficulties, and nothing stands in his way when his mind is bent upon one object—especially that of destruction. The blue-jackets chiefly fired the stores near the river ; and a party, ac- companied by the Marine Artillerymen, marched to the town, some half-mile distant, fired suspicious-looking buildings and stores, sparing what they took to be private property, without any resistance. Many people had deserted their houses, and some of the scoundrels belonging to the town were ob- served in a state of intoxication appropriating to themselves the property of others. Some shook their fiats at our people—a harmless amusement. Peo- ple and horsemen could be seen upon the summit of the hills looking on at the scene of destruction."

At the town of Risk, or Gheisk, the Governor surrendered ; the boats making, at his request, an imposing appearance before the place, so as to justify him in so doing. Here there were a mile and a half of stacks of hay, rye, and straw, all which were burnt. The Government grain in the town was brought out and destroyed, and the town itself left unin- jured. "The parties having destroyed the grain and stacks, which they took to be Government property, reembarked ; but previous to their leaving the beach, the Governor begged their acceptance of a quantity of stock, which lie had ordered down to the beach ; which we politely declined. Compli- ments passed—such as thy hoped they would meet each other under more favourable auspices, in lieu of such painful circumstances. The Governor and inhabitants were thankful for our leniency in sparing the town. About this time, one dozen of champagne came down very apropos in a drosky, which seemingly our friend the Governor had ordered, and which he in- sisted upon our opening and drinking each other's healths. Two very swell Greeks, dressed up gaudily in their war costume, were not content .with drinking healths only, but drank success to the expedition in French. I .suppose our friend the Governor did not understand them. Thus ends the destruction of Government property at Eisk." The most completely satisfactory intelligence relates to the abandon- ment of Anapa. The Russians not only fled, but the Allies actually landed and destroyed the guns. "Intelligence of this event," [the abandonment of Anapa,] Lord Raglan, states, was brought to Sir E. Lyons by Captain Hughes ; who, in his zeal- ous .endeavour to give the Admiral the earliest intimation of it, went from Soudjak to Kertch in an open boat, and, on passing Anapa, observed it was burning, it having been set on fire by the Circassians. Captain Hughes, who _arrived here yesterday, entertains no doubt that the enemy have retired across the Kuban. The abandonment of Anapa is one of the fruits of the attack and capture of Kertch, and of the brilliant operations of the Allied naval forces in the Sea of Azoff, where no flag now flies but that of England and France."

Admiral Lyons instantly sent Rear-Admiral Stewart to act in Con- cert with Rear-Admiral Charner, and to prevent the Russians from re- occupying the place, leaving the political part of the question in the hands of Mr. Longwortb, the agent of the British Government. Admiral Hous- ton Stewart arrived off Anapa on the morning of the 11th; but Admiral -(Jharner was unable to arrive until noon. Writing on that day to Sir Edmund Lyons, Admiral Stewart says—

"I enclose a return of the guns, by far the greater part of which have 'been rendered quite useless by the Russians themselves ; the remainder are being made unserviceable or thrown over the cliffs, under the direction of Lieutenant Arthur, the gunnery offieer of this ship. The Russians have ex- ploded nearly all the powder-magazines in the place, and those which re- main are empty. The barracks were burnt by the Russians, as also a good number of buildings, and all the coal and gram, which appear to have been in considerable quantities. The garrison is estimated by the Circamians at 'between 7000 and 8000; and they are retired on the Kuban river, which they crossed by a bridge, destroying the latter behind them."

The return alluded to gives full particulars respecting the guns and their position in the fortress. The total is thus classified—

"Mortars, 1 13-inch, 12 10-inch, -1 8-inch, and 1 cohorn ; howitzers, 4 7I-inch; guns, 4 new long 42-pounders, 23 long 32-pounders, 2 long 24- pounders, 15 long 12-pounders 32 long 9-pounders, and 4 long 6-pounders; howitzers, 16 32-pounders, and 2 brass 12-pounders."

Official returns of the killed and wounded on the 18th were published in Tuesday's Gazette.

Mominal List of the Officers Wounded, and Numerical List of the Casualties of the .Non-commusioned Officers and Men on the lath instant. Non-commissioned taxers and rank and Me—Killed, 144; wounded, 1058; mis- sing, 150„ Nominal Return of Officers Wounded.

Second Diviakui—Lieut.-Col../. Goodwin (41st Foot), slightly.

Third Division—Staff-Commanding 2c1 Brigade—Major-Gen. William Eyre, C.B., severely. 4th Foot—Cot. Cobbe, severely. 9th Foot—Capt. F. Smith, dangerously, Since dead; Lieut. and Adjt. lti'Queen, severely; and Lieut. A. G. Douglas, slightly. lath Foot—Major J. Clark Kennedy, slightly ; Captains John Cormick and M. J. itleyman—both dangerously; and A. Armstong and .7.0. Wilkinson—both slightly; and Lieuta. W. Kemp and Fairfax Fearnley—both severely; and W. 0. Bryen Tay- lor and Charles Hotham—both slightly. 28th Foot—Capts. Ii. R. C. Godley and J. 1). Malcom—both severely; and J. G. R. Aplin, slightly; and Lieut. F. Brodigan, severely. 88th Foot —Lieut.-CoL J. J. Lowth ; Calms. Hon. C. Addington and Lud- ford Daniel; and Lieuts. .7. B. Frensh and H. B. Feilden—all severely. 44th Foot— Col. Hon. A. Spencer, slightly; Capt. W. H. Mansfield, dangerously; Lieuts. Lo- gan and T. 0. Howurth, severely.

Fourth Division—Staff-Capt, A. Snodgrass (38th Foot), severely; Lieut. Image (21st Foot), slightly. 7th Foot—Lieut. Hon. E. Fiticlarence, dangerously; Major Pack, and Limits. Jones and C. Malan—all severely; Lieuts. Lord R. Browne, G. Waller, and W. L. G. Wright—all slightly ; and Capt. F. Appleyard, slight con- tusion. 20th Foot—Lieut.-CoL Evekgh, Lieut. J. S. O'Neill, and Ensign F. G.

Holmes, all slightly. 234 Foot—Lieut-Col. Lysons, severely. 334 Foot—Capt. Quayle, dangerously; Lieut..Col. J. D. Johnstone and Capt. Thomas Wickham, both severely: and Lieut.-Col. G. V. Mundy and Lieut. J. T. Rogers—both slightly. 34th Foot—Capt. J. Jordan, Lieuts. Harman and R. B. Clayton—all severely ; and Capt. J. Gwilt and Lieut. F. Peel—botn slightly. 57th Foot—Brevet-Major Earle, Capts. Norman, Lea, and St. Clair, and Limits. Venables and A. F. A. Slade—all se- verely. 88th Foot—Capt. G. R. Browne, dangerously.

1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade—Lieut. C. A. P. Boileau, severely. 24 Battalion, Rifle Brigade—Lieuts. J. S. Knox, dangerously ; F. Fremantle, severely. Royal Artillery—Second Capt. W. J. Williams, slightly. Royal Engineers—Lieut.-Col. R. Tylden, severely; Major-General Harry Jones, and Brevet-Major and Brigade-Major E. F. Bouchier—both slightly.

Missing. 7th Foot—Lieut. N. D. Robinson. 334 Foot—Lieut. Heyland.

Officers killed, or who have died of their wounds, on the 18th June ; supplied to the journals by Lord Panmure.

Major-General Sir John Campbell. Colonel Yea, 7th Regiment. Lieutenant-Co- lonel Shadforth, 57th Regiment. Lieutenant Meurant, 18th Regiment. Lieutenant Davies, 38th Regiment. Lieutenant Ashuin, 57th Regiment. Lieutenant Bellew, 33d Regiment. Captain Shiffner, 54th Regiment. Captain Robinson, 34th Regi- ment. Lieutenant Hurt, 34th Regiment. Lieutenant Alt, 34th Regiment. Captain Forman, Rifle Brigade. Captain Jesse, Royal Engineers. Lieutenant Graves, Royal Engineers. Lieutenant Murray, Royal Engineers. Captain Fenwick, 44th Regi- ment. Capt. the Hon. C. Agar, 4411, Regiment. Captain Caulfield, 44th Regiment. Lieutenant and Adjutant Hobson, 7th Regiment. Officers Killed and Wounded in the Naval Brigade before Sebastopol. Killed—Lieut. J. 0. Kidd. Wounded—Capt. W. Peel, and Lieuts. 0. W. Dayell and W. B. Urmston,

The loss between the llth and 14th June inclusive consisted of 21 men killed, and 97 men wounded. One officer, Lieutenant A. W. Boyce of the Thirty-fourth Regiment, was wounded slightly. According to General Pelissier, the loss of the French on the 18th was —" 37 officers killed, 17 prisoners, 96 gone to the ambulances; non-com- missioned officers and men killed and missing, 1544; gone to the ambu- lances, 1644."

TURKEY.—The Turkish contingent has made a fair beginning. On the 18th June, officers had been appointed to eight regiments, and they were instantly to begin their drill. The Turkish soldiers are said to enter the servioe with great willingness. It is recorded that on the first day of Bairam, when the Sultan goes in procession to the Mosque of Sultan Achmet, that Englishmen, with dirty boots, entered the sacred edifice in such numbers as to incommode the true believers. At last a Turk broke forth in excellent English—" We must build a Protestant church, it seems. Why do you come here ? It is only prayer, and you take up our room." Miss Nightingale had arrived at Constantinople, but so weak that it was thought necessary she should return to England.

GERMANY.—At length we have an authentic announcement of the re- duction of the Austrian army. A telegraphic message, received yesterday from Vienna, states that an Imperial decree has been published, in which the Emperor expresses his satisfaction at being able to send home the re- serves called out for the third and fourth corps d'armee.

It appears that the Prussian Government officially expressed its opinion on the famous circular of Count Nesselrode to M. de Glinka on the 6th June. Baron Manteuffel concurs with the Russian Chancellor in think- ing that the first two points are in accordance with German interest; and he takes note of the Russian promise to adhere to them, which, he says, "independently of the issue of the negotiations at Vienna, confers upon them the character of stability and duration." But it is intimated that Prussia will adhere to obligations imposed by the treaty of April 20 and its additional articles- " The King, as you know, M. le Baron, attaches the greatest value to the guarantees which the above-mentioned stipulations offer, not only to the territory of the Confederation, but also to the entire possessions of the two great Powers which are members of it, and :even to the position of Austria in the Principalities; and while, on the one hand, his Majesty remains averse to, and will continue to oppose, any extension of his treaty obliga- tions which should not be perfectly conformable to his own convictions and called for by the real interests of Prussia, whether European or German, he on the other hand attaches importance to no doubt being allowed to exist as to the existence of those obligations, and as to his firm determination scru- pulously to fulfil them, should the contingency contemplated supervene."

The -King likewise acquits Russia of any arriere pensee against Aus- tria ; and indulges in the hope that Russia will make allowance for the difficult and exceptional position of that power.

THE BALTIC.—The latest news from the fleet is reported from Dantsic by telegraph yesterday. It is of considerable interest though brief. "The fleet is off Cronetadt. Forty-six infernal machines have been dis- covered and destroyed. One of them exploded on the poop of the Exmouth. Admiral Seymour and Captain Louis, who were examining it at the time, were severely injured. Lieutenant Pierce was slightly injured. The Vul- ture met Admiral Bainee's squadron somewhere near Nargen Island." It is stated that the Russians now admit that the Cossack's boat dis- played a flag of truce; but allege that they suspected a stratagem to sur- prise them.

INDIA AND CRINA.—The summary of the overland mail reached London yesterday by telegraph from Trieste. The latest dates are— Hongkong, May 10; and Bombay, May 27. "There is nothing new from India. Trade was inactive. Money-market tight, and freights falling. "Famine prevailed in many parts of China. The Rebels had taken some towns, and the Imperialists had gained several battles."