PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

It is now well known that the British Government intend to forward a first division of Infantry, 10,000 strong, to Constantinople, immediately. The division will consist of three battalions of the Guards—the 4th, 28th, 33d, 50th, 77th, and 93d Regiments of the Line, and the 2d bat- talion of the Rifle Brigade. The Artillery force will include five field batteries and one brigade for small-arm ball cartridge. These regiments have already been made up to the requisite strength by volunteers from other regiments who have conic forward with great alacrity. The defi- ciency in the Rifles was at once supplied ; and out of 199 required 102 belonged to the 1st battalion which only returned on Sunday last from the Cape. In like manner, a considerable number of Sappers and Miners, also fresh from Cape service, have volunteered. The Artillery batteries will have 180 men each, or double the peace establishment. Nothing, as yet, has been determined as to the cavalry to be em- ployed in the expedition, though several regiments have been named ; but picked men to the number of 500 sabres will certainly go.

The principal Staff appointments for the Eastern expedition were, it is said, determined at the Horse Guards yesterday, and will be submitted to the Queen today. Although, of course, the published list is not offi- cial, yet it is put forward on good authority, and is believed to be correct. The statement is, that Lord Raglan will take "the chief command of the British auxiliary force ; which will consist of two divisions, one under General Brown, the other under his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam- bridge. Colonels Bentinck, Eyre, Airey, and Sir Colin Campbell, it is said, go out as Brigadiers, Colonel Sullivan as Adjutant-General, Colonel Cater in command of the Artillery, and Colonel Victor in command of the corps of Engineers; Lieutenant-Colonel Dacres, Lieutenant-Colonel Bloomfield, and Lieutenant-Colonel Lake, go out under Colonel Cator ; Captain Wetherell as Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General, and Dr. Smith as head of the Medical department." Another report mentions Lieute- nant-General Ferguson as second in command, and assigns the post of Adjutant-General to Colonel Airey. It is stated that the entire force will be armed with the Mini6 rifle ; and that the whole machinery of the training-school at Hythe will be transported to Malta, in order to teach the troops the perfect use of that formidable weapon.

It is estimated that, taking the force now under orders for the Medi- terranean, a brigade already formed there, and the regiments next for service, the British contingent for the defence of Turkey will amount to

20,000 men, and 40 guns, admirably horsed and provided with a full proportion of ammunition-waggons. The efficiency of the whole corps is universally admitted. s

The First Battalion of Coldstream Guaede marched on Tuesday from St. George's Barracks, Trafalgar Square, for Chichester. They were led by Colonel Bentinck, and were accompanied through the streets in the line of their route by cheering crowds. .

On the same day, the picked men, 350 in number, supplied by the Scots Fusileers at Windsor, left their barracks ; and the people of Wind- sor, the Eton boys and their masters, cheered them as they departed. This battalion took up its quarters in the Wellington Barracks, London, and goes at once to the Mediterranean.

For the conveyance of the troops, Government have chartered four steamers belonging to the General Serew Company, three belonging-to the Peninsular and Oriental Company, two of the Cunard liners, and one of the Australian Company. The call for tenders foe sailing ships has been answered by a host of offers; but some have been already secured. It is believed that the Himalaya and Great Britain will be empleyed. The abstraction of all these ships will not affect the regular despatch of mails and goods.

In the mean time, recruiting went on very briskly in Ireland up to last Sundays Numbers had offered in Dublin ; 500 during, the week in Belfast ; and proportionate numbers in the South and 'iSrest. IQ on Sunday the priests throughout the countrmire said to have warned young men not to be lured by the " Saxon shilling"—with what effect, is pot stated.

With respect to the North 'Sea and Baltic fleet, the greatest activity prevails in all the dockyards, in order that the following ships may mus- ter in the Downs earls., in March. _

Guns.

Duke of Wellington (screw) S 131 Western squadron. Neptune 120 Portsmouth.

St. George 120 Devonport.

Royal George (screw) . .• 120 Davenport. St. Jean d'Acre (screw).... .... 101 Western squadron. Princess Royal (screw) ....... 91 Portsmouth, Csesar (screw) .. 91 Portsmouth. Nile (screw) 91 Devonport. James Watt (screw) 91 Devonport. _

Prince Regent 90 Westere squash:4s - ,

Monarch 84 Sheerness.

Cressy (screw) 81 Sheerness. Majestic (screw) 80 Sheerness. Boscawen 70 Portsmouth.

Cumberland 70 North America.

Blenheim (screw) 60 Portsmouth. Hogue (screw) 60 Devonport. Edinburgh (screw) 58 Portsmouth. Ajax (screw) 68 Cork.

Imperieuse (screw) 51- Western squadron. ' Euryalus (screw) a Sheerness.

Arrogant (screw) 46 Western squadron. Devonport. . 31 Western squadron. 33 Portsmouth.

30 Western squadron. 18 Portsmouth.

16 Western squadron. . 16 Western squadron. 8 Western squadrom

twenty of the vessels being 'screw-

The seamen have come in promptly, and there is little doubt that this splendid fleet will be fully manned. Pique Amphion (screw): Dauntless (screw) Tribune (screw) Leeward (paddle) Magicienne (paddle) Valorous (paddle) Desperate (screw) Thirty ships, carrying 2020:guns ; steamers.