THE EXAMINER.

an

TIES. ene Ce

neem ls sn a a ae ae amas one

, vo Se f . : 7 ee owers. Russia and | fate of arms should have remained consiantly favourable to a ae before the as it has been in Asia, the empire would havo ebangteg in

he a A IE ——

‘ander the guarantee of the contracting P ; Turkey are to hold the same possessiogs ta Asi

—— > ~ A I tt te. a ,

the great difference that nowy exis'ed between the different | and a few sailors, who perform the ordinary evolutions

Properly

alan al Aimtota a : > ahaba , iD ee 'yeeessary to aneln » verse) | he object of ack. : ae . ‘ . : * ae , lectoral listricts. It had been truly stat d that the want Sa ns a Be innih — t} ie hea Ps ure the war; tae boundaries to be determined by a Commission. Mhe | resources in keeping up large armies on different Pointe, via quorum had dela ved the public business of the country ‘a ! ME t : ona ane 9 a oes rivates 33rd article relates to the Aland Isles, which are-the subject of soldiers of which would in 4 great measure be taken aWay fy : | Seatverse and the Forth, which, though called mortar frigates, | & agriculture and labour. In the Goverament of Mosco om

‘a separate Convention. All these topics invite discussion 5 but a just opinion eaanot be formed until the ‘* annexes’’ are published. 1t would seem, however, from what is already before ue, that England has no cause to rejoice. With such a fleet as the Queen reviewed, on W ednesday last, a much more safe and honorable peace could have veen obtained.

~

This was particularly the case hile the Georgetown Court © itsejy Was sitting ; and at other times members frequently wished | and each carry twelve to go to their homes. The increase weuld give @ better! bulwarks. North of these again, and in rear of the port and | chance of making a House. He had decided to sttpport it, | starboard lines of first-rate frigates and corvettes, the gun although at first he was net Tavoreble to it. He had never} boats, or stingers, as they are mgre generally called, lay heard that the Government would support it. It would not | anchored in close oror,

do to parce! out the districts to suit themselves: but it was wrong that a vonttituency as small as Princetown and Royalty show!d have as much influence as others much more | sp*ce of time in whieh it was put together, is perhaps the numerows. He believod that the Bill would render the dis , most wonderful the world ever saw, is composed of four dis- tricts much more compact that they were at present: ‘\,oyw-! tinct classes of yesscls, each varying in size, horse power and

ever, the details must be matter of mature delibess, tion. weight ofarmament, How inexhaustible are the naval resyuyces

They aré built of enormous strength,

are only laggerrigged, pons o% r 13-inch mortars bedded round her |

many manufactories have been compelled to close, { Pref the real prosperity of the arts of peace to the vain plow — combats. Ihave thrown open the ports of Russia to ce ll merce of the world, the frontiers to the free tireulation ": foreign produce. 1 wish henceforth that the greatest facili: shall be afforded in our markets for the exchange of articles y every origin, and of the produce, raw or manufactured, of . soil. Various projects will shortly be communicated tg yon the object of which will be to give an impulse to our indi ’ industry, and in which, | trust, every nobleman will take share.” ’ The Emperor, who epoke at considerable length, and wig,

QUEEN VICTORIA HOLDING HER COURT AT SEA.

A grand and beart-stirring spectacle was presented to the sight of myriads of Englishmen, the representatives of France, and comers from all parts of the continent, on Wednesday last, at Spithead. Never did the strength of England appear

THE MAGNIFICENT WORK OF SIX MONTHS, This fleet, which, when we consider the maryellousty short

> er: ; » fae relve i ; lid the most powerful of monarchs look | some emotion, was listened to in religious sile a ry be guessed from the fact, that twelve | s0 imposing ; never ¢ ; : nae ’ : nee, ‘TT (To be continued.) acetate a gunboat yessels now mancayred | ypon such ap array of strength and magnificence ; never were | Ministers of the Interior and of Finance have received he

he science and the skill of the English nation better repersented thon when beneath the most propitious of skies, and under the happiest of circumstances, the British navy exhibited befora its Queen its readiness and capabilities eage 600 could heind bode built, Jawnched, armed, and manned | to protect her Throne. At the close of a war with one . the within the same space of time. The first class of gunboats i8 | greatest Powers of Kurope the fleet musters in greater ae com posed of serew ships of 200 feet length and carrying six long | than ever, and presents to the country the evidence of w 2 it 68-pounders, provided with engines of 360-horse power, and @| would have done had not the course of circumstances = crew of LOO men. ‘This class is intended as sub-divisional ships. | from it the opportunity of glorifying the British flag. e The second clags are about 150 feet long, and carry four 68-| stand indisputably stronger at sea than any kingdom in the pounders, are provided with engines of 200-horse power, and | world. We do not make pretensions to the first rank amonget the crew numbers SO hands. The third class are about 100 inijitary empires. | But what an infinity of soldiers ia to France, feet long, of 60-horse power engines, armed with one 68-pounder | Austria, or Russia, our magnificent fleet 18 to us. If the mili-

—_=

Gleanings {rom ‘ate Papers

Oe See LIE RRR cee

THE GRAND BY VIEW OF THE FLEET AT SPIT- HBAD ‘OY HEY, MAJHSTY AND COURT.

The tremendons, axhjbition of Wednesday last, is an event in a nation’s history to which tne Olympiads of old offer but , feeble €ymparison.. Lofty and powerful as is the position of this empire, its might was never more clearly demonstrated than in the great display we are about to record. Old Kugland,

The majority haye been | the wealth, t ast six months, and had

hat the services of more

— a

orders from his Majesty to do away with ell obstructions in thy way of commerce. The frontier trafic is already open, ang vessels are arriving at all the ports. :

ao.

THE CRIMEA UNDER iTS NEW ASPECTs,

Diplomacy end debate having of late us d the conflict and battle, it is long since we scene dae tion to the Crimea—that scene of so many anxieties apg hopes—of so many trials and sufferinge—of so many gallon deeds and hard won victories during the two memorable y 1854-5. We are led to revert once more, and Probably fy the jast time, to this particular spot of earth, which hence.

hefure the Queen was in existence, ordered and completed within the ] the err found reason to think t

’ e . » Re would have been required, we are informed that with perfect

. : ‘ : itzers, | le within their own| forth will possess an inperishable interest in the ie 2. ott ‘ee > the dee . ure: ivot gun, one 32-pounder pivot gua, and two brass howitzers, | tary Powers hold themselves impregnab! a of sm 1306, is still the mistrass of the deep dA re Se-puundenn, of she oandiide. erhis class is by far the most | frontier, we can point to a cordon of sentinel ships that conld| Englishmen, in Consequence of the accounts which tebe

Wihmre whose supremacy wherever the ocean rolls is uncon- *rollable and undisputed. To fully appreciate this proud mastery, we have but to consider for a moment the gigantic wmament which covered the waters of Portsmouth from land t land. There assembled at the Sovereign’s bidding no less than 26 serew line-of-batile ships ; nearly 40 frigates, paddle and steam; 2 mortar frigntes; 4 wrought-iron floating ®atteries ; 50 13-inch mortar vessels, 20 sloops, corvettes, and brigs ; and 164 serew gun boats ; in all upwards of 300 sail of men-of-war, having au aggregate tonnage of 150,000 | tous, manned by 40,000 seamen, carrying 3,800, guns, and |

reached us of the active prepara‘ions already on fooh fo evacuating it. It seems that the Allies are to pick up they traps and quit the country with as much despatch as possible, but in spite of every exertion that can be made, it is obvions that many weeks intist elapse before the last Enoglishmag or the Jast Frenchmen wil) shake the dast of the Crimea from his heels. ‘ During this time,’ says a correspondent, *% may be expected that picnics, shooting, fishing, racing ang drill and ball practice will form the principal business of ow lives, until everything is prepared for embarkation. They there will, no doubt, be a great rush, and » great struggle i pack up, to burn and destroy, to get favourite ponies on board

encircle the whole island so as to leave no point nssailable. But great as was this exhibition of our naval capabilities pro- vided our magnificent fleet were in proper hands,—no one who reflects on the history of the last two years, could help mingling their regrets with the pride and gratification whieh prevailed. It is distressing to think that with such a display of maritime power, we should have done nothing worthy of the name during the war which has just been concluded. Our fleets have hitherto answered no other purpose than mere show. They might as well have been made of paper, as of the hearts of our old English oak, The enemy has had no experience of what our ships could do. Painful, indeed, must have been the re

useful and numervus of the whole flotilla, their extraordinary light draught (generally averaging from 4 to 6 feet) enabling them to steam in the shallowest creeks and inleta, while the heavy armament renders them effective against the strongest forts. The whole bulwarks are provided with moveable wrought iron plates, perfectly, rifle-proof, and reaching about seven feet above the deck, so as to protect the men from the | enemy's riflemen, in case of having to force the passage of | narrow rivers defended hy sbarpshooters. ‘The fourth class is | also a useful flotilla for very shallow streams and close in-shore service. [¢ comprises yessels of about 80 feet long, the engines averaging 20 horse power ; each boat carrying two $2-pounder

firing at one discharge a broadside of nearly 90 tons of solid | iron. It seems aimost monstrous to thing that such a fleet should haye been assembled only to be digpersed again— that we should, while a war was raging, haye been short of vessels for its praper conduct, and only when a peace was declared have beew able to take the sca ina manner worthy of the

may in this case he really something. ity there were uo | American frigates in the Sound on Wednesday. FLEFT.

APPEARANCE OF THE At ten the vessel on which we were located steamed out | towards the fleet, following in the wake of the lumlering Megvwra and a host of other yessels, « ither sailing or steaming. The Portamoath shore presented acurious aspect. Evere spot | from below the High-street to a mile above Southsea Castle | was cover’d with an immense maltitade. The Victoria Pier seemed one black mass of spectators. In front of it lay a little flotilla of boats of all kinds, frum the uppretending, shabby digay, up to the large fishing schoouer or sprace-looking yacht. Hvery one of those was dressed in colours. Some even had not confined their display to the legitimate application of bunting, but had huge strips of coloured calicoes depending from almost every part of their rigging. All these vessels, the condition of the huils of which were generally in sad contrast to their gay attire aloft, were erqwded with vigiturs, from eyery one of whom some 5¢ or 103, according to the respectability of the accommodation, had been exacted. Below the pier, along the the whole extent of the Platform Battery, every spot command- ing a view of the sea wasoceupied. It was not until well ciear of the harbour that a good sight of the fleet in all its gigantic maguitude was to be obtained. It is almost difficult to say where it lay, beeause it would he next to impossible to say where it did net. One great dark line of line-of-battle ships, frigates, and corvettes could indeed be distinguished far and wide, but the rest of the tremendous armada was here, there, and everywhere. The floating batteries were anchored off Gilkicker Point, planging heavily before the slight swell, and looking dark and terrible, like over-charged thunder clouds. The mortar hoats were crammed away into Stokes Bay as well as iteauld heldthem. The ganbaats formed two parallel lines, reaching almost to the mouth of the Solent. The whole length af the line from north to south was nearly six miles, Never within the memory of man had such a fleet assembled for a

mere review.

THE MASSIVE FLOATING BATTERIES.

As wo had quitted the harbour some time ere the Queen was expected to arrive, we had a fine opportunity of surveying the whule fleet, and going down its line frum end to end. Though not put in the order of sailing, yet the first we could closely iuspect were the floating batteries. They are most stamiles and striking in appearance, and by no means pre- possessing. They looked very like dum) barges of uncom mon strength, and had their tall spars lugger-rigged ; but that they were very black, and showed a broadside of guna of tho heaviest calibre, we should certainly have taken them for beacon ships. ‘These, howeyer, were the floating batteries. Than their appearance nothing can be conceived more un- couth and massive looking, or more indicative of unwieldy ponderous strength. ‘Their massive wrought-iron sides, huge round hows and stern, and, above all, thejr close rows of solid 63 and 84-pounder guns, show them at once to be antagonists under the attacks of which the heaviest granite bastions in the world would cramble down like contract brick-work. Each of the tremendous floating batteries carries 14 68-pounders, and is sheathed, from the buiwarks to three feet below the water line, with massive plates of wrought iron, 14 fect 6 inches in length, 20 inches wide, and 44 inches thick. Each of these plates is bolted to the timber sides of the vessel with 40 serew nuts. When French floatin batteries of the same construction were used in the combine attack on the fortress at Kinburn, ono vessel was struck 53 times in the hull. But she stood this most seyere ordeal with- out sustaining the least possjble injury, except that wherever she was hit Se wrought-iron plates dented to depths varying from 14 to fof an inch. But in spite of these apparently strong recommendations for vessels in a time of warfare, the floating batteries are not precisely the class of vessels we should prefer to serve in on active service. The name of floating batteries is @ misnomer. With their depth in the water, and ominous heavy roll at the least swell, they seem inclined to be anything but foading, aud loth would we be to en- counter a Baltic gale or a Black Sea hurricane in one of these gaunt wrought-iron shells, which in such a case would be far more furmidabic to their occupants than to the enemy.

THE MORTAR BOATS IN STOKES BAY.

A little below these, to the north of Monkton Fort, the whole of Stokes Bay was apparently crowded with rafts, jary-rigged in an emergency, in some incomprehensible manner. These were the mortar boats, and what a harmless little flotilla they all looked. low easily we should, under ordinary Seen have mistaken them fur the most common Ot pilot or fishing vessels. In appearance how heay slow-looking, bluff and round—inuch shiwte externals to the sombre Dutch luggers, which figure so prominently in the water-pieces of the Flemish school. But, alas! how foreign is this peaceful guize to the purposes for which they were really built. The floating batteries have an aspect ‘ villainously low,’’ but you expect no better from them ; but the mortar boats, under the most commercial, hard-working exterior conceal a destructiveness not inferior to the iron babtesion themsclves. All are eutter-rigged, with light and small Spars, Their tonnages average 120 tons. Their draught of water is only from 4105 feet. Each is about 45 fect long, and 18 broad, and armed with one 13-jnch mortar, weighing with stind and et coteras, nearly 9 tous. These terrific ordnance when mounted in their places, leave no more space than two feet on each side—the mest limited at which the gun can be worked. Some idea may be formed of the immense strength of the coustruetion of these boats whea we mention that “ae each discharge the mortar recoils upan the yessel with a pressure of nearly 7) tons. To these boats there are no commanding officers, the divisional ships to which they are attached furnish. jog them with 10 of their marine artillerymen, under the

| chief maritime power of the earth. But perhaps the * moral lwith bigh-press effect,” about which we always hear so much and sce so little,

| engineers

the crew usually numbering 36 hands, exclusive of officers. These boats are very little larger than | the small steamers which ply upon the Thames, though they i are certainly considerably broader, in order to admit of working ithe guns without danger to the craft. Their draught of water, i with stores, ammunition, provisions, and guns on board, does i not exceed from 34 to 4 feet. The whole flotilla is provided ire locomotive boilers, the place necessarily devoted to the machinery rendering this expedient absolutely imperative, to economise the limited area at the disposal of the

| pivot guns amidships,

the fleet of gan vessels is by no means contemptible ; the slowest average from 7 to 8 knots, aud the swiftest from 4 to 114. We could nat help thinking, as we saw them dart into the

to follow, how invaluable such a fleet would be upon the coast of China, and how in a few months, they would extirpate the

have lung bid defiance to the ordinary vessels of war. THE QUEEN IN THE MIDST OF HER FLEET.——THE SHIPS UNDER WEIGH.

Her Majesty entered hetween the port and starboard lines at the most extreme end of the line of gun boats. ‘These, the instant the yacht had passed, got under weigh and followed her up between the serew liners, in the order in which they had beeu moored. The Royal yacht halted a little ahead of the two flag ships. As the gun bvats arrived abreast of the Royal yacht, the white and light squadrons went roand the Duke to port, and the red and blue squadrons round the Royal George w starboard. The speed and care which the gun boats dis- played in executing their manceuyres spoke well fur the disei- pline of the erews and officers ofall. The average rate attained hy them was most respectable ; few seemed to ran less than TJ or 74 knots, and there was a large number that would clear their 9 or JO. The time occupied in the passage of the whole four squadrons was apwards of an hour. Just as the leading gun boat came up, a dirty-looking tug tried to cut in between the yacht and the column of beats. The attempt would have been certain to have resulted in an accident, had not the flag ship (the Duke) brought the tug to a proper estimate of her position by firing two cannon shots in rapid SUCCERSION ACTOSS her bow, and one just over her bridge. With these iron reprimands, the tug instantly fell back into her proper post outside, and to leeward of, the squadron. The instant the last of the gun boats had passed the pivot ships, signal was made ta the line of battle-ships to undress ship and prepare to weigh. All these were already hove short, and as the gun flotilla turned off to seek their post ucar Monckton Fort and Southsea Castle, a little foam showed under the sterns of each of the ponderous two and three deckers—a little ripple wer ahead of them, and, with less confusion than a halfpenny river steamer makes in coming alongside a picr, the long columns of line-of-battle ships and frigates were under weigh. A general signal was made to steain at five knots per hour, then to pass in close order (a cable anda half between each ship) then a particular signal to the Ajax, 60, to © keep her proper station in the line.’’ All the vessels steamed in the order in which we have already given them at their anchoriges. The part line was led by Admiral Sir Richard Dundas, in the Duke of Wellington ; the starboard by Rear-Admiral Baynes, in the Royal George.

+ “hoe >

THE TERMS OF PEACE,

The Treaty of Peace has at length arrived. The text only has been published, and the Protocols and Annexes continue still unknown. ‘Those Annexes, perhaps, may explain some obscurities, but the text of the Treaty is the main consideration, and the text is before us. Kars is to be evacuated by Russia, and Sebastopol, Bala Clava, Kamiesch, Eupatoria, and Kertch given up by the Allies. The Convention of 1841, relative to the closing of the Straits, is revised; the Black Sea is neu- tralised ; Russia and the Porte are both to admit Consuls to the ports, and both engage not to reconstruct military-maritime arsenals upon the shores of that sea. The ninth article states that the Sultan bas granted a firman, “ ameliorating the lot” of all his subjects, and, ‘ proving his generous intentions towards the Christian populations of his Empire.’ The Con- tracting Powers acknowledge the communication, but protesy that tt 1s quite understood that it gives them no right, collec- tively or individually, to interfere inthe relations of His Majesty the Sultan with his subjecte. The twelfth article gives consuls tu the porte on the coast of the Euxine, and frees trade of everything except—“ regulations of health, customs, and police,”’ Is Nicolaieffa port on the coast of the Black Sea? Perhaps the annex may tell us what the treaty does nor. The 13th Article says that the Black Sea being neutralised. **maritime military arsenals become without necessity and object.” Therefore the Czar ard the Sultan “engage neither to construct nor (o preserve any maritime-military arsenal upon that coast.” Was there ever so scandalous a riddle? What has the Sultan done that he, the weaker power, should destroy his defences on lis senboard? Shall! piratieal Russia preserve Nicolaieff, and is the Sea of Azof “the Black Sea?’’ Shall Kussia prepare, in the guise of commerce, ‘* light vessels” in her rivers in tiat Sea of Azof, which, at the ripe season, will couvey mvading forces to the dismantied ports of ‘Turkey ? At a frightful cost the Allies, by war, have destroved some Russian fortresses, and now, by peace. with a stroke of the peu, they proceed to demolish the Turkish ones! The 15th and following Articles relate to the Danube, the navigetion of which is to be free, and subject to no burdens or prohibitions. An European Commission is to be appointed, to “ put the. river in the best possible state of navigation ;” and a Commission of Delegates of bordering nations is to draw up regulations of navigation and fluvial police. These Commissions, it is ex- pected, will have concladed their labours in two years. The navigation of the Danube being a German question, precise regulations and most praiseworthy precautions are taken to guarantee it. Not only Austria, Prussia, and Kussia, but Ba- varta and Wurtemburg are associated in that prime Teutonic concern. In exchange for ins towns, ports, and territories, evacuated by the Allies, the Emperor of Russia consents to the rectification of his frontier in Bessarabia, by a line starting from the Lake Bourna-Sola, and ending at Kakamori on the Pruth ; the territory to be ceded by Russia to be annexed to the Principality of Moldavia. The independence of the Prin-

command of a serjeant of boubardiexe from the Royal Artillery,

seems

Cipalilies is preserved unde: the suzerainty of the Porte, and

Yet amali as the horse power appears, the speed of

| flection to every intelligent and patriotic mind, that the formi- dable fleet, which was paraded before the astonished and

and forts of the enemy in the same siate as they were at the commencement of the war. We are ending the war 18 we ought to have begun it, We are displaying, in a magnificent show, the powers which we ought to have used for the purposes of war.

Troors ron Awerica.—Orders have been received at Wool- wich Arsenal to prepare ammunition for the use of seven regiments of the line about to proceed to Canada. These regiments, it is said, are to be transported from the Kast to Canada, in the Duke of Wellington and other large vessels

ishallow water where river steamers could not have attempted | of war, immediately after the termination of the great naval

‘review at Portsmouth. | It is not intended to redaco the army to any great extent,

hordes of pirates, who, in their narrow and intricate streams | i+ peing determined to keep up an efficient force in case of

emergency.

*a<7om © Lorp Panxuvre’s Expianatton.—In the House of Lords, on the 17th, Lord Panmure, in reply to an inquiry made by Lord Elgin, made the following explanation on the subject of the troops and munitions of war that are about to be sent to Canada and the other North American provinces :-—

doors that a very large force is about to embark for British North America. It is quite true that it is our intention to send back to North America a certain number of regiments which were taken from that part of Her Majesty's dominions for carrying on the war; and it is not improbable that in the new organization of the army, by divisions and brigades, which is contemplated, there will, over all the North American rovinces, be a small addition to the British army, but the un pression that weare about to send thither a large force for pur- poses of aggression, is ent rely without foundation. It is also stated—and I am glad to have this opportunity of explaining that too—that large quantities of munitions of war are being sent to British North Ameriea. ‘The fact is, that during the war we drew from the British North American stores alinost all the munitions of war, in the shape of gunpowder and other materials, which they contained. All that is now being doue is ta replace the stores which were drawn thence.

* o> + sooo?

Tue Bitt or trae War.—On this subject, the London Times says:—“ Our public expenditure, under ordinary circumstances, is very unifurm, and there is no great diffi- culty in assigning any excess to its proper causes. Hence the quarterly account of the public income and the balances in the Exchequer is a very intelligible document. Before the war our expendituse was asually but little over £50,000,- 000, which had become as much the figure of our establish- ment as a gentlewan’s £5,000 or £10,000. In the financial year just ended it has been £88,428,345, in round numbers £40,000,000 more than in peace. At all events we may certainly say that we spent last year £55,000,000 more than we should have done but for that little freak of the Emperor Nicholas. This appears in another way. The excess of expenditure over income in the year ended March 31, 1856, as stated in the return was £22,723,854, although the in- creased income tax and other war taxes had produced about £15,000,000. Adding thus what we did pay out of the taxes to which we did not, the result is near £38,000,000. To meet the excess, we contracted in the course of the year two new loans, the former for £16,000,000, the latter for 5,000,000, with certain powers for funding Exchequer Bills to the amount of £3,000,000 more. The produce of all these operations, the last of which is far from exhausted, was £20,123,300. The unfunded debt meanwhile has been increased by some millions, On the face of the table the “supply services” for the army, navy, ordnance and votes of credit for the war come to about 52,000,000—a singular comment en the very recent proposition for redacing the

not be over the mark if we put our share in the costs of the Russian war during the year just ended, at £35,000,000.

RUSSIA. SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER ON THE CONCLUSION OF PEACE.

The Emperor Alexander, on his arrival at Moscow on the 11th, addressed the deputations of the nobies and civil and military authorities who came to receive him, in the following terms :—

*“ Gentlemen—The war is over; for before quitting St. Petersburg I ratified *he treaty of peace which had been signed by the Plenipotentiaries of Paris. [ am happy to be able to announce the news to you officially, and torepeat tothe nobility of Moscow the words which [ addressed to my people in my last manifesio, Russia was able to defend herself for many long years, and | believe that, no matter what forces were brought against her, she was invulnerable on her own territory. But | felt that it was my duty, in the rea! interesis of the country, to lend an ear to proposals compatible with the national honour. War is an abnormal state, and the greatest successes obtained by it scarcely compensate for the evils it occasions, {t had caused an interruption of the commercial relations of the empire with most of the States of Europe. I should certsinly bave carried it on had not the voice of neighbouring States pronounced itself against the policy of Jate years. My father, of imperishable memory, had hia reasons for acting as he did. I knew his views, and [ adhere to them from my very soul ; but the treaty of Paris has obtained the object which it was his ambition to obtain, and | prefer this means to war. Many of you, lam aware, regret that | should have so readily accepted the propositions made to me. It was my duty as a man, and as the head of a great empire, either to reject or accept them frankly. I have honourably and conscientiously fulfilled that duty. J am sure that allowances will be made for the difficult position in which J was placed, and thet shortly every devoied friend of Russia will render justice to my views and intentions for the welfare of the country. Supposing the

admiring gaze of myriads of people, should have left the fleets

Lord Panmure said :—There is a general impression aut of

r

cost of the national defences to £10,000,000. We should)

ships, or to smuggle away extra chests end boxes.” Bus other more laborious duties must also be performed—the yasy munitions of war so prodigally scenmulated during the fast ten months must be re-packed and re-shipped—the railway, the huts, the barracks, all the works coustruected for the ac- commodation of an invading army of two hondred thousand men, must be destroyed—the ponderous and multitudinons trophies of our victories must be removed. Here is work enough and to spare for many a long day to come, Meantime, a good deal of fratermization appears te be going on between the officers and men of the allied armies and their late antagonists—the Russians. Parties of French sad Eng] sh officers have been courteously entertained ot Simphero- po! and Baksh:-Serai, and sumilar compliments have been paid to Russian officers at Bala Clava and Kamiesch. “Phe rank and file of the two armies have also found means of visiting each other, and of getting gloriously drunk together. The English canteens appear to possess #M irresistioie charm for the thirsty Muscoyvites, ‘ A party of them,” says one of our informants, ** came over the Tchernaya the other day, and wandered in eyery part of our camp, where they soon made oul the canteens. Ina short time a good many of them were in thet state “in which soldiers wish to be who love their grog.’ The same lively writer then gives ne a portrait of the Kusgian common soldier under the inspiration of strong énnk, “ A navey,”’ says he, ‘* of ihe most stolid kind, wuch bemused with beer, is a jolly, lively, intelligent being compared to an intoxicated ‘Kuski.’ They are the image of the men im Noali’s ark—I meanthat popu'ar aruicle constructed at Nurem- berg for Young Evurope—suff and angular, and when they fall down it is done with a jr rk and a rigidity worthy of Richardson's, ‘The.r drunken salute to passing officers is very ludicrous, and ove could laugh only he 1s disgusted at the abject cringe wah which they remove their caps, and bow, bareheaded, with horrid gravity in their bleary leaden eves and wooden fages, atthe sight of a piece of gold lace.” From this pitiable- picture we pass to the better sort of intercourse that has. arisen between the officers of the Kussian army and that Goshen of abundance which has beeu opened to them in the well found stores of the English settlers ‘ The storekeepérs tind good customers among the Russian officers for suger, ea, Champagne, and spirits, all of which are enormously dear in their own camps, Sugar is not to be had for any money, even in Sunpheropol and Bakshi-serai. Champagne, of which they are very fond, 13 15f a bottle, and tea 1s 206 a pound, on the other side ot the T'chernaya. At this side the price of those articles is lessthan one-haif those amoun's, so that there is ample inducement for a Kussian officer to come down trom. Mackenzie with his orderly and a sumpter pony to lsy ia 4 store of such luxuries.”

Whilst this is going on, and whilst the Russians are thus availing themselves of our abundance to replenish their ex- lausted stores, what is the actual concition of our own army? Let the fuliowing paseage tel!. “This arwy has a fiue appe- tile ; it manages to consume 250,000ib. of varley, 250,000ib. of hay, and 90.000ib. of bread per diem, and to eat up about 3.000 bullocks and 15,000 or 18,000 sheep per month, beside hittis prckings of potted meats, preserved vegetables, private Stores, poultry, geese, turkeys, and game, washed down with, floods of wine and spirds, and an ocean of rum. Well, it thrives on its food, and looks fat and hearty and full of fight upon its diet. It is very weil forthe enemy that there is 1% occasion for the display of its powers.”

Such are the circumstances under which our troops 8 quickenieg their departure from the Crimea —circumsiances widely different from those which surrounded them when they first set foot upon its soil. Whatare the vestiges which they wil! leave behind them? This picture of the present condition of Sebastopol may be taken as a sample. « The traces of ovt presence will endure fur many a long year, notwithstanding ihe perishable nature of earthworks; and al! the energy of Russia and the phfsical furce at her disposal wil! be tasked t0 the uttermost before Sebastopol can rise from the heap of blackened stones and shattered walls which now mark its sile. In some places our mission of destruction is vot complete, and I presume the peace will prevent any mensures being

tu blow up the buildings which line the quay of the docks o: the eastern side ; they are considerably injured by fire and by shot, but are not, so far as I can judge, readered incapable of repair. As forthe city proper, with some isolated exceptions, it might be knocked down witha pick and caried away a rubbish. The walis,which look firm ata distance, are seco on near approach to be mere shells, which a strong man overthrow. ‘The desolation and silence of the grase-grow" Streets, the course of which is marked ont by heaps of white stone in fragments or in blocks, piled confused on each other as they were thrown down by the shock of explosion or the actual agency of powder, are appalling. One may we between these walls of debris, which )ook like ruinous trenches, for hours, wubout meeting a soul, or hearing even & sparrow chirp.’’ Thus do we take our leave of ths famed siro —thus do we read the tale of Sebastopo) the impreg ,

>?

UNITED STATES.

Axorner Great Fire ar Pritanevpnia.—Loss Two Million Dotlars.—A terribly destructive fire occurred at Philadelphia on the night of the Ist instant. ‘Ihe fire commenced at Jessup & Moore’s paper warehouse, in North Street, below Street, and extended rapidly before a furious northeast g¥» through to Commerce Street, and thence to Market 5 consuming also the buildings on the eastern side of Market Street.

The loss is su to be mostly covered hy insurance. Very little of the stock was saved from the Market stores, the spreading of the flames being so rapid.

John R. Groff, a fireman, a returned Mextean volute, was killed by the falling of a wall. Two or three others a missing, and several are injured. ke The new store of Caleb Cope was leased to Trutt, Bros., W had $5,000 worth of hardware on the premises. The building was valued at $75,000. On St, James’ Street, west of SUsh™ a number of small dwellings, a German tavern, and @ schoolhouse belonging to the Society of Friends, were Ges During the fire, James Bardey, a member of Frankl Co.

Co., was stabbed in an affray with the Moyamensing Hose