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Leader (1850-1860), 3rd June 1854, Edition 1 of 1, Page 512, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      They did not even avert their faces from the impertinent curiosity of the English . " Seated in one of the Sultan ' s carriages , and followed by a cavalcade of French officers , the Prince Napoleon broke tkrough the crowd on the hilL After him came the Persian ambassador , a very dignified person who sat in his carriage with a sort of red flowery muslin night-gown on and a felt cap shaped like a sugar-loaf on his head . Several Persians in muslin night-gowns and sugar-loaf caps ran by the side of the carriage . And the Duke of Cambridge came on horseback with an aide-de-camp , smiling and touching his bat in every direction , and as he dismounted at the foot of the slanting way there was an enormous rush down of fat Turks , in bright blue coats , with heavy gold epaulettes ,

      and entire constellations of stars and suns on their chests . IW the Puke is a great favourite with the Turks of all classes , who admire kindness , politeness , and good-humour , beyond everything . M The bright blue of the slcy gave way to dark clouds , and a keavy thunderstorm rose up from the Bosphorus . B-eyond the trill , cheers—faint at rirst , and distant , but waxing loader as they rolled nearer—announced the approach of the monarch of the country . The generals crowded near the entrance gate , ready to receive their sovereign . The military ¦ tranils closed their ranks , the bands played a lively march ,

      arid the Nubians beat their kettle drams with laudable energy . The sentinels presented arms . The kavashes , drawing their swords , used the hilts hi pummelling his Jvighness ' s lieges . I expected a long cavalcade , outriders , a stafrVan army of followers . There was nothing of the sort . The Sultan passed before me long ere I expected to see liim . He rode , accompanied by half a dozen men on foot , and on horseback . His dark-grey horse trod the ground proudly , bat slow . Abdal Medjid passed noiselessly by . There were no cheers from the spectators . The Turks neveT remove the fez . No heads were bared

      at the approach of the sovereign . As his horse bore Tiim slowly by , he sat in the saddle as a man who assists at a ' pageant of which he is the principal attraction , because he is' the victitrt . His hand hardly ^ held ^ iie ^ reins , his knee did not guide the horse . That sli ^ nVnoble figure , that pale face , showing the traces of . grief and anxious unavailing thought ; that- right hand drooping past the gold hilt of Lis sword ; that royal head bent down ; tiiatjarge lustrous eye seeking the ground ,-filled me with an indescribable mixture br ^ pitj ^ and awe .

      " v me sultan s tnin figure and pale race disappeared among the brilliant crowd at the gate of the academy . The rain come down , a Levantine spring rain , something like the pouring out of buckets of water , and bands of music and kavashes , Turks , and Franks , yellow slippered Turkish women and Greek-girls all rushed forward in search of a place for shelter . Horsemen galloped furiously back to the town . And while the rain came down , the troops behind the hill fired in platoons to do honour to tbe Sultan , for the Orientals love the report of musketry , and a ' platoon fire is to them the height of enjoyment . "

      Untitled Article

      Two British merchantmen remaining in Russian Baltic ports , were specifically excepted from the facilities for returning home , lately offered py proclamation to all English vessels . The Berlin correspondent of the Times writes — "Lord Bloomfield has * had the half-sad half-gratifying task of forwarding on their homeward course : tlie master and crew of the Anna MacAHster , tbe William Broderic'a partner in affliction under Russian detention , for while William was in durance vile at Revel , Anna was languishing in Cronstadt . They are , however ^ allowed now to be worked back by neutral crews , whilst then * own people , —the Anna MacAhster ' s crew the same as that of the William Broderic , —have been sent on an excursion round by Warsaw and Myslowitz . To meet their travelling expenses and provide

      them with various agrem&ns on the road , the Russian Government presented Captain Evans , the master , with one silver rouble ! ( 3 a . 2 d . ) tor himself and his men ., As Captain Evans was fortunate enough in meeting with a countryman at Warsaw , who had juster views of humanity , and assisted him with 20 / ., he has been enabled to preserve this identical silver rouble , to bo presented to the British Museum , or Greenwich Hospital , or other collection of curiosities . Wherever he may deposit the capital , it is to be hoped that he and his companions will soon return to Cronstadt in the service of Admiral Napier , and pay the interest . " Captain Evans having escaped a species of captivity , succeeded by the torture of compulsory travelling under pecuniary difficulties , allowed himself , on reaching the Berlin railway station , to fall into the delusion that now at least he had got into a free country . Ou being asked for liis

      passport he produced that Russian document , but the recollection of the sufferings ho and his men had just gone through at the hands of that Power , drove him irresistibly to crush the paper in his hand and Bpit on the Russian arms . So flagrant a violation of decorum before the very eyes of a Prussian constable in all the majesty of helmet and fiword , procured him an opportunity of calming his excited feelings in a somewhat scantily furnished apartment , where his company was strictly limited to his own cogitations . After a few hours ' confinement , however , he was liberated , and on reaching the Embassy all Ins troubles censed . " The same happy conclusion is fortunately also to bo related of the six weeks' wanderings of an unhappy English lady ' s-maid , till lately in service in Rusain , and who has been sent about there from pillar to post for that space of time deprived of her passport , till at last she arrived here , and has met with every kindness ut the Uands of Ludy Bloomfield . "

      The Shipping Gazelta publishes tlie following particulars from a lot tor of Mr . II . J . Doinvillc , the surgeon of the Ti ^ er , duted May 15 , in the quarantine ground at Odeswa , in which that oflicer states that ho haa been wonderfully preserved , and able to bwuifit his more unfortunate shipmates . Ho says : — "On tlie morning of Lho 12 th , at C A m ., ho was awoke by the crash of the ship going on ahore , and when tlie denao fop cleared a little , they found themsdves about live miles

      S . E . of Odessa . Guns were fired to attract the attention of the other steamers , but without avail . About nine o ' clock the guns from tlie shore commenced firing . In less than ten minutes the Tiger was on fire in two places . Tbe captain and others frightfully wounded . They could only use one gun , the others having been thrown overboard , or removed to lighten the ship . Mr . Domville performed four amputations before they ' left the ship , which he did almost the last , in the care ot the wounded . Poor Captain Giffard lost his left leg , and has a severe wound in his rieht . His sufferings were most intense for three hours

      under a hot sun . The surgeon's knowledge « f French proved a great blessing , for some of the Russian officers understood it , and be was able to tend into the town for medicine , &c , which greatl y relieved tbe captain . The midshipman , who lost both his legs , and who was a relative and namesake of the captain ' s , died ou the beach , and one man died on tbe road . The surgeon says the kindness of their captors is beyond words to tell . Everything they want is procured at once , and he says he has only to ask and to have . Leave was given them to save what they could , and the surgeon had a few clothes with him . His last words are , ( The captain is doing as well as can be expected . The amputation progressing favourably . '"

      Untitled Article

      The news of the bombardment of Odessa by the combined fleets was received at Aleppo on the 4 th ult . with the most lively demonstrations of enthusiasm . At the same time that tbe cannon of the fortress and the batteries of the barracks celebrated the event , placards , posted up on the doors of the khans , and public criers in the streets , announced the intelligence to the inhabitants .

      Untitled Article

      It was confidently stated at Vienna that the Austrian summons to Russia is equivalent to an . ultimatum . The Carlspihe Gazette states that Prince GortschakofF , the Russian Minister at the Court of Wurtemberg , has been S uddenly recalled to St . Petersburg , and it is expected that this diplomatist , whose pacific opinions are well known , w ill be charged with a mission to the Courts of Berlin and Vienna . The Duke Ernest of Saxe Cobourg Gotha left Vienna on the 27 th ult ., having only remained in that capital for sis days . Tie Prince and . Princess of Prussia , who are now at Baden-Baden , will , it is said , return to Berlin on tbe 7 th .

      The Austrian troops are advancing to the frontier of Wallachia . On the other hand , the Berlin correspondent of the Times writes : — " All the news we receive from Austria coincides on one point , —viz ., that a sudden halt has intervened in the apparently energetic measures which the young Emperor gave the world to believe he was about to take . The details of t / he cessation of tlie military preparations , and the marching of troops towards the north-east frontier , will doubtless by the time you receive this have been reported you from Vienna . One cause of a somewhat altered reeling on the subject of the war has been traced to a certain Bavarian influence , which the young Emperor has very much at heart , but no great stress need be laid on this . Russia ' s assurances that the movements of her troops in Poland , and along the frontier ofGallicia and the Bukowina ,

      have no reference to Austria , and further , that her troops in tbe Danubiun Principalities will not for the present advance __ beyond Silistria and Trajan ' s Wall , but observe a defensive position along the Danube , seem to have met with some credence , backed as they are by the fact that the Russians are taking up a position on the Pruth and Seretb , and strengthening it . But more urgent ground for holding hands at present is to be found , according Lo Austrian views , in the generaal bearing of Prince Napoleon at Constantinople , more particularl y his advocacy and patronage of the plan for forming a Polish legion in Turkish-Servia . The remonstrances made to him on the subject by Baron Bruck have been met by the Prince in a very cavalier manner , and the result is a considerable advantage to the Russian cause by this fit of Austrian paralysis . "

      Untitled Article

      The occupation of Greece by the allied troops is now an accomplished fiict . Five thousand men , under the command of General Forey , landed at the Pirajus on the 25 tb , after taking possession of the Greek vessels of war . On the 26 th King Otho accepted all the proposals of France and England , proclaimed a strict neutrality in the affairs of Turkey , and chnnged his Ministry . It is said that the Queen of Greece was in a state of frenzy at this occupation , and had threatened to ride to the frontier and place herself at the head of the insurgents . We do not hear by what method of

      per-Buasion her Majesty was induced to remain under protection of the Anglo-French arms . It was also saiii that the King had declared that lie would accept the ultimatum on condition only that the Piraius should not be occupied ; but this condition , too , seems to have been overruled . Otho and hia wifo are to be protected from themselves . The moral authority of the Bavarian dynasty is , of course , utterly destroyed . The complicity of the King , nnd more especially of the Queen of Greece , with Kussian intrigues , and with the insurrection in -Kp irus and Thessjily , is proved to the letter in tlie correspondence just laid before tlio Houses nf Parliament .

      In a letter addressed to the King ' s privato secretary , Tzavellas , a chief of the insurgents , ndvorts to ]> ia correspondence with the Greek Minister of War ; bo complains bitterl y that lie has only received 23 , 000 francs , find has been obliged to expendL 4 t ) , 000 ; and he suggests the precious plan of moving tlie l « t and 11 th regiments oi' the Greek army to the frontier , with permission to the woldiers to " deserter forlu ' dement" ftills Greek-French is untranslatable ) , their

      . ^— " ^^^^^¦^^^^¦¦¦ i ^ i ^^^ pay being assure ! to them . Tzavelias ' s complaint that " he is insufficiently supplied with money deserves the attention of the Greek subscribers in London and Manchester to the sustentation fund for the Greek brigands in Epirus and Thessaly . It is clear that their remittances have been em bezzled at Athens . The old proverb about " honour among thieves" does not appear to bold good in modern Greece . Grivas , the favourite of tbe Queen , and one of the leaders of the movement , complains bitterly of the atrocious crimes of his own Christian Greek patriots , in whose behalf the classical and romantic sympathies of our Philbellenes of Western Europe are invoked .

      Untitled Article

      Among many amusing illustrations of the working of whit is called the " Russian system" we may mention that it was rumoured at Constantinople that General Osten-Sacken was menaced with disgrace , and that he would ih all probability be degraded to the lowest rank , and sent to Siberia as a private soldier—notwithstanding the Grand Cross of St . Andrew given him for the * ' victory " he gained at Odessa * . The letters say that he stands charged with not having applied to its proper use two millions of roubles sent so&e time since by the Emperor of Russia for the repairs of the defences of that city . An inquiry was instituted after the bombardment , and the resu . lt has beea highly unfavourable to the integrity of the officials to whose hands the funds wer intrusted . The Tiger , finding all chance of escape or resistance at an end , burnt her ensigns . But the Russian general at Odessa would not be " done out of his " trophies . Accordingly he sent the ensign of an unfortunate English merchant man to St . Petersburg as the flag of ELM . S . Tiger .

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      By the latest news from Constantinople we hear that the best feelings of true brotherhood in arms exist between the two armies . Daily fraternisations , sometimes attended with , ludicrous results take place . On one occasion a French Chasseur and a Highlander exchanged uniforms . Our soldiers get on wonderfully with the Turks . A special correspondent of a daily contemporary writes : — "One day this week , in passing the Koulouk , near the bridge , I observed one of our guardsmen in a most animated debate with a Turkish soldier , and had the curiosity to inquire of the former how lie managed , and whether he knew Turkish ? " Not perfectly , sir , ' said he , * but quite enough to invite my comrade to take a glass . " The Duke of Cambridge , by his unaffected soldierlike frankness and simplicity , is reported to have made himself universally popular .

      Untitled Article

      Tbe rage and panic of the Russian and Court party in Denmark have brought about a serious political crisis . Government has prohibited a public meeting at Ringsted , to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the constitution , at which an address to the King , praying the dismissal of Ministers , was to have been proposed . This crisis is very seriously regarded in Paris , and it is even apprehended that the Danish Government may be brought to its senses by Sir Charles Napier : The protracted stay of the French Baltic squadron has given rise to rumours of an expeditionary force to restore Finland to Sweden . The French fleet was received most enthusiastically , at KieL From 15 , 000 to 20 , 000 tourists , from remote parts of Germany , visited the ships daily . Bll the Opposition papers in Denmark have been indicted .

      Among the papers struck at by the Danish Government is the Paeardand , which on the 27 th published an article identifying the cause of the national party with that of France and England . In this article it is said : — " It is a sad truth , that in spite of Czar Peter the Great , who was , however , in need of our assistance , having duped us , in spite of Czar Peter III . of Holstein Gottorp having aimed at our destruction , in spite of Czar Paul having compelled us to a rupture with England and then left us in the lurch , in spite of Czar Alexander having stripped us of Norway , and finally , in spite of Cz . nr Nicholas having forced us to yield to Prussia , and proved his magnanimity to us by rendering the entire Danish kingdom dependent on the Duchy

      of Holstein—notwithstanding all this , there are people here who look to the Russian Czar as tlie saviour of Denmark , past and future ; and this blindness is the worst of all our misfortunes . Yet rescue is still possible . Providence has made the conflict between the East and the West unavoidable ; the tongue of the balance wavers , and the North might turn the scales to its own deliverance , and to the advantages of humanity : "but the moment is precious . Without the co-operation of the North , England and France at last will be compelled to deliver the Baltic and Denmark up to Russia ; and in tbe case of their subduing Russia with the aid of Sweden alone , Denmark would be the victim . Therefore we must both sink or swim together . "

      Untitled Article

      General Baraguay d'Hilliers , on liis arrival at Paris from Constantinople , went immediately to St . Cloud , where he was received in privato audience by the Emperor . The Minister of Marine has changed the name of a new linc-of-battle ship from I / Annibal to Prince Jerome , by the Emperor ' s orders , in honour of his uncle . 'lho Minister of War has ordered the Englisli national airs God save the Queen , and Rule Britannia , ns well as the Sultan ' s March , to be placed on tho repertory of the military bands throughout tho French army .

      Untitled Article

      Letters from St . Petersburg mention that the Emperor , has passed in review all the troops which are taking their departure , and the Grand Duke Constantine is occupied with the works of defence of Riga , Helsingfors , &c . He has several times visited the forts of Cronstadt . Letters' from the interior announce that , with the exception of Moscow , the troops have been withdrawn from all the garrison-towns . The enthusiasm for the war has singularly declined .

      Untitled Article

      612 THE LEADER . [ . Saturday ,

      Untitled Article

      A fearful thunderstorm took place at Constantinople on the 30 th ult . A sad accident occurred in our camp . Assistant-Surgeon Sinclair and an officer of tho D 3 d wore walking over from the barracks at Scutari to Lheir tents close by ; there was a Bmall rivulet , not generally enough to wet the toe of a boot ; this was swollen , and tlie men held each other's hands to spring over , the flood waa wide and liigh , ; they wore separated ; assistuut-surgeon Sinclair waa stopped by bushes , stones , &c , much bruised ; tho other , Macniuh , of the 98 rd , waB swept into the Bosphorua .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 3, 1854, page 512, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2041/page/8/