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Leader (1850-1860), 23rd June 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 594, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      "On the following day a frigate approached , and fired oa the place ineffectually for two hours . " The Dantziccorrespondent of the Times says : — "The Jtigatrring has arrived with the mails . " ¦ Lieutenant Geneste , Dr . Eastern , and Mr . Sullivan are prisoners , btit wounded . "

      Untitled Article

      WAR MISCELLANEA . The Present Condition of Sebastopol . — The Times Berlin , ^ correspondent writes as follows : — " The official reportsof the state of Sebastopol received . in St . Petersburg at the beginning of this month no longer exhibit the same satisfactory picture of tilings- as previous to the last bombardment . The south side of the town has- suffered very considerably ; a number of houses are piles of ruins ; of others only the external -walls are distinguishable ; and the theatre , which is endeared to the Russians by so many recollections , has Geased to exist . The northern portion of the town has by no means suffered so much , but yet there is hardly a house there the walls or roof of which have not been perforated by grenade , shell , ball , or rocket , or the window-panes and frames of which have not been destroyed by fragments of exploding shells . "

      -The Cokbesfoxdence between the Govenenment mso > Admiral DirmoAS , the late Commander of the Black Sea Fleet , to- Av \ hich reference was made in the recent war debate , has been published . It shows that the Admiralty impressed upon Admiral Dundas , in the course of last October , the necessity of blockading the Bay of Kherson and the river Dniester , of obtaining an entrance into the Sea of Azof , of attacking all parts of the coast from the mouths of the Danube to the Isthmus of Perekop , and of

      bombarding Odessa . To these directions , the Admiral replied by stating that he had for some time desired to obtain possession of the Sea of Azof , by means of seizing Kertch , but that he could not obtain troops enough for the purpose ; and that he designed to attack Odessa , but that General Canrobert and Lord Raglan conceived that such an expedition at that time would be disadvantageous rather than useful . Under date of December 8 th , the Admiralty again express their desire that Odessa should bombarded .

      Miss Nightingale . —Mr . C . II . Bracebridge has sent home from Scutari , under date of the 7 th , a brief narraof Miss Nightingale ' s labours at Balaklava , and her xeturn to Scutari in Lord Ward ' s yacht . At the date mentioned , she was extremely weak , but " had no remains of fever and no danger was apprehended . " She ttusts to be soon able to return to Balaklava . Miss Nightingale was visited while sick by Lord Raglan at the huts , and again on board the yacht . The house of the chaplain is placed at her disposal , and she has been offered the use of the British Palace at Pera by Lord and Lady Stratford de Redcliffe . The Sappers' Church in the Cuimjja . —This edifice

      is- constructed in a very singular manner , being composed wholly of siege apparatus . The articles employed in the construction are scaling-ladders , gabions , fascines , timber ready cut and shaped for gun-platforms , a few planks , and some pieces of rope . Two scaling ladders locked into each other at the top , so as to give and derive mutual support , form at certain intervals the columns which separate the aisles from the body of the church , and bear the roof . As these articles are not rendered unfit for their original and more legitimate use , they may be said to be laid up in . Btore , ready at a moment ' s notice to be brought into active instead of passive service .

      Russia stxh , Craving fok Peace . —The effect « f our recent successes is becoming evident even in the Russian capital . It would appear , from an article in a recent number of the Journal of St . Petersburg—an article winch , though put forward as an answer to the pastpublished circular of Count "Walewski , is very pacific in its tone—that Russia still leaves a door open for honourable reconciliation . It must ho borne in mind that thiai journal is the recognised mouthpiece of the Russian Government . A letter from St . Petersburg , of the 5 th , in the News of Hamburg , says : —" TJio Synod of St . P / etersburg has presented an address to the Emperor , earnostly praying him to show himself more disposed towards conferences of peace , in so far aa the political interests of the stutc would permit . It is notlcnown how the Emperor has received this address . "

      Winter Station at Gothland . —Negotiations have beon opened with the Swedish Government for ceding the island of Gothland to England and France , in order to form a winter Htation for the fleets , which would then bo able to anchor in the safe and commodious harbour of Faro Sound , and not bo obliged to return homo ut the end of the campaign . — Daily News . The Fojuciun Lkguon . —At Altona , a . royal proclamation haa l > Gon published , forbidding enlistments for the Foreign Legion . The penalty for disobedience is night years' imprisonment and hard labour .

      Turn Baltic Rlkist . —Tho Berlin Correspondent of the . 2 'irnea , waiting on Juno 21 st , says i— " Tho dotuohment of tho fleet under Rear-Admiral Huynen , consisting ofi / ivc Unora , two frigates , and ton gunboats , loft Kiol harbour early on Wednesday , tho 20 th of Juno , for Cronatadt . " Diarrhoea , we rogrot to say , i » atill prevalent in the fleet . A'MoNUMiiwr at .. Scutari . —Wo understand that it ,

      ia the intention of the Government to apply to Parliament for a vote of public money , which is to be applied in erecting a monument in commemoration of our soldiers who have died at Scutari . A design for the monument has already been prepared by the Baron Marochetti . This , tribute of respect to the memory of so- many brave men , the victims of disease and neglect , wall , we are . sure , be willingly ) rendered by the nation . It was suggested some time ago by Miss Nightingale , and her Majesty is said to feel a lively interest in its realisation —Times .

      The Struggle at the Quarries ani > xhe Mamjexon . —The Times correspondent , in detailing the inci dents of thcmemorablc 7 th of June , makes the following singularly vivid comparisons : —• " The attempt to retake the pits was desperately pushed , the Russians pouring in a most terrific discharge of musketry , which caused us no small loss , and , as it came up the gorge , contending with the . fresh wind , sounded in the distance like tcater gulped simultaneously from a thousand bottles . A new crop of battle grew up over all the intervening hollow between the Round Tower and the Mamelon ;

      and the ripple of musket-shots plashed and leaped all over the broad hill-side . . . . The tower itself , or rather the inglorious stump of what was the Round Tower , took and gave shot and shell and musketry with the most savage ardour and rapidity . The lire of its musketry was like one shelf of flame , rolling backwards and forwardswith a dancing movement , and , dwarfed as it was by the distance , and seen by tis in profile , could scarcely * be compared to any thing small or large , except the notes of a piano flashed into fire throughout some rapid tune . " ' ¦

      Sai > Doings at Kektcii . —A letter from Kertch m the Times gives some humiliating details of the excesses committed by the Turkish troops , and , in a few instances , by the French and English in the late occupation of that town . Some horrible atrocities were committed upon women and children by the soldiers of the Sultan , aided occasionally by the more evil-disposed among their allies ; and it was not until the French put several of the miscreants to death that order was restored . The Russians , upon our entering the town ,

      offered bread and salt in token of submission ; but the cruelty and lust of the more ruffianly part of the army were not to be appeased . A great many -very interesting ; antiquities were utterly destroyed in wanton malice ; and we arc ashamed to add that some English merchant soamen were concerned in the devastation . The writer from whom we derive the foregoing facts says that Kertch has been all but sacked , and that to the apathy or neglect of Sir George Brown is to be attributed these disgraceful excesses . In the face of such facts , we are the less able to impugn the barbarity of the Russians .

      Untitled Article

      LETTERS FROM THE BALTIC . ( Extract from Private Correspondence . ") II . M . S . , off Cronstadt , June 11 . . .. The blockade of ' 55 will annoy the inb abitants of St . Petersburg far more than that of ' 54 , as this year all the coasting as well as sea ^ going traffic has been stopped . The line-of-battle ships , moored in a single line about two nviles westof the Tolbouken lighthouse , sweep the gulfifrom shore to shore , and hermetically seal the entrance to the Neva . Astern of each line-ofbatble ship is her steam-gunboat . Closer in to

      Cron-Btadt are the frigates and sloops , which however are seldom at anchor , as nearly every day two or three of them weigh and chase small sloops which endeavour to break the blockade ; others hover about the gulf , picking up every craft which leaves either shore . About thirty of these small coasters huvc been taken , most of them kwlcn with wood , two or three of them with cut stone for the new batteries at Cronstadt , and one with tallow for the same place—probably a delicious meal for the garrison . The firewood came in hancry for the fleet ; the prizes were sunk , as not being of sufficient value to send home .

      Apropos to firewood , I am glad to tell you Admiral Duudus hus partially adopted the hint I gave the Admiralty last March in the columns of your excellent paper . Orders have been issued for every ship to cut wood on Nargen whenever an opportunity occurs , but tho admiral has not thought proper to direct any allowance to bo made for such extra work . A shilling a ton would be little enough for the wear and tear of clothing to which tho men of our corps ( Koyal Marines ) are subjected by this new duty . A . barbarous murder has been commit ted utHango

      Ileatl . The Cossack , 21 guns , having some masters of merchant vessels , prisoners of war , on board , was off the Point on the 5 th inst . Captnin Fan . shawo , not wishing to det ain the prisoners , who were in bad health , landed them with a flag of truco . Tho officers' stewards , who were- assured by the prisoners that tho country people would gladly sell them provisions , accompanied tho prisoners . On Lieutenant Goneslo landing witli seven of his crew , the surgeon and a Hiaster'H assistant , he was met by an officer who said In English , " Wo don ' t w * nti any of your cl—d flags of truce . " A lire from a party in , ambush

      dropped immediately all the English and their r > ' soners , some say ten in number . Five ruen had l " left in the boat , but a second volley finished these in but one , who , insensible and desperateJy w ounded ' naged shortly afterwards to paddle off from the shorp " The next morning he was picked up by the Cossack Comment on this dark deed is unnecessary . Tho voi of Europe will condemn it * I trust our admiral wiH avenge it . The humanity system of war- making iaUS * now end . Captain Fanshawe is blamed by many for want of caution , and for testing the good faith of the barbarians with a flag of truce . He has erred in common with others , and must feel more acutely , but not more justly than Lord John Russell at "Vienna that English honour and confidence are no match for Muscovite cunning .

      What are we to do ? "No- one can answer . Three English line-of-battle ships watch Sweaborg , where the Russians have five ready for sea . Ten English and three French liners are here , -where we can make out eleven line-of-battle ships , six frigates , and six steamers , ready for sea , with about nineteen dig . mantled liners . At Ilevcl we have one line-of-battle ship ; the Russians several gunboats . The latter have also some other steam-gunboats in Cronstadt two of which came out last Saturday , when the Russians exploded one of Jacobi ' s infernal machines under the Merlin , but with no success . * Two other caissons were equally effective ; and so the gunboats having maintained a spirited fire at the short range of five miles , returned to report their victory to the governor . I have estimated the amount of the Russian naval force as nearly as a spy , glass will allow

      me to do , but I cannot iniorm you as to the seaworthiness of the vessels , or the composition of tlic crews . The majority of the ships , I am inclined to think , cannot go to sea , while their crews may , for the most part , be distinguishing themselves at Odessa or Sebastopol . Our want of information is our weak point . Break through routine for once , and send a naval officer with 10 , 000 / . secret service money to Stockholm , tell our ministers and consuls to mind their own business , we may then hope for a more correct account of the Russian fleets and

      armies in 5 C , perhaps in 55 ,. and we shall be stronger than five liue-of-battle ships more can make us . At present we know not thenuniber , nor even the description of troops , in Northern liussia . Yours , &c ,

      Untitled Article

      SIR CHARLES NAPIER AND Sill JAMES GRAHAM . The subjoined singular and interesting correspondence was read at a meeting of the Sheffield Committee for investigating Foreign Affairs , held at the Council Hall of the town . The occasion was a motion requesting Mr . Roebuck to move the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the Baltic expedition of last year . Mr . Ironside , the originator of the motion , stated that , in consequence of hearing that the whole of the correspondence between Sir Charles Napier and Sir James Graham was in the hands of Mr . Grant of the Morning Advertiser , he wrote to that gentleman , and received the following reply : —•

      " London , June 11 , 1855 . Dear Sir , —I hud in my possession for six weeks the whole ; correspondence—the originals—which passed between Sir J : mics (" . ' niham an

      On receipt of this , Mr . Ironside wrote tu bir Charles Napier , asking permission to sec the letters , He received tho subjoined answer : — u Mcrehinton llorndeau , . June 17 , 18 a . > . . Sir ,- —Mr . Grant haa told you tho truth . 1 did not /; iv «; those letters to him to publish , because I might , huvc l >|"' ii accudtxl of giving- my pUins of attack to tho enemy ; l >" whoa it is decided not to utluok tho purtu 1 | i <» inUMMiut , and whoa there ia no danger of publication , I nhull go « JLord rulinui-Mton , and ask him if he will givo t' » P"l ) etrt to tho lloiiMO ; and if hu refuses , 1 ahull then publish thum —whatever is tho consequence to wyHull " . 1 uav 0 ""

      * Other accounts of tho cxpkwion state Unit l >> " l ) ll ) W waw a « if tho voa . sol had conic against a muilcn roc * , causing it to quiver a good deal , and purtl ; ' <» tllU ' round : all , however , arjruo that no material danmg" "' " dono . Movcrul articles of conHuloruMo weitf hl- AV 0 ' jerked out of thoir places , and Home crockery wan '"' 1 ) KC ' ' but tho roaulfc wan of tho most trilling kiml-Lcadw .

      Untitled Article

      / ¦ ; ; V :: ¦ ¦ - . : ¦; , ¦ - ' . ¦ - ¦ ¦¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ __ - & 94 i THE I ^^^ J ^ L 3 ^ - [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 23, 1855, page 594, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2096/page/6/