LATEST EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 287, 1 August 1855, Page 4

LATEST EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Malta, 13th April, 1855

(From- the Sydney Empire ) By the steamer Wouga Wonga, from Melbourne this morning1, we have English news to April 2, which was brought from Singapore by the Glendaragh on the evening of the 28th ult. The intelligence via Malta is several days later from the seat of war. bringing the accounts from the allied camps before Sebastopol down to/ April 3, and though scanty and unconnected in some particulars, it is of the highest importance and of a most painful character. There are suine interesting details of the terrible conflict on the night of March 22-23 ; and during the ten subsequent days over which the news extends, the progress of events clearly shewed the near approach of a tremendous crisis in the fortunes of the opposing armies. A conspiracy' discovered in Paris, the object of which was to assassinate the Emperor, has been frustrated. Some fifty or sixty persons were arrested, nearly ail of whom were of the lowest class of socialists. The approaching departure of the Emperor and Empress of the French for England has inspired the political circles with increased hopes of peace. . , The Mnniteur announces that, at the demand - of Prince Napoleon, and in conformity with instructions from the Government, the Minister of Finance has forwarded an official complaint against the publisher of a pamphlet published at Brussels, professing to contain an accouutof the expedition to the Crimea, and calumnionsly entitled a memoir addressed to the French"government by a general officer. The complaint was at once transmitted to the judicial authority.

Our letters from the camp before Sebastopol extend up to the 3rd instant, up to which date a succession of skirmishes had taken place in the direction of Fort Maiakhoff, but unfortunately without any result. This position is how considered the key to the whole southern line of forts, and its capture appears at present the great object of the Allies. Since our previous advices which reached to the 21st ult, each party has been doing its best to annoy the other by a fire of musketry, now and then a mortar, and such like. A pretty sharp fire has been kept up from the whole line of (lie advanced trenches of the allies. As regards loss of life the affair on the night of the 22nd and 23rd may be cited as the most serious. But here we may remark that the greatest difficulty exists in ascertaining a correct account of the occurrences in the Crimea; and as the statements received in letters and viva voce so contradict one'another, particularly as to the losses of the French, that it is quite impossible to come to a satisfactory conclusion. With respect to ourselves, the fact is, officers recount, only what immediately comes before their notice, or what they hear in the camp, and there it seems every one has his own Version, and with respect to the French—they are decidedly averse to acknowledge thenlosses. As to believing the accounts in the Constantinople papers, no~ one havinsr the slightest knowledge of the manner in which the truth is therein perverted to favor the Allies, ever thinks of doing so. According, to them every skirmish terminates with great detriment to the Russians, whilst the allies escape 'with . scarcely any or very insignificant losses. But facts are stubborn things, and although no one doubts of the ultimate success of the allies, still the truth will leak out, and we know for certain, whatever may be said to the contrary, that our losses have been considerable during the past fortnight, particularly on the part of the French. Many versions have been given of the 22nd and 23rd, but the following particulars, taken from letters, and confirmed by repeated inquiries, may perhaps be relied on. The Russians made a sortie in strong force at midnight, the night heing very dark—so dark that an object was not discernible at a distance of ten yards, and passing through the English advanced trenches without being perceived, came suddenly upon the French, when a furious conflict took place, and the French being, quickly reinforced tiie enemy were obliged to retreat, and in doing so had to return through our lines. One letter we have received says that the Russians lost 1146 men. The English alone buried 400 on the ground. Many of the allies were kilied and wounded, and some taken prisoners, and we have to lament the death of several officers. Captain the Hon. Cavendish Brown, 7th Royal Fusiliers, was perfectly riddled, having received no less than five balls in his chest, besides which his left arm and his right leg were broken, and he was severely wounded in the head. His death, poor fellow, must have been instantaneous. Gaptaiu Joseph Jordan, 34th, and Captain Hidely S. S. Nicars, 97th Regiment, are also reported to have been killed. Major Gordon, R.E , and Lieutenant Thomas Mac Henry, were wounded, and Lieutenant Cole and Captain Montague, L.E., taken prisoners, the former being also wounded in two places. It i&said that Colonel Brovvn,44th Regiment, was made prisoner, but we give this without vouching for its correctness. Thirty-nine rank and file are said to have been killed, and a large number wounded. The French io<s was much more seVere than ours; it is utterly impossible to ascertain. The Russians in retreating carried ,away with them a quantity of our trenching tools. On Friday,"the 30th, the Russians made a demonstration in strong force son Balaclava. Every preparation was made to repel the expected attack, but the enemy made no aggressive movement, and on the following day were not to be seen. The French and English have been of late busily engaged in the transport of warlike materials to their respective trenches, and we are now ready to open fire with very heavy metal. They have, it is said 400 rounds, and the 2nd April was fixed for the day in which the strength of the walls of Sebastopol was to be again put to the test. It was, however, postponed till the sth, when it is expected it will be again put off sine die. Nothing, it is believed, will be attempted until the place is completely invested. In the meanwhile, it is strongly suspected

that the Russians are concentrating an immense force, with the object of driving the Turks into the sea, and their present movements about Balaklava and Sebastopol are only -expected with the view of throwing dust into the eyes of the allies as to their real intentions. The present garrison of Sebastopol, it is said, consists only of a very few thousands, the majority having been, it is reported, sent off in haste to assist iv the attack on the Turks—Eupatoria has however of late been greatly strengthened by French Engineers, and on the 25th ultimo was protected by about 50,000 infantry, about 4,000 cavalry, and 120 guns, besides the allied steamers. The guns cover a large area in its vicinity. 6,000 more men and horses were expected over from Bulgaria. Notwithstanding all this, the Turks do not feel comfortable ; they firmly believe that should the Russians attack them again, they will be in vastly superior numbers. They have therefore made a powerful appeal to the English and French Generals for assistance, and we understand these have not thought fit to comply with them. Omar Pasha has also had another interview with them, but of course nothing had transpired. • Some vague rumours have resiehed Malta of a serious engagement having taken place at Eupatoria, in which the Russians were beaten. We believe there is no truth in the veport. We were told that, to the 21st inst., everything there was quiet. On the night of the3lst, at about half-past twelve, considerable alarm was occasioned by the breaking out of a fire on board a steam vessel in the port of Balaklava. The burning ship was immediately taken outside, and, all the fire engines instantly sent to her assistance, and in less than an hour was completely put out. On the following day another fire made its appearance, and on this occasion in the town itself, in the engineer's departments. Fire bells were rung in: all the ships, and engines being quickly brought into play, the.flames were extinguished. The attention of the authorities has lately been seriously occupied in counteracting the bad effects that are likely to ensue as the hot weather approaches, from the immense quantities of decomposing animal matter in the vicinity of the different camps. The dry weather having pulverised the earth, the soil is swept away, and in some instances the bodies of men and animals are exposed v to view. The extreme cold has completely disappeared, and au incessant exhilirating degree of temperature is in its place. The men are in the most part healthy, ■ but strange to say the climate seems to be unfavourable to the recovery of the poor wounded. The whole Crimea at present is a perfect garden, and" it is impossible to walk without putting your feet on the most beautiful wild flowers. Provisions are in abundance. The most laborious half of the railway is completed. Altogether about five miles of vail have been laid down, and this short line, perhaps not more than three miles, we cannot express the great use it has been to us, as well as to our gallant allies, to whom we are now able to reciprocate the obligations conferred on us in our time of need. Nothing further is said of the projected attempt on Odessa, which every day is being strengthened by new force. A wall is being made completely round the town. The reported death of Prince Menschikoff has been contradicted by the Russians, but there are some who believe it to be a truth. Prince MenschiknfFs son, it is said, is a prisoner in the hands of the French. . Persons desirous'of leaving Constantinople for the Crimea or vice versa are now obliged to obtain a special permission to do so. Our correspondent at Constantinople informs us of the arrival there of the Banshee, with 24 hours later news from the Crimea, (the 3rd instant), but we hear of nothing important having taken place. Upwards of 5,000 French troops |left Constantinople on the 20th, 21st March, for the Crimea. Accounts from Smyrna announce the arrival there of Mr. Meyer, the new civil superintendent of the English hospital, with a large staff of medical men and the female nurses. Things are snunh improved since their arrival, and everything is proceeding very satisfactory. The past fortnight'has been unusually prolific in the departures, principally English. Ten or twelve large steamers have arrived from the East, and after a short stay, proceeded to Genoa to embark the Piedmontese troops. Others have touched en route for Marseilles, to take on board French troops. Several have passed through for England with invalids, whilst others

have arrived from England with stores, &c, and left for the Crimea. In all, exclusive of packets the arrivals of steamers amount to about fifty, nearly all having left for their different destinations. Besides this, we have several arrivals and departures of sailing transports, some with fine mules Irom Genoa, for the British army before Sebastopol, others with French troops., mules and horses for tb.3 Crimea. Several hundreds of irules for the-English army are stili in this island, and after recruiting their strength will be sent up to the seat of war in steamers. The French troops which have passed through during; this fortnight amount t0'16,320, of which 1,950 are of the Imperial Guard. Tilt: English troops arrived here in the space of time ainouut to 650, and are all for the depot here. Others are daily expected. It is said it is the intention of the allies to make up their army in the Crimea to 200,000 men ; 50,000 French, it is reported, will be sent out immediately. Letters from Alexandria, of the sth instant, state that the last detachments of the lOth Hussars arrived on the 6th from Cairo,-.where the. Una was arrived to receive them. Other steamers were looked for to take on hoard the remainder on their arrival from Cairo. The Charlemagne, French screw line of battle ship has passed through this with soldiers on her way to the Crimea.