A RUSSIAN FLEET IN NEW YORK HARBOR.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 25, 4 January 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

A RUSSIAN FLEET IN NEW YORK HARBOR.

We fear that poor/ Poland has not many friends in America. It is not without a sense of humiliation we publish the following report. . This laudation of Russia, at the moment when she is murdering Poland, is disgusting and abominable i — . The most important news brought by this mail is the announcement of the arrival of a fleet of Russian riien-of-war, under the command of Admiral Lisovski, in the harbor of New York. Every preparation was set on foot to greet its arrival,' and present it as a threat to England and France. It is openly avowed that an alliance has been established, offensive and defensive, between the Northern States and Russia against European interference in favour of the South. Inaugural to the public entertainments which were to be given to the officers of the fleet on a scale of magnificence never before attempted in the city of New York, the Admiral accepted an invitation to a dinner given by Mr James B. Fads, a contractor for building ironclad gunboats for the United States Government. The guest and company assembled at the Metropolitan Hotel on the evening of the 28ih ult. Although the dinner was that of a private individual, the proceedings were marked with all the formality and political relation o£ a public ovation. The following extracts from some of the addresses delive red on the occasion will be all-sufficient to explain the object of the visit of the fleet to the waters of the Hudson. In replying to the toast of the Emperor of Russia — J- Admiral Lisovski said — 'The praise to-!"?vr 7?fj\r?-mr-.. is really deserved by him (cheer.-.). He is certainly not only the benefactor of bis subjects, he is the friend of mankind (cheers.) From what he has already done, and what he is doing every day, he is certainly entitled to the surname which once a Roman Emperor claimed — * The Delight of Mankind.' No less true have been to our hearts the feelings of sympathy and friendship which American citizens have manifested to us (cheers). I assure you, gentlemen, that from the beginning of these difficulties of yours our people have followed with deep interest, and, at the same time, with sorrow, the trials through which you are passing ; but we expect that the talents and energy of the heroes who have already made themselves immortal will save your -country (applause). *' The following observations were made by a General Walbridge, when replying to a toast : — "At the commencement of this century four great Powers struggled for the supremacy of the world — France, England, Russia, and America. Each sought to impress its own views on surrounding nations, and to give to the world the moral aspect of its character and position. England endeavored to cripple the United States. France .sought lo make conquests in Russia. The Frenchman found his grave in Moscow, and the Englishman was driven from the ocean by the American privateers and by the valour of the nation. (Applause.) Since that time those four empires have struggled for supremacy, — Russia, representing one seventh of the earth, dominating the Eastern continent, and America representing the Western hemisphere. England and France, though animated by different convictions, have struggled to suppress the rising greatness of these two nations ; England for the purpose of pursuing a commercial policy, and France for the purpose of impressing her moral greatness upon the world. In the struggle which Russia had in 1854 against France and England, the sympathies of our people were with Russia. (Cheers, and cries of " That's so.") It had been the fond anticipation of Peter the Great that at some future day Russian commerce, sweeping through the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, would rival that of every other nation ; and it was to arrest that movement that France and England stepped in and interfered. It is just, it is proper, it is becoming that now when we are struggling for our existence, Russia should come gallantly to our rescue (cheers.) There is a cordiality between Russia and the United States, and there is a reason for it. It is the* destiny of Russia and of the United States to give bread to all the world, and whoever controls the food of mankind controls their policy. It is, therefore, fit and proper that we should meet and mingle together. It is proper for me to say to our Russian friends that, although there are a million of men in arms up. holding the Stars and Stripes, yet in this magnificent city, there are no evidences of war. We have- determined that, come what will, this cause of ours shall not be, lost; and if any foreign government interfere, we shall pray to God that the spirit of freedom may. commence its march through Europe (applause.) Providence has decreed that there shall be two great hemispheres, one the Eastern and the other ' the Western. The one shall be repre- [ se^ed; by Russia, the other by the ! United States (cheers.) In conclusion, General Walbridge remarked that the Czar, in sending his fleet here, wanted to have it where, at a given signal^; be, could sweep the commerce of England;- \ and France from the seas." '•* Mr Mitchell said he had been talking at dinner to his neighbor, a Russian officer, and alluding to the stay of the squadron here, the officer said they would not ba in a .hurry. We might

have- the gratific^ion /of seeing the squadron hereoot; only for week* ajd/ months, but until Miie fight was -ovebpAA -«• The Rus> tan Admiral, again rising, said— -I helieve it to be the duty M levery people to* defend its -integrity— (cheers)— either to live as a nation or tq die, The^ I hope that the present circumstances will end peacefully ; but, let what will happen,' the same, people who felt so peaceful a short time ago, arenow ready for any sacrifice ; and just as we could see Moscow burned, soshali we notshrink from burning St Petersburg, if necessary (Applause.) If foreign nations are for peace with us, we shall* receive it on honorable terms; and bless our God for that peace. (Cheers.)"' ' '-"Mr Wright had. proclaimed in his seat in the last .Congress that there were but two first class. Powers on. the face of the Globe— the one Russia, and the other the United States of America. He repeated to-night that there were but two first-c-ass Powers in the world—Russia and the' United States, because they were the only two that could, from their -own resources, and within themselves, either put down insurrection Or resist a combination of all the other Powers of the world. (Applause.)" It appears that the entrance of the Russian fleet into New York Harbor was quickly followed by English and French ships of war. The vessels which put in were Her Majesty's ship Nile, with Admiral Milne on hoard, and Her Majesty's steam-frigate Immortal ite and despatch-boat Nimble, with the French frigate Guerriere.