THE steamer Arctic, which left Liverpool at 1 P. M. on Wednesday, the 8th inst., arrived at New York on Sunday morning at 7 o'clock, making the voyage in 10 days and 18 hours.
The influx of emigrants into Liverpool at present surpassed anything of the sort ever before known. The majority are from Ireland, and are bound either for the United States or Canada. The price of steerage passengers now ranges as high as £5 10s, owing to the scarcity of shipping and number of passengers offering.
At Liverpool breadstuffs had again slightly advanced, and Cotton was rather better in tone but without leading to much business.
PROGRESS OF THE WAR.—On the 28th March, Hirsova was taken by the Russians, who also made themselves masters of the strong position of Babadagh, and are consequently in entire possession of the Upper Dobrudja. The Cossacks patrol as far as Kostendje. And, according to the Fremdenblatt, the fort of Isaktchi was taken by the Russians on the 27th. Imperial accounts that are at hand say Hirsova was taken after three days' assault. It will be some days ere reliable statements can be received.
As soon as Gorchakoff had established himself in the Dobrudja, he issued a proclamation to the inhabitants similar to that which was published in Moldavia and Wallachia. In connection with Gorchakoff's movements, it is mentioned that five steamers, towing barges containing 4,000 men, had left Sevastopol for the western (Turkish) coast of the Baltic Sea. If this be true, they run a chance of meeting with the ships of the allied fleet, now cruising along that shore. Prince Paskiewitch was to set out about the 15th instant from Warsaw, for the seat of war. The Emperor will not himself go to the Principalities.
There is no doubt that the Russians have lodged themselves in the force stated; namely, over 50,000 men—on the Turkish bank of the Danube. Opinions are however divided as to the importance of this movement. While some view it as a great triumph to the Russians, others profess themselves unable to see what advantage the invaders expect to gain by it. They (the Russians) are not yet in Bulgaria, nor on the route to Constantinople, but in the Dobrudja, an immense marshy plain, without any point d'appui and deprived of communications. Behind them is the Turkish force of 25,000 to 30,000, and before them a line of fortresses, such as Silistria, Kostendje, Varna, and Shumla, between them and the Balkan. It is true that in 1828 the Russians entered the Dobrudja by Hirsova, as they have done now, and proceeded on to Varna and Silistria, but then the sea was open. Omer Pasha, too, who is not given to vain boasting, has said in a dispatch published at Constantinople that if the enemy would not cross the Danube, it would render a great service to his plan of operations! That we are on the eve of some important event there can be little doubt, and the result of the movements on the Austrian frontier, and the next operation of the Russians on the right bank of the river are to be awaited with much anxiety.
THE FLEETS.—Admiral Napier's fleet came to anchor off the island of Moen, and having been considerably augmented since its departure from England, now numbers 22 ships carrying 1252 guns and 12,500 men. This fleet will soon be further increased by the St. George, 120 guns; James Watt, 91 guns; Caesar, 91; Nile, 91; Majestic, 80; Boscawen, 72; Odin, 16; Miranda, 14; Rosamond and several other steam-sloops.
The Miranda surveying steamer reports, under date March 28, respecting the Russian fleet, that one division is at Revel frozen in, the ice being very thick, with no symptoms at present of being early broken up. The Russians expecting that the island of Oesel will be the first object of attack, have placed there a garrison of 30,000 strong.
The Turks in the Dobrudja are under the command of Mustapha Pasha, and amount to twenty battalions, or from 15,000 to 20,000 men, of regular infantry; 2000 irregulars, on foot; one regiment of regular and one of irregular cavalry—altogether, 2500 horse, with 48 cannons. Omer Pasha has a high idea of Mustapha Pasha's generalship. In a few days we may hear of a conflict, either at Babadagh or along the wall of Trajan, between Karassa and the Euxine.
The Emperor Napoleon has resolved to advance 10,000,000 francs to the Sultan.
Affairs in Spain are again reported as very critical, and an outbreak is expected at any moment, especially as the French Court is now decidedly hostile to the Spanish Government.
The steamer Hermann, via Southampton, carried out the formal declaration of war of England and France against Russia.
The London Times of March 29th, says:—War is declared. A peace which has lasted the unexampled period of thirty-nine years, which many fondly hoped was to last as many more, is at an end; and the three most powerful States of Europe are once more engaged in a struggle, the duration, the end and the results of which, no man can tell; but which is too likely to produce disasters and sufferings, of which we are mercifully spared the foreknowledge. It is not for us to attempt to lift the veil of a futurity which must be sad in many respects; nor is there any need.
The Russians are making stern preparations for hostilities in the Baltic. It was supposed that the first collision would occur at Oesel island. All light-houses and buoys are removed, and formidable fleets of gun-boats are collected in shallow waters at the principal points. Masses of rock are dragged along the ice to intricate parts of the channel, to block it when the ice shall melt. All houses in Cronstadt not capable of defense are pulled down. New batteries are every where erecting, and two hundred additional gun-boats are ordered forthwith. The Czar and his sons are personally superintending the preparations.
Shipments of troops from France and England continue to go on rapidly. France has already shipped 20,000 and England 10,000.
A treaty of the triple alliance between France, England and Turkey, was signed on the 12th of March, at Constantinople.