The Royal Mail steamship America, Capt Lang, from Liverpool on the 5th inst., arrived at New York about 5 o'clock this evening.
THE EASTERN WAR.
The news from the Danube continues generally favorable to the allies,—but nothing decisive has taken place.
On the morning of the 30th the Russians are stated to have attacked the Turkish and French camps at Giurgevo, but were totally defeated with the loss of 2,000 killed and a large number of prisoners.
The Russians were retreating in forced marches. They had quitted Frateschi, and it was occupied by the Turks. The evacuation of Wallachia was completed, and a proclamation had been issued declaring that all the soldiers who remained behind would be considered deserters. The Russian troops were being concentrated on the Sereth.
Omer Pasha was expected to arrive at Bucharest on the 31st July, and would meet with a brilliant reception. It is believed that force must be employed to dislodge the Russians from Moldavia. The Austrian Army, under Prince Lichtenstein, is ordered to advance from Pesth to Gallachia, the army in Gallachia moving towards the frontiers.
The Archduke Albrecht has removed his head-quarters to Crousadt, in the South-east corner of Transylvania. The total Austrian force on the frontier, reached 330,000 men, under command of Baron Dekess. The frontiers have not been crossed, but the preparation for hostilities were on a colossal scale. Russia makes no warlike demonstrations toward the Prussian frontiers. The Cholera was increasing in violence at Constantinople.
The third French Division left Varna on the 27th, for Kustendje and Silistria. The accounts from Montenegro are unsatisfactory. Prince Daniel was assuming a threatening attitude towards the Turks at Aputz.
THE BLACK SEA.
The Allied fleets with Generals Canrobert and Brown had proceeded towards the Crimea coast to reconnoitre.
The Times declares positively that a force of from 80,000 to 100,000 men—British, French and Turks, will immediately invade the Crimea, and will attempt to effect a lodgement on the heights that command Sebastopol.
From Asia the reported defeat of the Turks by the Russians at Kars is confirmed, and the Russians were besieging Kars.
Cholera had made its appearance among the British troops.
THE BALTIC.
The fleet was at Letsund at latest accounts. Gen. Baraguay d' Hilliers had had an interview with the King of Sweden. His Majesty declared his willingness to unite with the Western Powers on certain conditions.
De Hilliers, with the French troops, had joined the fleet off the Aland Islands.
Kama Karleby, had been re-inforced by the Russians.
Four hundred British, on the 18th, made a descent on Kolinga, in the island of Desel, and, after destroying four boats, retired.
Since the 23d, the blockade of the ports in the Gulf has been more rigorous, it not being possible for any vessel to enter or leave.
The Prussian Emperor, Archduke Constantine, and the Archduchess had a narrow escape from being captured by an English steamer, near Cronstadt.
A Telegraphic dispatch from Vienna states that the Russians were totally defeated at Slobodzie on the 22d July by the Turks, and that they lost 2,000 men and 500 prisoners. The Austrian Correspondent, however, contradicts this intelligence. 30,000 Ottomans had crossed the Danube at Oltenitza.
Accounts from Varna mention that a grand Council of War was held on the 19th, at which Omer Pasha and the Allied generals were present. The fleets still remained at Baltschik, but great operations were evidently on the eve of taking place. Numerous transports were at Constantinople, working day and night to take in water, provisions and stores. Silistria has been victualled for three months.
Important news was hourly expected from the Baltic. The English squadron, with French troops on board, passed Gothland on the 27th of July. A telegraph from Stockholm states that a heavy cannonading had been heard at intervals in the direction of Bomarsund. Rear-Admiral Martin, with 9 ships, was watching Helsingfors. Rear-Admiral Chads was to effect the bombardment of Bomarsund as soon as the French troops destined to occupy the Aland Islands should arrive. The main force of the allied fleets was at Led Sound, south of the Aland Islands, on the 25th of July.
Another letter from Constantinople affirms that the expedition to the Crimea is positively decided upon, and that it would be commanded by Marshal St. Arnaud, who was to have with him 25,000 men. Flat bottomed boats for the disembarkation of troops were being constructed in the arsenal of Constantinople.
A report was current in London, but believed to be premature, that Bomarsund had been taken with great loss on both sides.
The most important news, however, is that given in the London Times, of the 2d inst., to the effect that the Russian army was in full retreat from Frateschi to Bucharest. Its vanguard was at Schelvala two hours distant from Bucharest. The artillery, baggage and hospitals, in three long columns, were marching to the Sereth. The retreat was affirmed to be from strategic causes.
THE CHOLERA IN FRANCE.
The National Intelligencer publishes the following extract of a letter from an American, now in Europe, dated, Marseille, July 17th, 1854.
I am induced to make some remarks about the Cholera, now in twenty-six departments in France. Perhaps they may throw light on the strange journeyings of this dreadful scourge of God. It appears to have flown over Lyons, a city
surrounded entirely by water. It has never been there—It lighted at Avignon, at the Pope's palace, the highest ground in the city. Out of 800 in that palace, 240 died; the rest went to Arles, carrying the disease with them, and it there raged in the most dreadful manner. Such was the panic that in a population of twenty thousand, only five thousand remained, the rest having fled, no one knows where. The deaths are at present reduced to fifty a day. Some of the soldiers were ordered to Marseilles, to embark for Algeria; they introduced it into this place.
Eighty thousand inhabitants have emigrated; many fled to encamp in the woods. Soon their little means will be exhausted, and they will be forced to seek employment in or near the city, which will add to the victims.
Many die from sheer fear. It is said that fathers have fled, leaving wives and children to follow as soon as necessary articles have been collected; also that mothers have done the very same thing. Families hire wagons, carrying bedding, &c., not knowing where to go, only to get out of the city.
Our streets look as if a second plague existed. At six o'clock the shops close, and everybody retires, while a death-like silence prevails, even on the beautiful promenade Buonaparte, which is usually crowded till midnight. The number of deaths within a few days, have been about 130 per day.
A Government vessel sailed from here on the 10th for Constantinople, with troops. The cholera appeared on board, and they put into Malta, having lost 45. Soon this dreadful disease will be introduced among the troops of Moslem and their allies, also, the Western powers.
From what I have said it would appear that this scourge is not wholly in the air, as is believed in the United States, but is also communicated by travelers. It does not follow the course of rivers; it avoided Lyons, and as stated, never has been there. That city, as regards fresh water, is washed on all sides by two large rivers; one coming from the north of France, passing by Paris, where the cholera is bad; the other from Switzerland. Marseilles is surrounded by the sea; no fresh water is near, and yet see how it suffers.