The news possesses features of considerable interest—the most important of which is the announcement of the departure of the expedition against the Crimea. It sailed from Varna on the 4th inst., and was composed of 74,000 troops and about 700 ships, which would be before Sevastopol on the 10th. News of the landing may be expected to reach Varna on the 16th, and would be looked for with the greatest interest.
THE EXPEDITION TO SEVASTOPOL.
The armament consists of 26,000 French and nearly as many English. To these must be added a force of about 15,000 Turks or Tunisians, excellent troops, and likely to be most useful in a country where the spoken language bears much resemblance to their own. It is probable that, should events require it, an additional force of French will be directed to the seat of war, from the other points where they are at present stationed. The smallness of the French contingent is to some extent the effect of the terrible ordeal through which the army of the Marshal St. Arnaud has passed. The troops who left France and Algeria are stated to have attained the number of 73,000 men. Of these 7,000 are dead, and some 6,000 more are unfit for service. There are detachments at Athens, Gallipoli, and a few at Adrianople, and 26,000 will in a few days sail to meet the enemy. Those which remain in the country will, however, form a considerable force, from which re-enforcements may be drawn as the enterprise may require them. The spot intended for debarkation is still a secret. Supposing the army landed and unopposed, it remains to consider what it will attempt. Should an immediate attack on Sevastopol be the object of the commanders, it will be necessary at once to land the heavy siege train, which will be a work of perhaps a week. The Medway, which arrived on the 26th, and is now in Beicos Bay, brings out 10-inch mortars and large guns at the bottom of her hold. These heavy pieces occupied eight or nine days in the embarkation at Woolwich, and an equal length of time will probably be necessary for the more difficult operation of raising them from their present position. But from many incidents it seems likely that the first operations of the allies will be directed against the detachments or garrisons in the vicinity of Sevastopol, if any such are to be found, and that a regular attack on the fortress will not be attempted while the enemy is able to keep the field. The probability of the Russians opposing the landing is, of course, very great. It is of much importance that the expedition should have gained its destination before the great equinoctial gales sweep the Black Sea. Between the 15th and 25th of September these regions are annually visited by tempests of the most destructive kind.
THE BALTIC.—The total destruction of the forts at Bomarsund and the departure of the French troops for France is confirmed.
The fleet had gone from Ledsund to Narga.
Marshal Baraguay d'Hilliers had gone to Berlin.
It was reported that the Baltic fleet would return to England, and that Sir Charles Napier would resign the command. These rumors were considered very doubtful.
An Anglo-French detachment had landed at Ubrioasborg, near Sweaborg, destroyed some gun-boats, and set the town on fire.
THE DANUBE.—Count Coronini entered Bucharest on the 6th inst. at the head of 4,000 Austrian troops. They were well received by the population.
Dervish Pasha has established a Provisional Administrative Council, and named Prince Cantacuzeno the president.
On the 1st Sept. the Russians completely evacuated Galatz and Ibrail.
The navigation of the Danube is free.
On the 4th inst. Gen. Luders removed his head-quarters from Galatz to Reni. Before leaving he blew up the fortifications and strand batteries.
It is reported that the Turks have entered Fokschany.
ASIA.—The accounts from Erzerum, dated the 17th, state that the Russians having abandoned Bajazid it was again occupied by the Turks.
SPAIN.—The intelligence from Madrid is important. The republican party is extremely uneasy, and a new outbreak is considered near. It has been discovered that republicanism is extensively organized and almost ready for action throughout Spain.
GREAT BRITAIN.—The cholera continued its ravages in London, the deaths from that disease during the three weeks ending on the 8th inst., reaching four thousand.
FRANCE.—Military exercises continue at Boulogne. On the 13th inst. the Emperor reviewed ten thousand troops in camp at Ambletesse.