TURKEY AND RUSSIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 178, 3 June 1854, Page 5

TURKEY AND RUSSIA.

The Answer of the Czab. {From the Times.) _„ Vienna, January 20th. The following may be implicitly relied on as forming part of the next Russian declaration :— The Vienna proposition?, besides being incompatible with the Emperor's dignity, only serve to divert attention from the real question at issue between Russia and the Porte, and they are, therefore, unconditionally rejected. " To prove, however, that he is still inclined to treat, the Emperor has appointed Prince Gortschakoff his Plenipotentiary •. and to him ! the Porte has to apply whenever it is inclined to negotiate. Such a step on the part of the Porte will, however, be useless, should it act under the erroneous impression that the Emperor will depart from any condition laid down by Prince Menschikoff. " Any Plenipotentiary by the Porte must be provided with a firman, in which it is specified that the Porte, considering the present difference to be exclusively between Russia and itself, acknowledges that it must be settled between these two Powers." The New Prussian Gazette, tinder the date of Vienna, 17th, says:—"The reply of the Cabinet of St. Petersburg to the circular note of M. Drouyn de Lhuys arrived here yesterday. Russia insists on her pretensions. The conference of ambassadors again assembled to-day." Another letter of the 18th, while confirming: the substance of the Czar's pretensions, declares that the form of the answer is moderately conceived. The Patrie says:—rA report has been current to-day, on the faith of the last news from Vienna, that a sanguinary engagement had taken place near Ibrail, and that the Russians, who had attempted to cross the Danube near that spot, had not succeeded." This account is at variance with that jgiven by telegraph of the crossing of the Danube at Silistria. A correspondent of the Pays, in giving an account of the entrance of the fleets into the Black Sea, says:—" The Henri IV. was the first to start in tow of a frigate, and proudly passed along with every sail set. The others followed each as they were ready; and as the French fleet were at anchor in advance of the English, it had the apparent honour of leading the van. But when the English line of battle ship, the Queen, bearing the flag of Admiral Lyons, got under weigh, without waiting to be taken in tow, and dashed into the Bosphorus with all the precision and rapidity of a steamer, a shout was raised on the shore in applause of the admirable way in which she was handled." PY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH. (From the " Standard," Jan. 23.) Vienna, Saturday, Jan. 21. A Russian official communication was published at Trieste yesterday by the central naval authorities. All vessels carrying ammunitions of war, and stopped by Russian cruisers in the Black Sea, will be regarded and treated as good prizes, whether belonging to a hostile or neutral power or nation. Advices from Galatz, of the 12th inst. state that 2000 Russians, under General Engelhardt, crossed the Danube in steamers, and destroyed two Turkish villages. They have erected entrenchments on the right bank. At Reni, on the left bank of the Pruth, at its junction with the Danube, the Russians had made preparations for a speedy passage. The latest advices from Lesser Wallachia left Prince Gortschakoff at Krajova, employed in concentrating his forces at Radovan, prior to a grand attack on Kalafat. The Russians at Giurgevo are preparing to attack Rutschuck. The latest intelligence from the theatre of war indicates an early collision along the whole line of the Lower Danube, from Widdin to the sea. An early aggressive course of this extent is rendered necessary to the Russians, from the occupation of the Euxine by the combined fleets, which had sailed northward out of sight of the Bosphorus, and by the disaffection of the Moldavians and Wallachians to the cause of the Czar, signified by the protests of their respective Hospodars. Thus cut off by the hostility of the natives from the local supplies, even were not the country already exhausted, and debarred of all sustenance to be brought by sea, the Russian army in Wallachia must perish from famine, if it fail to obtain access to the rich province of Bulgaria, on the

right bank of the great dividing river. It is well to bear this consideration in mind, as, disregarding it, we might assume that the Russian commander acts from the consciousness of a superiority of strength, and not, as the truth is, from the necessity of his position. His circumstances require that he advance or starve ; and small as may be his encouragement to advance, it is obviously the preferable branch of the alternative. Accordingly, Gortschakoff is renewing preparations for an attack on Kalafat; other preparations are in progress for crossing, while the intelligence from St. Petersburg varies little from our previous intimations from the same quarter. Nicholas is as absurd and obstinate as heretofore; he persists in rejecting any terms proposed through the heretofore neutral powers, but intimates that he has invested his commander-in-chief with a diplomatic function as Plenipotentiary to the Sovereign whose dominions this same Gortschakoff has invaded and plundered, and whose subjects he, this same Gortschakoff, has denounced as Pagans, and devoted to annihilation. For such insolence as a reference to such a plenipotentiary there can i be but one excuse, viz:—that Nicholas is the I son of Paul and the brother of the Warsaw Constantine. Accounts were received in Paris yesterday by i telegraph to the effect that a battle commenced at Matchin on the 13th between the Russians and the Turks, which had not terminated when the despatch came away. Another telegraphic message states that the Russian troops had crossed the Danube, and occupied the town of Silistria. M. Kisseleff still remains in Paris ; but arrangements are made for his immediate departure so soon as he shall receive instructions from his government for that purpose. Letters from St. Petersburgti intimate that as Austria cannot maintain a neutral attitude, a strong suspicion is entertained that she will act with her friendly ally, Russia. The director of the Society o,f the Landed Property Bank of the Kingdom of Poland was recently sent for by Marshal Paskiewitch. " We are in serious circumstances,'* said the Prince, " and I must request the society to perform an act of patriotism and fidelity to the Emperor. It must be prepared to advance the funds requisite for a loan, to assure the service of the army in the kingdom." " But," replied the director, " the society is not instituted for that purpose; it can only advance money to landed proprietors, on a mortgage of their property ; any other act is contrary to the statues which but recently received the renewed approbation of the Emperor*" " All that is well," replied the Prince, " in ordinary times ; but we want money, and if an order from the Emperor is necessary, you shall have one."— Home Neivs. Later accounts from St. Petersburgh continue to confirm those heretofore received, and represent the Emperor Nicholas as living in a state of lt religious exaltation," and the people as worked up to the highest pitch of fanaticism; while the journals are full of denunciations and expressions of rage at the interventions of the Western Powers between Turkey and her "protector" the Czar. The Post Ampt Gazette contains a letter from Berlin of the 19th, which says ; —" Intelligence has arrived here from Warsaw that the Czar j has demanded, for the eventualities of the war, I the twenty-five millions formino; the capital of the private bank. Prince Paskiewitch is to set out, it is said, for St. Petersburgh, to take part | in the deliberations of the Emperor's Council. Since two Russian corps d'armee have been placed under the command of Prince Gortschakoff, Prince Paskiewitch has only two corps under his immediate command.'1 From the Times, ]Oth February. Our Vienna correspondent sends the following despatch, dated. "Vienna, Thursday morning. "We learn by telegraphic advices from Constantinople, that the Turkish Cabinet has been dismissed, and that one in favour of a compromise with Russia has been formed." "Vienna, Wednesday, 4 p.m. " Count Orloff left at nine o'clock this movning taking with him the positive assurance that Austria and Prussia will remain neutral. " Although the Russian Envoy offered to give up his pretensions to treat with Turkey alone, his new propositions were rejected. " The English Ambassador was very positive in consequence of express instructions from home on the subject.

"According to General Schilders'report to the Russian Embassy, the army of occupation is in a pitiful condition, the original corps being thirty-five thousand men weaker than when it crossed the Pruth in July last. "All the foregoing is authentic. " The Seraskier and Kapudan Pasha have left the Cabinet, Riza and Achmed Pasha have succeeded them."

The demands of Kussia, communicated by Count Orloff to the Court of Vienna, merit for their extravagant insolence a distinct enumeration. They are four in number: — First, that the Porte send to the Russian head-quarters in Wallachia —not to St. Petersburgh—a plenipotentiary authorised to offer the —"terms" we will not call them—but the " submissions" that follow. Second, that the Porte renew all former treaties with Russia, notwithstanding the flagrant violation of them by the latter power. Third, that the Porte gives an engagement not to afford shelter to political refugees. Fourth, that the Povte invest Russia with the Protectorate of all the Greek Christians in its dominions. These insolent and insulting propositions were indignantly refused by all the Western powers.— Melbourne Morning Herald,

(From the ""Sydney Herald," April 28;) By the " Kathay," Captain Stoddart, we bare English papers to January 30th. This vessel left the Downs on the 2nd of February, but had no communication with the shore after leavingl Gravesend. We quote largely from the special correspondents of' the Times aud Morning Post. A great battle took place near Kalafat on the 20th ult. The issue was completely in favour of the Turks, who have retaken two islands in the Lower Danube. The Russians lost 4000 men, and 28 pieces of cannon. As soon as the news of the disaster reached the Wallachian capital—on the ?th—troops were despatched to Lesser Wallachia, and reinforcements have been marching in that direction erer since. At the same time, orders were given to the commanders of the principal posts on the Danube to make inroads into Bulgaria, iv order to divide the Turks, and facilitate the operations against Kalafat. Prince Gortschakoff derived so little encouragement from the aspect of Osten-Soc-Jcen's worn-out legions, that had not the order from St. Petersburgh been formal to attack'Kalafat, he would have decided running the risk of another defeat, which, as the event proved, he too plainly foresaw. The insurrection of the Wallachiaus against their Cossack oppressors was spreading, and the latter were paying severely for their exactions. The Journal de St. Petersburg, of the 20th, announces, as follows, the course adopted by the Ilussian Government respecting the notification of the entrance of the combined squadrons into the Bliick Sea:—"The public have been informed already by the foreign journals, of the order given by Great Britain and France to their combined fleets to enter the Black Sea. As this order has been notified only verbally to the Imperial Cabinet, it has thought proper, in the first instance, to demand in London and Paris, categorical explanations as to the character and extent which the two Governments give to the measure. On the result of these explanations will depend its ulterior attitude. " A letter from St. Petersburgh, of the 19th iv the Cologne Gazette, says, " The Emperor has addressed a lettei to the merchants of Moscow, thanking them for the readiness with Avhich they have supplied articles for the hospitals of the armies who are fighting against the enemies of Christianity. The Czar on the advice of Count Nesselrode, has considered the combined fleets in the Black Sea as a measure similar to their entrance into Besika Bay. There i<=, therefore, a hope that peace will be maintained. The Emperor, besides, has not ordered any note rejecting- the propositions for peace to be drawn up. It is probable that the difference with Turkey will be adjusted without an intervention.

Thf. i( Retribution" at Sebastopol.—The following; is another account of Captain Dmmmond's haniy adventure in the redoubtable liussian port: "The 'Retribution,' when sent to Sebastopul with the notification to Prince Menschikuff of the entrance of the fleet into

the Black Sea, arrived before break of day off the entrance of the port, and the fog being very thick, she was in the very centre of the port before she was discovered from any of the batteries. On the fog clearing away all the forts lired guns with blank cartridge in order to stop her advancing further. Having arrived as far as he wished, the captain immediately came to an anchor. The 'Retribution' was very soon after boarded by a Russian officer, who told the commander of the frigate that he had entered further than was allowed and signified to him that he must return. Capt. Drummond replied that he had come on a special mission to deliver some despatches to the superior authorities. The Russian officer said that he could not even listen to that explanation until the vessel had quitted the interior of the port, and had retired beyond the reach of the cannon, and. that the captain must immediately give orders to get under weigh, or the regulations would compel the forts to sink him. Capt. Drummond said that he should be very sorry to infringe in any way on the established regulations, and gave orders to get under weigh. This was, however, a work of some lime, for the anchor held so fast that it was very difficult to start it. When at last under weigh the " Retribution," going at a slow rate, ran along the whole of the fortifications, and again came to anchor at the spot which had been pointed out to her captain. When there, a Russian officer came on board, to inform himself of the object of the arrival of the vessel, and said that the admiral and the governor were both absent,but that there would be plenty of time to be informed of his arrival before the English frigate had performed quarantine. This Gapt. Drummoud refused to accede to, saying that his mission was confined to delivering his despatches, which he did in exchange for a receipt, and soon after left to rejoin the combined fleets at Sinope. This is the first time that a foreign vessel- of war has been able to enter the port of Sebastopol, and there is every reason to believe that the English officers not only carefully examined all the fortifications of the place, but also took a plan of them. There were only five or six line of battle ships in the port, most of them disarmed, it is therefore certain that the Russian fleet is not there, and it is said 1 that they have anchored at Theodosia, on the eastern coast of the Crimea.

The following order was promulgated at Portsmouth on the Bth February: —" All Greenwich pensioners, under 60 years of age, no" matter how employed or engaged, are directed to attend at the Pension-office between this day and Saturday next, for the purpose of receiving a printed form to attend on Tuesday, the 14th instant, at 12-o'clock, for inspection by officers from the Admiralty, to ascertain their fitness for the service. If this notice is not attended to they will be subject to the loss of pension." Further orders had been received for the drafting one-half of the coast guard on board various line of battle ships. This step will add to the naval service about 3000 of the most efficient and steady men it could possibly receive. The Frolic, 16, Commander Nolloth, has hoisted the signal for recalling on board all her officers and men. Her destination was Australia, l>ut she will remain on the Home station to aid in the formation of the Baltic fleet. Her orders now are to proceed on a fortnight's cruise. Some idea may be formed of the number of recruits entering the royal marine branch of the service, when it is stated that during the month of January, 130 fine young men passed their medical inspection for the Woolwich division, and they are now instructed daily in their drills and a knowledge of the ship gun exercises under Captain Poyne. Admira.ltt Survey on the Baltic.—The Admiralty have appointed Mr. Peter Welling-' too, master, R.N., to commission the steam sloop Hecbi, and, with half-a-dozen oilier masters of the Royal Navy, ami with a competent complement, to proceed to the Baltic, to muke careful surveys aud soundings of the approaches. Military Preparations. The military preparations being made were as vigorous as the naval ones. The following is a list of the regiments under orders for Constantinople, together with the dates at which they are directed to hold themselves in veiuliness'Ao embark:— 4th (King's Own). . . 22nd March 7th (lloyul Fusiliers) . . 25th. —

9th ..... 6th — 14th 3rd — 17th . . . . . . 4th — 21st (Royal North British Fusiliers) . . . 15th — 27th (Jnniskillen) . . . 10th —' 28th 17th — 35th ..... 13th _ 38th . ... . . 25th —. 39 th 2nd —" 42nd (Royal Highlanders) . 30th — 50th (Queen's Own) . . 18th — 62nd . . . . .sth — The Dublin Evening Mail, a good authority,' adds the following:— 63rd .. . „ . , 7th March 79th (Cameron Highlanders): 22ud — 82 nd ' 16th — 88th (Connaught Rangers) . 27th — - 89th . . .... . -Ist --' " 90th (Perthshire L. Infantry), 9th. — 93rd (Sutherland Highlari lers)2lst -— 96th . . . '■.'■•=■ . 24th -— The following regiments will remain in the' United Kingdom to do home duty ; The 34th, 20th, 97th, 46th, 33rd, 70th, 91st,' 12th, 19th, and the Irish Brigade.