The Lyttelton Times

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 362, 23 April 1856, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times

Wednesday. April 23 ! The ** Westminster '" arrived at Wellington, !rom England, on Wednesday 1 ist, after j a passage of 92 days from Plymouth. This ! Yt-ssel has brought out 103 passengers, about 30 ef whom are for Canterbury, and a large proportion of cargo. By the *' Westminster'" we have English news o the 7th , of January, nearly a mouth later dates than j those previously received via Australia. Tff..i events distinguish the in.eliigence now received—the Fail of Kars. and the propositions for peace, presented to the Czar by the limpercr of Austria, with the sanction of the Allied Powers. The fullest particulars we have been enabled to obtain will be found in another page. Kars wa« taken possession of by the Russians on the 28th of November, after a capitulation signed by General Williams and the Turkish Pachas, the garrison surrendering as prisoners of war. Ever since tbe reinvestment of this town by the Russians.-after their defeat of the 29th of September, the question of holding the fortress became, as General Williams expressed it. " one of time and the stomach." The straits endured by the <rairison and the people appear to have been fearful in the exteme. Hundred- iucd died fiu.u absolute starvation. O.i tue Thursday before the c*pitmat:on above 80 iiad been found iv the sheets dead from want. Subsequent to the late attack no animal food could be procured ; one writer illustrates the privations by j staling that. v' the price of cats ua 1 risen to j 100 piastres a piece. ' Unable, after the cavalry attache i to the garrison had been withdrawn, from ph.shal depression to contend for Jood w'r.h the enemy outside the wails, iioliiinir remaned for the gurisou but ?. patient endurance uf t'iese horrors, in the hope of re'ii ■ from the ■ roop* sen' to their aid. But ihe r lief cam not. The troops en route for ihi- purpose com nut advance in ctms-e-tpience of the weather, and had Kiuce fane . back on Erzeroum Fears were » utertaiued that thi> city would also be ulta.;k-d. and many of the iuhj-.hitan's bad jilready ef . Thf-Rus-iui advanced troops were occupying t'.ia posit »us eva-r '.a d by th • letrea'i'cj Turks. Oimr Pasha also ha i been compelled "o retire, *• alarmed by a proclamation of General Mouravieff. caking uoo : Uu*. entire population of Imeriua, Gouriel. ■<u:\ Mmg.-eiiH, to wag- a war of ex l-niiinalion w;th the enemies of the Cross *' ]t was ivp iib-d that the Divan had c-m- --, h-iiled tijKj.i Die propriety of removing this gener.i from his command, hut ihe q.i-*>« ton bad been overruled. General Williams with she Tu'ki-'i 'iiiieers taken prisoners at Kirs, had been coded to Mosc >w on their rmte to St. P-iersbug. Letters dated Di'-em'tii' 1, ha 1 been recewed in hmgiand f oiu Ge.ierai A'itham-, stating (hat he bad at rived at Gtuui, and was then in good health. Since -ne fad of liars some Ti.rkish

functionaries entrusted with the supplying of provisions and stores for this city had been -.wrested uu the charge of peculation. The news from the Crimea is hut scanty A nis*ht attack hy the Russianson some French troops had been defeated with loss to the assailants. Desultory firing still continued between the opposing forts. The allied troops were comfortably hutted in their winter quarters. Whatever result may flow from the attempt to patch up a peace, Russia appears to be making every preparation for carrying on the war with energy in the coming spring. "Reinforcements of troops wer* bein - sent to all the principal points, and the various fortresses alon^ the lines of coast, strengthened ; the defences of Nicolaieff having been repaired and streristhened under the superintendence of General Todleben and other Russian en.«jinper^. The allied powers were equally active in preparing; for the next campaign. Sweden, by a treaty of the 19th of Nov. makes common cause with the allies; at which Russia is greatly chagrined. A correspondent of a London paper writes; — '• The resentment of Russia against Sweden is very great. She will never forget nor foreive the alliance of that Government with France and England." Denmark it is stated under a two-fold pressure, of Sweden in favour of the allies, and of America on account of the Sound dues. " has decided upon making advances to the allies in the matter of the future campaign in the Baltic."