AUSTRIA.
Vienna, 16th June.
The state of affairs in Servia is somewhat, alarming, the inhabitants of that principality being much inclined to take advantage of the present favorable opportunity for expelling the Turkish troops which occup3 T Belgrade and four other,. Servian fortresses. The brutal and unprovoked attack on M>. Fonblanque has so exasperated the Servians that they seriously think of making common cause with their brethren in Bosnia, the Herzegovina, and Montenegro, and the agents of Russia are said to be exaggerated. For some time past the fanatical Arhauts have been in the habit of openly expressing their hostile feelings towards the giaours (infidels), but it is only now that they have proceeded to acts of violence. Should the British government treat the affair lightly it would commit a sad blunder, for there never was a moment at which it was more necessaiy strictly to maintain the honor, dignity, and.influence of Great Britain in European Turkey. Mr. Colquhoun, the British political agent and doing all in their power to excite them to action; It attracted attention here that M.Knorring, the Russian Charge d'Affaires, was the first person who received news of the assault committed on the British Consul-General, and that he was at very great pains to make known the disgust he felt at the infamous conduct of the Turks. There is no good reason for supposing that the Turkish soldier was paid for attacking Mr. Fonblanque, but still many persons suspect the agents of Russia of having had a hand in the matter. The life of the injured man is happily in no danger. After the attack had -been made on his person, Mr. Fonblanque had his flag hoisted, and at seven in the morning of the above-men-tioned day, eight Albanian soldiers of the line (Nizam) and a corporal, proceeded to his residence, and attem-ted to cut the halyards. Some Pandours kept them from putting their design into execution, but the consul's family was much alarmed, and a guard of Servian troops was asked for. and obtained. , The Pasha who has the command of the fortress is a well-disposed man, but He is devoid of energy, and.consequently unable to keep his semi-barbarous Arnauts in-order... A
Belgrade friend states that the Servians fear the Turkish batteries will-open on the town, but it is probable their apprehensions are Consul-General in Wallachk, has gone to Belgrade to endeavour to discover vvhatled to the assault on Mr. Fonblanque. The Russian sloop Polkova weighed anchor yesterday, and went to Gravosa, where the French ships ofthe line are still lying. The ferment among the Slavonians in the western part of European Turkey is increasing, but fortunately the political fever has not made its way into Bulgaria. At present the Turkish corps in the Herzegovina consists of 7000 regulars and 5000 irregulars, with sixteen guns, and it is likely to receive powerful reinforcements. Since the victory of the Montenegrins the Herzegovina rayahs have been less manageable than ever, and not long since they burnt down a Turkish village which was not above fifteen or sixteen English miles distant from Mostar, the capital of the Herzegovina. 3?he blockade of the mountain .forfc of Klobuk is still kept up by the rayahs, who appear to be completely masters of the whole of the southern part ofthe province. The Austrian authorities on the military" frontier have received strict injunctions to keep a very watchful eye on the movements of the Christians in Turkey, and the Aus-. trian troops in Dalmatia have been,reinforced. The heads of the two Turkish pashas who were killed at Grahovatz were taken to Cettinye, and there stuck up on long poles near those of the French officers Gorgues and Gajet, who; were killed and decapitated by the Montenegrins when they, forty-two years ago, fought against the French under Marmont. '
Your recent leaders on the armaments of the French government have produced the greater impression here because it is known thtit the French military authorities are now purchasing horses for their artillery in Holstein and Mecklenburg.
AUSTRIA.
Colonist, Issue 99, 1 October 1858, Page 4
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