The Express. — London, England, 1853-10-18 00:00:00

EU, 4E).-Dufs. TO CORRESPONDENTS. • reseed Citt.,3 or • • The Cgrv.h,•• eastaxelii; • else rr• ^i.e. ••Uu.lte," u viblubed every Tuesday sal Fr.,i.q mat:, 1. tJAI tor post. Ofienr..tot n•otneyndea for "The ►apes„^ Loott..n Fero•••••• • goof. soot M of the utt.r. to o bosom to-oltsot, by Too the do .t pub.t.,tt 111(711 WATER AT LONDON Tnot :11„ „ A . equow Montag, 3 b . Ibis LONDON, TUENDA OCTHPER IS. • IN another week we may expect that war will have openly displayed his grizzled front upon the Lower Danube. On either side of that stream is now posited an army, each ready to do .ts t est for the other's destruction. The one is animated by the patriotic desire to free its own soil from an invader; the other is there in obedience to the command of • greedy despot, unsatietied by the possession of absolute power over a I ogee section of Europe than is ruled by any other potentate. We have patriots and mercenaries face totem, 3nd oh which side lies the sj enpathy of all honest men it is needles to say. Coder the flag of the SILT ts. there is now said to be ranged in arms above 300,000 met', but of this force only one-third is with Omen Piens on the Danube. Under Russian generals there is at least' 110,000 men. Of these, however, a large number arc stated to be suffering from sickness, whilst the whole may be regarded rather as military serfs.' obeying mechanically a command they cannot avoid, than a body animated by any patriotic cr other spirit likely to make them zealous in the dreadf..l work they are dragged from their homes to du. 6611 there they are, encamped opposite each other with less than a week to elapse before the first shot is to be fired, and nothing but a stream—in some places only three. quarters of a league wide—to divide them. What must happen when this remaining week of truce has run out becomes, therefore, a meet iuteresting ques tion. At first view it naturally occurs to all who see the statement " War has been declared," that there must immediately follow long accounts of hotly-contested battles. be throwir.g down of a defiante is commonly but the signal fur the sound of the trumpet and the roll of artillery—the crash of opposing forces, the struggle, the bloodshed, and other wholesale horrors of were But in this instance, there are reasons why the declara tion of hostilities may not at once be followed by any military operations more important than the cannon ading of any Russian boats that may venture down the stream past the 'I urkish forts. At this season of the year, after the rains, the country border ing the Danube being a soft alluvium, is usually quite unfit for the movements of large bodies of troops. Cannon or baggage cannot be got over the country. The roads, never good, are so many lines of soft mud•holes, along which anything weightier than light cavalry finds it rent to impos sible to pass. Cossacks may think no mere of the mire than so many Melton steeplechasers would do, and Turkish irregular horse may be equally in dependent of roads. But moving the heavier masses of a large army is a vastly different affair, and unless the Czen is so headstrong as to issue a flat for moving forward, at all risks, we may very likely find the declaration of war to be the most for midable step taken on the batiks of the Danube until the frosts of winter make the earth more solid for the passage of men and guns. Thus the pro babilities tend towards a continuance for the present of a quarrel yielding no new results. It is not the policy of Otte& PACHA to =SS the Danube : it is his cue to wait on his vantage ground till the ia• vader moves forward in his coarse of aggression. Whether NICHOLAS will even advance when the country is fit for the operat ions of war is also a question. To stand still when the Turk has hurled his challenge across the stream would probably be thought too spiritless • proceeding for an Autocrat who has hitherto taken a high tone. The irresponsible despot who begins such a war can care little for the loss of a few score thousand men, and may therefore, without hesitation, order over the Danube the troops who should Bat Autocrats are not always invincible, and the position of NICHOLAS has its weak points, and he should know them. He may order his men at once over the Danube, but the reckless pride which should stimulate such commands may have a fall. Cif. cassia is not asleep. Accounts have just reached Ragland of another foray by the gallant moan- Min patriot SCHANTL, in which two Russian staff officers and a number of the CZAR'S troops were slain. The SULTAN has a force in the Feast with which results are attainable. Georgia might become troub!csoase to its oppressor; • new Russian army be wanted in the Caimans, whilst an enemy was being encountered en the Danube Finland is discontented ; Bessarabia groans in her decay, induced by Russian breach of faith. The CZAR must not forget all this. If the other Powers, including England and Prance, should, when hostilities really begin, declare themselves neutral, and should any show of active sympathy for, the CZAR be shown by Austria, the SULTAN will at once be free to accept the aid of any revolutionary allies who might volunteer their he►p. The pithy speech of But is not forgotten—" My religion is to hate Russia." There are others who share the sentiment of the gallant old veteran, whose country had been trodden down by the Cossacks, for their country has endured the same afflic tion. If the CiAli pursues his reckless and unprincipled 'ironies, ands even tacitly sup ported by the other Powers, it is difficult to estimate where the European disturbance might stop. Hun gary and Italy would sun ly feel its throes. But if the Autocrat's common sense satweighs his lost for his neighbour's goods, and the formal declaration of war by Turkey be followed for some time. to come by nothing more sericite, than we have already first re ferred to, (1011TSCRACOPY niay still hold his head quarters at B uchareat, end 011E11.P/ICH/1 his at Bbonila —cannon may here and there open their mouths across the Danube, and each tete de pout be guarded, yet the bulk of the two armies rest in grim inaction on opposite banks of the stream. Meanwhile we see Russian ships visiting Ports- 1 mouth, Russian princes and princesses f(ted in London (by Cabinet Ministers amongst others), Russian prin cesses active in Paris, whilst an English Ambassador hastens to Olmutz, and an English Finance Minister lets uff a significant speech in Manchester. The Turks—unversed in our Western usages—may see many sources of discomfort in all these signs that seem to show which way the wind blows. Perhaps after all their greatest safety rests in the belief that on themselves alone can they rely. They seem likely to get very little active support from *he Govern ments of either France or England—and should such prove to be the case, we can only the more heartily pray that they may be able to hold their own, by their own patriotic strength, despite the sneaking treachery of pretended friends and the shameless aggression of open foes. Tilt: N 111:CAL OALLUT.—Lord Onslow ham revolted the munificent bequest which he had made to the nation of his tine reflection of pictures by the old masters. We are informed that he has taken this step in consequence of the very unsatisfactory nature of the report from the Se:ett Committee on the NAtional (harry. THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENINC OCTOBER 1., 1853: esscustion of the Principelithe is s tutu r of indifiltreace. Neither Turkey aor Russia will yield • step. It is • died which the secoads ►wee net bees stile to peeves', and the adversaries wain fight, subject to a fresh attempt to tacos• site *eta after the first shut fired. At the Bourse no importance was attached to the paragraph in the-ire/a/cur. The Threes fell 2.5 e. for time sod 40e. for money, and most of the railways dropped .ifr. or Mr. It has been repeatedly stated of late that G Anna Dembinski was about to be placed in command of an army of 20,000 to fight on behalf of the Turks, and I observe in the New Gazette of Prussia of the Bth, a letter from London affirming that the General left Paris for Constantinople on the 4th. General Dembinski was to my certain knowledge at his lodgings in the Rue Joubert this morning, and I be lieve I may confidently say he has not at present accepted any command. The Credit Foncier Society of France has concluded a treaty with the Credit Foncier Society of Mar seilles for the loan to the latter society of G,ooo,ooofr. a year during twenty-five years. Tne Marseilles Society is to remain perfectly independent, and will lend money on its own judgment, without any refe rence to the central establishment, but it will now be in a position to afford effectual relief to thu mort gaged proprietors of the Aix dis•rict, if; which yet remains to be seen, a public comrany can practically upon a large scale offer to borrowers better terms than they could make with private individuals. The Grand Duchess Stephanie of Baden is ex pected at Compeigne this week. Preparations are already making for the re ception of the Emperor and the Empress at Fon tainebleau. GERMANY. -- BERLIN, Ocr. 16. The semi-official Zed denies the rumour that the government will interfere with the natural course of trade in the present season of scarcity, whether by forbidding the exportation of corn, or by purchasing it abroad. VIENNA. Orr. 14 The promised reduction of the army is here the news of the day. The Wiener Zee'luny publishes the fact in its non-official columns as a thing reported, but the announcement is not the less official. The reductions are said to be ordered by a decree of the 9th inst. The infantry companies of five corps and three divisions of a sixth are to be reduced to 60 men, and the light companies to 70 men. Similar reductions arc to be made in the regiments now in Dalmatia, and those in the garrisons at Mayence, Itastadt, and Frankfort, and also in the cavalry, the artillery and engineer, and the pioneer corps, to a total extent of about 70,000. We shall look with great curiosity to see whether these reductions are really to be made, or whether they have been put forward to serve a political pur -1 pose, for example, to be quoted some day against France and En !land as a proof that Austria was I lcontemplating a neutral attitude at tho commence ment of the war on the Danube. The Ore. Cor. seizes the occasion to proclaim anew the neutrality of this country, a fact which the government seems very anxious to establish now that active interven tion by France and England is spoken of. The Lloyd has an article fell of good sense respecting the conduct which their situation prescribes to the two great German powers—" Whatever may be the i friendship of the cabinets of Berlin and Vienna for that of St. Petersburg, they cannot manifest it better than by their neutrality. Bet then," adds the Lloyd, "an active intervention of the great German powers in favour of Russia would lead to the active intervention of the maritime powers against Russia—and this is precisely what this power does not want." I believe the last sentence is the key both to the professions of thy Austrian semi-official organ and to the reduction of the army on paper. The government knows very well that before any great number of soldiers could be sent back to civil pursuits, the two western powers will have been compelled to declare themselves, and it will then be free to confirm or revoke the orders just given. Our letters from Constantinople leave no doubt re specting the new situation of the Porte. The go vernment here is quieting the Bourse with the as surance that no hostilities can take place before next spring, and that before then the western powers may be able to use their influence at Constanti nople, as the Austrian cabinet will do at St. Petersburg, to give effect to the Czar's magnani mous intentions. The tenor of our advice* from the south leave little room to expect that the Porte will longer wait upon the dilatory step of its allies. Hostilities we are assured will really commence as soon as the time prescribed by the Porte shall have expired. To commence hostilities it is not necessary to cross the Danube, even were that the design of the Turkish commander. For the last week or two the opinion has been gaining ground that the Turks do not mean to commence hostilities in Europe, but to effect a junction with the bold tribes of the Cau casus, which for the last thirty years have, unaided, carried on against Russia a war of resistance which has not its parallel in modern history. Accord. ing to letters from Erzeroum, the Turks have more than 50,000 men under arms in that neighbourhood, and the army is incessantly receiving reinforcements and munitions. On the 25th ult. the Turkish steamer Persund conveyed 220 heavy guns to Batonm. The Caucasus has for 30 years proved a great drain upon the Russian army, and were some timely aid, not in men, but in guns and ammunition, conveyed to its brave inhabitants the Muscovite would have enough to do to keep the conquests which have cost above one hundred thousand lives. At first, perhaps, it would be difficult to get at the Cireamians, unless the fleet of England or France was co operating with that of Turkey, but there are other tribes more accessible, equally hating Russian domination, some of them openly at war with that power, and others receiving a black mail under the name of a pension to their Khan. The Russian go vernment appears to be alive to the necessity of rem forcing its army in th's quarte r , f or we are in formed, that from 15,000 to 20,000 men have lately been embarked at Odessa, to be transported to the Asiatic frontier. A letter from Vienna of the 12th, in the Lloyd, says Last night Aehmet Effendi, • Turkish courier, arrived here from Constantinople with despatches for the Turkish embassy. He left Vienna this morning for Turkey. M. de Bourqueney sad Lord Westmoreland have also received de spatches from Constantinople. His lordship has addreseed a note to our capital, in which he amigos the reasons why the cabinet of St. James's did not accept the Olnasts pro positions. A letter from Paris states that M. Hubner, the Austrian ambassador, has declared forreally_to the Preach government that neither at Monts nor at Warsaw had there been any question of a coalition arsonist the Northern Powers; and Austria, in ease of a war between Turkey sad Russia, would preserve strict neutrality. At the same time she would do all she could to ensure Me eon tinnence of poem. TER THRAITRE OP WAR. s,,_ ne De'bate gives an interesting description of the probable theatre of the impending war, and the fortresses which defend the Turkish bank of the Danube. The line /of this river from Orson to the Block Sea bas a length of I more then 200 league.. Eighteen fortified paste defend the I passages of the river on the right, or Turkish bank. They an Onseva, Berza-Palanke, F.,rentioo, Widdin, Anal, Loan, Zibrou-Pslaaka, Ratline, Nikopoli,Sistow, Rutschuk, Tnrtuksi, Silistria, Ressove, Hircbova, Matschinn, Isatchi, and Toultcha. The most important of these are Widdin, Rutschuk, Silistria, Matschinn, Isatcbi, and Toultcha, not I as being great fortreases, but because they observe the mouths of the Danube. The Tuns have no fortresses on the left bank. Formerly, when the Rosana have crossed the Danube, they have encountered none but the natural obstacles of the passage, the Turks never having been able to oppose them on its banks ; but at the present moment • powerful army is prepared to dispute with them the passage. In time of war the Russians keep on the Danube a flotilla of gun-boats end small vessels, constructed expressly for the purpose, carrying gum of great calibre. The Turks have also flotillas of armed barques, which have their stations in the ports of the river wider the guns of their fortresses, which are employed to provision tnem, and to aid their defence in ease of siege. The course of the ' between Wallachia and Bulgaria divides itself naturally into three regions— the Upper Danube from Orsova to Widdin; the Middle Danube, from Widdin to Rutschuk and Silistria ; and the Lower Danube, from the letter town to the sea. At Orson the channel of the Danube widens considerably. II(re the fortress of Orsova rises from an island. It is a rectangle, fl inked by four bastions, d id Vsuhan, constructed in the seventeenth century. Five leagues below opposite the Walachian town of Tchernetz are the ruins of Trojan's bridge. The river here attains the breadth of a quarter of • league. Lower down ars rapids, which, with out iaterceptiog navigation, render it difficult. The first impatient fortress which we meet is Widdin with • popu lation of 20,000. It has the form of a semicircle with the Danube fur the diameter. It is as irregular and prolonged pentagon, with en encieute flanked with redane, and coun. Winched by five bastions of tolerably good construction. It has never been occupied by the Russian*, who have not been accustomed to employ great military forces on the Upper Danube. Nikopoli, a commercial town, was ruined and entirely destroyed by the Russians in 1811. It has now from 10,000 to 12,000 inhabitants. It is a point of passage which it behoves the Turks well to guard. Thus, the &Wulff:lt of Nikopoli has beet re-instated, and Omer Paella at this moment is constructing new works there. The right bank of the Danube is for the most part higher then the left, which gives the Turks a certain ad vantage ; but there are intervals where the valley enlarges, and where the passage is not rendered difficult by the con figuration of the soil. At all these intervals fortresses have been raised, most of which are of mediocre construc tion, but are sufficient to oppose a first resistance, and to serve as polite d'appiei to a body of troops employed to ob struct the passage, or to manatees., on the rear of the enemy, should the inmate be accomplished by a superior fore*. It is on • point of this character that in descend ing the Danube we find the town of Sistow, with a population of 10,090 inhabitants, and an eneaude flanked with towers. This town was destroyed by the Russians in 1811, but has been rebuilt, and the fortifications carefully reconstructed on a more modern plan, and augmented with severaloutworks. It is one of the strongest places on the line of the Danube. Giourjewo, which one, covered it on the left bank, has been lost to Turkey es a fortification, but there is an island in front of it where some new works have been raised. Turtuksi, having opposite Wit the Walachian village of Oltenitza, is a paint of pa sage whin the Russians have several times seized, End before which they have at this moment a numerous cantonment. The town, which has 5,000 inhabitants, is closed with an onciotteo like all the small towns 01 Turkey. Its military importance is consider able, for the ground presents no obstacle to the establishment of bridges of boat', and the town occupies the head of • route which leads into the interior of Bulgaria by Rasgrad. Omer Paella has carefully fortified Turtukai with she aid of European engineers, who are now tolerably numerous In the Turkish army. SilistrW is one of the best fortifica tions of the Danube. Notwithstanding imperfections which no longer exist, the Russians had great difficulty in obtaining possession of it in 1829. Genial Diebitach, although master of Varna, dared not undertake the march to Adrianople before having taken Silistria ; a circus stance which strongly demonstrates the utility to Turkey of the fortresses on the line of the Danube ; they have always held the Ruskin in check I for twelve or fourteen months. We may remark, 1iMP648414i, that fortresses have never hindered an army from crossing ar ' . The Rhine has been crossed wb it has been' found necessary, notwithstanding that it was defended by fortresses stronger than those of the Danube. In each of their wars on the latter river the Russians have been able , to cross easily; but with a warlike people like the Turks, all of whom are accustomed to bear arms, it is dangerous to penetrate far into the country having fortified towns in the rear. It was on this account that the Russians in 1828 were obliged to lay siege to three places before they could carry their operations further into the country. But to return to the Lower Danube : its breadth augments and its rapidity diminishes, bet it preserves a speed of a league as hoer. Some leagues from Bilistris the rivet makes • great bend towards the north as far as Galata, where it resumes its easterly directioa, until it discharges I itself into the Black flea. Leaving Bilistria, the first town which we meet is the town of Itossove, when the plunge of the river is impracticable en account of the marshes on the left bank, which are fed by the waters of the Bertscha. It is 12 leaves from &wove to the port of Kastendje, a for tified town. Further on we find the small fortress of Me son. under the guns of which in time of peace then is a bridge of boats. From this point to the mouths of the Da nube a vest low and marshy plain extends, having in it numerous lakes. The communication between the towns and villages is kept op by means of some very bad roads, bat the country is fertile. The forts of Matthias, Isatchi, and Toleßeba, near the mouths of the Danube., are rather poets of observation then fortified places. They earn to keep watch over the oppo site bask, to protest the Turkish flotillas, and. in ease of need, to fire on the Russian vessels. Matt persona appear to expect every morning news of the passage of the Danube by the Russians er the Turks, but the whole of the Danubian country is impracticable during the winter, and must be during the present autumn if the season is as wet there as it has been in Central Europe. The alluvial soil is easily broken up by the rains. This roads sad routes not being well kept up, are io bad weather , seining out mud. All transports of commons by land, which in the dry season are very active between Yarns and Rntschuk, absolutely cease. Then, an army can no more manostme in the country through the im possibility of carrying with it Ice artillery and necessary baggage. The irregular cavalry of the Turks, and the Cossacks of the Russians, ars the only troops which can then keep the field. In the preceding campaigns the Russians have always withdrawn into their cantonments in Wallachia, ever isisiag the sieges which they nay have commenced, and leaving behind them only some Cossack scouts and garrisons in the bleu-de-poosis. The Danube, before it is divided to form its delta, has a width of about 4,000 yards, which is broken up by little island,. It is frozen almost every year. Wallachia and Bulgaria, al though situated under the latitude of Provence and Tuscany, are subject to extremely rigorous winters, not being libel. tared from the glacial north-east wind which blows directly upon them from the vast steppes of Russia and the plateaux of Upper Asia. The frost lasts from the month of De cember to the month of March, and the country at the thaw is more impracticable than ever. LATEST FROM THE CONTINENT. RUSSIA. ODESSA, Ocr. 3. To day the Russian fleet arrived at this port from St.b.ultopol, with the view, As it is believed, of eta barking troops for Redoutkale. SWITZ EILLAND. BERNE, Ocr. 14. The Federal Government has resolved to support Ticino iu its resistance to Austria. It will grant subsidies for the employment of the population thro4n out of work by the Austrian blockade in the construction of roads. Having exhausted every means of concession compatible with the national honour, the Federal Government will make no new offer to Austria. CAUCASUS. On the 27th ult. Schamyl issued from the mountains with his bands, and broke into the Ruuian circle of Dseharo-Ilielokansk, where he made an attack upon the fortress of Novjukstal. Major-General Prince Orbclian marched with three battalions of infantry, six guns, and some cavalry, to meet the moun taineers ; and, after much fighting, drove them back into the mountains. The engagement hated till nightfall. The Russian accounts state that the loss of the Caucasians was considerable; they themselves admit a loss of two stl.tf offictrs, three field officers, and GI men. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. e - A letter from Constantinople, of the 3rd, states that, during the previous few days, couriers had followed one another in rapid succession to the army l ot the Danube. From Shumla it was stated that Omer Yacht' had made all necessary preparations for commencing his operations upon the expiration of the appointed delay. There were no longer parties among the leaders of Turkey—all were animated with the spirit of resis tance to the attack on their country's independence. On the evening of the Ist, the Sheik-ul-Islam went to the Aja Sophia with 00 ulemas, and there paired the night; some say they were praying, others that they were taking counsel preparatory to raising the standard of the Prophet,which is kept in the mosque. The admirals of the French and English fleets are here installed at the embassies of their respective nations, whence they send orders to their fleets. The Minister of War had sent Hall! Pacha with a detachment of guards to Batoum, there to take command of a brigade 10,000 strong. It is stated that a force of 30,000 has been advanced to Erzeroum, in order to guard the frontier against Erivan. A correspondence from Warsaw, of the 9th, pub lished by the Paris Patric, says that the nomina tion of Prince Paskewitch to the command of the army of the Principalities is confirmed. The Prince, it is said, has obtained permission to take with him 40,000 men of the corps d'armee of Poland, which pass for being the best troops in the whole Russian army. The Emperor of Russia, on proceeding from Pots dam to St. Petersburg, turned out of his road to visit Weimar, where he arrived incognito at a late hour in the evening. He again set off at midnight after having had a long conversation with the Duke of Saxe-Weimar. The energies of the Russian dredging machine at the Sulina being exhausted, no work had been done there for a fortnight previous to the latest &deices. Misfortunes occur daily, at d even lighters have been obliged to throw their cargoes overboard in order to escape shipwreck. Tae Russians are fortifying the bridge which has been thrown over the Danube near Braila, by means of a tete-depont, acd two small forts at the end towards Turkey. In consequence of the impediments to the naviga tion of the Lower Danube, the mail is for the present to be sent to Semlin, Orsova, Bucharest, Hustchnck, Braila, Oalatz, and Constantinople by land. FRANCE. - PARIS, SUNDAY DINNING. The fact is now beyond tonteat, that the war, if not actually commenced, is on the point of breaking out, and although the French press to calm the public mind, too prone, it is true, to give way to panic, argue that the war will be purely local, while our fleets are looking on as at a tournament, it is more than doubtful whether we can long maintain such • n mare mare magna" position. The war may yet be prevented by the Emperor of Russia making a wise choice between his ruin and his humiliation, but this is the true alternative. There is no reason why the delicate sensibilities of the Czar should now be con sulted. On the contrary, it may be fairly said that his overweening arrogance has brought things to such a pass that no concession to his dignity can be made without a corresponding infraction of the dignity of France and England. Ito now soplain that if Nicholas draws beck it will be because he is afraid to go for- ' I ward, that the French and English cabinets will be inexcusable if they do not push the advantages of their position to the extent of drawing the teeth of the Russian bear, and depriving him of the power of doing mischief for some time to come. There can scarcely be any doubt that France whatever Ear land may do) is about to send a considerable military force to support the fleets. The Constitutimmel states, evidently from authority, that orders have bees sent to prepare the necessary ships to transport a body of troops to the Dardanelles. It is probable that the report so often contradicted, that General Canrobert was to be appointed to command the army of the east, was only . premature. A good deal of curiosity is felt as to the purport of the mission of Iskender-Iley, whose arrival in France I mentioned yesterday, and who is expected in Paris to-morrow. Ile is a native of Poland, and I am told a man of imposing presence, and one of the finest soldiers in the Turkish army. The Petrie denies the truth of the statement in the telegraphic despatch from Marreillee, that orders had been given to arm the six steam-frigates. PARIS, MONDAY EVZSING. There is a rumour that another plot has been dis covered, and that in connection with it 140 arrests were made last night. Experience teaches one to be sceptical about plots, but it is certainly true I that extensive political arrests have just been made, although I believe the number to be exaggerated. I have not been able to learn any particulars, except that M. Goad chaux, the eminent Minister of Finance under the Provisional Government, was in custody for about two hours, and was released after being interro gated. The ifoniteur quotes the paragraph from yester day's ansatitidionnel, stating that orders had been sent to Toulon to prepare vessels to carry out troops to the Dardanelles, and says there is no kind of foundation for the assertion. It must, how ever. be considered doubtful whether the con tradiction is of greater or even of equal weight with the original statement. A mystery hangs over the subject which would be inex plicable were it not notorious that a division exists in the French cabinet. That preparations have been made for sending out troops to the East, and that everything is in readiness for their transport at a moment's notice, are facts resting upon an accumula tion of evidence impossible to be resisted. The para graph in the Conatitutionnei, conspicuously printed in the form of a semi-otlicial communication, was certainly not invented or lightly adopted by that journal; indeed, I have reason to believe that the intelligence came direct from the Ministry of Fo reign Affairs. The Pays has now completely abandoned its hopes of a peaceable settlement. It looks upon fighting as an essential and inevitable preliminary to the re- Gumption of negotiatioos. It says: The d. duration of war has radically changed this pacific situation. • • • We have reason to believe that the knowledge of this declaration at St. Petenhurg has rendered any aacrapt at coneiliatem impossible. The Czar, who migh. Lave appeared to give way to the voice of Europe, will evi letaly not draw te.ck before a threats ning requiei tion from Turkey. Self-love and his personal dignity in the eje. ()fa people whose fanaticism he has imprudently ezcited force bun not to rsceile. Re must accept the combat even shou:d he expose himself to the most humiliating checks, and the most terrible defeats. This is the reality of the situation. The greater or less delay that may bars been granted by the Porte for the ITALY. A letter from Milan, of the 9th inst., states that the young Count Salle had been arrested in the Val. teline with other persons. They were brought to Milan, each in a post chaise guarded by seven gen darmes. A letter from Turin, of the 13th inst., speaks of the arrest of several political refugees throughout the provinces. The Duke de Nemours and the Princess of Saws- Coburg have arrived at Turin, under the incognitos of Count d'Embleur and Baroness of Ernenthal. Ties-TE THE CHINEIE USURPEIL—Ia his habits he is silent and reserved ; he lives in close retirement, only showing himself occasionally to his immediate follower., and then only to issue his commands. His expression, though far from prepossessing, denotes mildness, combined with great decision and a degree of firmness verging upon obstinacy. Hu complexion is sallow, with • decided saffron tinge. In stature he is above the middle height ; and though of about the same age, is taller and lege strongly built than INa• toting the Emperor, whose de position he seems resolved, at all hasarde, to effect. He travel' in a palanquin enclosed with curtains a m b er . coloured silk, borne on the shoulders of sixteen officers of distinction ; his preceptor, or privy councillor, or adviser, carried by eight coolies, follows immediately in his wake; and then come Ti.':n-tO's 30 devoted wiv es , for ell of who.. he is said to possess the sincerest affection. They are ar rayed in costly apparel, end follow each other in single tile, not as they might on the shores of the placid Serpen tinP, in Clarence. or Brouehams, but in commodious arm ' chairs picked out with vermilli,m and gold. A long reti nue of servants and a vast array of soldiers bring up the rear of the procession, which is said, upon the whole, strongly to resemble those gorgeous affairs occasionally ex hibited on the boards of the Lyccuoe.—Nero Quarterly Review for October. IRE LATE LIEVTEV ANT BELLOT. The Moniteur contains a memoir of the late Lieu tenant Bellot, whose heroic fortitude and lamentable death in the Arctic regions have lately engaged public sympathy. "M. Bellot was bore at Paris on the 18th of March, 1828. At the age of fifteen years and a half, he was ad mitted to the Naval School, which be left with a high repu tation in 1843, standing fifth on the list of eighty pupil. of the amend class who were promoted on the Ist of Septem ber in that year. After serving successively on board the Suffren and Friedland for nearly six months, he obtsiaed the favour, much sought for by young naval officers, of being sent on a long cruise. On the 23rd of June, 1844, K. Bellot sailed from Brest fur Bourbon, on board the corvette Berceau, which was subsequently lost In the Madagascar waters. Ile was still in the Berceau when in April, 1845, ho distinguished him melt by saving, at the risk of his lite, a man who fell over board. On that occasion Captain (now Admiral) Rom►in- Desfoeses, commandant a the Bourbon and Madagascar Station, thus wrote to the Minister of Marine, giving an account of M. Bel!ot's gallant conduct. ... His post is ever there where a stood example is to be set or a danger to be braved. la this instance he only did his duty, but I theism take thia opportunity of pointing Lim out particularly to your Excellency as a pupil in every way worthy of interest and esteem.' " M. Bellot, who had thus struggled with the waves very soon afterwards received the baptism of fire. In the ex pedition of 1845 against Tam ***** , commanded by Captain Romain-Desfosaes, the young sailor gave proof of the most brilliant courage, combined with presence of mind. At the moment when be was spiking a gun he was severely wounded by • Madagascar shier, whose brains he imme diately afterwards blew tut with a pistol, stretching him lifeless at his feet. After this bloody expedition H. Bellot was recommended for the cross of the Legion of Honour, which was conferred upon him by a royal decree of Dec. 2, 1845. He hail not then attained his twentieth year. His promotion as a pupil of the first class was dated Nov. 1, 1845. From the corvette Bereeau, whose sad destiny M. Bellot would inevitably have shared, he was transferred to the Belle Poule frigate, GO guns. He was then attached to the staff of the station, and ape einlly charged with the dury of superintending signals. Although greatly occupied by this service, which req.-tires as much vigilance as precision, he found time to give lessons in geometry and navigstioa to sinli of the crew as desired to qualify tbemeelves fur passing the examination necessary before they could be eligible to command a merchantman. On February 1, 1847, when Captain RumainMesfosies was about to relinquish the command of the statioa, he wrote to the Minister of Marine— ". M. Mellot is by his character, his great intelligence, and sailor-like qualities, the most distinguished pupil at this station. lie is fit for every thing, and full of ardour to do any thing, and is in every way superior both to bis age and his position.' " On the Ist of November following, M. Bellot was pro. voted to the rank of diseipie de taisseau, a grade answer ing to that of a lieutenant in the army. After a short term of service on beard the Pandure frigate, he was removed to the corvette Triomphante, which on the 23rd July, 1848, sailed for La Plats. Ilia conduct during the voyage and at the La Plata obtained the most 8 meting testimonials from his commanding officer, Captain Sachet, and Admirals %%Want and Laplace. The Triomnhante returned to Rochefort on the 25th of August, 1810, and on the 20th of September M. Bellot quitted the corvette and wax attached to the depot company. On the 7th of December he obtained a month's leave to come to Paris, Punctually on the 7th of January following he returned to his post, where he remained till the B'h of May, 1851. At that date he wrote to the Minister of Marine for permission to join the new expedition then pre paring to set out in search of Sir John Franklin. The de sired permission was granted, and bis offer, accepted by Lady Fraaklin, met with the most courteous sympathy in England. On the sth of February, 1852, M. Bellot, who had not yet served live years as an ease ipse de vaisteau, wu promoted to the rank of lieutenant, as • recompense for the noble impulse which the minister and the whole French navy admired. The memoir then gives an account of Lieutenant Bellot's valuable services on board the l'rince Albert and P hernia, and quotes Capt. Ingleflad's despatch, announcing his lamented death. When the melancholy intelligence avived in Paris Id. DaCOll, the Minister of Marine, addressed the following letter to the maritime prefect of Rochefort . " l'aris, Ott. 10, 1853. "Monsieur le Prefet,—Letten from England announce very sad newo, which unfortunately appear to be but too certain. Lieutenant Ballot, what fur the second time ad.o elated himself with the dangers of the expedition dent in search of Sir John Franklin, has perished in the iceberg', a victim of the most courageous devotedness. The navy will not alone suffer the affliction which so cruel an event must inspire, fur M. Ballot had already obtained in France and England that just renown which attaches to deeds of daring. He has died young, but having done enough to leave a memory universally honoured. Will you, M. le Prefet, be my interpreter to the family of this worthy officer. Tell them how much I share their grief, and above all how much I hope that the testimony I now bear may contribute to soften its bitterness. 7 _ _ It is hoped that the valuable fragments written by M. Bellot to bis family may be completed and published. HOW THE RUSSIANS KEEP FAITH. _-•—_ When the Russians obtained possession of Bes sarabia it was justly reputed one of the most fertile and productive provinces of the Black Sea. From Ismael, Reny, and Ackerman its cereals, fruit., and animal provisions were distributed to all the import ing countries of the East; the pastures of the low country were covered with innumerable flocks, which furnished wool to Italy, and each year Austria alone received thence 80,000 head of cattle. On the union of Bessarabia with the Russian empire, the Nogais, who, under the protection of the Porte, hadcultivated the steppes, marked their opinion of the change by withdrawing across the Danube, at the sacrifice of their old possessions, and there remained in Bessarabia only the Moldavians, a Christian population belonging like the Russians to the Greek Church. The conduct of the Muscovite government to its new subjects , was as bland, as accommodating, as liberal, as can well be imagined. They were promised the main tenance of their laws, their language, their courts of justice, and all the administrative machinery of their country. Their governors were to be chosen from the native magnates, and the province was to keep intact those commercial liberties and franchises which formed the basis of its agricultural prosperity. It soon became apparent that this freedom would be got rid of by those . peculiar means in the use of which Russian ministers have long been skilled. The local government was discredited by intrigues nou rished by agents from the imperial capital, and Alexander got rid of his original pledges when he promised the people of the province an entirely new constitution. A commission was nominated to frame the new instrument,which when completed was found to be of a liberal character. thanks to the coura geous ability of M. Proukoul, one of the Boyards who co-operated in drawing it up. In 1818, when the labour, of the commission were scarcely terminated, the Emperor Alexander visited Bessarabia. He was received with grateful enthusiasm and the most costly entertainments. Bessarabia made him a spon taneous present of 5,000 cavalry horses, and he was struck with astonishment at the prosperity and in exhaustible resources of his new conquest. It war thought that while in the province he would sanction and confirm the new constitution, but he politely de clined to do any such thing, merely giving the people a temporary permission to live under its pro visions. According to this constitution, Bessarabia was to preserve its nationality, the governor and vice-governor might be Russians, but all other ministers and officer, were to be Molda vians. The old commercial franchises were to be retained, and the finances were to be controlled by natives. The liberals of the day grew ashamed of themselves for ever suspecting the Autocrat of despotism, and learned to regard him as a monarch yearning to put off more and more of that excessive authority which a hard fate had forced upon him. But they were destined to be enlightened. The imperial government of that day knew the value of a creditor's position : by a calculated negligence it encouraged the province to get deeply into its debt. Bessarabia thus came into a position like that of an Irish cottier loaded with a hopeless arrear of rent. The Russian government declared its own resolute intervention to be indispensable to put an end to the situation which it had helped to create. Accord ingly, in 1822, the commercial franchises of the country were suppressed and replaced by the Russian prohibitory customs system. At the same time, the payment of all the sums in arrear was imperiously demanded. This last measure gave rise to interminable judicial suits, and execu tions without number. The principal families were ruined, and at the same time all their political in fluence was destroyed. The government could, from that day, choose its own time for completing its work and carrying its ideas of political unity into exe cution. The constitution thus mutilated continued in existence until the death of Alexander, but at the advent of Nicholas its destinies were accomplished— it was completely suppressed, and Bessarabia, de spoiled of all its privileges, was assimilated in all its administrative forms to the other provinces of the empire. The material condition of the province naturally followed the decline of its free commerce. The national pursuit of grazing for its wool the Zigais sheep, once so profitable to the country, was , ruined when the possessions of the former hospodars were divided among nobles from Russia, and is not replaced by the establishment of a few unremunc rutive folds of merinos. The trade of breeding horses and horned cattle received a heavy blow when the government ordered all proprietors of entire horses to become Russian subjects or renounce their business, and hampered the entrance and sojourn of foreign merchants by a thousand vex we forma lities. In 1839, seventeen years from Me Pappreasion of the commercial franchises of Bessarabia under Alexander, the export of horses was only 2,385, while formerly Austria alone took from twelve to fifteen thousand per annum for its cavalry service. CANADA. At the Court of Queen's Bench, Quebec, on the 22nd Sept., the grand jury found a true bill against li persi, nd accused of being concerned iu the Gavazri riot at Chaliner's Church. The procedure wad, however, null, because ot.e of the persons who acted as a grand juror at the time th e hil ls were presented had not been sworn. lie slid nv, in fact, belong to that body, his name appearing in the list of petty jurors. Other hills of indictment will o f coarse be presented to a grand jury legally com posed. The grand jury also made the preseatmt nt :—" That, from curtain facts which have cone to their knowledge, John Maguire, El., justice ut the peace, and inspector and t.uperintendsnt of p dice t, r the city of Quebec, did, on the 6th day of June Led. whilst a certain riot and attempt to demolish Chalmers Church in this city were being perpetrated, unlawfully omit, negl ect and refuse to do boi duty ; that h e , th e sa id J o h n Maguire : Esq., having a sufficient police tore(' at his dispossl then and there present, no stirs to prevent and suppriss the aforesaid riot and tumult, although he 'night have dose so, and notwithstanding that he was repeatedly requested to use his authority as police magistrate." The court ordi ed the presentment to be handed over to the Ealicitor•Oeuoisi NEW ZEALAND. We are in receipt of the New Zealand journals to the 21st May. The latest accounts represent the popular movement in (avow of the new sys!em of land sales, and in Aupp , rt of the government, as gaining strength an every district. Oa the 17th, a deputation, consisting of nine representi fives for the Province of New Ulster, waited upo n t h e governor with a metnorial against allowing the tend lend to be appropriated to the payment of what they conceive to be an unjust claim of the New Zealand Company-, claim arnounthig to 20,3701. 15a.—of which an instalment of 9,0001. was claimed from the province of Auckland. The New Zealander, of the 21st, up:—" we under stand that Mr. J. P. Winclicombe, a gentleman lately arrived in this city, whose previous pursuits have especially qualified him for mineralogical investigations, has formed a party of four for the purpose of further exploring the Coro mandel auriferous district; and that his party, having ob tained the free prospecting licenses now available, left town yesterday, to prosecute their undertaking, the results of which many will look for wait interest." 'f.•he Governor has expressed his intention to rebuild Go vernment House at Auckland. The following were the prices at Auckland on the 20th ultimo : —Flour, 255. per 100 10.. ; bread, 2 114. loaf, 7.t. ; oatmeal, per lb., ; wheat, per bushel, bs. 9d.; barley, 75.; oats, per bushel, 9a ; maize, ditto, 101. Vbe Court. WINDSOR, OCT. 17. The Queen, with the Princess Royal and the Prince.. Alice, took cauestrian exercise 1U the Riding House this morning. Prince Albert, attended by Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, Lieut.-Colon, I Francis Seymour, and Lieut.-Colonel Biddulph, left Windsor at ten o'clock this morning, end proceeded to London by a specie' train of the Great Western Railway. His Royal Highness drove to Buckingham Palace, ani subsequently vi•.ited the Duchess of Ulo.ceater, and returned to Windsor C.i,tle at a quarti.r put two. -- Lady John Russell and (sillily arrived from Roseneath, Dumbartonshire, on Saturday evening, and joined Lord John Russell in Chesham-place. TILE EASTERN Q CESTION. 0 Last night a public meeting of the inhabitants of Finsbury, very numerously attended, was h e ld at the National Hall, Holborn, "tor the purpose of taking into consideration the important subject of war between Russia and Turkey, and discussing the question—what part ought England to take in toe event et a European war of principles with its inevitable consequences ?" Mr. I. Irrouito LoexHaßT in the chair. The CHAIRMAN raid that the present meeting was got up by a few working inert, who wished to express thtir views on the momentous question of peace or war between Russia and Turkey. It was as desirable that the working classes should have an opportunity of expressing their feelings as any other class. (Hear, hear.) The first thing put before them as against Turkey was that she was not a Christian state. It was true that Turkey was a Mohammedan state, and that Mohammedans called Christians " dog.," as Mr. Cobden said. But they did not, fur all that, treat Kenneth like a dog. On the contrary, they protected him from the Christian dogs, who were thirsting for his life. The Turks did not murder Battliyani or Robert Blum. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright took a commercial view of the question, but there were ether and higher interests than that of commerce iavelved in its solution. There was no man who was not desirous of peace. That was not the question. The gun- Lion was, whether they would bow down their necks at the demand of an arbitrary tyrant? Refer the question, said the members of the Peace Society, to arbitrators. That woald be all very well if they could get arbitrators. (Hear, hear.) But would not the arbitrators, or at least a part of them, be the very men who promoted this aggression on unoffending Turkey; and who was to force these to keep the peace ? (Hear, hear.) He believed that Turkey was in a position to meet Runic If a war once commenced, the cause of the people would be promoted throughout the world, for no one could suppose that the Austria' empire or the Castle of St. Angelo would remain long in existence after that war commenced. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BRONTRIARR O'luest, after explaining the origin of the meeting, said that the question they met to discuss was that of the war between Russia and Turkey, and the pro bable consequences of that war. The working-men who got up the meeting were anxious that that question should be fully and freely discussed. The view which he took of it was embodied in the following resolutions. Mr. O'Brien then read two resolutions, which he drew uo, to the effect that the occupation of Moldavia and Wal lachia by the Russian armies, to enforce demands incom patible with the independence of Turkey, was a gross in fraction of public law—that this meeting therefore rejoiced at the declaration of war against Russia by Turkey, and relied upon the people of E ng l an d an d of Europe to sus taia the Turks. But they warned the Turks to guard against the perfidious conduct of the great powers, and to prevent any of them from interfering in the internal affain of Turkey, uader the pretence of religion, law, and order. He knew there were certain so-called respectable people, who would not concur in some partsof these resolutions, but these were the parties who never would assist in passing any resolution that would really promote the liberty of the people. There was no doubt the conduct of Russia was a violation of public law and public justice. But in the name of all that was decent what right bad England and France to tell Russia that she must not invade the Turkish territory, or dictate to the Sultan, when they themselves sent a por tion of their fleet to keep down the Turks ? (Hear, hear.) If the people of Turkey wished to adopt a certain line of policy what right had they to act as police for the Sultan? (Hear, hear.) If these governments wished to interfere or to prevent interference, why did they not interfere on be half of Hungary, when they could do so with eff e ct? (Hear, hear.) Why did not England interfere when Louis Napoleon sent an army to Rome to keep down the inhabi ' tants of that city ? They did not prevent the seizure and occupation of Aleuts. (Hear.) Did they not actually mite with Russia herself to separate Greece from Turkey, after destroying her fleet at Navari no ? (H ear , hear.) Yet they kad the audacity to say that all ney were anxious for was to preserve the integrity of Turkey, and to prevent any other power from interfering with her. (Hear, hear.) There was a great deal of double-distilled nonsense spoken and written on this subject. (Hear, hear.) The fact was, that they themselves interfered or abstained from interfer ence jut as it noted their commercial interests, and it was not for them to say to others "you shall not interfere." (Hear, hear.) The result of the interference of France and England was to prevent the Turks from rising en masse and driving out the Russians, which they were well able to do if they were only left to themselves. But for the presence of the fleets the Turks would be up; the Hun gariats would be up, the Italians would be up, and kings and emperors would he on the tramp again, which was precisely what the people wanted. Let them, by all means, send their fleets to Crunstailt and Sebastopol, but let them not occupy Constantinople, for if they did it would be only to force the Turks to adopt a system partly Russian, partly French, and partly Englieb. (Cheers.) Mr. MIRRY and Mr. NICHOLI.B addressed the meeting in support of the resolutioos, which were adopted. ELECTION OF COUNCILLOR FOR BROAD-STREET WAYn.—Yesterday a wardmote was held at the Broad street Ward School-room, London-wall, fur the choice of a common councilman in the room of Mr. Stephen Baker, deceased. Sir John Musgrove, the alderman of the ward, presided. On the motion of Mr. John Chalmers, seconded by Mr. J. S. Pidgeon, Mr. William Hartridge, of 80, Broad street, was unanimously elected to fill the vacant office. Mr. Deputy Conley then moved • resolution expressive of the regret the ward kit at losing their late councilman Mr. Baker, and of sympathy and condolence with his widow. Dr. Abraham seconded, and the resolution was unanimously agreed to. The usual vote of thanks to the worthy alder man for his conduct in the chair was then paned, after which the court was "cried off." I I ARBITRATION BETWEEN COALOWNERS AND PIT MM.—The workmen of Seaton Colliery, near Beaham lisr hour, abrut two months ago, requested certain additional advances of wages; the proprietors having during the pre vious fortnight given a considerable advance, declined to grant them, but stated their willingness to refer the matter to disinterested parti. a. The workmen declined this, and in consequence a strike of Leven weeks' duration resulted. We are glad, however, to be able to state that the work men, having seen their error, agreed last week to refer all matters in dispute, and, accordingly, Mr. T. E. Forster, of New castle. was appointed on behalf of the owners, and Mr. John Taylor, of Haswell, n behalf of the workmen These gentlemen met at the colliery on Friday last, and have made as award of prices, &e., satisfactory to the respective parties. It is much to be desired that this may be the commence ment of a better understanding between the owners of col lieries and their worktden, end that the latter may see that great misery end crime—the inevitable results of protracted strikes—may be averted by at once referriott their disputes to arbitration.—Notecoatl t : Journal. Ye Os an tOi ge th, C. I, : i D.. i