The Press.
London, England, 1854-02-11 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

Pamphlets entitled respectively " A Few Words
of Advice to the Mariners of England and Enter-
prising Youths inclined for the Sea Service, showing
the Advantages to be derived by Service in the Royal
Navy, by a Seaman's Friend;" and "A Few Words
of Explanation to Seafaring People on the Coast who
are disposed to join the Royal Naval Coast Volun-
teers," are being extensively circulated at the sea-
ports.
-

THE TURKISH BLUE BOOKS.
Is our last number we mentioned that the much-
talked-of collection of State papers was at length
issued, and gave a description of its bulk and out-
ward appearance. The enormous magnitude of its
contents renders all attempts at condensation or
even of enumeration hopelessly impossible. The
papers contained in it are in number 417, occupying
778 pages, and ranging over nearly four years of
busy controversy, or rapidly-succeeding events, be
tween May, 1850, and January, 1854. Out of the
large mass we may select some passages from a
single despatch—perhaps the most noticeable of the
series—in which the Foreign Secretary communi-
cates to the British Envoy at St. Petersburg the
ministerial view and determination respecting the
massacre at Sinope:—
No. 345.
THE EARL OF CLARENDON TO SIR O. H. SEYMOUR.
Foreign-office, Dec. '27, 1853.
Sir,—Authentic information, dated the 9th inst., from
Constantinople has reached her Majesty's Government
that on the 30th ult. a Turkish squadron at anchor in the
harbour at Sinope was completely destroyed by an over-
whelming Russian force ; that four thousand Turks
perished; and that the survivors, not exceeding iu number
more than four hundred, who have been brought away
by English and French vessels, were all more or less
wounded.
The feelings of horror which this dreadful carnage
could not fail to create have been general throughout all
ranks and classes of her Majesty's subjects in this
country.
The object with which the combined fleets were sent to
Constantinople was not to attack Russia but to defend
Turkey ; and the English and French Ambassadors and
admirals were informed that the fleets were not to assume
an aggressive position, but that they were to protect the
Turkish territory from attack.
Had the Turkish squadron been about to make a descent
upon Seconm-Kale, as is stated in a despatch from Prince
Menschikoff to Prince Gortschakoff, if it had been fallen
in with and destroyed by the Russian fleet oft' the Russian
coasts in Asia, her Majesty's Government, however much
they might have lamented such a disastrous loss of lite,
would have regarded it as an ordinary though unfortunate
casualty of war. But the Sultan's squadron was destroyed
while at anchor in a Turkish harbour, Ind where, conse-
quently, the English and French fleets, if they had been
present, would have protected it, and would have repelled
the attack.
Her Majesty's Government have not abandoned the hope
that peace may be re-established, for they are unwilling to
believe that any insurmountable obstacle can exist to
carrying out the declared objects of Russia in a manner
compatible with the dignity and the independence of the
Porte ; and it would therefore have been a matter of sin-
cere satisfaction to her Majesty's Government that the
combined fleets should have remained at anchor in the
Bosphorus while negotiations were pending. But this has
been rendered impossible by the attack on the Turkish
squadron at Sinope. The intentions of the English and
French Governments, which were long since announced to
the Porte, must be firmly and faithfully executed. For
this purpose, although with no hostile design against
Russia, it is essential that the combined fleets should have
the command of the Black Sea ; and the necessary instruc-
tions have accordingly been addressed to the Ambassadors
and admirals of England and France.
In making known to Count Nesselrode that such in-
structions had been sent, you will inform his excellency
that, in order to prevent the recurrence of disasters such
as that at Sinope, the combined fleets will require and, if
necessary, compel Russian ships-of•war to return to Sebas-
topol, or the nearest port ; and it is considered that the
Turkish fleet should undertake no aggressive operations by
sea so long as matters remain in their present state.
(Signed) CLARENDON.