The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-28 00:00:00

COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES

AND ILROPE►N TELIGRAPH.)
PARIS, FRIDAY MORNING.

The Monileur says the government has rt.
ceived the following telegraphic despatch from the

French

- -
at Bucharest, dated the

25th of October : " Two Russian steamers and
eight gun-boats forced a passage on the Da-
nube on Sunday, the 23rd, and encountered a smart
fire from the fort of Isactchs, situated on the right
borders of the ricer between Reni and Ismail. The
Russians had a lieutenant-colonel, commanding the
flotilla, three officers, and 12 sailors killed, and about
N wounded. They allege that they set fire to the
fortress of Isactcha."

COPY OF AN ORDER OF THE ORAND VIZIR, TO BB SUDS
PUBLIC TO TUB INKABITANTA OF CONETANTIXOPLI,
EYOUB, SCUTARI, AND OALATA.
The acceptance of the propositions, as made by Rus-
sia, and which are known to all the world, relative to the
religious privileges, would not only hare been an infringe.
meat of the sovereign rights and independence of the
Ottoman Empire, but would be the immediate source, as
also, in the future, of all sorts of prejudices—from which
God preserve you Rani& has assumed a menacing atti-
tude by making such immense preparations for war.
As regards the Sublime Porte, whilst taking on its side
meanies of precaution and defence, by sending troops to the
Imperial frontiers, to Anatolia, and Roumelia, it has at the
same time,in compliance with its system and pacific principles,
exhausted all the meanie' negotiation,aud proposed a mode-
rate arrangement,and made every effort for the preservation
of peace--at all times a cherished and sacred object—but ell
was of no avail ; and finally the Russian army crossed the
Petah, and has invaded the provinces of Moldavia and
Wallachia, hereditary provinces of his Majesty the Sultan.
Notwithstanding this state of things, the Sublime Porte
had recourse to intermediation, with a view to reconcilia-
tion, in the interest of the maintenance of peace, but it has
not bees possible; and, in consequence, a National Council
was convoked by the Porte on the 22nd and 23rd of the
month of Zelludge, composed of the Sisirs, Cseerkers,
Ulemas, military chiefs, and other functionaries, and the
question was examined in all its bearings. It being clear
and evident that as the Court of RUSSIA declines to accept
an arrangement to which the Sublime Porte can adhere
W rueful *elution of these differences is not possible
Ming known to all the world that it was Russia who
Melee& all the treaties by invading the Ottoman terri-
ers,' mud the promulgation of such • state of things
hew hentful, it was unanimously decided to place our
anildem• in divine aid, and in that of our Holy Prophet,
to unsellake war, and order the troops to move. This
decision of the council was confirmed by a fens of the
Sheik.ul-Islam, a fetes which it was thought proper to
put into execution; and a report to that effect having
been laid at the foot of the throne for the orders of the
Sultan, the decision of the general council was sanctioned
by • Hatti.Sherif, and the whole made known to the
Caserken of the divisions of the army in Roman and
Anatolia, and to all the inhabitants of the empire, by the
publication of firma'. Therefore, you also will convene
the Imams of the districts, sad you will say to them that as
it is Russia which gave rise to this affairs and that as it
is on her that the responsibility will fall, they must
Wee prayers to the God of Battles for the triumph
of Ms Sublime Porte and of the imperial troops, and we
*Mt them to pray iscaseatly sad with fervour for the
mew of our cause. And at the same time you will make
it clearly understood to all, that as this war is a war menet
a government which, without the slightest names, hoe
violated the rights of the independence of the Ottemen
Empire, the amicable relations which exist between the
Sublime Pete and the other friendly pewee knee se sof-
Bred the Meese alteration in conetnimee et fhb der
tin, and elenimently no one must be Weed to min*
moodrallo se subjects of them powers. am Masao pew
trig a adtwest religion, se regards their Itis heaver, and
peoperty ; sad no me shall be allowed M ambit them Is
aaq smaam whatsoever, for the law presets the life, the
baser, and property of every clam of subjects, and of
lamb, es eat own. All must be treated, according to our
seen laws, in every cireumeinee, with justice, and enjoy
the mem peeled security ; in a won, it is repugnant to
the seemed law as well as to enema sense, as it has been
made known in the past, to regard the Rayne of the Sub.
lime Pete, who metes • religion bearing conformity to
that of Reese, responsible fee the conduct of the Russian
goverment. What that government demands it demands
in its own laterals, and to kerne its influence. TM
subjects of the Sublime Porte have enjoyed for notaries
the religions privileges accorded to them by the Ottoman
emperors, under the special protection of the Sublime
Peet% and thee privileges acquire daily additional strength
'end greater eatesion. They am aware that the pretense
d Ike Ueda& government to take them under its prese-
ts. malt only mod to weave them.
Tea will make it well known to all men that an. of the
external eases of the triumph implored is that all earn
et hie Rightism may live together ia harmony; that now
amid mine se humiliate another ; and that all shall en-
demism be live in perfect union, and serve their women
toastly.

If bora negligence, ignorease, or ill-will, any one should
act is opposition to these legitimate orders, he shall be se-
verely punished.
All the above dispositions were decreed is the general
coancilslecently held. Yea will therefore have a care that
no one shall act coatzary to the above orders.
This sth Kaaharan, 1270 (Bth October, UM).

Letters from St. Petersburg state that the mani-
festo or note just remitted to the Turkish and English
governments by the Russian cabinet, is its reply to
the English and Turkish notes by which the Minute
propounons were rejected, and in which the prepara-
non of a new note to replace that of Vienna was
pressed for. The Czar refuses this request, and de-
clares that, in his opinion, the conference having
proposed the Vienna note, can do no more.
The Debate publishes a letter from Galati of the
14th, written by one of its friends, who had de-
scended the Danube from Pesth, on his way to
Constantinople, on commercial affairs. As he was
passing on the 11th before Rutschuk, a Turkish
fortress on the Danube, the aide-de-camp of Omer
Pacha, who had been to Giurgevo on the Wallachian
I bank, to notify the declaration of war, had just re-
turned to the fortress, after having passed eight
Eqs in the head-quarters of Prince Oortschakoff.
Ties prevalent expectation was that, after the delay
of fifteen days fixed by the summons of Omer Pacha,
hostilities would commence on the 11th of October of
the Greek and Russian calendar, which is 12 days
behind ours. The Russian troops were occupying
in force the little town of Giurgevo (opposite Rate-
d:ink), and were entrenching themselves there.
Letters differ greatly as to the force of this corps
d'armee. Some estimate it at 13,000 men, and others
at 30,000. The Turkish camp is opposite Giurgevo.
The weather continued to be magnificent. The sere-
nity of the sky and the dryness of the ground would
permit the armies to make a campaign before the
winter. There was a large Russian camp near
Galata. The strong places of the Turks along the
Danube appeared to be in a good state and well
armed. That of Rutschuk was specially remarked
on account of its imposing aspect. It is the centre
of a corps d'armee. The town is seated on a steep
bank by the side of the river, and the ramparts
crown the summit. At the brink of the river is a
series of low batteries. Round the town are seen
the tents of the Turks, which are of a green colour
lin honour of the Prophet. The coup (Twit is very
picturesque. It is pretended that the Hungarian
General Klapka commands this corps d'armee, or