The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-20 00:00:00

TO THE IDITOI Or THZ DAILY NMI.

Sir,—ln your journal of Thursday, your corre-
spondent D. uks the following questions :

" So the Adjutant-General has resigned ; did be too con-
scientiously perform his duties ? Did he exert himself to
check undue influence ? Did he aim to give a high mili-
tary tone to the army ? Did he attempt to stop the abuses
by which idle persons sought to use the army sea conveni-
ence ?

Ilow is it that an officer junior to the Deputy-Adjutant
General is to be put over the head of Major-General Wei-
therall 2 Is it that he would not be a party to the removal
of his valued superior by accepting the higher poet when
offered to him ? Was it so offered in order to make room
fur 'relative 2"

First, as regards General Brown, the simple monosyllable
is in the affirmative ; as regards the second, a more import-
ant question arises, being of a constitutional rather than of
a personal nature—vis., who ith her Majesty's advisers in
a ease where the established rules of the service are de-
parted from? I apprehend, the public, civil and military,
will not rest satisfied with the probable official reply of Lord
Aberdeen—that it was an exercise of her Majesty's prero-
gative ; for in no case affecting the army as this does has her
most excellent Majesty during her reign exercised it, to the
prejudice of one of the mo,t deservir.g, loyal, and efficient
officers in the service, by placing a junior over his head. I
cannot believe that a deputy adjutant-general who carries
out his duties in so efficient a way as General Weatherall,
could refuse the appointment of head of the department,
which it must have been his natural ambition to have suc-
ceeded to.

Responsibility must rest somewhere for such an appoint-
ment, and the public will demand with whom.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
L. S.

Dec. 19, 18.53.

LATEST FROM ABROAD.

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

VIENNA, Esc. 17.

The official Vienna Gazette publishes the follow-
ing on the subject of the sending of two French and
English ship* of war into the Black Sea after the
news from Sinope had been received at Constanti-
nople :
" We are empowered to state that the despatch of
these ships is unconnected with any design of hoeti-
titles, and should a further portion of the combined
fleets enter the Black Sea after the return of these
two vessels such expedition would only have for its
object the prevention of any further collision between
the Russian and Turkish fleets."

It is understood that the Austrian government
offers this assurance to the public on the authority
of the English cabinet, as communicated by tele-
graph. It may be safely asserted that the professedly
good understanding between Austria and England
would not outlive the moment when the Vienna cabi-
net could not make such a declaration.

The Sielkenburgen Bolen announces the arrival of
General Budberg at Bucharest on the 7th. The
Danube at Widdia is covered with boats.

Daniel Vukowitch, adjutant of the Vladiks of
Montenegro, is again here, and has frequent inter-
views with the Russian ambassador.

The Russian salvers have been employed in
forming entrenchments at the convents of Kitruzeni
and Panteilimon, each about four miles in front of
Bucharest.

PARIS, MONDAY EVIIIIINO.

At the Bourse the Three per Cent. Hen tea closed
for money at 74.60 ; the Four-and-a-Half per Cents.
at 101.10; and Bank shares at 2,940.

Accounts have reached Paris from Constantinople
of the 9th inst. :

The steam frigates which were sent out to Sinope
by Admirals Dundaa and Hamelin, on the 4th, had
returned with details of the action.

The Russians have not attempted to occupy
Binope.
The Turkish ships when attacked were opposite
the government dock, and between the battery and
the quarantine office, thus to the south of the Penin-
sula.

The Constantinople correspondent of the Debrab
says the rupture of diplomatic relations between
Persia and England is officially confirmed, and that
Persia has concluded a treaty of alliance offensive and
defensive with Russia against Turkey.

Mehemet Rusdi Pacha, the General Commander-
in-Chief of the Sultan's guards, had tendered his re-
signation, in consequence of a difference of opinion
with the Seraskier Mehemet Ali as to the plan of the
campaign.

The Paris Constitutionnel says it has reason to
know that news has reached Paris that the Emperor
Nicholas has adhered in principle to the idea of
treating for peace in a conference to which he would
consent to send a plenipotentiary.

ATHENS, Dn. 7.

The elections have terminated in thirty-eight dis-
tricts. Thirty-six ministerialists and two members
of the opposition are returned.

INSTRUCTIONS OF THE POWERS TO THE
AMBASSADORS AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

The D4ate gives the following despatch as that by
, which the ambassadors of the Four Powers have
been instructed to act in execution of the protocol of
Dec. 5:
" Monsieur,—The governments of their Majesties,
the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of the } reach,
the Qui en of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, and the King of Prussia, have seen with
great regret the outbreak of war between Russia
and Turkey ; and with the object of abridging hosti-
lities as much as possible, and of effecting a rap-
prochement between the belligerent parties, so im-
portant for the interests of Europe, they have
thought it necessary to give a collective form to
their efforts.
" The note which the representatives of the Four
Powers at Vienna have received orders to address
directly to his Excellency Iteschid Pachs, and of
which they have had to transmit a copy to you, is a
new and complete evidence of the identity of the
views of their courts, and of their warm desire to
contribute by their union to the re-establishment of
peace. I rely upon you, Monsieur, to second
this conciliatory endeavour, by your exertions,
and have only further to indicate to you the
counsels which you, with your colleagues, will have
to give to the ministers of his Majesty the Sultan.
" The various documents which have emanated
from the Sublime Porte and the character of
moderation with which they are marked, authorise
us to hope that you will find Reschid Pacha
disposed to admit that the propositions of the
four courts are as much conformed to the
interests as they are to the dignity of the Ottoman
empire. We pace candidly before the Sublime
Court a question to which it will respond in the
same spirit. We are convinced that it will circum-
scribe the contest which is now pending between itself
and the cabinet of St. Petersburg within its true limits,
and that all its cares will tend to resolve it without
importing foreign elements into the actual war.
" In this hope, and acknowledging that it belongs
to the Turkish government to reply to the communi-
cation which is made to it in such a manner as its
wisdom shall suggest, we at the same time consider
that we may be permitted to call its attention to the
points on which it will be sure to find us in agree-
meat with it.
" The governments of the Four Powers would be
glad should the Sublime Porte declare in the first
place that Austria, France, Great Britain, and
Prussia have not too much presumed on its concilia-
tory intentions in believing it to be still animated
with the desire to terminate on favourable conditions
the difference which has arisen between it and
Russia, and still ready to come to an understanding
for this purpose with the other powers. That, re-
cognising the assurance which Russia hu on several
occasions given, that it demands no new conces-
sions nor rights infringing noon the sovereignty
of the Sultan, the Divan is ready to renew its
offers and to discuss the form in which peace
shall be re-established, subject to the condition of not
being Galled to accede to any of the demands which
have been already refused, and to conclude an ar-
rangement for the evacuation of the Principalities.
"This discussion would naturally take place be-
tween an Ottoman and Russian negotiator, each fur-
nished with plenipotentiary powers; but in order to
facilitate the agreement of the two parties, the pleni-
potentiaries so designated would not treat apart,
but in presence of representatives of Austria, France,
Great Britain, and Prussia.
" We can understand the reasons which doubtless

would not permit the Sublime Porte to negotiate
with Russia in a part of its territory, occupied by
the arms of this power. Russia, on its side, would
have objections to negotiate in any town of Turkey.
, It would be proper then to leave the two parties to
make choice of a neutral territory, and we abstain
therefore from designating any particular place.
The object which the four courts propose
would not be completely obtained if the open-
ing of the preliminary pourparlers of peace
were not at the same time the signal for
the cessation of hostilities; but we believe
that the Sublime Porte will have no good reason
to oppose the conclusion of an armistice the condi-
tions of which might be afterwards debated, if it
obtained from us the assurance that the terms in
which it should declare itself disposed to treat would
be equally accepted by Russia. It is in any case a
demand which it might addreso to us; and on the
hypothesis that the terms proposed by the Ottoman
government should not be such as Russia should at
first consent to, we would yet advise the sending of
a Turkish plenipotentiary, and the appointment of a

town where the plenipotentiartusati
Turkey might meet the representatives
of the fo2a,
courts.
under Therevie various
and the points
observations bI have juswhich w t paw,
are accompanied, have the complete conaeat;
Austria, France, and prism.; and It is therefore
to be desired that Reschid Paella will look at theta
this light, and make them the groundwork of
ta
communication which we all expect from him. yu,
will inform us 'he reception which will be given0
this communication; but we can hardly think that tl.e
Sublime Porte, weighing the advantages which such
a combination offers to the Ottoman Empire at
the risks which always wait war, will hesitate
ta
enter into the path opened for it by an amicable it.
tervention.
• " I ask you, Monsieur, to repair with your cc',
leagues to Reschid I'acha, to read this despatch,...)
him, and fortify it with the authority of y°,,
advice."

THE WAR.

RUSSIA AND TURKEY,

CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec ..5
On Friday, 2 p.m., the Tail war-steamer ar.n;e4
from the Black Sea with bad news. On the ;liph
ult., 11 a.m., a strong division of the Russian St.
consisting of three or four ships of the line, km;
frigates and steamers, entered the port of Sinope, sz,d
destroyed, it is feared, partially or totally, a sisal
Turkish squadron stationed there. The loss of the
Russians, as well as the general details of this Is
aster, have not yet reached Constantinople. It sp.
pears, however, from the statement of the captain of
the Taif, which was signalled to quit at the cots.
mencement of the action, that it was blowing fresh
from the north, and the fog thick, when all of a sad•
den the Russian three-deckers sailed into port, and
opened instantly a tremendous fire on the Turkish
ships, which were awkwardly situated, and so as
completely to obstruct the guns of their own
fortress. Whether from accident or other.
wise several of the Turkish ships blew up, and the
crews, it is stated, had sworn with one voice on the
Koran never to strike. The destruction of some
Turkish ships having cleared the way, the fortress at
length opened a destructive fire on the enemy, and
two ships of the line, it is stated, were already dee
abled and going down when the Tail escaped from
port. She suffered, therefore, little injury in passing
by, but was chased by the Russian ships in the offing,
and received several shots in her hull ; but disabled,
it appears, with her paixhans, one of the
enemy s steamers. Six of her men were killed, and
five wounded. The action must have lasted long,
for she was enabled to hear distinctly the cannonading
for some hours after her departure from Sinope. The
other steamer, Eregli, belonging to the Turkish
squadron, which at the outset had been ordered to
depart with the Taif, was unfortunately sunk, in
attempting it, by a broadside, before tho Russian
liners had sustained any injury. The Taif had
great difficulty, owing to some circumstance, in get.
ting up her steam, and to this delay, in a great mea-
sure, perhaps may be attributed her wonderful
escape.
The exact details of this event are not as yet known,
but the English Trebizond steamer is hourly ex-
pected in port. It is, however, conjectured that the
Russian vessels—the wind blowing in that direction—
cannot possibly have all escaped unhurt, and the
fortress, it is to be hope', will have done them ample
justice, unless indeed the Russian force may have
been sufficient to disable it, in which case Sinope
must have fallen into the hands of the enemy. At
all events, it is hoped that this will be a severe and
profitable lesson to the Turks. A powerful Russian
squadron, you are aware, had been for some time
blockading the coast in that direction, and their
having left so small and inadequate a force in the
neighbourhood is a matter utterly inexplicable, more
especially as the counsels of Admirals Dandies and
Hamelyn are supposed to direct their movements.
It is true that on the day of tho Tait 's at rival in
port, six steam frigates under the command of Ad-
miral Kaiserli Ahmed Pacha, were on their way for
Sinope, but countermanded luckily by the Capitan
Pacha on the receipt of this intelligence.
On Saturday last, 3rd inst., a conference was held
at the French Palace Pere, at which assisted Lord
Redcliffe, M. Baragusy &Millers, Admirals Dundao
and Hamelyn. and Nluchaver Pacha (Slade),lnd con-
formably with the resolutions adopted, the Retribu-
tion and Mogador started that evening in the direc-
tion of Sinope.
One of the most remarkable features in this un-
toward event, as Reschid Pacha is said to have ob-
served, is that it has occurred at the very moment
when the Czar professes—as in his last proposal
through M. de Bruck, of which I transmitted a copy
—to be animated with the most sincere intentions of
negotiating with the Porte, and had conse-
quently issued strict orders to his military
and naval armaments to remain entirely on
Ithe defensive. Another proof also of the truth
of these professions is that a Turkish merchant
steamer was captured by his cruisers on the 18th
ult., and piratically captured, it is quite evident, inas-
much as the term stipulated by himself did nut ex-
pire till the 22nd. He ought to learn morals and
'humanity from the Turks; for I may mention that
on the 30th ult. a Russian merchantman, haring
been driven by a storm into the Bosphorus, and
obliged to anchor at Kayak, every possible assistance
—provisions, money, &c.—were supplied to the ex-
hausted crew, and the vessel, although to all intents
and purposes a lawful prize, dismissed on the follow-
in,r day. A portion of her cargo, it is even said,
consisted in ammunition and other warlike stores.

CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 5.
In a former letter I announced that the Ottoman
fleet had gone into the Black Sea in two, divisions,
one under the command of Mustapha, ordered to
conduct a convoy of munitions of war and arms to
the coast of Circassia ; the other, under the orders
of the English Captain Slade (Muchaver Pacha), des-
tined to cruise in the Black Sea, and to protect the
other division in the execution of its mission. The
English captain returned after a few days' absence
without having encountered any Russian vessels.
Mustapha Pacha also arrived after having ful-
filled his mission. He saw the Russian fleet, but
in number so imposing, that he did not think it
prudent to offer battle; but the two chiefs left several
of their sailing vessels and two steamers in the port
of Sinope. Information reached the Turkish
Admiralty from several quarters that the Russians,
informed at Sebastopol by the captain of a steamer
belonging to 'a neutral power that the Ottoman flo-
tilla bad been seen at Sinop, had left Sebastopol to
attack the Turkish fleet. The information was not
regarded with so much seriousness as it deserved.
Public opinion was in favour of sending a steam
flotilla to bring out the ships at Sinope, but the coun-
cil of the Admiralty, influenced by Mustapha Pacha,
opposed this measure. On the Thursday following&
steam frigate, the Taif, arrived, bringing news that
the Russian fleet, composed of three vessels of the
line, having an admiral on board, four frigates, six
corvettes, and six steam frigates, and a dozen other
vessels, had attacked the Turkish flotilla at the port
of Sinope. The Taif received the first tire,
but cut her cables and passed through the
Russian fleet in the direction of Trebizond.
She was pursued by two Russian frigates, and lost
six men. Having got some distance off, her crew
saw flames rising very high on the coast of Sinope.
It is stated that yesterday evening, a courier arrived
by land, with intelligence that a Russian ship and
two Russian frigates had been scuttled; and that a
small Ottoman steamer had suffered the same fate;
that two Turkish frigates had been burned, and five
others destroyed by the Russian guns. The town
was said to be burned. The Russian fleet withdrew,
having completed the work of destruction. The
Ottoman fleet, under tho orders of Ahmed Peelle,
went out yesterday evening from the Bosphorus. On
Sunday, two French and English steamers, the
Nlogador and Retribution, went out, probably to
examine the theatre of the disaster. Mu-
chaver Pacha is at present on board an
English frigate commanded by Capt. Drummond.
The Greeks, malevolent as ever, cry that England
has brought about this petty Navarino to make sure
of peace at any price. People ask, What are the
French and English fleets doing here? And the
answer is, their crews are getting drunk in the
streets, insulting the women and violating the sanc-
tity of houses. These fleets enable the ambassadors
to menace the Turks, and constrain them to such an
arrangement as the Two Powers choose to dictate.