The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-30 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 30, 1853.

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

We are in receipt of important communications
from Constantinople. The letter (dated the 15th
inst.) which follows, with its enclosure (a note from
Pero of the same date) speak for themselves. They
bear internal evidence of emanating (as they do) from
men who have access to the fountatn-head of infor-
mation, and are endowed with intellects capable of
turning this advantage to account. Oar Constanti-
nople correspondent of the 15th takes a more san-
guine view of the prospects of Turkey, even in the
event of its yielding to the urgenciceof the four powers,
than we have hitherto been accustomed to take.
But he assigns valid reasons for so doing. The
letter which follows the note from Pent (dated Con-
stantinople, August 16) contains a few supplemen-
tary items of news; and a few paragraphs from the
Journal de Constantinople are subjoined:

CONSTANTINOPLE, AvorFe 15.
The note mentioned in my letter from Vienna of
the 18th July was drawn up at Vienna under the in-
spiration of Russia ; consequently it has been re-
jected by the Porte. On the 23rd of July, a new
note, prepared by the Divan, in concert with the
representatives of the four powers, at Constantinople,
was addressed to the Russian government. It was
in a great measure written by Reshid Pasha to the
dictation of Lord Redcliffe. Each of the ambassa-
dors forwarded a copy of this note to his own court.
In the interim a proposal—originating, it is said,
with M. Delacour, French ambassador here—had
been transmitted by France and England to Vienna,
to be forwarded to the Emperor of Russia, with the
assent of Prussia. It is the answer to this proposal
that the despatches to M. Delacour of the 9th led him
to expect of which the Caradoc, arrived on Fri-
day last, foretold to Lord Itedcliffe the favourable
reception; and which the Austrian ambassador, M.
de Bruck, received by itstafette on the same day (the
12th). This answer brought the definitive accept-
ance of the proposal of France and England by the
Emperor of Russia. The answer to the Turkish
note of the 23rd of July was thus eluded and rendered
useless.

I have seen and compared the two documents. If
the substance and form are not exactly and literally
the same, still they aim at the same results and con-
sequences. In both the self-love of the Emperor
of Russia is too much consulted; the dignity of the
Sultan and the Ottoman government too much sa-
crificed; the eagerness of the mediating powers to
bring negotiations to a close too evident. The de-
spatch to M. de Bruck enclosed an autograph letter
from the Emperor of Austria to the Sultan, urgently
pressing him to accept the proposal accepted by the
Emperor of Russia.
All this was notified to the government here on
Friday last. The council of ministers met on Si-
turday to deliberate. A majority decided to accept
the proposal ; only three members opposed it. Their
resistance was possibly more to keep up appearances
than real.

Yesterday the question was submitted to the ge-
neral council of state. The result of its deliberation
has not yet transpired. I will try to learn it for you
before the departure of the courier.

In the council of state as in the council of ministers
some repugnance will doubtless have been manifested
from patrioticor from politicmotives. But it is impossi-
ble that the Council of State, any more than the
Council of Ministers or the Sultan, can do otherwise
than accept. A refusal would compromise the
Turkish government too seriously with the great
Powers—especially with England. Turkey has com-
mitted an irreparable fault in allowing itself to be
drawn into discussions and negotiations respecting
the injury and insults that Russia has lavished upon
it. Once entered upon this path it could not quit it
but by the assistance of the Powers. It is under
the necessity of confiding in their loyalty and the care
which they pledged themselves to take of its honour
and dignity. Now, it would affront them if it re-
jected the solution which they consider satisfactory
and dignified. And after all, if they have deceived
themselves, or have abused the confidence of Turkey,
the responsibility for their error or disloyalty will
cling to them exclusively, and cannot fetter the
power or be binding on the conscience of Turkey in
the eyes of Europe and the world.
Beyond a doubt. this difficulty has won for Turkey
the esteem and sympathy of Europe, and elevated
the patriotism and energies of the Mussulmans, so ns
to reinvigorate the vitality and resources of the
country. The era of progress for the future opens
free from all obstacles, and the Sultan and his go-
vernment are resolved to advance by all means. No-
thing will be neglected to ensure the integrity and
augment the independence of the empire. This is
a feeling of more worth than all treaties and
alliances.

Russia, on the contrary, will have lost its political
influence and phantasmagorical reputation in Europe.
Turkey could have resisted it by force of arms. In a
little time Turkey will teach Russia to fear it, and
will precede it in the path of civilisation and general
improvement.
In regard to finances, I know from unquestionable
authority that the extra expenses entailed upon this
government by recent events do not exceed
12,000,000 piastres (105,0001. sterling) per month since
the beginning of the crisis. The journals have exag-
gerated them ridiculously. Every soldier costs the
state, on an average, no more than 2,000 piastres per
annum ; his arms not being taken into account. The
loan of 45 millions of piastres might have been dis-
pensed with; but then there would have been com-
plaints and misconstructions on account of postponed
payment of urgent claims. Extraordinary resources
were therefore required by the treasury.
I am however convinced that government will en-
deavour to procure more temporary advances, to
enable it to liquidate as promptly as possible the
expenses which its warlike preparations have en-
tailed upon it, and to enable it to dismiss its recruits
in good humour by means of gratifications.
What most embarrasses the Turkish government

in the pacific solution of the question, is the thought
how it is to bring the population and the army to
acquiesce in it tranquilly, for their patriotic and re-
ligious feelings have been roused against Russia to
an extraordinary degree of keenness. The army
was really organised and armed upon a formidable
footing. There were 120,000 regular disciplined
troops on the Danube and Balkan around Schumla ;
similar corps of 50,000 or 60,000 men on the
Persian frontier. The army of Syria was intact ;
the reserve, composed of old soldiers, amounted
to more than a hundred thousand men. Then
there .were volunteers, the contingents of the
tributary powers, and a population ready to rise en
mane. There were ample provisions for a year, and
ammunition enough to furnish every piece of artil-
lery with 500 discharges. All military equipments
were on the same scale, and had been accumulating
for years.
The Egyptian fleet arrived yesterday with 20,000
soldiers, who are to encamp on the Bosphorus where
it opens into the Black Sea—exactly where the Rus-
sians encamped during the war between Egypt and
Turkey.
The Turkish navy is more than a match for the
Russian. I met lately the English captain who has
been instructor to the former for two years and a
half : he smeared me the crews are well exercised and
the officers have nothing to wish for.
To conclude, had war broken out it must have
lasted long if the Russians had not been repelled at
once. Omer Pasha pledged himself to drive them
from the Danubian provinces with the loss of 16,000
men, if allowed to attack them ; and peace will give
Turkey time to make itself equal—if not superior—
to Russia in strength and prosperity. It ensures a
brilliant future for the industrial projects of this
country.

I have just received the following note, which
shows exactly how matters at present stand in
Council:

PERA, AuorsT 15.
In the council of ministers, on Saturday, the great
question was warmly discussed, but no vote was
taken. Yesterday's council was a mere ordinary
meeting, but the deliberation turned on the same
subject.

A high functionary assures me that the ministers
will reserve their votes for the general council,
which I believe will not be held till to-morrow.
What renders this probable is, that M. Delacour is to
have an audience of the Sultan to-day about 3 p.m.
General Prim, too, is to have an audience to-day about
2 p.m.
• _ _

must, however, frankly tell you that the proposal
gains ground with ministers and the high functionaries;
it is probable that M. Delacour is to put the finish-
ing band to-day to the arguments used with the