The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-05 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

I

The statement of the Mon iteter dissipates whatever
doubt may have lingered in any mind respecting the
intentions of the Czar. Orders for crossing the
Turkish frontier were given in St. Petersbu g on the
27th ult. It is a seven days' post from the capital to
Odessa, consequently the order to advance should
have reached the Russian commander yesterday. But
the Pruth cannot be crossed in a moment; the bridge
has to be constructed, and the material and mtn must
be brought up. This will require from 36 to 48
hours. We may thus reasonably suppose that at
this moment the Russian engineers are constructing
the works necessary for the passage, and if on Satan
day news should arnve by the Semlin telegraph that
on the 7th, 12,000 Russians entered Jassy, we need
not suspect that sonic speculator has been discounts
log the fact.
From Constantinople we have letters of the 19th.
The most interesting portion of their contents
is the text of the note sent by Reschid
Pacha to M. de Nesselrode, in reply to his eons
munication requesting the Porte to accept Prince
Isfenchikoff's ultimatum. The passages of most
immediate interest are those which refer to the
threatened crossing of the frontier by the Russian
forces. Attentively considered, these passages are
not found to contain an express declaration by the
Ottoman minister concerning the view which his
government will take of the projected invasion es
affecting the relations between Russia and the Porte.
Reachid Pacha pronounces most positively upon the
moral character of the threatened act, but as to the
effect which it may have upon the relative position
of the two governments now at peace he is silent
SUBLIME FORTE—DEPARTMENT OF FOILEIGN Arealet.
"To IBIS EXCELLENCY TILE COUNT DE NESSELRODE,-•
" Sir, I lost no time in laying before bin Majesty the
Sultan, my august master, the despatch which your
Excellency has done me the honour to address to me on the
19th (31st) May last.
"His Majesty the Sultan has always shown, and on all
occasions, the greatest regard for his Majesty the Ensperoe
of Russia, whom he has ever looked upon as his sincere
ally and well-disposed neighbour. The Sublime Porte,
while entertaining no doubt of the generous intentions of
the Emperor, has been deeply grieved at the interruption
of relations between them which has unfortunately occurred,
and which arise@ perhaps from the Emperor not nada-
standing the real impossibility in which the forte has
found itself placed on the question raised by Priam
Menchikoff with reference to embodying in a diplomatic
engagement the religious privileges accorded to the Greek
religion. Nevertheless, it is consoled by knowing that for
its part it has in nowise contributed to produce such a state
of things. In truth, the Ottoman government has shown,
from the beginning, the best disposition and every facility
relative to the questions which Prince itfenchikoff was cam,
missioned to settle in pursuance with the orders of the em-
peror. And even in questions so delicate as that of the
religious privileges of the Greek church it was still inspired
by pacific sentimints, and not refusing the assurances which
tended to remove and reduce to nothing all the doubts
which might have been excited in that respect, the Sublime
Porte hoped, especially from the well-known wisdom of
Prince Mencliikoff, that that ambassador would be satis-
fied with the project of a note which had been communi-
cated to him in the last instance, and which contained all
the assurances that had been demanded.
" It is true that his Highness Prince Menchikoff has,
the second time, abridged the minute of the Sened which
he had at first given, and in communicating at the last a
project of a note he has made certain changes as well in the
terms as in the form sad title of the document; but the
sense of an engagement being still found there, and as that
diplomatic engagement cannot accord either with the idles
pendence of the Ottoman government or with the rights of
its sovereign authority, it is impossible to give to the
motiv, a of utter impossibilitypresented on that point by the
Porte the term of refusal, anti to make of that a question of
honour for his Majesty the Enrperor of Russia. Moreover,
if complaints have been made of that impossibility by attri-
buting it to a sentiment of mistrust, Russia, by paying no
regard to all the assurances effered in the most
solemn manner by the Sublime Porte, and by de-
daring that it was indispensable to embody them
in an instrument having tke force of an en-
gagement, does site not rather give a patent proof
of her want of confidence towards the Ottoman government,
and has not the Ottoman government on its part a right to
complain ? Nevertheless, in answering on these two points
it refers itself to the high and known justice of the Em-
peror of Russia, as well as to the nigh reasons and the emi-
nently pacific sentiments of your Excellene), which, more-
over, each has been able to recognise and appreciate.
" His Majesty the Saltao, by an imperial firman bearing
1 e august hatti-scheriff, has just confirmed anew the privi-
leges, rights, anti immunities enjoyed by the members and
the churches of the Greek rite abantiquo.
" The Sublime Porte will never hesitate to maintain and
to give the assurances contained and promised in the pro-
ject of the note transmitted to Prince Menchikoff a short
Note before his departure. The dispatch received on
the part of your Excellency speaks of causing the Ro-
-1 elan troops to pass the frontiers. That declaration is in-
compatible with the assurances of peace and of the friendly
disposition of his Majesty the Emperor. It is, in truth,
so much opposed to what one is justified in expectingfrom
a friendly power that the Porte knows not how it can se-
it ; the military preparations and the works of defence
ordered by the Porte, as it declares officially to the poseurs,
are only those rendered nec esary by the considerable
armaments of Russia. They constitute a measure purely
defensive. The government of the Sultan having no ba
We intentions against Kuria, expresses the desire that the
ancient relations which his Majesty moreover regards gs so
precious, and of which the numerous advantages are mani-
fest for both parties, may be re-established in their primitive
state.
4'l entertain the hope that the Court of Russia will sis
predate, with a feeling of confident consideration, the
sheers and loyal intentions of the Sublime Porte, and
will take into account the -utter impossibility :n which it
dads itself to defer to the desires which have bees ex-
proosed. Let that impossibility be appreciated as it dents
to be, and the Sublime Porte I can assure your Excellency
will not hesitate to instruct an Ambassador-Extraordinary
110 proceed to St. Petersburg to re-open there the negotia-
tions, and to seek, in concert with the government of his
Majesty the Emperor of Russia, an arrangement which,
while it may be agreeable to his Majesty, shall be also such
as the Porte can accept without affecting either the basis of
its independence or the sovereign authority of his Majesty
the Sultan.
" Your Excellency may regard it as certain that fot my
part I most earnestly desire such a result, and I indulge is
the hope that such is also the desire of your Excellency.
" I pray your Excellency, &c.,
(Signed) " RESCISIn."
Our correspondent writes:
CONSTANTINOPLE, JUNE 19.
The reply of the Porte was delivered on the 16th
inst. to M. Balabine, at the expiration of the term
stipulated in Count Nesselrodes ultimatum.
Since the departure of the Russians, nothing of
importance has occurred. We are all on the qui
rive, and waiting with anxiety the final issue. The
English fleet, as you arc aware, arrived at Batiks
Bay on the 13th inst., and the French on the follow-
ing day. They are both in fine trim, and 27' in
number. Each, it is said, expects a reinforcement
of four or five ships.

THE CZAR'S RELIGION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE Eirßy.ss.

Sin,—l see it is again put forward by a morning
contemporary that Nicholas is urged forward in his crusade
against the Turk by the fanaticism of his subjects. Now,
will not pretend to say that I have a profound kaowledgt of
the Russians, but 1 know something of them, and I am
thoroughly convinced that if their Emperor was to tarn
protestant to-morrow, and issue an ukase commanding his
subjects to be converted to his new faith, they world torn
with him to a man, and if the week after he •as to ssl' he
had had another light, and was now a Roman catholic, his
good Russians would all be with him, humble servantl of
the Pope.

His putting forward religion at all is the shalhwest Pre'
text ever advanced to shelter dishonest amMition.

July 4.

AN OLD CORRESPONDENr.

fitE 13Nitor tn, ANTIGUA left England on Sato-
day in the West India steamer Parana. General Bu burr
commander•in-chief of the West India forced, came Lome In
the Magdalena, which arrived at e.,outbampton on Friaav
Teat.