The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

The draft of a new arrangement to supersede that
framed at Vienna has been approved by the English
and French governments, and is now on its way to
Constantinople. It was in connexion with this ex-
pedient that the recent meetings of diplomatists at
Vienna mentioned yesterday in these columns, and
which the Russian ambassador has attended, have
taken place.
There is no fresh io telligence of any compact securing
abstention from hostilities having been concluded on
the Danube. The new and dilatory orders from
Constantinople mentioned by the Afoniteur would
reach Omer Pacha about the 25th, probably in time
to retard the execution of any general plan of ope-
rations which he may have formed. On the other
side, it is unlikely that Prince Gortachakoff would
attempt with the force at his disposal any serious
movement against Turkey, even if his position in
the Principalities were not professedly defensive. At
this distance it is difficult to say how the encounter
of the 23rd may be judged of on the spot, but as pre-
sented in the narrative of the Monileur it wears the
aspect of a local incident rather than a part of a
systematic plan of attack on either side.
The condition attached to the Sultan's instructions
for delaying hostilities—viz., that " in case hostilities
should have been commenced, the order was to be
considered as null and void "—reduces the practical
effect of that order more than at first appears; for
although a commander bent on peace might come to
the conclusion that the collision of the 23rd ult. was
no commencement of hostilities in the intention of

his government, a general whose success required
immediate action would see in the proviso a reluctant
concession to some other influence rather than the
expression of a self-resolved will.
The entrance of the fleets into the Sea of Mar-
mora was not made, as to time, in accordance with
the provisions of the French government, as stated
in the Mon iteur. The fleets only left Besika on the
22nd, and on the 23rd only three of the French
vessels were at Gallipoli. Admiral Dundas was at
the first castle of the Dardanelles.

It will be remembereiftl;;Cti;:government organs
of France and England have declared in concert that
the Russian proposition at Olmutz, of a note by the
Four Powers which should stand aide by side with
the Vienna note, has been rejected by France and
England, as not calculated to afford that "sufficient
tee" of which the Univers speaks so warmly.
et the latest advices from the East appear to indi-
cate that, in the language of the hest. Cor., " the
declarations given by the Emperor of Russia at
Olmfitz have furnished a basis upon which negotia-
tions may still be carried on." While journals which
affect a kind of ministerial authority tersely announce
that events have placed the direction of the present
crisis beyond the power of negotiators, we know
that a lively interchange of opinions, views, and pro-
positions is still taking place between the five Euro-
peen powers on the subject of Turkey.
We have letters from Constantinople of the 17th,
two days later than that published yesterday. The
only important feature in the correspondence is a
reference to the endeavours made by the ambassadors
Ito induce the Porte to protract the term of (theft)
existing peace by eight days. This addition to the
15 days originally allowed by Omer Pacha would
give November Ist (the date mentioned in subse-
quent telegraphic despatches) as the day on which a
state of war would be recognised. The utmost
activity continued to be displayed in the defence of
the state. Every day men, money, and munitions
were sent off to the seat of war. On the 17th the
new battalion of chasseurs left Constantinople for
'Armenia.