The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-29 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

PROGRESS OF EASTERN AFFAIRS

(From our Second Edition of Yesterday.)

No later news from the Danube, or from Asia.
The Poet's Paris correSpondent states that the
last news from Russia is to the effect that the
Emperor has in a non-official communication to
the courts of Berlin and Vienna, stated his
determination not to agree to any proposals for
peaceful negotiations, unless considerable con-.
cessions were made to Russia.
The Times says, in a leading article, that it can-
not conceal the fact that the real obstacles to any
beneficial result from the propositions lately
submitted to the Porte, lie with Russia, and are
not likely to be removed. The progress of the
war, the vast extent of hostilities or hostile pre-
parations now in active progress, and the passions,
religious and national, excited by the contest,
effectually exclude the idea of an armistice, and
has rendered negotiations far less practicable than
it has. been at any previous moment. If the
Emperor of Russia had desired peace he has had
ample facilities to insure it, but every day brings
us fresh evidence that he has availed himself
of pretexts chiefly to keep in check his most
formidable opponents, to carry on his own
plan of operation, and to bring the whole
question in the, spring to a more positive issue. The
Austrian Government has published, in the official
correspondence, prepared at Vienna, under the
eyes of the minister, a mean and drivelling article,
to all appearance by the Russian embassy. The,
Cabinet expressly denies that "it has assumed a
less friendly or menacing attitude towards Russia,
and declares that " she has not in the least re-
nounced her friendly sentiments towards her allied
neighbour, and will not have to renounce them in
future." The article adds, that the " intimate
friendship between these two great monarchs is the
surest guarantee for the peace of the world, and for
the conservative interests of Europe." The Times
fears that the appearance of this declaration at
Vienna at such a moment is an evident proof that
the independent portion of the Austrian Cabinet is
unable to hold its ground, and that a degree of
pressure has been applied which the enfeebled
Empire cannot resist. The ink is scarcely dry
on the protocal of December 5, when the cabinet of
Austria are ready to repudiate its spirit, and to
defeat the influence it might have exercised on
Russia. With respect to Russian intrigues in the
north, the Times learns from good authority, that
an attempt has been made in Sweden, by a
mandate from St. Petersburg, to engage that
country in this contest, with a view to closing the
Swedish ports, and eventually the Baltic itself,
against English and French vessels. The main-
tenance of neutrality and independence is of vital
interest, for Sweden and Denmark, and it is

to be hoped that the King of Sweden
will not betray his country's independence
to Russian counsels. As regards Russian policy
in the East, the Times refers to the intrigues
obviously directed against the interests of the
British Empire are demonstrated by the Persian
declaration of war against Turkey. The movement
in Affghanistan, and the expedition to Khiva.
The article concludes by stating that that "if we
place these facts in the scale and weigh them
against the Russian assurances that the Emperor
is ready and willing to treat for peace : all such
declarations will stand for very little, and we
must look to other modes of arriving at the

termination of this dispute. The course to
be pursued by the Maritime Powers is now
clear and straitforward, and instructions are on
their way to Constantinople which will cause the
decided measures now agreed upon, to be carried
into immediate effect.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
On the 14th the ambassadors communicated to
Redschid Pacha the proposals of the great powers.
A Divan was convoked for the 20th, but on the re-
presentations of the ambassadors it met instead
on the 18th. After a long and animated discussion,
it was resolved to authorise the ministry to state
that the Sublime Porte would be willing to send a
plenipotentiary to some place in neutral territory,
not Vienna, for the purpose of treating for peace,
provided the Porte should not be asked to accept
anything it had refused, and that the old treaties,
now abrogated by war, should not be renewed.
Supposing Russia willing to treat on these terms,
the Porte will meet her plenipotentiary in preen
of the representatives of the four powers, as pro-
posed. With reference to the evacuation of the
Principalities, the Porte will be willing to accept
the guarantee of the four powers that they should
be evacuated immediately upon the conclusion of
a treaty of peace.
The Constitutionnel contradicts the late rumour
of dissensions between Great Britain and France,
which, it was asserted, had paralysed the action of
the fleets in the Bosphorus.
Letters from St. Petersburg, of the 13th, state
that the Court Gazette publishes a violent attack
upon the French government, for allowing a play
called " The Cossacks" to be performed in Paris.
Accounts from Tiflis of the 6th of December say
that Prince Beboutoff's victory over the Seraskier
Abdi Pacha was the most considerable affair which
has yet taken place between the belligerents in
Asia. Abdi Pacha's force consisted of 20,000
regular infantry, besides militia, and 10,000 cavalry
and 45 guns. Beboutoff attacked him with about
half the number, stormed his camp, and took tents,
baggage, ammunition, provisions, and 24 cannon.
The loss on both sides was very severe.
The Turkish artillery was admirably served,
and the artillerymen were killed at their guns;
and many political refugees were amongst
them. The Seraskier fled precipitately, and part
of his army has disbanded itself. The Russians
have, in twelve days, defeated the two largest
corps dannee of the Turks, and taken 39 cannon.
The larger part of the Imperial force has consist-

ed, in eN.-ery instanee, of regulars and
militia ; and the commanders-in-chief also were
Georgians—viz., Princes Beboutoff, Orbellian, and
Andronikoff. The general result of the campaign
in Asia has been unfavourable to the Turks, A
letter from Stockholm appears in the Times, dated
the 11th. It says—" Stockholm is in a great state
of excitement to-day, caused by the arrival of a
Russian courier, with a note commanding Sweden
to close her ports to English and French vessels

and subjects: The royal. family is greatly in fa
your of Russia, but the nation, to a man, is
against her."