The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-27 00:00:00

RUSSIA .9ND PERSIA.

!EXTRACT OF A PRIVATE LET T ER.!
SULTANIA, JULY 23.
By the fest Tartar I gave yiu an account of Prince 31eruikurs
mission to the date of his departure fur :Sultan ie. You will be as-
tonished to hear that the fair prospects we then had of a final
arrangement between this Court and Russia are now nearly at an
end, and there is every probability of immediate hostilities ; but,
threatening ss the appearances are. so perfectly unprepared is this
Court for a contest of such magnitude, as well us the natural pacific
disposition of the King, I cannot believe there will be war, till I
actually hear of an action between their troops.
Abbas Mirza, with his usual deceit and want of stability of cha-
racter, made all at Tabricz suppose lie was, In reality, desirous of
peace; but, obliged to asume a contrary appearance since his arri-
val here, lie has not only been the most active instigator of war,
bat the immediate cause of the present impolitic arid premature
proceedings!. Miser Khan and ,led 3laboired, the 3lushtakeid
of Kubela, have been the principal cause of this change. .They
represented to him how much he would gain in the opinion of all
111allomeelana if he became the champion of their religion, and the
100 of chataater he must sustain by refusing to aid his ble-
thren of Kara Bang Shekey and Shirwan, now groaning under an
is ntlel yoke, which they were unable longer to bear. Vie enthu-
siasm of the people had been much excited by suppliants and let-
ters from those provinces complaining of the daily outragoe they
suffered from the Russians, and the • Persiun army had only to
appear, when a general insurrection would take place.
Abbas Mitre is accused of having, in the first instance, excited
this spirit, which neither he nor his futher is now able to control.
The King was and is most anxious to maintain peace; but having
pledged himself either to obtain the restitution of Goukelia or de-
clare war, he is afraid to re.ract. A proposal was made to Prince
Neozikolf, that the land in question should remain unoccupied till
such time as a reference was made to the Emperor, during which
peried he might visit the frontier, and report Maisel( on die points
is dispute. To this he replied, his instructions had been ftme.ded
ten the proposals made by Abbas 11irze, regarding an exchange
tor some lands of greater value in Kara Bang, Mogan, and
Talish ; but since the King did not confirm this proceeding,
he was willing to await a reference, but could nut evacuate a place
they had occupied for twelve years by permission, and which, from
the constant intrigues of the Sordid of Erivan, would compromise
the safety of twelve thousand families of their Jlahoniedan sub-
*jeets. Ile afterwards agreed that the Persians should also have a
detachment in the same place, and that the stay of the Hessians
during the next two months should not be considered to give them
any additional claim to its possession. This was not accepted, and
Abbas 31:raa scut for Mr. Amburger, the Russian Charge d'Af-
faires, of whom he took leave, and stated his intention of proceed-
ing to the frontier and expelling the Russinas from his don:biome ;
at the same time troops have been sent in differ:id directions, with
the ostensible object of invading the Russian territories. They
ma) certainly do much mischief by a sudden irruption into the coun-
try while the Ambassador is still here, and the Russians ignorant
of the existence of war. but its ultimate result cannot be doubt-
ful. The Russians rat the present moment have at least 40,000
regular troops in Georgia, half of whom are disposable, and these
can be augmented at pleasure. General Yerinoluff is consi-
dered the beet officer in the Russian army, but hes certainly done
less during his Government titan was to have been expected from
his great character. As a Governor of Georgia, he has much im-
p:need the country, but by a number of harassing regulations has
rendered the people dissatisfied with the Russian Government, to
which they were once much attached. The Chiefs of the Mahn-
medan tribes and provinces have, under one pretext or oilier, been
eapelled or sent to Russia. But I can say, from having travelled
ttnrough every part of those countries, the people are richer and hers
oppressed than in any part of Persia. The dismtisiaction au much
esaggerated by the Persians is confined to the Chiefs : the inferior
Onset, though they complain of the conduct of the inferior Russian
asserts, are not diasficeeed to the Government, except in Kies
Haag, where the bad conduct of the Officer commanding, l
and the
licence he allows the troops. have highly casimented al classes.
We understated best (but I will not amines for the truth). that %
Russian Major and 2, party of soldiers have been cut to pieces in
bhirwan, he consequence of We fernier having taken some Ma-
hiornedan women by force.
It is more titan probable the )reel pitate foil of Abbas Mina will
bring things to a crisis, when it might be avoided. One good will
arise from it, by leaving the British Government perfedly tree in
the conduct they may think proper to pursue.. The forcible occupa-
tion of Ouuktia is en aggrecayon ua.the part at Russia. Hostilities
will have been ointment-eel b Penn ; besides Prince 31cuiltoff 'a
couriers have been detained at lire Pl. mild numerous kiwi from
Abbas Miran, exciting the inhabitants of die Maliumedan pro-
' 'laces to revolt, have been intercepted. What good result can be
'enacted ,runt 0 war conducted by so weak a character as the
Prince Royal, or any of the chiefs elm now command fhe Persian
troops ? Wall the exception of the nee regiment of guards, none
of the Azmfbeject troops have even been assembled since 1112:2 ; at
the present moment they are deficient in every necessary equipment,
• and he has long ceased to have any European officer in his service.
The present Russian Ambassailer has had the goad fortune or
coeduct, while nut granting a single point, to gain the personal
goad-will of every individual with ohom he has been engaged, and
has down temper beyond human nature. A few days ego the
Ham Malvin entered his tent, pretending great fatigue, and say.
• log he could Nally get through the troops who were merching to
the froutica ; and in a few days he hoped to tell him that Kara
Bang was in the possession of Persia. Ile merely milled. and
answered, he was happy to find We had the consideration to leave
them in Teillis during the winter. His presents have been few, and
dl small value. Pray excuse this. As usual, I have delayed writ-
ing till die packet is Jolting.
AU hopes of pesos are now at an end. The Envoy left camp this
morning. A large Persian forte lies entered tire Itusaian territory
to aid the insurgents of Tulish. One hundred Russians have been
kilted in this place; the aggression clearly on tide side of Persia.
Ali Yar Khan, the Aasadou Beulah, is head of the war faction,
aapported by Abbas Mires.
Before I had finished this letter, the King had requested
speak to Prince Menzikoll. and beg him to point out some meanie
of avoiding war, without samilicieg his character. A speech made
a Ktrabar.g Choush made great noise in camp. Ile addressed
the King (4i.ishey), " Man, do you call yourself the King of the
Mallotnrdans, anti idly pain your time in the Haram, when 31us-
stamens are daily %bused by Infidels? I wan obliged to look on
vitae live Russian soldiers violated my cite in Karabaug. I spit
at lent beard."

From a private letter we learn that " the stocks of the
Netherland,, at the exchange of Amsterdam, last ‘Vetl-
t4Adiay, wire somewhat lower, which is attributed to the
antel:iplence received there, by couriers from Frankfurt,
that the negotiations at Akermann were broken off. An
article in the Allgt 'urine Zeitbng of the 17th, received here
this trerni•rg, contirms, in wane degret, this news:.