The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-04 00:00:00

TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Deo. 25.—This time last year
we were in the midst of uncertainty as to the re-
sult of the negotiations that were still pending
between the Western Powers and Russia ; and the
public in general, which had for many years been
in the enjoyment of peace, could scarcely believe
in imminent war. Great hardships have since then
been undergone, and bloody battles fought, by the
brave sons of old England and their gallant
allies, the French. Alma and Inkerman are
new stars in the annals of the British army,
but many a brave man has breathed his last.
Unhealthy Bulgaria and the dreary Crimea are
their resting-places. This is Christmas-day—the
time of joyful merrymaking and social meeting.
The soldier in the Crimea thinks of home, and
round many a hearth husband, son, or father is
missing, both in lordly hall and humble cottage.
This is Christmas-day--and the armies of England
and France still gaze upon the battlements of
Sehastopol, whose walls frown unshaken on the
besiegers (if such a term can be applied to the
armies that have invested the southern side of the
town). Sebastoporis not besieged, neither is it
invested. A bombardment, accompanied by partial
siege-works, has not proved sufficient to reduce the
great Russian stronghold. Sebastopol has notfallen
this year. The armies are to winter on the bleak
heights that surround it, and the campaign in the
Crimea may be said to have only commenced. Th e
winter season will scarcely permit of active mili-
tary operations, and we must look forward to the
spring for a war in the Crimea, such as will surpass
in interest the greatest military events of the early
part of this century. In the meanwhile the Allied
armies are exposed to great hardships, and must
continue to suffer severely until the necessary
winter accommodations which are being sent out by
a zealous and active Government have arrived. I
regret to say that a great number of sick arrive
almost daily, and that the hospitals at Scutari are
crowded. Diarrhoea, dysentery, typhus fever, and
cholera make great ravages amongst our small and
gallant force. The hardships the soldier has to go
through in the Crimea are truly dreadful ; and, in
speaking of these trials, it must not be disguised
that our allies, the French—thanks to a well-
organised system—aro infinitely better off. Our
general commissariat arrangements, as also the
medical department, and, indeed, all the system
for provisioning a large force and attending to the
wants of the men in the field, are organised in a very
unpractical manner. This is mainly traceable to
our inexperience in providing for the wants of a
body of 30,000 or 40,000 men in the field. The
French, who are 'accustomed to such a state of
things, outwit us in the regularity and precision
with which they manage all these departments.
With them everything works by military routine ;
whereas with us a more civil organisation throws
greater weight and responsibility upon individuals,
and has the effect of checking the working of a re-
gularly organised system. Our ambulance
T arrange-
ments, also, are net so good as theirs. ointro-
duce changes and reforms int) these departments
time and practical experience are necessary ; and
as the war continues no doubt four system for pro-
viding for the wants of the army will also improve
thanks to the goodwill and energy of the Govern-
ment. In justice, it must be admitted that the
individual exertions of all the commissariat officers
are very great, and that they are most active in
the discharge of their harassing duties.
The Metropolitan arrived here the day before
yesterday, with detachments of troops (700 men)
and a large staff of medical officers. They pro-
ceeded almost immediately to the Crimea. The
Golden Fleece and the Beagle arrived from tile
Crimea, with sick.
Admiral Dundas has arrived here, on his way to
England.
The Robert Lowe came in yesterday with troops;

drafts for different regiments. Last week 42 Pro-
testant sisters and.nospital nurses arrived. They
are for the present staying at Therapia, until ar-
rangements have been made for their reception at
the Scutari hospitals.
A large party of navvies had arrived. After
staying a short time here they proceeded imme-
diately to Balaklava to commence operations.
The last troops, forming part of the Bth division
of the French army, passed through the Bosphorus
last week, on their way to the Crimea. The
Trident, French steamer, has arrived from Toulon,
with troops, ammunition, and field-piec3s also the
Amsterdam, with French troops. The 10th-French
regiment of light infantry, and the 50th of the line
arrived by the .St. Louis on Tuesday last. The
loss of the French transport Giovane Innocente
(No. 443), laden with stores for the French corn,
missariat has just been reported. She was wrecked
in the Sea. of Marmora, off Buyuk-Tchek-Medji.
The steamer Alma has been sent down to the
rescue.

Lord Stratford de Radcliffe has addressed a cir-
cular to all the British Consuls in the Levant in-
forming them of the important decrees issued by
the Sultan for effecting various salutary reforms
in the administration of the laws ; doing away with
a number of long existing abuses, and abolishing
the trade in slaves in Georgia and Circassia ; and
urging on the consular agents to give every assist-
ance by advice and exhortations to the Turkish
authorities, who, in carrying into execution the
said decrees, will, in all probability, have to con-
tend with long-established prejudices and national
traditions.

FRAN CE.

PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING.

In conformity with the usual custom, a family
dinner was to have taken place on Monday at the
TailerieS, on the occasion of the Jour-de-ran. The
fatigue of, the official receptions having prevented
the Emperor from presiding at this dinner, it was
Prince Jerome Who.this year collected round his
table, at the Palais Royal, the members of the Im-
perial Family. There were present on the occasion
the Princess Mathilde, the Princess Bacciochi,
Prince and Princess Murat, the young Princess
Murat, and the Baroness de Chassiron.

The English steamer Arabia, having a strong de-
tachment of French troops on board, ran aground
on the 24th ult.' on the Lighthouse point at the
entranceiof the Strait of Messina, but was got off
in a few hours after without damage, and con-
tinued her N'oyage towards the Crimea. The
Frencliofficers and soldiers on board speak in the
highest' terms of the conduct of the captain and
crew of the Arabia--towards them.

The Patric has published the following tele-
graphic despatch from Vienna :
" On the 22d there was a heavy fall of snow at Se-
bastopol, and the cold was intense. Both armies were
preparing for a battle. Omer Pasha was expected. On
the 28th, considerable reinforcements of troops of the
line arrived at -Odessa. Two companies of Russian
troops and a convoy of. sick escorted by them had
perished from. cold." • .• •
AbeOrding to:a letter of tlio,ttst ult.,.
the'ln,depthartiiec of Brussels, it was. t:epOrted
the" political circles* of that city, with 'sortie con
fidence, that France is about to sign a treaty with
Austria for the protection of her Italian possessions.
In this treaty, it is added, England will not
figure, but she approves of it.
A rumour fia4 been current for some days past
that the opening of the Grand Paris Exhibition
would *be postponed, but the illoniteur of to-day
announces that, it will positively take place on the
Ist of May.

BOURSE, J. 3.—CLosING PRICES.
Cash. fr. c. End of Month.
43 per Cents 9l 30 91f. GO..
3 per Cents 65 40 65 66
Credit Mobilier 730 Roman . 79i
Credit Fon ci er — Austrian
Belgian Five 5........ Spanish Threes (ad) 35
Piedmontese B5 75 Home Debt 3ll