The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-22 00:00:00

THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.

BERLIN, May 19.—The following is a report
drawn up by M. Doria, Oriental Attache to our
Embassy at Constantinople, whence he had been
sent into Moldavia to inquire into the truth of the
various statements current, as to the conduct of
the Austrian troops in the Danubian Principalities,
and the state of feeling prevalent there in conse-
quence. It is dated Fokschani, April 2, 1855 :
" The same evening I arrived I paid a visit to M.
Stamatin, the Governor of Moldavian Fokshani (as the
town lies on the boundary of the two Principalities, part
lies in Moldavia and part in Wallachia), who expressed
himself without reserve as to the conduct of the Austrian
troops, whom he describes as totally without discipline.
" He narrated to me the particulars of the following
outrage. A woman, long past the middle age, occupied,
together with her daughter, a house in which two Aus-
trian soldiers were billeted. One evening about 18 of
their comrades came to see them. The daughter took
flight, leaving her mother behind her ; the latter was
found dead the next morning in consequence of violence
offered to her person. It is affirmed that she was vio-
lated by all the 18. A post morton, examination that
was made by the physician of the district, assisted by
an Austrian regimental surgeon, confirms the fact that
the death of the said woman was caused by rape at-
tended by violence. Not one of these miscreants has
been punished, the Austrian authorities having affirmed
that they had no proof of their identity.
" He then mentioned the murder committed on the
landlord of the inn at Gresceschti ; the Austrian soldier
who committed this act did not meet with any punish-

ment
'The attempt made upon the Treasury of the local
Government was thus narrated to me by M. Stama-
tin. An Austrian soldier had obtained entrance bur-
glariously into the apartment were the money and
valuable papers were deposited, and was appr9-
hended there by the Moldavian sentinel, who
handed him over to his superior officer. The follow-
ing morning an Austrian corporal came and demanded
his liberation. The soldier was at that time still in con-
finement in the apartment in which he had been detected.
The demand was refused. Later in the same day an
Austrian officer, with a guard of 20 men, returned, and
demanded again the liberation of the prisoner, which
demand was again refused. The Austrians on this made
use of their arms, seriously wounded the Moldavia❑ sen-
tinel in the head, and carried off the prisoner. The
Moldavian soldier was still in the hospital, suffering

from the consequences of his wound. To my inquiry as
to when this occurred, the Governor answered that the
papers connected with the matter were in his chaaccl-
lerie ; in their absence he could not give me the exact
date, but that he believed it was the middle of Novem-
ber. No satisfaction nor atonement had been given,
nor had the soldiers been punished, the Austrians
affirming that a Moldavian has no right to arrest an
Austrian.
" He told me that since the arrival of Col. Oettinger
Wallerstein about two months back somewhat more
order obtains ; but that the inhabitants were still ex-
posed to oppression and insults ; that if, for instance, a
private or subaltern officer had to wait at all for the
door of a house to be opened to him, he would draw
his bayonet, and would threaten with all impudence to
make use of it.
" Moldavian Fokschani appears to be less quiet than
the Wallachian portion. I attribute this to the circum-
stance that M. Stamatin has drawn upon himself the
displeasure of the Austrians, on account of his having
demanded satisfaction for the attempt to rob the local
treasury, and the wounding the Moldavian soldier on
that occasion.
"M. Boronesko appeared less disposed to express
himself to me on the subject of the Austrians with the
frankness of his Moldavian colleague. He told me,
however, that their troops behaved very ill, that the in-
habitants were afraid to leave their houses of an evening
on account of the frequent disturbances, that he had
many times spoken to the Commander of the complaints
made against the troops under his command, and that
about six days previously the arrangement had been
come to, that an Austrian patrol should accom-
pany the soldiers of the national police in their night
rounds, and that since this arrangement had been car-
ried into effect a greater degree of tranquillity had been
attained.
"I must not omit to mention to you as a fact of some
importance, that orders have been sent hither from Vi-
enna, prohibiting the infliction of corporeal punishments
on the troops here, I have not heard of any similar
prohibition having been extended to any other portion
of the army.
" Yesterday an Austrian soldier presented himself at
the house of the Wallachian Governor, and demanded
that a guide should be assigned him to accompany him
to Braila. The Governor required, to see his colonel's
ordsrs for this, and asked what remuneration would be
given to the man who might accompany him. The
soldier answered that he had no order, nor any money
with which to pay the man, but that his demand must
be attended to. He hereupon became so insolent that
he was obliged to be turned out.
"The Governor's son-in-law told me that in returning
from the country about a fortnight previously he was
attacked, his postillion struck from his horse, and the
man injured by the fall. I could mention several other
attacks made by these soldiers.
"I learn from M. Boronesko, that three murders have
been committed at Bouzdon, by Austrian soldiers, but
he did not know the particulars. The last took place
about a month back. The Governor of Bouz6on, M.
Lapatv, has lately received an Austrian order.
"There is no doubt that the inhabitants are frequently
exposed to great vexations, and that a feeling of irritation
has sprung up between them and the Austrian troops, on
account of the bad conduct of the latter, which consist
:or the most part of Croats, so ill disciplined that, as I
[earn here, their officers hardly dare reprimand them.
"I have the honour to be, &a.,
(Signed) " Wm. DORIA."

THE CLIPPER-SHIP JAMES BAINES.—A fesv months
ago we chronicled forth the remarkable intelligence an-
nouncing the arrival of the clipper-ship Lightning, Cap-
tain Forbes, belonging to the "Black Ball" line of Aus-
tralian packets, in 63 days from Melbourne, the voyage
out and home occupying only five months and eight days.
To-day it is our pleasing duty to record another wonder-
ful achievement in navigation, which has been accom-
plished by another ship belonging to the same successful
and enterprising firm. Yesterday evening at 7 o'clock, no
previous announcement of her approach having been
made, in consequence of the foggy state of the weather,
the Royal Mail packet-ship James Baines,
the M unde
erser the
command of Capt. C. MDonald, entered y,
and announced her arrival by the firing ofcannon. She
sailed from Melbourne on the 11th of March, and per-
formed her homeward passage in 69 days, against 64 on
the outward run. Her voyage out and home occupied
only five months and ten days, which, after deducting
27 days' detention in Melbourne Harbour (seven days
more than that of her sister ship the Lightning), stands
unparalleled in nautical history, and speaks much for
the ability and skill of her 'commander, and also for the
untiring energy displayed by the spirited firm to Web
she belongs, in successfully proving to the commercial
world that the superiority of Liverpool ships, both
for the comfortable conveyance of passengers and
the speedy transit of merchandise, stand unrivalled.
The James Baines brought 360 passengers, 40,000
ounces of gold on freight, in addition to a large amount
in the hands of passengers, and a very heavy mail. On
her arrival in the river the passengers were enthusiastic
in their well-merited encomiums of the attention and
consideration evinced by Captain M‘Donald and his
officers for their comfort during the passage, and mani-
fested their approval by presenting the chief officer with
a purse containing 601.—Liverpool Albion.
The arrivals of specie yesterday amounted to 350,0001.,
comprising 190,000/. from New York and 160,000/.
. from Australia,