The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-28 00:00:00

THE WAR IN ASIA.

The Military Gazette of Vienna says :—" Accord-
ing to letters from Warsaw a hostile movement on
the part of the Russian army is expected to take
place against Erzeroum. Whether it be possible
or advantageous at present is not by any means
clear. The Allies are masters of the Black Sea,
and may at any time throw a body of troops upon
any part of the coast they please. Supposing
Mouravieff to assume the offensive with the whole
army of the Caucasus, which numbers about 90,000
or 95,000 men—supposing even he took Erzeroum
and established himself there with provisions for
several mouths, could he continue his march to
Karahissar, threatened as ho would be from Trebi-
zond ? and were he to stop at Erzeroutn, might not
his retreat be cut off, as the Allies can, at a mo-
ment's notice, land an army at Batoum? After all,
the taking of Kars was only a question of honour for
the Russians ; it could only have a military impor-
tance if there were a fleet to protect the operations
by land. All the Russians can now do is to pre-
vent Omer Pacha from pushing forward ; but the
taking of Kars threatens no danger to Erzeroum."
A letter dated Constantinople, Dec. 13, says :
"In addition to the causes which necessitated
mainly the surrender of Kars, I have heard from
usually well-informed sources, that much blame
attaches to the conduct of Muchir Selim Pacha,
commander-in-chief of the Sultan's forces at Erze-
roum. Without myself vouching for the accuracy
of these reports, I merely consider it a duty to
mention that this General is accused of apathy, in-
dolence, and still worse, on that trying emergency ;
and if these statements be well-founded he will
meet, no doubt, with a duo reward at the hands
of his government. The Muchir had at his dis-
posal from 8,000 to 10,000 well-disciplined troops
of the lino, and more than half that number of
Bashi-Bazouks, besides 1,000 horses and 40 pieces
of excellent artillery. There were also four most
efficient British officers, ready to serve and assist
him, and the only obstacle intervening between the
luckless city of Kars, and the imposing forces of
the Muchir, consisted in a body of from 3,000 to
4,000 Russians, encamped in the vicinity of Deli-
Baba."

FRANCE.
PARIS, THURSDAY.
Intelligence has been received here, that Count
Esterhazy, the bearer of the propositions for peace,
has arrived at St. Petersburg from Vienna.
The Paris Bourse will be closed on Saturday, on
account of the re-entry of the Imperial Guard into
the capital.
A private letter from' Berlin, emanating from
unquestionable authority, confirms the fact of an
autograph letter having been addressed by the Em-
peror of Austria to the King of Prussia, requesting
him to support the propositions of which Count
Esterhazy was the bearer ; and that his Majesty
sent instructions to his Minister at St. Petersburg,
Baron Werther, to do so. The Emperor wrote to
the King directly, and without having any pre-
vious communication on the subject with the Prus-
sian Minister at Vienna. Bavaria and Saxony
have also engaged to support the propositions.
The greatest secrecy continued to be maintained
both at Berlin and Vienna as to the nature of the
conditions proposed by Austria. Nevertheless, it
was believed in well-informed quarters that they
aro not essentially different from those already
announced. _ _ _ . .

A private letter from Stockholm confirms a state-
ment that we published some time since of the
negotiations or overtures between the Swedish
Government and the Allies with a view to a treaty.
Everything will be ready in Sweden to take an
active part in the military operations when the
moment comes. That moment the letter describes
is most earnestly desired by the Swedes, and if the
account thus given be correct, no intelligence
could be received with greater regret by the Swed-
ish people than that peace had been made.
The short stay made by M. de Persigny in Paris,
only 24 hours, has given rise to much comment.
His sudden return justifies to some extent the
suspicion that he came for the purpose of counter-
acting the influence of what is termed the peace
party or the Austrian party. M. de Persigny is
the firm supporter of the English alliance, and
consequently of the war, and it is said his visit to
Paris did not take place unknown to or disapproved
of by the English Cabinet.
BOURSE, Dec. 27.—The following aro the last
quotations :

Cash. tr. c.
4i per Cents fit

End of Month.
—f. -- c.

3-per Centa 64 70 64 85
New Loan 65 50

Bank Shares — Roman
Credit Mobi linr 1372 50 Austrian
Belgian Fives.. 9l Spanish 'Threes
Piodmonteso B7 Homo Debt

RAILWAYS-FOR CASH.

fr. c. 0.
Urbane ... ll3O Western 753
Northern .. . B3B 75 Strasburg
Lyons.
Mediterranean 1265 Grand Central 585
Lyons Geneva 7OO Teste
Cette 702 50 Austrian Corn. 736 25

ITALY.
THE NEW CARDINALS—LIBERATION OF
EDWARD MURRAY.
ROME, DEc. 20.
On Monday morning the Pope held the expeeed
con,3istory at the Vatican. and added four cardinals
to the sacred college. From his harangue on the
occa.aion it will be perceived that the prornotio4