The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-21 00:00:00

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, Nov. 18.—The Russians continue
loudly to assert that the Czar " will never consent
to any limitation of his maritime power," but in
Austrian official circles no great importance is at-
tached to their swaggering. The prevailing im-
pression is, that a want of men rather than of
money will ultimately necessitate Russia to yield,
and an able writer not only expresses the same
opinion in the .zlityantrg Gazette, but adduces
facts in support of it. As the article is very much
to the purpose, and has created some sensation
here, a summary of it will now be given. After •
indulging in a slight sneer at the expense of those
politicians who always have the word " peace"
on their lips, the German (probably Prussian)
writer says, that peace is not likely to be concluded
until after a prolonged struggle. The Western
Powers will not listen to any propositions which do
not come directly from Russia, and the latter re-
plies to this their expressed resolution by a new
conscription :

"The present levy is the eighth within the last
20 months. On the 10th of February, 1854,
nine men in the thousand were conscribed in the
western provinces, and on the 9th of May nine
men in the thousand in the eastern provinces ; on
the 7th Sept. 10 men in the thousand were raised
in the western, and on the 13th of December the
same number in the eastern, provinces. In the
manifesto of February the 10th, 1855, it was or-
dered that a militia, to be composed of 23 men out
of every thousand, should be formed in 18 Govern-
ments. The ukases of May the 31st, August the
12th, and. October the 7th, ordained that a militia
should be raised at the rate of 23 men per thousand
in the other Governments, although a levy of 12
men per thousand for the standing army had been
decreed on the 6th of May. On the 15th October
a ukase ordered that 10 men per 1,000 should be
levied in all the Governments excepting seven,
as a consequence of the losses which our armies
have suffered in the field during the present year,
and because we consider it absolutely necessary to
have them complete, in order that they may be able
to resist the future enterprises of the enemy.' "
Thus, within the last 20 months, 52 men per
1,000 have been levied iu the eastern half, and 64
men per 1,000 in the Western half of the Russian
empire. If we suppose that in a population of
60,000,000 there are 15,000,000 of men between
17 and 45, the proportion will be 250 men of the
age just mentioned in each 1,000 souls. The cus-
tomary calculation here is that only 1-3 d of the per-
sons who, from their age, are liable to conscription
are capable of bearing arms, and if this be correct,
the Russians have but 20 men per thousand, who
are between 17 and 45, left in the western, and 30
in the eastern, provinces. It is unknown how many
men were already under arms before the conscrip-
tion of the 10th of February, 1854, took place, but
the number of soldiers could hardly have been
smaller than half-a-million. It must not be for-
gotten that when Russia levies men she cannot,
like other Earopean Powers, immediately put them
into the ranks. Russia is obliged to march her re-
cruits from one extremity of the Empire to the
other, so that before fresh forces actually take the
field one-half of the men are generally missing.
We find in the Order of the Day published at
Nicolaieff on the 9th of October the following
passage :

"In consideration of the circumstances his Ma-
jesty has been pleased to order that the militia of
the first levy (the best men) shall join the standing
army and relieve the 3d and 4th battalions."
Where are the regular reserves whose duty it
would be to take the places of these 3d and 4th
battalions. It is evident either that they have never
existed, or that they have ceased to exist. The
Russian militia is very different from the Prussian
Landwehr. Every Prussian capable of bearing arms
is obliged to do military service for a time, and if
called on to take the field would soon be a first-
rate soldier ; but such is not the case with the
Russian serf. The Russian militiamen, who had
been six months in rank and file, were so awkward
when they first reached the province of Cherson,
that Gen. Luders was obliged to have them taught
how to load their muskets ;without danger to them-
selves and their neighbours, and besides issued
strict orders that the regular soldiers should not be
allowed to ridicule them.

IMPORTANT TO RATEPAYERS.—By a provision in the
new Local Management Act all books kept by the new
boards and vestries are to be open to the inspection
of all
ratepayers without charge, and extracts may be taken.
Any refusal on the part of the officer is to render him
liable to a fine of 101. on a summary conviction.
VESTRY MEETINGS IN CHURCHES.—There is an ex.
press provision in the new Local Management Act,
prohibiting any future vestry meeting in any church or
chapel.
WELLS ELECTION.—The nomination of a member to
serve for this city took place yesterday morning at the
Nisi Prius Court of the Assize-hall. Captain Joliffe
and Mr. Serjeant Kinglake having been proposed and
seconded, a show of bands was taken, which was in
favour of Mr. Serjeant Kinglake. A poll was demanded
for Captain Joliffe. A vote of thanks to the Mayor
brought the proceedings, which were very noisy through•
g int to clot,