The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-20 00:00:00

should demand either to be led against
the enemy, or disbanded to be enabled
at =once to repel the invader, 'or to be
permitted to return to their own domiciles until
hostilities should really commence. We cannot
forget that the religious zeal and fanaticism of
these men are fully equal to that of the most
ultramontane Muscovite, and that when their
passions have been inflamed to the utmost by
something very like the proclamation of a holy
war, they should not enter into any very wise
calculations of chances as to the ultimate result,
or remain contented in a state of inglorious quies-
cence. That a war party should arise amongst
them is more than probable ; and it is impossible
to predict to what length such a party may be
disposed to go, or what may be the conse-
quences of their proceedings—whether attempts
against the throne or the person of the SULTAN,
or the official situations of his advisers, or, under
the most favourable circumstances, that such a
feeling of disappointment might be engendered,
that the myth of the Shepherd's Boy and the
Wolf would be illustrated on a gigantic scale,
and the Turkish flock eventually fall a victim to the
Muscovite wolf, when the services of their guar-
dians and protectors could no longer be obtained,
on account of their apprehensions being lulled to
rest by repeated false alarms.
We need scarcely allude to the effects of con-
tinued doubt and indecision on the Western
Powers. It is sufficient to point to the state of
the Share Markets to see the effects of the panic
there, to refer to our merchants for the commer-
cial paralysis, of which so many well-founded
complaints have been put forward, All classes
are suffering from the unjustifiable conduct of the
CZAR, and the uncertainty that must prevail so
long as the scales for peace or war are suspended
in the hands of an individual intoxicated by the
possession of absolute power, and whose interests
are promoted while every other person's are mate-
rially damaged by the present state of affairs.

Yes ; the CZAR is the only gainer by procras-
tination. His troops are quartered on the enemy
—are living on the resources of the Danubian
Principalities. It is true that the proclamation
of Prince GORTSCHAKOFF, as well as the circular
of Count NESSELRODE, promise eventual pay-
ment, according to a stipulated scale. But that
settlement will not be made until all negotiations
have been concluded, and the question of peace or
war ultimately decided. If actual hostilities
should take place, what will be the chances of
payment ? and when, if ever, will it be made ?
But if there should be a peaceful solution of the

difficulty, is it at least probable that Russian dip-
lomacy may insure some equivalent for the ex-
penses of the campaign ? Meantime the prices of
every description of Russian produce will be
materially enhanced in consequence of the exist-
ing doubts as to when the stocks can be renewed
in the hands of the merchants, and the prospects
of limited supplies for some time to come.
We have not here alluded to the advantages
that would be gained by the CZAR in postponing
hostilities until the navigation of the Baltic would
be shut up, and all manoeuvring in the Black Sea
rendered difficult, if not impossible. In a word,
lie has everything to gain from procrastination,
while all other parties in the transaction must be
serious sufferers. We have surely urged. suffi-
cient reasons to press for a speedy solution of the
problem, to urge our diplomatists to activity, and
induce them to think that whatever is to be done
should be done quickly.