The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-24 00:00:00

whatsoever. Had it taken place on English
ground, with the men about to take part in a
grand review or sham battle, they could not have
proceeded with greater regularity or coolness. As
each regiment landed it formed in perfect order,
and marched to its assigned position, while the
enemy made no attempt at resistance. Four days

were then occupied in the preparations for the
attack. During that period guns were landed and
batteries constructed. On the 13th the bombard-
ment commenced, and we may judge with what
tremendous power from the emphatic declaration

of gallant old CHARM, who, in his despatches,

declared that the " fire was beautiful" —so
_ _ _

beautiful," indeed, that on the 16th the last

stronghold of the enemy surrendered, with all its
stores, and the garrison surrendered themselves as
prisoners of war, of whom there are about 2,000
awaiting the disposal of the French and English
Governments.

One untoward event occurred that might have
led to serious consequences. The Penelope, on
the 10th instant, in going through between
Prasto and Tofto to watch the passage, unfortu-
nately ran on an unknown rock. The enemy
speedily opened fire on the injured vessel, Russian
bravery being fond of displaying itself under such
circumstances, as witness the fate of the unfortu-
nate Tiger. Prompt assistance was, however, at
hand ; the Gladiator, Pigmy, and Hecla, toge-
ther with the boats from the French vessels Tri-
dent and Duperre, speedily came to the rescue,
while the Edinburgh and Valorous gave some
occupation to those firing at the disabled vessel
by throwing shells into the Forts. The result of
those proceedings, and of the decisive orders of Sir
CHARLES NAPIER to throw the guns overboard,
was that she was speedily got off, without any
very serious damage.
It now remains to be seen what use will be
made of this gallant exploit—whether we shall,
by reason thereof, be enabled to induce Sweden
to shake off its vacillation and take a decided part
with the Western Powers. We cannot forget that
these islands belonged to Sweden, and that they
had been unjustly and improperly appropriated
by Russia, which was thereby capable of main-
taining a threatening position towards its less
powerful neighbour. So long as Russian troops
were kept in strong fortifications on these islands,
we could scarcely expect to obtain the decided
co-operation of the Swedes, who could scarcely
believe that we were in earnest until we
had given some such unequivocal testimony
of our sincerity. Aland being restored to
its original allegiance, and garrisoned by a
strong body of French and English troops, will
remove every ground of hesitation; and we may,
therefore, hope to see Sweden reclaiming Fin-
land and the Baltic provinces, of which it had
been so unconscientiously despoiled. As we have
stated from the commencement, it will not do to
restore the status quo on the Baltic any more than
on the Euxine. We must have material
guarantees on every side against the grasping
cupidity and " overweening ambition" that has on
this occasion so far " o'erleap'd itself." Hereto-
fore Russia succeeded by arogance rather than by
real bonti fide power. Its strength was greatly
overrated, and every one yielded to unconscien-
tious demands rather than engage in hostilities,
the results of which, whilst they must necessarily
he disastrous, could not be calculated on with any
degree of certainty. Its prestige is, however,
removed. We see how absurd were the fears,
and as we have been compelled, albeit tardily and
reluctantly to take up arms, it behoves us not to
lay them down until we have secured the per-
manent peace and tranquillity of Europe, which
has been disturbed by the reckless proceedings
of the AUTOCRAT. •

We have at length received decisive intelligence
of the advance of the Austrian troops into the
Danubian Principalities on the 20th instant.

They crossed thefrontier into Wallachia, and there
is every reason to suppose that the whole corps of

occupation have ere this arrived on Turkish
ground. Two brigades had, we are told, marched
from Hermannstadt, and another brigade from
Cronstadt, with the view of occupying Bucharest,
Krajova, and Lesser Wallachia, while three more
brigades of the army of Count CORONINI are pre-
paring for a similar movement into Moldavia.
Thetßubicon has thus been passed, and, under the
sanction of the Western Powers Turkey sees that
its fair provinces, from which the invader has just
been expelled, are to be handed over to another
and no less dangerous occupant. We see but

little to choose-between the avowed enemy
and the pretended friend, whether the robbery be
effected by force or fraud. If a party of burglars
had taken possession of a man's house their ex-
pulsion would occasion but little gratification if
the police were to continue therein, and prevent
him from obtaining the beneficial enjoyment of
his own property ; more especially, as from sundry
auspicious circumstances there was reason to sus-
pect the connivance of the so-called officers of
justice. So long as the assistance of Austria
could be really valuable—so long as the result
was at all doubtful—they hung back and refused
to afford the slightest aid. But, when at length,
the cause of truth and justice has triumphed,
when the Ottoman forces, by their own gallantry
and efficiency, have compelled the aggressor to return
discomfited to his own dominions, when they have
shown themselves competent to protect their
own territories by their own right arms—then,
indeed, we find Austria ready to come forward
when its interference is no longer required, and
when there is every reason to suppose that it is
intended to favour the CZAR rather than the
SULTAN. _ _

--
Yes—Austria would seek to lessen the damage
which its friend must iLievitably sustain. It well
knows that NICHOLAS can 110 longer hope to ob-
tain material guarantees for himself. It strives
to give them in another and scarcely less objec-
tionable form, holding its,'f what the northern
despot has been compelled to relinquish, and
being also in a position to prevent the victorious
troops of OILER PASHA from following up their
advantage, and transferring th® war to the do-
minions of the invader himself. It obtains an enor-
mous power, which, looking at its antecedents and
the debt of gratitude owing by the house of Hapsburg
to that of Rimanoff, it can scarcely be expected to use
for the real benefit of the Moslem. How has it
even committed itself by any offensive movement,
even oue with the privity and consent of Russia ?
-It still maintains diplomatic relations with St.
Petersburg. Its Ambassador joins in the Court
festivities, and it ,is more than probable that
whatever displeasure may be affected by the Czert,
.there is no step more conducive to his purposes
il thatcotil
ddebspeotaken than that just adopted by the
German
_

What England has gained by arms she has
generally lost by diplomacy. Such is the character
which Great Britain has obtained in many former
transactions, and, but that we have gained no-
thing during the present contest in the vicinity of
the Euxiue, we fear that there would be no rea-
son to anticipate more auspicious results. We
have put forward some demands which, although
as we recently pointed out reasonable, so far as
they go, yet leave several important points un-
touched. Thus, from our observations on Tuesday,
it will be seen that every thing merely relates to
the claims put forward bythe head of the Orthodox
Church, as he is pleased to style himself. These we
insist on being no longer exclusively held by Russia;
but there is nothing as to obtaining any real sa-
tisfaction for the outrage it has committed against
the law of nations—any indeinnity for the ex-
have been compelled to defray in con-
penses we
proceedings, or any
securi j for
sequence of.
tsitfsutunreegood fagr kulsconduct.
If the Protectorate of IZus,sia is to be abolished