The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-27 00:00:00

THE GREEK INSURRECTION.

The contradictory accounts which continue to
be received of the Greek insurrection render it dif-
ficult to ascertain with any degree of accuracy the
state of that movement, or the extension it has
acquired. One day we are told of a corps of the
Turkish army being attacked and routed, on an-
other we hear that the Turks have the upper-
hand that the Greek insurrection, which it
is denied was ever extensive, is all but sup-
pressed. On a comparison of this conflicting
intelligence, which perhaps proceeds from the
exaggerated hopes of the insurgents, and the de-
sire of the Turkish authorities to make the world
believe that the rising is only a contemptible re-
volt, we find that, whether from defective mea-
sures or from the ill conduct and negligence of the
officers of the Porte, the insurrection is as yet far
from being put down, and that it will perhaps re-
quire the presence of an auxiliary force to do so.
What object the Greeks can now have in thus add-
ing to the embarrassments of the Turkish Govern-
ment it is difficult to say. The Emperor of Russia
made the same declarations to the Greek Minister
at St. 2etersburg which are to be found in the
" secret correspondence," with reference to the ex-
' tension of the territory of the Kingdom of Greece
' and to the re-establishment of a Byzantine Em-
pire. That declaration was communicated even in
IL more peremptory manner than in the conversa-
tions with Sir H. Seymour, and whatever may be
the object of the Greek subjects of the Porte, or of
independent Greece, it is certain that from the
Emperor Nicholas they have nothing to hope.
The Cabinet of Athens has disavowed all partici-
pation in the revolt, but has confessed its inability.
to prevent its subjects from openly aiding the in-
surgents. Whatever ground there may be for sus
petting the sincerity of that disavowal, the private
information that is occasionally received from
Greece does not confirm it. Indeed, that informa-
tion is decidedly against King Otho and his agents.

The following is from the Times Paris corres-
pondent's letter, dated yesterday, 6 p.m. :—" I
mentioned some time since the intention of the
French Government to call upon the Cabinet of
Vienna for a categorical explanation of its policy
on the Russian question, and of its position with
reference to France and England in the event of
war with Russia. The note which contained these
demands was a collective one ; and I am informed
that a similar note was presented to the Cabinet of
Berlin. It invited those Governments, not pre-
cisely to send an army into the field, not to com-
mence hostilities against Russia, but to specify
the case, and to indicate the circumstances, which
would render it indispensable for them to quit a
system of neutrality. The precise day on which
that communication was made I cannot say, but it
is asserted that sufficient time has elapsed for an
answer ; and the delay that has taken place in the
receipt of that answer explains the dissatisfac-
tion to which I alluded in my letter of Friday.
In the meantime we have all sorts of rumours
about a treaty of alliance, defensive and offensive,
between Prussia and Austria, and though little
credit is, I find, attached to them, it is, neverthe-
less, certain that a private telegraphic despatch,
received this day from Berlin, speaks of it as a fait
accompli.
Advices from Constantinople of the 16th inst.,
received via 'Vienna, state, the Grand Mufti, sup-
ported by the ex-Seraskier and the Ulemahs, has
raised difficulties respecting his " fetwah," with-
out which the firman in favour of the Christians
cannot be issued. There have been numerous
conferences, at which the Sultan and the Grand
Mufti were present, but, in consequence of the
scruples of the latter, hitherto without result.
Mehemet Pacha is intriguing against the military,
and sides with the Mufti.
The Fremdenblatt has the following, under date
of Bucharest, March 21 :
" Russian officers state that on the 18th March
General Luders crossed the Danube, near Isatschka
and stands with 45,000 men in Bulgaria."
It seems now to be certain that Austria will fol-
low the bad example given to her by Prussia, and
declare that she will remain neutral in the coming
struggle. There does not, in fact, appear to be a
doubt, as announced by the telegraphic despatches
from Germany, that these two Powers have already
concluded a treaty offensive and defensive, for the
purpose of enforcing their neutrality, and also for
reciprocally guaranteeing their possessions in the
midst of the complications which the coming war
may give rise to.
The Austrian Correspondenz says :—" General
Baron Hess proceeds to Berlin with the Emperor's
answer to the King of Prussia's letter, brought by
Colonel Manteuffel. These missions prove that a
closer alliance between Prussia and Austria is
greatly desired, and the attainment of a more per-
fect understanding wished, respecting their mutual
attitude in the Eastern question, for the protection
of the common interest.
The Wanderer has a letter of March 14, from
St. Petersburg, which contains matter of consider-
able interest. The Russian papers vie with each
other in abusing England and France. A. M.
Wolkoff thus writes in one of them
" Proud Albion has the impudence to send her fleet
into our seas, and the flag of France waves beside that of
England. Well, let the invaders come on ; we are, as
formerly, prepared to conquer or to perish. Let the West
not complain if it again feels the weight of the hand of
Russia ; let it not be astonished if the Koran and the
Crescent are trodden in the dust."

The Anglo-French alliance is lightly spoken of,
partly because the power of England is underrated,
and partly because it is supposed that the good un-
derstanding between the ancient rivals will be of
no long duration. One of the St. Petersburg
papers indulges in a violent attack on the Emperor
of the French, who is reminded, that as he attained
his present elevated position by the assistance of
the revolution, so he may be deprived of it by the
same po cv er. " Only legitimate dynasties are firm
and stable." The state of public feeling in Russia
is represented to be so extremely excited, that the
Government is not likely to consent to conclude
peace on any terms but those of its own making. ,
Money, cattle, biscuit, flour, itc., arc continually
contributed by individuals, but neither in propor-
tion to the size of the empire, nor in such quan- . I