The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-14 00:00:00

maining the same, whilst the actual aggression is
still in full force. On the one side, there is an un-
doubted cause of war—on the other, a condition of
things which has already been made an excuse for
invasion. Whichever party desires war has only to
fire the first shot ; for the relations of the two
Powers are as hostile now as they were in July
last, when Lord Clarendon. declared that the Sultan
had a right to retaliate the hostilities which
Count Nesselrode had vainly attempted to justify.
A state of circumstances so threatening may well
cause the deepest anxiety ; and at the same time
it requires the utmost care that
no opportunity
be lost for maintaining peace, if it still be pos-
sible. One change alone has taken place in the
relative positions of the litigant Governments.
Turkey has been diligently arming, while the Rus-
sian legions have already suffered severely from
disease ; and the partisans of the invader are al-
ready beginning to express alarm lest Omer Pacha's
army should cross the Danube, and dispute the
possession of the Principalities. Should no pre-
mature collision take place, the increased strength
of the Porte will not be unfavourable to a pacific
solution. If the Emperor wishes his troops to
occupy healthier winter quarters, he has, perhaps,
already discovered that they must return to their
cantonments on the left bank of the Pruth. The
cholera and the marsh fever are enemies from whom
it is no disgrace to retreat ; and it is scarcely pro-
bable that Russia will undertake a winter campaign
beyond the Danube, in the face of superior num-
bers, backed by three or four strong fortresses.
The diplomatic position is, as we have already
said, the same as was occupied by each party three
months ago—no better, but not, therefore, neces-
sarily worse. The circumstances which led, in
June, to long negotiations, need not occasion im-
mediate war in September. Three months ago, a
demand had been made by Russia, which Turkey
refused to admit. A second project of compromise,
framed by the mediating Powers, was approved
by Russia, but rejected by the Porte, except un-
der certain conditions, which are now declared by
the Emperor inadmissible. The consequence is,
that both parties are relegated to their original
rights and pretensions. The mediating Powers
successively recommended the Vienna Note, and
the Turkish qualifications of that document. Al-
though their attempt to terminate the dispute
has for the present been defeated, their right and
duty of maintaining peace, so far as it may be com-
patible with the vindication of international law,
remain unaltered. There can be little doubt that
their efforts will be suecessful if both the principals
in the quarrel are sincerely desirous of attaining
the same object. The Russian Court has not
bound itself to reject all future proposals, as well
as that which emanated from Constantinople ; and
the resources of diplomacy are still equal to the
task of devising new formulas, which may satisfy
the real or affected sell-love of the aggressor, with-
out
ticniostmennded victimport rposmuisinrigsint.ogo deeply the independence of
that all these national quib-
bles and hair-splitting s should excite an honest
indignation in those who think that peace and
war
actually turn on a phrase. But the verbal
issue is, after all, only the conventional form in
which the more serious questions in dispute are
tried. If Russia prefers war to the
adoption of
any reasonable suggestions, it is evident that no
diplomatic ingenuity could have deterred her from
the attainment of her object. On the other hand
it must be remembered that the reasons which ori-
ginally led the Great Powers to interfere still re-
tain their original force. The security of the Porte
depends on the interest of Europe in preventing
an ambitious and military ruler from occupying
Constantinople and blockading the Eastern half of
the Continent. The Western Powers are also en-
titled to guard against a precedent which would at
any moment justify aggression on a weaker State ;
and Austria has the double object of keeping the
Danube open,and of discountenancing a war which
might be dangerous to her own dominions. The
Ottoman Government is fully aware of its hold on
the sympathies of every nation which watches
Russia with fear or jealousy. France and England,
at least, will not consent to her making conquests
at the expense of Turkey ; and an offensive war
could be undertaken for no other purpose.
The Ministers will no doubt give their serious
consideration to the present not unprecedented
condition of affairs ; but it may be questioned
whether the result of their deliberations can
be immediately known. The publication of
Lord Clarendon's dispatch ha shown that the
honour of the country is resolutely maintained
by statesmen who are nevertheless zealous for
the preservation of peace. The national feeling
on this subject, coinciding with the national interest
would forbid the abandonment of Turkey, even
if the Cabinet were disposed to view with com-
placency the aggrandisement of Russia ; but as
regards the best means of accomplishing the
common purpose, the responsible managers of
the negotiation must bo allowed a large dis-
cretion. So long as the desired object can be
furthered by diplomacy, it would be wrong to
precipitate an appeal to force ; and it is far from
improbable that Russia, in rejecting the ar-
rangement last suggested, may have designedly-
left an opening for some not dissimilar proposal.
France and England are pledged not to permit
a permanent occupation of Moldavia and Wal-
lachia ; and since the attention of the world
has been drawn to recent transactions, there is
little, hope, for the present, of obtaining any formal
concession of the coveted Protectorate. War may
be determined upon under the influence of pride,
passion, or blind ambition ; but statesmen have no
means of controlling motives so abnormal, and they
must confine their attention to the rights and in-
terests of the disputants whom they hope to recon-
cile. At this moment, both Turkey and Russia
are dissatisfied with the conduct of the mediating
Powers ; yet the Porte may perceive that the gua-
rantee which has been refused in words is really
contained in the general policy of the Allies, and
even the Emperor may not be unwilling to deal
with an independent authority which is not di-
rectly and professedly hostile. If it is true that
preparations for war secure the continuance cf
peace, it may also be said that the use of every
effort to maintain peace ought to precede any act
which might lead to hostilities.

REPRESENTATION OF GRAVESEND.—A meeting of the
inhabitants of this town was held on Monday evening
to take into consideration the expediency of adopting
steps for its enfranchisement. Mr. John Saddington,
the mayor, presided. After some discussion a memo-
rial was agreed to, to the Earl of Aberdeen and Lord -
John Russell as ministers of the Crown, setting forth
the claims of Gravesend to be enfranchised, and which
especially dwelt upon the fact that it contained, by the
census of 1851, 16,763 inhabitants, which had since con-
siderably increased; that there were in it 2,663 houses
rated at and above 101. to the poor ; and that the elec-
tive franchise for the county was not enjoyed by more
than 300 of the inhabitants. It was also resolved to
petition Parliament in the next session to the same
effect.
3,200 SCREW HORSE-POWER FOR THE ROYAL NAVY.
—Messrs. Penn and Co., and Maudslay, Field, and Co.,
have on hand eight pairs of engines, each pair of 400
ohforbsuei-lpdoi
building
ro,r, for
commissioneight o f the ;
floiunre line-of-battle -aibar
s ta
rt le sh
ips
be completed
course
toontbhes,
caonindptiheeteocithweritfhoiunrtphaeirssuabrseetibuyetnet
sae
mowfiotonhotinhntsrs.ai xc
t m,
All the eight pairs are to be furnished within
twelve months. The Royal George, 120, converted into
havinga
screw
hergu enginesard-ship fitatted, and being
Chatham, andnown.gagted,de
anSheerness,tr
Cressy, 80, recently launched at Chatham, and also at
Sheerness, in course of fitting, will be the next screw
ships commissioned.—Piymouth, Mail.
A RACE TO AIISTRALIA.—Great interest is excited in
nautical circles by the departure last week from London
of a British ship, intended to compete with the cele-
brated American Sovereign of the Seas. This vessel is
the Gauntlet, owned by James Smith, jun., Esq., of
Tower-chambers. The Gauntlet is an iron vessel, mo-
delled by Mr. Rennie, and built by Denny and Rankin,
on the Clyde. 'She sailed from Gravesend at 2 p.m. on
Monday, and passed Deal at 7 p.m. The distance is
rather more than from here to Holyhead, so that she
must have gone very fast. On the same principle that
is adopted by the yachts of this country, the difference
in tonnage between the Gauntlet and the Sovereign of
the Seas should make a difference in the passage to Aus-
tralia of about four days, the former vessel being 693
tons, while
from London
latter isy2a,n4ootoh.
followed
r LiverpooleGa un
clipper,le t wi t
h
ee
Marion, built by Messrs. Hall, of Aberdeen, and owned
by Messrs. Shand.
weAekNobTirillEsawelrreoAeXxteAnTsiveclii;LpSoEsA.t.ed—iAntcthheelseean,poimf
and the surrounding neighbourhoods, that " the astound-
ing feat of a man walking on the water would be per-
formed by M. Renier, who had come over for the ex-
where he had successfully
ap
or eo sos in ppra
uanrdu'ous task in the presence of
l irgesde thefrom
same
France,
ce
afternoon
the Emperor and Empress." Theth extraordinary
bills went on to
say that on Monday
surface of the water,
from Vauxhall to Battersea-bridge, for a wager of
olfoot/h.e t;
samers running between Vauxhall and Chel-
aend ended by civilly requesting the captains
sea to keep their vessels on the Battersea side of
the river, as M. Renier had decided upon walking on
the Chelsea side, and he wished that portion of the
stream to be free from obstructions. This announce-
ment naturally enough drew together a large concourse
of people. The banks on both sides of the river were
crowded by pedestrians, and a number of small boats
were also in attendance, filled with anxious sight-seers.
The vendors of fruit, cheap ornaments, &c., took up
their stations at the most commanding points, and all
were on the qui vim for the appointed hour to arrive,
which at length did, but with it no "water-walker," nor
did he make his appearance at all. The crowd waited
a considerable time, but at length separated, deeply
cha-
grined at being made the victims of a hoax, only to be
paralleled by the late "ghost-walking" in ths same 1,0.
cality.