The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-29 00:00:00

THE INDEMNITY FROM GREECE.

A lettor from Athens, 17th, in the Corriere
Italiano of Vienna, says :

"Turkey had demanded an indemnity from Greece
for the insurrection of Thessaly and Epirus. France and
England intei ceded with the Porte, and th,e Ottoman
Government renounced its claims, and confined itself to
demanding that the Ottoman subjects of the Provinces
who had suffered losses should be indemnified for them.
The Greek Government, while admitting that this de-
mand is founded on right and justice, pretends that tl:o
payment of such an indemnity would lead to insur-
mountable difficulties between the two countries, and
that discord would inevitably be the result. M. Mavro-
cordato thinks that the best means of consolidating the
relations between the two governments would be to
conclude a treaty of commerce and navigation—in other
words, the Greek Government wishes a recompence in-
stead of a punishment. The corps of occupation is now
composed of 4,000 men, French and English. The Greek
Government has given orders to all the authorities in the
ports where French vessels having troops on board may
touch to furnish them, on a written demand, with every-
thing of which they may stand in need without imme-
diate payment. The accounts are to be sent to the
French Embassy at Athens by which they will be imme-
diately settled."

THE CZAR'S ANSWER TO THE PRUSSIAN

NOTE.

A letter from Frankfort, 23d, in the Wartemberg
Moniteur, states that the answer of the Cabinet of
Russia to the note of that of Berlin, urging the Em-
peror of Russia to accept the four points, has been
received at Berlin, and has been made known to the
diplomatic circles. The Russian Cabinet in its an-
swer, which is drawn up in the most conciliatory
terms, professes a sincere and constant desire for
peace, and states that it is willing to accept tie four
preliminary points, and to enter into direct negotiations
with Austria on this basis, but Russia in discussing
these points attaches to each certain reservations. For
instance, as regards the protection of the Principalities,
it states that Russia will only consent to renounce the
exclusive protectorate on the. condition of its being exer-
cised by the five powers conjointly, after an understanding
shall have been coins to between them on that subject.
The same observation is made on the fourth point,
regarding the protectorate of the Greek Chris-
tians in Turkey. With respect to the point concerning
the commerce of the Danube, the Russian Cabinet de-
clares that it never has had the intention to obstruct it
in any manner. The writer of the letter adds, that the
Austrian Cabinet has refused to enter into direct nego-
tiations with that of Russia on the four points. These
points having been laid down by the representatives of
the Powers in the conference of Vienna, it is with them,
says the Austrian Cabinet, that the negotiations must
be opened."

The Belgian Chamber of Representatives in its sitting
of Saturday, after a discussion which had occupied seve-
ral days, adopted the ensemble of the address in reply
to the speech from the throne, by a majority of 80 to 11.
A correspondent of the Indepcnclance Beige says he is
informed by a high diplomatic personage that the Em-
peror of Austria has written an autograph letter to
Napoleon 111., urging him to make peace, and repre-.
senting that war, with all its sacrifices, has hitherto led
to no result.

According to accounts received from Singapore, of
Oct. 19, the commission of inquiry into the conduct of
Sir James Brooke continue* to sit &ily for the examina-
tion of witnesses. Sir James Brooke has refused to at-
tend before the commissioners, and his absence will
doubtless abridge their labours.
A. letter from Vienna, 23d, says that Baron
d'Eskeles was to leave on the following day for Paris, in
order to sign definitively the treaty concluded between
the Goverument and a French company, relative to the
concession of a part of the Austrian railways.
A letter from Vienna of the 24th, in Voss's Gazette of
Berlin; says :—"lt is new certain that orders were given
at the beginning of November, first, that at the end of
January the whole army shall be placed on a war foot-
ing ; and next, that at the same period the whole army
shall be ready to march to occupy the positions which
are to be made known at the end of December."
A letter from Berlin, 25th, states that the King has
decided that ho will open the Chambers in person, imme•
diately before the ceremony of the marriage of Prince
Frederic Charles, in order that the members of the
Chambers may be present at that ceremony in the royal
chapel.
THE PosT-orno&—The chief clerk of Hull has been
made postmaster of Darlington, and the chief clerk of
Salisbury has been made postmaster of that city. These
are the first appointments of provincial clerks to post-
masters since the new arrangements.
WANT OF POWDER AT SEBiSTOPOL.—An occasional
correspondent at Constantinople encloses a communica-
tion from an English gentleman at Balaklava, which
may possibly explain the slackness which the Russian
despatches allege has lately characterised our firing
against Sebastopol. The writer at Balaklava states
that " the army was in want of ammunition, that in
consequence of this want powder was very sparingly
allowed to the men, and farther that our artillery could
only fire ten rounds during the day and none during the
night, all for want of powder." A deficiency of powder
would not be without precedent in this siege. The Con-
stantinople correspondent before mentioned says :
" One of our largest transport-steamers, the Golden
Fleece, with from 500 to 800 barrels of gunpowder on
board, repeatedly applied to know what was to be done
with it both at Balaklava and at Constantinople. In the
end this vessel was sent to Malta, and actually took the
500 to 800 barrels on board to that island, when our
army was almost at a stand still for want of it." Our
correspondent naturally infers that some men of busi-
ness and practical knowledge are required on the staff
of the army—men who do not scorn to knew how to
keep accounts.
PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at Paris is
about 1 per mille discount (according to the last tariff),
which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 101 d. per
ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25.141 ;
and, the exchange at Paris on London at short being
25.071, it follows that gold is about 0.28 per cent.
dearer in Paris than in London. By advices from Ham-
burg, the price of gold is 4221 per mark, which, at the
English Mint price of 31. 17s. 101 d. per ounce for stand-
ard gold, gives an exchange of 13.31; and, the exchange
at Hambuig on London at short being 13.3.1, it follows
that gold is 0.18 per cent. dearer in Hamburg than in
London. The course of exchange at New York on Lon-
don for bills at 60 days' sight is 1091 per cent., and, the
par of exchange between England and America being
109 23-40 per cent., it follows that the exchange is no-
minally 0.17 per cent. in favour of England ; and, after
making allowance for charges of transport and difference
of interest, the present rate leaves a trifling profit on the
importation of gold from the United States,