The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-30 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1853.

The intelligence received within the last few
hours from Constantinople is at once important
and satisfactory. Everywhere throughout the
Turkish population the enthusiasm of attachment
to the cause of the Sublime Porte was becoming
each day more and more apparent. The arma-
ments were being carried on with unremitting
activity, the exertions of the various officials
evincing in no way the slightest relaxation.
Added to this, the great Mahometan festivity of
Beiram had passed over without the slightest dis-
turbance. Contrary to general anticipation, no
insult whatever was offered by even the most
zealous and fanatical supporters of Islamism to
the Christians resident in the Ottoman Capital.
Above all—and beyond all—the most energetic
proceeding yet adventured upon by the allies of
the SULTAN had been carried out under the happiest
auspices to its full accomplishment. According
to what might have been confidently expected
from a recent announcement, the French and
English men-of-war had, "on the demand of the
Ambassadors of France and England, in accord
with the Ottoman Government," passed the Dar-
danelles and anchored before Constantinople. Au
important intimation—formally given in the offi-
cial columns of the illoniteur. Of this incident,
therefore, there cannot any longer be the smallest
question whatever. The Russian passage of the
Pruth--contrary to the laws of nations, in viola-
tion of the rights of Turkish Suzerainte, and in
total disregard of the neutrality of the invaded
Principalities—has, fortunately, for the honour of
the Western Powers, been at length responded to
by the passage of French and English vessels
across the Sea of Marmora, and their simultaneous
appearance in the waters of Constantinople. If
this movement of the maritime forces of the two
Principal supporters of the SULTAN is in opposi-
tion to the express stipulation of treaties—that
circumstance is solely attributable to the arbitrary
acts and arrogant bearing already observable on
the part of the Russian Government. Had the
Cossacks never crossed the Pruth, the British and
Gallic ships of war would never have penetrated
the forbidden channel of the Dardanelles. Had
not the Moldavian and Wallachian territories been
forcibly entered by the troops under the orders of
Prince GORTZCHAKOFF, the Golden Horn would never
have reflected the -Union Jack and the Tricolour from
the movement thither of war-steamers from the
French and English fleets in the Mediterranean.
Had not the Divan been ignominiously threatened
by the extraordinary Envoy of the AUTOCRAT, it
would never have looked as it has done recently
to the interposition of the Ambassadors represent-
ing the Court of the Tuileries and the Court of
St. James's at Constantinople. If resolute oppo-
sition to the designs of Russia has at last been re-
solved upon by the two most powerful among the
supporters of the SULTAN, it has only been, Heaven
knows, at the very last extremity, and when it
would have been simply preposterous to dream of
meeting the violent proceedings of the CZAR with
a craven renewal of timorous and despised nego-
tiations.

Whatever may be the result of passing occur-
rences, it is, at any rate, obvious that the guilt
of every evil conseuenco will fall not upon
the Porte, which is simply defending itself
from spoliation, not upon the allies of Turkey,
because in effect they are simply acting upon the
defensive, but upon the AUTOCRAT, who is the
aggressor—upon Russia, who is the assailant. If
the flames of war break forth, the lawless ambi-
tion of the CZAR is the brand which will have
originated the conflagration. History will re-
cord this in terms altogether damnatory of the re-
putation of NICHOLAS. It will be said that, as-
piring to obtain for himself the title of "NICHOLAS
only the odious demo
the Great," he secured