The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-18 00:00:00

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, Oct. 14.—The public here is still in
doubt as to whether the bombardment of Sebas-
topol began on the 4th or sth instant or not ; in
other words, we have received no later intelligence
from the scene of war in the East than was com-
municated to you in my yesterday's letter. M. de
Manteuffel is said to have declared to his royal
master that his talents are not equal to the con-
tinuance of the game of dissimulation by which
Russia has till now been supported, Germany bam-
boozled, and Austria hampered ; and that, conse-
quently, if his Royal master is bent upon carrying
on this game, he must resign his office to abler
hands. The report goes on to say that the King of
Prussia was greatly disconcerted at this untoward
declaration of his Prime Minister, and his usually
clear and bright vision became alarmingly obscured
by doubts, fears, and misgivings of every description.
M. de Manteuffel was accordingly sent for, and in-
formed that his Majesty could not dispense with
his valuable services at this most critical juncture.
The story goes on to say that this gifted servant of
the Crown thereupon insisted upon the unavoidable
necessity of henceforth pursuing a hand-and-glove
policy with Austria, and that, in the further d -
velopment of the existing complications, the closest
union between Prussia and Austria would best pro-
mote the interests of Germany and the ends of
peace. Report says that a warm debate ensued,
but M. de Manteuffel carried the day and came off
victor. The Kreutz Zeitung's party was awfully
chop-fallen at this unlooked-for result, but the
King regained his serenity of mind.
General Baron Hess is expected to arrive hero
either this evening or to-morrow. I learn that
after his return a great council of war is to be held
here, at which the English and French military
commissioners at the head-quarters of the Austrian
generalissimo in the principalities, General Du
Plat and General Letang, who are both awaiting
the arrival of Baron Hess at Vienna, will be pre-
sent. It is said that " tremendous efforts " have
of late been made by most influential persons to
oust Count Buol and one or two others of his col-
leagues, and to induce the Emperor of Austria to
abandon the Western Powers to their fate, and to
form a close alliance with Prussia and the rest of
Germany for the defence of Russia.

RUSSIA.

A letter from Hamburg, of the 12th, says :

"We have to-day letters from St. Petersburg to the
7th. The approach of winter was already perceptible,
and it was feared that the navigation of the Neva would
soon be interrupted. Men's minds in the Russian ca-
pital were much occupied with the events of war. Mili-
tary preparations, and the arrivals and departures of
troops continued to take place on a vast scale. The
trains on the Moscow railway, are constantly encum-
bered with all sorts of military articles, and with
detachments of soldiers to form part of the army of
reserve, assembled in that ancient capital of the em-
pire. Strong doubts were entertained of the Emperor
absenting himself from St. Petersburg at the present
critical moment, and although preparations have been
made for a journey to the army of Poland, the realisation
of that project appears to depend on the eventualities of
the war in the East. As to the movements of troops
towards Poland, they may be summed up in a few words.
The Imperial Guards, under the command of the Grand
Duke, heir to the throne, are proceeding by forced
marches from St. Petersburg to that kingdom, whilst
the different divisions of the Russian troops, which were
stationed in Poland since the commencement of the war,
are being directed from various sides to the Austrian
frontiers of Cracow and of Gallicia, where they are
establishing themselves in two fortified camps."