The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-08 00:00:00

CIRCASSIA.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 17.—Upwards of twenty ves
sels engaged in the trade between Circassia and Turkey
arrived during the last four weeks at Sinope and Samsoom,
and an equal number have taken their departure with
return cargoes for the coast of Abasia. The statemer.ts
made to me by the numerous eye-witnesses I have had the
opportunity of speaking to since their arrival here, fully
confirm the accounts of the disasters the Russian fleet en-
countered in the memorable storm of June the 11th, as well
as of the signal defeat of General Sass's division on the
banks of the Shakwasher. According to the most mode-
rote computation, the number of vessels forming part of the
Russian blockading squadron that were thrown upon the
coast, amounts to 26. As the large proportion of these
were cutters and schooners, the very vessels which gave most
annoyance to the Circassian traders, their destruction is looked
upon by them as far more important than that of an equal
number of men-of-war. The quantity of ammunition and
military stores the Circassians recovered from the wrecks is
sufficent to enable them to carry on the warfare during
several campaigns. The best proof of the abundance of these
materials in Circassia is, that merchants from that country,
who hitherto looked on those articles as the most profitable
speculation, have this year entirely declined purchasing
either lead or powder. In compensation for this immense
sacrifice of property and lives of her subjects, Russia has ob-
tained but a miserable return in the erection of additional
mud forts at Sotsha, Toaps, Shapsikry, and latterly at Soud-
jouk-kaleh—possessions which have as little contributed to
the attainment of the two foremost objects of her ambition,
the interruption of communications, and the acknowledg-
ment of her sovereignty by the natives, as the rest of the for-
tified posts her troops occupied previously along the coast.
The garrisons of these forts are so closely besieged by the
Circassians, as to be under the necessity of receiving their
supplies, even that of wood, from the ports of the Crimea.
Towards the beginning of July the Russians thought proper
to set their unfortunate colonists, men and women, pro-
tected by three columns of infantry and four field-pieces, to
cut grass on the open plains near the Kuban. Hahood-
okoo, having got word of what they were about, came down
with 500 horsemen overnight, and so placed them as not to
be seen by the Muscovites, who were no sooner set to work
in the morning than the Circassians rushed in among them,
and in spite of the artillery and infantry, bore off upwards
of 30 of the colonists and fourscore men they had brought
to remove the hay. Two men wounded, and a dozen or
two of horses killed, was all the loss of the Circassians.
An envoy from Daghestan, arrived in Circassia, brought
intelligence of that country being up in arms, and of the
insurrection having extended to Georgia. The great na-
tional was, at the moment of the above-mentioned
individual's oath
departure from Circassia, being taken by the
populations on the other side of the mountains behind So-
kumkoleh. _

But one of the most hopeful features of affairs is the
spirit of unanimity which has been gaining ground for some
time past along tho whole coast as far as Gagrah. Between
the Abasians and Cirea;..sians, who speak different languages,
existed hitherto coldness and aversion—the lees of old feuds
and wars ; but now the warmcst cordiality and intimacy
unites both nations.—Times.