The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-04 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1853.

Everything now depends upon the nature of
the intelligence received from St. Petersburgh.
The tremendous alternative of peace or war, of a
protracted and beneficent peace over the whole of
Europe, or of a terrible and universal war
throughout Christendom, may be said, without
exaggeration, to repose at this moment on the will,
to await the pleasure, to depend upon the whim
of one man, and that man a potentate no less
ambitious than he is powerful. If any ark
gument were requisite to satisfy a dispas-
sionate observer of the folly of the great prin-
ciples involved in the system of despotic
government it would be perceptible at a glance
in the magnitude of the consequences at the pre-
sent juncture hanging upon the decision of the
Russian AUTOCRAT. Within the last few hours
there arrived in the capital of his Empire
the ultimatissimum forwarded from Vienna on the
24th ultimo, by the representatives of the Four
Allied Powers, now pledged solemnly to uphold
the outraged rights of Turkey, the violated autho-
rity of the SULTAN, the integrity of his do-
minions, the liberties of his people, their loyalty,
and their independence. Added to which
the CZAR will receive, through the British Am-
bassador at his Court, the demand—promptly
and peremptorily dispatched to St. Petersburgh—
for explanations in regard to his recent conduct
towards the Hospodar of Moldavia. Whether the
Emperor NICHOLAS will consent to the proposals
made to him on the part of the English, French,
Austrian, and Prussian Plenipotentiaries, yet
remains, to the last possible degree, matter of
uncertainty. But counting even most con-
fidently on the acceptance of the ultima-
Ma forwarded from Vienna, it must there-
fore remain to be seen whether the CZAR will
comply with the supplementary demands made
for some explanation in reference to his lawless
mandate to Prince GHIKA to pay henceforth no
more tribute to the SULTAN as his liege lord, or
ancient Suzerain. Therefore, we repeat, the nature
of the decision now awaited from St. Petersburgh
continues to become more than ever doubtful.
Nothing indeed can be regarded at this moment and
upon this subject as certain—but that Russia
must accept theultirnatissimum of the Four Powers
immediately and unconditionally, besides ex- ,
plaining her conduct clearly and satisfactorily,
in as far as relates to the recent treatment
of the Moldavian and Wallachian Hospodars,
or, there must be an instantaneous outbreak
of war between herself on the one side, and on
the other Turkey backed by all the great nations
of Christendom. In which latter case the conflict
will be carried on a outrance, and will so far
resemble the recent struggle against the Burmese,
as described by Mr. coBDE
N, that it will not so
much be a war as it will be " a rout, a massacre,
or a visitation." Such, then, are the good and
evil results trembling at this juncture in the
balance—and that balance held in the uncertain
grasp of a potentate irresponsible saving to Gob
and Posterity ! All that can be clone, conse-
quently, under these momentous circumstances b
us, who are mere spectators—is to await the re-
sult with a patient trust in the issues permitted
by DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

Another case of gross injustice perpetrated, if
not by, at least with the sanction and connivance
of, the Anglo-Indian Government, was on Tuesday
night exposed in the House of Commons. The
shuffling, evasive, and discreditable conduct of the
Directors and officials of the East India Company,
in respect to the Parsee Merchants and Bankers,
PESTONJEE MEERJEE, and VICCAJEEIVIEERJEE, Will
remain an indelible blot on their escutcheon, and
we regret to be obliged to add, that the other
branch of the double Government scarcely appears
in a more favourable point of view in reference
to the transaction. It is true that, in the case
under.nder notice, the Leadenhall-street Magnets, or
r uuder-strappers, were not principals in the
act of swindling, that they did not themselves lay
violent hands on the property of two of her
MAJESTY'S subjects, for which they might be held
responsible before the Court
and of England ; but they of Justice of India
seuraged the vic-
tims to enter into the negotiationsnweith the Puppet
PRINCE, who nominally ruled the and
received, if not the entire proceeds coalif
by far the greater portion thereof. While the;
Beverly evaded the legal responsibility, they mi.