The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-12 00:00:00

TURKEY.

The Russian General Ogareff, who has received
permission from the government to visit the great
naval and military establishments, arrived on the
7th at St. Etienne in order to inspect the manu-
factory of arms at that place.
All the accounts from Constantinople to the
25th ult., which have been brought by the Tan-
credo to Marseilles, concur in stating that great
mystery continued to hang over the mission of
Prince Menschikoff. He had, however, taken no
new step of importance ; and, according to the in-
formation of the Journal des Debats, ," the sole
advantage which he seems thus far disposed to de-
rive from his position is that of seeing the Sultan
as often as he may wish, without being obliged to
solicit an audience through the Divan—a privilege
which the ambassador of England has heretofore
alone enjoyed." It was believed by some persons
that the prince was waiting for the arrival of the
English ambassador, in order to show the good
understanding which exists between the cabinets
of London and St. Petersburg. According to
others his intention was, at the moment it
should appear opportune, to make some extra-
ordinary demand—as for example for the cession of
a portion of territory towards Batoumi, in order to
render more regular the Russian frontier. The
prince was paying attention to the chiefs of all par-
ties ; he had sent some of his officers to compliment
Resched Pacha and Riza Pacha—saying to one
that he considered him an honest adversary of
Russia, to the other that it would afford him plea-
sure to see him resume the administration of affairs.
The Constitutionnel states that its Constantinople
letters represent that he had attempted to gain a
decision favourable to the Greeks on the question
of the Holy Places, but that the Sultan and Divan
had refused to treat on it anew in the absence of

the French ambassador. But the same journal
says that it has learned from another source that
the present position of the Eastern question is this:
—" Prince Menschikoff is not instructed to demand
either a general protectorship of the Greek church,
or an alliance offensive and defensive between the
Porte and Russia, but solely to treat on the
question of the oly Places. Russia pretends
that the last firmans accorded to the Latins con-
tain certain enactments contrary to the interest
of the Greek Christians, regulated by treaties
which Turkey some time ago entered into with her.
She consequently demands that these concessions
shall be examined and discussed, and become the
subject of a new negotiation. The Porte is said to
have endeavoured to get out of the affair by saying
that what took place with respect to the Holy
Places was indifferent to her, and by demanding of
Russia and France to come to an understanding
between themselves on the subject. But those
powers separately replied that the question did not
rest between them, and that it was only with the
Porte they would or could treat. The Porte there-
upon resolved to carry on the negotiations very
slowly, in order to afford time to the Ambassador
of France, and even to the Ambassador of Austria,
to arrive at Constantinople. Reduced," continues
the Constitutionnel, "to the examination of some
of the provisions in the last firmans accorded to the
Latins, as regards their effect on certain firmans
previously granted to the Greeks, the diplomatic
conference loses a great deal of the importance
originally ascribed to it." Vice-Admiral Corniloff,
and the other personages who accompanied Prince
Menschikoff, without forming part of his embassy,
were to leave on the 28th ult. Some of them
had made a trip in the Archipelago, and
even to Athens, on board the Russian steamer
Bessarabia. The project for the creation of a
new Bank had been adopted by the Divan, but
had not been submitted to the Sultan. The delay
was caused by the Ministers who are favourable to
the project, not wishing to mention in their report
to his Majesty the motives of the opposition of
their colleagues who are unfavourable to it ;
whereas the latter, Achmet-Fethi, Namik-Pacha,
Arif-Pacha, Tazim Bey, and Hussein-Bey insist on
their reasons being stated. The customs and tithes
of the Government had been farmed out for be-
tween 30 and 40 per cent. more than in the pre-
ceding year ; and it was believed that this increase
would prevent a deficit in the budget. As to
other financial difficulties it was hoped that they
would be got rid of by the aid of the new Bank.
Sarim Pacha, Governor of Trebisonde, had left for
his destination. It was said that England refuses
to recognise the right of the Porte to interdict the
navigation of the Bosphorus to foreign steamers,
and has declared to Rifaat Pacha, through Colonel
Rose, that as long as any foreign steamers shall
navigate it she will not withdraw hers. The
English steam frigate Tiger arrived from Malta on
the 24th to occupy the station of the Bosphorus.
On the 25th, being Good Friday, the foreign ships
were put in mourning, and the flags were hoisted
half-mast high. The French station ship the
Chaptal fired guns every half hour. Accounts had
been received from the Caucasus, which represented
that Chiamil Bey had obtained more advantages
over the Russians.