The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-24 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

have watched the progress of the Russo-
Turkish affair with considerable anxiety, and now come
forward to offer you a few remarks on the subject.
I assert that had an able English statesman been
deputed to the Czar of all the Russias to confer with
him to bring about an amicable adjustment of the dif-
ference, the affair might have been compromised at the
onset ; and I have the opinion of many of the influential
inhabitants of St. Petersburgh, which bearsme out in the
assertion, that an able and talented negotiator, acquainted
with the peculiarities of the Emperor, could have pro-
duced the desired effect. For it is obvious this war is
against the commercial interests and general prosperity
of Russia, and, I emphatically add, of the whole of
Northern Europe ; for since its very beginning the de-
pression in the commerce most dependent on Russia has
slowly and gradually increased.
I will further add that if the Czar, as the Autocrat of
all the Russias, bears the responsibility of carrying on
the war on his side, he alone is the party to be nego-
tiated with—because, treating with an ambassador, you
are subject to his partial misrepresentation at St. Peters-
burgh. Again, if you transmit conciliatory documents
by inferior deputy, they either do not receive the atten-
tion you expect, or are on some point misunderstood.
I trust, however, there will still be a medium of com-
promising the affair entirely or partially, so as to be in
a position to withdraw our fleet from such a thankless
ally.
This will have the effect of placing commercial matters
on a more solid basis, and will prove to the nations of
the world that we prefer honourable peace to a useless
and protracted warfare.
Little did the ambassadors concerned calculate the
consequence of war. They seem never to have given
that an afterthought. Such careless diplomacy ! To
hear them you would be made to believe that the war is
a glorious thing, or, at worst, a matter of indifference.
Peace ! or War I

When I tell you that numberless operatives are gra-
dually being debarred the sole means of existence, and
that, too, at a time when the bare necessaries of life had
swallowed up their small earnings, and even their
savings, if any ; and the high price of provisions and the
severity of the winter has contributed greatly to that
end. When I tell you that as long as the war hangs
over us they will have little prospect of employment, you
will agree with the old rhyme
" Ah ! such are the miseries to which you give birth,
Ye statesmen, ne'er dreading a scar,
Who, from pictured saloon or the bright sculptured
hearth,
Disperse desolation and death through the earth,
When ye let loose the demons of war !"
It is not alone in Great Britain and Ireland. This state
of trade exists in France, Belgium, Austria, and all the
northern countries of Europe.
Now, I again emphatically assert that all this might
be prevented by a direct, a sensible, and able negotiation
with the Emperor ; and I have not the slightest hesita-
tion in saying that it would appear the Czar has been
misled into the affair, and maintained his position with
a false regard for consistency.
I hope that, while there is yet a wise and eloquent
statesman in these realms, there will remain a chance of
an amicable arrangement between the Powers at variance ;
and I have the honour to remain one of her Majesty's
loyal subjects, and, Sir, your most obedient servant,

A LOVER OF PEACE AND
TRANQUILLITY.'

24th January, 1854.

CITY OF LONDON THEATRE.—Last night another ver-
sio❑ of the French drama, now playing at the Adelphi,
was produced at this establishment, under the title of
A Struggle for Gold ; or, A Mother's Prayer. It was com-
pletely successful. The scenes were excellent, particu-
larly the ice scene. The dresses and appointments were
in admirable keeping. The acting of the piece deserved
the applause and attention it met with, when we say
Messrs. Searle, Worrell, Travers, Lingham, Hazlewood,
with Mrs. Campbell, Miss Dawson, and the whole com-
pany were engaged, will vouch for our opinion of dra-
matic excellence. We must not omit to mention the
Little Lady in the ice scene. She was very effective i❑
the small part she had to play, and was in look as inte-
resting as she was pretty.

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS OF RUSSIA. —According to the
advices from Berlin, the Russian Government are said
to have resolved upon an increase of 9,500,0001. in their
paper circulation, to meet the armaments in progress,
At the same time. to prevent the distrust that might
thus be occasioned, statements are given out that the
specie in the citadel at St. Petersburg amounts to
22,500,000/., while the existing paper circulation does
not exceed 35,000,000/. Every allegation, however,
regarding the sum of bullion in the hands of the Russian
Government has hitherto been received with caution,
and the total now mentioned is several millions beyond
the most favourable previous estimates. The figures
furnished of the amount of paper issues are, perhaps,
equally liable to .question.

FROM AUSTRALIA. nw r readers can no doubt
months
of sovereigns
tree awdairlydereAcealsltrtaohmind
hitehhehcuotntainfueoue e
full force ; the extensive shipments to thsats ienClelle n Trays ionf
all kinds of produce and manufactures they
areaerwe alesoopfwotrehtte
exports
acquainted with ; but they are perhaps, n
magnitude of the latter, and be somewhat surprised
learn that the Custom-house valuation of th
from London and Liverpool alone to the Australianx
colonies, for the 12 months ending the 31st of December
last, exceeded 13,000,000/. By far the greater amount
of these shipments have yet to be paid for, while the
pressure in the London money-market in September,
more especially as regarded those firms which were ex-
porters of gold to the colonies, has yet to be felt in
Melbourne and Sydney, for their information from this
country as yet is not later than Jul
y. In the middle
the
of
last year it was stated on very goo authority, that
banks in Melbourne held a very large amount of sove-
reigns, estimated at fully 5,000,000/. It will thus readily
be seen that the month of December promises to put in
motion a very heavy amount of gold from Australia to-
wards England—financially, as well as commercially ;
sovereigns, as well as nuggets ; a few weeks, however,
must elapse before this can be fully seen or appreciated.
Liverpool Albion.
ODESSA.—From Odessa the letters are to the 11th.
The arrivals of shipping were still increasing daily, and
they wort: actively getting ear -roes. Owing to the de-
mand for labour thus occasioned, wages had risen to a
point equal to those in Australia—half an imperial, or
16s. 3d, sterling, per day being freely paid.