The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-16 00:00:00

"TO PRINCE GORTSCIIAROFF AT VIENNA.

" St Petersburg, August 14 (26).
" I have received and submitted to his Majesty the
Emperor the communications which the Austrian Cabi-
net addressed to us on the 10th of August (now style).
"In acceding to the desire which Austria has ex-
pressed to us, not to press further our military opera-
tions in Turkey, and 'to recall our troops from the prin-
cipalities of the Danube, we had exclusively in view
Austrian and German interests, in the name of which
this desire was addressed to us. The concession required
entailed the most important consequences upon us. As
we have already remarked to the Austrian Government, it
took away from us the only military point by which
could be established in our favour an equilibrium of
positions upon the immense theatre of operations in this
war. More than this, it exposed us, irremediably, to
the danger of seeing thrown, en masse, upon our coasts
in Asia and Europe, in the Black Sea, the military forces
of England, France, and Turkey.
" Notwithstanding these inconveniences, and notwith-
standing these evident dangers, we, keeping in view the
interests of Austria and Germany, declared ourselves
ready to retire voluntarily and completely from the
principalities of the Danube. We even renounced every
condition of reciprocity on the part of our adversaries.
We demanded absolutely nothing from them. We con-
fined ourselves to expressing to Austria a desire to be
informed by her what were the guarantees of security
which she vas-individually in a condition to offer to us;
and, in fact, foreseeing that it was not in her power to
assure to us an armistice, we desired to know if at least,
after the evacuation should be completed, and that con-
,,equently the engagements contracted by her with the
Western Powers would be fulfilled, we might reckon
upon Austria ceasing to make common cause with those
Powers with the object, publicly avowed, of bringing
about the moral and material abasement of Russia.
" At the same time, and in order to afford proof of
our pacific intentions, we declared ourselves ready to ad-
here beforehand to the principles laid down in the pro-
tocol of the Rh April.
" In the place of replying directly to these questions,
- which were addressed to her directly, Austria thought
it her duty forthwith to submit the business to the
Western Powers, and to Tna,ke her subsequent resolu-
tions dependent upon them—resolutions which we ex-
pected from her alone.
"It was evident that the sacrifice which wo were

ready to make, keeping in view her particular interests,
and the interests of the whole of Germany, could not
liave any value in the eyes of France and England ; and
that those two Courts, whose object it is to humiliate
and enfeeble Russia by prolonging the war, would not
show themselves disposed to enter upon a conciliatory

course.
"This, unhappily, is proved by the communication
which C ,unt Esterhazy has made to us.
" In point of fact, the Austrian Cabinet now transmits
to us, as the result of its conferences with the Courts of
Paris and London, new bases for peace, which, so far
as form is concerned, have been prepared in a manner
the least likely to secure an honourable adoption.
Nnd As to the meaning. of them, we cannot be
deceived, seeing that, according to the avowal of the
'Zrench Government, as it was unreservedly made by
the official publication of its reply to the Cabinet of
Vienna, the interest of the European equilibrium' is made
to signify nothing less than the abrogation of• all our
anterior treaties, and the destruction of all our maritime
establishments, which, it is said, by reason of the absence
of all counterpoise, are a perpetual menace against the
Ottoman empire, and the restriction of Russian power

in the Black Sea.
" Such are, however, the bases which the Austrian
Government recommends to us, and though it exhorts
as to accept them without reserve, it believes itself not
the less bound to inform us, who are most concerned,
that the maritime Powers do not consider them as defini-
tively settled, and that they reserve the right to modify
them at the proper time, according to the chances of the
war. According to this, our aceepbation of these bases
would not suffice to afford any very certain prospect of
the cessation of hostilities. The Austrian Government
goes still further. It declares to us that, in its opinion,
these bases result from the principles of the protocol,
and that they are the necessary conditions or a solid and
durable peace ; and consequently, that it completely
unites itself to, and has even entered into forn:al en-
gagements with, the Western Powers, not to treat with
us upon any other base.
" Under these circumstances, it is useless for us to
examine conditions which, while they are laid before
us, are declared to be elastic and variable—conditions
which, if they were to remain as they have been
actually submitted to us, suppose Russia to be already
enfeebled by the exhaustion of a long war, and which,
if the force of temporary circumstances forced us
ever to submit to them, so far from assuring to Europe
a solid and especially a durable peace, such as the
Austrian Government appears to expect, would only ex-
pose that peace to complications without end. In ac-
ceding as he has done to the principles laid down in the
protocol, the Emperor certainly had not any intention of
attributing to them the signification which has been
here claimed.
"The immense sacrifices which we were ready to make
to the private interests of Austria and Germany, with-
out receiving any compensation on the part of Austria,
while the latter, instead of perceiving in this the
means of disengaging itself from obligations incurred by
it, hiTherto having, on the contrary, felt it due to herself
to unite with the Powers our enemies by yet stronger
and more extensive engagements, we deeply regret that
we are not able to give effect to her last communica-
tions. We consider that, in our present position, we
have exhausted entry measure of concession compatible
with our honour ; and our sincerely pacific intentions
not having been regarded, it only remains for us to fol-
low, energetically, the course which has been traced out
for us by our adversaries themselves—that is to say, to
leave, like them, the chances of war to determine a defi-
nitive base for negotiation.
" The Austrian Government is already informed that
motives arising s)!ely from strategic necessities have en-
gaged the Emperor to order his troops to withdraw behind
the Pruth. Havirg thus retired within our own frontier,
and standing now upon the defensive, we expect, from this
position, that equitable overtures will permit us to concur
in the desire for the re-establishment of peace, on terms con-
sistent with our dignity and political interests, by de-
liberate proposalsavoiding all provocation to an increase
of complications ; but at the same time we are deter-
mined to defend, with resolution, our territory against
all foreign attacks, from whatever quarter they may
proceed.
" Your Excellency will have the goodness to bring
this despatch to the knowledge of Count Buol.—Accept,
(.11;c.,

(Signed)

" NESSICLRODE."

TIIE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF

HEALTH.

MR. GRENVILLE FLETCHER'S FIRST SERIES
OF PARLIAMENTARY PORTRAITS.

" Complaisance plesses all, prejudices none, adorns wit,
renders humour agreeable, augments friendship, and com-
plying with justice and generosity, becomes the secret
charm of the society of all mankind."—SCUDERY.

" An honest min is the noblest work of God."

Sir Benjamin Hall is one of-the most independent
members of the House of Commons—the most liberal,
and the most consistent of the class of politicians to
which he adheres—ever persevering, as an upright,
honourable, and honest man ought,
" The even tenour of his way,"
regardless of the transient glare of popularity, or the
feverish desire of excitement.
The honourable member for Marylebone is not a fre-
quent speaker in the House of Commons, yet he is an
untiring and vigilant looker-on with regard to all its
movements. His addresses are listened to with marked
respect, and in no instance has it ever occurred but that
his speeches have been, in their matter and effect,
highly successful. For a public man not professing to
claim distinction as an orator, Sir Benjamin has many
valuable requisites, his language is invariably correct,
judiciously and classically arranged ; always delivered
with exceeding good humour, whilst his courteous and
conversant style—not in the least addicted to manner-
ism—at once confirms the unostentatious display of
sentiment, as it also strikingly exemplifies the worthy
baronet's undisguised sincerity.
In private life many there are that proudly acknow-
ledge the fact, that Si Benjamin Hall has the esteem of
every one
who have not suoh familiar claim, but who have had
possessing a share of his acquaintance ; those
opportunity of recognising his known value, be they
even opposed in political character, will nevertheless
admit the justice of this unembellished tribute to his
public reputation:
Sir Benjamin Hall was married in December, 1823,
to the accomplished daughter and co-heiress of Benja-
min Waddington, Esq., of Llanover Court ; is the
eldest son of the late Benjamin Hall, Esq., who was for
many years up to the period of his decease M.P. for
Glamorganshire. Sir Benjamin (then Mr. Hall) was
originally returned to Parliament for the borough of
Monmouth in 1831 ; but a contested opposition by the
Marquis of Worcester resulted in his lordship's petition-
ing the house, and the honourable gentleman was ulti-
mately unseated ; the following year, however, turned
the tables in his favour, and the marquis was defeated
by a majority of 58. A numerously-signed requisi-
tion obtained the sanction of Sir Benjamin Hall in the
election of 1837, to be placed in nomination for the in-
fluential and aristocratic borough of Marylebone, and
after a vigorous contest, in which not less than five
candidates appeared in the field, Sir Benjamin was
triumphantly retuned by a large majority at the head
of the r-011,

OUTFiAGE LEEDS.—Two Irishmen, named
And Peter Loughlin, are in custody at Leeds,
charged with a ferocious attack upon James Conway,
in York-street, in that town. There was an "
Irish
row" in York-street—an occur once of the commonest
kind in that locality—and upon some persons going up
they found Conway upon the ground with half a dozen
Irishmen round him, kicking him about the head and
body like fiends, and WGrail lying upon him tearing
the flesh from his face with his teeth. The savages were
got away with difficulty, and then it was discovered
-that the monster 111‘Grail had torn away the greater
part of one cheek and the lower lip of Conway, The in-
jured 'llan lies in a precarious state.

LATEST NEWS.

THE WAR.

EXPEDITION TO THE CRIMEA
We have just received the following telegraphic

despatch :

VIENNA, SATURDA.Y, 10 A.M.

According to a telegraphic despatch of the 7th,
from Odessa, eight Anglo-French steamers had,
on that day, placed themselves with their broad-
sides towards the quarantine harbour.
A strong impression prevails that something wil
be undertaken at the Isthmus of Perekop.
At Simferopol, in the Crimea, great preparations
are making for the reception of a high personage—
probably a Russian Grand Duke.
CONSTANTINOPLE, SEPT. 8.

The French fleet left Varna two days before the
British fleet left Baltchik ; but they were expected
to arrive at their destination, on the coast of the
Crimea, simultaneously, owing to the British
steamers possessing greater horse power.
The landing was expected to take place between
the 10th and the 12th.
This is official.

The Isle of Serpents, appointed for a rendezvous,
is the nearest point to the enemy's territory, and
a little to the south of a line drawn from Eupatoria
to the Kilia mouth of the Danube.

The 21st Regiment has arrived, and proceeded
to the Euxine.
General Cathcart has arrived.
The Sultan has issued firmans for the re-instal-
ment of tho Princes Stirbey and Ghika as

Hospodars.
We have also received the following :
DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS IN ASIA.
VIENNA, FRIDAY EvENING.

The Presse has advices from Trobizonde of the
30th of August, according to which thealarm caused
by the success of Schamyl in Georgia, who was
threatening Tiflis with 16,000 men, had been such
that 15,000 troops had been sent by Prince Bebu-
toff from Ale:mndropol for Gumri, to releave Tiflis.
On learning this, Zarif Pacha marched towards
Kars, overtook the Russian rear-guard, and totally
defeated it.

It is said that the Turks have now invested

Gumri.

The Cossacks had plundered a large Persian
caravan between Bayazid and Diadin.

VIENNA, FRIDAY.

The Austrian Government has received official
information of the sailing of the Anglo-French
expedition for the Crimea.
The weather was favourable.