The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 185 3.

lican, however, can talk on liberty for five minutes
and avoid the clearest self-condemnation. Mr.
PIERCE may rest assured that unless; he can
blot out Christianity from the Union, it will either
sever itself some day from slavery, or annihilate
it. Congress Law will be vanquished by Divine
Law, written both in the Word of GOD and in the
heart of man. The worst of the President, and
of Congress, and of America, too, is, that no effort
is made to rectify the wrong. We wonder whether
it ever occurred to them that the surplus dollars
might be used as our 20,000,0001. were in the
West Indies, to pay off their worst National Debt.

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

(From the Press of this day.)

- -
At the time of going to press no intimation had
reached us that Lord Palmerston had acceded to
the entreaties of Lord Aberdeen, and consented
to resume the seals of Secretary of State.
That office has been vacant for more than ten
days. It has been refused by Lord John Russell ;
declined by Sir George Grey ; and cannot be re-
sumed by Lord Palmerston except upon conditions
which every true Englishman would approve ; but
which, it is said, are, unfortunately, not consistent
with the honour and convictions of her Majesty's
remaining Ministers. _ _ _

Let us hope for the sake of her Majesty, and con-
sidering the season of the year, that they may yet
accept them. _ _

Several of Lord Palmerston's late colleagues have
paid him visits during the week. Mr. Gladstone
was the last. We understand the Right Hon.
Gentleman abounded in reasons why Lord Palmer-
ston should return to Downing-street. He distin-
guished between the opinion of the " Triumvirate"
(Lord Aberdeen, Lord John Russell, and Sir
James Graham) and the remainder of his colleagues
whom nobody ever consulted, but who were pre-
pared to assert their independence. We hear the
Right Hon. Gentleman was extremely ingenious,
and would probably have been successful had he
not addressed an individual who was in the habit
of thinking before he acted.

The Cabinet is divided into two parties, the ma-
R)rity having pronounced against the tyranny of
the Triumvirate."

Lord Granville, being too late by the train, waki
not present at the Council on Thursday, which
delay, considering that the Ministers were five
hours and a half in deliberation, was an adroitly-
managed accident.
Lord Lansdowne, though lie holds no office and
does not attend the Cabinet Councils, remains, we.
are assured, one of her Majesty's Ministers, which
is considered not the least remarkable feature of
our matchless Constitution.

We understand that another Cabinet will be held.
on Tuesday next.

The country- still continues to enjoy the blessing&
of a strong Government.

( Prom the Morning Herald.)

We have nothing to add to the statement com-
municated to our readers yesterday as to the pro-
bable return of Lord Palmerston to the Coalition
Ministry. The intelligence then published will,
we believe, turn out to be correct. Mr. Gladstone
had a long interview with the noble viscount yes-
terday.

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, DEC. 23.

The Royal dinner party yesterday included her Royal.
Highness the Duchess of Kent, the lady in waiting to.
her Royal Highness, the Baroness de Speth, and Colonel
the Hon. C. B. Phipps.
Her Majesty's private band was in attendance in the
evening, and performed the following selection :
Overture, " Le Domino Noir" Auber.
Larghetto, Scherzo, Trio, and Finale, Sin-
fonia in D .
Selection, "Lestocq" Auber.
March, " Coriolanus" Cooke.
The Earl of Clarendon is expected this afternoon on a
visit to her Majesty.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited the
Queen to-day.

Count Walewski, the French Ambassador, visited the
Earl of Clarendon yesterday. His Excellency trans-
acted business on Thursday at the Foreign-office, Down-
ing-street.
Dispatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-
office to the Governors of the North American Pro-
vinces and to the Governors of the West Coast of
Africa.

The Princess Gaiitzen is among the recent arri-
vals at Torquay, which fashionable watering place is at
present full of visitors.

The Duke and Duchess of Sutherland have a
family party assembled at Trentham for the Christmas
holidays. The Duke and Duchess of Argyll and the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Stafford are with their graces.
The Duke of Newcastle left town on Thursday
for Clumber, for the Christmas holidays.
The Marquis of Lansdowne has a select circle
assembled at Bowood for the festive season. The noble
Marquis, it is said, does not purpose coming to town until
the latter end of January.
Lord and Lady Faversham and family have
arrived at Brighton, where they will pass the Christmas
recess.

The Countess Walewski received a select circle
of the aristocracy and corps diplomatique, on Thursday
evening, at the residence of the French Embassy in Grosve-

nor-square.

Sir William Molesworth does not accompany
Lady Molesworth into Yorkshire this week, being detained
in town by his ministerial duties.

Miss Burdett Coutts has arrived at Brighton,
from Paris.

Mr., Mrs., and Miss Lee Warner have left
Elmore Court, near Gloucester, for Tiberton Court, near
Hereford.

INSTALLATION OF THE LORD BISHOP OF DERRY
AND RAPHOE.—On Monday evening the Lord Bishop of
Derry and Raphoe arrived at the deanery, Londonderry,
attended by his chaplain, the Rev. William Edwards, and
was installed in the episcopal throne of the cathedral by
the dean and chapter.

DEATH OF A PATRON OF LITERATURE.—There
Petro, the well known ironfounder of Sweden, has just
died. He was, as a private gentleman, a merchant, and a
member of Parliament, always the friend of freedom,
toleration, and advancement. His wealth was unsparingly
devoted to the support of literature.
HER MAJESTY'S VISITS TO PARLIAMENT.—FIRING
THE ROYAL SALUTE---It having been determined that in
future, on those occasions when her Most Gracious Majesty
shall visit the Houses of Parliament for the purpose of in-
augurating the session, or for the prorogation of the sittings,
that the Royal salute ,shall be fired in St. James's-park,
the necessary arrangements were yesterday completed for
conveying the signal from the lobby of the Victoria Tower
to the lodge facing the Horse Guards by electricity. The
Submarine Telegraph Company having been applied to,
they have carried out the necessary operations for connect-
ing the two points. The wires run from the Park to the
foot of the staircase leading up to the Royal gallery in the
House of Lords. The instrument by which the telegraph
is worked is here placed in a niche, while in a chamber
below are deposited the batteries necessary for producing
the current of electricity. There will be two signals given
—one to make ready as her Majesty approaches the house,
and the other to fire as she enters. The Royal salute is
-clonally fired immediately on the Queen setting foot in the
house, and hitherto it has been discharged from the yard
of Mr. Serle, the boat-builder, on the opposite side of the
river. The system of signaling was then found to be very
unsatisfactory—one party having to be stationed in the
lobby, who communicated with a.second at the foot of the
victoria Tower, who in turn signalled a third person placed
on the summit of the k,wer, by whom a flqsz was waved,
and thus an intimation was conveyed to the gunners in the
boat yard. To obviate this unnecessary delay, and occu-
pation of so many persons, the agency of the electric tele-
graph has been called into operation.
THE KING OF PRUSSIA AND THE ROYAL BUTCHER.

—Last year, Mr. Minton, of Peascod-street, Windsor, pur-
veyor to her Majesty, forwarded portions of the prize ox,
fed by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, at Flemish
Farm, to the Emperor of the French, the King of the
Belgians, and the King of Prussia, in order that each
of these continental Sovereigns might have a specimen of
Prime English roast beef for the New Year's banquet.
The present was acknowledged in condescending terms at
the time, and yesterday Mr. Minton received the following
gratifying communication :—" Prussian Legation, London,
Dec. 22,1853. Chevalier Bunsen presents his compliments
to Mr. Samuel Minton, and has great pleasure in inform.
ing him that his Majesty the King of Prussia has been
very much pleased with the Christmas beef sent last year
by Mr. Minton. Chevalier Bunsen has received the com-
mands of his Majesty to express the best thanks of his
royal master, and, as a token of acknowledgment, has to
transmit to Mr. Minton a punch bowl and cups, of Berlin
manufacture, which will be delivered to him as soon as
they arrive from Berlin.—To Mr. Samuel Minton, butcher
to her Majesty the Queen, at Windsor."

CAB FARES.—Yesterday books were issued to the
police constables of the City and Metropolitan Police,
containing the Act of Parliament for the Regulation of
Hackney Cabs, a table of distances with the four mile
radius, and tables of the authorised fares, both by time
and distance ; and this multunt in parvo likewise con-
tains a map of the metropolis and suburbs on an ex-
tended scale, and as a book of reference in cases of dis-
pute is invaluable.
NORTH METROPOLITAN RAILWAY.—CIaUSES to pro-
tect the interests of the ratepayers of St. Pancras are to
be inserted in the bill to be submitted to Parliament in
the ensuing session by the above company. These
clauses define the mode in which the works are to be
conducted under the New-road, limiting the space to be
taken up at any one time, and specifying the places
where stations may be erected. They also empower the
vestry and other local boards to pave and restore the
roads at the expense of the company ; and also to keep
the same in repair for four years; should the company
fail to do the work effectually themselves, a per tentage
on the outlay within the parish has been fixed, for the
purposes of rating.

INDIA AND CHINA.

(BY SUBifARINE & EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.)
TRIESTE, DEC. 23.
The steamer Bombay arrived at a quarter to 10
o'clod: a.m., in 112 hours from Alexandria. The
India mail proceeds this day from Alexandria to
England, with dates from Calcutta of the 20th,
Mathes 24th, Shanghai 2d, Amoy sth, Hong
Kong 11th, Singapore 18th, Penang 20th, Galle
27th, Bombay 28th of November, and Burmah
22d cf October.

Th3acconnts from Burmah are more satisfactory.
In Pegue tranquillity prevails, and the dacoits
are disappearing.
Famne no longer prevails.
Viscount Melville is appointed to command the
Sirhind division, in the room of the late General
God

The l'eshawur force has been strengthened.
Trade in indigo is flat.
Exchange at Calcutta, 2s. Id.
Fron China we learn that the insurgents keep
firm pcssession of Shanghai, but that they have
been (Ideated by the Imperialists at Amoy.
The Canton market has improved. Exchange at
Canton; ss. 2d: ; Shanghai, 6s. 6d.

cessal.

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS,

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

The following telegraphic despatch has been re-
ceived, dated Vienna, Friday :
" It was rumoured last night after the close of
business that something unfavourable to the Rus-
sians had taken place in the Crimea. At first it
was said that an attack had been made on Sebasto-
pol by the fleets, and afterwards a rising in the
Crimea was spoken of. Positive information is
wanting."
General Prim and some British officers have
arrived at Constantinople from Omer Pasha's head-
quarters.
The Furious and the Heron have come back from
Varna.

An Austrian war steamer left for the Black Sea.
It is said that she is bound for Sinope.
From Bucharest, we learn that Baron Budberg,
the new Russian Commissioner, is disliked by the
inhabitants of the Principality.
From St. Petersburg, up to the 13th, we have
advices which state that such was the satisfaction
of the Emperor at the receipt of the accounts of
the success of the Russian arms that he wrote the
following autograph letter to Prince Menschikoff:—
" St. Petersburg, Nov. 29 (Dec. 11).
" Prince Alexander Sergejewitsch,—Tbe victory of
Sinope proves evidently that our Black Sea fleet has
shown itself worthy of its destination. With hearty joy
I request you to commuicate to my brave seamen that
I thank them for the success of the Russian flag, on
behalf of the glory and honour of Russia. I perceive
with satisfaction that Tschesme has not been forgotten
in the Russian navy, and that the grandsons have proved
themselves worthy of their grandsires.
• " I remain always and unalterably
" Your well-inclined and grateful
" NICHOLAS."
The Czar has granted a pension of 1,000 ducats
per month to the Princes Ghika and Stirbey.
Prince Ghika's debts, to the amount of 50,000
ducats, have been paid by the Czar.
The French Government received on Thursday
night the official intelligence of the entry of the
combined fleets into the Black Sea. The same
despatch which announces that fact mentions also
that a great deal of excitement prevails at Constan-
tinople, particularly among the fanatical party.
The discontent and irritation prevailing among the
general population is traced to the catastrophe of
Sinopo ; but the feeling of resentment that animates
the people, is the rumour circulated of the design
of the Divan to agree to. terms of peace which
would dishonour the Ottoman name.
So far as can be as yet known about the effect
of the propositions lately made by the Allied.
Powers, it is stated that the Porte has neither ac-
cepted nor rejected them. It may not refuse to
send a Plenipotentiary to the Conference, but it is
certain that it will demand as an indispensable con-
dition the previous evacuation of the Danubian
Principalities.
The Turkish Government as well as the people
were disconcerted at the result of the Conference of
the representatives at Constantinople. It was
looked upon as so certain that the fleets would
enter the Black Sea, that the Sultan himself pro-
ceeded to a spot as close as possible to where the
fleets were anchored in order to be one of the first
to witness their departure. When no movement
took place, in consequence, as is again asserted, of
the opposition of General Baraguay d'Hilliers, his
Highness returned overwhelmed with sorrow and
indignation ; sorrow for the terrible disaster of
Sinope, and indignation at the conduct of the
Ambassador.
Letters from Odessa, of the Bth inst., state posi-
tively that the Russians lost the Jagondib, of 90
guns, at the battle of Sinope, and of which no
mention is made in their official reports. It ap-
pears that this vessel was bravely attacked by a
Turkish frigate,l and that both ships blew up after
a sanguinary engagement. It is added, that the
Russians likewise lost three vessels of inferior force.
Those letters announce the death of one of the
Turkish Admiral aides-de-camp, of his wounds, at
Sebastopol. The Admiral (Osman) himself had
suffered amputation of his leg, and remained in a
dangerous state.
Letters received at Constantinople from Teheran
state that the Russian party was never so triumph-
ant as at present at that court. All the advice
offered to the Shah by the British Minister had
been rejected through Russian influence, and he had
consequently been compelled to suspend officially
his relations with the Persian Government.
The recent address of the Greek patriarch Anthi-
mos to the Sultan has given rise to much indigna-
tion in the clerical circles of Vienna. His Majesty
the Emperor has left Vienna for Munich, where on
the 24th of the present month, the birthday of his
bethrothed will be celebrated. The Count de
Chambord has deferred his intended journey to
Venice, for the reason that he is expecting many
vists from his French adherents at Frohsdorff.
From St. Petersburgh we hear that by a ukase
of the Emperor the district of Bessarabia and the
Governments of Cherson and Taurus have been
declared to be in a state of siege. Taurus and a
part of Cherson are placed under the command of
Prince Menschikoff, and Bassarabia under General
Osten-Sacken.
The Lloyd of Vienna of the 19th says:—" There
is no truth in the rumours of a sanguinary battle
near Kalafat and of the advance of the Turks, al-
though it is probable that there may have been
some affairs of outposts to which an exaggerated
importance has been given. According to accounts
from Orsova of the 14th the Turks, on voluntarily
returning to Widdin, left only 00 men near
Kalafat. The Transylvanian Messenger reports as
follows what has taken place near Kalafat, and
some coups de main executed by the Cossacks on
the Lower Danube :—‘ On the 30th Nov., two squa-
drons and a half of the Cossacks of the Don ad-
vanced towards the village of Negoi, where the
Turks had made a demand for a supply of flour
and barley. This detachment of Cossacks was
attacked by 500 Turks, regular cavalry, but they
were driven back and pursued as far as the village
of Pogana. The Turks had 20 men killed and
several wounded, the Russians 2 killed and 5
wounded. In the night of the 30th, 48 Cossacks
crossed the Danube, and surprised two Turkish
posts of about an equal number. Some men were
killed and wounded on both sides, and two Turks
were taken prisoners.' Since the 9th December
nothing important has taken place in the two
can2pu.

The Cologne Gazette quotes a letter from Berlin
of the 18th, in which it is stated that the Caucasus
had risen in arms, and that the Abchases are be-
sieging Sokoum Kale. The district of Nachivin,
belonging to the Russian province of Eriwan, in-
habited by Turkomans and Armenians, had at-
tempted to raise recruits there, and lay contributions
upon the country. "Russian Bulletins from Asia,"
says the lettter, " must be received with great
caution ; for while one bulletin announced 4,000
killed on the Turkish side, another on the
following day raised the number to 5,000, while
the Russians were represented as having lost
but 3 officers and six men, with 30 men wounded.
As to the town of Aradjik, mentioned in the bul-
letin, there is no such place at all. The papers
have substituted Achabzik for it, but even the
Russian bulletin does not say that that town has
been delivered from the blockade. The Russian
bulletin also states that the Turks took to flight ;
how comes it then that the Russians concentrated
themselves at a distance of ten miles from the fron-
tier? for that would show that the Turks maintained
themselves in their position."
From Belgrade we learn, under date of the 13th
inst., that on the previous day the anniversary of
the independence of the principality had been cele-
brated with considerable eclat; but that, for the
first time in its history, the usual prayer for their
protector, the Emperor of Russia, had been omitted.
The Russian consul was not present at the festivi-
ties. On the 12th, the Servians first heard of the
Russian victory at Sinope. Izzet Paella, the
commander of the Turkish fortress at Belgrade,
died on the evening of the same day.
On the 12th of this month two Russian steamers
of 10 guns each, five gunboats, and four Walla-
chian gunboats of two guns each, small calibre,
with 1,20 G men (land troops) on board of two large
barges, attacked Matschin, near Isatchka. They
were supported by a battery, which was placed so
as to command the islands. The cannonade lasted

from four p.m. to the following day at noon.
Riflemen were landed at Matschin, and they have
had a tirailleur engagement with horsemen from the
Dobrudseha. The Russians are said to have lost

11 dead and wounded. The attack was unsuc-

By a rescript of the Emperor the order of St.
Stanislas of the lst'class is conferred upon General

PrinceOrbeliani for his bravery in the combat of

Bayandoury on the 14th ult. Thore is also an
order of the Emperor that immediately after each
engagement, either by land or sea, the names of
the officers killed or dangerously wounded shall be
communicated to him, with full details as to the
position of their families. An Imperial ukase,
dated the Ist inst., places the government of Tau-
rida, and that portion of the government of Kher-
son situated on the left bank of the Bug, under
Prince Menschikoff, and the province of Bessarabia
MCI the portion of the government of /hereon on

the right bank of the Bug under General Baron
d'Osten-Sacken.

TIN have received the following interesting letter
of a Spanish officer of superior rank and merit, and
who accompanied Omar Pasha throughout the last
campaign. The letter, which has been written in
haste, is not of very recent date, but it is, never-
theless, not without interest. After a few remarks
relating to merely personal matters, he continues—
" Soon after the battle of the Lazaretto of Oltenitza,
of which you have heard the particulars, though
perhaps with some inaccuracy, the entrenchments of
the Lazaretto remained garrisoned by eight battalions
and 20 pieces of artillery, and the external de-
fences so increased and strengthened as to have
converted it into a regular citadel, directed by su-
perior intelligence, and executed with indescribable
activity and zeal by the whole of the Turkish army. The
11th Russian division, which was the one that had been
beaten on the field of battle, remained encamped behind
Oltenitza, supported by that town and others in the
immediate neighbourhood. Every day cannonading
took place, and lines of skirmishers were thrown out
by both armies ; the Russians to reconnoitre the en-
trenchments, and the Turks to prevent their approach.
On the 7th, a bridge of boats was established 650
paces up the stream from the point of the occupied island,
which was covered on the left of the Danube by an
irregularly constructed but most commodious work,
and additionally protected by a battery of six guns on
the right bank of the stream. • In that situation, and
menaced incessantly by the enemy who remained in
Sight, but redoubling their vigilance, which was never
for an instant at fault, the Turks passed six days strug-
gling with the fogs, the rains, and the frost. We all
were under such shelter as our tents could afford us,
and all alike—officers and soldiers ; and in this we
did no more than follow the example of the inde-
fatigable and most intelligent General-in-Chief Omar
Pasha. On the 12th, the extreme rigour of the wea-
ther proved, beyond a doubt, that it was not of a
passing kind, but that winter in all its severity had
set in. Orders were accordingly given for the troops
that occupied the Lazaretto and the island to fall back
and to remove the bridge. Those critical operations, in
the sight of a watchful . enemy and with the weather
against us, were conducted with the judgment re-
quired in such cases, and, though some cannon shots
were exchanged, the Turks beat back a squadron of
Russian cavalry and two pieces of artillery that were
advancing on the Me du pont ; all was completed with
admirable skill and energy. On the 15th the encampment
of Turtukai began to break up, the whole of the troops
moving en echelon proceeded to take up their winter quar-
ters, but without abandoning the line of the Danub e.
n the 17th the General in Chief left for this place
(Shumla) to take up his residence, and I, as I have hither.
to done, followed with my officers to his head-quarters.
Thus, I have had the good fortune to be present at the
first military movement of the Turks, and I did not quit
their ranks for a single moment until the campaign of
the present year was officially over. That campaign has
been brief, but the results of it most advantageous for
the army of the Sultan, who has shown that they can
beat their presumptuous enemy in Asia and on the
Danube. The operation at Turtukai had for object to
prevent the Russian army from concentrating and cross-
ing the river in one point,- and, at the same time, to
divert their attention, in order to secure the passage of
Widdin and to fortify Kalafat, a point which will be
maintained by the Turks as extremely important, and
as the common basis of operations. This they have
succeeded in. To describe to you the fatigues of
the Turkish soldiers and their noble patience and
cheerfulness in enduring them, or to enter into details
respecting other military matters, would require far more
space and time than for a simple letter. But this army,
deprived of the advantages of European armies, is enti-
tled to the greatest praise, owing its existence,. as it
does, to a brief but most interesting military rising, whose
spirit, imbued with a sentiment of noble patriotism, has
spread like an electric current through the whole of the
subjects of the Sultan. Turkey is at this day as grim
as she was 400 years ago."