The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-27 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

We learnbyelectric telegraph dated Brussels, yes-
terday, that a skirmish on the Danube is reported
from Vienna. Turkey prohibits corn export. Greece
allows free import.
19.—N0 fleet at Constantinople.
Omar Pasha's aide-de-camp, who was sent to
Giurgevo to notify the declaration of war, has re-
turned to Rustchuk, after a stay of eight days, to
the Russian head-quarteis.
The Turkish fortresses on the Danube are in
excellent condition.
A letter from St. Petersburg, of the 17th, an-
nounces
that in consequence of the declaration of
war on the part of Russia, prayers were ordered to
be offered up in all the Greek churches, to call
down the protection of Heaven on the arms of the
Czar. It is on this plan that the Emperor has
acted since the outset, in order to produce an effect
on the mind of the Greek populations.
More than one German paper, it appears, con-
tains the following paragraph, as a despatch from
Vienna of the 22d
" The army of Omar Pasha, which could be kept back
no longer, has passed the Danube, and beaten the Rus-
sians near Oltenitza. The Russian vessels on the Da-
nube have fallen into the hands of the Turks."
It is, possible, nay probable, that some skirmish-
ing may have taken place, but even of this there
is no positive or trustworthy intelligence.
Accounts from Constantinople of Oct. 13. state
that the all engrossing topic of the hour is the ex-
pected arrival of the squadrons from Besika Bay.
Although this event has not yet occurred, there is
no doubt that [the British and French flags will
• soon be in sight of the Golden Horn. In the treaty
with Russia, which excludes the ships of war of
foreign nations from passing the Dardanelles,
there occurs the clause, "as long as the Porte is
at peace." As soon therefore as hostilities com-
mence the squadrons can enter the Bosphorus
without any violation of the treaty, and we believe
that it is the intention of the Ambassadors to re-
frain from calling them up until the occurrence of
war, a delay but of a few days.
The Russians have very recently formed an army
of reserve at Redout Kaleh, on the eastern coast of
the Black Sea. On Tchechen, anisland lately ceded
by the Persians, close to Astrabad, on the Caspian,
they have landed 20,000 men, and at Tiflis they
have a large corps d'armee under General Arkou-
dinski Dolgorouki. From Tiflis there is a military
road leading through the country of the Chetchi,
and intersecting Circassia and Daghestan. This
military road is a most important strategic point,
and is the only way through the mountains of Cir-
cassia. In case of war a Turkish army will march
from Karas upon Tiflis, while the Circassians from
the west and the Daghestanlis from the east, will
endeavour to keep in check the Russian armies of
Redout Kaleh and the island of Tchechen, and at

the same time to cut off communication by the
military road of Tiflis, and to raise the tribes
of the ill-subjected country of the Chetchi. On
the north of the Circassian range there are two
Russian corps d'armee commanded by General Bari-
atouski and General Bagration, under the supreme
command of Prince Woronzoff. It is supposed that
the Turks will be able to blockade the ports of
Redout Kaleh and Sutchem Kaleh, on the eastern
coast of the Black Sea, and that the Russians will
not attempt to meet them there. It is true that
the north winds at this time of the year render the
navigation of that port excessively dangerous, and
that the harbours of refuge are few and unsafe, ex-
cepting the port of Batoum, lying close to the
Russian frontier, and which can always serve as a
place of refuge to the Turkish fleet. We may ob-
serve, by the way, that Batoum is likely to play
an important part in the war, and that Lord Mal-
mesbury's policy in discontinuing our Vice-Con-
sulate there was rather untimely.
General Guyon, of Hungarian celebrity, has been
sent to the Asiatic frontier as Lieutenant-General,
and Sefer Bey, the celebrated Circassian Chief (so
long kept in confinement in Adrianople at the in-
stigation of Russia), has been already set at liberty,
and sent to his native mountains to lead his warlike
clans against their old enemy.
We hear from Persia that the army at Sultanieh
is already disbanded, the Persians having declared
that it was assembled merely to be exercised in mi-
litary evolutions, and that nothing hostile against
Turkey is intended. Little reliance can, however,
be placed on the professions of Persia, since the
disputes between these two Powers concerning the
frontier question are always of sufficient gravity to
keep up a constant irritation.
An active propagandism has begun in Greece and
Thessaly, with the view of establishing a Greek
State on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. Emis-
saries are working in all parts to raise sub-
scriptions with this view, and we have it on good
authority that 30,0001. have already been raised by
the Philhellenists within the Ottoman Empire.
The state of Constantinople continues as usual.
A thousand rumours of various kinds find ready
credence, and it is often extremely difficult to get
at the real truth—perfect tranquility is, however,
preserved, although all kinds of military prepara-
tions are being pushed on with vigour, and the
greatest enthusiasm is shown by all classes of the
Mussul m an population.
We hear from the Lower Danube that the Rus-

sian troops have been withdrawn from Little Wal-
lachia. Prince Gortschakoff seems thus to invite
the Turks to cross the Danube at that part of the
river. The Russians, it is asserted, would have no
objection to fight a battle near Bucharest, before
the winter sets in.

The Debats says :—" We have received a letter
from Galatz of the 14th, written by one of our
friends, who had descended the Danube from Pestb,
on his way to Constantinople, on commercial affairs.
As he was passing on the 11th before Routschouk,
a Turkish fortress on the Danube, the aide-de-camp
of Omer Pacha, who had been to Giurgevo on the
Wallachian bank, to notify the declaration of war,
had just returned to- the fortress, after having
passed eight days in the head-quarters of Prince
Gortschakoff. After the delay of 15 days fixed by
the summons of Omer Pacha, hostilities would com-
mence on the 11th October of the Greek and Rus-
sian calendar, which is 12 days behind ours—the Ist
October of the Russian corresponding to the 13th of
our calendar. The Russian troops were occupying
in force the little town of Giurgevo (opposite Routs-
chouk), and were entrenching themselves there.
Letters differ greatly as to the force of this corps
d'armee. Some estimate it at 15,000 men, and
others at 30,000. In Wallachia great terror
was felt at the expected passage of the Turks.
The Turkish camp is opposite Giurgevo. There
were there a good many irregular troops who
inspire great terror. The weather continued to be
magnificent. The serenity of the sky and the dry-
ness of the ground would permit the armies to make
a campaign before the winter. There was a large
Russian camp near Galatz, on the Lower Danube.
The strong places of the Turks along the Danube
appeared to be in a good state and well armed.
That of Routschouk was specially remarked on
account of its imposing aspect. It is the centre of
a corps d'armee. The town is seated on a steep
bank by the side of the river, and the ramparts
crown the summit. At the brink of the river is a
series of low batteries. Round the town are seen
the tents of the Turks, which are of a green colour
in hor our of the Prophet. The coup d'reil is very
picturesque. It is pretended that the Hungarian
General Klapka, commands this corps d'armee, or
one of its divisions. It appears that the Turks
protect themselves on the Bulgarian bank, and
keep watch with great vigilance. All along the
bank. there are posts and sentinels or vedettes
with near them a pole, from 15 or 18 feet
high, surrounded with straw or rushes steeped in
tar, and destined to be set on fire in case of alarm.
The fires would be lighted in the event of a move-
ment of the Russians, and the signal would spread
rapidly on all the line. The vedettes shelter them-
selves under a covering of branches, holding their
horses by the bridle, and with their lances stuck up
before them ; they have also poles by which to
give an alarm. All these vedettes, below:, to the
regular cavalry. Besides the posts and the vedettes
of the bank, there are others on the road, having
also signals prepared. This system of vigilance is
very well regulated, and things appear to be on a
very good footing at Routschouk."

A fetter from Berlin of the 23d, in the Cologne
Gazette, says :—" The English ambassador has
presented two projects of arrangement, which do
not appear to have any chance of success. One of
them proposes to submit the decision of the exist-
ing difference to the Great Powers, and in case of
the refuial of Russia, to a Sovereign appointed to
arbitrate. The second declares that the Four
Powers give, by the interpretation of the Vienna
Note, a complete guarantee to the Sultan that
Russia shall not draw from the acceptance of the
Note the consequences apprehended by the Porte.
Hitherto there have not been any conferences
on the subject, and the declaration of the Porte
appears to have rendered every ulterior step quite
useless."

The Post Ampt Gazette contains a letter from
Bucharest to the 12th, which says :—" Two days
back the Russian colours and troops received the
benediction of the church in the camp, as is the
custom when a war is about to commence. All
the generals holding commands have left the town,
with the exception of Prince Gortschakoff, for their
respective posts. On the 9th the pontoon equi-
page set out in the direction of the Danube. There
are 50,000 Russians here, which will give an idea
of the masses of troops on the Danube. Prince
Gortschakoff has officially acknowledged the re-
ceipt of Omer Pacha's letter, replying that there
was no need of all the time which had been al-
lowed, which circumstance would seem to prove
that the Prince was in possession of full instruc-
tions for the case of war being declared."

COPY OF AN ORDER OF THE GRAND VIZIR, TO BE MADE
PUBLIC TO THE INHABITANTS OF CONSTANTINOPLE,
BYOUB, SCUTARI, AND GALATA.
The acceptance of the propositions, as made by Rus-
sia, and which are known to all the world, relative to
the religious privileges, would not only have been an
infringement of the sovereign rights and independence
of the Ottoman Empire, but would be the immediate
source, as also, in the future, of all sorts of preju-
dices—from which God preserve you ! Russia has
assumed a menacing attitude by making such im-
mense preparations for war.
As regards the Sublime Porte, whilst taking on its
side measures of precaution and defence, by sending
troops to the Imperial frontiers, to Anatolia, and Ron-
melia, it has at the same time, in compliance with
its system and pacific principles, exhausted all the
means of negotiation, and proposed a moderate
arrangement, and made every effort for the preserva-
tion of peace—at all times a cherished and sacred
object—but all was of no avail '• and finally the Rus-
sian army crossed the Pruth, and has invaded the pro-
vinces of Moldavia and Wallachia, hereditary provinces of
his Majesty the Sultan. Notwithstanding this state of
things, the Sublime Porte had recourie to intermeiia-
tion, with a view to reconciliation, in the interest of the
maintenance of peace, but it has not been possible • and,
in consequence, a National Council was convoked by
the Porte on the 22d and 23d of the month of Zelludge,
composed of the Sizirs, Caserkers, Ulemas, military
chiefs, and other functionaries, and the question was
examined in all its bearings. It being clear and evident
that as the Court of Russia declines to accept an ar-
rangement to which the Sublime Porte can adhere, the
peaceful solution of these differences is not possible ; it
being known to all the world that it was Russia who
violated all the treaties by invading the Ottoman terri-
tory ; and the promulgation of such a state of things
being hurtful, it was unanimously decided to place our
confidence in divine aid, and in that of our Holy
Prophet, to undertake war, and order the troops to
move. This decision of the council was confirmed by a
Fetoa of the Sheik-ul-Islam, a fetoa which it was thought
proper to put into execution ; and a report to that effect
ha, ring been laid at the foot of the throne for the order ; of
the Sultan, the decision of the general council was sanc-
tioned by a Hatti-Sherif, and the whole made known to
the Caserkers of the divisions of the army in Roumelia
and Anatolia, and to all the inhabitants of the empire,
by the publication of firmans. Therefore, you also will
convene the Imams of the districts, and you will say to
them that as it is Russia which gave rise to this affair,
and that as it is on her that the responsibility will fall,they
must address prayers to the God of Battles for the triumph
of the Sublime Porte and of the Imperial troops, and
we enjoin them to pray incessantly and with fervour
for the success of our cause. And at the same time
you will make it clearly understood to all, that as this
war is a war against a Government which, without the
slightest reason has violated the rights of the indepen-
dence of the Ottoman] Empire, the amicable relations
which exist between the Sublime Porte and the other
friendly Powers have not suffered the slightest alteration
in consequence of this situation ; and consequently no
one must be allowed to molest the merchants or sub
jects of those Powers, nor persons professing a different
religion, as regards their life, honour, and property ;
and 'no one shall be allowed to molest them in any
manner whatsoever, for the law protects the life, the
honour, and property of every class of subjects, and of
Rayahs, as our own; all must be treated, according to our
sacred laws, in every circumstance, with justice, and
enjoy the most perfect security ; in a word, it is repug-
nant to the sacred law as well as to common sense, as
it has been made known in the past, to regard the
Rayahs of the Sublime Porte, who profess a religion
bearing conformity to that of Russia, responsible for
the conduct of the Russian Government.. What that
Government demands, it demands in its own interests,
and to increase its influence. The subjects of the Sub-
ime Porte have enjoyed for centuries the religious pri.
,ile-ges accorded to them by the Ottoman Emperors,
under the special protection of the Sublime Porte ; and
t hose privileges acquire daily additional strength and
treater extension. They are aware that the pretence of
't he Russian Government to take them under its protec-
tion would only tend to weaken them.
" You will make it well known to all men that one of
the external causes of the triumph implored is that all
classes of his Highness may live together in harmony ;
that none should molest or humiliate another ; and that
all shall endeavour to live in perfect union, and serve
their common country.

If from negligence, ignorance, or any one
should act in opposition to these legitimate orders, he
shall be severely punished.
All the above dispositions were decreed in the general
Councils recently held. You will therefore have a care
that no one shall act contrary to the above orders.
This sth Manharem, 1270 (Bth October, 1853).