The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-23 00:00:00

THE BLACK SEA.

Letters from Odessa, of the 10th, announce that
no English or French man-of-war had as yet ap-
peared before the harbour, and that all merchant
vessels of these two nations were making prepara-
tions to leave Odessa.
A Russian-official communication was published
at Trieste on Friday last by the central natal
authorities. All vessels carrying ammunitions of
war, and stopped by Russian cruizers in th►e Black
Sea, will be regarded and treated as good prizes,
whether belonging to a hostile or neutral Power or
nation.

The Oesterreichische Correspondenz declares that
the report that the Austrian and Prussian Ambas-
sadors at Constantinople had protested aginst the
entry of the French and British fleets into the
Black Sea was incorrect, but that those Ambassa-
dors bad sent a notification to Redschid Pasha to
the effect that the step taken by France and Eng-
land went beyond the agreement entered into by the
Four Powers on the 12th of December.
The Debats, in giving from its Constantlnople
correspondent an account of the entrance of the
fleets, says :

" As soon as the fleets had entered they made sail to
the eastward, and it is supposed that they were about to
visit all the coast of Turkish Asia Minor, Heraclea,
Sinope, Samsoun, Trebizond, Batoum, &c., in order to
drive off the Russian vessels which, whatever may have
been said to the contrary, have been lately seen on those
coasts. After having made this tour of inspection,
it is supposed that the fleets will proceed to the west-
ward, and show themselves at Varna on the coast of
Europe, and they will stop there for some time before
they again return to the Bosphorus. This intended plan
of campaign must, however, be subordinate to the hypo-
thesis of no fresh event happening to necessitate the
presence of the fleets on other points. At the time that
the fleets stood away to the eastward they were joined
by a Turkish division composed of five steam-frigates,
having transports in tow with troops and military stores
on board. This division has received orders to keep
under the protection of the combined fleets. The re-
inforcements which are on board are intended for the
army of Asia, and particularly for the garrisons of Ba-
toum and Chefketil, which are threatened by the enemy.
The latter fort, which was captured by the Turks at the
commencement of hostilities, is now in great need of pro
visions and stores. Although it has hitherto victoriously
repulsed all the attempts which the Russians have made
to retake it, it has lost a part of its garrison in these
combats and consumed a great part of its provisions and
ammunition. Open as it now is on the land side, in
consequence of the reverses which the Turkish army of
Asia has met with, and deprived of all hope of assistance
on that side, it waits with impatience for the arrival of
the reinforcements which have been promised it by
sea. In consequence of these circumstances, some
doubt may be entertained as to the correctness of
the report that the Turkish vessels have received orders
not to quit the protection of the combined squadrons.
With the plan of campaign which is attributed to the
latter, it is not probable that they can soon show them-
' selves on the coast of Batoum, and it is very urgent for
the Turks to arrive there as soon as possible. On the
contrary, a fleet of 33 vessels, however well commanded
and well managed it may be, cannot very rapidly per-
form the distance of 250 leagues which separates the
Bosphorus from Batoum, particularly when it is pro-
posed to visit different points of the coast, and when it
has also to contend with the bad weather and the dangers
of the Black Sea. It results, from these facts, that
there remains something yet unexplained of the in-
tended movements both of one and the other.
The Pays, alluding to the statement that the
combined fleets are to be under the command of
Admiral Hamelin, says :
" Much- has been said about the respective situation of
the two fleets as far as regards the command. This situa-
tion is very simple. On ordinary occasions each squadron
retain its independence. In case of an action, the
command in chief belongs by right to the officer senior
in rank. If we are well informed, Admiral Hamelin is
seven years the senior in rank to Admiral Dundas, and
if the squadrons are to engage the Russian fleet, it is
the French flag that will have the honour of directing
the blows."

EXPECTED RANDUPTURE
AU BETWEEN TURKEY

It appears that discussions have arisen between
the Austrian and Turkish Governments on several
points, which, in the present temper of both par-
ties, are likely to lead to a grave misunder-
standing. On the one hand, the Turkish Go-
vernment complains of the rather too evident