The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-10 00:00:00

CONSTANTINOPLE.

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The following is the copy of the official note commu.
nicated by the Sublime Porte to the Austrian Inter•
nuncio at Constantinople :

" CONSTANTINOPLE, 21 CILtBON, 1270.
(25th May, 1854.)
" I have the honour to receive the official note
of your Excellency, dated the 4th of May, stating
that the Government of his Majesty the Emperor of
Austria might send to the waters of Prevesa and
Arta some vessels which, with those of the allies of
the Sublime Porte, would have to support at sea
the operations of the troops of the military cordon
which it is necessary to establish on the frontiers of
Greece on account of the insurrectionary movements
which have occurred in the provinces of Janina and
Braila, and that it might also decide on giving orders to
a certain number of its troops stationed in the district of
Cattaro to move into Albania, with the twofold object
of preventing the insurrection from extending to the
north of that province, and restraining the Montenegrins
in case of their making common cause with the
Greeks. The note presented at the same time refers to
the case of the Ottoman Government giving its assent
to the measures abov'ementioned.
" His Majesty the Sultan feels much satisfaction at
seeing that the Court of Austria shares in the same
sentiments which in this respect animate the Govern-
ments of France and England, allies of the Sublime
Porte, and it appreciates in the highest degree the now
proof that his Majesty' the Emperor desires to give als;
bi this circumstance of the benevolent intentions whieh,
as is well known, animate him with regard to the Otto-
man Empire. The notes to be exchanged relative
to this question having the value of a convention,
it becomes necessary to make it clear in a fitting
manner, and to enter into the following explanations :
First of all, the arrivals of ships of war belonging to the
Imperial navy sh dl be notified to the authorities of the
coast of Albania as far as Prevesa. The Sublime Porte
consents to the advance of the troops of the Austrian
territory directly from the district of Cattaro to Albania,
as it also consents that, in case their presence in this pro-
vince should not be necessary, that they should advance
only into Montenegro if the inhabitants of that country
should excite disorder there; and, as in case of an expe-
dition of the Imperial troops directly into Albania, the
direct route which they will have to follow, after having
traversed Montentgro, passes by the province of Siodra,
by some districts of Roumelia, close to the coat, and
by the province of Janina, orders will not only be given
to the agents of the Government to which it may belong
that these troops shall be treated with all possible re-
gard and in the most friendly manner, as well during
their passage as during the period they may have to re-
main in those parts in order to attain the object they
have in view, and that the provisions of which they may
be in need shall be furnished to them, but also a special
commission shall be sent for that purpose on the spot
itself.

" Herzegovine, Bosnia, and Servia are (conterminous
with Montenegro. If the real cause of the events in
question was nut known, then it might givcrise to a
fermentation in those provinces, therefore accurate in-
formation shall be given to the authorities as to the true
state of affairs.

" Such, then, are lobe intentions of the Sublime Porte,
and until such time as both parties shall have previously
agreed between themselves, permission will not be given
to enter into those provinces.
" That expedition in the districts above-mentioned,
not taking place unless in case of real necessity, it will
be necessary that the Imperial Government, so soon as
it shall have resolved on adopting that measure, and
ready to execute it, shall at once give information of it
to the Sublime Porte.

" As the Imperial troops, once their object attained,
that is to say, the revolt repressed, will naturally re-enter
the Austrian States, the proper authority will be en-
joined to offer to those troops, on the occasion of their
departure, the same facilities which have been accorded
them on their entry.
" Having the honour to notify to you the preceding
resolution, by express order of his Majesty the Sultan,
I avail myseif of this occasion to present the assurance
of my high consideration, &c."

THE SIEGE OF SILISTRIA.
_ _ FROM AN OFFICER.)

Smiultn.t, May 24.—1 have already written to you
concerning the bombardment of Silistria, which oe.
curred on the 11th and 16th of this month. A courier,
who arrived here yesterday, announced that the Ru--
sians were encamped in front of the detached outworks
which surround the town, on the heights to the S.E.,
and that they were making every preparation fo!
an attack on one of these outworks, called the Arab
Tabia. The Russian riflemen were spread out in a
chain, and some masses of infantry were drawn
up behind to support them. Mussa, Paella ordered out
some thousand irregular cavalry. They fell upon the
riflemen, and cut them to pieces. It is considered that
200 of them were killed. On the 20th and 21st, the
Russians renewed their attacks upon the same outposts,
but wi has little success. The artillery from the forts
made great havoc amongst them. Two Circa. sian officers,
deserters from the Russian army, found their way into
the town, and announced a vigorous attack for the 22d :
and we are now awaiting the news of the result with
impatience— it indeed Silistria is not entirely surrounded.
These deserters state that the army hesiegine.
tri t numbers 90,000 men, and is composed of three
different cops d'armee. It is, however, reasonable
to suppose this to be an exaggeration, though it is very
probanle that troops belonging to three corps d'armee
may be there. These deserters also announce that the
Grand Duke Constantine has the command of this army.
There is no doubt, however, that the Russian army wilt
he sufficiently strong to impede the sending of aid to
Silistria, and so disposed as to face any army that should
come up for that purpose. This is the main fact, and it
shows that a great battle must take place in a few weeks,
between this place and Silistria. Silistria is in a very
good state, and the outworks are very well constructed.
Not one of them can be taken without the greatest
sacrifices on the part of the besiegers ; and even then
there remains the walled outworks, which could not
be taken without opening regular siege trenches. All
this, it may reasonably be calculated, will give sufficient
time for operations on our part.
SCIIUMIA, May 25.—1 n my yesterday's letter I said
that Silistria was completely surrounded. This is not
correct. On the side of Turtukai it is still open. A
courier arrived this night. No attack was made on the
22.1; but those of the 21st were vigorous, and
thrice repeated. These attacks are made on one of the
outworks, which lies distant about 2,500 yards from
the town, and which cannot be much protected by the
guns of the other forts, on account of its advanced po-
sition. Nevertheless, this fort (Arab Tabia) has resisted
most obstinately and successfully. All assaults have
been repelled, and the enemy has suffered severe losses,
for the garrison of the fort itself has been seriously
damaged. Fort Arab Tabia is in a most important po-
sition. When it falls—which it must, as it is only con-
structed with the intent of delaying the enemy's approach
—there remains a second circle of detached forts about
600 metres distant from the place ; and then you come
to Silistria itself. If things go on as usual, lam of opi-
nion that they may resist for five or six weeks. Silistria
has been attacked now for eight days.