The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-17 00:00:00

THE BLACK SEA.

ODESSA, April B.—The combined fleets blockade
Odessa.

A private despatch state 3 that Odessa was taken
on the 14th, but this is doubtful.

On the 27th ult., the Sid. n, Firebrand, and
Magellan were despatched from the fleet to ascer4
tain if any attempts were being made by the Rus-
sians to throw in supplies to their troops, now that
they ktve crossed the Danube, and have orders to
bring in any Russian vessels they may find so en-
gaged, or within Turkish waters. On the 28th the
.French fleet shifted berth further towards Balts-
chik, and were followed by the British fleet on the
29th, to be more handy for rendering any assist-
ance, in case of need, to the Turks, should these
be driven into a retreat.

There is reason to believe that the larger division
of the fleet, which was telegraphed as having gone
to Sebastopol, went to Odessa. In a letter from
the latter port, of the Ist inst., we read :—" We
are here in a state of great excitement. For several
days past we have seen many French and English
sails. They probably intend blockading us, for
they don't leave the spot, kel?ing always in
sight. Large masses of troops are being con-
centrated here ; our garrison is at this moment
20,000 strong, and fresh men arrive every daY
from Bessarabia. By all this it is quite clear that
our place is not going to be evacuated but defended.
We have made up our minds here for the worst,
and several families have already retired further
inland. The forts are all armed, and tents are
pitched for the troops in the outskirts of the town.
Our trade is at an end, and prices are getting ruin-
ously high. The English consul-general was yes'
terday still here."

In another passage the writer gives a good rea-
son why Odessa should be blockaded by the allies :
—" All the Russian troops in the Dobrudschap
which may possibly amount to about 55,000 men
with 120 guns, must be entirely victualled from
this place, for the Dobrudscha, as far as fertilityis
concerned, may be not inaptly compared with a,
Passta (waste) in Hungary. They say Tultsha and
Isaktslia are both razed, but Matschin kept as it
is, and Hirsova made an hospital of. They do not
believe here that the army will push on to Silistriso
but they do that Rassova will be taken, and that
Trajan's Wall must be gained to secure the net
acquisitions made by the army."
VARNA, March 30.—1 have just stepped on shore
from the Tiger, her Majesty's steam-ship, which
left Constantinople two days ago. The fleets
are lying in Kavarna Bay. Some of the steam'
ships have been sent on to the mouth of the
Danube to stop any Russian ships of war, trans'
ports, or merchantmen, that may make
ieir al)"
pearance there. Admirals Dundas and Hamelin
have not waited for a declaration of war from the
allied Powers, but have considered the attitude of
the Russians sufficiently hostile to justify there;
in proceeding to extremities at once. 30,000 of
the enemy have crossed the Danube, and ocele,
three different positions. Omer Paella has Ile'
attacked them. He writes in very bad humour-s
an unusual trait ;n his corresp ,twence. Tile great
affair of the day at Constantinople is the departure
of the Greeks. Count Metaxa, the Minister, leaves
to-day by the Austrian Lloyd steamer. The Greeks
are put under the protection of Belgium for the
15 days' term allowed them fur departure.