The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-02 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

The advance of the Turkish army across the
Danube is confirmed by another telegraphic mes-
sage, dated Vienna yesterday (Tuesday), which
says A telegraphic dispatch from Semlin an-
nounces that 20,000 Turks had crossed the Danube
on the 28th of October, near Widdin, and occupied
Kalafat, which had been vacated by the Russians.
No encounter took place."
From Constantinople, Oct. 22, we learn that the
Austrian Internuncio has submitted to the Sultan
the draught of a Note, with the collective guar-
antee of the four Powers. It is stated that this
NOte has been accepted by Russia.
The Oesterreichische Correspondenz of Oct. 28
states that no news has been received at Vienna
of the skirmish at Isactcha. The steamers are still
plying on the Danube, and no notice whatever has
been given of the suspension of the traffic.
A telegraphic despatch, dated Vienna, Nov. 1,
says :—" The communication with the Lower
Danube is entirely interrupted in consequence of
recent events." •
From Constantinople, Oct. 20, we learn :—Her
Majesty's steam-frigate the Retribution, com-
manded by the Hon. Captain Drummond, is to
proceed to the Dardanelles with despatches for the
Admiral, on the receipt of which it is expected
that three British line-of-battle-ships will at once
appear in the Bosphorus, followed or preceded by
a like number from the French ships. Besides
these, four or five steam-frigates from each division
of the combined squadron are also expected to form
part of the Anglo-French contingent in the Bos-
phorus. The rest of the fleet will remove from the
unsafe anchorage of Besika, Bay, and anchor near
Gallipoli. The Spitfire is now here, her officers
being engaged in taking soundings in the Bosphorus.
The Caradoc arrived last night with despatches.
The Constantinople correspondent of the Debats
writes from that capital, dated the 22d ult. :
" The day before yesterday, M. de Bruck, the
Austrian internuncio, had an interview with the
Sultan, and handed to him a new project of note,
with the collective guarantee, it is said, of the four
Powers assembled anew at Vienna, that it would
be accepted by Russia. I do not know the tenor
of this note. At the end of the interview a Tartar
was immediately dispatched to Omar Pasha, with
directions to him to wait some time before com-
mencing hostilities. That circumstance leads to
the belief here that the note is of a nature to be
accepted by the Divan. Nothing of political inte-
rest besides what I have just said has occurred. A
quarrel took place two days ago between some
Italians, who were intoxicated, and the police.
Four persons were killed and several others
wounded. Politics had nothing to do with the
matter."
The Courrier de Marseille of the 29th ult. gives
the following details ,of the movements of the
combined squadrons as brought by the Caradoc :
" The squadrons only quitted Besika Bay on the
22d. The weather, however, was very bad, and
the wind so violent that tlie steam frigates could
not take the sailing vessels in tow, and the fleets
after having been for some hours under way, were
dispersed in the different anchorages of the Dar-
danelles, without our being able to enter the sea
of Marmora. On the 23d Rear-Admiral Le
Barbier de Tinan was able to reach Gallipoli
with three sail of the line. Admiral Dundas
could only reach the anchorage of the first castle
with the Britannia and the steam frigate Furious.
The Albion three-decker, and the steam frigates
Retribution and Vengeance, anchored under
the old castle. Although we have no details of the
position of the remainder of the fleet, we can posi-
tively assert that the vessels which remained be-
hind have sustained no damage. M. Fonton, the
Russian Vice-Consikl in the Dardanelles, had just
struck his flag, and was preparing to depart with
his family for Trieste, and a steam frigate had
arrived at Constantinople to take on board the re-
mainder of the Muscovite legation and the Russian
subjects. A fact which merits remark is, that
there is a great want of workmen at Constantinople
all men capable of bearing arms having enrolled
themselves as soldiers. The want of hands was so
great that the Caradoc could not find men to get
her coal on board. The English steamer Spitfire
is engaged taking soundings in the Bosphorus. At
the departure of the Caradoc, on the 23d, no
account of the 'commencement of hostilities had
reached Constantinople."

TRANSLATION OF THE IMPERIAL FIRMAN OF HIS MAJESTY
THE SULTAN ABDUL-MEDJID TO HIS PROTESTANT SUB-
JECTS.

Care should be paid always, and without alteration,
o whatever decisions this high firman contains ; and
care should be observed not to be against it. Mr.
Steven, elected and honoured vicar of the Christian
Protestant population, by your dignity increased when
you receive my Imperial high firman. You should know
it is the Almignty God, full of justice, the granter of
every happiness, who, with His divine infinite benefi-
cence, elevated my greatness to the glory of power, and
to the title of a Sultan ; and I am thankful to Him, and
glorify Him who raised me to the high Imperial state of
a Caliph, and conferred on my merciful hand such a
country and town, and so many different classes of
subjects, and nations, and vassals, as a divine reserve.
Therefore, with the active goodness that the powerful
position of a Caliph requires, and with the good wish
that my Imperial Majesty has—being called to the Im-
perial happy throne by divine mercy and assistance—
I paid all due care, with that magnanimity which was
to be expected from my Imperial and laudable wishes,
for the protection of all classes of my subjects, and espe-
cially as it has always been our practice from the
earliest times to afford full liberty, without any differ-
ence, to worship according to all religious services ;
and my Imperial Government is watching always for the
fulfilment of this my wish. And as the good and useful
result of this is clearly seen, so it is my Imperial wish
that should anything wrong and improper be committed
to my faithful Protestant subjects with regard to their
religion, or any other thing regarding it, the privileges
granted to them by my Imperial wish, and in order that
it be rightly fulfilled, this high order, full of justice, has
been written. Let those who would act against it
know that they shall be punished with my anger ;
and all the statesmen of my Government are inform.
ed of this my will, in order to avoid any neglect
in the performance of it, without apology or ex-
cuse. This strong firman came out from my Imperial
office, in order that my imperial desire shall be justly
performed, made known, and approved ; and you are
the above-mentioned vicar, being informed hereof,
should act according. as my high firman requires, and
should be careful of acting against it ; and if anything
happens contradicting my powerful order, you should
give notice of it to the Sublime Porte.
Be informed of-this, and believe in my high ensign.
Written at the end of the month, Chaban, 1269
(June 6).

SWITZERLAND.
From Berne, Oct. 29, we learn that a plot has
been discovered at Bellinzona, in the Tessino.

ITALY.
The following is from Naples, Oct. 24 :—M.
Maupas, the French Minister, is reported to have
demanded permission to form a naval depot at
Brindisi, should einumstances render such neces-