The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-22 00:00:00

LON DON, THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 22, 1853.

THE PRESENT ASPECT OF THE
EASTERN QUESTION.

( From the Times. )
In another part of our impression will be found
a dispatch from Count Nesselrode to Baron
Meyendorff, expressing some of the reasons alleged
by the Czar fur refusing to accede to the Turkish
modifications. This document will not require
much comment. Before the first Note of the
Vienna Conference had been accepted by the
Court of St. Petersburg, the Emperor of Russia
stood absolutely without an excuse in the eyes of
the world for his audacious outrage upon Turkish
independence and European law. Up to this
stage of the dispute there was no room for mis-
understanding. Whatever offence might have
been conveyed by the previous transactions of
the Sultan with the Greek and Latin churches had
been plainly condoned. On this, which was the
sole point of controversy, the Russian Ambassador
of Constantinople had acknowledged his entire
satisfaction. He then produced on behalf of his
Sovereign a new demand concerning the same
subject, and it is from the rejection of this demand
by the Porte that all the consequences now visible
have directly followed. The case of Russia, there-
fore, turns exclusively upon this requisition, and
manifestly fails ; for, whatever may have been the
character or purport of the application itself, it
has been unanimously decided by the statesmen of
Europe that the concession required was not such
as one Government was entitled to exact from
another as independent as itself. For argument's
sake we may admit that the motives of Russia
were disinterested, and that her views were really
and truly limited to the protection of Christian.
congregations. Nevertheless, as these congrega-
tions were subject to an independent Power, it was
not competent to Russia thus to interfere. In so
far as existing engagements went, the Czar was
undoubtedly entitled to require an observance of
their conditions, and, if the question had con-
cerned only such points, there would have been no
room for European remonstrance. But it is per-
fectly notorious that the Russian Government
alleged no such reasons for its proceedings. It did
not pretend that the Greek Christian subjects of
the Porte had received less consideration in any
respect than had been provided by treaty. Its
demand was for something altogether new. We
may assume, if we please, that the recent transac-
tions between France and the Porte, coupled with
the sudden changes of Turkish policy towards the
Greek and Latin Churches, had convinced the
Czar that his existing privileges were less secure
or less satisfactory than he had conceived them to
be. We may suppose that, with a pure and single-
minded intention, he desired to obviate the
recurrence of any such troubles by placing the
position of the Greek Church in Turkey and his
own protectorate on a clearer understanding than
before. This is taking the most favourable view
of the Russian case ; but even in this view it is
insupportable. Whatever were the treaties be-
tween Turkey and Russia they were at any rate
' fixed on record • nor could the Czar possess any
possible title to demand their modification or ex-
tension under menace of war. If they were less
serviceable to him than lie had imagined, that was
the fault of those who signed them. There they
stood ; and neither of the contracting parties could !
Eye warranted in peremptorily demanding that
they should be changed. Russia, we may be per-
fectly assured, would not have consented to any
fresh interpretation of these engagements if they
had proved unexpectedly prejudicial to the sove-
, reignty of the Porte, nor had she any right to pre-
' fer such a demand when they proved unsatisfac-
tory to herself. Very possibly, the requisition
might he justifiable in itself—that is to say, it
might have tended to place matters on a better
footing, and have even been conducive to future
peace. We may assume this for the sake of argu-
ment ; but the assumption contains no excuse for
the conduct of Russia. The vital point of the case
is this—that the requisition, however described,
was indisputably one which the Sultan, in the ex-
ercise of his independent sovereignty, was compe-
tent to reject ; and the public crime of Russia
consists in her endeavour to enforce compliance by
an armed invasion of Turkish territory. The de-
mand itself might have been reasonable, but it
was flagrantly unlawful to back it by menace and
maintain it by acts of war.
It follows directly from this plain conclusion that
Russia can have no title to object to the substance
of the modifications suggested by the Porte to the

original Vienna Note, forthis substance concerns
that point exclusively on which Russia has no
rights at all. To the independent action of Turkey,
under the circumstances of the case, it will be seen
that exceptions are taken with great plausibility ;
for when the Czar had consented to do all that the
Four Powers thought fit to ask, he might fairly
argue that these Four Powers should ask no more.
But, in so far as he maintains that the limitations
imposed by Turkey upon the terms of his protecto-
rate, or the interpretation given by the Sultan to
the Note of the Conference, are objectionable in
themselves, he has no standing ground, for he is
destitute of any right to exact any such terms at all.
Whatever he obtains on this head, whether by award
of the Conference or concession of the Porte, is so
much gain, and gain wholly undeserved ; nor has
he any warrant whatever for demurring to its
amount. This point Count Nesselrode's Note
adroitly leaves without much exposition ; but, in
so far as the Emperor excepts to the restrictions
placed on his own demands, he acts without justifi-
cation, and the Conference is fully competent in all
respects to affix its own sense to those terms of its
original Note which affect these pretensions of
Russia to authority within the dominions of the

Porte.
We trust the unmistakeable rights of the case
may contribute to its pacific solution, but all
the intelligence received from Constantinople is
ominous, as our readers may observe, of a different
result. The truth is, that the Ottomans them-
selves, as recently known to Christian Govern-
ments, have now been superseded by tribes in-
finitely more fanatical and barbarous. The Turk-
ish invasion of Europe has been repeated anew,
and the immediate subjects of the Sultan, partially
civilized by commerce and training, are now ab-
sorbed in Asiatic hordes who are now repeophng
European Turkey with the veritable savages of the
East. Already it is understood that the lives of
Christians, and especially of French and English,
are insecure in the capital of that State which
these Christians are so laboriously protecting, and
it is scarcely anticipated that any terms of peace
will prove acceptable to those ferocious multi-
tudes, whose very breath is war. It is super-
fluous to remark upon tha plausibility which these
circumstances must confer on the pretensions of
the Czar. Though Russia is really responsible
for this, as for every other incident of a dispute
provoked by herself, she will be enabled to point
to the notorious insecurity of Christian congre-
gations among tribes like those as evidence of
the effectual protection which such congregations
require ; and, when the full ferocity of fanaticism
is let loose, as it may be, it will become infi-
nitely more difficult to maintain the political privi-
leges of a nation capable of such outrages. By this
extraordinary infusion of barbarian blood Turkey
is rapidly acquiring the character which she pos-
sessed four hundred years since, and it is but too
probable that the next mail may inform us of the
actual resort to arms.
It cannot be forgotten, indeed, that such a re-
sult is no more than a natural consequence of the
aggression of Russia. We may say that hostilities
were already commenced when the Danubian Prin-
cipalities were occupied by a Russian army, for,
if an armed invasion of a foreign territory does not
constitute an act of war, it will be hard to say what
does so. The Turks would be clearly justified in
crossing the Danube, in expelling the Russians
from Wallachia and Moldavia, and even in follow-
ing up by offensive demonstrations an expedition
so openly provoked. If they could accomplish this
by their own unaided strength, the most difficult
of State problems would at once be solved ; but
few persons acquainted with the subject will ven-
ture to doubt that the event of such proceedings
v oe
before st o
would be to bring the Russians, after one or more
campaigns, to the gates of Constantinople. This
consummation
tmhcoaetuilsodwno be it
h
tis the paramount interest of com-
bined. Europe to avert, but it is clear that inter-
mauschbemen doreracownn thanvenien wtlyheffenectl
Czar has been brought within reach of his prize
with the title of conquest, and after the chances
of war.

DE ROUTH OF MAGDALEN COLLEGE.—On Monday
lost Dr. Routh, the venerable President of Magdalen
College, Oxford, entered upon his 99th year, and accord-
ing to annual custom, invited a select party to dine with
him in commemoration of the event. The learned and,
venerable divine some months since entered upon the
sixty-third year of his office as President, having
been elected to that office in April, 1791. To this
announcement. which we believe to be without parallel
in the annals of the University, we are glad to be
able to add that Dr. Routh continues to enjoy good
health. He has lately bestowed a ohoristership on
a boy whose grandfather he admitted to that office sixty
years ago.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM.

A special meeting of the shareholders of this company
was held at Shrewsbury yesterday, to approve the pro-
ceedings of the committee of investigation appointed at
a meeting held at Wolverhampton a few weeks ago, to
authorise the committee to institute a bill in Chancery to
remove the present board of directors, to authorise the
payment of the expenses already incurred by the com-
mittee of investigation, and for other purposes, pro-
moted by persons alleged to be influenced by the Lon-
don and North-Western Company ; the Hon. H. R.
Clive, M.P., in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN apologised (in consequence of other
engagements) for his absence from the meeting held
in London on the 14th instant, but he now offered
them his sincere congratulations upon the proceedings
which took place on that occasion. That which he
had long and anxiously awaited had now been brought
about. He sincerely hoped peace and unanimity would
ever exist among the shareholders of the Shrews-
bury and Birmingham Railway. (Loud cheering.)
At the same, time, while he offered these congratula-
tions, he could not but express his acknowledgments
for the handsome and liberal offer made by the Great
Western Company. It was a clear and distinct state-
ment, respecting which no mistake could arise. (Cheers.)
He hoped and trusted that the day was now come when
all differences and angry feelings would cease to exist,
and the shareholders of the Shrewsbury and Bir-
mingham Company would unite in the promotion of one
great object—the welfare and prosperity of the proprie-
tary, and the benefit of the public. He (the Chairman)
hoped that that meeting would be the forerunner of
satisfactory arrangements with other railway. companies,
which would lead -to the generat accoinenodation,- con-
venience, and welfare of the community. He would
only say, in conclusion, that if he could be of any ser-
vice, they might rest assured that he would at all times
and on all occasions be ready to aid and assist them in
carrying out those objects which they deemed essential
to the prosperity of the railway in which they were all
so much interested.

Mr. R. SCOTT, of Stourbridge, said he did not feel
that the present was the proper occasion to enter
into any discussion upon past transactions. (Cheers.)
He admitted that the arrangement proposed to
be made with the Great Western Company was
generally satisfactory, and, therefore, it was the in-
terest of all that a contest virtually closed by such
a result should terminate as soon as possible. The
course of opposition in which he had been engaged was
now ended, and he had no doubt that the Great Western
Company would faithfully carry out the agreement into
which they had entered. (Cheers.) He begged to con-
clude by moving the following resolution :
"That, inasmuch as the shareholders of this company
have approved the offer of the Great Western Company,
including the election of six new directors in the place of
the retiring directors, who do not offer themselves for re-
election, it is inexpedient to proceed with any business at
this meeting, and that this meeting be adjourned sine die."
Mr. G. SMITH seconded the motion.

Mr. GEACH, M.P., admitted that the offer of the
Great Western Company was generally acceptable. It
would be recollected, however, that he had always said
that, whatever his own opinions might be, he would not
offer any factious opposition to measures sanctioned by
a majority of bona fide shareholders. He felt it, however,
to be a duty he owed to himself to state, that as long as
an agreement existed between the London and North-
Western and a majority of the shareholders of the Shrews-
bury Company, whether legal or not, he was not at liberty
to be a party to set it aside. If, however, a majority of
the bona fide shareholders thought that such an agreement
Was invalid, and ought to be set aside in favour of one
more advantageous, although he, in honour, could not
be one who took such a course, he would not join any
minority of shareholders in opposition to the fair and full
carrying out of such an arrangement. In conclusion, he
could say with truth that he never discharged duties
the performance of which subjected him to such un-
mitigated annoyance as those imposed upon him since he
became a director of that company, and in withdrawing
from the contest, he hoped there was a prospect that
would be consummated of the shareholders getting some
return for the large capital they had invested in the rail-
way: (Cheers.)

The resolution was passed unanimously.
On the motion of Mr. STANLEY, seconded by Mr.
O'GoRE, M.P., a vote of thanks was passed to the chair-
man, and the meeting separated.

CALEDONIAN.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on
Tuesday, at Glasgow ; Mr. William Johnstone, deputy-
chairman of the directors, in the chair.

The first business was the adoption of a motion by the I
chairman, declaring 75 shares of 501. each, and 25 shares
of 121. 10s. each, forfeited. The report, an abstract of
which has already appeared in The Sun, was held as
read, and
The CHAIRMAXTiii staled that
during the last half-year about 63,0001. had been added
to the capital. Of this sum about 14,0001. was for
settlement of land claims ; about 10,0001. for works,

houses, sidings, &c., erected along the line; about 1,8001.
for Parliamentary expenses in obtaining a bill for ex-
tending the Barrhead line, funding the debenture debt,
&c. About 11,0001. in payment of debts of the Barr-
.. . .

head Company, for which-this company is liable to the ex
tent of 50,0001. under the arrangement act, and 26,0001,
for plant got during the half-year and used for the traffic
There remain still to be settled a few land claims, but
of no great magnitude, and a considerable sum will yet
require to be expended in erecting houses and putting
works upon the line, which the directors will complete
with all expedition : also a considerable sum for plant
to meet the increasing traffic. The original directors of
this company bought upwards of 50 acres of ground
from the General Terminus Company, upon which the
latter were making a railway to connect the Clydesdale
and Barrhead Railways with their line. The directors
of the Caledonian Company agreed, in 1847, to pay for
the ground at the rate of 6s. per square yard, to repay
the sum expended in making the junction line. To com-
plete that line, and to carry out the contract for making
it, large sums of the Caledonian Company's funds were
paid to the Terminus Company and to their contractor,
and large sums continued unpaid to these parties, for
most of which bills were granted. The directors of the
Caledonian Company declined, in 1850, to pay, and the
Terminus Company and their contractor each raised an
action for the amount alleged to be owing. The amount
claimed by them was upwards of 90,0001., which the di-
rectors, after a great deal of litigation, have settled for
about 73,0001. ; but this sum is not to be paid till an
act of Parliament be got, authorising the directors of
the Caledonian Company to pay it, to hold the land, and
to levy dues on the junction line, which was made under
an act of Parliament obtained by the Terminus Com-
pany. By settling these claims, the company get rid of
two very expensive lawsuits—get full possession of the
junction line, of which they might otherwise have been
deprived, and will have upwards of 20 acres of ground
to dispose of, for which, it is hoped, they will get a price
sufficient to repay a considerable part of the 73,000/.
agreed to be paid. The preference dividend amounts to
15,6481. ; there is afterwards left for division among the
ordinary shareholders the sum of 31,0001., which will
yield a dividend at the rate of only 2 per cent. per an-
num. During the half-year ending January last the
revenue was 245,7541., and after deducting expenses,
&c., a sum of 54,899/. was left for division ; while the
revenue for the half-year ending in July was 245,217/.,
and there is left for division only 45,4391., or nearly
10,0001. less than in the preceding half-year, This dif-
ference arose from an extra expenditure of 1,5001. in
maintenance of way, nearly 7,0001. extra for locomotive
power and merchandise and mineral traffic charges,
1,0001. for compensation and damages, 1,0001. for mile-
age and demurrage, and 1,400/. for general charges.
These together make up a trifle more than the dif-
erence. The unfortunate accident at Slateford
station also occurred during that period, and a con-
siderable sum of damages had to be paid to parties
injured. That accident is much to be regretted, and
it is to be hoped that no disaster will again occur.
The shareholders are aware that the present directors
adopted the principle of giving to their princi?al officers
a percentage corresponding to the dividend payable to
the ordinary shareholders, instead of increasing their
salaries at the time of re-arranging the different offices,
by which almost every officer was promoted, consequent
upon the retirement of the secretary and general manager.
Their reason for doing so was, that all of these gentle-
men might have a pecuniary interest to study economy
in every department, so as to procure a large dividend
to the ordinary shareholders. The directors are still
satisfied that that principle is correct, and they mean to
continue the arrangement. The interest of the whole
borrowed capital now averages 41 per cent. If more of
the debentures issued at 5 per cent. had become payable
during the last year they could have been renewed at 3i
per cent., and the average rate would have been dimi-
nished, ut the holders could not be expected to take
payment of their money secured by debenture merely
to oblige the company. The interest charged to revenue
would have been comparatively less had there not been
included in it upwards of 1,8001., being the half-year's
interest on the sum payable to the General Terminus
Company and the contractor for making the junction
line.
Mr. FENTON seconded the motion, that this report be
approved.
Mr. MEIKLEHAM wished to know how much the com-
pany would be out of pocket by the Slateford accident ?
The CHAIRMAN—Not over 7001. or 8001. in all.
Mr. MEIKLEHAM inquired, how it was that the report
did not contain a notice of motion to discontinue Sun-
day traffic ?
The CHAIRMAN said, that the directors were not com-
pelled by the act to entertain that notice of motion, and
they had declined doing so. Two-thirds of the share-
holders were English, and they were determined, if the
Sunday question was renewed every half-year, to urge
the propriety of running Sunday pleasure trains. The
directors asked them not to press such a motion, which,
if they did, they would unquestionably carry, so that it
would be seen those who were against the running of
any trains on Sunday, by pressing their views, were
likely to injure the cause they espoused. For this
reason the directors bad not entertained the notice of

motion.
Mr. M.EaLriliA,m—Under the circumstances I must

I move as an amendment, that the report be not received
until the goods and passenger traffic be stopped on
Sunday.
The Rev. Mr. STEWART seconded the amendment.
On a vote being taken the motion of the Chairman
was carried by 30 to 4.
The CHAIRMAN then submitted a formal resolution, to
the effect that the debenture debt of the company,
amounting to 2,000,0001. sterling, be funded at a rate
of interest not exceeding 31 per cent.
Mr. FENTON, in seconding the motion, said, that when
the whole debt of the company was funded, there would
be a saving of 1,5001. per annum effected.
The motion was unanimously adopted.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, Mr. Fenton and Mr.
Copling were re-elected directors, and Mr. Young,
auditor.
A vote of thanks having been given to the Chairman,
the meeting separated.