The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-20 00:00:00

tions. The Government consoles itself for the delay
in the arrangement of the Eastern qu6s.tion by the con-
sideration that time is gained for the concentration of
troops. Nothing is known relative to the deparature of
grenadiers for Finland. The official journal publishes a
ukase relative to the system of recruiting. The drawing
by lot which has been adopted for the last 14 years in
the Imperial domains will be henceforth applied in
the other cities and localities, and in the colonies. It
will not, however, be applied in the provinces of the
Baltic, in Bessarabia or in Caucasia, neither will it be
applied to the Jews. In future all soldiers incorporated
in the army will not be free until after they have serred
22 years in the guards, or 25 years in the line."
A letter from Frankfort, in the New Prussian
Gazette, says it is confidently reported that the
French Government has had a note presented to
the German diet, stating, that whatever may be
the complications created by the Eastern question,
it will respect the neutrality of the confederation.
It is announced that the two great powers of Ger-
many are to publish a solemn declaration of neu-
trality, the time of which will depend on the ap-
pearance of that which the Germanic diet will make
in the name of the confederation.

In his last letter, "from the Lower Danube,"
the correspondent of the Medical Weekly Journal
speaks of many wounded men having been brought
in from Tultscha, Isaktchi, and Matshin. The
writer, who is evidently in good spirits, informs us
that in Kalafat accommodations are prepared for
1,500 men. " The chief medical officer demands
among other necessaries bed-clothes and syringes."
Inhabitants and soldiers, Turks and Europeans, are
heartily tired of the inactivity t 3 which they have
so long been condemned, and .the unceasing cry is
" War, bottle, victory, and - booty." The de-
feat of the Russians at Zetati must have been most
signal, as the Oest. Correspondence does not venture
to give us any particulars. _

It is stated: that despatches have been received
from Vienna, with intelligence that there is no
chance whatever of the Emperor Nicholas accepting
any propositions of arrangement such as those re-
cently made to him ; and, in fact, that sufficient is
known to leave very little doubt of an absolute
refusal. The entry of the combined squadrons into
the Black Sea has confirmed him in that resolu-
tion, and there now indeed remains no alternative
but to have recourse to those means of compulsion
and chastisement which the patience and humanity
of the negotiating Powers have delayed to the last
moment. If the time for action is at length come,
the more speedy and terrible the blow the better.
It is also said that M. de Kisseleff has received
despatches informing him that he must consider the
entry of the fleets into the Black Sea as tantamount
to a declaration of war. If so, his stay will not be
long in the capital, and the French Ambassador at
St. Petersburg will no doubt be soon in Paris.
About two o'clock yesterday the Austrian Minister
visited the Russian Ambassador. They remained
some time together, and then proceeded to the
Foreign office, and after that to the Tuileries. They
appeared, observes a person who saw them, to be in
a state of agitation.. It is consequently inferred
that the moment for M. de Kisseleff to take the
step which has been so long anticipated is at length
come, and that unless some new and unforeseen in-
cident arrive he will net remain long in Paris.
A letter from Orsova, dated the 12th inst., says
that the conflict between the Turks and Russianshad.
been suspended. Both parties occupied their
former positions. No important advantages had
been gained on either side. The following is what
is positively known in reference to the different
engagements :—After the conflict of the Gth inst.,
which ended in the withdrawal of the Turks from
the field, the Russians remained in possession of
Oitale, which, however, they abandoned on the
7th, having first reduced it to ashes. On the Bth,
the Turks, 16,000 strong, attacked the centre of
Aurep's corps (strengthened by the right wing), at
Pertschow, in the vicinity of Radovan. The con-
flict was as sanguinary as that of the Gth. The
Turks remained in their position. On the 10th
the latter were attacked by the Russians, and com-
pelled to retire towards Kalafat. The Russians
were strengthening themselves from all sides.
Omer Paella and Lord Dudley Stuart were in
Widdin.

Another letter from Orsova brings the Turkish
bulletin of the engagement of the 6th inst. Selim
Pacha directed the movement. It states that the
Russians, who were 18,000 strong, were completely
routed by the Turks, and had suffered a loss of
3,000 killed. The Turks have pushed forward
by land, and their movements were supported by
cannon-barges sent up the Danube. A combina-
tion of the Turkish forces had in this manner been
effected near Citale. The Greek bishop of Wid-
din had read this bulletin in the church, and given
thanks for the victory.