The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-15 00:00:00

KALAFAT.

A letter from a friend at Kalafat, who writes
under date the 27th April, gives the following par-
ticulars, as the sequel to his former letter of the
17th :

" The Russians," he says, " have not shown them-
selves since they took off their dead, and we were igno-
rant as to what had become of them until the 24th,
when four Wallachians came to our camp, and expressed
a desire to speak with the General-in-Chief, Alim Pasha.
They informed him that that same morning the whole of
the Russians who accupied the cantonments of Mulgavitz,
Golentz, Pojana, and Khafter, formed into one mass,
and then abandoned these posts, taking R ith them the
materiel in the carts belonging to the peasants, and which
they had put in requisition. As is usual with these bar-
barians they burned, by way of farewell, all that they
could not take away from the unfortunate Wallachians,
and particularly the provisions and forage of every kind
for cattle. They even set fire to the villages, and we beheld
from Kalafat the flames bursting out on every point in
the horison. 'We were then ignorant at the head-
quarters of Alim Pasha of the new plan of operations
of the Russians, and we did not well know what to
think of that retreat. A reconnaissance with 20 squa-
drons of cavalry and six guns was effected, and we exa-
mined carefully all the late cantonments of the Rus-
sians. We got into the saddle at two o'clock in the
morning at Kalafat, and set out in three columns, each
having its own district to examine, and having agreed
to meet at a certain point and by a certain hour. We
searched Pojana, a large village containing 4,000 souls,
and then advanced together to Cherab-hank. At 4
o'clock the three columns separated, and took each a
different direction. This reconnoissance confirmed the
truth of what the Wallachians told us—not a Cossack
was to be seen within a circuit of from 6 to 7 leagues
in front of Kalafat. At Mulgavit eight stragglers, who
were limping along, and who were still in the village were
taken and brought back to the camp. All the inhabi-
tants of the village came out to meet us and saluted
us as their liberators ; they brought to our men every
sort of provisions, uttering the most terrible male-
dictions against the Russians, and giving us plenty
of information as to their movements. We were
informed by these men that the combat of the
19th instant was more sanguinary than we had
supposed, for at Pojana alone 100 dead were
found and the total loss of the Russians on that occasion
was not less than 500. The repose we have enjoyed for
the last few days at Kalafat was very necessary to the
soldiers, and particularly to the cavalry. A report was
at once transmitted to Omar Pasha of the event, and
which must materially change his plan of operations.
We are in expectation of intelligence, and it is very
probable that the cavalry will not remain at Kalafat.
A. sufficient body of infantry will very probably
be only left there to guard against a coup de main,
and some artillery. I should not be surprised if
Bucharest were our destination, though we can scarcely
arrive there without being obliged to break lances.
The retreat of the Russians from Kalafat is most
important, as it leaves us the whole of Little Wal-
lachia. It permits us to put from 35,000 to 40,000
men more in line-50,000 I should say—for Widdin
and all the surrounding posts may without danger be
diminished. What could have forced the Russians to
this retreat? Can it be their defeat on the 19, or rather
the conviction of their inability to take Kalafat, as I have
always predicted. The occupation of Kalafat by the Turks
suggests one observation, which is quite in their favour,
and which yon will not, lam sure, find unreasonable. It
is this-40,000 Turks, entirely independent at 100 leagues
from the point of operation of their staff, separated from
the mass of their force, and with an equal number of
Russians in their front menacing them continually, have
succeeded in fortifying themselves admirably, and have
exhibited much patriotism, much courage, much activity
and for six long months have foiled all the attempts of
an irritated and ferocious enemy, not allowing them
a moment of repose ; have beaten that enemy again
and again whenever and wheresoever they encoun-
tered them, particularly in the pitched battle of Ce-
tate ; and, after six months spent in the manner I
mentioned, have forced these same Russians, before whom
so many of our clever friends in Paris declared they
could not stand for a moment, to retreat before them,
without having dared to drive them from Kalafat,
after having boasted that they would destroy to the
last man of its defenders. The Russian army has
shown to all Europe what its real value is, and
I have some suspicion that in this respect it
resembles the Russian empire itself, which, when exa-
mined closely, loses much of its colossal prestige. I
cannot give you an idea of the enthusiasm of the Turks
at this retreat of the Russians—it has inspired them
with the greatest confidence in themselves and
in their general, For my own part I am anxious to
get to Bucharest, which the Turks and Wallachians
describe as an Eden. We have been so long accus-
tomed to see the Danube before us, with tents, guns,
and Bashi-Bazouks, that, however picturesque all these
objects, we have not the least objection to see a city.
I forgot to say, that this day or to-morrow detachments
will be sent to occupy the points evacuated by the
Russians,"

over which it has to preside, it may not be useless to re-
call to recollection tin benefits which France has so
prodigally bestowed upon Greece. No one is ignorant
of the share which our navy and army have taken in
securing the freedom of Greece. What is not so gene-
rally known is that the Expense of our squadrons in the
Mediterranean, and the military expedition to the Morea
has increased our public debt to the extent of
100,000,000 of francs. The payment of the interest of
this sum ,at the present time gives a proof of the sym-
pathy of the preceding generation with the cause of the
liellenes.

"The task of assuring the independence of Greece
having been fulfilled, it remained to establish the new
State upon a basis which would insure its future pro-
sperity. France obtained for it a great increase of ter-
ritory. She insisted that it should be created into a
kingdom. She supportk with her guarantee, collec-
tively with England and Russia, a loan of 60,000,000 f.,
very difficult of realisation at the period of its negotia-
tion in 1832. The resources of the Hellenic treasury,
at first insufficient, and then ill employed, prevented it
from providing directly for the repayment of this loan.
The treaty of 1852 contained a clause, in virtue of
which the revenues of the Greek State were first
to be chargeable with the payment and extinction of
its external debt. Not only did France not demand
the extinction of this article of the convention of
London, but besides, in an excess of kindness and
generosity towards a country which she considered as
one of her own creation, she ceased, in 1838, to follow
the example of England and Russia, who issued ad-
ditional bonds on the security of those previously enterea
into, and, with the object of providing a valuable reserve
for Greece, France decided upon making the requisite
payments when due from her own resources. Those ad-
vances now exceed ;he sum of 13,000,000 f. Since the
adoption of this system, which soon involved us in a
responsibility beyond our first engagement, we relin-
quished our claim upon a portion of the loan of 1832,
which we had theright to consider as a security for the
repayment of cur private debt, to the amount of
2,000,000 f., tha; amount having formed the capital for
which the Greek Government had credit in the Na-
tional Bank cf Athens, an establishment of credit
organised by the assiduity of a superior clerk con-
nected with the Ministry of Finance, M. Lemaitre, and
which had an essential share in developing in Greece
industrial operations and agricultural works. In
1846 France founded at Athens a school directed by a
high functionary of the university, where the professors
taken from our normal schools gave every encouragement
to the young men who wished to study our language and
our literature. The library of the capital of Greece was
at the same period placed upon the same footing as the
French libraries, that is to say, allowed to share in the
distribution of the works published by Government. Our
officers, in the midst of a thousand difficulties, and ex-
posed to the dangers of the climate, to which three of
them fell victims, prepared a map of different parts of the
kingdom, which is considered as a masterpiece of topo-
graphical skill. To these benefits of a general character
which were advantageous to the whole Greek nation,
may be added the proofs of kindness and sympathy which
King Otho and his Government have unceasingly expe•
rienced from France.

"In 1843, when the Hellenic throne was menaced by
the faction which now dominates at Athens, our diplo-
macy gave it a powerful support during the difficult
transitio❑ from the regime of pure monarchy to a con-
stitutional form of Government. Subsequently, under
equally critical circumstances, it was the support of the
French Government and its friendly intervention which
neutralised the effects of a formidable spirit of discon-
tent. France most certainly did not deceive herself in
regard to the real state of things in Greece. She de-
plored the faults of the Administration and the disorder
which prevailed in the finances ; but she endeavoured,
to a certain extent, to conceal evils which she hoped to
cure by care and prudence. We were desirous that the
Hellenic Government, from circumstances which we be-
lieved to be accidental, should not acquire a bad reputa-
tion, which would have been injurious to Greece her-
self, and it does not exceed the truth to say that
during 20 consecutive years not a single disagreeable
affair occurred, owing to the negligence or the fault of
the Government, when we did not take the opportunity
of calming irritation or bringing about an arrangement.
To this kindness, which was of so sympathetic a charac-
ter, which became tired of nothing and excused every-
thing—to this kindness which might be classed as weak-
ness, had it not been exhibited towards a country the
political existence of which was partly owing to us--
it is now known what requital the Greek Govern.
ment has given. Abandoning itself to chimerical
desires, yielding to suggestions from abroad, it has
become the instrument of a Power at war with France.
It has allowed upon its territory the formation of
armed bands, commanded by officers in its service,
which have spread disorder and pillage in Epirus,
Thessaly, and Macedonia. It has emptied its
arsenals, and exhausted its treasure to support an insur-
rection excited by itself, and which it still seeks to sus-
tain, notwithstanding the checks it has received. No-
where does scandal find greater impunity than at Athens.
Salaried journals circulate every morning insults against
France, against our army, and against the person of the
Emperor. Our people have been insulted in the streets,
under the eyes of an inactive police ; even the repre-
sentative of his Imperial Majesty received a warning
that his life was in danger !
" The majority of the Greek nation, let us hasten to
say, thoroughly disapproves of these excesses and these
follies. They are the first to suffer from them, and the
responsibility of them entirely belongs to a Government
which is so ill inspired as to risk, by ingratitude only
equalled by its blindness, the loss of the only support
which hitherto has never failed it."