The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-18 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

The following is the note proposed by Redschid
Pasha to be presented to Count Nesselrode :
" Knowing the profound interest his Majesty the Em-
peror of Russia, as well as the great majority of his
subjects, take in all that concerns the religion they pro-
fess, and fully appreciating the motives of that interest,
I have great pleasure in communicating to your Excel-
lency the Firmans which my august Sovereign has pro-
mulgated towards the end of the Chaban of this year,
and to remove all doubt I assure you, on the part of the
Sublime Porte, that, reserving to itself the sacred rights
of sovereignty over its own subjects, the sincere inten-
tion of his Imperial Majesty is to secure to the Greek
Church in perpetuity the enjoyment of the spiritual
privileges and immunities which it may please his Ma-
jesty bereafi;er to grant to any other sect of his Chris-
tian subjects. I have not the least doubt, in fact, but
that the assurances founded on the above-mentioned
firinans, which have everywhere inspired confidence,
will likewise give satisfaction to Russia."
The latest accounts from the Danubian frontier
speak of the high state of preparation of the army
of Omer Pasha, and the activity of that officer.
The state of discipline, it is said, is very severe,
every necessary is bought and paid for, and any in-
sult to a Christian, which rarely occurs, is promptly
punished. The munitions of war of every kind are
abundant, and of the best quality. There are
about 80,000 men now concentrated at Schumla,
besides 30,000 irregulars. The health of the troops
appears to be much better than that of the Russians,
who, it is said, suffer great mortality from typhus.
This ,typhus we suspect to be a fatal form of the
malarious fever of the Danube, which is rife at
this season. The Turks are chiefly strong in ar-
tillery and infantry, but are weak in cavalry, this
part of their army being few in number and far
from effective, whereas it is the strongest arm of
Russia in the provinces. Omer Pasha is un-
wearied in activity, imspecting everything per-
sonally. Beyond the Danube the agents of
Russia are busily employed in getting the Bo-
yards to sign petitions, praying for the annexa-
tion of their provinces to the Russian empire—
a task by no means difficult amongst that de-
moralized and mercenary class. The materiel
collected for crossing the Danube is said to be in
a state of forward preparation. The military ope-
rations of the Russians, the construction of bridges
on the Danube, between Ismael and the island of
Tchetal, as well as the erection of fortifications on
this island, constitute not only a flagrant violation
of the treaties existing between Russia and the
Porte, but are decided acts of hostility against the
Turkish province of Dobrodja. By the treaty
of Adrianople, the islands at the mouth of the
Danube are declared neutral. This distinct viola-
tion of treaty is not unlikly to lead to some out-
break of hostilities, for we hear that Omer Pasha
s about to erect some works also on the island.

From all accounts it appears evident that the
troops of the Emperor have entered the provinces
with a view to a long sojourn, if not of ultimate

possession. Their contracts for provisions, their for-
tified camps, no less than their previous prepara-
tions, would lead to the same conclusion. The latest
news from the West speaks of the acceptance by the
Emperor of the terms proposed to him by England
and France, though no official confirmation of this
has yet reached us. The Turks now declare that
they will refuse their adherence to those terms, and
begin to talk of their demands, among which the
immediate and unconditional evacuation of the
provinces stands foremost. The enthusiasm of the
people renders the contemplation of a sudden and
peaceful termination of the question a difficulty
with the Ministers of the Sultan, who fear in-
ternal disturbances perhaps more even than a
Russian war. The war party, which is daily gain-
ing strength, remembers that in 1828 Turkey,
with her raw undisciplined levies, beat back the
first invading army of Russia, and although in the
ensuing spring she was worsted by an immense
army of Russian veterans, headed by the Emperor
himself, to which she could oppose but the germ
of a regular force, unsupported by those contin-
gents on whom she depended for aid, but who be-
trayed her, yet tho Turks are consoled by the recol-
lection of the overwhelming disparity of forces at that
time. In 1829 the Turkish artillery amounted to 30
field pieces ; in 1853 the number of field pieces in the
camp at Schumla alone amounts to 280. In 1829
the whole force of so-called disciplined troops
amounted to about 25,000 men, who had not been
under arms many months. At this time there are
80,000 regulars, and 30,000 irregulars concentrated
in Schumla. The Egyptian troops are arriving,
and as the preparations continue, and become daily
more formidable, the alternative is presented to
brought a
people not unmindful of their early military his-
tory, either to disband their army, together
at an enormous outlay of treasure, and thus pre-
pare themselves for future encroachirnents and in-
ternal disorders, or by a bolder po icy take the
chance of inflicting a blow on their insolent aggres-
sor, and recovering some part of their ancient
prestige.
A letter from Jassy, in the Wanderer of Vienna,
of the 14th, state that the Emperor of Russia has
left it free to the Hospodars of Moldavia and Wal-
lachia to obey the summons of the Sultan, or to
remain in the Principalities. It was supposed that
the Hospod.ar of Moldavia would proceed to Con-
stantinople ; but, according to a letter from
Bucharest, of the 9th, the Divan of Wallachia had
requested the Hospodar not to leave the principa-
lity at a time when his presence there was so much
required.