The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-07 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

The terms of the Russian project or rather
counter project, brought by Count Orloff to
Vienna, were, it is understood, as follows :—First,
it was proposed that Turkish plenipotentiary
should be sent either to the head-quarters of the
army of occupation, or to St. Petersburg, to treat
directly with Russia, but to be free to see and
advise with the Four Powers. Secondly, the
former treaties between Russia and the Porte to be
renewed. Thirdly, Turkey to enter into an en-
gagement with respect to political refugees—to the
effect, it is supposed, that they should not hence-
forth be harboured in the Ottoman dominions.
And lastly, a declaration from the Porte, couched
in similar terms to the Menschikoff ultimatum,
with reference to the protection of the Greek
Christians.
This project was communicated to the Conference
by Count Buol, and was at once rejected as totally
inadmissible. All negotiations are, therefore,
brought to a close, and there is no probability that
they will be renewed.
It is surprising that, under such circumstances,
Count Orloff still remains at Vienna. It is gene-
rally supposed that he has some other overtures in
reserve to make to tie Austrian Government, in
order to gain time or to produce mischief.
A telegraphic despatch from Berlin, of the 3d,
says it was still believed there that Count Orloff
would not come to Berlin, as the Prussian Cabinet
had already made a declaration which left no doubt
as to the attitude Prussia will assume on the Turco-
Russian question.
The Patric states that Omer Pacha having
crossed the Danube with 50,000 men, had divided
the Russian army, the right wing of which is at
Krajowa, the left at Galatz, and the centre at
Bucharest. He was only two days' march from
the latter town, where the Russian forces are weak.
It is supposed that his health has improved.
Letters received at the Turkish Embassy at
Paris, it is said, speak of preparations for an attack
On Bucharest.
An early visit of the King of the Belgians to
Berlin and Vienna was spoken of.
A telegraphic despatch from Constantinople, on
23d January, says :
" A successor to Omer Pacha will be appointed
in case he should•be seriously indisposed.
" Three fresh convoys of troops and ammunition
for the army in Asia will sail in a few days, under
escort of a division of the combined fleet.
" The presence of the fleet in the Black Sea has
restored the courage of the Turkish population,
and struck terror into the partisans of Russia.
" The weather was constantly favourable, and
the ships have returned to Beycos none the worse
for their cruise."
The following is from a letter from Constanti-
nople, dated January 23 :
The electric telegraph will have already apprised
you of the return of the combined British and
French squadrons from the Black Sea. Yesterday
afternoon, to the astonishment of everybody, they
entered the Bosphorus, and cast anchor at Beycos,
their former station. They came from Sinope, and
were six days on the..way. Her Britannic Majesty's
steam-frigate, Niger, Captain Heath, was sent to
the Black Sea, with despatches for the admiral from
the ambassador, in the early part of last week, and,
after :cruising about for four succesive days, only
fell in with the squadrons in the forenoon of yes-
terday, a few miles distant from the mouth of the
Sea. It is to be presumed that the squadrons will
be out again in a few days. In the meantime the
Fury has gone to Sebastopol, on a similar mission
to that of the Retribution—that is, to demand the
release of some Englishmen who were employed
as engineers on board the Turkish merchant
steamer Tidjari Midjaret, recently captured by
the Russians. I also learn that the Fury is the
bearer of a despatch to the Russian admiral in
command at Sebastopol, relative to the dis-
courteous, or rather semi-hostile, reception given
to the Retribution at that place a short time since.
Altogether, the Fury has a very awkward mission,
and her return is anxiously expected. The depar-
ture of the combined squadrons from the Black
Sea is not calculated to render her position at Se-
bastopol more agreeable ; and it is to be hoped
that the news of this occurrence will not have
reached the Russians before heir mission is accom-
plished, .as otherwise it has every probability of
proving abortive. It is needless to observe that
the return of the fleets is regarded by the Turks
with an unfavourable eye ; they are at a loss how
to interpret this new movement, and shake their
heads in doubt and dismay.
Since the late battle at Csitate, near Kalafat,
which resulted so favourably to the Turkish arms,
no genuine news of importance has arrived from
the Danutbe. Rumours and reports abound. An
affair at Matschin and Turtukai is spoken of, but
particulars are wanting. Several Turkish bulletins
are about to be published, but not in time for to-
day's pow t.
From Asia the news is scanty and uninteresting.
No a, ctio:ci has taken place there for some time, and
the Turkish irregular army is being reorganised.
General Guyon (Khurchid Pacha) is actively en-
gaged in. introducing many necessary and useful
changes in the army.
A great many arrests were made at this place
last week: by the Turkish police, owing to a wide-
spread conspiracy having been discovered. The
two principal persons arrested are Baron Oesler,
who was a, captain in the Russian service, and once
aide-de-e.gimp to General Luders ; and M. Paolo
Cassich. The object of this conspiracy was to
cause an. insurrection amongst the Greeks, and a
great ma ny persons are compromised, some being
of high station. The papers found in their houses
are very important ; the full particulars, however,
have not :yet transpired. Opinions differ with re

gard to th e tranquil bearing of the Greek popula-
tions of the Ottoman empire, especially those in
European Turkey. That they would be inclined
for rising there is no doubt. Russian agents were
here in plenty until the commencement of the
war; since then the most important have left.

Several are, to my knowledge, in Grcecia Propria at
this very moment. Persons are not wanting who
look upon the peaceful behaviour of the Greeks as
the calm before the storm, and look forward to
a revolution against the Ottoman rule amongst

those populations as a probable event on the first
favourable contingency. With others, and indeed

generally, the opinion prevails that no such thing
will occur, little confidence being placed in the

--
spirit of the people, who have been cowed by cen-
turies of harsh rule, and want the heart for a revo-

lutionary movement against the Moslem dominion.
The great fact, however, is not to be disputed,
that the will exists, though perhaps not the power,
or the heart.

According to advices from Giurgevo of the 23d
ult., the waters of the Danube were rising consi-
derably. The country adjacent to the banks is
mostly overflowed. The islands near Giurgevo,
Oltenitza and Sirtow, which hitherto formed a
basis of operations for the Ottoman troops crossing
the river, are quite inundated at present.
Advices from Krajowa of the 25th state that
General Dannenberg is dangerously ill.
Letters from Bucharest of the 24th relate that
the billeting of more troops from Bessarabia has
been announced. It thaws constantly, and the
movements of troops proceed slowly ; with pieces
of artillery of heavy calibre, three times the usual
number of horses is needed to drag them through
the mire. The latest advices from tho scene of
action contradict the report of the Turks having

occupied Oltenitza.
We borrow from the Ost Deutsche Post the fol-
lowing from Krajowa of the 25th inst. :
" Since the arrival of General Schilder a retrograde
movement of the Russian forces in Wallachia has been
observed. Preparations are being made to transfer the
head-quarters from Radovan to Slatina, and engineers
have appeared at the latter place to mark out a new
camp. Prince Gortschakoff came from Radovan to
Krajowa, for the express purpose of holding a conference
with General Schilder, the commissioner extraordinary
of the Czar. Since the battle of Citate the Turks seem
inclined to take up the offensive upon all fortified points
of the Danube, whilst the Russians, probably awaiting
fresh reinforcements, have taken up a rather defensive
position. It is reported that 1,500 Turks crossed the
Danube near Radowa, but Russian reinforcements hav-
ing arrived, they returned to their former position."
The Soldaten Freund has the following interest-
ing report
Prince Gortschakoff, on the 23d of January, in-