The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-22 00:00:00

FRANCE.

A telegraphic despatch from Malta, dated 17th,
(via Marseilles), states that more than 10,000
French arrived since the Ist inst., the greater part
of Whom have left for the East. The 14th (Eng-
lish) Regiment had arrived, as also detachments of
the 17th Lancers.
There were three candidates spoken of for the
Mission to Constantinople, namely, M. Thouvenel,
General Daumas, and General de Larne. It is said
,the choice has fallen on M. Thouvenel, and that
is nomination will appear in a very few days in
the Moniteur.
Rumours are again afloat of efforts made by
Prussia and Austria to effect, even at this late
hour, an arrangement with Russia ; but it is
said that very recently the Prussian and
Austrian Ministers represented to the French
Government the possibility of a settlement on
the basis of the status quo ante bellum, and
that the reply was that there were many things to
dispose of before any proposals or an arrangement
Could be listened to, and among the first was that
of indemnification to those who have suffered since
the breaking out of the war. There the matter
dropped. An arrangement on such a basis as that
mentioned would be absurd. The object of ilia
Powers evidently is, not only to resist the en-
croachments of Russia on the Ottoman Empire, but
als
to p
;revent those attempts from being renewed
hereafter
in fact, to render Russia less formidable
to the East and West • to reduce her to such
limits as that she shall no longer be a cause of fear
to the rest of Europe to place her in such
a position that she shall
not at her caprice menace
and to
13
the tranquility of the world. To produce such
a result, the basis of the status quo is not ad-
missible. The Black Sea must not again become
a Russian lake, the power of blocking up the mouths
of the Danube must not be left to Russia, the
Crimea must not be left as it was, before the war—
and the Dardanelles must not be closed to the navies
of the West. In fact these and similar modifica-
tions must be effected if the present war have
really an object ; and if such be the case, it is sim-
ply absurd to talk at this date of the status quo ante
Nihn. The landing of a Circassian force in the
Crimea is spoken of very confidently in political
circles, simultaneously with an attack by sea on
Sebastopol.
The French steam corvette Caton and the Eng-
lish steam trio-ate Furious have captured some
Russian vessels in the bay, situate to the north of
Sebastopol, under the eyes and within range of the
Muskets of the 1,000 or 1,200 men forming the
garrison of Eupatoria.
The steam aviso Heron, belonging to the divi-
sion of Rear-Admiral le Barbier de Tinan, has sunk
or destroyed, in the bay ofSt. Nicolo, two schooners
and a brig, which were being fitted up for piratical
purposes.
The Emperor has conferred the Cross of the
Legion of Honour on F. T. Abbe, master gunneron
board the steam-frigate Mogador, who particularly
distinguished himself at the bombardment of
Odessa. Thirteen medals of honour have also
been granted by the Emperor to the seamen of
other ships who signalised themselves oit the same
occasion.

The 11:loniteur de l' Arnage announces that the
Emperor had decided that General Regnault de St.
Jean d'Angely should assume the command of the
Imperial Guard on the 21st inst. The General re-
viewed yesterday the regiment of Guides, and pro-
claimed its admission into the Imperial Guard. A
similar proclamation will take place for the regi-
ment of Gendarmerie, when its organisation shall
have been completed by General de la Rue, who is
now inspecting that corps.
The screw corvette Plegeton, of 400-horse power,

Captain Coupvent Desbois, left Cherbourg on the
17th, to join the French squadron in the Baltic.
The Three per Cents. were done yesterday on
the Boulevard at 68f. 30c.