The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 24, 1853.

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.
THIS EVENING, Nov. 24.
The GREAT AMERICAN EQUESTRIANS will exhibit their
astonishing Feats, unmatched in the history of such Performances,
assieted by the most renowned Gymnastic Artistes, 0. Dale and
Barnes, the European and American champions.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Under the management of Mr. Bnekstone.
THIS EVENING, Nov. 24,

WM be performed A PRETTY PIECE OF BUSINESS. Cha-
racters by Messrs. Howe and Buckstone ; Miss Reynolds and Mrs.

Fitzwilliam.
Will be performed A CURE FOR LOVE. Characters by Messrs.
Chippendale, Villiers, and Buckstone ; Miss Ellen Chaplin, &c.
After which, LOVE'S ALARMS. Characters by Messrs. W.
Farren, Corti, and Compton ; Miss Emily Ormonde, Miss E. Romer,
and Miss Featherstone.
To conclude with FOUNDED ON FACTS.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. Cniatiza KERN.
THIS EVENING, Nov. 24,
Will be performed THE LANCERS ; or, The Gentleman's Son.
it
Principal characters by Messrs. Meadows, Ryder, Everett, IL Mellon,Z
and I). Fisher; Mrs; gastanley, Mrs. W. Lacy, Mrs. Daly, and
Miss C. Leciercq. :,*ti, '
To be follow* by. ARCO SPADA. Supported by Messrs. W.
Lacy, J. Chester, Ryder, Graham, and Everett; Miss Heath and
Miss C. Leciercq.

LYCEUM TiIEATIZE.

Under the Management of Madame Pesten.
THIS EVENING, Nov. 24,

Will be performed A BACHELOR OF ARTS. Characters by
Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Baker; Miss F. Hughes.
After which, THE COMMENCEMENT OF A BAD FARCE
which, however (it is hoped), will. in the end, show HOW TO
MAKE HOME HAPPY. Principal character by Mr. Wright.
To be followed by A NICE FIRM. Principal characters by
Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Mrs. F. Matthews.
To conclude with WRIGHT AT LAST.

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI.
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directress, Madame Celest*.
THIS EVENING, Nov. 24,

• •
win be performed THE DISCARDED SON. Characters by
Leigh Murray. Paul Bedford, and Keeley ; Mrs. Keeley and Miss
Woolgar, &c.
To be followed by WHITEBAIT AT GREENWICH.
After which, THE CAMP AT CHOBHAM.
To be followed by "HOTEL. CHARGES!" or, How to Cook
" A Biffin."

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE,
Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan.
THIS RYRNING, Nov. 24,
Will be performed PLOT AND PASSION. Principal characters
by Mr. F. Robson and Mts. Stirling.
To be followed by THE CAMP AT THE OLYMPIC. Charac-
Las by Messrs. A. Wigan, Emery, F. Robson, Cooper, and Galli ;
mesdames A. Wigan, Stirling, P. Horton, Chatterley, E. Turner, and
wyndbaln•
To conclude with THE WANDERING MINSTREL.

ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cooke.

Great and Glorious Success of THE INVASION OF RUSSIA.
The Review and Advance of the French Troops—The Conflagra-
tion of Moscow--The Snow Storm, and Retreat of the French army,
have been nightly received with unbounded approbation.
SECOND WEEK of the Re-appearance of Mr. ALFRED COOKE,
Indisputably the Premier Horseman of the Day, whose Matchless
sad Daring Act on Four Horses is the perfection of equestrian art.
Miss EMILY COOKE, the Wonder of the World, will repeat her
astounding FLIGHT through SIXTEEN BALLOONS.
Fourth Appearance of the Equestrian Clown, Mr. G. ADAMS, the
Grimaldi of the day.
The Finished and Talented Equestrienne, Madlle. MASATTA, will
appear during the week.
The Scenes of the Arena, introducing for the Third Time (on one
evening) the SLY Unrivalled CLOWNS of this Establishment.
THIS EVENING, Nov. 24,
(And during the week) ,
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE'S LNVASION OF RUSSIA ; Or, The
Burning of Moscow.
Followed by Feats of Equestrianism in the ARENA, unrivalled
In Europe.
Concluding with the First Act of JUPITER'S DECREE; Or,
The Fall of Phmton.

Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W
West.

DAILY WEATHER TABLE.

THURSDAY, Nov. 24, 1853.

State of the wind and weather at each of the following
places at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The stations
are arranged in order of latitude.
FOLKESTONE—N.E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
TUNBRIDGE—W., calm—partially cloudy.
GREENWlCH—calm—foggy.
SraooD—N.W., gentle breeze—foggy.
SWINDON—E., light breeze—foggy.
CAMBRlDGE—Calm—foggy.
The returns from the following places indicate the state
of the weather on Tuesday morning at nine o'clock :
LIMERICK—S., strong breeze—partially cloudy.
MULLINGAR—S.E., strong breeze—partially cloudy.
FOLKESTONE—N.E., gentle breeze—cloudless.
TUNBRIDGE—S.E., calm—partially cloudy.
GREENWlCH—Calm—foggy.
STROOD—N.W., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
CAMBRIDGE—Foggy.
YARMOUTH—N.E., strong breeze—cloudless.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tom DAY —Morning 11 min.after 7 I Evening 46 min.aft. 7
To-Moanow—Morning 26 min.after 8 / Evening 6 miu.ait. 9

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, Nov. 24.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.

40 —highest since noon yesterday.
35—lowest this morning and during the night.
44—this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 30.12,

WIND, S.E. Fresh breeze. The fog began to clear
away about nine o'clock last evening, and is now gone--
leaving us dull weather.

T g 4,-'v4"(4 11,1 t
r_
_‘ ,_,

LONDON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1853.

The situation may be readily understood. Not-
withstanding the contradictory intelligence received
in this country from the S,at of War, it is im-
possible not to appreciate, from the events which
are known with absolute certainty to have trans-
pired, the relative position occupied at thismoment
by the belligerents. That position we described
yesterday as propitious for the SULTAN and
Ominous for the AUTOCRAT. We repeat it--
earnestly and after mature deliberation. It is
propitious for the SULTAN, notwithstanding the
indecision, or (shall we call it ?) the timidity
of the Four Powers—notwithstanding the with-
drawal of Austria long ago from the Vienna Con-
ference—notwithstanding the vacillation of prnsaia
the irritating delays of France, the criminal
and
craven attitude assumed by England. It is ominous
for the AUTOCRAT, notwithstanding the favourable
advance of the winter season; notwithstanding the
opportune passage of the Pruth by OSTEN-SACHEN,
with a considerable body of reinforcements for the
troops occupying the twin-provinces of Moldo-
Wallachia ; notwithstanding the timely concentra-
tion of the forces already under GORTZCHAKOFF,
and the retirement of his victorious assailants from
before Oltenitza.

How, it may be asked, can this declaration be
seriously advanced in the presence of the remark-
able facts here enumerated ? How can such deduc-
tions be drawn from such premises—deductions
so encouraging from premises so unsatisfactory ?
We will explain. Our confidence in the moral
and physical strength of the position of Turkey at
this juncture is attributable, let us observe at
once, not to a hasty or superficial consideration of
two or three isolated incidents, but from a careful
scrutiny of the whole sequence of occurrences
from the very commencement. Having watched
the progress of
those occurrences from the outset,
having weighed them one by one in the balance of
impartiality, having minutely observed the
course taken by actual events, and the
direction followed u
after another at Pby one shadowy attempt
negotiation—we have arrived
inevitablythat this conviction.
vve
gradually, binutfact,
ath
Remember,
have not jumped at
a conclusion. We have attained it gradually and
cautiously, and, let us be permitted to add, also
conscientiously. And that conclusion
we repeat
to-day as plainly as we did yesterday. Candidly,
we have as little hesitation in announcing this a:
our deliberate and unequivocal opinion, as we
have ever had in eulogising the moderation shown
from first to last by the Sublime Porte,
or in reprobating in the sternest language:
in our vocabulary the lawless, insensate, and fla-
gitious policy of the Autocratic Government of
St. Petersburg.

Whatever the temporary situation of affairs
the Danubian Principalities, whatever the mo-
mentary attitude maintained towards Turkey
by the nominal allier., of the Cabinet at Coucitan-

tinople—we boldly aver that we regard the future
as most ominous for the CZAr and most pro-
pitious for the SULTAN. It matters com-
paratively nothing that the .Councils at Ber-
lin at this moment are most tantalisingly
balanced. It signifies scarcely anything that
the sympathies of the Viennese Administrators tend
rather in the direction of St. Petersburg than in
that of Constantinople. The inevitable result of
the struggle, whatever the course taken by Aus-
tria or by Prussia may be under the emergency,
the certain and inevitable result of the struggle
must be to the advantage of the SULTAN, and to
the detriment of the AUTOCRAT. Wherefore 7
Why, for this simple reason—Because, Right and
Might are for once united ! It has been customary
among the admirers of the CZAR, and the apolo-
gists of the course adopted by his Government, to
depreciate the power at the command of Turkey,
and to magnify that placed at the disposal of the
AUTOCRAT by a series of monstrous and preposte-
rous exaggerations. According to those persons,
a campaign between the Russian and Turkish
armies must be at once terminated by the igno-
minious discomfiture of the soldiers of the Otto-
man Government. It has been argued, as though
the contention were absolutely as preposterous as
a struggle between' a giant of Brobdignag and a
Lilliputian. Well—it may now be asked with some
reason—How have these sneers at the Sublime
Porte been justified ; these jeers at the Turk and
these phrases of adulation to the Muscovite ?
How ? Why, let events answer that inquiry.
Has there not been a manifest superiority hitherto
on the side of the Turkish soldiery, and on the
side of the Turkish Commander-in-Chief ? Has
not GORTZCHAKOFF been signally out-generalled ?
Has not OMAR Ploas signalised himself wonder-
fully well, both as a strategist and a tactician 7
Again, say we, let facts be the fitting re-
sponse to the interrogation. Those facts, at-
testing that the Turks have crossed the
Danube at the several places successfully,
at Braila, at Widdin, and at Turtukai !--that the
main body of the SULTAN'S army continues up to
this moment strongly established at Kalafat !
that another portion of his troops continues to
preclude the Muscovites from retiring upon Mol-
davia without molestation !—that upon two seve-
ral occasions have the soldiers of the CZAR been
worsted at Oltenitza !--dhat the Turkish division,
which at this particular locality had crowned itself
with glory by successive engagements, had only with-
drawn at last to the right bank of the Danube from
prudential motives, and this after having caused
by their reiterated displays of prowess the greatest
possible detriment to their antagonists ! Never-
theless, it is not so much from these incidents, as
from considerations of somewhat larger importance,
that we consider ourselves justified in asserting
plainly, and in so many words, that Might as well
as Right is at this crisis on the side of Turkey.
Yes---.notwithstanding the reputed weakness of
the Ottoman Empire, notwithstanding the co-
lossal dominion and irresponsible autho-
rity of the AUTOCRAT, it is SO ! It is
SO because the patriotism and prowess of the
subjects of ABD-UL-MEDJID are supported cordially
and enthusiastically by the sympathies of both
the French and British populations ! By the
earnest and manifest sympathy of the two most
powerful races in the world—the people of France
and the people of England ! The greatest mili-
tary and the greatest maritime nation of Christ-
endom ! Remember—the sympathies of French-
men and of Englishmen upon this point are decided,
unanimous, and unmistakeable. They cannot much
longer be resisted. Sooner or later they must break
down the barriers of political reserve, and rend
asunder the veil of diplomatic etiquette. Sooner
or later they must result in overt acts on the
part of their allied Governments. This—in ful-
filment of the long-known wishes of the Emperor
NeroLtioN, and in defiance of the timidity, the
weakness, and the hesitation of the Earl of ABER-
DEEN'S fruitless and unfortunate Government.

A new movement is on the tapis, arising out
of the unfortunate dispute between the masters
and operatives in the manufacturing districts.
The agitators are beginning to perceive the inu-
tility of the different " unions" and confederacies
now in operation. They see the impossibility of
much longer maintaining the contest under exist-
ing circumstances, and they dread the conse-
quences of the full revelation and exposure of the
deception that has been practised on their mis-
guided victims. Anything is better than the
restoration of kindly relations between employers
and workmen. The moment the eyes of the great
body of the " turn-outs" are opened to the absur-
dity of their proceedings, the occupation of dele-
gates and committee-men is eo instants gone. The
most favourable termination they can anticipate
is to be restored to their original obscurity, to
" bid a long farewell to all their greatness," and
with it to the entertainments provided (for the
leaders) at the various public-houses and " jerry-
shops" (the phrase is borrowed from Mr. GEORGE
CowELL). Something must be done to excite the
people, and induce them to retain their allegiance
for a little time longer. Hence the notion of the
" Labour Parliament," which is forthwith to be
inaugurated, and which is expected speedily to
cast its recognised rival completely into the shade.
The idea is unquestionably a grand one. A na-
tional organisation of the working classes—an or-
ganisation comprising every man who earns his
daily bread by his daily labour—all acting in one
direction, and determined to deprive " capital "
of its power, and make it the humble and obedi-
ent slave of their chosen representatives—to bring
the concentrated strength of the entire nation to
bear in any difference that might arise, and thus
to crush isolated trades or occupations, as the
unions could previously destroy single firms !
Surely such a result is worth even more deter-
mined struggles than have as yet taken place.
Even the phantasm of representation will flatter
representatives,"
o
the pride of those who now feel that they
the
unfairly deprived of a voice in the selection of
legislators
aseneofo
of the points :,
the And
payment
uCultqaurteesrt,ionab
ly constitute an important feature in
the "Labour Parliament," those who aspire to a
seat in the new
"Convention" fancy
that it will
turn out by no means an unprofitable speculation,
and willingly encourage the movement. We can-
not then wonder at the unanimity with which the
proposition has been received, for, as we have re-
peatedly pointed, out, the great body of the
working classes suffer a small and mischievous
clique to exercise despotic authority over them.
Agitators are personally interested in carrying the
suggestion into operation, for the double purpose
of averting their own downfall, and obtaining the
wages of their attendance at the assemblies.
The idea is, however, by no means original. The
plan has frequently been tried, and on every occa-
sion proved a decided and unequivocal failure.
We need not go very far back to select a suitable
illustration. Few can forget the proceedings
which terminated in the expatriation of CUFFEY and
some of his associates, and the prolonged incarce-
ration of others. Can any different result be
anticipated to the present organisation ? It is
impossible that the delegates or representatives,
•or by whatever titles the parties actively engaged
in the affair may please to designate themselves,
could keep within the limits of the law without
t ram,
--gressing the boundaries on either side, and
exposing themselves to penalties for its violation.
The examples that have
been made, on so many
different occasions,
should teach a salutary lesson
t o those striving to constitute an imperium
ihverio, and to create disturbance and excitement
that ;must be productive of the most mischievous
result F.
Fr ow some of the observations that were made,

not by working men, but by others who have al- '
ready suffered from similar proceedings, it ap-
pears that the operatives are now to demand a
share of the profits—to become partners of those
who kindly supply the capital expended in the
construction of the machinery, the payment of
wages, Sao.--that the proceeds of the sales, after
deducting the cost of production (including therein
the earnings of the operatives), are to be rigidly
accounted for, and divided among the parties.
The masters will have the barren honour of keep-
ing open the mills, finding the necessary funds,
and defraying all the bad debts. They will no
longer excite the virtuous indignation of Mr.
CoYML by not "going to the ale bench ;" they
will no longer "swill their wine," " have their
servants to wait on them," or see " their wives
luxuriating in silks and satins." No, the La-
bour Parliament will change all that, and those
who choose to submit to its dictates and to place
their operations under the control of the would-be
legislators, may be well contented if they shall be
permitted even to drink their beer much longer.
Is it possible that intelligent operatives can
suffer themselves to be thus hood-winked, to be
kept in thraldom by men who can deliberately put
forward such a project ? Before any embark in
such proceedings we would earnestly commend to
their consideration the various statutes against
unlawful societies and associations. Let them
especially study the provisions of the 39 GEo. 111.
c. 79, and the 57 Gro. 111. c. 19, and take legal
advice as to how far the proposed Parliament
would come within these enactments, or be re-
garded as " a society " or "club," within the
meaning of the last-mentioned statute. They
may be well assured that the existing law is suffi-
cient to put down such absurd attempts. And
were it even otherwise, a comprehensive law would
speedily be passed to provide an adequate remedy
for so serious an evil.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

Again another morning performance and another full
house. Verily, Mr. E. T. Smith is a most fortunate
lessee. The boxes, pit, and galleries were swarming
with youngsters of both sexes, for whom the entertain-
ments here are peculiarly adapted, being alternately
astonished by feats of daring and moved to laughter by
the comicalities with which they are relieved. Since
the theatre was last open at two o'clock, the scenes in
the circle have been re-arranged, and various novelties
have been added. Among the most prominent of these
are Mons. Desarais's troupe of highly-trained dogs and
monkey* whose performances waled almost lead one to
suppose they possessed the intelligence of rational
beings. We would recommend our juvenile friends
to pay them a visit, for they do almost every-
thing but talk, and are extremely amusing in such,
for instance, as the dinner, where the monkeys deport
themselves with a gentlemanly air as guests, and one
waits upon them, attired in the brilliant livery of a Bel-
gravian footman ; in the steeple-chasing, where the dogs
are the horses, and the monkeys act as jockeys ; and in
the other equestrian scenes, in which one of these two-
legged creatures admirably mimics one of the best riders
in the ring. These and the other amusements were
received with the loudest applause.

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.'

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

A telegraphic despatch dated Vienna, yesteray%
states that up to the 14th no English or French
ships of war had gone into the Black Sea. On the
10th, 11th, and 12th, there were heavy storms.
Another despatch of the same date says :—Re..
ports from Orsova of the 16th say that the Turks
are withdrawing from Kalafat, in obedience to
superior orders from Constantinople. The advance
of the Russians from Krajova on Kalafat is con-
firmed. M. Muchin, the Russian Consul, arrived
at Semlin on the 18th, having been compelled to
quit Belgrade with his consulate.

Omer Pasha has received orders to continue the
war with energy.
The whole of the Russian troops have left Jassy.
Osten-Sacken's corps is not expected before the
10th of December. The Russians have levied re-
cruits from the inhabitants of the town and its en-
virons. They captured and pressed into their ser-
vice a number of Jews, who offered money for
their discharge, and who were consequently re-
lea,sed.

Accounts from Bucharest, Nor. 14, state that
is asserted that Prince Gortschakoff intends attack-
ing the Turks, since he has lately been instructed
by his Government to conduct the war with energy
and perseverance.
It is also said that the son of Prince Vogorides
has been arrested and sent in chains to St. Peters-
burg for having carried on a correspondence with
Omer Pasha, and for having informed the Turkish
General of the movements of the Russian army.
Six Boyards are said to have been sent to Siberia.
They were found guilty of the same crime. The
Wallachian Militia have been incorporated with
the Russian regiments.
A telegraphic despatch from Hermannstadt states
that the bulk of the Russian troops are marching
into Lesser Wallachia.

On the 15th inst., a Turkish corps attempted a
surprise at Turnul. The Russians were on their
guard, and the Turks were driven back upon
Kalafat. Their outposts are at the distance of a
league from that village, where they have thrown
up strong intrenchments.
In the Russian camp there are frequent execu-
tions of would-be deserters.

The news of the nomination of General Budberg,
as Governor of the Principalities, appears to be
confirmed. The Russian troops occupy all the
roads in Moldavia. The Wallachian soldiers are
incorporated by companies in the Russian army.
Strong columns are in march towards Kalaradsch
and Giurgevo. Every day there are slight skir-
mishes and combats of advanced posts ; but with
the exception of what has taken place at Kala-
radsch, Oltenitza, and Giurgevo, nothing impor-
tant has occurred. The reason why the Turks
have evacuated the position near Oltenitza, was
that Ali Pacha did not succeed in crossing the
Danube near Kalaradsch. The number of sick at
Bucharest is 3,000, and amongst them are a great
many wounded. In the late affairs several of the
Staff were killed. Cholera, fevers, and pleurisies
prevail, and sick are constantly arriving at
Bucharest. No Turkish prisoners have reached
that place. The Turks are still occupying the
ales of the Danube in the neighbourhood of Giur-
vo. It is feared that the Turks may attempt to
force a passage at Braila, to intercept the commu-
nications of the Russians with Wallachia, and to
penetrate into Bessarabia.
The Press of Vienna, under date of Constan-
tinople, 7th, states that the engineers have been
sent to Adrianople to make preparations for the
reception of the Sultan, with an army of 60,000
men, which will be concentrated in that city under
the orders of Ruschti Pacha, General of the Impe-
rial Guard.

The Wanderer of Vienna quotes a letter from
Bucharest of the 10th, stating that the son of
Prince Vogorides, residing at Bucharest, has been
sent to St. Petersburgh in chains, Prince Gorts-
chakoff having intercepted letters from him to
Omer Pacha, containing particulars concerning the
movements of the Russian troops. It is said that
six Boyards have been transported to Siberia for
having had secret correspondence with the Turks.
The Ost Deutsche Post of Vienna states, from the
frontiers of Servia, 14th, that the Pacha of Bel-
grade has made strong representations to the Ser-
vian. Government, in order to induce it to send
away the Russian Consul-General ; but that hitherto
the Servian Government has maintained strict neu-
trality. It is said the French Consul at Belgrade
supports the demands of the Pacha.
The latest accounts from the banks of the
Danube state that the Turks still occupy the island
of Mokanon, opposite Giurgevo, and that they.
were fortifying it. The Russians, after having in-
vested Giurgevo, were not sufficiently strong to
attack Mokanon.

A private letter from Vienna of the 19th inst.
states that Prince Michel Obrenovitch was about

to proceed to Constantinople to assert his right to
the government of the Servian Principality. He has
been induced to take this step by the vacillating
conduct of the Servian Government towards Tur-
key since the Minister Garaschinin had been com-
pelled to resign office by Russian intrigue. It was
believed that the claims of the Prince will be taken
into consideration by the Turkish Government.
In whatever way the retrograde movement of
Omer Pasha be explained, it is the opinion of some
persons that no hostilities of any serious kind will
be undertaken for the present—at least, that such is
the intention and wish of the Turkish Government
acting under the advice of the present Ambassadors
at Constantinople. The inference is that diplomatic
agency is again at work, and that, during the brief
interval of peace, one more attempt will be made to
arrange matters. The mission of Fuad Effendi is said
to form part of this plan, and it is expected that
the Imperial Commissioner to the army of the
Danube will succeed in restraining the military
ardour of its General. It is not forgotten that the
order sent to Omer Pasha not to commence hostili-
ties unless they had already begun was disregarded
by him, and the explanation given was too flimsy to
be credited by any one. To prevent the recurrence
of inattention to the wishes of the Government, and
which, under the circumstances, is perhaps but too
excusable, is said to be the principal object of the
mission. The exercise of such vigilance is felt to be
the more necessary, as Omer Pasha had already ob-
tained advantages which though not decisive might
well make him proud ; and if he was sure of reply-
ing to censures for disobedience by the announce-
ment of fresh victories, the result of his disobedi-
ence might be the best excuse. The young General
Bonaparte's bulletins of his Italian campaigns were
sufficient replies to the orders and counter-orders
of the Directory ; but Oltenitza is not Lodi, now
Arcola ; and Omer Pasha, though indisputably a
clever man, has not yet given evidence of his
being a Bonaparte. The particulars of the retreat
behind the Danube, and of the real causes that led
to it, we shall no doubt become acquainted with
before long ; as also whether Omer Pasha intends
to maintain his occupation of Lesser Wallachia.
The allied Powers may lose not a day in trying to
effect an arrangement, but they will not for that
reason advise the Porte to relax in her preparations
for defence. They will in this respect imitate the
Emperor of Russia, who, while taking into consi-
deration the various projects of notes, did not
cease for a moment his vast preparations for war.
The notice of a contract for the supply of provisions
for the fleets in the Black Sea would, among other
indications, show that such is the case. The in-
clemency of the season may arrest hostilities in the
Danubian provinces ; but it is not likely that the
preparations for defence will be discontinued.
The Turkish official bulletin of the events of the
war in Asia informs us that on the 28th, as on the
day on which a division of the European army
passed the Danube triumphantly at Kalafat, the
troops of the Sultan's Asiatic army gained an im-
portant advantage over the Russian force in that
quarter (Asia), of which the Sublime Porte re-
ceived the intelligence on the 2d inst., the correct
particulars of the affair being as follows
" On the night of the 27th ult. a small detachment,
consisting of irregular soldiers and of a battalion of the
Turkish Imperial Guard, and composing a part of the
corps d'armee encamped at Tschuruk-sou, moved down
to attack the Russian fort of Tschekvetil (or St. Nicolas)
which was defended by two battalions of infantry, three
companies of Cossacks, and one company of artillery,
and is situated on the coast of the Black Sea. The Sul-
tan's troops arrived before this fort at daybreak on the
28th, and attacked it unawares, with so much courage
and determination that they carried it by assault,
after a struggle of several hours, and despite the most
obstinate resistance. As some Russian troops from
a neighbouring fort came up during the con-
flict to the assistance of their comrades, the
battalion of the Sultan's Imperial guard rushed on them,
poured a volley into them, and then charged with the
bayonet. The defeat of the Russians was equally com-
plete and immediate. In this affair they have lost the
fort of Tschekvetil, 2,000 muskets, of which 1,500 are
of the best quality, 4 cannon, and 1,000 men. The
struggle lasted four hours. The loss of life on-the Turk-
ish side was inconsiderable. The Sultan's troops have
made about 100 prisoners, amongst whom is the son of
Prince George Guriel, and of whom four have already
reached Constantinople, on board the Turkish steamer
Schlehper. The rest have been embarked on board the
Taif, which is expected on the 4th or sth. Selim Pacha,
commander-in-chief of the army of Batourn, has issued
the requisite orders for putting the fort of Tschekvetil in
the most efficient state of defence possible. The corps
d'armee at Tschuruk-sou consists of 8,000 regulars, 6,000
redifs, and 10,000 irregulars. The news of the passage
of the Danube, and of the capture of Tschekvetil by the
Sultan's troops, has been hailed in Constantinople (as
the official journal states), both by the Europeans resi•

dent there, and the native population, with the most
lively enthusiasm."

In connection with the battle near Batoum, of
which the Turkish bulletin is here given, the
Triester Zeitung adds :
, "We understand that the crew of the Turkish
steamer Schlehper, consisting principally of Austrians,
and commanded by a late captain of the Lloyd's Com-
pany, as soon as it transpired at the landing at Batoum
that their vessel was destined for the transport of the
Russian prisoners of war, threw up their service, and
went ashore. In consequence of this the crew was
*hanged, but all the prisoners were taken on board,
with the exception of four, who were sent by the Taif.
On their arrival in Constantinople they were not, as
formerly, thrown into prison, but were brought under
escort to the official residence of the Minister of War,
where they are being very kindly treated."

The Allgemeinc Zcitung has letters from the
Polish frontiers, which say :
" In 'Warsaw several generals Lave arrived during the
last few days, from various places, and others again have
been despatched on special missions. The master-
general of all the artillery parks, Lazareff Stanicheff,
has received orders to hasten to the Danube, and has
already left Warsaw for that purpose with the entire
artillery and parks under his orders. The Lieutenant-
Generals Strogonoff, Iwin, and Offenberg, Lave re-
turned from abroad."