The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON. WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 7, 1854.

worldly-minded mother. What he got by mar-
riage was in some degree " self-acquired." There
was what the law deemed "a valuable considera-
tion." He should have sora e unmistakeable evidences
of Royal favour. Accordingly, two pensions were
given, one charged on the Post-office revenue, the
other on the "Beer-tax." These charges amount-
ing in the aggregate to 10,700/., have been duly
paid for One Hundred and Seventy-two years,
and, as we have stated, the receipts have amounted
at compound interest to no less than TWELVE
HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLIONS OF POUNDS ster-
ling. This it is which arrangements have been
made to purchase—arrangements to which the
legislative sanction is indispensable. It is for the
public to say whether the guardians of their
purse shall give that sanction. They can judge
for themselves on the simple facts above related

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

Russian fleet, defied in its ports, has not dared to leave
them for the purpose of avenging that cheek ; that it is
interdicted, under pain of capture, to the Russian fla,,
henceforth to plough the waters of the Black Sea, which
hitherto the Czar has put forth the pretension of making
a Muscovite lake ; if one considers, in fine, that all the
Russian possessions on the coast of Circassia have been
destroyed or abandoned, and that, consequently, the
flank of the Russian army in Asia finds itself uncovered,
one cannot help acknowledging that the first phase of
the operations of the squadrons ht.s already proddced
results which are pretty notable, all to the advantage of
the Western Powers, and all to the detriment of the
Russian influence in the Black Sea.—l am, with respect,
1•

THE WAR.
THE SIEGE OF SILISTRIA.
VIENNA, Tuesday Morning, June 6.—Divers
private despatches from Bucharest state that
the Russian loss in the affair at Silistria, on the
28th, was 186 killed and 379 wounded. General
Silvan was killed, and Colonel Costanda and Count
Orloff, jun., severely wounded. The latter was
shot through the eye.
Under date of Schumla, May 31, the Presse
says :—" On the night between the 29th and 30th
the Turks made a sortie from Silistria. There was
a fearful carnage. The Russians lost from 1,500
1,800 killed.*
A letter from Bucharest, of the 2d June, says
that the Russians have taken possession of some of
the outworks of Silistrisk.
The Ost Deutsche Post says that since the 2d
inst. Silistria has been completely invested by the
Russians, and that 3,000 Russians were advancing
on the road to Basardschik.
The .3loniteur of this morning publishes a tele-
graphic despatch from Belgrade, dated June 5,
which confirms the news of the recent success of
the Turks at Silistria, but gives May 27 as the
date of the engagement. There werel,soo Russians
slain and 3,000 wounded.
The ill oniteur announces that Mussa Pasha,
Commander-in-Chiefof Silistria, addressed to Omer
Pasha on the 24th of May the letter of which we
give a translation below. It will be seen that it
confirms and developes the accounts given by the
telegraph relative to the energetic resistance made
by the place. It will also be recollected that news
of-a more recent date by a week made known that
the resistance of Silistria continued on the 29th
with the same success
‘ SILISTALL, May 21.—Yesterday (Saturday) the
Russians sent a few troops against the outerworks. We
made it our duty to repulse them, and we succeeded,
thanks to the valour of our soldiers, after having expe-
rienced a slight loss. ~The Russians had more than 150
men killed and a great number wounded.
" To-day (Sunday) the Russians have again attacked, the external fortifications. During the action two Cir-
cassian Mussulmans, lieutenants of cavalry, named
Osman and Hassan, left their posts and passed over to
us, induced by their love of Islamism, to make us ac-
quainted with the projects and movements of the Rus-
sians. According to their statement, the enemy
marched upon Silistria with three caps crarmere.
"To-day (Sunday) they propose to carry Silistria, or
to annihilate their troops, and they are making every
arrangement to carry their intentions into effect. At
the moment I write the enemy seems disposed to at-
tempt a general attack upon the outerworks. The fire
from the ramparts, however, preventing the enemy from
approaching, he has ordered his battalions to halt
beyond the reach of cannon shot. As for us, our troops
have been stationed and spread about the fortifications,
in order to enable them to sustain the shock and to
repel it."

" HAMELIN,
" Vice-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief of the
Black Sea Squadron."
The following letter from the Black Sea fleet
gives its latest movements, and some further par-
ticulars of the ill-fated Tiger :
" CONSTANTINOPLE, May 25.
"The English and French fleets, with the exception
of the Agamemnon, Highflyer, Sampson, Mogador, and
Charlemagne, arrived at Baltschik on the morning of
the 20th ult. to water. The Turkish squadron is at an-
chor there also. The Inflexible was sent to Varna for
bullocks for the squadron. A few cases of scurry have
made their appearance in the Vengeance. The Retri-
bution arrived at Varna on the 20th with despatches
from Rear-Admiral Lyons. Before leaving the ad-
miral, she captured two vessels off Ghelinjik, with
troops on board, and sixty-five women and children.
The latter were landed, together with those who
were sick and wounded among the troops. The
vessels were under Greek colours. The Caton with
the French admiral, and the Furious with the Eng-
lish admiral, arrived at Varna on the 22d to confer
with Lord Raglan, expected from Shumla, whither he
proceeded with the Turkish Minister of War, also Mar-
shal St. Arnaud and Omer Pasha. They returned on
the evening of the 22d, and after a short council with
the admirals, they respectively embarked in the steam-
ers Caradoc and Berthollet for Constantinople, where
they arrived on the evening of the 23d. The Furious
went to Odessa on the 14th, and was allowed to send
things to the crew of the Tiger. Accordingly, money
and what clothing the officers could spare were sent to
them. Captain Giffard had suffered amputation of the
left thigh, and the right leg was badly wounded. His
nephew (Giffard), a midshipman, suffered amputation of
both legs, and died shortly afterwards ; three of the
crew were killed ; all are being well treated by the Rus-
sians. The Vesuvius arrived at Constantinople on the
23d, with a prize in tow. The Niger arrived on the 23d
with a prize, and left this evening for Malta, to be
docked, having been ashore for four hours off Kertch,
and towed off by the Highflyer. Russian sol-
diers to the number of between 200 and 300 are now
prisoners in the fleet. The admiral would gladly ex-
change them for the poor Tiger's. There is a report
that a French boat's crew, while watering on the Cau-
casian coast, were made prisoners. Mr. Osborne Dal-
yell, mate of the Britannia, is appointed acting-lieutenant
of the Terrible, vice Scraggs, who has been allowed to retire
by the admiral. Numbers of merchant seamen are now
volunteering for our men-of-war. The Cyclops has re-
turned from Gallipoli, and is now alongside the Megiera,
embarking stores for the fleet. Lieutenant-Colonel
Pratt. R.M., Lord Ashley, and eight clerks, R.N., have
gone by the Niger to Malta, en route to England. The
clerks are for service in the Baltic fleet. On the after-
noon of the 11th of May the Tiger, Vesuvius, and
Niger were detached from the fleet, with orders to recon-
noitre Odessa. Immediately after a dense fog led to
their separation, and on the following evening, at half-
past six o'clock, the Tiger grounded close to the light-
house, and under a high cliff. They immediately got
out her boats and laid out anchors astern, and lightened
her by throwing guns overboard. Some time, afterwards
the Russians discovered her misfortune, and brought
down field-pieces, with which they attacked her, de-
fencelesss as she was, when she surrendered, but not
_until young Giffard, a midshipman, and Captain Giffard
were wounded, and three men killed. The enemy gave
them permission to remove their effects, but, unfortu-
nately for them, the Niger and Vesuvius hove in
sight a few hours after their capture, when to
avoid a recovery of the vessel, the Russians re-
commenced firing on the Tiger, and succeeded in
blowing her up. The Niger and Vesuvius
beat to quarters and commenced firing shell
at the enemy with good effect. The Niger had three
men slightly wounded, but they are now at their duty.
The Highflyer had been ashore on the Circassian coast ;
a battery of guns opened fire upon her, but she
silenced it at once, and then hauled off. The Queen's
birthday was celebrated in a right loyal manner
by the regiments at Scutari. There was a review in
the morning, and the afternoon was devoted to English
sports—such as those of the Camp at Chobham, to the no
small diversion of crowds of Turks, Armenians, Greeks,
&c., who for the first time in their lives saw the game of
jumping in sacks, although the sack has been long used
by Turks for a far more serious purpose. A considerable
number of Turkish and Armenian ladies were present
in their carriages, who enjoyed beyond measure the
tumbling of the men in the sacks. The Guards erected
a column in the centre of their encampment, which was
decorated very gaily, and in the evening they illumina-
ted it with some hundreds of glass lamps. The Cyclops
sailed last night for the fleet. Ships now lying at Con-
stantinople :—The Magmra troop-ship, Commander
Johnston ; the Niger, 14, Commander Heath ; the
Vesuvius, 6, Commander Powell ; Caradoc, Lieutenant
Derriman ; and Banshee, Lieutenant Reynolds."

PONSTANTINOPLE.
CONSTANTINCTLE, May 30.—Sir George Brown,
with a division of the Rifles and 7,000 men, left
yesterday for Varna. Mehemet Paella, formerly
ambassador at London, replaces the Grand Vizir.
Halil Pacha is appointed Capudan Pacha.
SEMLIN, June 6.—A Tartar has arrived from
Constantinople with the following news (without
dates):—The Minister of Marine, Mehemet Pacha,
is appointed Grand Vizir, in lieu of Mustapha
Pacha, who is dismissed. Halil Pacha is appointed
Capudan Pacha.

From Vienna we learn that there has been a
change of Ministers at Constantinople.
Mehemet Pasha, recently Minister of Marine,
and formerly Ambassador in London, has been
appointed Grand Vizier.

Halil Pasha, brother-in-law of the Sultan, suc.
ceeds Mehemet Pasha as Minister of Marine.

THE DANUBE.
Intelligence received from Belgrade of the sth,
at
_noon, states that the Pasha of Widdin writes
that on the 31st of May an affair took place at Sla-
tina, where the Russians, with 2,000 men and four
guns, held a position in front of the bridge across
the Aluta.

When the Turks advanced to observe their posi-
tion the Russians attacked them, but the Turks,
taking the offensive, killed about GOO of the enemy,
and took the four guns, besides some prisoners.

AUSTRIA AND THE PORTE.
The Moititeur has also the following :--
" We announced by a telegraphic despatch that the
Porte had transmitted to the Ottoman authorities of
Albania the order to receive, amicably, the troops that
Austria would send into that province to assist in the
maintenance of the power of the Sultan. On this sub-
ject the Divan has addressed the following instructions
to the commanders-general of the provinces of Janina,
Tricala, Herzegovina, Bosnia, Scutari, Albania, and
Salonica ; as also to the Pacha of Belgrade, to the Im-
perial Commissary in Epirus, Fuad Effendi, and to the
Governor of Roumelia,
" The Austrian Government will send some vessels to
the waters of Prevesa and Arta to support by sea, in
concert with the vessels of the allied Governments, the
cordon of troops which will be established on the fron-
tiers of Greece, in consequence of the disturbances
which have risen in the provinces of Janina and Tricala.
It will also cause to advance towards Albania a por-
tion of the troops which are in the district of Cattaro,
to prevent, on the one hand, the insurrectionary move-
ment extending to the north of the province, and, on
the other hand, to prevent the Montenegrins joining the
rebels, should they feel inclined to do so,
"This measure, which testifies the unity of views and
accord which exists on this question between the Court
of Austria and the Governments of England and France,
allies of the Sublime Porte, and its good sentiments for
the Government of his Imperial Majesty, has been con-
certed between the two Courts. On the other hand, it
concerns the dignity of the Sublime Porte that troops
sent by a neighbouring and sincerely friendly Govern.
ment to testify actively its benevolent intentions should
enjoy the most perfect treatment under the auspices of
his Majesty the Sultan.
"It is, therefore, necessary that the motives of the
appearance of the Austrian vessels of war should be per-
fectly understood, and that they should be treated with
courtesy. Should troops of the same nation come from
the Albanian side, they are also to be treated as friends
with all possible civility (egaecte) during their passage,
ahed nr
duriit ing s
the stay they may make, till the object of
ti vis obtained.
"The greatest care must be evinced to procure for
them everything they may want. As these troops will
naturally return to Austria as Soon as their object shall
have been obtained, that is to say, when the disturbances
shall have been put down in the countries in question,
the same facilities shall be provided for them at their
departure as on their arrival. Moreover, as Bosnia,
Servia, and Herzegovina are next to Montenegro, it is
to be supposed that great excitement would be created
there in the public mind if the real state of things was
not known there. And as the entrance of these troops
has been decided upon with the consent of the Sublime
Porte, and on sufficient guarantees, there is nothing in
this fact whioh may give rise to suspicions, and wise
and prudent means must be adopted to refute any in-
exact ideas which might be circulated on the subject.
" His Imperial Majesty has, therefore, ordained that
instructions shall be addressed on all these points to the
Governors-General and other functionaries, who ought
to be informed. In consequence, necessary orders have
been issued to the proper quarters, and a special com-
missary will be appointed and sent here."
VIENNA, Tuesday, Juno G.—Austria has resolved
to raise the military cordon on the frontier of the
canton of Tessin, the Swiss Federal Council having
given satisfactory assurances for a future good un
derstanding.

THE WAR IN ASIA.
A letter from Trebisonde says :—" An aide-de-
camp of Selim Pacha, who commands at Tchourouk-
Sou, arrived here on the 11th Nlay with the news
that the Russians had abandoned Ozourgueti and
taken the direction of Notais. The Georgians of
Ozourgueti immediately informed Selim Pacha of
the fact, and the town was at once occupied by the
Ottoman troops, under whose protection more than
15,000 inhabitants of the neighbourhood came and
placed themselves. Selim Pacha appointed one of
the primates of the Countre Kaimacan, and at his
request the Governor of Trebisonde has sent pre-
sents to the Georgians to the value of 40,000 piastres.
It is generally thought here that the intention of
the Russians in abandoning the fortresses they pos-
sessed on the coast or in the interior, and which
they could not hope to defend, is to concentrate
their forces on Tiflis, so as to be able to resist the
incursions of Shamyl, who, it is said, is within 18
to 20 hours' distance of that town."
The subjoined extracts from letters from Kars
will give an idea of the state of things in Asiatic
Turkey :
" Kass, April 30.—0 n the 25th inst. a staff-officer
returned from an expedition to the outposts with the
startling intelligence that the advanced guard of the
Russians had crossed the Arpa-tschai, and was in full
march on Kars. The inhabitants of a town threatened
with an assault are not expected to be over cheerful, but
the good people of Kars took no pains to conceal their
terror, which was ludicrous in the extreme. A council
of war was instantly held by the high military authori-
ties, and several energetic measures proposed by the
European generals who are here. They were, however,
overruled by the native paellas ; and instead of despatch-
ing a force to watch the enemy, and to attack him should
he advance too far, the council determined on merely
sending forward two reconnoissances. Of these, one
under the command of Asian Pacha (General Bystro-
nowski) pushed past Soobattan, towards the frontier ;
and the other, under Ismael Pacha (General Kmeti),
advanced in the direction of Anni, and scoured the
neighbouring villages. Both these generals returned
within two clays, and the following report will describe
the information they collected with regard to the ad-
vance of the enemy, his heroic and sage operations, and
his final retreat. On the 24th of April a Russian
column, compoeed of four battalions of infantry, a
thousand Cossacks, and a field battery, concentrated
at Usumkilisi, were under cover of the revolted vil-
lages. On the 25th they advanced, but owing to the
difficulties experienced in crossing the plain, it was eight
in the morning before they arrived at Ergin6. Here 75
Turkish bashi-bazouks were stationed, at Mokus an
equal number, and at Geschit there were about 1,110,
under the command of Hassan Yanegi, their chief. The
Russians cut off the road from Ergine to Mokus, and
took the latter station by surprise. Their infantry was
posted in the neighbourhood, whilst the cavalry sur-
rounded the villages. Those of the 75 bashi-bazouks
who could not escape took refuge in the houses, and
answered a summons to surrender with their muskets
and pistols. The cavalry then dismounted, and after
an obstinate resistance, forced the houses. Ten Turks
were killed, 15 taken prisoners, and the remainder
escaped. The musket reports brought on the ground
several detachments of bashi-bazouks, stationed in the
neighbouring villages, and who, to the number of 200,
fell on the Russian cavalry. The Russian battalions
then advanced, whilst their artillery opened a tremen-
dous fire on the bashi-bazouks, who retreated with a
trifling loss. This glorious action finished, the Russians,
instead of marching forwards, wheeled obliquely on
Kisillchacchack, and from thence to Mokus, whare they
reposed. The same night they recrossed the Arpa-
tschai and withdrew to Gumri, taking with them all the
inhabitants of the revolted villages. In render.
ing justice to the success of the Russians,
in surprising the Turkish advance posts, I must
observe that the revolted villages offered a favour-
able screen, and facilitated the concentration of their
troops. The movement, however, was marked with
timidity, and displayed the weakness of the Russians,
for after having surprised the first stations, they should
have advanced at least to the borders of the snow, and
have destroyed all the bashi-bazouk stations. This ex-
pedition of the Russians appears ridiculous in the ex-
treme, when we reflect upon the imposing force brought
to bear against a handful of irregulars. A few hundred
Cossacks would have sufficed to surprise the other sta-
tions, if any advantage is to be gained by so doing ; but
the idea of assembling 5,000 men of the three arms, and
retreating after having dispersed for a moment the
irregular garrison of a little village is inexplicable. The
height of the absurdity lies in the employment of infantry,
and especially of artillery, against 300 badly-armed bashi
bazouks in UM presence of 1,000 mounted Cossacks. As
a strategic movement it was badly planned, for greater
attention will now be observed in the outposts ; whilst
the expectation of an attack from the whole Russian force,
of which this division was presumed to be the advanced
guard, has developed the greatest activity at head-
quarters. So far from having had a terrifying effect on
on the minds of the population, this expedition has
heightened the animation of all, excepting the inhabitants
of Kars, who dread, I expect, being pillaged by the Rus-
sians, and by their own countrymen, should the latter
sustain, a defeat. The quiet retreat of the enemy has
been ascribed by the villagers to the invincible bravery

. ~:.. ,

of the bashi-bazouks, and that ragged body has accepted
this homage with pleasing modesty. I should not have
alluded at such length to this unimportant skirmish had
I not feared you might one morning have read of a bril-
liant victory recorded in the Abeille du Nord, or some
other veracious St. Petersburg journal."
"MAY 2. The apprehension of an attack from the
Russian forces concentrated at Gumri has had a most
wholesome effect on the spirits here, and has roused the
activity of the Turks. The-fortifications on the Kara-
dagh, and on the other eminences domineering the
town and plain, have been pursued with remarkable
vigour, and a few days will witness their completion.
On the Karadagh two regiments have been con-
stantly at work, and the labour they have per-
formed is really wonderful. Twelve heavy pieces
already mount the works, and fresh ones are daily
being dragged up the steep height. Kars is now
safe from any assault on the part of the enemy,
and, whilst a fortnight ago an attack. would have
met with probable success, at the present moment it
would result in certain failure. The out-door work to
which the soldiers have lately been subjected has had a
most beneficial effect on their health and spirits. The
latter have, moreover, been heightend by the arrival
of remittances from Constantinople, so that the long
arrears of pay owing to the men will be somewhat re-
duced. I cannot too often repeat my admiration of the
Patience and goodwill of which this army has given
proof, during the long period of misery and neglect to
which. it has shamefully been abandoned. Within six
months it has suffered every evil to which an army can
be subjected ; typhus and famine have smote down 4,000
victims, and yet the spirit of the remainder is undaunted.
But with the buoyant spirits peculiar to the Turk and
Arab, all past sufferings have passed into oblivion, and
the prospect of receiving a few months' pay has spread
cheerfulness and satisfaction over all. The amount re-
ceived in silver and in paper money is 17,000 purses, or
about 85,0001. This will be the first trial to introduce
a paper currency in this part of the empire, and no dcubt
its circulation will meet at first with considerable diffi-
culty. The last week has witnessed our deliverance from
the snow, and by the heat of the sun, and a few slight
showers, the plain has been metamorphosed into one
vast mass of mud. All military operations have conse-
quently been rendered out of the question. We trust,
however, in a fortnight to be clear of this obstacle, which
a May sun will soon subdue. The troops will go into
camp in a very short time, and active operations will
soon commence."
"MAY 3.—Some important intelligence has this
moment been brought in by Turkish spies. The garrison
of Gumri has been called to Tiflis, where it appears
Schamyl is creating great alarm. The troops are en-
gaged in digging a deep fosse around Tiflis, and strength-
ening that town as far as its open position will permit.
Prince Woronzoff has been recalled from the leave of
absence granted to him, and is daily expected there. It
would appear from these grave precautions that some
decisive step is meditated by Schamyl, but it is doubted if
the season will permit of his appearing at the head of any
considerable force, for the brave mountaineers whom he
commands will be actively engaged in tilling their land
and sowing. A month later, and every man in Circassia
will follow him ; and then woe to the Muscoiite ! A
regiment of regular cavalry has been despatched from
hence to strengthen the outposts. The troops have been
paid this morning, and are animated with a capita
spirit."

" MAY 9.—The army will be unable to move from
here until provisions become more abundant, for it is
still living from day to day, and in the most irregular
manner. For two days the troops have received no
bread—merely a little flour, which they have to prepare
as best they can. This is shameful, and such improvi-
dence on the-part of the Turkish authorities threatens to
fill the hospitals once more. Typhus, which ravaged
the army for several months, has nearly disappeared ;
but affections of the chest are prevalent, whilst scurvy
has taken a most dangerous turn. The number of
medical men has been greatly reduced by deaths from
typhus, and they are now quite inadequate to the num-
ber of patients, Proper medicaments are wanting, as
well as practitioners. The poor inhabitants are now
occupied in driving out into the country those of their
flocks and herds that have not perished from want during
the winter famine. The roads are strewn with dead bodies
of cattle that have not had strength to walk a few hun-
dred yards, and have thus fallen from exhaustion. The
grass has not grown from want of rain, so th t.t even in
sending out the cattle they obtain but little nourish-
ment."

" May 10.—My letter of yesterday will keep you au
courant of what is going on here ; but, hoping to be in
time for the post, I send you this postcript. At Gumri
(Alexandropol), there are at this moment 25,000 Rus.
mans, viz., 20,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry, with a
park of artillery of about 60 pieces. A division, 5,000
or 6,000 strong, had left in the direction of Batoum,
probably to reinforce the army opposed to Selim Pacha.
The army h4re will go into camp in a few days, and
every preparation is being made to expedite its depar-
ture. The probable site of the camp will be in the
neighbourhood of Soubattan, but nothing decisive is
known."