The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-03 00:00:00

TURKEY AND RUSSIA.

The following is from the Paris correspondent of
the Times, dated yesterday, 6 p.m.:—

" The Turkish Government, harassed by the conduc
of Russia, and having exposed to the world the injustice
.of that power, has determined to act with vigour. It
has hitherto allowed Russia to have all the ultimatums
to herself, and has had to endure the most insulting lan-
guage that ever one power presumed to address to
another with even the slightest show of indepen-
dence. While doing so, however we may respect
or admire the forbearance, not unmingled with dig-
nity, which she has shown in her refutation of the
charges brought by M. Nesselrode and M. Menschikoff
against her, it is certain that she has been on the point
of losing her prestige amor°, her own subjects ; and the
Turks, whether of the old party or of the reforming
school, allude with pain to the increasing degradation
which Russia is inflicting on the Mussulman name.
The Porte has roused itself to exertion ; and private
accounts from Constantinople, by Vienna, inform me
that a note, in the form and with the character of an
ultimatum, is to be addressed by it to the Rus-
sian Government. The note repeats, but in a
more precise manner, the various arguments em-
ployed in its previous communications to Russia ;
it shows how the Porte evinced every disposi-
tion and desire to continue on good terms with
its neighbours ; that it was always disposed to listen
to just complaints, and to remedy them ; that no dis-
tinction was made between the Christian popula-
tion and Mussulman subjects—that it has very re-
cently given proofs of its love of toleration and of
impartial justice, in the firmans it has issued, and
which sufficiently secure the immunities, privileges,
and rights of the Christian population of every deno-
mination. All this the Sultan has done, but if he
be required to do anything more that is inconsis-
tent with his own honour, and with the honour, the
dignity, and the independence of his people, he shall
give the same reply he has already given to the ultima-
tum of Count Nesselrode, namely, a refusal, and that,
if the consequence of that refusal be war, war he must
accept ; but he leaves it to the world to judge between
them, and to pronounce its verdict as to the party that
rendered necessary so terrible an alternative. The eva-
cuation of the Principalities "as soon as possible" is
demanded, and this is made in the ultimatum an indis-
pensable condition of pacific arrangement. The note
concludes by reiterating the assurance that the Sultan
is ready, should negotiations be accepted, to send an
Ambassador Extraordinary to St. Petersburgh.
" It is certain that the propositions drawn up by M.
de Bruck, and approved by the representatives of the
Powers at Constantinople, to which I alluded yester-
day, have been considered by the French Government,
and perhaps also by the English Cabinet, as non avenues ;
such, I believe, is the term employed.
" With the conduct of Russia throughout the whole of
this affair before us, we cease to be surprised at any-
thing she may do, or at any pretensions she may put for-
ward. We are now told that that Power alleges, in
excuse for her occupation of the Principalities, that
the present condition of that portion of the Ottoman
territory is such as the convention of Balta,
Liman supposes to be a just reason for its occupation
—namely, the disorganisation of its Government ; and
that, therefore, it is perfectly justified in remaining there
until order be restored. It is, unfortunately, true that
the Government of Moldo-Wallachia is in a state of dis-
organisation—but it is by the act of Russia herself. It
is Russia that has forced the Hospodars to rebellion
against their Suzerain, and she now wishes to profit by
her own misdeeds. She may say that Turkey is at
liberty to enter the Principalities, but what could 25,000
or 30,000 men do against 140,000 men, not to speak of
the thousands who are ready at a moment's notice to
pass the Pruth.
"It is certain that the important moment is now ap-
proaching, and we shall perhaps know by the 12th of
the present month how great or how little are the
chances of a pacific arrangement. lam enabled to in-
form you that the French and English Governments
have decidedly agreed on the basis of a common action,
and have intimated to the Russian Government that all
further hesitation or delay on its part in effecting
the evacuation of the Principalities will be consid-
ered by them as a refusal to do so. I have already
mentioned that the similarity sought to be established
by Russia between the occupation of the provinces and
the presence of the fleet in Besika Bay, had been re-
peatedly denied. On the present occasion that denial
is repeated ; and it is declared that the fleet shall not
quit its present anchorage simultaneously with the
withdrawal of the Russian army. The fleets may not
remain many days at Besika.—perhaps not more than
two, three, or four ; but they will remain sufficient
time to show the world that no comparison
whatever is admitted between the two occupations.
The combined action I speak of has reference to
both these points, and on them Russia is required by
the Governments to give a categorical and a speedy
answer. A rumour to this effect had got abroad this
afternoon, and the evidence it gave of the continued un-
derstanding between tho English and French Governments
had a corresponding effect on the Bourse. The answer of
Russiais, I believe, expected on the 12th, and of whatever
kind it may be it must be decisive, as the moment
for tergiversation has now passed away. There is
no difficulty in believing that the refusal of Russia
to reply, or her refusal to act conformably to
what is demanded, will be followed by the entrance of
the combined fleets into the Dardanelles, and their ad-
vance to the Bosphorus. With this it is considered not
unlikely that a manifesto will be addressed to the Powers