The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-30 00:00:00

.
SWEDEN.

Advices from Stockholm state that the members
of the Commercial Union at Stockholm have unani-
mously agreed upon sending in a petition to the
King for a thorough revision of the customs laws.
The petitioners point out the desirability of a very
low tariff on all raw materials and all articles of
food, of the repeal of all prohibitory laws, and of
the introduction of duties according to measure
and weight, instead of ad valorem. .

SUN, LONDON,

THE BATTLE OF OLTENITZA.

OFFICIAL DESPATCH FROM OMER PACHA.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 15.
The following is the despatch received by the
Seraskier from the Marshal commanding the army
of the Danube, narrating the events of the 2d, 3d,
and 4th inst., at Oltenitza :
" The possession of the island situate in front of Tur-
tukai having been considered indispensable, I had
effected the passage of troops, and in the space of the
night of the Ist managed to raise tolerably strong forti-
fications. On the following day, the 2d, two battalions
of infantry, three pieces of cannon, and a hundred of
the mounted police, were conveyed in large boats to
the locality, with ammunition, provisions, and great
coats.

" They had scarcely landed, when from the batteries
of Turtukai we opened a fire on a lazaretto situate on
the left bank. After the first discharge the Russians
quitted this position, and the imperial troops took pos-
session of the building, which is of solid construction,
with valted chambers. Without loss of time four hun-
dred workmen, under the direction of staff officers, com-
menced raising fortifications, and for which purpose two
thousand gabions had been already prepared. On the
3rd again other troops were sent to fortify the tete de
pont.

" As soon as the imperial troops had landed on the
left bank of the river, the Russians quartered in a large
village at about an hour's distance, turned round, and
began to retreat. A body of cavalry was despatched to
reconnoitre, and having encountered at Oltenitza an
outpost of Cossack cavalry, they killed five, and re-
joined our lines with a loss of three men, We found at
Touzla, on the left bank, a great quantity of boats,
which were sent to Turtukai. _ _

" The number of boats at our disposal having facili-
tated the construction of the bridge, we were enabled
without delay to place in the fortifications 12 large guns,
which were brought from Schumla.
"On the 3d, at 4 p.m., three battalions of Russian
infantry, with eight cannons, a regiment of cavalry, and
party of Cossacks, entered the village of Oltenitza. Our
troops, posted within the works constructed on the left
bank, waited them de pied ferme. This same night I
caused to be constructed a bridge at the conflux of the
Argish and Danube, and flanked it with redoubts.
`• Yesterday, Nov. 4, at 6 a.m, we began to perceive
the movement of the Russian forces. As soon as their
march was well defined, I caused to be embarked and
conveyed to the lazaretto a reinforcement of one bat-
talion. The evening before I had placed on an even
ground a battery of guns calculated to face en humi any
attack which might be made. The Russian forces
amounted to twenty battalions, three regiments of
cavalry, one of Cossacks, sixteen mounted batteries, and
sixteen on foot. They formed in order of battle, with 14
pieces of cannon in the rear of twelve battalions, and
the regiment of Cossacks in lines beyond the reach of our
guns, and fronting the centre of our works. They ad-
vanced, supported by the fire of their artillery, and at the
same time two battalions, with two cannons, came on
threatening our left flank. Having commenced the
assault, another stronger division—consisting of six bat-
talions with four cannons, and having in the rear three
regiments of cavalry supporting and -outstripping their
left flank—took its position and formed in two lines,
with artillery, horse and foot, into echelons, attacking
our right flank. After an exchange of some cannon
shots, the centre gave the assault, whereon they charged
both our wings. The centre attacked three different
times, and each with a fresh battalion—twice on the left
and once on the right. _ _ .

"A well-directed fire from our fortress at Turtukai
soon dispersed their right column—and the centre gra-
dually fell back after having suffered severely and half
its numbers hors de combat. The battery of the island,
also mounted with powerful guns, menzil top, and com-
manded by Khalid Pacha, did admirable execution on
the enemy's right wing. The Russians advanced with
coolness and resolution almost to the brink of the trench,
and on this account their loss was considerable, amount-
ing to 1,000 men killed and double the number wounded.
" The engagement lasted four hours, from noon till
4 p.m., and during this interval the waggons never
ceased to carry off their dead, and twenty were observed
heavy laden even after the conflict. With a view of
facilitating this duty, as long as it lasted, we abstained
fr,m molesting the enemy and from firing a single shot,
but found nevertheless 800 bodies on the field. A pri-
vate carriage, moreover, was remarked, and from the
pains taken in the search we conjecture it must have
been destined to receive the body of a general officer.
" At 5 p.m. a total confusion ensued in the Russian
ranks ; their lines were completely broken and their re-
treat precipitate. An hour later some few rallied in the
neighbouring villages, but the remainder fled in disorder.
Some of our men pushed forward in pursuit of them
beyond the lines, but were summoned back by trumpet
to their own quarters.
" Our loss amounted to 106 men. We found on the
field of battle 500 muskets, sacs, cartridge boxes, equip-
ments, etc. " OMER,'

WANTON ATTACK BY THE RUSSIANS ON
THE LLOYD STEAMER.

DESPATCH, NOV. 2, FROM THE GOVERNOR OF ROUTCHODE

TO THE GRAND VIZIER.

"A messenger arrived from his Excellency Omer
Pacha with despatches to demand that I should send
in all haste, and the better to conceal this step, during
the night, boats and lighters sufficient for the trans-
port of some one thousand men, to be effected after
sunset on Monday or Tuesday. 29th Monharrem. Ac-
cordingly, on the Ist of November, about twenty
large boats and yietcks quitted port long before break
of day ; but the fog, low water, and dangerous banks
did not permit the steamer and schooner to start during
the night, and they left at sunrise. The boats reached
Turtukai without accident, but the steamer and
transports just mentioned were exposed to the fire of a
Russian battery of two guns in passing before Giurgevo.
They replied as well as they could, and suffered only
some slight injuries, and among the rest a mate and
sailor were wounded. Lower down they were again
exposed to the Russian batteries ; and seeing it was im-
possible to advance, returned to Routchouk, and got
under cover for repairs at Mamen.
" On Thursday last, the Pesth, Lloyd steamer, also
in passing before Giurgevo, flag hoisted, had also to
suffer from the Russian battery, although the weather
was so clear as not to admit the possibility of an error.
Our battery between Routchouk and Vardenza fired
some shots in order to protect the packet, which was
injured in two places, and her chain broken by projec-
tiles. Hence, under the necessity of returning, she
placed herself under our protection, and the passengers
were landed.

"During these incidents some of the inhabitants of
Routchouk armed hastily and crossed the Danube, and
set fire to the guard-house above Giurgevo ; whereon
signals were immediately given, and the troops occupy-
ing the neighbouring post fled without resistance. These
were all burnt down by our men, who returned with
some muskets and ammunition found on the spot.

At 4 o'clock p.m., after the return of the Austrian
steamer, the agent of the company at Giurgevo sent to
apologise, stating that the Russians had fired by mis-
take, and the captain, accompanied by the Austrian and
Prussian consular agents, presented themselves before
me to inquire whether the steamer might be considered
safe in her present station. In reply, I observed that I
could make no formal engagement, and that the vessel
necessarily must be exposed to the same risks with the
town itself. On this the captain resolved to depart, and
at a distance from this place of about three hours, the
Russians again fired on the vessel, which was defended
to the best of their ability by our post guards. Finally,
the captain was forced to approach the right bank, and
throw out his anchor, and he sent me, the second in com-
mand to inform me of these events. _

I have learnt by a despatch from Omer Pacha that
the Austrian captain was so exasperated at these outrages
of the Russians and grateful for our protection, that he
informed him of a Russian flotilla being stationed before
Ismail, and that the gun-boat steamers and other vessels
composing it were so closely pressed together, that a
single battery would suffice to destroy them. In conse-
quence of this the commander-in-chief dispatched Aly
Pacha, general of cavalry, to adopt the measures re-
quired under these circumstances.
" The Captain Pacha informs me that a three-masted
steamer, which I suppose to be the Bessarabia, and two
others of the Odessa line, in war trim, were cruising off
Varna."

The following is from a correspondent of the
Times, dated Turtukai, Friday, Nov. 4 :
" I can scarcely compose myself sufficiently to write
the exciting scene I have witnessed this day. At half-
past 10 a.m. we left our house, and walked up the hill
on this side the Danube to obtain a complete view of
anything that might occur. Omer Pasha having thrown
a body of troops across the river, and the Russians being
in force, an attack was expected. Let me try to de-
scribe what I saw.
"At Turtukai the Danube flows from about west to
east. It swells to a breadth of 1,200 yards a little lower
down. Opposite to Turtukai is an island in the Danube.
The breadth of the river from Turtukai to the island is 600
or 700 yards, and from the other side of the island to the
north shore is 200 more. At the east end of this
island was a battery, intended to protect the left flank
of the main position, which consisted of a strong
intrenchment commencing on the bank of a stream
called the Argisch, coming from the north, and
which, after passing the left flank, wound round the
rear of the intrenchment and joined the Danube. The
right flank of the intrenchment terminated at this junc-
tion, and the front of the intrenchment was perhaps 600
yards in length, and the space enclosed 200 yards broad.
On the centre were some houses, which had been used
as a quarantine station.
" The ground in front of the left and centre of the
intrenchment is covered with low trees and scrub, which
extended to a long distance in front of the left, and to a
distance of perhaps 200 yards in front of the centre. In
front of the right the ground was nearly open.
`l," On the south or Turtukai side of the Danube the
bank of the river rises to a height of 600 or 700 feet,
and batteries were erected to cover the right flank of the
Turks. The village of Turtukai spreads down the hill
to the river. The country on the north bank is here
quite flat for a long distance inward.
"I must not omit to mention that when we reached
the spot whence we intended to see the events of the
day we came upon two officers of distinction, sitting
upon the ground, with their feet towards a wood fire.
These proved to be the Turkish Generalissimo, Omer
Pasha, and General Prim. We posted ourselves on one
side of them, a little in the rear. At about 11 a.m. the
Russians marched out of the village of Oltenitza,
situated about a mile or a mile and a half in front of the
right flank of the Turkish intrenchment. A cloud of
Cossacks led the way ; these were followed by four for•
inidable-looking columns and 18 or 20 pieces of artillery ;