The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-17 00:00:00

THE WEATHER IN THE BALTIC.

Subjoined are the latest advises relative to the state
of the navigation in the Baltic :
BOLDERAA, April 6. During the last week the wea-
ther has been almost constantly warm, but the gulf is
still filled with large masses of ice, by which the navi-
gation is rendered very dangerous. In the channel,
as well as at the mouth of the river, the ice is still
fast. Of the vessels which have arrived during the
last week, nine have been cut in to the winter
harbour, two are in the roadstead, and thirteen off,
but cannot get in on account of the ice. Wind
W.S.W., temperature 6 deg. warmth. The gale at W.
of last night has again driven the ice from sea towards
the shore, and as the roads and sea-channel are com-
pletely covered therewith no communication can be had
from land with the vessels that have arrived off. They
are lying rather a considerable distance off the roads in
the ice, and the geeater part of them fast therein.
PILLA.I7, April 10.—On the sth April the rivers be-
came navigable, and shipping has commenced. On the
bar there are 15i feet water.

DANZIG, April 11.—The weather is getting better.

ST. PETERSBURG.
According to the Austrian Lloyds, the recent
military measures of Russia, as regards discharged
soldiers, will procure her a reserve of 150,000 men.
These men are to be formed into corps for garrison
service. As to the demi-invalids who have also
been called on to serve, they are, it is said, to be
sent to the theatre of war principally to occupy
fortresses. The Czar was about to consent to the-
organisation of free corps in the different pro-
vinces ; the war department had drawn up a plan
on the subject.

The Abeitle du Nord of St. Petersburg publishes
the following notice, addressed to the merchants :
" The Department of Foreign Commerce announces
that orders have been given to the frontier custom-
houses of Polangen, of Tanroggen, and of Jourbourg-
1. To receive, in order to be fin.warded to the custom-
houses of St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Riga, all the
merchandise which may be declared at the custom-
houses of these latter towns, even if their entry by those
frontier custom-houses should not be authorised by the
tariff. 2. In order to ace-Aerate the expedition by land
of foreign merchandise destined for the custom-houses of
the ports of the Baltic, and for Moscow, there will only
be placed on these packages exterior lead (deb plumbs
extgrieurs ), without submitting them to a second pack-
ing, which is prescribed by the rules of the custom-house
for articles of merchandise not visited at the frontier."
Tile nomination of General Rakazowsky, the
governor of Finland as dictator in the duchy, has
excited universal alarm. Immense purchases are
being male for the troops, but the unfortunate
sellers are paid in quittances, that is, in worthless
assignats. At all the village inns, from St. Pe-
tersburg to.Bjorneborg, there are troops of horses
and vehicles for the transport of soldiery. Pur-
chases are being made at Uleaborg for the forces
expected there.
_ _

The Czar has addressed an autograph letter to
Rakazowsky, the governor of Finland, full of com-
pliment for the excellent reception given him by
the Finnish people—under strict orders from the
police !—on his late visit.
Lieutenant-General Nordenstam is to command
the staffs of the troops in Finland.
The whole line of road from St. Petersburg to
Helsingfors is black with every kind of vehicle
transporting an 'endless military materiel. Can-
non, estafettes, hay-waggons, powder-tumbrils,
&c., pass each other perpetually. The first Rus-
sian regiment which marched from St. Petersburg
on its way to Finland was the King of Prussia's
grenadier regiment. What a happy coincidence !
A plan is under consideration in St. Petersburg
fur compelling the whole population in Finland to
remove into the interior of Russia. If this were
even attempted, it would surpass anything in mo-
dern history for diabolical cruelty. Most likely
the Emperor will content himself with flinging
large masses of troops into the unfortunate duchy.
At this moment 15,000 men are in biamley Karleby,
14,000 in Nykarleby, 25,000 in and near Vasa, and
so on. Everything is enormously dear.

THE DANUBE.
Letters from Bucharest of the Bth inst., to some
extent, explain the previous default of news from
the Russian side of the Danube since the entrance
of the Czar's troops into the Dobrudscha. The
difficulties of the Russian commander appear only to
have begun with the passage of the Danube. In
the letters just mentioned we read that the troops
are limited to slow and weary movements, through
the want of roads and the marshy nature of the
ground. Moreover, they cannot advance without
dragging with them provisions and stores of all
kinds, so that forced marches are altogether out of
the question. To the 7th inst. Mustapha Pacha
was master of Tschernawoda and Kustendjee to the
north of Trajan's Wall, and stood with his main
force of 50,000 at Karassa, on the south side of
that defence, and about midway between the Danube
and the Black Sea. Omer Pacha had been with
him, and a division of the fleets were supporting
his right wing. The Russians had appeared before
bothTschernawoda and Kustendjee, but in very small
force, scarcely more than with patrols of Cossacks.
No anxiety was felt at Varna, where on the 28th a
brigade of Turkish soldiers, about 8,000 strong, had
been landed. Between Rassova and Silistria several
smart encounters had taken place between detach-
ments of the hostile armies, the Russians making
repeated reconnaissances, but not attempting any
serious movement. It was believed that Omer
Pacha would not attack the Russians before the ar-
rival of the auxiliaries somewhere in his rear.
Mercantile letters from Bucharest of the 4th inst.
mention that the Russians made on the 2d a recon-
naissance in the direction of Berlik, and marched
from there along the road down the river side to-
wards the entrenchments close to Rassova. Vigor-
ously attacked by the Turks, they retreated to Ber-
lik, fighting all the way, and from there back to
the further bank of the river. The Russian column
was about 600 strong, and was supported by two
gun boats,

The Wanderer of Vienna states that up to the
6th the Russians had made no offensive movement
near Trajan's Wall, and that Omer Pacha, with
au army of 80,000 men, was preparing to attack
General Luders.

The declaration of war made by England and
France was published on the 6th in the Turkish
camp at Kalafat. After a salute of 100 cannon and
shots had been fired from the raannarts the troops
marched out in battalions, and fired each three
volleys of musketry, the military band filling up
the intervals with martial airs.
Advices from Bucharest affirm that the war de-
claration of France and England had produced
an immense sensation there, and that, in conse-
quence of this event, Baron Budberg, the Russian
governor of the Danubian provinces, has given
notice to all persons connected with the diplo-
matic agencies of the Western Powers to quit the
territory of the Principalities within eight days.
A letter from Shumla, of March 27 says-
" For the last three or four days a vague kind •
feeling had prevailed throughout the country
that
f
something had happened on the line of the Danube.
One day the rumour was that Kalafat had been
taken, and the Turks driven into the river, the
bridge between the island and that
had crossed at
return
e of rdPaylacethebeimngatdteer-
stroyed ; another, that the Russians
Rustchuk or Silistria ; but
intelligencetuy
thiswas place,finall
withsettled h
ob by
certainth e reaorf thPae R
shautso.
sians having crossed the Lower Danube, on the 23d,
at Matschin, opposite Braila, about 10 days' march
from this. This force issupposed to be the.sth, Gene-
ral Luders' corps. Various conjectures have been
formed as to the numbers
but the most that have already crossed,
probable estimate is about 15,000
men. If this be correct,i) I cannot imagine that the
present movement can
to induce Omer Pasha
morebe
to
concentratethan a
a demonstra-
tioniargo.
Portion of his forcesl in the Dobrudscha, and that
the grand coup
garrisons wil be made on the centre of the
Turkish line, weakened by the withdrawal of men
from the
rrisons of Rustchuk, Silistria, Tur-
tukai' and other posts on this side of the Danube.
Be this
as it may, the greatest excitement pre-
vails here at present. Most of the shops are
closed, tleir owners, in common with every
available man in Shumla, being engaged on the
works, uwer the personal superintendence of

Omer Pasha and an officer of the Etat-Major
specially sent here by the French Government. The
feeling of the Turks towards their French and Eng-
lish allies is most chivalrous, and the knowledge
that they are to be well supported has inspired them
with fresh courage and enthusiasm. They say that
now is the time for us to fight and save the shed-
ding of our friends' blood.' The Bashi-Bazouks
cannot, I am afraid, be included in this category ;
as troops they are perfectly useless ; in fact, they
are mere marauders and pillagers, whose services
could not be declined, but whose absence would be
most desirable. The English and French fleets axe
in Kavarna Bay, and strong hopes are entertained
that they precede the speedy arrival of the allied
troops at Varna, which is three days' march from
Shumla."

Another letter from Shumla, of March 29, is as
follows :—" I send you two words in a hurry, by a
special courier that is just starting. I have no
further particulars about the passage of the Russians
at Galatz. It is believed that another passage will
take place higher up the river very soon. If that
occurs, it is to be presumed that the Russians who
have crossed at Galatz are not in very great force.
Omer Pacha is making very good arrangements—
as good as the circumstances permit, and which he
had foreseen and calculated. For the present,
the Ottoman forces in the Dobrudscha ars. concen-
trated on the river Carassu. You shall hear from
me as soon as anything of importance occurs."

THE BLACK SEA.
ODESSA, April B.—The combined fleets blockade
Odessa.

A private despatch statas that Odessa was taken
on the 14th, but this is doubtful.
On the 27th ult., the Sidon, Firebrand, and
Magellan were despatched from the fleet to ascer-
tain if any attempts were being made by the Rus-
sians to throw in supplies to their troops, now that
they have crossed the Danube, and have orders to
bring in any Russian vessels they may find so en-
gaged, or within Turkish waters. On the 28th the
French fleet shifted berth further towards Baits-
chik, and were followed by the British fleet on the
29th, to be more handy for rendering any assisi V-
ance, in case of need, to the Turks, should these
be driven into a retreat.
There is reason to believe that the larger divisiom
of the fleet, which was telegraphed as having gone
to Sebastopol, went to Odessa. In a letter from
the latter port, of the Ist inst., we read :—" We
are here in a state of great excitement. Forseveral
days past we have seen many French and English-,
sails. They probably intend blockading us, for
they don't leave the spot, keeping always in
sight. Large masses of troops are being con—
centrated here ; our garrison is at this moment,
20,000 strong, and fresh men arrive every day
from Bessarabia. By all this it is quite clear that
our place is not going to be evacuated but defended.
We have made up our minds here for the woest,
and several families have already retired further
inland. The forts are all armed, and tents are
pitched for the troops in the outskirts of the town.
Our trade is at an end, and prices are getting ruin-
ously high. The English consul-general was yes-
terday still here."
In another passage the writer gives a good rea-
son why Odessa should be blockaded by the allies :
—"All the Russian troops in the Dobrudscha,
which may possibly amount to about 55,000 men
with 120 guns, must be entirely victualled from
this place, for the Dobrudscha, as far as fertility is
concerned, may be not inaptly compared with a
Pussta (waste) in Hungary. They say Tultsha and
Isaktshi are both razed, but Matschin kept as it
is, and Hirsova made an hospital of. They do not
believe here that the army will push on to Silistria,
but they do that Rassova will be taken, and that
Trajan's Wall must be gained to secure the new
acquisitions made by the army."
VARNA, March 30.--I have just stepped on shore
from the Tiger, her Majesty's steam-ship, which
left Constantinople two days ago. The fleets
are lying in Kavarna Bay. Some of the steam-
ships have been sent on to the mouth of the
Danube to stop any Russian ships of war, trans-
ports, or merchantmen, that may make their ap-
pearance there. Admirals Dundas and Hamelin
have not waited for a declaration of war from the
allied Powers, but have considered the attitude of
the Russians sufficiently hostile to justify them
in proceeding to extremities at once. 30,000 of
the enemy have crossed the Danube, and occupy
three different positions. Omer Pacha has not
attacked them. He writes in very bad humour—
an unusual trait in his -correspondence. The great
affair of the day at Constantinople is the departure
of the Greeks. Count Metaxa, the Minister, leaves
to-day by the Austrian Lloyd steamer. The Greeks
are put under the protection of Belgium for, the
15 days' term allowed them for departure.

THE GERMAN POWERS.
The Prussian Correspondence of the 12th says :
—" Several journals have within the last few days
stated that the convention which had been agreed
to between Prussia and Austria had been refused
at Vienna. Such is not the cas2, for the reply of
the Austrian Cabinet has not yet arrived. If the
reply should be that some changes were desired, it
may be admitted, without fear of being mistaken,
that the modifications will not be important, and
will not disturb the accord which exists, and that,
on the contrary, the arrangement will shortly take
place in the most satisfactory manner.
The Cologne Gazette, on the same subject, says :
—" A part of the press does not make a sufficient
distinction between the protocol of Vienna and the
Austro-Prussian convention. The protocol has for
the moment more importance than the convention,
as it states that neither of the contracting powers
can enter into negotiations with Russia on the
principal points in dispute without previously con-
sulting the others ; by this the position of Prussia
has been fixed, and the convention can only deter-
mine at what moment the two German Powers are
to act. By the protocol Prussia has taken the step
which was desired without absolutely binding her-
self to Austria."

In the Corrierre Italian° of Vienna, of the 11th,
we read :—" It is asserted, in well-informed circles,
that the negotiations pending between Prussia and
Austria are closed, and that the treaty will be notified
before Easter. All the States of the Germanic Con-
federation approve of the position assumed by Prussia
and Austria. The signature of the protocol is a new
step taken by the Western Powers. It still depends
on Russia to allow Prussia and Austria to interfere
as mediating powers in the Eastern question or to
force these two powers to quit their state of neu-
trality iu order to maintain the peace of the world.
The war which Russia is waging at present is only
a war of self-love, which cannot procure her any
real advantage. In consequence we are delighted
at the position assumed by Austria, not that we
desire to see her engage in a war with Russia, but
because we hope that at St. Petersburg reflection
may intervene before matters are carried to ex-
tremities, and before inevitable calamities are
poured down on Russia in case the Czar should
not fear to provoke a war with all Europe."
The following is from th• Correspondance or
Berlin :—" On the occasion of the treaty of alFz-
ance offensive and defensive, Prussia has made a
last effort in favour of Russia. In fact the nego-
tiations of the treaty being terminated, Prussia, de-
manded that the conditions under which it won't(' be
permitted to Austria to take an active part in th.e war
against Russia should be defined in a precise manner.
This was evidently done in the interest of Russia,
and Baron de Hess only yielded on the point in re-
serving it for the ratification of his Government.
When on the side of Prussia an obligatory clause
was proposed by which the two German powers
would engage to guarantee the integrity of the
Ottoman Porte but • also the integrity of Russia,
Baron de Hess declared that sucha clause would
be rejected at Vienna, which has actually been thr
case, for Colonel Ruff has arrived here with a nega
tive reply. Austria, as we are informed, explained
this rejection by declaring that the chances of war,
when once commenced could not be foreseen, and
that it would be absurd to wish to tie the hands by
obligations taken beforehand, and the more so as
the advance of the Russian troops into Turkey
proves that Russia will not respect the integrity of
the Turkish territory. Accounts have been re-
ceived here of the concentration of troops on the
Russo Polish frontier, from which it would appear
that Russia wished to be prepared for any eventua-
lity. Count d'Arnim, the Prussian Ambassador at
Vienna, is expected hero in order to receive instruc-
tions relative to the pending negotiations."
The Lloyds of Vienna states that the letter,
tile Emperor Francis Joseph
to recentlythe addressed by
Emperor Napoleon 111., is a reply to one of
the latter, which had been presented by M. de
Bourqueney, French Ambassador at Vienna. The
letter of
extreme the Austrian Emperor is, it is added, of
an ly friendly character.
The Cologne Gazette, under date of Berlin, 12th,
says :—" It is stated that the Prince of Prussiai
will go to Vienna to be present at the marriage of
the Emperor. His Royal Highness the day before
yesterday attended the military manoeuvres, atr3 -
afterwards received General de Lindheim, who L: v. a
just returned from St. Petersburg."
On the 11th, the tuagistracy of Berlin sent in to
the Prince of Prussia an address of congratulati, )11
on his birth-day. The Prince returned the folio w-
ing reply :
rej"The sentimenta Which I find in your address ha vs
oiced me, andl express my sincere thanks for the
9e
proofs of attachment. May I still further be successfi x 1
by counsel and deed in cementing ever more and mor firmly that confidence between King and people whicli
has so powerfully contributed to raise up anew, wit)
fresh greatness and strength, our native country froi 3'
amidO the storms of the times. UO4 we slail