The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-24 00:00:00

CIRCULAR OF THE RUSSIAN GOVERN.

MENT.

The Cabinet of St. Petersburg issued-last month
a circular to its foreigv agents, which appeals to
the imagination of the Christians of the_ East, and
is of a nature to encourage the Greek insurrection.
It is as follows :
" ST. PETERSBURG, MARCH 2, 1854.

" Sir,—The memorandum annexed to my despatch of
the 18th of last month has enabled you to communicate to
the Government to which you are accredited a faithful and
circumstantial account of our difference.with Turkey, of
the negotiations by which we sought to bring the Porte to
a more jest appreciation of our demands, and of the com-
plications which arise therefrom in consequence of the
passionate intervention of the Cabinets of Paris and
London, and of the hostile attitude assumed towards us
at the very moment that they announced themselves as
pacific mediators between us and the Ottoman Govern.
meat. The events having acquired now the gravity
which we feared for the tranquillity of Europe, we con-
sider it a duty towards the Courts who have hitherto
judged our acts without prejudice or partiality, to con-
tinue to provide them with data to enable them to judge
with the same justice the situation in which some of the
great powers of Europe are desirous to place Russia in
its future relations with Turkey, and the obligations
thereby sought to be imposed upon the Emperor.
" There is one especially which touches the conscience
of the whole of Russia and of its Sovereign, that which
relates to the position of the Christian populations sub-
jected to Turkey, and upon whom the Mussulman
Government and people, excited by fanaticism, and con-
fiding in the sympathy and aid offered to them with so
unjustifiable an eagerness by the Christian Powers, think
themselves authorised to exercise the most cruel vexa-
tions.

"Some of these populations, especially those which
border upon independent Greeoe, driven to extremes,
and losing all hope of better fate, have taken up arms
to throw off a yoke which has become insupportable.
"This rising, already for a long time foreseen and
even announced, occupies and moves at the present mo-
ment the minds and the press of Europe. By a contra-
diction, which those who pretend to protect against us
the power of the Crescent and the rights of the Sultan
can alone explain, these same Powers, who declare war
to us for the sole motive that we wished to maintain the
religious immunities of the Christians of Turkey, say
that they are disposed to obtain in their favour the same
civil and political rights as are enjoyed by the Mussui.
men. . .

" We do not wish to draw sinister prognostics ; but
these tardy promises, so little in accordance with the
acts of those who proclaim them, will have, we fear,
other result than to exasperate still more the oppressors'
against the oppressed, to provoke sanguinary reprisals,
and to render for the future impossible the submission of
those populations to Turkish rule.
"For our part, we never demanded from the Porte
in favour of its Christian subjects but what was just

practicable, and confirmed by the acts of the Sultans
themselves ; but when others than ourselves come and
raise up complications and calamities which fall with all
their weight on our co-religionists, and drive them to au
unequal struggle, we cannot surely refuse them our in•
terest and our assistance.

" If the rising we hear of should take greater exten-
Nion—if it should become a war to the death, and of
lona duration, like that of the Greeks in 1821—we do •
not think that any Christian Power could assist in re*
placing these populations under the Ottoman yoke
without offending its conscience. The Emperor will in
no case lend his hand to it. During our war, as at the
period when peace will be possible, their fate will be the
object of the Emperor's care. Weals() hope that God will
not allow that, from an unjust animosity against Russia,
Christian Sovertlgns shall permit their armies to join in
the work of extermination, which• the renegades as-
sembled in the camp of Omer Pacha meditate doubtless
at this hour against those who have taken up arms for
the defence of their hearths and their Church.

" Such, sir, is the point of view in which we think it
right to consider the rising in Epirus, the possible con-
sequences of which we regret, which we have the con-
sciousness riot only not to have excited, but 'which We
were unable to prevent, though we desired to do so.
" You will make use of the above indications to rec-
tify the false rumours and malicious insinuations which
will, doubtless, be' circulated on this occasion against
Russia and her intentions.
(Signed) " NESSELRODB."

THE DANUBE.
VIENNA, Arita 23.—1 t is reported that Silis-
tria is hard besieged, and several points in flames.
Reports speak of its surrender, and that ill*
Russians have taken Rassova.
Both reports require confirmation.
The Russians send all disposable troops towards
Giurgevo and Kalafat. Their passage at Radjuge-
watz is shortly expected for a combined attack on
Widdin and Kalafat.
The Sulina mouths will be closed by sinking
three vessels earth laden ; only Kilia, with eight
feet water, remains open.

The Bashi Bazouks have burnt and evacuated
Bassardsik. A deputation of Rayahs has requested
the Russians to cross into the district between
Silistria and Shumla, no Turkish troops being there.
560 Russians still reside in Constantinople.
The banditti in Thessaly and Epirus have de-
stroyed 178 villages.
The Cologne Gazette contains a Vienna letter of
the 18th, which says :—" The crews of the Russian
vessels sold at Trieste to the, Greek Government
will arrive here to-morrow, under the escort of tyro
Austrian officers, who are to accompany them to
the frontier. The officers have instructions to pro-
vide for all the wants of the Russian crews, and to
take measures to prevent their being molested or
insulted on the road. It would seem, from this
order, that in high circles
~the real sentiments of
the public are well known: The mo=t import-
ant news from the theatre of war is that a Rus-
sian division has seized on Babadagh, on the Black
Sea, almost without combat, the Turks withdraw-
ing at once. At Kalsrasch preparations have been
made for a speedy, passage of the Danube, the -
Russians appearing to have it in contemplation to
blockade Silistria. On the left bank they have
raised several batteries, and, it is said, only await
the arrival of a part of the corps of Luders to com-
mence the bombardment of several places at the
same time. The news that the Court of Russia
intended withdrawing from St. Petersburg, and
proceeding to Moscow, is formally contradicted in
letters from the Russian capital of the 9th. Not
only the Court, but all the aristocracy will remain
at St. Petersburg."
The Correspondance of Berlin says :--cc Tele-
graphic accounts from Bucharest announce that
M. de Meusebach, Prussian Consul-General in
the Danubian Principalities, has struck his flag,
and suspended his diplomatic relations with the
Wallachian government. This measure has been
determined on in conseqUence of the- Consul-Gene'
ral having applied in vain for some time past to
the Wallachian authorities for a guarantee for the.
privileges and immunities of Prussian subjects ; the
Consular offices will, however, remain open in the
Principalities for the protection of Prussian sub-
jects. Other accounts from Bucharest of the 14th
announce that a fire had broken out in the town
of Fokschani, and destroyed the Russian hospitals.
The patients were, however, removed in safety.
The Russian powder magazine, which contained;
au immense quantity of powder, escaped."
,GALLIPOLL
We extract the following from a letter dated
Gallipoli, April Bth, and written by a gentleman
who accompanied the British troops, in the Golden
Fleece, which arrived at that place on April sth
Unless there is danger of the forces of his Imperial
Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias getting by
some means or other down on the very shores of the
Dardanelles, the advantage of fixing our position
at Gallipoli does not strike the unprofessional critic
very forcibly. It is a wretched collection 'of hovels,
of 10,000 inhabitants, Turks, Jews, and Greeks, on
the European side of the Dardanelles, at the north-
western extremity of tho strait, where it begins t°
expand into the Sea of Marmora. It is exposer-
to much of the sun's rays • but a range of hills
running parallel to thecoast Le affords considerable
facilities for pitching a healthy encampment. A;
the crow flies it would appear to be about 120 miles
from Constantinople across the Sea of Marmora.
The geographical accidents of Gallipoli would load
one to think the army placed there is intended fo,r
occupation and defence. It would be within such
a distance of Constantinople that, if the capita`
were in the smallest danger, the troops could he
i
sent there in a few days, artillery, baggage, an'.
all, -tvhile it effectually commands the Dardanelles
and the entrance to the Sea of Marmora, and make°
it a mare clausum as it lists. But there are other
considerations not to be overlooked, and which
become significant enough when it is . recol-
lected that a small town, on a spit of land. 01);
posite the mouth of the Maritza, on the coast of
Turkey to the north-east of Samothrace, was sflr'
veyed and examined for the encampment byFrenell
and English engineers. I mean the town of Enoo.
It is obvious that if some daring Muscovite Genera ;
forcing a passage across the Danube beat the Turk
and crossed the western ridges of the Balkan'
he - might advance southwards with very little
hindrance to the very .tEgean ; and a dashing mare'
to the south-east would bring his troops to the
western shores of the Dardanelles. An army a
Gallipoli could check such a movement, if it eat
entered into the head of auy one but the person who
is now writing of it. Gallipoli is in effect situ'
ate ou almost the narrowest portion of the
tongue of land or peninsula, which, running be'
tween the Gulf of Saros on the west and the Par'
dandles on the east, forms the western side of the
strait. An army encamped here commands the
YEgean and the Sea of Marmora, and can be
marched northwards to the Balkan, or sent across
to Asia or up to Constantinople with equal facility'
So far, then, if the Turks are beaten, this point
of some strategical value ; but would it not beinuct„
better to let -all this generalship alone and anny,
at once to aid The Turks on the Danube if •I
seriously intend be strike a blow for them TO -
is the question asked by ignorant Turks and bl
some ignorant Englishmen like myself. lam sure
the men would enjoy as good health and get into ,
fine condition with the excitement of a little cam"
paigning on the Danube, with the isrospectr of
brush with the enemy to keep up their spiriP,
they possibly could crowded in hot cantonments 3
Enos, Gallipoli, or Mitylene. On Thursday morn,
ing early a boat came off from shore, with two Col
missariat officers, Messrs. Turner and Bartlett, 0•1!.1
an interpreter. They informed us that the Cool
had gone up the Dardanelles to look for us, Oct
that he would return in the course of the day, ne,..t
added the unwelcome news that horses were
to be had at any price, that provisions were 114
very cheap, and that the French being 'the k,
comers, had got hold pf the best part of
town, and of the best quarters as well. 'The Frent,o
mail steamer for Marseilles just put in at T• •
moment, and started so soon afterwards that
could scarcely get the General's letters Wit,
despatches on board. After breakfast Lieutenant
General Brown, Colonel Sullivan, Captain ga,o,
well, aide-de-camp, and Captain Whitmore, al,,ut,
de-camp, started for the shore in the ship's bo-..,a
accompanied by the captain of the vessel tri
the commissary officers. Sir GeOrge proceed 7
to visit the Pasha of Adrianople (Rustum rashs 01
who had arrived here expressly by the ordero
his Government to facilitate the arrangelnlooe
and debarkation of the troops. He is an ow of
of high standing, and is said to be a man rs,
great energy and ability. After their return,
about half-past, 2 o'clock, Lieutenant-Gerro,
Canrobert, and one aide-de-camp, in full indleut..
came on board, and was received by the Lli.ros-
General. They had a long and animated con"; the
tion, and Sir George led him down the hold 0.11,0 g
ship that he might have an opportunity of (no.,
how the troops were stowed, and their arras/4cock
carried. The visit lasted an hour, and was roulho
at its close with greater cordiality if possiblevosi
at the commencement. After making the nece'''axy,
arrangements, the troops were disembarked tu,s,
and marched out to theif camp, 8i miles north
Gallipoli. ,

AUSTRIA.
THE EMPEROR'S NUPTIALS. trn.
VI MNA, Sunday Evening, April 23.--Tht/;;;
penal bride arrived yesterdvr. She eutele%isi
city in state. The solemnisation of the Iraly/'

tian
of A,

be (
proN

1'11(.11
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repo
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A.usi
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by tt
are
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part 11
Burger
advice
arbich
aad gra
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z Th(
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CoIN
RA

N
17apei
03
the de
depree

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at Lou
betvve(
ing th(
empire
by the
respeei
15th o
of whi
tire ex

Rap
The
Part
of Ri
~,
agree

set I
that

e Sultans
come and
11 with all
lem to au
na our in•

ter exten:

b, and of
I—we do
silt in rem
lan yoke
ror will in
as at the
ovill be the
A God will
st Russia,
to join in
gades as-
: doubtless
p arms for

ye think it
3sible con-

re the con.
which we
10 so.

Dn s to rec-
ions which
n against

LIIODB."

hat Sibi-
u flames.
that the

towards
Radjuge-
attack on

y sinking
rith eight

evacuated
requested
t between
tUere.
ople.

have de-

letter of
10 Russian
wernment
;ort of two
y them to
ins to pro-
ws, and to
olested or
from this
timents of
t import-
Lat a Rus-
the Black
withdraw-
have been
mube, the
plation to
they has'fe
only await
)rs to com-
es at the
of Russia
burg, and
ad icted .
Jth. Not
rill remain

:_cc Tele-
unee that
eneral in
his flag,
; with the
has been
asul-Gene-
Le past to
tee for the.
ejects ; the
pen in the
issian sub-
f the 14th
L the town
hospitals•
in safety.
contained.

tter dated
gentleman:
;he Golden.
pril sth
3 Imperial
getting by
ores of the
it positiopositionlona! critic
L Of hovels,
Greeks, on
the north-
begins toi,
is expore•
ge of Ole
msiderable
tnent.
t 120 miles.
Marmora•
vould. lead
Ltended for
ithin 0,0.14
he capita
s could be;gage, an
)ardanelles
and makes
3 are other
and which
is recol-
f land. 0P;
he coast 01
e, was ear:
by Franey.
n of End'
to General.
the Turks
e Balkan'
very little
[ling march
ops to the
.n army t‘
if it ever
person who
ffeet, situ'
Dn of the
tinning be'
d the Der'
side of the
nands the
d can be
sent across
ial
is point
Dt be mtlel"

Is.
1131:
atered ~.
IraPgi."