The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-25 00:00:00

THE WAR IN THE EAST,

IMPORTANT FROM ST. PETERSBURG.
REFUSAL OF THE CZAR TO RETURN AN
ANSWER TO THE ANGLO-FRENCH ULTI-
MATUM.
The Times gives the following despatch of yesterday's
date from its correspondent at Berlin :
"Count Nesselrode has communicated to the English
and French Consuls that the Emperor will give no an-
swer at all to their joint summons."
Another despatch from St. Petersburg of the same
date, says :
" Russia has acknowledged the neutrality of Sweden,
" There is no change in the Danish Ministry.
" The Diet was to be closed on the 24th."
The Hamburg Correspondent has the following
According to advices from St. Petersburg, which
arrived here on the 16th inst., the Russian Government
proposes publishing various documents on the Eastern
question. Among the documents destined for publica-
tion are some letters written by Prince Albert."
It is believed in certain political circles here (says the
Paris correspondent of the Times, in his letter of yester-
day's date) that the intelligence received from Vienna
within the past few days is not very satisfactory. There
is perhaps no single fact, or no series of facts, alleged
against that Cabinet, but it is certain that in the
diplomatic correspondence or conversations which
have passed between the respective ministers,
there occur observations, comments, demands of expla-
nations, and conditions which give ground for suspicion
as to the sincerity and firmness of Austria under circum-
stances like the present, when the only chance of safety
lies in the adoption of a marked and unequivocal line
of policy. These symptoms have appeared if not for
the first time, certainly more strongly within the last
fortnight, and the efforts of this Government to force
the Cabinet of Vienna to give a distinct explana-
tion of her intentions with reference to Russia have
not, it would appear, been as successful as was hoped.
The fault is attributed to Prussia, not perhaps so much
from the influence she possesses over Austria as from
fear of the latter that if she were deeply engaged with
the Western Powers, her rival, by holding aloof, would
profit by her comparatively free position to advance her
own views in Germany. But whatever be the cause, a
good deal of discontent is observable at the conduct of
Austria, and I have reason to believe that her own am-
bassador in Paris is as little satisfied with it as the
French Government.
The Patrie publishes a letter from Erzeroum, of the
2d inst., announcing that the Secretary of State, Bazi-
lewski, one of the attach& of the Russian Legation at
Teheran, had passed through that city on his way to St.
Petersburg. He was said to be charged with a private
mission. It was reported at Erzeroum that Russian in-
fluence had experienced a last check in Persia, and that
notwithstanding the menaces addressed to the Shah,
that Sovereign had formally refused to attack Turkey.
Accounts from Odessa, of the sth inst., mention the
arrival of Prince Woronzow at Sebastopol, for the pur-
pose of inspecting the fortifications of the place.
The Belgian Government has called the attention of
the armourers of Liege to the serious consequences that
might result for them, if, in the present circumstances,
they sold arms to Russia, as it was not doubtful that
England and France, either by their cruisers or other
means, would intercept them on the way. They would
expose themselves to the same danger if they attempted
to send arms to the Greek insurgents, the transit of
weapons of war through Germany being prohibited.
The steam-frigate Asmod6e has arrived with de-
spatches for the Government from Constantinople, which
she left on the 14th inst. Their contents have not
transpired. The ship-of-the-line Duperre came out of
dock to-day ; she will shortly sail for Brest to join the
fleet fitting out for the Baltic.
The equinoctial gales have set in with great violence;
it has been blowing strong from the west all day.
A letter from St. Petersburgh of the 12th, in the
Frankfort Journal, says :—"la consequence of the
northern, western, and eastern provinces of Russia
being placed in a state of war, the Commanders-in-Chief
are taking measures to put the provinces and ports
which may be exposed to an attack by sea, in a state of
defence. All the inhabitants on the coast have been
warned that they will have to watch over the safety of
their property and families, should the town which they
inhabit be bombarded by the English and French ves-
sels. Reports arrive from the interior of the empire
relative to the solemn publication of the Imperial
manifesto announcing to the people the cessation of diplo-
matic relations between Russia and the Western Powers.
That publication was accompanied in the cathedral of
Moscow by thanksgiving, for the victories already
gained. The ceremony took place in presence of the
civil and military authorities. The Gulfs of Bothnia and
of Finland are still frozen over. It is said that 30,000
persons are employed in cutting the ice in this latter.
General Ermentoff has received orders to proceed to
the Crimea with 12,000 men to occupy Kaffa and
several points of the Black Sea, and in general to watch
the south-west coast from Sebastopol to Kaffa. The
march of General Tscheodajeff's corps to Bessarabia
continues. By the Ist of May the active army in the
Principalities will amount to 200,000 men, admirably
equipped. A corps of reserve has been concentrated,
it is said, in Wolhynia,
.under the command of Gen.
Schinelnikoff, Governor of Zitornir. Men under 45
years of age cannot now obtain passports to cross the
frontiers."
It appears by the letters from Berlin of the 21st that
a warns opposition to the bill for a loan will be mani-
fested in the Second Chamber of the Prussian States,
unless the Government should give a more satisfactory
account of the policy which it intends to adopt on the
Eastern question, than that recently given by M. de
Manteuffel. The Committee on the bill have declared
that they will not vote the loan unless more satisfactory
information be given to the country.
A letter from Dantzic, 18th, says :—" The Chamber
of Commerce of this city has decided on sending a me-
morial to the King, in which it will point out the disas-
trous consequences to which the country will be exposed
if it does not unite itself on the side of the Western
Powers."