The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-21 00:00:00

TURKEY.

The most important original article in the Paris
journals of yesterday is one in the Pays on the
Eastern question, and which declares that the oc-
cupation of the Danubian principalities by the
Russian forces will, or will not, be considered a
casus belli according to the manner in which
Turkey will look on that occupation. It may,
however, be remarked that Turkey, in so grave a
conjecture, would scarcely make any declaration
which she had not previously submitted to the
consideration of the French and English Ambassa-
dors at Constantinople, so that though the Sultan
IS paid the compliment of being told that on his
decision depends war or peace, yet in reality he
Will only be the medium through which the two
great powers will make known their intended course
of action.
The Siecle and the Univers have likewise articles
on the affairs of Turkey, and both of them are
rather warlike in tone. The Siecle asks why the
allied fleets have been ordered to the neighbourhood
of the Dardanelles, if not to act with energy the
moment the Russians pass the Pruth ?

The German journals contain only one impor-
tant point, in addition to the intelligence which
has already come to hand, relative to the Ea.mtern
question. It refers to the answer of the Ottoman
Porte to the last ultimatum of Russia, which a
letter from Vienna of the 15th, in the New Prus-
sian Gazette, states, though not positively, to con-
sist of a declaration of non-acceptance. The letter
in question says :—" The Ottoman Ambassador
here received, this day, a dispatch from Semlin,
which announces that the Porte has rejected the
ultimatum Brought by a courier from St. Peters-
burgh to Constantinople, referring at the same time
to its memorandum to the Powers for the reason of
its refusal." The Frankfort Journal, under date
of Jassy the 6th, says :—" We are in continual
alarm of war breaking out, and our fears are not
without foundation, as we are informed on good
authority that bridges are being thrown over the
Pruth at Skuleni and at Leowa, and over the
Danube at Tultscha ; the General Luders has, by
order of the Emperor, reviewed the troops sta-
tioned in the neighbourhood of Leowa, Reni, and
Dubassar, on the Dniester ; that four gun-boats
have entered the mouth of the Pruth to be em-
ployed in conveying artillery to Leowa, &c. Hopes
are nevertheless entertained that peace will not be
disturbed for the moment, and this hope is grounded
on the last note of Prince Menschikoff, which,
although threatening, is not absolutely warlike."
A letter from Pesth, 13th, states that the Austrian
Government had lately made considerable pur-
chases of horses, and had repaired and completely
armed the fortresses of Temeswar, Arad, and earls-
burg.—The Austrian Correspondence confirms the
news that Austria was sending troops to Croatia,
in order to be prepared for all eventualities. The
same journal adds that Austria has no idea what-
ever of increasing her army.
The news of an Austrian mediation in the
Oriental question is premature. Nevertheless it is
asserted that this mediation will soon be accepted,
and that the differences between the British and
the Russian Cabinet will, by means of the good
pffices of Austria, be brought to a satisfactory
settlement. This news is contained in a semi-
official paper, the Wanderer.
Prince Menschikoff is at Sebastopol, waiting for
the Emperor's orders.
A letter from Smyrna, of the 7th inst., an-
nounces that two Turkish vessels—one loaded with
slaves and the other with grain—have been cap-
tured by the Russians in the Black Sea.

The same letter- states that the war in the Cau-
casus had again broken out with redoubled fury,
and that the Russians have suffered a defeat at the
hands of Schamyl.
A letter from Pultowa, in Russia, states that
the Grand Duke Czarowitsch, who is the chief of
all the establishments for military instruction in
Russia, has just purchased the ground near that
town, on which, on the 27th June, 1709, was
fought the celebrated battle when Peter the Great
gained a complete victory over Charles XII., King
of Sweden, who was obliged to take refuge in Tur-
key. The Grand Duke has presented this ground
to the school of cadets at Pultowa, who are charged
to repair the ruins of the fortifications of the Rus-
sian camp which still remain, in order to perpetuate
the memory of the greatest feat of arms that illus-
trates the reign of Peter I.
The Courrier de Marseille mentions that its cor-
respondent at Constantinople writes word that M.
de Lacour and Lord Redcliffe have informed
Reschid Paella that their Governments would not
consider the occupation of the Danubian princi:
palities by Russia as a casus
A private letter from Constantinople states that
the enthusiasm of the Turks is universal. The
boatmen of the Bosphorus have offered to sell
their boats to give the proceeds to the public trea-
sury, and to go and fight with the army. It is
positively stated, says the same letter, that the
Porte will not abandon the position it has assumed
in order to accept the mediation of Austria,
without the consent and adhesion of France and
England.