The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-12 00:00:00

THE SERPENTS' ISLAND.

A letter has just been received from Constan-
tinople, from which we extract the following :
" The Russians have made another attempt to
land at the Serpents' Island. They sent a steamer
there to land provisions, water, and clothing for
the seven men, as well as different materials
for the lighthouse. Captain Vansittart, of her
Majesty's ship Magicienue, the superior officer
in command of the station, went on board,
and , informed the Russian commander that
he could not allow him to land, but that he
I was ready to take off in his boat the provisions
and clothing, but not the materials for the light-
house, as the latter has been in a perfect state
since the 15th of the present month, displaying
a splendid revolving light alter the best model,
and with the latest improvements. He offered
likewise to take the commanding officer with him
on shore, and allow him to communicate with his
countrymen. While the conversation was car-
ried on a boat pushed off from the Russian
steamer towards the island, but was preventel
from landing, and the Russian steamer departed
re Week, after having given over the provisions
and clothing.

The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post
(second edition) says :
" I believe I am correct iu stating that public
affairs will prevent his Majesty from visiting Fon-
tsinbleau as was originally proposed.
" At the Council of Ministers held yesterday
at St. Cloud some important explanations took
place, which may of the modification of the
Ministry, at least to a certain extent.
" The French Government has not fixed on any
period for the meeting of the conferences, as
stated by some journals."

The Paris correspondent of the Times (second

edition) says :

" The Ministerial crisis--if such a thing as a
crisis, in the ordinary acceptation of the word, be
possible under the Imperial p'39i)ric—is said to be
over for the present. Whether it recur soon will
depend on the measures that may or may not be
adopted to satisfy the just demands of the large
portion of the people who are discontented or
suffering. Two or three members of the Cabinet,
at all events, have spoken their minds very freely,
and, under the circumstances, very boldly, on the
present state of affairs. It may be admitted that
the evils which afflict so many of the population
ought not to be attributed to the Government,
but, at least, the Government should avoid
giving any pretext for imputation. When the
people find, for instance, that the representative
of France at the Czar's coronation may combine
the character of ambassador with that of a specu-
lator, that the concessions obtained are not exclu-
sively political, and that private interests are at
least equally cared for with those of the public, it
is no wonder they should murmur. Again, it is
just that the Emperor should have time for relax-
ation and relief from the severer occupations
of State, but surely there is no very pressing
necessity for the resumption of the festivities
of Compiegne at Fontainbieau while masses
of the people are in indigence ; and five
months out of the twelve should in all con-
science suffice for mere amusement. No one
believes that his Msjesty neglects public business
even during these hours, but they like to feel the
hand that governs them, and the hand cannot in
safety be so long withdrawn. Those about the
Court who are most attached to the Emperor's
really careful of his popularity, are
person, and
doing their utmost to dissuade him from going to
Fontainbleau—with what success remains to be
se might be expected, the hostile political
partiesen A
ares leaving nothing undone to excite the
ill-will of the people, and in some cases, I fear, suc-
cessfully. Very energetic measures of repression
must be taken Lefore long ; but the repressiol:
should be applied elsewhere than in the sirens,
To remove discontent and silent murmuring, the
causes which justify or excuse it must be radi-
cally removed. I have reason to believe that this

view of the question was placed before the Empe-
ror on a very recent occasion.

" Several arrests were made yesterday and the

day before.

" The fford announoes that the Commissioners
of the five great Powers are to settle at Constan-
tinople the question of the Principalities and the
Black Sea, Bolgrad, and the Isle of Serpents ; but
I am assured that, as respects that Commission
and the meeting of the Congress in Paris or Lon-
don, nothing is as yet decided."

The correspondent of the Times (second edi-
tion), in a letter dated Constantinople, Nov. 2,
says :

" The separation between France and Eng-
land, and the revival of their rival policy in
Turkey, has not only spoilt the chance of a set-
tlement of the dispute between Bolgrad and the
Serpents' Island, but it is likewise daily compli-
cated by the question of the Principalities. On
Tuesday last the Cunforence was held for
the discussion of the firman for the convoca-
tion of the Divans ad hoc. You will remember
the stroke of policy which the Turkish Govern-
ment attempted, by communicating the draft first
confidentially to the English and American Am-
bassadors in order to gain their consent for the
`note explicative' which was to have accompanied
it. As you know, the representations of the
French Ambassador were so strong in conse-
quence that the Ministry gave up the 'note
explicative.' But this was not enough. As
might be expected, the French were by no means
disposed to look favourably on a project which
was brought forward under such circumstances,
and at the first conference the French Ambassador
oame forward with a counter project, which was
adopted by the majority of the a arerence, but
which, as is natural, will in i 1 s details find as much
opposition as the former.
" While this skirmishing is going on in the
private relations of the Western Powers at Con-
stantinople, there is one great proof of a separa-
tion visible in broad daylight, and this is the
presence of a considerrble English squadron, and
the absence of the tricolor, except on the stern
of the Ajaecio, attached to the French Embassy
and the Roland, which has retired deep into
Beicos Bay awaiting the departure of Ferule
Khan, the Persian Ambassador to France. Til?
Russians have tried to take advantage of this
separation between the movements of France 1113(/
England to ask the Turkish Government to Pre"
test against the presence of the English fleet, 5s
contrary to the convention, but they failed 13
their attempt. This attempt shows, however'
that they think their time has come.