The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-14 00:00:00

THE FALL OF KARS.

The Journal de Constantinople of Jan. 3 con-
tains the official report of the defence and fall of
Kars, published in the Turkish official paper.
It is as vague a document as any ever written
by a Turkish Kiatib ; if it is to be believed it
must be Kismet (fate) and (under its auspices) the
Allied Powers to whom the fall of Kars is to be at-
tributed.

After paying a well-earned tribute to the
bravery of the garrison, this document says, " un-
fortunately, bravery alone was not sufficient, and
as the place was invested, it was not possible
to throw in provisions." Then it pretends to
give a short resume of the siege, and exposes all the
good intentions which were entertained for the
relief of Kars. How, as soon as the Porte heard
of the state of the garrison, it took immediate
measures to send reinforcements and mate-
rial to Erzeroum, and how it ordered the diversion
by Batoum as the most effectual means to attract
the forces of the enemy, and relieve the town.
" Such," the document proceeds,—

"Were at least the dispositions taken by the Councils
of War held at Constantinople. -Unfortunately the
views of the Turkish Government could -not be carried
out, the Imperial troops being encamped around Se-
bastopol, and the great events which have, signalized
the last period of the campaign, which ended in the fall
of Sebastopol, having not yet taken place, it was impos-
sible for us to send our forces from there to Asia. On
the other hand, in order not to diminish the political
importance of our presence on the Danube, we could
not take troops from the army in the interior.
Thos the time passed until the Sirdar Ekrem (Omer
Pasha) went in all haste in the direction of Georgia, at
the same time that Selim Pasha was sent to organise a
reserve in Erzeroum."

The document describes then the good effect pro-
duced by the disembarking of troops at Batoum, me-
nacing the rear of the Russians—namely, by in-
ducing them to attack the place—and it attributes
to the knowledge The Russians had of the famine
prevailing in Kars that they did not abandon the
place after their defeat.
Then comes a curious paragraph :

" During this time, in consequence of unforeseen
circumstances, which it was impossible to control, the
concentration at Batoum was retarded, and the ope-
rations destined to save Kars were drawn to such a
length that the ,garrison could no more count on this
means of relief."

A IYIERICA.
TH E PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
LIVERPOOL, MONDAY MORNING.
The Royal mail steamer Asia has arrived, with
advices from Boston to the 2d inst.

President Pierce, notwithstanding the noa elec-
tion of the Speaker, presented his Annual Message
to Cong,ress on the 31st ult. We gather the al-
lowing summary from the New York Courier and
Enquirer of the Ist inst
" That part of the Message which was looked for
with the greatest interest was that which touched
upon our foreign relations. It was anticipated that
our difficulties with England would not be treated in
a very assuring tone—nor are they. The British con-
struction of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty is pro-
nounced inadmissible, and the determination is ex•
pressed to insist upon the rights of the United
States. It is stated that negotiations are not yet at
an end, and yet little encouragement is held out that
they will produce a satisfactory solution, and we are
told that the question cannot mush longer continue
open without seriously endangering the friendly relation
of the two countries. So far as regards the view of our I
Government that under the treaty the British have no
right in Central America except at Belize, we appre-
hend there will be no difference of opinion among the
American people, but we believe it morally certain
that England will never follow her pretensions to
arbitrament of the sword. The battle will not be
suffered to leave diplomatic ground, and it will
probably not be determined there before the internal
civil and commercial changes of that part of the conti-
nent will have superseded and made obsolete every ma-
terial point in dispute.
" In regard to the difference with England arising out
of her violation of our neutrality laws, by the attempt to
raise recruits within our borders, the President presents
no definitive view of the case. He has demanded of the
British Government not only a cessation of the wrong
but its reparation, yet nothing specific Is disclosed con-
cerning the character of the reparation demanded or the
disposition of the English Government to make it. The
subject is yet under discussion.
" In reference to the Sound Dues at Denmark it is
stated that the invitation to our Government to go into
a convention with the representatives of all European
States, for the capitalisation of the dues, has been de-
clined, though a willingness is expressed to compensate
Denmark for all of her outlay in improving the naviga-
tion of the Sound or Belts.
"Our difficulties with France, Spain, and Greece are
all pronounced settled or nearly settled."
In the House of Representatives on the 31st ult.,
after a fierce debate and much squabbling about
Parliamentary rules, it was decided by a vote of
126 against 87 that the Message should not be read
until the House was organised.

FRANCE
PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING.

A third council of war is to take place to-morrow.

On Tuesday a grand review will take place of
the Army of the Crimea, on which occasion the
English medals will be distributed.
On Wednesday Prince Jerome will give a grand
dinner to the members of the Council of War ;
and on Thursday the Minister of War will receive
the same distinguished party, whom he has also
invited to dinner.

Last night Lady Cowley gave a children's ball at
the British Embassy. His Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge, all the members of the War
Council, including General La Marmora, were
present, together with M. Walewski, and a dis-
tinguished though limited -circle of French and
English, who had received invitations.
Baron de Seebach is expected in Paris to-mor-
row. It is understood that this diplomatist wig
seek to influence the French Government in taking
into consideration the Russian reply to the peace
propositions.
Despatches from Sweden say that great activity
is observable in the army and navy, and should
Sweden be called upon to join the Allies in any
offensive operations,. that power will be found fully
prepared by the spring.
The approaching marriage is announced of
Prince Gabrielli with the Princess Charlotte
Bonaparte.
The following telegraphic despatch has been re-
ceived here to-day :--
BERLIN, 12th, Evening.—" M. de Seebach
passed through this city to-day, on his return from
St. Petersburg to Paris. It is said that he is au-
thorised by the Russian Cabinet to continue the
negotiations at Paris. Colonel de Manteuffel is
expected the day after to-morrow from Vienna."
BOURSE, Jan. 12, Two o'Clock.—The Rente con-
tinues to decline, and it is probable that inscrip-
tions will be transferred at the end of the month.
It is reported that M. de Seebach is on his road to
Paris with an unfavourable answer of the Czar.
The 3 per Cents. declined from 62f. 50c. to 61f.
60c. Mobilier and Railway Shares have also de-
clined rather heavily.
Half-past Three.—Prices continued to decline to
nearly the close when they rallied a little. The
following are the last quotations :

Cash. fr. e. End of Month
4i per Cents 9O —f. -c.
3 per Cents 6l GO 61 75
New Loan 62 50

Bank Shares 3135 Roman
Credit Mobilier ll6O Austrian ............
Belgian Fives 94 Spanish Threes ..... .
34 Pi admontese B3 50 Home Debt .........