The Sun.
London, England, 1833-04-12 00:00:00

(From the Allgemeine Zeitung.)

CONSTANTINOPLE, MARCH 12.—The events of the
passing period are riot easy to he described, as the atmos-
phere in which we live is one in which things are often far
fi om really being what they seem to be. Under such cir-
cutnstances, the chronological order is the best guide.
As the progress of the Egyptians on this side of the
Taurus, in consequence of the total want of defensive
means, vriously endangered the very existence of the em-
pire, the Divan called to recollection that long before, at a
period when the danger was fir from being so great, pro-
positions far friendly aid had been made by the Imperial
Russian Court. These propositions indicated the readiness
of the Russian G wernment to send from Sebastopol to the
Dardanelles some ships of war, with the view of covering
the Turkish capital. Though these propositions were
received with thank, they led to no result on the
part of the Divan until the danger became im-
minent. An application was then addressed to
the Russian Envoy, not only for the proffered
naval protection, but for an army of 25,000 or 30.000
men to be marched upon Constantinople. The Imperial
Russian Envoy, as may be supposed, could only give im-
mediate effect to the first part of the request. He de-
spatched couriers to Sebastopol and St. Petersburgh.
111 e inwhile information was received that Ibrahim Pacha
had continued his forward movement to Kiutakia, and
soon after, through the return of Lieutenant-General
Aluravieff and the report of the Austrian Consul-General
in Alexandria, the disclosure of favour ible occurrences
followed. The Divan now considered that the foreign aid
which bad been solicited might be dispensed will), and
on a new application to the Russian Envoy he sent a
counter-order to Sebastopol. The squadron had, however,
already sailed, and on the 20th of February it anchored off
Bujukdere.

On the 17th the new French Ambassador, Admiral
Roussin, arrived at Constantinople. Since the commence-
ment of the Egyptian enterprise, M. de Varennes, the
French Charge d'Affaires, had always taken a lively interest
in the relations between Mehemet Ali and the Porte. lie
repeatedly offered the mediation of France, but always con-
nected the offer with conditions which were so entirely in
favour of the Viceroy that no progress was made in these
negotiations. The appearance of the Russian fleet, how-
ever, suddenly gave a different turn to affairs. Admiral
Roussin now abandoned the former conditions, and pro-
posed to the Porte the following dilemma :
" The departure of the French Embassy, or the accep-
tance by the Sultan of the guarantee of France that
Mehemet Ali will be satisfied with the terms of reconcilia-
tion offered him on the part of the Porte ; at the same time
the renunciation by the Sultan of all other aid but French."
This reciprocal obligation was on the 24th of February
confirmed by a diplomatic act, drawn up by the French
Ambassador and the Reis Effendi. In consequence of
this convention being agreed upon, Admiral Roussin
despatched one of his aides-de-camp to Alexandria.
They first question now is, will Mehemet Ali assent to the
dictatorial decision of Admiral Roussin ? The other is,
what means does France possess, in case the Viceroy
should object to the conditions, to compel his acceptance of
them, and at the same time to prevent any other European
power from interfering in these complicated negotiations?
These questions affect material stipulations, and are there-
fore of a different nature from the moral decision of the
way and manner in which the Russian Monarch may re-
ceive his exclusion from the course of transactions in a
neighbouring state, in consequence of the pretensions of a

power far remote from the scene of action. Respecting
this last question no p articular anxiety prevails, either in
the Divan or among the pubbe ; for no one can believe
that the Emperor of Russia would make the unfortunate
and oppressed Porte answerable for what is not her act,
and only the consequence of her embarrassments. The
first question, however, appears to us the more important,
and more difficult to be solved, as we well know that
Mehemet Ali has at his command more than one resource
for carrying nn his flagitious game. He can, if he please,
impure to the revolt of other Pachas that which is alone
to be attributed to himself, but of which the proof can-
not be brought against him while he continues to wear
the dusk. In either case, if the Viceroy of Egypt should
refine to ratify the decision of a mediator not authorized
by him, what means does the French Government pos•
seas of obliging him to limit himself to the four small
Pachalics of Acre, Naplos, Jerusalem, arid Tripoli, and to
restore tranquillity to the districts beyond their bounds,
and to Anatolia? Did Admiral Raussin, when he signed
his diplomatic act, bethink himself of those chances, and,
indeed, slid he take any thing into consideration but the
immediate removal of the Russian squadron ?
The English dragoman, M. Alexander Pisani, who was
sent to Ibrahim Pacha, has returned from the Egyptian
head-quarters. He has brought Ibrahim's assurance that
the late events at Smyrna tcrik place entirely without his
concurrence. This is probable, in so far as he may not
have given t direct command for that military operation ;
as, however, the rebel Emir Effendi is proved to have an
understanding with the Mus•elim established at Magnesia
by Ibrahim, the sulverfuge is plain enough.
The real state of things in the Ottoman empire is not
difficult to be penetrated. This much is certain, that aid
can only be expected to be offered to the Sultan by those
Powers which have an evident interest in up-
holding him. In this respect, the union of those
Powers is obviously the best means of attaining their
object. However, the new French Ambassador has
not only declined to cooperate with the °them, but
his first step has, on the contrary, been rather calculated
to interpose an essential obstacle in the way of this neces-
sary union. The most striking circumstance in the conduct
of this ambassador certainly is his sudden change from
advocating the most favourable conditions for Mehemet
Ali to the utmost limitation of that Pacha's claims, and
this in consequence solely of the entrance of eight Russian
ships into the Bosphorus. From these facts this singular
conclusion may be deduced, that if the affair should yet
be amicably adjusted, the appearance of those ships ha',
more than any other possible event could have done, turned
the balance in the severe contest between Mehemet Al
and the Porte. But are we yet at the end of the affair ?