The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-03 00:00:00

patriotism and splendid exploits. We will venture I
to say that no independent person in this country
who ever seriously directed his thoughts to this
subject imagined for a moment that a peace would
be made without some stipulation in favour of this
heroic people. During the war in Asia Minor the
Circasians materially impeded the operations of our
enemy, and kept a portion of their forces in check.
To abandon them to the mercy of Russia after hav-
ing experienced the value of their services would
be, not only to commit a great blunder, but to per-
petrate an act of unparalleled baseness. By their
heroic efforts they have hitherto been enabled to pre-
serve their independence against an immense supe-
riority of force ; but it is very doubtful whether
they will be enabled to do so longer if now left to
fight their battle single-handed. The circumstances
of their relation to their foe are entirely changed.
By the action of the war the military power
of Russia has hen so concentrated as to al-
low of an overwhelming force being directed
against the Caucasus. The Georgian army on
one part, and the Crimean army on the other,
are conveniently disposed for acting against
the Caucasus with irresistible numbers. A por-
tion of the Russo-Caucasian army, under Gene-
ral Khruleff, is, it appears, ready for action on
the spot. The army of Mouravieff, strengthened
and inspirited by the spoil of Kars, will be at once
available for the new theatre of operations opened
to it ; while the immense force in the Crimea, re-
leased from the duty of maintaining its ground
against the allies, will be able to send reinforce-
ments to the scene of action to any extent that
may be required. The organisation of the army
for the conquest of the Caucasus is rapidly pro-
ceeding—regiments are now on their march to the
spot, and already we are informed by accounts
from St. Petersburg that large supplies of all kinds
are being forwarded for the use of the Caucasian
army.
It will lie impossible for the Caucasians to resist
the invasion with which they are threateted. The
military power which opposed England, France,
and Turkey in arms, is now to be directed solely
against them. They perceive their danger. As
we write, an announcement appears that a deputa-
tion from Circassia had arrived on the 24th of
April at Constantinople to request the recogni-
tion and the guarantee of their country by the
Porte. What answer will be returned to them ?
This subject could not have been overlooked by
our Government ; but, on the other hand, is it
possible that it has deliberately come to a re-
solution to connive at the conquest of the
Caucasus ? If so—and it does not appear that
amid the multifarious topics discussed at the
Conference one thought was given to this point
—we shall have concluded a peace which is in
reality no peace, as hostilities will continue on the
very borders of the Black Sea, and Russia will
probably at last close the war by a conquest which
she has been attempting for more than a century
past, which will prodigiously increase her power
and fame iu Asia, and far more than compensate
her for the defeats she has sustained at the hands
of the Allies.

We believe that the public will await explanations
on this point with the greatest anxiety. A contin-
gency has arisen which they had riot the slightest
reason to expect. While we remainedin ignorance of
what was passing at the Conference, the Russian
Government seems to have been making activepre-
parations for this new war, and all the resources
which had been accumulated in case the con-
test with the allies should have been con-
tinued, are now to be employed for the com-
plete and final subjugation of the Caucasus.
This result is so unlocked for and astound-
ing, that we can yet scarcely believe it possible.
We are sure that if a resolution has been,
indeed, arrived at to leave the Caucasians to their
fate, the people of this country will regard it as
a most afflicting and dishonourable termi-
nation of the War ; and that it will entirely
destroy the satisfaction with which they
would otherwise have welcomed the return of
Peace. The thought that the Treaty just con-
cluded will be signalised on the part of Russia by
an overwhelming invasion of the Caucasus, and
the extermination of its heroic people, will cast a
gloom over the mind of the country, and make the
day appointed for rejoicing a day of profound re-
gret and humiliation.