The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-08 00:00:00

SWITZERLAND.

BERNE, Tuesday.—The Federal Council has ad-
dressed a proclamation to the Swiss people. In
this document the council recalls the examples of
patriotic resistance contained in Helvetian annals.
Whether it is to be peace or war is still undecided,
but whatever the issue of the difference Switzer-
land is certain of obtaining sympathies and sup-
port. There are hopes of an honourable peace, but
in any event the popular enthusiasm is ready for
the greatest sacrifices. All needful measures are
taken to harmonise the exigencies of military
arrangements with humanity. The country will
look to the fate of the families of the citizens called
upon to defend it. _

A letter from Berne, in the Brussels Indepem-
dance of Tuesday, states that the Duke of Saxe
Cobourg Gotha is displaying great solicitude for
the pacific settlement of the dispute, and is anxious
to act as mediator.

The Federal Government of Switzerland has
addressed to the governments of the cantons the
following circulars concerning Swiss soldiers who
have been in foreign service :
Faithful and dear Confederates,—We regard it as our
duty to communicate to you our own opinion respecting
the very considerable materials for the defence of our
country in the event of foreign aggression which exist in
the soldiers who have served in foreign countries. Some of
their officers have offered their services to us ; but, in
order to obtain a comprehensive view of the forces al-
luded to, we beg you will draw up a list of the persons
who have seen foreign service and are now disposable,
and transmit the same to our military department.
Colonel Bourgeois-Doxat has published the fol-
lowing order of the day to the troops under his
command in Switzerland :

Officers, Sub-officers, and Soldiers,--The High Federal
Council has just ordered under arms the third division of
the army. It is to me that the honour of its command
has been confided. In calling you out, the object has
been to protect the independence of the country and the
inviolability of the territory. The enthusiasm with
which you have come forward proves that you are fully
penetrated with zeal for this high mission, and that you
will not hesitate at any sacrifice to accomplish it. You
evidently understand the importance of the object in
view, and you will know how to show, in the execution
of the orders transmitted to you, the dignity and the
coolness which characterise true courage, joined to that
energy which is imparted by the justice of your cause.
Soldiers of-the td division, rely on the devotedness of
your chiefs, as they rely on yours ; and with the aid of
the Almighty we shall preserve our dear country from
any attack on its honour, its territory, of its institutions.

RUSSIA AND THE TARTARS.
ST. PETERSBURG, DEC. 28.
Amongst the many Imperial ukases lately pub-
lished, one in particular deserves more attention
than it is calculated to attract from the laconic
manner in which it is worded. On the recommen-
dation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the
Emperor grants a pension of some thousand roubles
to the head of the district of Ala-Tau, which is
now incorporated with the former district of the
"Kirgeses of the Great Horde." In order to judge
of the importance of this mer—,;:re, it is necessary
to state that these "Kirgeses of the Great Horde"
inhabit the south-western parts of Siberia and the
north of Turkistan, and have hitherto maintained
rather an indepenfint position towards Russia,
Khiva, and the Kan of Chocand. For some time
past it has been the object of Russia to subjugate
this almost unknown nomadic race. Russia suc-
ceeded in establishing friendly relations with them,
and a Russian commissioner was appointed to orga-
nise their government under the superintendence
of the Foreign-office. A short time ago a clan of
these Kirgeses, to the number of 2,000 families,
publicly recognised the sovereignty of Russia at
their chief town of Semipalatinsk, and by a recent
ukase the Sultans of the Kirgeses are acknowledged
by Russia, and are permitted to wear officers' epau-
lettes and swords with the Russian porte-epee, of
which flattering distinction these ambitious sons of
the desert are very proud. The frontier between
the Russian territory and Chocaul is formed by a
tributary river of the Sir-Darja flowing to the
westward. The Ala-Tau is a mountainous region
itinnino•° through Chocand in the direction of east
to west. In those distant and in a great measure
unexplored districts the line of boundary is of
course not very strictly defined, but within the last
few years great improvements have been made in
these countries, and Russia has even formed a flo- '

tilla of war steamers on Lake Balkatch, whilst
detachments of Cossacks hare been gradually
pushed southwards from Semipalatinsk, so that
the whole of this territory has quietly fallen into
the possession of Russia, and now appears for the
first time mentioned in an official document.