The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-24 00:00:00

THE RUSSIAN FORCE IN THE

CASPIAN SEA.

The Pays of yesterday contains the following de-
scription of the position occupied by Russia in the
regions of the Caspian Sea. It is, however, neces-
sary to remark that the statistics relating to Rus-
sian garrisons and fleets are grossly exaggerated :
" Between Europe and Asia there extends a vast
inland sea, which washes the southern coast of Per-
sia, the west and north coasts of the Russian posses-
sions, and a portion of the coast of independent
Turkestan. This sea was once the centre of an
important navigation, and powerful fleets crossed
it in every direc, ion. Now RUSE ia alone reigns there.
Persia, who, under the glorious reigns of Abbas the
Great and of Nadir Shah, possessed several squad-
rons on the Caspian Sea, consented, by the treaty
of Turcoman Shah of Feb. 22, 1828, to forego the
right of maintaining a single vessel of war in those
waters. At this day Russia undertakes to defend
coast of Persia from pirates or smugglers. This
position renders Russia all powerful on the coast
of Talish, Gilan, Mazancleritn, Asterabad, and the
Turcoman country, all rich and powerful provinces
of Persia. The Russians possess, moreover, the
small isle of Ashoorada, situate about mile
miles from land, near Asterabad, which they cast
watch without quitting their territory. • Thep
moreover possess six fortresses constructed by them
on Persian territory in virtue of conventions which
date from 1829 and 1835. These forts possess gar-
risons amounting to 15,000 men. The Russian
fleet in the Caspian has been reorganised and plafecl
on a fooling with the new necessities of Russian
policy in Asia. It consists of about fifty vessels of
war, amongst which are several large transporio
and a certain number of screw steamers. This fleet
is organised in a manner to be enabled to transport
30,000 men with baggage, Arc., from one point of
the coast to another. The advantages enjoyed by
Russia from this position are open to the dullest
comprehension ; it is, moreover, certain that this
power could within a few days concentrate 50,000
men on the banks of the Araxes, where the 13th and
18th divisions have taken up a position, should or'
cnmstances render that measure inevitable ; front
this, point we would cover Teheran, Tabriz, the two
Khorassans, and would paralyse the movements of
an enemy's force. The English may obtain from
Persia the cession of some isolated point on the
coast of the Persian Gulf, and derive thereby consi-
derable advantages in favour of their Indian com-
merce, but they will not find there the elements of a
grand political position. These elements belong exclu-
sively to Russia, and are derived from the posses-
sion of the Caspian Sea, which constitutes a vast
arsenal, whence her means of action may be di-
rected towards every vulnerable point of that part
of the world. The town of Astrakan, very favour-
ably situated, as destined to form the centre of the
operations of the military and naval forces concen"
trated in those regions. The Russian Government
has confided to Admiral Wassilieff, one of its most
distinguished naval officers, the superior command
of Astrakan, and the measures he has taken recall
those of Admiral Lazsreff at Sebastopol. The per'
severance of Russia is historical, and her establish-
ments on the Caspian have a grand destiny before
them. We must allude, before concluding, to a
treaty which is stated to have been recently con-
cluded between Russia and Persia, the mere rumour
of which has excited in Europe, and pgrticularlyiu.
England, a great sensation. The existence of this
convention appears beyond doubt. For a long time
past the Russians claimed the right of erecting 01! -
their own territory a line of fortresses, a right
which hitherto had been denied them ; they, more-
over, claimed the faculty of establishing militia"'
posts on Persian territory, in order to protect the
road to Khoi, and other communications leadingte
the interior. They have obtained these concessions.
But with respect to the cession of territory between
Bayazid and Nakhtschivan nothing certain 06
known. • This last circumstance, should it prove
true, will possess far greater political importance
than the other, but we must await moresatisfactorie
information before examining the real bearing
that convention."

THE UNION OF THE PRINCIPALITIES•

The Official Gazette of Milan of the 18th pub'
.ashes, in the form of a letter from Vienna, a cow.
mentary on the article in the Moniteur relative to
the union of the Danubian Principalities, but it wa,
generally believed that the communication had
emanated from ministerial quarters. The following
is the more important part of it :
• "On reading this note and the interpellations to
which it gave rise in the English Parliament, we
are led to ask what share Russia has in this contro-
versy on the principalities. The Russian govern-
ment, according to its traditional policy, does not
like to lose its time and breath (fiato) in pleading
out of place and season. Being anxious not to
compromise itself with any of the powers it is
now silent, though taking a certain pleasure in the
controversy on the principalities as in a learned
discussion. From the present silence of Russia"
we may infer that she is not fully persuaded that
she would promote her own interests by promoting
the union of Moldavia and Wallachia under a new
dynasty, which might not place itself under the
protection of the czars. A good deal might be said
on that supposition, but there not being at present
any solid foundation for it, it is useless to construct
an edifice of hypotheses. We will merely ob=erve
en passant that Prussia and Piedmont simulta-
neously take part with France for the union of the
principalities, and that, in so doing, they act less
from the persuasion that such a line of policy is
just than from the spirit of rivalry which causes
them to regard Austria as a declared enemy, who
must be combated wherever she is met with. But
Austria, in this matter, is powerfully supported by
England, who shows herself day after day more
favourable. The entente cordiale between the two
powers is openly displayed not only in diplomatic:
acts and relations, but in the simple inter-
course of society. Thus, it is generally re-
marked
that this year the lion of diplomacy
at Vienna is she English ambassador, Sir Ha-
milton Seymour. His balls and soirees are the •
rendezvous of all the aristocracy. In addition to •
the diplomatic body, one meets there the high
Austrian nobility in great numbers, the Schwar-
zenbergs, the Lichtensteins, the Windischgraetz, •
&c., and even the nobles who formerly were only
found in Russian drntving-rooms, and who avoided
all contact with the Westerns, as they were called
two years ago. The Russian Ambassador Count de
Budberg, on the contrary, now lives very retired.
The vast drawing-rooms of his hotel, in which a
short time ago his predecessor, Prince Gortschakoff,
received crowds of the most splendid society of •
Vienna, are this year silent and deserted,”

THE CIVIL SERVIaIi.