The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-29 00:00:00

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LONDON:I-I-DU Art MARCH 29, 1844.

In the House of Lords a brief discussion took place
relative to the late State trials in Ireland, which
leaves no doubt that the subject will be brought
judicially before their Lordships.
The report on the Ecclesiastical Courts Bill was
brought up and received.

The Duke of WELLINGTON gave notice that on
Tuesday next he would move that the House do ad-
journ on that day till the 16th of April.
The Commons did not make a House, there being
only thirty-four Members present at Four o'clock.

Some interesting remarks appear in the Herald of
this morning on the subject of the Caucasus, and the
brave Circassian warriors who occupy a large portion
of that magnificent mountain range. The position
in which these noble-minded patriots are just now,
.and have been for some years, placed, is one that
.should awaken the sympathies of every lover of free-
dom in Europe ; but we regret to state that the
interest attached to their proceedings is by no means
so general as it should be ; and as regards the defen-
,sive war which they have been carrying on with sur-
-prising success and unremitting energy against Russia
for the last fifteen years, few seem to know, or care
to know, anything about its origin. Yet nothing
can be less complicated or freer from perplexities that
the causes which originated this war. The whole
'ease lies in a nut-shell, notwithstanding the studious
efforts of the St. Petersburgh Cabinet to shroud ii
in mystery. By the treaty of Adrianople, forced
upon the Porte during the life-time of the late SUL-
TAN by Russia, it was agreed that the former shoulo
surrender to the latter her claims over the Circassian
provinces. These claims, however, had never been
-otherwise than nominal, especially as respects tin
Vircassian tribes, who had always strenuously insisted
-40/r and maintained their independence. Even when
the power of the Crescent was in its full vigour, and
the AIMURATLIS, the BAJAZETS, the SOLTMANS, and the
ILinostETs kept Europe in awe, and exercised un
disputed sway over a large portion cf Asia, they were
never able to bend the sturdy spirit of the Circas-
sians, who, though often worsted in battle, never
failed to rally again ; and in the treaties which they
made from time to time with the Porte, insured
:terms favourable to their actual independence, though
tthey acknowledged—more as a matter of form than
--ssaz.thing else—the supremacy of the GRAND SEIG-
_RIM. Of late years, however, when the reforms
of liAnsioup had crippled his military re-
sources, and the Ottoman empire was tumbling to
pieces in all ..;uarters, the Circassians had re-
nounced the idea of even a nominal dependency
on the Porte ; and at the period of the signing of the
Adrianople treaty, they were to all intents and pur-
poses as independent a nation as Great Britain
herself. What right, then, had Turkey to abandon in
favour of Russia claims which no longer existed, and
assign over to her the dominion of a country which
she could not possibly give away—for the best of all
...eeasons---rtamely, that it was not hers to give ? The
transfer was, in every respect, an act of the most
_monstrous injustice and absardity ; and the subjuga-
tion—or rather the attempt at subjugation—of Cir-
cassia by Nrcnoz.s.s, is a worse crime, and this is a
strong term to use, than even the part tion of Poland.
.As yet, however, Russia—to use a Pkrliamentary
term—has " taken nothing by her motion." Notwith-
standing that for the last fourteen years and rpwards,
:she has been landing army after army on eke shores
of the Black Sea ; notwithstanding that she I as built
forts in every- accessible place, and garrison• ed them
-with the very flower of her t,roops ; notwiths tending
whe has had experienced Generals and skilful er gineers
:at her command; ,has long held uncontrolled posses-
sion of the Euxine, ond has squandered mill Sons of
mfoney ;—notwithstanding all these advantages, :Russia
bas hitherto gained no solid footing in Circass ia, and
the heroic mountaineers still xemain unsubdm I It
is impossible, when owe their true position is us ,der-
Atood, to contemplate the struggle now going7lOrs yard
betweerr these patriotic tribes and their vim rian
'oppressor, without feelings of the liveliest sy -mpg thy.
The entire peculation of Circassia scarcely amounts
to seven hundred thousand souls, which is lit tle more
than one-half the population of Londor I; while
-Russia can, from time to time, bring her milli ions into
the field. And yet despite this.enormous disp qty of
force, the advantage .hitherto has been on the , Ade of
the Actuntaineers Tpw, however, as the AZerald