The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-19 00:00:00

TURKEY.

A letter of the 9th, from Constantinople, says :
Among the reforms which Reschitl Pacha is occu-
pied in carrying out, that of the conscription of
Christians has been the subject of serious consider-
ation. At the general discussion of the matter
two opinions were put forth, one, proposing to im-
mediately incorporate Christians in the regiments
under arms ; and the other to form them into a
special corps, and not to draft them into other re-
giments until they had gone through a course of
regular drilling. The question has been submitted
to a special commission charged to report on it. In
consequence of the return of peace, some changes
are also to be Made in the effective strength of the
Mus.sulman army, in order to reduce the expenses of
the State. Only two-thirds of the usual contingent
,are to be called out, and the other third will lit
exempt from service on payment of a certain sum,
which is said to be fixed at 5,000 piastres (about
1,000 f.) The Grand Vizir is also occupied with
the general organisation of a system of public in-
struction
throughout the whole of the empire. A
Ministry of Public Instruction is about to be form-
ed, and Cabouli Effendi, one of the most enlighten d
men in the country, is to be sent into the principal
towns iu Asia to organise public schools. It is
also said to be in contemplation to form a Ministry
of Public Works." Two English line-of-battle ships
Malta,
were to quit the Boshorus on the 9th for
but it was not expected that the remainder of the
squadron would leave before the evacuation of the
Principalities by ,the Austrian troops. The fix.
man for the convocation of the Divans ad hoc in
the principalities was expected to be published
immediately in the journals of Jassy and Buch,.
rest, after which the electoral list would be formed, '
and the election§ commence at the beginning of

March. A letter from Varna of the 3d states that
General Sokoloff, wi.o is at ached to the Russian
army in Asia, had j 1, ft for Erz-rourn, charged
with a mili.ary mission on the part of Prince
Bariatinsky, the commander-in-chief. It is posi-
tively stated that the oiject, of this mission is to
decide on the line of fortresses which Russia is
about to have constructed on some new territory
ceded to her by Persia, in virtue of a convention
signed, it is said, at Teheran at the commencement
of last month. The territory in question, situat-
ed near the Armenian frontier, is of itself but of
little importance.

RUSSIA.

The Aloniteur de ha Flotte pnbli.,hes a letter
from Khiva, dated the 25th ult., which says :
" The Russians have terminated the construction
of a new fort at the mouth of the Goorgan, a river
which flows into the Caspian Sea ; it is destined to
keep in check the Tureoinan tribes, and is to be
earrisoned by about 2,,.100 men. It is built on the
plan of those which Russia already possesses on the
coasts,7and which are garrisoned by 10,000 men.
A hydrographical survey of the Caspian Sea, just
completed, shows that the sea contains 68,500
square kilometres, and is as deep as the Black Sea,
with about the same advantages and disadvantages
of navigation. The Russi.n Government has or-
dered a corps consisting of the 13th division of in-
fautry, commanded by General Chruleff, and the
18th, commanded by General Wagner, to assemble
on the banks of the Araxes, on the frontiers of Per-
sia. These two divisions form part of the army of
Asia, which, under the command of Prince Baria-
tinsky, is destined to defend the Caucasus and the
Caspian Sea. These steps have no doubt been taken
in great part in consequence of the late events of
Persia.' But what is more serious is, that the
convention agreed to in January last between Rus-
sia and the Court of Teheran, for the cession of the
territory which extends on the frontiers of Turkish
Armenia between Bayazid and Nakhbschivan, will
increaso tho Russian power in that part of .Asia
and Prince Bariatinsky has received orders to esta-
blish without delay military posts and a small line
I of fortresses in the newly ceded territory.