The Sun.
London, England, 1827-12-11 00:00:00

,S.TATg AIRS u9ONSTANTINOPLE.

The mercantile letters from Constantinople re-
veieed yesterday, though not so recent in date by
several days as the Government despatches, are un-
usually curious and important, from the detailed pic-
ture they give of the state of feeling, both of the
Turkish Government and the Christian population,
on the areivel of the news of the battle of Navarin.
On these subjects no account on which the least de-
pendence could be placed had vet been obtained.
The intelligence of the destruction of the Turkish
fleet reached the Ambassadors of the Allied Powers
eleven days after it occurred—i. e. on the 31st of
October ; and the first step taken by them was to
invite a conference, that it might be determined what
measures it was prudent fur them to adopt. They
aver* in entire ignorance whether the Porte had yet
received any intelligence of the disaster. The Am-
bassadors, who seem to have been 'in great per-
plexity how to proceed, came to no resolution on
that day, and met again on the morning of the
Jst of November, to renew their deliberations.
While thus engaged, they were surprised
by learning that a message had been sent from
the Reis Effendi to the respective Embassies, to de-
sire the attendance of an interpreter from each of
them. The request was complied with, and no
doubt remained in the minds of the Ambassadors,
on learning it, that the Porte had received the des-
patches from Ibrahim Pacha with the account of his
misfortune. The instructions to the interpreters
Were, however, most precise, not in any manner to
commit theinselt es by remarks of any nature what-
soever ; they were merely to hear the communicas
lion of the Reis Effendi, and to make a report ac-
cordingly to the Ambassadors. Th© description of
the interview between the interpreters and the Reis
Effendi varies in a trifling degree in the letters we
have perused; but that Minister seems to have con-
fined himself to interrogatories put to ascertain if
the Ambassadors knew of the battle. He told the
interpreters that reports were afloat of a destructive
affair having occurred at Navarin, and asked them
whether or not the Porte was at war with the ahree
Allied Powers ? The interpreters, in pursuance of
the instructions given to them, met all his observe-
lions with the remark, that they had been sent
solely to hear what communication his Excellency
had to make, which they would report to the Ambas-
eadors, and bring him their reply. It is said that
when the interpreters first presented themselves, the
Reis Effendi observed that he had sent for them se-
parately, but as they had come together he would
make one communication do for all. Nothing fur-
ther of importance passed. The reply of the Am-
bassadors was sent the same afternoon. .In their
communication they admitted the occurrence of the
disaster at Navarin, but added their conviction, how-
ever that event was to be deplored, that it had been
entirely brought on through the fault of the Turkish
commander. Extracts from the despatches trans-
mitted by the respective Admirals were added to
prove the truth of that allegation.
This noto from the Ambassadors was received
with great coolness by the Reis Effendi, who is re-
ported only to have made the following observation
upon it—" They acknowledge, then, at length, that
they have done it; very well! the truth of the mat-
ter will come out in time." The interpreters then

retired.
At this period there are good grounds for believing
that 6e Porte was not yet in possession of despatches
from Ibeahim Pacha, and that the only accounts re-
ceived were from the Pacha of Smyrna, collected
from the communications made to the English resi-
dents in that place.
On the morning of the 2d -ult. the British Consul
caused an intimation to be conveyed to the principal
merchants in Constantinople of the very critical po-
sition in which affairs were placed, that they might
be enabled to take what steps they, deemed prudent
for their own security. The Consul could not take
:upon himself the ieoponlibility of advising what
ought to be done ; but in his communication he ven-
tured the opinion that the merchants had no just
grounds for apprehension. It was impossible, how-
ever, in a case where such extensive interests were
set stake. but that individual instances of great terror
steel e.arrn should occur. While some demonstra-
tions were anxiously looked for of the real intentions
of the Divan, some events of minor consequence oc-
4.urred, which increased the general apprehension
by appearing to augur an untevourable result. At
Galan, on the morfiing of the 3d, il2e porters were
eelleeted together, by the order, as was presumed,
of the Capitan Paella, who was present amoi.g
them, and they proceeded shortly afterwards, to del-
spoil a war9house, belonging to one of the mer-
*chants a large quantity of muskets, which were
knowe to be deposited there, the Government hav-
ing, ec:rne days before, been engaged in a treaty for
the purchase of them. Some of the more timid, too,
among the merchants in Pera, baying commenced a
partial removal of their effects, a positive order was
issued to the llama's, or porters, not to carry goods
.away for any persons whatever. On the following
morning it was ascertained that no firmans would beb
granted for ships to clear the Straits. This, of
seourse, removed from the Christians all chance of
escaping from Constantinople, and the least cou-
rageous were compelled to await the result. In
Galata, where the French merchants generally take
up their residence, the greatest and most general
alarm seems lo have existed, because the merchants
of that country are perhaps more completely domi-
ciliated in Turkey than any others ; but on receiving
some encouraging assurances from their Ambasea.
elors, the apprehension subsided.
The embargo on vessels at Constantinople exten-
ded w all neutrals as well as to those of the Allied
Powers.
It is left in some doubt, therefore, whe-
ther the proeeeding has the threatening and hostile
import at first aecribed to it. The, more judicious
among the merchants express gratification, mn one
respect, at its having been retorted to, because it
.bas prevented that confusion which must have arisen
from any general attempt, on the part of the Chris-
, tians, to remove their property, which, after all,
might have been easily detained, were the Porte so
disposed, after placing it on board ship.
The 3d ult. was occupied by the three Ambas-
sadors in discuesions on their situation, at which,
for dee fast time, the Austrian Internuncio assisted.
It Was rumoured that the dragoman, or interpreter
of the Anstria.n Ambassador, had subsequently been
eevenel times at the office of the Reis Effendi, and
that be bad even been ,admitted to one of the sit-
tings of the Divan, but nothing definite transpired.
On the following day the discussions were re-
newed, the Austriani Internuncio• being again pre..
sent, and the interpreters of the three Ambassadors
had another interview with the Reis Efrendi, but
were very indifferently' received, and no progress
whatever was made. The attention of the whole
Christian population was most anxiously fixed on the
respecting which some
proceedings of the Divan,
statements got into circulation on the sth, which
began to inspire hopes that time storm would blow
over. 'The 'state of political parties in Tvakey is a
somewhat novel ses well, as interesting subject, and
would appear to be iervond the scope of ordinary ob-
servation, yet the facts we
are about to mention may
be relied on, we think, as perm
authentee. The
•.Divan is said to be divided inlo two
ene for war, the other against it ; parties—
;it time head
of the former is the Sultan himself, whilst
the Seraskier Pacha is the leader of the pcact--
yarty. le a Turkish Divan it will appear no
wonder that the Sultan's party should possess the
ascendancy, the natural supposition being, that he
could not, ,ualer any other alternative, long continue
Sultan
; but although this was decidedly the case so
as the danger remained at a distance, the nearer
Pproaeh of it his a
mate-
rial alteration ; ulit is now said, produced
par-
tisans of thee_ Sultan,7llho
supported his o
so
the Divan," van, 'have had tie that some of the
pinine in
b
• courage to declare in pri--
.vate that they Were friendly
to concession. It is
,aid further, that
at the recant
sittings of the Divan,
which at this crisis we re held tWAyt the pacific party
had been acquiring strengeh,
On the exertions of
v, p
Rho appear to oiseee a p -
this part,
Powerful Interest