Star.
London, England, 1826-09-26 00:00:00

PERSIA.

We lay before our readers the following interesting
and important communication from Persia. Its accuracy
may be relied upon :

SULTANIA, Jv 2s.

By the last Tartar I gave you an account of Prince
Menzikoff's mission to the date of his departure for Sul-
tania. You will be astonished to hear, the fair prospect we
then hed of a final arrangement between this Court and
Russia are now nearly at an end, and there is every
probability of immediate hostilities; but, threatening as
the appearances are, so perfectly unprepared is this
Court for a contest of such magnitude, as well as the
natural pacific disposition of the King, I cannot believe
there will be war, till I actually hear of an action be.
tween their troops.
Abbas Mirza, with his usual deceit and want of sta.
bility of character, made all at Tab' iez suppose be was
in reality desirous of peace ; but, obliged to assume a
contrary appearance since his arrival here, he has not
only been the most active instigator of war, but the iris..
mediate cause of the present impolitic and premature
proceedings. Alisar Khan and Sied Mahomed, the
Mushtakeid of Kubela, have been the principal cause of
this change. They represented to him how much he
would gain in the opinion of all Mahomedans, if he
became the champion of their religion, and the loss of
Character he must sustain by refusing to aid his brethren
of Kara Bang, Shekey, and Shirwan, now groaning
under an infidel yoke, which they were unable longer to
bear. The enthusiasm of the people had been much
excited by suppliants and letters from these provinces,
complaining of the daily outrages they suffered from
the Russians, and the Persian army had only to appear,
when a general insurrection would take place.
Abbas Mirza is accused of having, in the first in-
stance, excited this spirit, which neither he nor his fa-
ther is now able to controul. The King was, and is,
most anxious to maintain peace ; but having pledged
himself either to obtain the restitution of Goukeha, or
declare war, he is afraid to retract. A proposal was
made to Prince Menzikoff, that the land in question
should remain unoccupied, till such time as a reference
was made to the Emperor, during which period he
might visit the frontier, and report himself on the points
in dispute. To this he replied, his instructions had
been founded on the proposals made by Abbas Mirz
regarding an exchange of some lands of greater value
in Kara Bang, Mogan, and Talish ; but since the King
did not confirm this proceeding, he was willing to await
a reference, but could not evacuate a place they had
occupied for twelve years, by permission, and which,
from the constant intrigues of the Surdar of Erivan,
would compromise the safety of twelve thousand fa-
milies of their Mahomedan subjects. He afterwards
agreed that the Persians should also have a detachment
in the same place, and that the stay of the Russians
dui ing the next two months should not be considered to
give them any additional claim to its posse.sion. This

was not accepted, and Abbas Mirza sent for Mr. Am-
burger, the Russian Charge d'Affaires, of whom he took
leave, and stated his intention of proceeding to the
frontier and expelling the Russians from his dominions;
at the same time troops have been sent in d;fferent di.
rections, with the ostensible object of invading the Rus.
sian territories. They may certainly do much mischief,
by a sudden irruption into the country,while theAmbas
sador is still here, and the Russians ignorant of the ex-
istence of war, but its ultimate result cannot be doubt-
ful. The Russians at the present moment have at least
40,000 regular troops in Georgia, half of whom are dis-
posable, and these can be augmented at pleasure. Ge.
neral Yermoloff is considered the best officer in the Rus-
sian army, but has certainly done less during his Go.
vernment than was to have bean expected from his
great character—as a Governor of Georgia, he has
much improved the country, but by a number of ha-
raising regulations: he has rendered the people diAatis-
he'd with the Russian Government, to which they were
once much attached. The Chiefs of the Mahomedan
tribes and provinces have, under one pretext or other,
been expelled or sent to Russia. But I can say, from
having travelled through every part of those countries,
the people are richer and less oppressed than in any part
of Persia. The dissatisfaction so much exaggerated by
the Persians is confined to the Chiefs; the inferior classes,
though they complain of the conduct ef the inferior
Russian agents, are not disaffected to the Govern-
ment, except in Kara Bang, where the bad conduct of
the Officer commanding, and the licence he allows the
troops, have highly exasperated all classes. We under-
stand here (but I will not answer for the truth), a Rus-
shim Major and a party of soldiers have been cut to
pieces in Shirwan, in consequence of the former having
taken some Mahomedan women by force.
It is more than probable the precipitate folly of Ab-
bas Mirza will bring things to a crisis, when it might
be avoided. One good will arise from it, by leaving the
British Government perfectly free in the conduct they
may think proper to pursue ; the forcible occupation of
Goukeha is an aggression on the part of Russia. Hos-
tilities will have been commenced by Persia ; besides
Prince Menzikoff's couriers have been detained at Eri.
van, and numerous letters from Abbas Mirza, exciting
the inhabitants of the Mahomedan provinces to revolt,
have been intercepted. What good result can be ex-
pected from a war condpcted by so weak a character
as the Prince Royal, or any of the chiefs who now corn-
mand.the Persian troops ? With the exception of the
new regiment of guards, none of the Azudbekin troops
have even been assembled since 1822: at the present
moment they are deficient in every necessary eq.rip-
ment, and he has long ceased to have any European
officer in his service.

The preient Russian Ambassador has had the good
fortune cr conduct while not grar•ting a single point,
to gain the personal goodwill of every individual with
whom he has been engaged, and has she. n temper be-
yond human nature. A few days ago, the Kcem Ma-
kam entered his tent, pretending great fatigue, ani
saying he could hardly get through the troops who were
marching to the frontier; and in a few days lie hoped
to tell him that Kara Bang was in the possession of
Persia. He merely smiled, and aqswered, he was happy
to find they had the consideration to leave them in Tiflis
dating the winter. His presents have been few, and of
small value. Pray excuse this. As usual, I have de-
layed writing till the packet is closing.
All hopes of peace are now at an end. The Envoy
left camp this morning. A large Persian force has'
entered the Russian territory, to aid the insurgents of
Tulish. One hundred Russians have been killed in this
place, the aggression clearly on the side of Persia. Ali
Yar Khan, the Assadou DJulah, is head of the war fac- '
tion, supported by Abbas Mirza.
Before I had finished this• letter, the King had re-
quested to speak to Prince Menzikoff, and beg
him to point out some means of avoiding war, without
sacrificing his character. A speech m Ade by a Kara-
ban Chouse made great noise in camp. He addressed
the King (Kishev)—" Man, do you call yourself the
King of the Mahomedans, and idly pass your time in
the Haram,.when Mussulmen are daily abused by infi-
dels? I was obliged to look on while five snl•
den violated my wife in Kara Bang. I spit at your he rrsl."