The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-31 00:00:00

THE WAR IN THE EAS2.

LETTERS from the Danubian provinces, received at Paris
on Tuesday, state that it is impossible to form an idea of
the terror which the exactions of the Russians, under the
most futile pretences, have caused there. They ''arrest,
dispossess, and seize moveable property of all sorts.
Several persons of high distinction are mentioned who,
after having been stripped of all they possessed, were
trembling for their lives. It is stated that despatches
were received on Monday at the Russian embassy from St.
Petersburg; and though their contents are not known
with any degree of certainty, they are supposed to contain
the Emperor's reply to the note of which M. de Reizet
was the bearer, and the notification of the entry of the
combined squadrons into the Black Sea. That reply,
though not described as couched in any very] strong
language, is nevertheless of such a character as leaves
little hope of a change in the Emperor's mind. It de-
mands, it is said, explanations as to what the French
government means by making the Black Sea neutral, and
requires that a declaration of such neutrallty shall be set
forth in an official memorandum. Otherwise the reply is;
as usual, evasive. The Czar makes the old protestations
of the purity of his intentions and the harmlessness of his
designs, and though ravaging the principalities and burn-
ing the Turkish ships at Sinope, he still declares that war
is not his desire, nor conquest his object. His intentions
are pacific, non-aggressive, and, though his troops may
be established in the Ottoman territory, aggrandizement
is as far from his mind as ever. At the order given to the
fleets to enter the Black Sea he is understood to express
his surprise and regret, as the powers must know that
Russia is not at war with France and England, but only
with Turkey. It is a personal quarrel between him and.
the Sultan, with which the powers have no concern what-
ever.

CONSTANTINOPLE, JAN. 9.—The first regiment of the
Christian Cossacks formed by Zadyk Pasha (Charkowsky),
and mostly composed of Bulgarians, leaves to-morrow for
the head quarters of Omar Pasha. It is believed that the
Governor of Sebastapol contented himself with answering
to the notification of the entry of the fleets into the Black
Sea, that he was astonished at so unforeseen a communi-
cation, that he could not understand what they wanted
of him, Russia being at war only with Turkey, and that,
consequently, he could not say what he meant to do under
the circumstances.
VIENNA, TUESDAY NOON.—Advices from Krajowa of
the 21st inst. state that Prince Gortschakoff will remove
his head-quarters to Boleschti. A renewed expedition
against Kalafat was shortly expected. The Turks crossed
the Danube near Turnul. An engagement ensued. The
Turks returned to Nikopoli. The Russians have returned
to Galatz, from an expedition to the right bank.
PRAGUE, JAN. 23.—Forty thousand troops (Austrians),
under Lieut. Field-Marshal Clam Gallas, have been
ordered to Hungary forthwith.
VIENNA, TUESDAY AFTERNOON.—OfficiaI advices from
St. Petersburg, of the 16th inst., state that the Emperor
makes no immediate casus belli of the entrance of the
combined fleets into the Black Sea. He awaits a written
communication, touching the object and import of the
measure.

VIENNA, WEDNESDAY.—Very tranquillising advices
have been received from St. Petersburg, of the 18th inst.
The Czar is reported to be inclined to accept, though con-
ditionally, the basis of a project of peace. The Czar de-
clines the responsibility of declaring war. People here
think that this will secure to him the support of the Ger-
man Powers.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 16.—There is a report that the
Russians have taken Kars. The combined fleets were at
Sinope and Varna. The Czar's answer to the Turkish
propositions is not expected, till the middle of February.
Persia will, it is now said, remain neuter' The Porte is
sending additional reinforcements to Batoum for the army
in Asia.

BUCRAREST, JAN. 12.—The grand attack upon Kalafat
appears definitively fixed for the 18th of January, the day
of the baptism of the waters. It is immediately after
that religious ceremony that the Russian army, still under
its impression, will march with the banner of the Cross
displayed against the Turks. It is estimated that the
capture of the place (if captured) will cost the Russians at
least 10,000 men. There is much discouragement among
the troops in consequence.
Additional reinforcements have been sent in to Lesser
Wallachia. The Russian estimate their forces at 44,000,
and those of Ismail Pacha in the intrenchments and on
the island at from 25,000 to 30,000, but these numbers ap-
pear exaggerated.
Various young Wallachian officers have been attached
as aide-de-camps to the staff of the Russian generals.
BUCHAREST, JAN. 21.—General Aurep has been com-
manded not to attack Kalafat until further orders, when
Prince Gortschakoff shall have returned from his country
inspections.
SEBASTOPOL, JAN. 10.—On the 7th two steamers of the
English fleet appeared before Sebastopol, to announce
officially to our admiral that the fleets had entered the
Black Sea, having left the Bosphorus on the 4th. The
two steamers then departed to join the fleets, which will
sail towards Batoum. Since then no vessel—French, Eng-
lish, or Turkish—has been seen before Sebastopol. The
Russian fleet is distributed at different points.
ADRIANOPLE, Jan. 6th.—All the preparations are made
for the arrival of the Sultan, which is to take place in
March. Numerous articles of furniture, as also 800 do-
mestics and 600 horses, have already been despatched.
The retinue of the Sultan will consist of 1,000 persons.
ST. PETERSBURG, JAN. 18.—It is believed that Count
Orloff has received a confidential mission from the Czar for
the courts of Vienna, Berlin, Paris, and London. The ener-
getic conduct of thewestern powers has produced that effect,
and might lead to an arrangement without wounding too
much the national amour propre. The Czar is said to be
greatly irritated against those who had urged him on to
war, and fears were frequently entertained that he would
have an attack of apoplexy. Another rumour says that he
has sent to Prince Menschikoff the order to operate at sea
as if the combined fleets were not there, and to continue
the armaments at Odessa.

PARIS, FRIDAY EVENING.—It is asserted that a great
batttle took place near Kalafat on the 20th. The issue
was completely in favour of the Turks. It is also asserted
that the Turks have retaken two islands on the Lower
Danube.

CONSTA NTINOPLE, JAN. 15.—The combined fleets which
arrived on the 11th at Sinope, detached a division of
steamers to escort the Turkish convoy to Batoum. The
English steam-frigate Retribution, however, having, on
her return from Sebastopol, announced that the Russian
fleet had quitted that port, the two squadrons made sail
for Batoum. The Turkish convoy has since returned
without any accident to Constantinople, after having dis-
embarked the troops and provisions at Batoum: The
Turks are about to resume the offensive against Akhalzik
and Gumri.

A telegraphic despatch, dated Constantinople, January
19, states that nothing was known at Constantinople
of the rumoured conflict off Batoum. The Russians had
suffered a severe loss at Matchin on the 13th, and had a
steamer disabled. It is certain that the whole Russian
fleet was in Sebastopol on the 11th, but left in the direc-
tion of Batoum on the following day. Count Orloff had
arrived at Vienna on Saturday evening.
BUCHAREST, JAN. 21.—0 n the 17th the Turks got pos-
session of Turnul and Jannitsia, as also of the village of
Sistobanion.