The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-27

The latest news from Montenegro reports great
activity on the part of the belligerents. An at
tempt to effect landing of Turkish troops in the
bay of Scutari repuised with great loss by the
Montenegriners, who had erected powerful bat
terry at Verba. Between 9 900 or 900 of the male
population of the Herzegovina had declared for
the cause OF the Montenegriners, who show no
disposition to evacuate the citadel of Zabljak.
This account dates from the 25th utimo, when
great exertions were being made to fortify the
hills surrounding that stronghold.
The intelligence from Vienna announces the un-
successful landing of the Turks in the bay of Sou
tart. letter from the Adria, dated 30th Deem
Der, gives some interesting details anterior to the
landing. 1t says:
oThe whole coast of Albania having been de-
clared IN state OF blockade, the appearance oil
the Turkish fleet in the Adriatic is momentarily
expected. Durazzo has been selected as a land
ing port. 1t is said that the expedition is COM
manded by CAPTAIN Pacha in person, and consists
of man of war, three frigates, two corvettes
four steamers, and a number of smaller craft
The blockade is necessary to prevent the Monte.
negrlners from receiving assistance by sea, which
might easily be sent to them by boats from the
Dalmatian coast, their frontier ia within three
miles of the seashore. The most valuable assist
ance they could receive is gunpowder and lead
and the Austrian government has thought fit to
notify that those articles have not been provided
from the government stores at Cattaro
son the land side Omer Pacha is advancing to-
ward sthe black mountains with considerable
forces. This clever general, experienced in Eu-
ropean tactics, the best Turks own, is accustomed
to guerilla warfare, and has troops, chiefly
Arnauts and Macedonians, well suited to the
work His first object ia to confine the actual
fighting, if possible. to the frontier of Montene
gro, especially to prevent its spreading to the
Herzegovina or Bosnia, where much excitement
prevails National as well as religious sympa-
thies have footing there, nearly seven eghths
of the population Sclaves and followers of the
Greek Church. In Albania this is not 80 much the
case, the great majority of the Sclayes are Ro-
Catholics: and hero 10
considerable Turkish population, dating from the
former occupation. $3.50
"This circumstance is great drawback to the
progress of the Montenegrners, to whom Albania
and especially the plains of Scutari, offer great
temptation, from their rich pasturage the glorious
climate, and their easy communications with the
sea-a paradise compared with the Herzegovina
whose mountains and barren lands are little better
than their own hills. Beyond, it is true, in Bos-
MIA, there ID fine champagne country; but neither
the views nor the power of Montenegro extend sc
far. Ii we calculate their armed force at $4,000
taking into consideration that all carry arms from
fifteen years upward, their strength can only con
Bist in the defence of their own territory
sFor the offensive these noun taineers would b,
of no avail, and would be defeated in battle OF
the plain. They have neither artillery nor cav
airy, and where each individual fights on his owl
account, his thoughts always turned upon plum
der and booty, il is very difficult matter to keeI
up any thing like discipline The Porte SEEM
tbis time to have taken ND the matter with Mon
tenegro seriously, and to look forward to nothin
less than it's complete subsection Russia, which
only recently acknowledged it's independence
can scarcely remain an idle spectator of events.
moreover, commercial letters and traveller
from MoIdavia and Wallachia mention that from
Wolynia down to the mouth of the Pruth the eoun
try swarms with Russian troops, and that rein
forcements arescontinually arriving"
Another letter says: ''If the Montenegriners sue
coed in taking possession of Scutari, the Turkish
dominion is lost in the whole of Upper Albani
down to Durazzo, and the Montenegriners cal
then turn toward the Herzegovina, and cause
rising there"
NAyAL.-The United States ship Raritan, bear
ing the broad pennant of Commodore Charles S
MCCauley, ninety-eight days from Callao, via tn
Lobos Islands and st. Thomas, fifteen days from
the latter Port, arrived at Hampton Roads on Sa
turday night.
Lieutenant Courtlandt Benham, United State
navy, died on board the Raritan on the Both Octo
Der, 1852. His remains preserved an.
brought home in the ship.
The Raritan has been in commission two year
and half, and during that time has been activel,
engaged in cruising the South Pacific ocean.
Owing to the yellow fever having prevailed a
st. Thomas, the Raritan only remained Their
twenty-four hours. Its ravages bad been princi
paliy confined to the shipping, and had nearl,
subsidized at the time of her arrival. The Unite,
States consul bad fallen victim to the disease
Norfolk HeroJI o5yh