Washington sentinel., 1853-12-18
foreiaa SMtslliatntf.
From the London Times.
THE EASTERN WAR.
The Commencement Of Operations In the
BLACK Sea.

Black Sea between squadrons of the Turkish and
Russian fleets, will be an event of considerable in
terest and novelty, for the naval strength of both
countries must be regarded as nntried in its pre-
sent form, and there Is hardly any the globe
which has witnessed so few naval contests as the
Euxine. Scarcely eighty years have elapsed since
the Porte consented TO open the Black Sea TO the
merchant flags of foreign nations, which had been
jealousy excluded from It since The expulsion of
the Genoese in the 18th century. The creation Of
the Black Sea feet Of Russia may be said TO date
from the present century; and when the last war
between the two empires took place, and the dis
aster Of Navarino had recently deprived the Turks
Of all means Of maritime warfare. The passage Of
the Bosphorus has been still more strictly guarded
by the policy Of the Porte, and by treaty against
the naval flags Of the other European powers; and
we believe that, with the exception of short
cruise of the Blonde frigate, under Capt. Lyons,
about the year 1929, no English ship has entered
the Euxine; certainly none has entered il for the
purposes of war.
The following is given as authentic So On the
night Of the 2lst November the Turks forced the
Russians TO quit the island opposite Gurgevo.
Two attempts were made by the Russians to re-
take the island, but they were repulsed. In the
second attack the Russians showed signs Of cow
ardice and had 10 be forced into the Turkish fire.
Between and s o'clock on the morning of the
24th the Russians retook the island During the
night Of the 25th the Turks made night attack
but were unsuccessful. The passage Of the river
by the Russians al this point Is out Of the question.
The pontoons (quer., Russian or Turkish Dhave
been all sent 10 the Hirsova TO connect The nu-
merous islands with the right bank TO the river
The Turks have gained further successes in
ASIA. They have not only defended successfully
the fort Of St. Nicholas but have captured the fort
resses of Usurgheti and Senchum kaleh. The
Georgians favor the Turks. Two new regiments
Of marine artillery" are forming, 10 be employed
on the coast between Sinope and Trebizonde.
Souchum Kaleh large fortress of the first class,
considerably TO the north and west Of Redout Ka.
leh, and its capture shows that the turkish forces
tion which renders the Russian frontier in the
Caucasus, less secure than ever. We wait with
anxiety the details which the mail will bring of
the taking of this important stronghold. q
Letters from Trebizonde, of the 9th November,
confirm the previous accounts Of the Turkish, or
rather Circassian, successes at Tchorog and Shef-
katil. These accounts state that the Russians had
$4,000 men in the action, and the Circassians
20, ,000--a manifest exaggeration The son of
Prince Gouriel, who has fallen into the hands of
the Turks, is called the Prince of Waachia.
Hostties have commenced at sea. An Egyp-
tan steamship is announced to have captured the
Russian steam frigate vladimir, and the Russian
sloop Of war Bessarabia has taken Turkish
steamer. The Wanderer, of Vienna, mentions
that an engagement had taken place between a
Russian frigate near Kafe, on the coast of Anato-
liza, and that sthc advantage remained with the
occurrence.
Servia.-Much importance is becoming at
tached TO the position that Servia may assume in
the progress of the war. Russian intrigue is ac-
lively at work. Serva itself, if let alone, seems
honestly disposed to remain neutral.
Vienna correspondent state that, on 14th No
vember, the difficulties between the Turkish and
local authorities had proceeded far that the Turk
ish garrison of the fortress threatened 10 lombard
the city if the Russian consul, M. de Monkhine,
were permitted to remain. BY the intervention OF
the Austrian consul, the matter arranged.
BY latest accounts it was, however announced
that the Servan government had demanded from
the Porte that the Russian representative shall be
permitted TO return, and that his ersgmatnr shall
be granted to him. There is little probability that
the Porte will do so.
France has an agent, at present, in Montenegro
making arrangements for the establishment Of
French consular stations in that State.
In Vienna, 2Gth, it was reported that an alliance .
had been concluded between Servia and Montene-
gro, but this rumor required confirmation.
By last mail from Europe il was reported that
the Turks had attempted TO cross into Servia, and
had been repulsed with 500 killed. We threw dis
credit on this statement at the time. A cores
pondent of London paper. writing from Orsova,
describes the affair in different colors and says
"a nndisciplined mob of Bosnans, who attempted
to cross the frontiers near Uschitza were driven
back after few shots were exchanged The
Servians are posted in considerable force near the
Drina, which forms the boundary between Bosnia
and Servia The arriere ban has been called out"
Russian Attack on the Austrian Lloyds
Steamer.-The following is taken from Turkish
dispatch, and shows that the Russians are care
less TO respect either the neutrality of Austria or
the freedom of commercial intercourse
On Thursday last, the Pesth Lloyds steamer,
in passing before Giurgevo, flag hosted, had TO
snffer from the. Russian battery, although the
weather was clear not to admit OF possibility
of an error. Our battery between Routchonk and
Vardenza fired some shots in order TO protect the
packet, which was injured in two places, and her
chain broken by projectiles. Hence, under the
necessity Of returning, she placed herself under
our protection, and the passengers were landed
AT 4 o'clock, p. NJ, after the return OF the
Austrian steamer, the agent of the company at
Giurgevo sent to apologize, stating that the Rus
SLAMS had fired by mistake, and the captain. ac-
companed by the Austrian and Prussan consular
agents, presented themselves before me to inquire
whether the steamer might be considered safe in
her present station In reply observed that |
could make no formal engagement, and that the
vessel necessarily must be exposed to the same
risks with the town itself On this the captain
resolved TO depart, and at distance from this
place Of about three hours, the Russians again
fired on the vessel, which was defended TO the
best Of their ability by post guards. Finally,
the captain was forced 10 approach the right
bank and throw out his anchor, and he sent me
the second in command to inform me OF these
events. s1as
England.--E --Extraordinar Affair In the
Home Ofice,-We learn with some surprise, and
more pleasure, that, on the customary application
being recently made 10 the noble lord, the secre-
tary for the home department. for the usual queens
letter, ordering collections 10 be made for the
society for propagaing the gospel in foreign parts
his lordship replied that he had heard so many
complaints ofthe working of that society, aud OF
the high church leaven which had got into il,
that he could not advise her majesty to grant any
such letter.
Astounded al this rebuff, the officers OF the So
ciciy laid the matter before right prelate
who al once sought an interview with two leading
members of the cabinet--a noble duke, and the
Of one of the universities
The result was, that these three eminent per-
sons at once proceeded TO call on the home secre-
tary for the purpose of exposthlating with him on
the decision 10 which he had come; but they
found, TO their amazement and notification, that
his lordship was wholly memorable. They We're
politely reminded that the matter lay in ms depart
ment not in that of either of his two colleagues in
the cabinet who were present; and that he felt no
necessity for their advice or interference in any
way in the natter
We learn that his ordsbip also plainly stated
that this was not the only church society which
would, in future, be excluded from the privilege