The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-28
From the London Times, Dec s.
Gloomy Prospects or Russia.

4
| Gloomy Prospects or Russia.
itis not true, been stated assumed authority
that any brief and conclusive note" from the Emperor
OF Russia TO the French and English hiss cul
the eastern question 10 the fortune of such con-
municston has reached this country. The effect pro-
duced - Russia and especially the mind Of the EN-
peIor Nicholas. BY the Intelligence received during the
past mouth from the frontiers OF the Danube and the
Caucasus is still imperfecily known the west OF Eu.
rope though is OF essential Importance to any estimate
which may be formed Of the chances OF peace and
Our own correspondence from ST. Peersburgh and War
extends 10 the 24tn OF November and although in
those iron gr cities little ia Suffered 10 ranspire which
conveys impression OF doubt or perpexy the part
Of The government. is clear that the aspec, Of affairs
viewed there with extreme anxiety and apprehension.
The Emperor himself appears 10 have been alternately
OF his political schemes and military opsraiionsrres.
oule IN the adoption OF measures sufficiently decided
70 carry on The war On grand scale 9. 70 conclude
Of unequalled difficulty and embarrassment The troops
which he haughiily despatched bis frontiers to
the Porte by their mere presence have ~ yet
oesn aeleatsd o. every occasion on which they have
selves acknowledge loss OF 1880 killed, wounded,
and missing, in their late with the Turks
Inc Danube. and among ths number, General Pawlof,
manding the artillery, have been severely wounded On
the Asatic frontier matters look The first
after the patron saint OF The Car himself, has struck
superstous gloom into the army and the Russian peo-
lie, and is regarded as most 0minous event Prince
Woronozows despatch giving an account OF the capture
Of this fort, ST. Nicholas certainly not calculated to
diminish the impression produced by such defeai and
The subsequent epnlse by the Turks OF five attempts to
reake This position has aggravated the disaster At the
same time Russian steamer the Foudroyani, with troops
on board-,he same, II is said, which conveyed Prince
Menschikof 10 Cons,annople on his arrogant mission
ran aground on the coast and was destroyed by the
enemy and steam fgaie Is reported 10 have been dam
aged, II not lost in another part OF the Black There
appears great to expect that these oil the
Turkish forces followed BY the raising OF the blockade
Of the coast and by supplies OF arms and powder from the
Turkish arsenas will be followed by general
tion OF the moun,aineeIs of the Caucasus The hill forls
and block houses which serve TO cover the Russian
lons. will be closely invested and the communication
by the military roads through the province wholly
rupted Meanwhile. Prince Woronzow is at Tflis with an
army OF about $4,000 men but The renorcenenls he had
demanded mad not reached him; his communications by
sea and land threatened 10 be oH And 10 increase
the embarrassmenis Of the Emperor il appears by the
last accounts that Prince Woronzow himself, who may
has shown great ability in his administration of Southern
Russia is seriously and even dangerously i'll.
u the Emperor Nicholas turns bis thoughts westward,
ne hnds there no grounds OF confidence satisfaction
Exactly year ago he united by the closest lies 10
the leading States OF Central Europe and to this country
he has now converted the intimate relations which
listed between himself and the German powers into dis
approval Of his policy, remonstrahces against his
ues suspicion OF his designs, and neutrality verghg
ward positive resistance. With this country and with
France he inds himself a still more precarioas foot
ing and in the of these transactions nothing ap
pesrs to have affected the Emperor than the con
scousress that be has forfeited the respect and good w
oil The whole English people, and placed jeopardy The
pacific relations between Russia and England. which
nave remained almost unbroken for 800 yeaTs. Hs
stands IN that position OF total isolation which gov
enmeni, even that OF Louis XIV or Napoleon coult
maintain unwarantsble pre,ensions, and no sovereign
ever se, permanently gave the law TO Europe What
ever be his pride and whatever be his power that Law
be must one day bows and il lamenable mistake Il
imagine that this necessity will become less painful ant
Illuminating By more protrac,sd coolest On the con
tray, at zach successive step the Emperor finds hnsel
more nearly opposed, not TO Turkey. but the great
powers whom be has called into the field for there
now reason TO believe that positive and definite en-
gagemcns have been agreed 10 by the four mediaine
powers pledgiBg them 10 submit 10 change the ter
roral arrangements OF Europe. The scheme OF direc
negotiation between Russa and Turkey, which has beer
mentioned IS mere invention OF the Journal des Debat
or It's Russian informaDts
4 Probably another fortnight will elapse before il il
known with certainty whether the beserenls accept O
refuse the invitation 10 send plenpoentaries 10 con
terence OF The other iour powers and in the tim,
we must expec, the continuation Of military preparations
Al present. however, measures OF extraordinary promp
ude OF energy appear to have been taken and the Rus
sians seem rather inen, preparing for long struggle
than striking immediate blow. The army in Po
land, contrary to the reports which have been current
has moi moved, and has received orders TO bu
the process OF recruiting carried this year Poland
conwiih peculiar violence and barbary, the number
scripts required has been increased by several thousands
and persons have been seized their houses
and pressed into the imperial ranks for military servct
Of twenty-five years, While these horrors are perpeiraee
al Warsaw and in other Polish towns, the dgniied and
hopeful language Of the venerable Prince Cxaofysk
the Polish emigration Psris and the MARKS of conf
deDce recently shown to the Polish leaders by the French
government may serve 10 remind the Emperor Nicholas
that the audscous OF Russian ambition and in
Iusce-,he spoa,ion ot Poland-is still unredressed
IL the army OF Poland really intended to south
ward, lis place must be Immediately supplied and proba
bly, the imperial guard would advance TO the western
frontier The corps of General Osen- -sacken, which
was reported some days ago have crossed the Puh
ia stlfl by means 40 far advanced. The reinforce
nents that crossed The Pruih only three cavalry
regiments But Osten- -sacken's army will probably moi
the Danube before The latter part OF this month";
the beginning OF January IT. indeed il be sil further
impossible nj this According TO ell the previous
experience we have had of Russian armies entering upon
campaign, several months will elapse before the En-.
be prepared 10 take the field with such forces
IA he marched into Hungary in ls49.
These various circumstances-the inglorIous CON-
mencement OF the war; the critical position OF the Trans
caucasian provinces, the increasing alienation IRON Rus
which begins TO be eIare said to have produced very
| uniavoraole effect upon the Emperors mind AT the
moot critical moment OF his reign the confidence which
existed between himself and odes, counsellors. and
even hs own family. IL shaken and impaired His con-
duct IL wayward. his policy Unsettled and we hear no
more OF that popular enthusiasm for in Russia
which WAS said to be urging on the government to the
most violent II this be faithful picture. az
believe 1t ~, of the state OF opinion al the court OF
ST. Petesburgh nothing be further from that vigorous
union and manly decision which can alone direct with
success great enterprises in politics and in war. From
the choice OF Prince Menschk her envoy 10 the Porte
down 10 The recent incidents o this cam. Nign,
RUSSIA has committed series of gross bunders, wA,ch
have eecualy exploded her extrsvagant reputation o'