Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-07-21
Mist&IIanp.
From the New York Herald
Turkey and Persia-The Progress Of
Russia in the East.

Russia IN the East.
The present relation Of Russia and Turkey
and, accidentally, with Persia, as well as the
European powers, form the most interesting
question now agtating the public mind on the
other side Of the Atlantic. The firm and de-
clded stand Of the Turkish government against
the demands of the Emperor Of Russia, we
have seen will be sustained by England and
France, and possibly by Austria but if the
Emperor Nicholas declines to enter the field
against such immense odds as promise to be
brought against him, we have expressed an
opinion, In former article in the Herald. that
he will not withdraw his demands upon Tur-
key, but will keep it an open question, to be
used hereafter when circumstances NAV be
more favorable to resort to hostilities with
the Ottoman Porte.
Whatever may be the result of the present
difficulties between Russia and Turkey, it may
be interesting to our readers to look at the
present condition Of the three powers of Rus
sia, Turkey and Persia, and the progress of
Russia in the East since the time of Peter the
Great.
The extent of the area of the Russian en-
pire is estimated at about seven millions of
square miles, of which two millions are in Eu-
rope, and five millions in Asia, principally in
Siberia.) This is exclusive of the Russian
territory on the northwest coast Of America,
large in extent, but very sparse in population.
The population Of the empire is about sixty
five million, of which more than sixty million
belong to the Caucasian race, located princi-
pally in European Russia. The-populaton of
the Turkish empire is estimated at twenty-five
million, Of which fifteen million are in Europe,
ond the remainder in Asia Persia, the natu-
raj ally of Turkey and an important barrier to
the progress of Russia in march of conquest
to the East is believed to have a population of
twelve million. But in military strength the
two Mahommedan empires united fall far be-
low that of Russia alone, even in comparison
with their population. 1t is unnecessary to
say more upon this point, than that in case of
hostilities both Turkey and Persia would fall
before the gigantic power of Russia. Turkey
must therefore rely upon assistance from one
or more of the great European powers; and
England, acting on her hitherto uniform policy
Of sustaining Turkey, as an important balance
in the scale Of European nations and part Of
the British possessions in India, has declared
her firm intention Of preserving the integrity
and independence of the Turkish nation
Glancing back to the history Of Russia, we
cannot fail to perceive that her whole course,
for century and half, has been that of ag-
gression on Turkey and Persia, and leading to
a great extension of the empire to the East
1t would seem, indeed, that the absorption of
Turkey in Europe, and eventually perhaps, Of
Asiatic Turkey and Persia, was only ques-
tion of time; for under Peter the Great and
each of his successors has the same been pur-
sued.
When Peter the Great ascended the throne
of Russia in 1859, he had no commercial sea-
port excepting Archangel, in the northern re-
gions, washed by the White Sea. His own
genius, aided by an intercourse with Europ-
cans, led him early to appreciate the vast i'm
pOrtance of commerce; and as the trade with
India had ever been regarded as a certain
source of wealth to the natives, which at differ
ent times enjoyed it, his first military enter
prise was an attempt, in 1895, to possess him
sulf Of a port on the sea of Asoph, an arm of
the Black Sea, for the avowed purpose of
drawing back into one of its ancient channels
what, in the deficiency of more precise knowl-
edge, was in general knowledge terms desig-
mated the commerce Of the East. The port Of
Taganrog was destined to become the empori-
um of traffic which was to enrich his empire;
and two small vessels built at Voronege, and
foated down the Don to the sea, constituted
the first naval effort Of the Gar. The Greeks,
while their empire fiourished, the Kings Of
Pontus before, and the Genoese after that era,
made the Crimca an emporium for the COM
merce of India, which was partly carried by
the Persian Gulf through Persia to Georgia
and partly through Herat to the Caspian, and
up the river Kur to Georgia, whence it was in
the like manner transported to the Phasis and
the Crimea.
The journey of Peter the Great into various
parts of Europe opened to him other views:
and teaching him the 1alue of European as
well as Oriental commerce led him to desire
an establishment on the Baltic. Even at this
period he seems to have contemplated the ac
QUESTION of Livonia, to which Russia pretend
ed to have some antiquated claim. His sue
cesses against the Swedes put him in posses
sion Of port on that northern sea; and when
the victory of Pultowa had relieved him from
all apprehension of the military power OF
! Charles the Twelfth and established the repu-
tation Of his own army, he turned towards
| Turkey, whose power was even then supposed
| to be tottering, whose Christian subjects were
believed to be ripe for revolt, and on whose
ruins it was not doubted the Gar Of Russia,
the conqueror Of the Swedish Charles, could
exalt his own power. The disastrous cam