Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-18
FROM OUR L ONDo CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, FEBRuARY 20, 1854

all accounts justify the interest which that country
is exciting, and the statement which Lord PALMER
sToN made some time ago that there is no country in
Europe which has made such rapid strides in civil
izaton and strength during the last thirty years
Turkey has DONE Whether her progress be sufi-
cently consolidated and advanced to enable her to
make head singehanded against her colossal rival we
cannot affirm, and therefore will make predictions
This we will venture to assert, that if the present
war issues in the discontinue of Russia, either with
or without the Intervention of the Western Powers
and is terminated by treaty which shall leave
Turkey free to pursue her career of Improvement
she will, before another twenty years have elapsed
be in condition hold her against any enemy that
is likely to attack her. OF the Ottoman Government it
may be said that it has great merireat enough to
counterbalance many fautsit governs vevy ls It sell
dom intsrsres with the plans pursaits Of Its suDecs
In no aauntzy N EnEea 1ssept perhaps England and
Swizerand are aHic0E Institutions real efec
tive as in Turkey As respects the ofthat em
pre it may truly be said that her tariff is the most be
raj in the world whilst those Of Russia and Ausrn are
the most prohibitory. Turkey admits every article Of
import at duty of per cent Russia and Austria
charge duties varying from per cent to 60 The con-
sequence has been great and steady increase Of British
commerce with the former country, and as great and
steady diminution Of it with the latter @
The Emperor NICHOLAS now finds himself opposed, OF
the outset Of war; spowerua combination Of States
leagued together to bring the career Of an
ambitious sovereign formidable conqueror to q
close. he be still in condition to take calm and
rational survey of his position he must perceive that it
is in which is nearly impossible, whilst the
heaviest diasters are to be apprehended
There has been rumor that the smallpox was very
prevalent in the combined feet in the Bosphorus This
has been officially conradicted the sanitary state Of the
two squadrons satisfactory and the number Of sick not
above the average We reluctant to allude to an
other rumor which fear is better founded; and that
is, misunderstanding between the French and English
Ministers at Constantinople the hand, and the
French and English Admirals on the other. We had
hoped that the arrangement by which the Ministers took
the responsibility of acting politically leaving to the Ad
mras that Of acting professionally, would have removed
all difficulty; but fear not. However, this msunder
standing does not prevent the fleets giving safe convoy to
the Turkish vessels eighteen Of which sailed for Bsoun
on the 9th, with 5000 men and large quantity of ma
terial of war; They accompanied by eleven large
English war steamers. In England every day develops
additional symptoms Of the approaching contest pro-
clamaon has been issued forbiddng the expectation Of
oil arms ammunition military and naval stores and ma
rne engines propelers paddle wheels, cylinders
cranks &c. This however not to operate against the
expectation Of machinery to bona de purchasers, giving
satisfactory security that such machinery is not for the
use of countries with which England is either in actual
war or in position likely to become The first de-
achment Of the Codsteam the Grenader Guards has
embarked at Southampton for Malta and Constantinope
amid the "God speeds Of assembled thousands Other
troops have embarked at Liverpool and from Ireland
and before the 1st Of March at least 10000 British sol
ders will be their way to Turkey, to be succeeded
during the first half of March, by full 0O00 more and
third 5000 if necessary Although the whole Of the
men embarked carried the common musket large guam
titles Of the MIME rife board each steamer
with which the troops will be armed in battle 1t is SAID
that Colts revovers have been generally introduced
among the of the Russian ships to be used in
of boarding being boarded The British fleets in the
Black Sea and the Baltic viii be similarly provided
The Parliamentary proceedings Of the week have only
been important through their having caused Lord JOHN
RUSSELL defend and explain the foreign policy of thu
Government in speech which does him very grea
credit and has inspired degree of confidence in thu
Government which is most truly gratifying. This wal
on Friday evening last, when Mr.. LAYARD called the at
tcnton of the House of Commons the Eastern ques
ton He charged the Government with want of energy
and sraghtforwardness which, had they been exhibited
would he said have materially changed the
Sir JAMES GRAHAM defended the Government in pow
erfu speech in which he called upon the House not t.
potter documents and raise small objections at thu
risk of creating dsunion and delay He added in an
swer to the charge that Ministers had bndy trusted tt
Russian assurances that Russia had been old and faith
ful ally of Great Britain, and that dark malignant
picions did not readily take root in generous minds
Lord JocELYN called the note Of interrogation main
tanned his character by asking many questions LORD
| DUDLEY STUART accused the Government of want o
boldness and said their part discretion
and three parts cowardce Throughout his travels
in the East he had heard but opinion that if
bold and firm minister had occupied the place of Lord
Aberdeen the Russians would never have venured to
the Pruh One word also he heard repeated every
where, and that word was 'Palmerston.'"
Mr.. RoEBucK defended the conduct of Ministers in O
situation Of great delicacy If they had rushed hastily
into war; those who accused them with delay would
have been the first to charge them with temerty. He
however, called the Ministry to state clearly what they
| intended to do.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL responded to this appeal and began
by remarng upon the variety and in degree incon
ssency Of the attacks which the Government had
subjected Recapitulang the leading events Of the dis
pute he urged heavy accusation against Russia whose
conduct in regard to her first pretensons pure de-
ception The British Government, he contended, had
shown themselves always their guard, and had en-
countered each with decisive opposition. When
the Russians invaded the Princpalites, it by Lord
Stratfords advice that not Immediately pro-
claimed Time was then wanted Turkey not being pre-
pared for resistance After the fleets had arrived
Constannope the delay in their entering the Black Sea
entirely from the then impending change in the
Ernha xIoD Dat Tha In,r