Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-02
Correspondence Of the New York Tribune.
The stale Of Rur0pe.


LogDoY, Oct IL, 1854.
Up TO the latest advices from the Crimea,
the actual siege operations against Sebastopol
had not yet begun. The bombardment of the
fourth was only a trial OF The range of the guns.
According to the English dispatches, the siege
cannot begin before the ninth; according to a
reported statement of General Canrobert the
place may hold out for fortnight after the FIRE
from the trenches is opened; and, according to
the authority both of Omer Pasha and of the
Russian papers, the re-inforcements which
Prince Gorchakof can send to Menchikof
may arrive before Sebastopol about the 18th
instant. The allies have, therefore, evidently
one battle more to fight before they can take
Sebastopol. The conquest will be dearly
bought, since the expected arrival of the Grand
Duke Constantine at Sympheropol forebodes
strong resistance, and desperate efforts for
saving the place. the commander of which
General Lermontof-is known for his obsti-
nate resolution and frmness of character.
STILL though the English and French papers
are fully confident of speedy success, they be-
gin to feel that the capture and destruction Of
Sebastopol, and even the occupation of the
Crimea, cannot lead to peace; that is to say,
to peace which will guarantee the independ-
ence of Turkey, and which involves humilia-
ton of Russia. Kossuth's idea, therefore, that,
unless Poland should be restored, even vic
tory over Russia must remain barren, begins
to become popular even among the higher cir.
cles.
A pamphlet just published in Paris, which
is attributed to Count Persigny, the late min
lister and old friend of Napoleon, openly pro-
poses the reconstruction of Poland as the only
possible barrier against Russia. The natu-
raI IF clyy
and the fayors bestowed upon him by the En-.
peror, seem to be in some connection with the
plan for the resuscitation of Poland which, as
1 am assured, is under serious discussion both
at Downing street and in the Tuileries. As
matter of course, in the present state Of affairs
in Europe, Poland will not be allowed to con-
stitute herself as a republic, and if she has to
be kingdom, the question of the dynasty to
be established is serious one. The German
princes are all much too Russian Coburg
would not suit France-and q Bonaparte might
endanger the entente cordiale. Prince Czarto
RISKY and Count Branicki, the most conspicu-
Gus members of the Polish arstocracy in exile,
are too much interviewer with the late political
events, and have at least as many bitter enc
mics as they have partisans. Under such cir
cumstances, Prince Poniatowsky might be the
most acceptable candidate on account of his
own obscurity. His grandfather was the last
king of Poland; his uncle-the French Mar
shall who fell at Leipzic--was destined by the
great Napoleon to be the King of Poland the
present prince, therefore, has just the same
color of legitimacy as Napoleon or Murat His
education has, Of course, not been that of
pretender, but of a great Italian nobleman
He has filed the place of an ambassador of
Tuscany, both at London and Paris; he is
Eranx 40 ha ,,lx1 r.
struction and honest private character, fond of
OF 'music-as he has written several operas
dignihed in his department, not suspected of
any strongly marked political opniions-in
fact, he is man of that sort of mediocrity
which makes good kings. Should the war be
protracted until spring, he may get a throne.
Speaking, a few days back, with a most in
tehlgent and distinguished Englishman, told
him openly that the blunders and partial fail
ures OF the first campaign can scarcely bear
any other Interpretation than that Of treachery
de would not admit my conclusion, and said
that all constitutional aristocratic nations from
the days OF Rome, were almost always worst
ed IN their first campaign in any war, and that
the system OF patronage, of routine and of
jobbing resulted always in the most lamenta
BILE shortcomings, want of precision, military
blunders and diplomatic failures, which always
disappeared during the progress of the war.
He felt satisfied that Lord Aberdeen did not
wish to do any real harm to the Car; that
Admiral Dundas got the command of the Black
Sea fleet not for his military and naval accom-
plishments, but reward for parliamentary
services; that the delay of the expedition to
the Crimea was exclusively the result of the
irresolution of those two principal persons !;
that Lord Radcliffe had resided too long in the
East not to become thorough Greek in his
character, always anxious to succeed by cum
ming, and not by straightforwardness. Still, he
assured me that public opinion has 80 strongly
acted upon the colleagues of Lord Aberdeen
as to insure manly policy for the continuation
of the campaign, and final peace which must
be more than temporary truce. 1t seems
that, on the whole, the above opinions are
shared by the great majority of the English
people who are patient enough not to condemn
the Ministry for the small success of the first
campaign.
Should this view be correct, then the posi-.
ton Of the neutrals will become more difficult
from day to day. 1t is again stated that the
Danish treaty of May 8, 1853, which gave the
eventual succession Of the empire to the Car,
is to be revised; that Austria is 10 be drawn
into the vortex Of the war by an attack of
Omer Pasha on Bessarabia, which may bring
back the Russians into the principalities, and
the camp Of the French army near Boulogne
is to back the serious remonstrances of the
western powers at Berlin while the liberation
Of Barbes by Napoleon is to pave the way for
a conciatory policy toward the republicans Of
France. A general war and an alteration of
the map of Europe seem to be in store for the
next year.
In Denmark vote of 80 against 9 has con-
demned the policy of the ministers, and their
plan of destroying the Constitution and cen.
tralizing the power in the Crown-stll all the
efforts OF the Danes cannot avail, unless the |
powers of Europe remove the incubus of the |
Russian succession by revising the treaty of
the 9Th Of May.
In Spain schism has taken place among
the Republican party; Orense has been super.
seeded for his want Of energy and Of prompt
ness to sacrifice his own interests, but the men |
who have stepped into his place are said to be
more important and more influential than he
is. The elections to the Cortes show, so far,
a majority for the Progressistas and Republi.
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