The Sun. — 1854-11-18 (London, England)

THE PRINCIPALITIES.  A correspondent in Constantinople lately drew attention to the manner in which the Austrians are exercising their self assumed protectorate in the Principalities, decidedly as little beneficial to the inhabitants as the Russian tyranny was. A private letter from Jassy, of the Bth inst., shows that the gain made by the Moldavians and Wallachians in exchanging the Russians from the Austrians is pretty much what a tenant makes by exchanging an execution for a distraint. In this letter it is mentioned that on occasion of the Russians retiring from the Principalities the joy was universal, even including those who had been accustomed by long habit to look on Russia as the liberator of the country. When the Austrians entered the Principalities in the place of the Russians there was no such thing as an Austrian party existing anywhere in the population, arising out of the apathetic part which Austria had hitherto taken in the Eastern conflict, and which allowed Russia to do as she pleased. " Up to 1848 Austria was more distant from the Principalities than England and France, because we were always at least ea rapport d'idces with the latter. Since 1848 Austria had become better known to us from her war in Hungary, and the news of her approaching occupation was hailed with delight. We looked forward to seeing order and security restored that had been destroyed ever since the entry of the Russians in 1848. We have been fearfully disappointed, It seemed impossible that the Austrian troops could be the disciplined soldiers of his Apostolic Majesty, although seen in comparison with the Russians who had just left, and the Bashi Bazouks, who were still encamped in the plains of the Danube. One speedy result of the Austrian occupation was the rapid increase of the Russian party ; at the same time no Austrian party sprang up. How has it come about, you will ask, that the German troops,' as the Austrians are called, have made themselves so hated ? I will tell you. By an arrogance peculiar to themselves, with which they address everybody, they give themselves the airs of conquerors established by a long possession ; by a neglect and slight of all the civil and religious habits of the people ; by their immense pretensions and immoderate demands ; and by a total R ant of discipline that deprives the population of all feeling of security. I will give you some instances of this. " When they first arrived, a small detachment entered a village not far from Jassy ; as the principal householder of the place was absent, they entered his stables, took out his horses, fetched all sorts of vehicles from the peasants' houses, and, sabre in hand, compelled the tgentleman's servants to drive them the next stage. In another village, near the town of Roman, they took violent possession of the manor-house, and bivouacked there the whale night. They require the peasantry to furnish them with beds changed twice a week (probably the straw or leaves to fill the mattress), which they are not accustomed to at home, and are not entitled to claim of us here. Their con stant derision of the religion and habits of the population exhibits itself frequently in practical excesses. They will not pay for the provisions which the local government has procured for them. The local authorities must also pay for the carriages that the officers hire for their own use in Jassy- The soldiers pay for their purchases in Austrian paper money, but demand that the change shall be given them in cash. In Jassy the Austrian soldiers have put to death four inhabitants, for which it is true the murderers were condemned and shot. They have several times set fire to houses. Theft has become so common there now that the inhabitants begin to take no notice of it." After mentioning a variety of smaller matters, the letter concludes with the remark that " the manner in which Austria makes use of her position in the Principalities is the best key to the motives that led her to participate in the Conferences of Vienna."