19 NOVEMBER 1853, Page 6

inrtigunult nInuial.

Fituven.—The Emperor and Empress are now at Fontainebleau, and expected to stay there until the end of the month. The Russian, A118. trian, and Turkish Ambassadors, have been invited to spend a week there; but it is thought the Russian Minister will be unable to attend, in cense_ quence of an attack of the diplomatic " indisposition."

The Moniteur of Saturday contained the following reply to the mani- festo of the Emperor of Russia.

" The Journal do St. .Petersbourg, in its number of the 3d November, contains a new manifesto from the Emperor of Russia. We give this docu- ment further on, but we consider it necessary to preface it by some observa- tions. The question now in dispute between the Cabinet of St. Petersburg and the Sublime Porte is at present well known ; and the proportions which it has assumed, in spite of the efforts of the diplomatists of Europe, do not change its origin. The affair of the Holy Places of Jerusalem being tor. minated, Prince Menschikoff laid claim, in the name of his Government, to certain guarantees for the maintenance of the privileges of the Eastern Church. These guarantees related altogether to the future, as no particular fact, no complaint from the Patriarch of Constantinople, had been brought forward in support of the demand of the Ambassador of Russia, and the Sublime Porte had just confirmed spontaneously all the spiritual immunities of the Greek community. The solicitude of the Emperor Nicholas for a religious creed which is that of the majority of his people, consequently had no immediate object ; nevertheless, France, Austria, Great Britain, and Prussia, recommended the Sublime Porte to respond to it by assurances compatible with the dignity of the Sultan and the integrity of his sovereign rights. The Conference of Vienna imagined that it had found a form of drawing up a note which would prove satisfactory to both parties. When that note was submitted to the Divan objections were made to it which the powers re- gretted, but which, however, they considered it their duty to pay such at- tention to as to advise the Cabinet of St. Petersburg to admit them. Not only did that Cabinet refuse to do so, but the explanations into which Count de Nesselrode entered to account for the rejection of the modifications pro- posed by Resehid Pacha, were of such a nature that France, Austria, Great Britain, and Prussia, by common accord, admitted that it was no longer pos- sible for them to recommend the Porte to accept purely and simply the Vi. eons note. It was in these circumstances that the Sultan adopted the course of declaring war. That Sovereign acted in the plenitude of his re. sponsibility ; but it is not exact to gay, as the Russian manifesto does, that 'the principal powers of Europe have vainly endeavoured, ky their exhortations, to shake the blind obstinacy of the Ottoman Porte.' The principal powers of Europe, and in particular France and England, on the contrary, recog- nized that if their conciliatory action was not exhaueted, the arrangement to be made ought not any longer to be concluded on eonditions of which the Cabinet of St. Petersburg had itself undertaken to prove the danger. The manifesto terminates by declaring that nothing now remains for Russia, pro- voked as she was to combat, but to have recourse to aema to force Turkey to respect treaties : but it does not mention any clauses of such treaties which had been violated by the Porte. By the treaty of ltutehuk Kainardji, the Porte engaged to protect the Christian worship in all its churches. The addresses which the Armenian and Greek communities have just pre- sented to the Sultan prove their gratitude for the recent benefits of his Highness. The treaty of Adrianople confirms in favour of the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia advantages and privileges, which the Porte has respected even to the point of not recalling the Hoepodars Stirbey and Ghika, who at present quit power, not in consequence of a Armin of the Grand Sig- nior, but owing to the orders of General Prince Gortschakoff, which their loyalty as subjects of the Sultan did not permit them any longer to execute. The same treaty of Adrianople fixes the Pruth as the boundary of the two empires : but that river was crossed in the midst of peace by a Russian army. The Turks, in crossing the Danube in their turn, do not assume the offensive; it is the Ottoman empire, such as it is determined by treaties, which they are endeavouring to defend against an aggression the date of which goes back several months. Our intention cannot be to enter here into a useless discussion, but it has appeared to us indispensable to reastablish, as we com- prehend it, the truth as to the real situation of things."

At the sitting of the Paris Court of Assize, on Tuesday, sentence was pronounced on the prisoners found guilty of plotting against the Emperor Louis Napoleon. The Court condemned Folliet, Alix, and Decroix, to eight years' banishment ; Ruault, Lux, Gerard, de Merest, Menet, Gabrat, and Copinot, to transportation ; Monchiroud to ten years' detention ; Turenne Matz, and Mazille, to seven years' detention ; Mail- let, Denez Jaud, domes, and Joiron, to five years' detention ; Ribanit de Laugardiere to five years' imprisonment ; and Follot to three years' imprisonment. "Detention," according to the French law, differs from imprisonment in being more severe, having an infamous character at- tached to it, and carrying with it surveillance of the Police for life. The accused heard their condemnation in silence.

The meeting of British residents at Itt ounce's Hotel, to provide means of "paying a tribute of respect" to the memory of Lieutenant Bellot, was fully attended. Lord Bowden occupied the chair; and Lord Poltimore, the Honourable W. Stuart, the Earl of Munster, Captain Hall, Mr. Joseph Locke M.P., and Captain Langford, addressed the meeting. It was resolved that a subscription should be raised to erect a tablet with a suitable inscription to the memory of Lieutenant Bella and that the Minister of Marine should be requested to receive the funds.

TUMMY. —Our accounts of the war operations on the Danube lad week briefly mentioned that the Turks had established themselves at Oltenitza, the point where they crossed the Danube in great force ; and that the Russians had retreated on Bucharest. We also mentioned that Turkish corps had intrenched themselves in Lesser Wallachia ; that other bodies of troops had passed the river at Kalarache ; and that it was still matter of doubt whether the fortress at Giurgevo had been captured from the Russians. This last-mentioned uncertainty is the more important when it is remembered that Giurgevo is one of the strong posts in the centre of the line of the Turkish operations, lying some miles above Oltenitza, and commanding the left flank of any corps acting at the latter place. Resuming the thread of the story of the campaign, we find positive statements, certified by reports both via Constantinople and Vienna, that the Turks sustained three desperate attacks at Oltenitza, victors in the last. We subjoin two accounts of these battles ; the first from Vienna, the second from the Paris Idoniteur.

"The island in the vicinity of Turtukai forms a natural battle-ground. The troops with which the Turks made a beginning on the 2d, after a corps of about 14,000 men had been concentrated between TschataLscha and Tur- tukai, remained concealed in the bushes, favoured by the fog. On the 3d, about 5000 men were posted on the island, 2000 were on board of barges ready to be conveyed to the opposite shore, and about 4000 or 5000 men had already landed err the left bank. During the night from the 3d to the 4th jowls, the passage was attempted over the smaller arm of the river near (maitre, and was also carried out by force of arms. The 2000 troops on board the barges sailed round the island, and were the first to reach the Wallachian shore. The Russian pickets were posted along the Danube. One of these pickets was at Oltenitza ; the reserve were posted at the distance of a ehot behind this place, amounting altogether to about 6000 men. During the combat, reinforcements arrived. The engagement commenced at dawn of day. On both sides the troops fought with bravery and perseverance. The cannonade lasted unremittingly for eighteen hours. Towards noon the contest seemed to draw to a close by the retreat of the Turks to their yes- but was soon renewed. In the evening the Turks were established along the river-side, and the Russians behind Oltenitza. The conflict is described as an exceedingly murderous one, and the losses on both sides must have been very considerable. The Russians performed all that could have been expected of them, considering the disproportionate numbers of the enemy. But the Turks also fought with a bravery inspired by an ex- traordinary degree of fanaticism, which is likely to destroy the illusion which many have hitherto indulged in with regard to the military prowess of the Turks."

The alfoniteur continues the story—

"The Government has received the following details of the rencontre of the 4th between the Turks and Russians, at Oltenitza. It is in the triangle formed by the Argis, the Danube, and the village of Oltenitza, that the sangumarycom- bat of the 4th took place. The Turks were only 9000 strong ; they occupied the quarantine building iituated in the plain near the Danube and the vil- lage. This building and an old redoubt were fortified with materials brought from Tourtukai. The Turks made use of the batteries of that fortress with great success. They threw across the Danube, which is here about 260 toisee in width, shot and shells, which reached the Russians at the foot of the vil- lage situated on an elevation. General Dannenberg„ whodirected the opera- tions, was at a short distance from the village with his staff. The loss of the Russians ía estimated at 1200 men killed or wounded. Almost all the chefs de bataillon were wounded, as well as several colonels : the great majority of the wouuds were made with conical balls. Prince Gortschakoff has left for Oltenitza. It is intended to attack the Turks with 24,000 men today or to- morrow."

The attack contemplated in this account does not appear to have taken place until the 11th instant—even if it took place then. At that date, the Russian force was disposed in front of the Turks on the high-road to Bucharest, covering both the routes from Oltenitza and Giurgevo. A tele- graphic despatch, dated "Vienna, Tuesday," stated that Prince Gort- schakoff, in person, attacked the Turks, strongly reinforced, on the 11th, and was repulsed. In the mean time, between the 5th and 9th, it would appear that there had been a good deal of fighting near Giurgevo; and we have read more than one report to the effect that the Turks had been driven from and had recaptured the island in front of Giurgevo ; and also that they had obtained a footing in the town, suffering severely from street-fighting.. The next news Was very properly described as "startling." It con- sisted of a telegraphic despatch from Vienna, dated Wednesday, stating that "the Turks have already passed Bucharest, which is in flames in three places"; and that the Russians were "retreating upon Kronstadt in Transylvania." This seemed not utterly incredible. Flying reports had reached us that the Turks had crossed the Danube at various points be- tween Oltenitza and Ibrail; and it was just possible that these detach- ments had occupied the roads leading on the one hand to Galas, and on the other through Rimiuik to Moldavia. It was therefore not incredi- ble, that, with the army in Lesser Wallachia acting on the Russian right wing, and driving them back, with the centre pressing through Bucharest, and the road to Moldavia in the hands of the extreme right of the Turks, Prince Gortschakoff had been forded to lead his shattered brigades towards the passes of the Transylvanian mountains. But just as this alleged retreat had been thus accounted for, came news of a different cha- racter—the news of yesterday, that the Turks, after destroying their in- trenehments at Oltenitza, had recrossed the Danube, compelled thereto by the appearance of Prince Gortschakoff with 45,000 men. We hear nothing of the Turkish divisions right and left of Oltenitza and Giurgevo. Ismail Pacha is said to command 24,000 men in Lesser Wallachia ; and 10,000 are said to have passed at Hirsova, and to have advanced to Slobodgie.- Some light is thrown upon the Russian losses by the letter of an army surgeon at Bucharest, dated 4th November. In utter ignorance of what is going on a few miles from this place, (for all communications and reports- are strictly forbidden,) I write these few lines just to say that we are quite overdone with sick and wounded. Besides Brancovan, Koh& (formerly a prison), Kaduwoda, Michas-woda, and Sveuta Postulni, are hill, and many other temporary hospitals have been opened. There is a great want of surgeons, for already we have wounded soldiers from Oltemtsa, Kalarasch, Giurgevo, Kalafat, and from before Krajowa. Judging from the transport of sick and wounded, there must have been very hard fighting at those places. It is especially noticed that a large pro- portion of the men have sword and bayonet wounds, as if they had been engaged in a hand to hand conflict. The cholera has found victims in all the detachmenta of the army, but itsinali,gnity isabated. On the other hand, 5sphus is very prevalent. One of the great evils-of the Russian army here is the practice of lodging the men in huts partially excavated in the earth, and not sufficiently protected against the weather. The men cannot stand against its injurious effects, especially in the absence of fuel, of which there is a great lack. The present state of things cannot long continue without leading to endemic and epidemic diseases ; from which may Heaven preserve us, in whose memories the horrors of war and plague in the Balkan, M 1829, are still fresh!" It is statedlhat Russian reinforcements are on the march from Ibrail, and also from the Pruth, to Bucharest.

We have no intelligence from Asian Turkey, except the details of that battle mentioned last week, which, as- they are semi-official, have still their interest. They state that Edhem Effendi had arrived at Constan- tinople from Trebizond in board a steamer. He gave the Minister at War an account of the engagement in which Selim Pacha was the victor. "Oa the 14th October Major Mama,- Bey having been seat forward with a company to reconnoitre the fortifioati ins tl at the Russians were making at the other side of the Tchourouk-sou, was receivedd, by a fire of musketry, which he immediately returned ; and on sending for a reinforcement, Se- lim Pacha despatched several battalions to his aid. The Russians having in the mean time also increased in number, an engagement ensued, which soon became general. Selim Pacha crossed the Tchourouk-soir at several Points, and drove the Russians back, after encountering a very serious re- sistance. The Russians were obliged to retreat, pursued as far as Oreilli by the Turkish General, Hassan Pacha. The bulk of the Russian forces re- ceded to Chevkedy. In this first action. the Turks took two pieces of artil- lery from the Russians, and made 144 prisoners; the Russians losing 600 men, between dead and wounded. At Chevkedy, a most determined fight has taken place. The Russians had received reinforcements there, and made a stout resistance. &lira Pacha took the town by storm ; being. obliged to attack the place twice. The Russians gave way at last ; leaving a great number dead, three cannon, and upwards of 100 prisoners, amongst whom was Colonel Klatt, a chief of the Cossacks. The Turks captured 3000 sacks of flour, a great deal of ammunition, and 1600 musket& Five of the RUB- sian prisoners were brought to Constantinople by Edhem Effendi ; the rest are shortly expected, a steamer having been sent to Batum expressly to fetch them. Selim Pacha concludes his despatch by announcing that he is about to mare I, on Sohoun Kale ; two regiments of cavalry and three bat- teries of field urtillery having been sent in pursuit of the enemy."

In all their engagements the Turks did fatal execution, in picking off superior officers, with Mini& rifles. A special corps of expert marksmen had been organized and drilled by French officers, upon the model of the famous Chasseurs of Vincennes.

The Sultan has decided upon joining the troops in the field, "in the earliest days of the spring." He announced his resolution to the Porte in person, and informed them that he should fix his "first " head-quarters at Adrianople. From the tenor of his speech to the Porte it would seem that he contemplates going to Adrianople very soon. Preparations for his cortege are to be immediately commenced.

RIISSIA.—Intelligence has reached Portsmouth, that the three divisions of the Russian fleet in the Baltic have not only gone into winter quarters, but have been " partially dismantled." One division is at Cronstadt, and the other two, not at Revel or HeLsingfors, as was reported, but at Port Baltic. This is a strong place; it can only be approached by one ship at a time, and is rarely selected for winter quarters. The British artisans whose contracts for service have terminated have been discharged. Ac- tive measures have been taken to form a screw fleet.

This is the text of the circular addressed by Count Nesselrode to the Russian Ministers at the different courts of Europe, a summary of which appeared in our Postscript last week.

" St. Petersburg, Oct. 19 (31).

"Sir—The efforts which we have not ceased to make for the last eight months to arrive at the amicable arrangement of our differences with the Ottoman empire have been hitherto unhappily fruitless. Nay, more, the situation seems to tend every day to aggravate greatly. While the Emperor offered, during his interview at Olmiitz with his intimate friend and ally the Emperor Francis Joseph, new facilities to the Ottoman Cabinet to clear the misunderstanding which has been attached to the motives set forth by us for rejecting the modifications which the Porte wished to introduce into the note concerted at Vienna, the Porte, yielding, notwithstanding the counsels of the European representatives at Constantinople, to the impulse of warlike ideas and of Mussulman fanaticism, has, as you are already aware, formally declared war against us. That precipitate measure hat, nevertheless, made no change in the pacific dispositions of the Emperor. We do not on that account yet abandon the resolutions announced from the beginning in our circular of the 20th of June (2d July). At that period his Majesty declared, that in temporarily occupying the Principalities as a material guarantee des- tined to insure him the satisfaction which he demands, he did not wish to push further the measures of coercion, and would avoid an offensive war as

long as his dignity and his interests would permit him. At the present hour, and in spite of the new provocation which has now been addressed to him, the intentions of my august master remain the same. Possessed of the material pledge which the occupation of the two Moldo-Wal- lachian provinces gives us, although we are always ready, according to our premises, to evacuate them from the moment that reparation shall have been made to us, we shall content ourselves provisionally with maintaining our positions there ; remaining on the defensive, as long as we shall not have been forced to quit the circle within which we desire to confine our action. We will await the attack of the Turks, without assuming the initiative of hostilities. It will consequently depend altogether on the other Powers not to enlarge the limits of the war, if the Turks should persist in absolutely commencing it, and not to impart to it a character different from that which we intend to leave it. This situation, altogether of an ex- pectant character, does not throw any obstacle in the way of continuing nego- tiations. As is to be expected, after the declaration of war which has been

i made, it not for Russia to seek for new expedients, or to assume the ini- tiative of making overtures of conciliation. But if the Porte, becoming more enlightened as to her own interests, should hereafter be disposed to put for- ward or to receive favourably such overtures, it will not be from the Em- peror that any obstacles will proceed to their being taken into considera- tion. Such, sir, is all that at present we are allowed to signify to you, in our incertitude as to whether the Ottoman Porte will immediately carry out the warlike projects which she has just adopted. State our eventual mien- done to the Cabinet to which you are accredited. They will once more at- test the desire of our august master to circumscribe as much as possible the circle of hostilities should they take place in spite of his wishes, and to spare the consequences of them to the rest of Europe.

"Receive, &c., NESSELRODE."

The Russian Minister of Finance has announced, that, in reciprocation for the conduct of Turkey in not laying Russian vessels under an im- mediate embargo, Russia will "offer free exit to the Turkish vessels that happen to be in her ports up to the 22d November of this year " ; also, that Turkish vessels carrying the goo Is belonging to the subjects of friendly powers will be unmolested, if laden before the 22d instant; but cargoes un- der Turkish flags, although not Turkish property, will be seized after that date. Neutrals will be permitted to enter and leave Russian ports at will ; and the Austrian Lloyd's steamers will be allowed, even during war, to keep up a. regular communication between Odessa and Constantinople. The .Tournal de St. Petersbourg of the 8th instant publishes a letter from twelve English merchants to the Minister of Finance, conveying their "profound and respectful gratitude" to the Emperor for his " paternal favour" in giving them, verbally, on the 3d and 5th October, through the Finance Minister, "declarations of a thoroughly tranquillizing character relative to the continuation of the Imperial protection for their persons, property, and commercial operations, even in the unexpected eventuality of a rupture of the peace between Russia and Great Britain."

GERMANY.—The representatives of Austria and Prussia have, before the Diet now sitting at Frankfort, each made a statement respecting the attitude their Governments will maintain. Baron Prokesch-Osten, on behalf of the Emperor of Austria, declared that the Emperor does not in- tend to take part in the hostilities between Turkey and Russia : on the contrary, he has chosen the present moment to effect a partial disarma- ment as a guarantee of his pacific sentiments and of his confidence in an "amicable termination of the dispute." He hopes this will tranquillise the other Governments of Germany, sad inmate their support,. Frrept- sag thareimme-annetweing-the redaction of the army, the Prussian Minis-

ter made a similar staire,efipf • t. , ITALY.—Pio Nonciplreathedia sermon to tne . people of Rome, on the 6th instant, from the steps of the Church of San Giuseppe del Falegnami. His sermon contained no obvious political allusions. The Pope subse- qUently entered the church, listened to the Ambrosian hymn, and received tie blessing of the Sacristan. Then, accompanied by the Cardinal Vicar, and the Roman Municipality with the banners of the Roman districts in front, be took the right-hand road to the Capitol ; turning back once on his way to bless the people who filled the Forum beneath. The people were respectful, but not enthusiastic.

Srairr.—General Narvaez had a brief interview with the Queen of Spain at Madrid on the 8th instant. It is stated that her Majesty ad- dressed him in these laconic sentences—" I perceive with pleasure that your health is good. I thought you were ill. Had I known that you enjoyed such good health, I would have insisted on your going to Vienna." General Narvaez immediately left Madrid, for Aranjuez.

INDIA AND CHINA.—We have already given the brief summary of the contents of the mails from India and China contained in the telegraphic despatches from Trieste. The fuller despatches more than confirm the announcements of that summary, and present a most alarming picture of the state of Pegu. The robber bands, headed by hlyah Thoon and other chiefs, were ravaging the whole country. On the Eastern aide of the Irrawaddy, from Henzada to Meaday, the robber chiefs prevailed ; and every town in that great district,—such is the report—except Prosaic and Shweydoung, has been burnt down. On the Western side, numbers of towns, occupied by small Sepoy garrisons, have been attacked, and some plundered. "The reign of terror is complete," says the Friend of India. It is reported that these robbers are acting under the direct countenance of the Court of Ave; and that the King's younger brother, the heir to the throne, actually rides in the forays of the most notorious robbers. The inhabitants of Pegu complain that we give them no protection ; and the robbers openly proclaim, that if they cannot keep Pegu for the King of Burmah, they will yield it to the British only as a desert." All the time, the King professes a desire for peace; but it is truly observed that whatever may be his desires he is actually at war with the British em-

pire. On the 13th September, there were only 800 men at Rangoon, -while Myah Thoon and MoungGoung Gye were within four days' march of the place at the head of 11,000 men.

Lord Dalhousie, it was reported, had resolved to go to Rangoon him- self; but the news of the assassination of Colonel Mackeson' rumours of an Affghan incursion, and the generally disturbed state of the North- western frontier, detained him in Calcutta. Reports from various sources had reached Bombay, that Boat Mahomed had formed an alliance with Russia, and that Russian emissaries had appeared at Kohat. It was also stated that Saadat Khan of Lalpoor was suspected of instigating the mur- der of Mackeson ; and reinforcements had been marched up in consequence, from Rawel Pindee to Peshawur. An additional regiment has been sent up from Deese in Goozerat ; and Peshawur has been placed in a defen- sible state, as far as possible, with a small force and a tumble-down fort. The assassin was hanged soon after the commission of his crime, in front of the house of Colonel. Mackeson.

The Khan of Khiva and the King- of Bokhara had taken the field against the Russians. There was much speculation as to the intentions of the Shah of Persia. It has long been noticed that he had assembled an army in Sultanieh, near the Russian frontier : this was contrary to the treaty of 1828 between Russia and Persia, and it was considered that the Shah intended to employ his army against the Turks. The news from China consists chiefly of the fact that Shanghai fell into the hands of the rebels on the 7th September. The Taoutace, Samqua, was deserted by his guards. Through the exertions of the American Minister, Colonel Marshall, his life was spared ; and, after much trouble, he was placed under the Minister's protection. The rebels showed the greatest friendliness to the "foreign brethren " ; and Uti, their chief, lis- tened with attention to the suggestions of Colonel Marshall. Fearing an attack on the foreign settlement, the commanders of the war-ships on the station had held their force ready to protect the foreign merchants; but when the mail departed, on the 22d September, they had not been re- quired. Liii was at the head of an independent command; and it was said that Taeping Wang was averse to the movement at Shanghai. Can- ton had not yet fallen ; neither had Amoy been retaken by the Imperialists IIONTEVIDE0.—Buenos Ayres was restored to peace by the utter de-* feat of Urquiza before the people of Montevideo drove Oribe and Giro from power. The details are not very clear, and the influence of the French Legation is very freely spoken of as being used in behalf of Oribe. It was even reported at Buenos Ayres, on the 1st October, that the French naval authorities had attempted to take the Customhouse by force, but that they had been defeated with loss. This report was not believed.