Telegraphic despatches are now far less numerous than formerly. There
are, however, three this morning ; each possessing some. interest, and the fi;st suggesting many reflections.
" Ilinnburg, Friday.—The Grand Duke Constantine, as the head of the naval service of Russia, has issued a circular to its several departments, re- quiring that all reports shall contain the naked truth. Defects and mis- management are no longer to be glossed over. Officials disobeying this in- junction are to be dismissed the service." "Hamburg Jan. 4.—Accounts from Sweden state that General Block, Minister at War in Norway, and commanding the army, has been directed to organize the Norwegian troops, in concert with the chief of the War De- partment at Stockholm." "Paris, Jan. 4.—It is thought that the Cabinet of St. Petersburg would not wish to come to a diplomatic rupture with that of Vienna, and that it will reply, therefore, in the sense of the declarations contained in the cir- cular of the 22d December."
The Journal des Dibats publishes a letter from Constantinople, dated December 24, showing that the fall of Kars and the failure of Omar Pasha have had their effect on the Turkish Government. " Two extra- ordinary councils of war, at which Generals Larchey and Mansfield, the one commanding at Constantinople the French and the other the English troops, Colonel Chiesa della Torre, and the first dragomans in the English and French Embassies, were present, were held last week at the palace of the Seraskier, for devising the means of protecting Erzeroum, and enabling that place to resist any forcible attack, and to hold out to the spring in case of being blockaded.. In the first council, which took place on Thursday the 20th instant, they were chiefly employed in as- certaining what ought to have been done during the summer and autumn for provisioning and relieving Kars. In the second council, held on Saturday the 22d of December, they proposed and discussed the measures that have to be immediately taken in order to save Erzeroum. Owing to the presence of the Allied Generals, a little order could be maintained throughout the discussion. They began by drawing up as correct an account as they could of the military forces which the Turkish Govern- ment still has m that part of Asia, and of the state they are in ; as also of the resources, both in munitions and supplies, they can collect at Erzeroum and Trebizond." Troops were to be instantly sent to the latter place. Omar Pasha had retreated upon Souchum Kaleh.
A storm on the 19th had done considerable damage to the shipping in the Black Sea. An Austrian vessel, laden with 100 oxen and 200 sheep, was driven at night into the'bay of Sebastopol ; and the batteries of Fort Constantine immediately opened upon her. Abandoned by her captain and crew, the vessel drifted to the South side of the bay, and was fired upon by the Russians during the whole of the next day, until it was set on fire and destroyed, with the loss of all the cattle on board. An Eng- lish vessel, the Caledonia, which arrived at Kamiesch the day before, with a cargo of coal for the squadron, was thrown on the coast. The captain and crew, instead of remaining on board, where they had nothing to fear, got into a boat and wore all drowned. An American transport, the Cortes, laden with hay, also ran aground near the Caledonia; but the crew and cargo were saved. Five other merchantmen, belonging to dif- ferent nations, were either lost or seriously damaged.
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