THE accounts from Vienna would lead us to believe that
General Diebitsch had arrived at Kirk-kilisia ; but either the date (Con-
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
stantinople, August Sth) or the intelligence previously received is erro- neous. The latter, on the authority of accounts from the Russian army, described Diebitsch 's head-quarters on the 6th of August as still at Aidos. If so, it is impossible that intelligence of his occupying Kirk- kilisia could have reached Constantinople on the Sth.
That the Sultan, from a conviction of his weakness, pressed on him by recent events, is at length sincerely desirous of peace, we believe ; but it is not very easy to see how such a peace as he would desire is to be obtained. It would be too much for human nature to be moderate under such circumstances as the Russians ere now- placed in.
The rumours (for they are only such) since last week, are—that Geismar has been defeated by the Pacha of Scutari and Rachova re- occupied by the Turks ; that Diebitsch had been checked in an affair near Aidos ; and that the Grand Vizier was in force at Adrianople. That he was there, is likely enougli; but that he was in force, is not so probable. To match these, we have in the French.. papers a report of the burning of Constantinople, and the retreat of the Sultan, we suppose to Asia. General Diebitsch has issued a proclamation calling on the Turks not to forsake their homes. Considerably more impor-
tance seems to be attributed to this document than it deserves. The Times thinks it indicates weakness. It is but the echo of every preli-
minary proclamation made by an invading army, that ever we happen to have read. Did they all indicate weakness in the invader ?—There appears to have been some fighting near Shunala ; but the subsequent withdrawal of Krasowsky to Jenibazaar was not a retreat, but a countermarch. He was stationed there. On the whole, we are dis- posed to place no reliance on any accounts from the theatre of war
but the regular bulletins, and of these we have unluckily none. That great events are in progress in the East, no one can doubt : perhaps ere next Saturday we may hear of their fulfilment. The Russian fleet in the Mediterranean is about to receive a for- midable reinforcement. Three line of battle ships and several frigates passed down Channel on Monday last. They kept close to the French coast. British ships are also going to the Mediterranean—" merely," says the Times," to keep up our naval superiority in that sea, where it seems probable that naval operations may be taking place. This is done without any expectation that our superiority may be disputed or our interference required, but on the principle that the first naval power in the world should always be the strongest party present where any naval transactions are likely to occur." Some of the other jour- nals would have us believe that a war is inevitable. We believe that at no period during the last fourteen years was our Government farther from wishing or intending war than at present.
