6 DECEMBER 1828, Page 1

The following letter, which was yesterday posted at Lloyd's, seems

to indicate a perfect acquiescence in the Russian blockade of the Dardanelles.

" Foreign Office, Dec. 4.

" Sir,—With reference to Lord Dunglas's letter of the 1st of October, I am instructed by the Earl of Aberdeen to communicate to you, for the information of the Committee of Lloyd's, that British vessels, whatever may be the nature of their cargoes, which have cleared out for Constan- tinople from any port of Great Britain or Ireland before the 1st of Octo- ber, or from any port in the Mediterranean before the 30th of October, will meet with no obstruction from the Russian squadron blockading the Dardanelles. Vessels which may have cleared out subsequently to these periods, and which are laden with provisions or articles contraband of war, will be liable to interruption by the blockading squadron. " I am, Sir, &c. " J. BACKBOUSE. " To the Chairman of the Committee, Lloyd's."

Nothing, it will be observed, is said in this letter as to what is to be done with vessels which were chartered and loaded, though not cleared out for the Dardanelles, before the 1st of October. The terms of the blockade will thus require, and very probably receive, a liberal construction, otherwise the logs to merchants ih the predicament supposed must be great. A similar liberality of construction would be required in the case of ships which may have cleared out from the West Indies with sugar and coffee.

It is reported that, in October, Constantinople was straitened for provisions ; and again, that the Russian squadron in the Darda- nelles had seized twenty vessels laden with corn for the capital, which had 'given rise to a tumult among the populace. The late Admiral Collingwood, it will be recollected, ridiculed the idea of blockading the Dardanelles ; and stated that Constantinople can- not be starved nor awed into submission by that measure, as abundance of provisions can be procured through other channels.

It would appear that the Sultan is in no degree daunted by the loss of Varna. The Grand Vizier, however, has been deprived of his office because he did not succeed in relieving the Capitan Pacha; and that officer has been invested with the dignity in his stead.

For some unexplained reason, the Turks have abandoned their strong camp at Kalafat, though it was in a perfect state of defence, and had not been attacked.