The accounts from the theatre of war are interesting only
inasmuch as they show that it cannot be long before some event of importance takes place. The last Russian bulletin (dated July 14th) reports that a skirmish had occurred with a strong body of Turkish cavalry (8000). The Russians do not appear to have had much the better of the contest ; and the Turks, by their vigour, and moreover by a dexterous manceuvre of sending a detachment round a valley, by means of which they fell upon the Russian flank unperceived, made an impression upon their opponent. The next account will probably prove the intention of the Emperor: either he will have turned upon Shumla, there to meet the Turks in their strength, and try the effect of a severe conflict, or he will have made such movements as to render it evident that he proposes to pursue the route across the Balkan, which will leave Shumla behind, and defer the contest.
It is mentioned by several journals as a characteristic circumstance, that the whole of the Turkish population abandon the country as the invader advances. The fact is, that there scarcely is any" Turkish population" in Bulgaria: the few there are, scattered about in different posts connected with the Government, have doubtless joined the armies. The population of Bulgaria (and it is only into Bulgaria that the Russians have advanced) consists almost entirely of Bulgarian Christians, who do remain.
The Sultan has ordered all the unmarried Greeks, 22,000 in number, into Asia, from a dread of their co-operating with the Russians.
Strong reports prevail of the plague having broken out in the provinces of Moldavia and Wallachia. The truth is, these are scarcely ever free from malignant fever ; and no fact has reached us to prove that the present visitation is of more than customary virulence.
The Russians publish their bulletins in the Prussian papers, and not in those of Austria. This accounts for the delay that takes place befoie they appear, and seems to evince a want of cordiality between.the two Imperial Powers.
