Silistria held out on the 30th; still repulsing the successive
as- saults of the Russians, whose progress in the investment is slow, while the sorties of the defenders are fast and furious. The gene- ral tenour of the accounts from the Danube is still in favour of the Turks ; to whose support the French and English contingents were proceeding by sea, Varna being the point of destination.
This week, however, the greatest novelty and interest attach to the proceedings of the Austrian Government, which has been giving testimony of something like earnestness and activity in closer affinity with the Western Powers. The expedition to take possession of Albania might, on many grounds, be regarded as an equivocal proceeding, in the interest of Austrian influence more than of Turkish integrity ; but it is stated, and it must be evident, that the French and English Governments had received such as- surances and guarantees from Austria as to satisfy them of her good faith and active cooperation. If this promise hold good, the Austrian forces will materially strengthen the Allies in sustaining their protégé. A sketch of the Austrian note, calling upon Russia to evacuate the Principalities, although it does not go further than the Austro-Prussian convention in the letter of its demand, ap- pears to be couched in such language as would speak a more open and energetic spirit than has been ascribed to Austria. Indeed, the young Emperor would seem to occupy a position of much greater independence, and even of ambitious activity, than had been as- signed to him. Hence the interest which attaches to his meeting with the King of Prussia at Teschen in Saxony. The King is to be accompanied by General Gerlach, notorious for subserviency to Russia. The ground selected promises an atmosphere of the same sympathy ; and it is probable that Frederick William has invited the meeting in the hopes that he can say things which he might perhaps think it unsafe to write. But the young Emperor, just now, looks too stir in his purpose and in his bearing to be softened by the sentimentalities of the double-dealing King.
