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The state of affairs after the war—that is, after on the Danube—becomes daily more important to those who foresee the calls which it will make upon energetic statesmanship. The Times this morning discusses that ulterior question with great power. If a caveat should be taken against one point at starting—the assumption that "all existing treaties" between the belligerents "are annulled "—the argu- ment still rests upon large and solid facts.
"If Russia succeeds in crushing the forces of the Ottoman empire, and braving the common interests and policy of the rest of Europe, it cannot be doubted that she would not only exact the revival of all her former treaties, but would impose terms still more onerous to the Ottoman empire and fatal to the independence of the East. To such a result it is needless to say that Great Britain, France, and the German Powers, cannot in honour or in po- licy submit, and that if Turkey were reduced to the condition she was in when the treaties of Bucharest and Adrianople were signed, we should be bound by every consideration, and at all hazards, to oppose the enlarged preten- sions of the Court of St. Petersburg. Russia has ,therefore no choice, but in the manner in which she may abandon these pretensions. If she actually undergoes a defeat by the Turks—improbable and unforeseen as such an event would appear—she ignominiously loses the results of a century of am- bition and intrigue ; if she triumphs over the resistance opposed to her by the Turkish forces, she must be prepared to encounter behind those forces, two at least of the greatest nations of the world, who have, indeed, a great and wise reluctance to take up arms, but who will most assuredly never ley them down, if war be once begun, until they have chastised the enemy of
the peace of Europe and dictated the terms of an honourable settlement Every success obtained by his armies, if they are capable of success, would only call a fresh enemy into the field ; and, though Europe might now urge on both parties a peace founded on the status quo ante helium, Russia may rely upon it that she will not come out of this contest, if she provokes its continuance, without an injury to her political influence and consideration even more fatal to her than the destruction of her fleets and the waste of her resources. The bitterest enemy that empire ever had could desire no greater punishment to fall on Nicholas and on his people than that he should be so deluded and exasperated by the position in which he has placed himself as to pursue this career to the end ; and the greatest service to be rendered him by his own connexions and allies would be to rescue him, even by force, from the consequences of his folly. . ...... "No peace can be peremptorily imposed on Russia and Turkey but with the cooperation of Germany; and if the calamity of a general war do ensue from these miserable causes, the Courts of Vienna and Berlin will, next to that of St. Petersburg, stand responsible for it to posterity, if they neglect to perferm their part in repelling this aggression. If Russia can be brought to submit to terms at all, it must be by the consideration of her isolated position, and by the unanimous resolution of the Powers interested in the preservation of peace to treat, if necessary, as an enemy that Sovereign who disturbs it. If no such union be effected, and no such resolution taken, we may indeed find ourselves embroiled in hostilities, but the end of these disastrous eveute is not near; and the Western Powers will have to deal not only with the hazards of remote warfare, but with the elements of agitation and change already fermenting with increased energy in almost every part of the Conti- nent of Europe."
The truth of the report that the division of the Turkish army at 01- tenitza has recrossed the Danube seems fully substantiated. There are two despatches published on the subject which have some stamp of au- thenticity. Prince Gortschakoff has forwarded a bulletin to Vienna as- serting that "the Turks had quitted all their positions on the left bank of the Danube, except Kalafat, without battle, simply on account of the con- centration and development of the Russian forces." This movement, apparently, was consummated on the 13th instant. An explanation of the retrograde movement is supplied by the French Consul at Bucharest, who adds two facts suppressed by the Russian General,—namely, that the heavy rains which had set in had rendered the contemplated forward movement of the Turks on Bucharest impracticable; and that they with- drew to the healthy bank of the river "in the most perfect order, without being disturbed by the enemy." Prince Gortschakoff's assertion that the Turks had withdrawn from all their positions, except Kalafat, "without battle," must be taken for what it is worth. At least, it so far confirms the statement of the French Consul.
The British vessels Vengeance and Albion, and the French vessels Ju- piter and Henri IV, and eight steam-frigates, were, on the 5th, at Beikos, close to the entrance into the Black Sea. The Ottoman naval division which is to cruise in those waters consists of four frigates, two steamers, three corvettes, and two brigs. The vessel Mujeddetie and two frigates have lately joined the squadron.
Austria is said to be concentrating an army upon Temeswar in the Banat, to enable her to carry out her neutral policy. There are also some reports of a movement of her troops upon the lower Save.
The Porte has refused to grant the exequatur to the Consul-General appointed by Austria for the Danubian Principalities.
Two hundred and sixty vessels laden with corn passed by Constanti- nople from the Black Sea, in the period from the 18th of October to tho 1st of November.
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