The news from the East of this week is somewhat
contra- dictory. On the one hand, the official papers in Russia, Germany, and Austria affirm that the alliance of the three Emperors is as strong as ever, and that no war will break out this year ; and on. the other, the Russian Telegraphic Agency, known to be semi- official, becomes daily more anti-Turkish in tone. Apparently, therefore, the struggle in St. Petersburg is not over, but the Peace party has gained some slight advantage. The insurgents, however, are clearly not discouraged. Mukhtar Pasha, command- ing in the Herzegovina, set out from Gatschko on the 13th inst., with some 8,000 men, to revictual Niksics. He was met by the insurgents, numbering 7,000 men, reinforced by some Montene- grins, whom the Pasha estimates at 7,000 more, surrounded in the defiles, and obliged to cut his way back to Gatschko, where he began re-collecting his forces. It is improbable that Montenegro has declared war, but it is certain that the insurgents have been reinforced, probably by Servians, and nearly certain that in a short time Servia will be avowedly in the field. Of course, if Turkey cannot beat down the insur- rection, the foundation of a new State is only a question of time, but the War party at Constantinople will make an effort before that. Already, the pressure on the Sultan from this side is be- coming severe. He is asked to call all Mussulmtina to arms.
