NEWS OF THE WEEK.
the steamer. According to some advices from Germany, the pre- vious bombardment of Odessa has had comparatively little moral sffeet upon the Russian Government or people: it is represented as ineffectual; and in our own country the question occurs what is the use of inflicting blows which leave the enemy still Ale to -damage us by such acts as the capture of the Tiger?
For the present, however, the most active interest centres upon
'the old seat of war ; where Russia, it would appear, is preparing -for a farther advance. The story is, that while the force under -General Liidera is moving from the Dobrudselia,'Paskiewitch is
e rossing the Danube near Silistria ; the communications with that post being cut off from Shumla and from Varna. It has long been considered that Silistria would be the next point of attack ; .bat it was hoped that the place might hold out for a time suf- ficient to admit the advane,e of Omar Pasha; and the allied armies are also represented as making a forward movement—the French to Adrianople, and the English to Varna. This likewise would be consistent with a previous understanding that the French would support Omar Pasha's left wing and the English the right, 'while the fleet could lend effectual assistance from the sea.
• Under these circumstances, however, it is very unlikely that _any attempt should be made at present against Sebastopol; since no marine attack could be successful unless it were well sup- portedfrom the land ; and it is improbable that the French and English troops already on the spot could be spared for that part
• of the Black Sea, when they are likely to be so busily engaged be- - tween Constantinople and the Danube. Another report indeed is, that additional troops have been demanded from France for spe- cial service at Sebastopol. It is observed, that both English and Fret& are throwing up ink.enchments in the neighbourhood of :Constantinople ; a measure which might be regarded as a defensive _precaution in case the Russian advance from the Danube could not be prevented, while it would also have the effect of keeping :the Montenegrins and Greeks in check, if not also rebels nearer to :Constantinople. And it would secure for the allied forces a base of operations, preventing both a surprise of the capital and the possibility of a Corunna on the Sweet Waters. We have now the text of certain treaties which had been pre- %-viously well known, and we are able to collect some further evi- dence of the combinations which are going forward. Besides the I treaty of the Western Powers and Turkey, we have the treaty be- -tween Austria and Prussia, binding those two Governments to a Joint defence of the territories belonging to either. The Conference of. the Four Powers at Vienna has recognized this as well as the previously published treaty between France and England, annex- ing both documents to the transactions of the Conference ; and it [LATEST EDITION.]
is understood that the German Powers are about to meet in order to signify their adhesion to the agreement between Austria and Prussia. The total effect of these proceedings appears to give us the united testimony of Germany, that in the quarrel now waiting the arbitrement of arms France and England are right ; and that while Germany is not prepared actively to undertake the duty of redressing the wrong, she will maintain a defensive position, putting a check to further aggression, and at least withholding the alliance of the German Powers from the Czar.
