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December 17, 1853.] THE; LEADER. 1203 *-...
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CONTINENTAL NOTES. We in London may well...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Letters From Paris. Letter Ciii. Paris, ...
face . In a fortnight he would be ready to call for a revolution ; in a month he would load his gun and hand it to a barricade . In the midst of time h- a situation , you inay imagine the Bonapartists , Persignyand the others . They feel the ground shaking be neath their feet , as if every moment it would open and devour them . ¦ They are struck with a vertigo ; they assemble , discuss , adjourn , and conclude nothing . Persigny , the great man of Bonapartism , tortures his brains in vain : he has not an idea left ,
unless it be to continue the magnificent regime of authority which has produced such admirable results . He prosecutes , arrests , searches , warns the journals . The Siecle has been warned this "week . The Inde ' pendance Beige stated that M . Hubbaf t , one of the advocates in the trial of the Opera Comique conspiracy , had been arrested , for having undertaken the defence of one of , the accused . The SiScle simply copied this statement . For so doing it received a warning . M . Persigny had the condescension to inform the Siecle that M . Hubbart was not
arrested for having defended a prisoner , but for having" been a party to a secret society . That can't be the truth ; but never mind . Under the regime of authority , authority must always be in the right till it is . enough in the wrong to get kicked out . So be it . M . Thiers alone refuses to hear of the Fusion . He is the champion of the Duchess of Orleans . He wants the Comte de Paris for King , that he may be the Minister of Louis Philippe II . and not of Henry " V . He hopes that iu the coup d ' etat which is to upset Bonaparte , there may be a revulsion of
feeling which will reinstate the Orleans family on the throne . In other words , he wants to make the Legitimists draw the chesnuts out of the fire for the Orleanists to crack . This is the direction in which M . Thiers is working . M . de Montalembert went to him the other day to win him over to the Fusion , but found him inflexible . M . de Montalembert cited the names of conspicuous adherents ; among others , MM . Villemain and Cousin . " I know that , " replied M . Thiers , " but M . Cousin , you see , is quite a cousin—I am only a third party . " ( Jene siiis gu ' un tiers , )
The affair at Sinope has strangely complicated the political situation in the East . Bonaparte is sadly embarrassed . This disaster , occurring almost within gun-shot of the two fleets of" England and Prance , makes their attitude a sorry one indeed . Are the fleets to be sent at last into the Black Sea to escort the Turkish convoys ? Are the fleets to remain at anchor while the Russians are destroying the Turkish ships and arsenals ? Such were the questions to resolve . The Council of Ministers assembled . Persigny proposed to send the two fleets
to Sebastopol by way of reprisals , and set to work at once and conclusively . Fould protested ; he exposed the state , of affairs at home , the fall at the Bourse , and the general panic . The Council broke up without deciding anything . But the Council had no sooner dispersed than Bonaparte himself despatched an extraordinary courier , bearer of positive and precise instructions to General Baraguay d'Hilliers at Constantinople . The courier was ordered to hasten night _ and day to his destination . A thousand suppositions " are afloat on this sudden act . There can be but one explanation .
The Governments of France and England have hesitated too long to engage to rush into impulse . So the orders of Bonaparte would seem to be to prevent the French fleet entering the Black Sea . Ilcnco the haste of this pressing despatch . There is no hurry for the fleet to enter the Euxinc : ft week or a fortnight is all the same . Besides , the French fleet cannot move alone : the British fleet must have its orders too . But there is all the hurry in tho world to prevent an act of hostility which might light up a general conflagration . Such are the orders despatched by this extraordinary courier , who travels night and day to Constantinople . According to my own interpretation , lot mo add , I am Perhaps the only man in Paris to believe in tho possibilit y of such a cowardly policy .
Everybody exclaims , " What a disgrace to tho two Governments ! " Meanwhile the full at the Bourse continues . Tho panic-struck jobbers arc going in lor a general war . If you believe tho Bourse , the Uvo fleets have already proceeded into the Black Sea ; 'ju vo encountered and annihilated tho Russian squadron ! What there is of truth iu the report is simply , Hint two steum-frigates have boon detached from e » ch of the allied fleets , to reconnoitre Sinope . This » H > vo i 8 enhirged . 'by tho inventiveness of tho " Bears , " , ' . now edition of Navariuo . No news from
il' % Nineo the naval engagement , except that tho ? v ulliicliiiin regiments arc " deserting , mid vising n Ul A Lhc ) Jlusaitma . As to the . Conference-, and tho uyv Note of the Four Powers , the accord ia no longer mte ho . cordial as it was given out to bo . Prussia , uoiore acceding to the Note , insisted on Franco iind . ' "Klund engaging to use all their influence to pre-™>* » pon the Porto to humble itself to Huhhui . On v unco mid England assenting to this condition , *< iK . Hia acceded , ftueh in tho part ; our nation * are wwKlouincd to play before tho world . S .
December 17, 1853.] The; Leader. 1203 *-...
December 17 , 1853 . ] THE ; LEADER . 1203 * - m liiiui ¦¦¦ nini 11 ii Him ri—¦¦ — i "m in '—""' ' — ¦ ' - ' ' ^ .. o . i ^ i iwif ^ . 1 , , . ,. —« . —^—a . —_ „«— . — : ! m ,., _ ¦/"""' ''""' ' ¦ " nnnii ,.- ' ¦ — - —^—lll- »—— ¦ i ' -TWTi ' n' - ' ¦ ' n ¦ ' ,,.-, , ~ '' " ' "" " *"" "~ " ' *** -
Continental Notes. We In London May Well...
CONTINENTAL NOTES . We in London may well hesitate in accepting Vienna de spatches about Russian victories , when' even from Constan - tinople and from Bucharest and Jassy complaints reach us of the uncertain information which prevails respecting battles and movements occurring only a few miles off . There has undoubtedly been a severe engagement at Sinope , in which the loss of the Turk has been considerable , and the victory of the Russians dearly won and turned to doubtful advantage ; but whether the calamity was the result of a contest in the open sea , an encounter between two hostile squadrons , or a wanton aggression on an arsenal of the coast , is not yet positively ascertained . The following bulletin ( a Russian version , of course ) was posted on the Bourse at Odessa on the 5 th of December .- — " The Russian fleet , under the command of Admiral Nachimoff , has met in the Black Sea a Turkish and Egyptian fleet , composed of eighteen ships—two-deckers , frigates , corvettes , together with two steamers of 500-horse power , and two others of 300-tiorse power . After a long engagement the
following Turkish ships have been destroyed or captured : — One of 64 guns , no name given ; one of 60 guns , no name given one of 52 guns , Nezrami Effendi ; one of 50 guns , Ahmet AH ; one of 46 guns , Nazim Fessim ; one of 22 guns ^ Fessi Mahmoud . Steamers—Two of 20 guns each ; two transports ; one British transport- The engagement took place near Sinope . 5000 Turks have been killed , and many taken prisoners . Osman Pasha , whoVas wounded , has also been taken prisoner . Several officers , both English and French , were on board the Turkish fleet . " Another account stated that on the 30 th of November the Russian Admiral Nachimoff , with six ships of the line , forced the passage of the roads at Sinope , and destroyed , after an hour ' s engagement , seven frigates , two corvettes , one steamer , and three transports . The frigate which was . least damaged , and which the Russians were carrying off to Sebastopol , they were forced to abandon at sea ^ after taking Osman Pasha and his suite on board the Russian Admiral ' s
ship . This intelligence was brought to Odessa by an aidede-camp of Prinee MenscbikofF , and thence forwarded to Vienna by telegraph . It has been confirmed by ; advices from Bucharest . The larger Turkish vessels which ' were destroyed had each 800 soldiers , besides artillerymen , on board , and a large sum of money , being bound for the east ' coast . of " 'the Black Sea . A fourteenth vessel escaped undamaged . Another account states that the Russian squadron which destroyed the Turkish vessels at Sinope , consisted of four ships of 120 guns , and four of 86 guns . Three Turkish ships were sunk ; the remainder were burnt , as it was impossible to secure the prizes . The Russian ships were greatly damaged , and required many repairs to enable them to reach . Sebastopol . 400 Turkish guns were sunk . Another account states that the Russians entered the harbour of Sinope , with three three-deckers , four
two-anda-half-deckers , six frigates , and four steamers , making seventeen vessels of war , and attacked the Turkish squadron there , consisting of six frigates , three corvettes , and two steamers . One Russian three-decker and all the Turkish ships were burnt , with the exception of the Taif , which brought this news . The combat lasted for four hours . The disaster was known at Constantinople on the 3 rd , when great excitement prevailed . A Grand Divan was held , at which all the foreign Ministers were present . The English and French Ambassadors were urged to despatch the combined fleets into the Black Sea , but they had an audience of the Sultan , at which it was resolved not to send the whole fleets at once , but four frigates , to obtain more precise information . There was , however , no doubt that the whole fleets would shortly enter tho Black Sea . The carnage at Sinope was described . as immense .
La Presse says : — "According to information obtained from a good source , wo believe we may affirm that tho despatch wo have transcribed exaggerates the facts . There lias been no such thing as a naval battle , properly so called . Jt would appear merely that some Turkish frigates and a certain number of transports , having on board troops destined for Batonm , were surprised by a division of the Russian navy so superior , that nil resistance was naturally impossible . Osmun Pacha , whoso capture ia announced by the despatch , i . s a secondary officer of tho Turkish navy . Such as it its , when reduced to its just proportions , this event is not the leas the most just commentary upon tho passive attitude of the Anglo-French squadron . _ Two French and two English steam-frigates are gone to Sinope , nominally ivith medical assistancejor the wounded .
Tho admiral of the Turkish fleet has not been taken Osman Pacha , who commanded tho flotilla , was not admiral of the fleet , but feriki bahrio , orVicc-Admiral j of which the Turkish navy has several . Three- of tho ships taken were transports , seven were frigates , t ; vvo corvettes , and one was a stoitmor . The Iohs may bo a serious one for tho Ottomans , considering the service for which they have now to roly upon their sea forces , but wo havo yet to bo told what arc tho losses on tho other side . Considering tho resistance mndo by tho Turku , wo win hardly suppose that tho Russians ciuno off without considerable damage . By tiea , then , tho Turks have proved thai , they have good s tuft" in them , having so determinedly withstood a greatly superior f ' orco . Before tho loss of tho vessels juNfc mentioned , tho Ottoman fleet was
Linus composed : —2 three-deckers , of 130 guns ; 4 two-( lodcor . s , of 80 guns ; 10 frigates , of from 40 to 01 guns ; ( i corvettes , of from 22 to 2 ( 5 guns ; 14 brigs , -with from 12 to 20 guns ; 1 ( 5 cutlera , &<; ., of from 4 to 12 guns ; and ( i steam frigates , besides gnu-boats . Tho port of Suiopo , where tho action occurred , in situated in the small gulf or bay of Siuopo , which in formed by tho projection of a headland on tho coast of Anatolia , midway liot . Vcen Constantinople and l ! al ; oum , which arc the extreme points of tho southern const ; of tho Black Sea . SiuoiH ) i « about # 00 miles from Constantinople , and an many from HaLoum , whilst , it , i . s about . 200 miles south-ciHl . of SobaHlopol , tho great Russian naval station in the Crimea , tfinopo would , thereforo , form an excellent ; port of rofugo lor Turkish ships on their wuy with succours for tho Asiatic unuy or for thoCkcua ; ji ; uui , whilat it is ulao a good station for
a squadron whose duty it would be to intercept Russian reinforcements on their way from Sebastopol to the army of Prince Woronzonv TheJownal des Debate says ,. " The importance of Sinope consists in its naval arsenal and building-yard , the only one in Turkey besides that at Constantinop le . Ships of the line and frigates are built there . The oak cut on the surrounding mountains is very hard , and the vessels built at Sinope are considered the best in the Turkish fleet . The engineers are for theumost part foreigners in the service of Turkey , Tand the workmen are Greeks of the country , who are paid from 10 to 12 sous a day . The fortifications of the port are incomplete and in a bad state . In 1808 , at the time of the . attempt of Admiral Duckworth oa
Constantinople , then defended by General Sebastiani , the-French Ambassador , that officer , comprehending the im ~ portance of Sinope , sent two French officers and two subofficers of engineers to improve the fortifications . Their first care was to erect a battery at the point of the premonitory in such , a position as to be able to command both sides of the peninsula and the entrance of the roadstead . They afterwards traced out several other works of defence , some of which were never executed , and the others were not Jcept in repair , any mpre than the rest of the fortifications . Thus the place remained without receiving any repairs for forty years , and those which have been lately commenced had not . received the necessary development . The Russians in 1807 made an attack on Trebizond by sea , but were
repulsed ; but , as they had never attempted anything against Sinope , the Turks persuaded themselves that they had nothing to fear , and they have just been roughly punished for their carelessness . It may be readily conceived that six ships of the line with their heavy broadsides , suddenly appearing in the roadstead , could soon knock to pieces such old and dilapidated ramparts . " If the war is to continue actively next year in Europe and in Asia , it will become a matter of great importance for the Turks to rebuild the fortifications of Sinope on the principles of modern art , and to pixt that place in security , not only against a coup-de-main like thepresent , but also in a state to maintain a regular siege . If the Russians were to take possession of Sinope , which they could readily do in its present wretched and unprotected condition , they might make it a place impregnable against the Turks , and convert it into a kind of Gibraltar on the Turkish coasfc of the Black
Sea . Established in a position of this kind , which would enable them to land a considerable body of troops , they ! would keep in check all the centre of Asia Minor , and cut off the communications between Constantinople and Erzeroum . The Turkish army of Armenia would then have not only to oppose the enemy on the side of Georgia , but it would have another army in its rear , and the Ottoman Government would be obliged to organise a second army in Asia Minor . These considerations cannot escape the notice of the Euro * , pean military officers who give strategic advice to the Ottoman generals . The town of Sinope is built with the materials of the old Greek city , a colony of the Milesians * Sinope was the birthplace of Diogenes , and the capital of Mithridates . Lucullus took possession of it in the year 71 before Christ . The houses and tho fortifications present a multitude of . ancient ruins confusedly heaped together . There may be there seen Greek and Paphlagonian inscriptions , busts , and military statues . "
On the 24 tb , at 8 a . m ., Sir E . Lyons roached Constantinople , and proceeded without delay to tho fleet lying at Beykos . The allied fleets have been feasting and complimenting each other , and enjoying the hospitalities of the French admiral . This affair at Sinope will have put their blood up . Meanwhile we hear of the astonishment of tho Ottomans at tho drinking of the allies , especially of tho English . From tho Principalities we learn that General Osten-Sacken , with 4000 infantry , reached Jassy on tho 8 lh inst : One-half of them proceeded to Redout-Kaleh , in ABia , by forced marchoa .
Letters from Bucharest > f tho 5 th insfc . announce tho de facto suspension , of hostilities on the banks of tho Danube . Military operations arc at a stand-still everywhere even at Giurgevo , where the Russians arc engaged in tho . construction of a fort . Their hospitals arc as full as ever-Turna Seycrm ia held by J 5000 Turks . When tho Kussian Consul in Serviu reached Sbmlin he despatched letters to his Government , in which ho denounced l ' rinco Alexander of Servia as a secret adherent of the Porto . On tho 23 rd ulfc .. tho Elders of the various Servian districts mot ; at Kruscheva , and resolved to watch tho movernonts of Prince Alex »>
andor .. They went tho length of discussing tho propriety of recalling Priuco Milosch Obrenowitsch , who , from his oxilo at Bucharest , has lately como close to tho Servian frontier . Tho Turkish passenger steamer , Mcdari Tidjaret , which was captured by Russian cruisers iu tho Black Sea several days ago , camo into the JJosphorus on tho 26 th , and caused great astonishment . The vessel w .-is taken before tho expiration of the delay granted on both sides , for placing mor > - ehant . ships out of danger . As thero woro several Russian
merchantmen at , Constantinople when the Medari Tuljarat was captured , tho KusuiaiiB wore unuaully scrupulous in dealing with hor . Lord Stratford do Iladcfiffo hud romoved . from Thorapia <; o I ' ovn to bo nearer tho French AmbasHador . Tho merchants of ' nil nations at Constantinople ) had aignccl an address to tho Sultan ,, oxprcsuing their bo , st wishes for , his caiiNo . A column of tho new legion of Turkish Cossaoks had arrived at , Constantinople , 8000 volunteer Scodrions had been organised in Albania ,, and a now corps of 10 , 000 Knrda had been formed by tho sheiks of their country .
Kntronchments have been thrown up round Bucharest , ( jlowing reports had reached St . Peterhburg of Ruaainn succi'HHCH iu Asia : among others , that I ' riueo Orboliim encountered ; i () , 0 () 0 Turks . near Alexaiulropol , and ,, after a shark engagement , drove them back ; and that , in another direction , General Jiriimmer charged . 7000 Turks with the * bayonet , and completely routed them , taking u cannoii j two standards , and a part of the Turkish train and ammunition . 15 ut theno glowing accounts uro contradicted by far mor < i iiuthontie advices i ' roin Constantinople . 'Vim J ' atric statim that Ackntoioh has boon takon by tho i Turks , nnd thia appears to bo tho fact . Tko Ruapiuu
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 17, 1853, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17121853/page/3/
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