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face . In a fortnight he ¦ would he ready to call for a revolution ; in a " month lie Avould load his gun . and hand it to a barricade . In the midst of such a situation , you may . imagine the Bonapartists , Persigny and the others . They feeHhe ground shaking fceneath 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 lias been warned this week . The Inde ' pendance Beige stated that M . Hubbart , one of the advocates in the trial of the Opera Comique conspiracy , had been arrested , for having undertaken the de . 'fence of one of the accused . The Siecle 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 re ' yime of authority , authority must always be in the right till it is enough iii the wrong to get kicked out . So
belt . 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 in 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 . " Iknow that , " replied M . Thiers , " but M . Cousin , you see , is quite a cousin—lam only a third party . " ( Je rie suis qtfun 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 France , 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 nnd precise instructions to General Baraguay d'Hilliers at Constantinople . The courier was ordered to hasten night and day to Ins 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 wouM seem to be to prevent the French fleet entering the Black Sea . Hence the haste of this pressing despatch . There is no hurry for the fleet to enter the Euxine : a 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 , let me add , I am perhaps the only man in Paris to believe in tho possibility of such a cowardly policy .
Everybody exclaims , " What a disgrace to tho two Governments ! " Meanwhile tho fall at the Bourse continues . The panic-struck jobbers aro going in f general war . If you believe the Bourse , the two fleets have already proceeded into the Black Sen ; have encountered and annihilated tho Russian squadron ! What there is of truth in the report is simply , that two steam-frigates have been detached from each of tho allied fleets ., to reconnoitre Sinope . This vnoyo is enlarged , by tho inventiveness of tho "Bears , " into a now edition of Navarino . No news from ¦ I ' urkey since tho naval engagement , except that tho Walluehiun regiments aro deserting , and rising a-gainat tho Russians . As to tho Conference , and tho
new . Note , of the Four Powers , the accord in no longer Uuito so cordial as it was given out to be . PniBiuii , More acceding to the JMote , insisted on France and England engaging to uso all their influence to prov upon the Porto to humblo itself to Kuhhih . On J ' raneo and England assenting to this condition , A I'UHHia acceded . Such is tho pad ; our nations aro condemned to piny before tho world . 3 .
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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 yefT 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 Naclnmoff , 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-horse power . After a long engagement the following Turkish ships have been destroyed or captured : — One of 64 guns , no name given ; one ot 60 guns , no name given ; one of 52 guns , Nezrami Efiendi ; 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 , who was 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 NovemHer 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 Prince Menschikoff , and thence forwarded . to Vienna by telegraph . It has been confirmed by advices , from Bucharest . The larger Turkish vessels which were destroyed had each 8 Q 0 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 secm-e the prizes . The Eussian 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 the Black Sen . The carnage at Sinopo was described as immense . La Presse s ; iys : —" According to information obtained
from a good sourco , we believe wo may affirm that tho despatch we have transcribed exaggerates tho facts . There has been no sueli thing as a naval battle , properly so called . It would appear merely that some Turkish frigates and a certain number of transports , having on board troops destined for Batouni , were surprised by a division of tho Kussian nnvy so superior , that all resistance was naturally impossible ! . Osinnn Pacha , whoso capturo is announced by tho despatch , i . s a secondary officer of tho Turkish navy . Such as it is , when reduced to its just proportions , this event is not the less the most just commentary upon tho passive attitude of tho Anglo-French squadron . "
Two French and two English steam-frigates aro gone to Sinope , nominally with medical assistance / or the wounded . Tlio admiral of tho Turkish fleet lias not been taken . O . sman Pacha , who commanded tho flotilla , was not admiral of tho fleet , but fc-riki bahric , orVico-Admiral j of which the Turkish navy Jkis several . Three of tho ships taken were transports , seven were frigiitea , two corvettes , and one was a ateinncr . Tho loss may be a serious one for the Ottomans , considering the service for which they havo now to rely upon thoir sea forces , but wo havo yet to bo told what aro tho loasca on tho other aide . Considering tho resistiuico made by tho Turks , we oun hardly supposo that tho Russians came oft" without considerable damage . By sea , then , the Turks havo proved tlyit Lliey havo good-stuff in them , having ho determinedly withstood a greatly superior , force . Before the
loss of tho vonsoJh just mentioned , tho Ottoman fleet was tliua composed : —i threo-duokcrs , of 130 guns ; 4 twodockors , of 80 gun . s ; 10 frigates , of from 40 to ( 51 guns ; 6 corvettes , of from 22 to 20 guiiH ; 14 brigs , with from 12 to 20 guns ; Hi cutterH , , of from 4 to 12 guns ; and 0 steam frigates , bc . siden gun-boats . The port of Sm « l >« , whom tho action occurred , in situated in Iho urnall gulf or bay of Sinopo , which in formed by tho projection of a headland on tho coast of Anatoliu , midway between Constantinople and Bnfoum , which are tho oxtromo points of the southern const of tho Black Sea . > Siuop » i « about ; j () 0 milun from Constantinople , and aft many from Batouni , whilst , it iH about 200 miloH south-east of ISobastopol , tho great , Kuhmuu naval ntulion in the Crimou . H " m » po would , therefore , form an excellent port of refuge _ for Turkish ships on their way with mu ' . cour . s for tho Asiatic army or for thoCivoa ; J 3 ian , H , whilst it ia t \ ho 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 Woronzoff . The Journal des Debuts says , " The importance of Sinope Consists . in its naval arsenal and building-yard , the only one in Turkey besides that at Constantinople . 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 the most 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 , on Constantinople , then defended by General Sebastian ! , the French Ambassador , that officer , comprehending the importance 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 promontory in such a position as to be able to command both sid « s 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 kept in repair , any more 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 attem pted 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 broadside s , 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 put that place in security , not only against a coup-de-main like thepresenfc , 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 coast of the Black Sea . Established in a position of tin ' s 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 European military officers who give strategic advice to the Ottoman generals . The town of Sinope is built witli 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 the fortifications present a multitude of ancient ruins confusedly heaped together . There may be there seen Greek and Paphlugonian inscriptions , busts , and military statues . "
On the 24 th , at 8 a . m ., Sir E . Lyons reached Constantinople , and proceeded without delay to the fleet lying at Boykos . The allied fleets have been feasting and complimentin g each other , and enjoying the hospitalities of tho French " admiral . This affair at Sinope will have put their blood up . Meanwhile wo hear of tho astonishment of the Ottomans at the drinking of the allies , especially of tho English . From the Principalities we learn that General Osten-Sacken , with 4000 infantry , reached Jassy on tho 8 th inst . One-half of them proceeded to Redout-Kaleh , in ' - Asia , by forced marches .
Letters from Bucharest * of tho 5 th inst . announce the de facto suspension of hostilities on tho banks of the Danube . Military operations aro at a stand-still everywhere , oven at Giurgcvo , where the Russians aro engaged in the construction of a fort . Their hospitals aro us full as over . Turna Sevcrin is held b y 5000 Turks . When the Kussian Consul in Servia reached Soinlin he despatched lettors to his Government , in which ho denounced Princo Alexander of Servia as a secret adherent of the Porte . Ou tho 23 rd ult . tho Elders of tho various Servian districts met at
Kruscheva , and resolved to watch tho movements of Princo Alexander . They went tho length of discussing tho propriety of recalling Prince Milosch Obrenowitscli , who , from his exile at Bucharost , has lately coino do . so to tho Servian frontier . Tho Turkish passenger steamer , Jffedari Tidjaret , which was captured by lluswau cruisers in tho Black Sea several days ago , cutno into the Bosphorus on tho 2 ( 5 th , and caused great astonishment . The vessel was taken boforo tho expiration of tho delay granted on both sides for placing mor ' - chant ships out of danger . As thoro woro several RuHdian merchantmen at , Constantinople when the Medari Tidjaret was captured , tho Husfliaus woro unusully scrupulous ia dealing with hor . Lord Stratford do Radeufib had removed from Thornpu to . Peru to bo nearer tlio French Ambassador . Tho morchiinta of nil nations at Constantinople had aigned an address to the Sultan , expressing their best wishoa for bin cause A column of tho now legion of Turkish Cossacks
had arrived / it Constantinople , 8000 volunteer Scodnons had boon organised in Albania , and a new corps of 10 , 000 ICurdtt had been formed by tho Hheika of thoir country . _* £ . "* & " <* ' * »' " jKntraichinonLs havo been thrown up round Itffcfl / G' <§ Jfc - " r :- " * - *¦>¦ >\ ( Slowing ntporlH had reached St . Petersburg orHRfcs ^ wft ^ "f ^ i 5 N ft ^ S . successes in AHia : among otheni , that Princo OrQUiETJ ^ A& .... ° X . v . ' » ^ « countered 1 ) 0 , 000 Turku near Aloxandropol , 1 " d ^ a ^^ . 'T ^ jV ^ Jf ^ ' ^ ii Vv , 'ihark engagement , drove them back ; and that , itfiAlSHliCw'KTVt ^ i ^ -i £ jj » direction , Uonoral Brmnmer ohnrgod _ 7000 Xurk 8 /^ iIS 3 H < jV ;?' , X ' fjt Z ^ , hayonot , and completely routed them , taking a coanot' tovto ^^ f ] fTTIl **^ standards , and a part of tho Turkish train and ain ^ ui ^ tSm ^ ' ^ r iflk l $$# ^ . t Hut Uuiho glowing accounjrt aro ' contradicted . ^ y ^ V ^)!^^ $ >^ " % . * SN . F ~ i iiuthontie auviees from Constantinople . ' ' ' ' ' ' ^ I'tfvWJ'V Tho Patrie htales , tlmb Aekalzieh luin boon taken by $ to ^~ . ~<^/ Turku , and thiu apncurtf to bo tlio iiict . XliO-JJiwaiaU ^^ S '
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December 17 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 1203
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 17, 1853, page 1203, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2017/page/3/
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