SUMMARY. [From the Home News, July 8.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 852, 1 October 1853, Page 3

SUMMARY. [From the Home News, July B.]

At a moment when Europe scorns to be on the evo of a war, it cannot excite much wonder that there should he rumours of Ministerial changes. A skilful Opposition will always avail itself of such favourable opportunities to disturb the public mind, and to create dissensions if it can, where no rational cause for them exists. On the present occasion the reports that are in circulation possess the unusual qualities of improbability and inconsistency. It is c- early impossible that they can all be true ; but they form a cuiTent subject of conversation, and must be dotted down as they have arisen. ' The approaching retirement of Lord Aberdeen is necessary as the preliminary condition to all the rest. It will be remembered that when Loul Aberdeen took office, he was on the point of departure for the Continent on account of the state of his heath, and it was then understood that his lordship would not long continue to undergo the fatigues of a position which has become much more harassing of late than it was when he entered upon it. Should I. oid Aberdeen retire, which we think unlikely under the existing circumstances, it certainly will not arise from any divisions or difficulties in the Cabinet. The results which are to follow contain all the apocryphal matter. Lord Palmerstoii is to be Premier, and to lead the Commons ; Lord J. Russell is to go to the Upper House without office ; Lord Stanle}', as the young representative of the Derby party, is to .join the new Government ; and Mr. Disraeli is to be sent abroad on an embassy. This vision of coalition may be left like other dreams to dissolve into the empty air out of which it was originally conjured. If we may trust to the recent debates, the gidf beftveen the members of the late and present Government is wider than e\er, and cannot be bridged over by an accommodation which would be equally discreditable to both parties.

The Turkish difficulty has taken a more decided shape since our last, and at the very instant when mo&t of the journals of Europe were congratulating the world on the probable prosj>ect of peace, the Russians, to the number it is said, of 10,000 were crossing the Prutli, and taking the initiative in a course of unwarrantable hostility. The circumstances which led to this result may be briefly stated, although the future consequences are of incalculable importance. Upon the return of Prince Menschikoff to St. Petersburg from bis fruitless mission, the Emperor resolved to make one attempt more upon the fears of Turkey and despatched a courier to Constantinople with a final ultimatum, in "v\hieh the demands already rejected were formally repeated. The answer of the Sultan was prompt and conclusive. The ultimatum was again refused with firmess and dignity. The notes that passed between Count Nesselrode and Kedschid Pacha on this occasion have since been published, and are as creditable to the moderation, good sense, and integrity of the Turkish Minister as they are illustrative of the arrogance, injustice, and false reasoning of his correspondent. Having received his answer, the Russian courier took his departure, and was followed by the train of Russian officials that had up to this time remained in Constantinople. The archieves of the legation were removed, and all diplomatic intercourse ceased. On the return of the courier to St. Petersburg, a council was held at the Palace of Peterhoff, when it was resolved that the army of the Danube should be put in motion, and the provinces lying on its borders should be invested. Orders were accordingly issued to that effect, and the last telegraphic despatch which has reached us up to this time announces the passage of the Pruth. In the meanwhile the French and English navy have concentrated their strength, and are preparing for action under the command of Admiral Dundas. The ambassador from Austria has given assurance to the Sultan of

the support of his master; nil Turkey Is arming ; and preparations are making on both sides for a war which appears as inevitable as it is incredible. Russia still maintains that in crossing the Pruth slip does not furnish a casus belli. England, France, and Austria hold a contrary doctrine : and unless at the eleventh hour some unlooked for pause affords the means of adjustment, it is impossible at this distance from the scene to comprehend how either party can retreat from the position in which both are now implicated. The first shot fired will be the signal of -general hostilities. The first invading division of the army is estimated at 40,0():>, the whole force at 120,000. The Kussian fleet in the Baltic consists of 27 sail of the li"he, and 18 frigates, and that in the Black Sea of ] 8 sail of the line and 12 frigates. The British fleet at Besika Bay consists of G ships of the line, 7 frigates, and 1 sailing frigate ; the French of 3 line-of-battle ships, 0 steam frigates, and 3 despatch steamers. The fleets are under the command of the English admiral, Dundas. The whole available force disposable by Turkey is estimated at '260,000 men, one half in Europe and the rest in Asia. The new AustrianJlnternuncio, Baron de Bruck, has arrived at Constantinople, and been received with marked emotion by the Sultan. TURKEY. The greatest uncertainty prevails concerning the movements of the Russians. On Monday last a telegraphic despatch from Vienna announced that they had crossed the Pruth on the 25th ultimo. That fact seemed beyond doubt; but a telegraphic despatch from Bucharest dated the 2nd instant shows that it was at least premature. Here is the substance of it : — " To-day, tha 2nd July, the body of the army intended to occupy Wallachia will cross the Pruth by Leova. It is commanded by General Danenberg. General Gortschakoff is exjDected at Bucharest. To-morrow that portion of the army destined to occupy Moldavia will cross the Pruth by Skolao. M. Ozeroff proceeds to Constantinople to commence fresh negotiations. The Hospodars have received assurance that no change will be made in the Government of the principalities." From a single line in this announcement, if it be true, there is still a hope left of a pacific settlement. Should M. Ozeroff be charged with orders for an accommodation of the difficulty, all may yet be well; but if it be merely a repetition of the demand already twice rejected his mission will only aggravate the existing resentments on both sides. Intelligence from Constantinople dated the 23d ultimo, brings the following : — A mediation, though generally considered impossible, was ne\ertheless still talked of. Russia, howe\er, was considered to have gone too far, and she could not, it was thought, retreat without disgrace and a violation of all the precedents known in such cases. The armaments were proceeding with great zeal. The excitement of the jjopulace had risen to such a height that the Government scarcely ventured to mention, the word " negociations." At that time the news of the passage of the Pruth had .not reached Constantinople ; but it was arranged that whenever the news of that movement should have arrived the fleets of Great Britain and France were to forthwith enter the Sea of Marmora, and take the position assigned to them off the Island of Princes. Admiral Mustapha Pasha lias left Constantinople for the Bay of Besika, to settle with the British and the French Admirals as to the most con\enient arrangements for thp anchoring of the fleets in the Dardanelles. Selim Pasha has been made Seiaskier of the army of Anatolia. According to another statement, Selim Pasha had been despatched on a mission to Batoun, on the north-eastern frontier of Turkey. Some ( French officers have arrived at Constantinople. They will at once proceed to the Danube. At Odessa preparations for war are increasing. Since this was written, we learn, by information from Vienna of the date of the 2nd in. stant, that the Porte had received news that the first corps of the Russian army, and a cavalry division, had entered Bessarabia. The strength of the army on the whole frontier is estimated by the Turks at 200,000 men ; but this supposed to below the mark. It is evidentfrom the materiel of which this army is composed, including troops from the most reirote Russian Asiatic provinces, that Russia has long been preparing for the present moment. Provisions have become enormously clear at Constantinople ; the paper currency sinks daily in value ; and trade is at a standstill.