FOREIGN NEWS. [From the Melbourne Argus.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 895, 1 March 1854, Page 3

FOREIGN NEWS. [From the Melbourne Argus.]

We have received a copy of the Liverpool Times of November 14th, which supplies us with I some later European news. Of English news, indeed, it is quite deficient; but it has some further particulars about the war of rather a miscellaneous character. From (be paper before us, we extract the following leader, relative to the state oi affairs at the date of its publication :—: — The war in the Danube, which the Russo-Eng-i lish journals told us bid begun <( as matter of form," has nevertheless all the appearance of causing very serious bio dshed. Throughout this much mismanaged affair we have constantly cautioned our readers against the falsehoods of the Russo-English journals " that the peace of Europe would not be disturbed." To such an extent have these deliberate assertions been mad?, that only this week, when every post and every message by telegraph breathed war, the chief exponent of the Czar here had the temerity to announce in its leading article, " that xe\>ot\s from all quarters concur in representing that terms of adjustment on the eastern question have been virtually arranged." It is true that its own correspondents from Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and Constantinople, all reported just the reverse, " that through Baron Meyendorf the Czar had declared he will not accept any arrangement, no matter by whom prop >sed (?) at O'rautz are the only words of peace which will ever issue from his lips." We need only place these statements in juxtaposition, taken from the same 'journal, to show the utter worthlessness of its opinions. The dry facts seem to be, that the passage of the Danube, by Oraer Pacha, at Widdin is confirmed : General Prim having led the advanced guard. It seems that the Turks have crossed the river at Widdin, Rustchuk, Turtukai, and Silistria, and after more or less fighting with the Rusmns at each spot, have obtained a footing at the towns opposite these respective fortresses ; having raised intrenebments at Kalefat, Giurgevo, Olteniizi, and Kalarach, all on the left bank of the river. Whilst we write, it is yet doubtful how far they have succeeded at Giurgevo ; although, we believe they have completely succeeded, thereby commanding the road to Bucharest. But at Kalefat and Oltenitza the Russians suffered severely ; indeed, at the latter place the Russians admit tiie loss of fourteen superior officers, and one hundred and thirty-six killed ; besides six superior officer*, eighteen subalterns, and four hundred and seventynine privates wounded. The combat lasted three hours, and was fought at the point of the bayonet. We are sorry that there is not the slightest official or authentic statement warranting us to believe that even negotiations are still open. On the contrary, Baron Meyendori's proposals N are rejected, whatever they were, and Baron Bruck's most audacious scheme of adjustment was never even entertained by the Porte. The name of the four powers was scandalously made use of to subserve Russian designs. Of course Lord Stratford had nothiDg to do with such preposterous proposals. As regards the alleged armistice, we see no signs of it in Omer Pacha's operations, and our readers will perhaps now believe that the whole was a pure invention. We can give but little credit to the news which comes from Bucharest ; however it la certain that martial law, in all its tenors, has been proclaimed by the Russian genera), whilst tbe two Hospodars, not daring to face Omer Pacha, have retired to Vienna to wait the issue of events. The Russians are, therefore, undisputed mtisteis of Moldavia, and of such portions ot Wallaciiia as Omer Pacha does not occupy. Of course the English and French Consuls will now he withdrawn. A Cabinet Council was held in Downiug-street on Tuesday, which was attended by all the ministers, and lasted four hours. As the Sultan has given his consent to allow foreign officers to enter his service, we have no doubt that the question of relaxing the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act was brought under consideration. We learn that Count Lamoyski, son-in-law of Prince Czartorynski, and Count Chrzinovvski, who commanded the Piedmontese a r my at the battle of Novata, are soliciting the sanction of the English and French Governments to unsheath their swords^ which it is very likely will be at once granted:These are the men of the right stamp, at whose call every Pole will rush to arms. The tone of | tbe French ministerial journals has become much more decisive as regards the necessity ot French intervention, and Louis Napoleon, who some time ago we were told " would not fight," seems to have decided upon sending a military man to Vienna to supersede M. de Bourqueny, thus following up the nomination of General Barguay d'Hilliers, and we have no doubt that Louis Napoleon has appealed to the English cabinet to j.)in France in some more decisive step, to show the Czar the utter -futility of his proceedings, all of which ought to have been done months ago. Tbe position of M. de Kisseleff and Baron Brunow, at the French and English courts, is not the most comfortable at this critical juncture. Lord Aberdeen, at the civic feast, on Wednesday, after the approved commonplaces about the expediency and righteousness of a " policy ot peace," added, " But, emphatic as these words are, they are not to be understood as signifying the impossibility of war ; they signify, as far as I am concerned, that war will never be undertaken by me without reluctance, and never, but when demanded — plainly demanded — by a due sense of the honor and interests of this country." Lords Clarendon, John Russell, and Paltnerstoo were silent upon foreign politics. The proclamation of war by the Czar against Turkey, which was known to the ministers of tbe Crown at the time, and was published officially in the ' St. Petersburg Gazette of the 2nd, cuts off all present hope of an adjustment of this lamentable rupture. Those persons who hoped thai the Czar wou.d relinquish bis presumptuous pretensions to a vir'nal sovereignty over Tut key, must now see that nothing but brute force, or the pressing fear of it, will ever induce him to yield. Several Engjjsli officers h»ve already taken up arms, and have been suit to the Turkish camp. The Turkish army is described as tn an excellent state of discipline, and up to ibis time have well done their work.

If it be true that the Czar (as the Vienna Pressc ■. says) has intimated to the Vladika that he wishes to have the support of the Montenegrins, the Czar is certainly bent upon war, and upon provoking oilier powers to take up arms against him. On the 21st ult. the Cfcar issued a manifesto, declaring war against Turkey.

Parts, Nov. 10, six p.m.— The Journal de St. Petersburg of the Ist November, publishes an imperial manilesto, in which it is said that since Russia has been provoked to war, nothing is left to her but to have recourse to force of arms in order to compel the Ottoman Porte to respect the treaties. The Russian arms must now exact satisfaction for the insults with which Turkey replied to the Czar's most moderate demands and 'his royal solicitude "for the defence of the orthodox chuich in the East. The Emperor of Russia's Manifesto. — " By the grace of God, we, Nicholas the First, Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russias, &c. By our manifesto of the 4th of June of the present year, we informed our faithful and well-beloved subjects of the motives which made it incumbent upon us to demand from the 'Ottoman Porte inviolable guarantees in favour of the sacred rights of'the^orthotiox church. We at the same time announced to them that after all our •efforts to bring the Porte, by means of amicable persuasion, to sentiments of equity, and to the 'faithful observance of treaties, had remained fruitless, and that, consequently', we deemed it indispensable to order our troops to advance into the principalities of the Danube. But, in adopting that ireasure, we still entertain the hope that the ''Porte would confess its errors, and would resolve to give satisfaction to our.just reclamations. Our expectations have been deceived. It is in vain also that the great powers of Europe have endeavoured by their exhortations to shake the blind obstinacy of tbeXhtoman Government. It is by a declaration of war, by a proclamation replete with false accusations against -Russia, that it replied to the pacific efforts of Europe, and to our forbearance. Finally enrolling in the ranks of its army the revolutionists of all countries, the Porte has commenced hostilities on the-Dauube. Russia is provoked to the combat ; no other means is left than a recourse to arms to compel the Ottoman Government to respect treaties, and to obtain from it the reparation of the offences by \i hich it responded to our most moderate demands, and to our legitimate solicitude for the defence of ■ the orthodox faith in the east, which is also the religion of the Russian people. We are firmly -convinced that our faithful subjects will join in the fervent prayers which we address to the Most *Higb, that His band may deign to bless our arms 'in the holy and just cause which has at all times found ardent defenders in our pious ancestors. lln te Domine speravi ; non coofundam in sternum.' Done at Tsarske£-Selo, the 20th day of October (3rd of November), in the year of v<3race 1853, and the 28th of our reign — (Signed). Nicholas."

LATEST FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. i It-is slated tbat the French government intend to demand what course the Austrian government intend to pursue during the coming struggle, as she wilJ not be permitted to assume a neutrality. The- Journal de St. Petersburg contains an announcement from the Minister of Finance, from which it appears that an embargo will be laid on Turkish vessels in Russian harbors on the 22nd November. After that date Turkish merchant -vessels will be declared lawful prizes, even though they may have other than Turkish property on board. Neutrals will enjoy complete freedom, even after the commencement of hostilities.* The Paris journal Patrie has a Constantinople letter of the 20tb, staliug tbat the Turkish fleet ' has chased some Russian vessels, and driven them iuto Sebastopol : ibey were a flotilla of gun boats. It is stated that in the Caucasus the -Russians were driven three leagues from their position, and the Turks now occupy the Russian frontier. A letter from Paris states tbat a report was •current in political circles, that the Turks bad been compelled to recross the Danube with immense loss, having been defeated under tbe walls -of .Bucharest by Gortschakoff, with whom Dannenberg had formed a junction. On enquiring > in a- quarter generally well informed, the writer •was told tbat a private telegraphic despatch was j said to have been received, and tbat no such news ■bad-been received in official quarters. The -French Government recei\ed on Friday night a telegraphic despatch from its Consul at .Bucharest, announcing a serious engagement in the neighbourhoodof that place, "in which," says the despatch, " the -Russians attribute to themselves tbe victory." <• The Moniteur confirms the account published •of a victory gained by the Turks near Okemtza. The Turks numbered not more than -9000 men. •General Danenberg commanded the Russians, who sustained a loss of 1500 killed and wounded. Nearly all the Russian officers io command, and several colonels, were wounded. ' Prince Gortschakoff had started for Oltenitza. It was in contemplation to attack the Turks with a force of 24,000 men. On tbe 3rd Prince Gortschakoff received orders to assume the offensive, all projects of -compromise having proved unsuccessful. Prince Gortschakoff, accompanied by his whole ataff, advanced towards Oltenitza on the Btb. The Turks have sent considerable masses of troops across to Turtukai. A renewed attack from the Turks was hourly expected.