The Greek insurrection, or rather invasion, is at an end. The Governor of Arta has defeated the Greek bands besieging the fortress, and captured one of their leaders; it is said that it is Karaiskakis. Theodore Grivas has been outlawed by the Greek Government, and King Otho is endeavoring to prevent the extension of sympathizing, which begins everywhere by opening the jails, liberating the convict thieves, robbers and murderers, and sending them well armed across the frontier.
The Russian fleet in the Baltic consists of twenty-seven ships of the line, eighteen frigates and fifteen smaller vessels. It is divided into three squadrons, each of nine ships of the line; they are at anchor at Cronstadt, Sweaborg and Reval, but it is likewise said that out of the twenty-seven line of battle ships, nine are not seaworthy. Sir Charles Napier is said to have laid a wager of £2,000 that he will take Cronstadt in less than twenty hours after the first shell is thrown into the port. There is no news from the seat of war.
The Sunday Times, a weekly paper of great circulation, contains an appeal to the Poles, and summons them to rise in Poland. The Ministerial Examiner warns the Hungarians not to rise before Austria has openly joined Russia, holding out the promise of England’s aid in case of Austria’s joining the Czar, and of an amnesty and Constitutional Government if Austria goes with England and France.
The progress is slow, but sure. Who, of all the politicians, believed Kossuth in 1852, when he said that war was imminent? It was said that neither Russia nor Turkey, neither England nor France, neither Austria nor Prussia, intended to go to war, and Cobden even proved that war was impossible between them, and that the finances of Europe must prevent any collision. In 1850 war was declared between Turkey and Russia, but even then it was said by all the politicians that it could not extend beyond Turkey. Now we may in the next fortnight hear of Sir Charles Napier’s first naval battle, and in three months Hungary and Poland and Italy and perhaps Germany, will be in arms, and revolutions will shake the thrones all over Europe. The Czar will not remain an idle looker-on, when his fleets are destroyed, and perhaps the Crimea seized. The opinion now prevails in England, that the troops will not go to Constantinople, but straight to the Danube and that the war will be carried on seriously.
ENGLAND.
The U. S. steamship Baltic, Capt. Geo. Briggs, arrived at New York on Tuesday afternoon at 3 o’clock.
The English Government was only awaiting the arrival of the messenger with the Czar’s refusal. So soon as the official refusal comes to hand the announcement will be made to both Houses of Parliament, and war will be formally declared.
It is stated on the authority of the Paris correspondent of The London Morning Chronicle, that the telegraphic announcement of the Czar’s refusal—in terms short, dry and disdainful—was received by the French Government via Berlin, 18th; and that as soon as the English Minister was made acquainted with the answer he dispatched a courier by way of the Prussian ports of the Baltic to Admiral Napier, in order that he may be prepared to act upon his instructions.
From Vienna, under date Sunday evening, 19th, the following is telegraphed:
"A Russian courier who arrived here on the 16th brought despatches to the effect that Russia will positively refuse to evacuate the Principalities. Something of extreme importance was probably settled the day before yesterday between this government (Austrian) and Prussia, as a member of the Prussian embassy went to Oderberg by special train; this was after a conference between Count Buol and the Prussian Minister. It is stated from Berlin, 19th, that the Czar had replied—‘The proposal of the Western Powers does not require five minutes consideration—it is refused.’"
Sir Charles Napier’s fleet arrived at Wingo Sound on the 15th March, all well. It was stated that the frigates and vessels of the second-class will enter the Baltic by the Sound, and the larger vessels by the Great Belt. The English ships have applied to engage sixty Prussian pilots at Swinemunde (Stettin).
The Borsenhelle states that the British Vice-Consul at Kiel has received information that Napier’s fleet will come to that port. The Swedish papers report that 30,000 Russians are employed in cutting a channel in the ice from Cronstadt to Sweaborg. On the 2d March the Grand Duke Constantine inspected the fleet at Helsingfors. The Gulf of Bothnia and Finland were still covered with ice. A force of 27,000 Russians is on the way to strengthen the garrison at Revel. The commander of the troops at Revel had proclaimed that probably the town will be bombarded by the English and French. Women and children were therefore advised to quit the city.
The British steamer Furious and French steamer Vauban had been near enough to Sevastopol to see a boom extended across the harbor, and to count six ships-of-the-line guarding the entrance, with four more in the creek, besides several frigates and brigs. The Russians are preparing to block up the mouths of the Danube, by stretching chains across the river.
Since the prohibition of the export of corn from Odessa, the price had fallen from 9 to 3 silver roubles. Failures were feared at Odessa. The allied fleets were still at Beicos Bay, but would shortly re-enter the Black Sea. Two Austrian ships-of-war were also at Beicos, and three others were expected. To the present time the Russians have made no formal attempt to take Kalafat, and so far as appearances indicate, will not at present do so.