The Press. — London, England, 1853-07-09 00:00:00

.e'zce,7( LX I- -tei • //do IIV/e b t rt No. 10.—VoL. I. LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1853. PRICE SIXPENCE. Ot Vrtss. the. ultimatissimum by the I'urte ; that orders had been given for the fourth division of the Russia► army to cross the Truth ; and we stated the amount of the Russian force on the line of the Black Sea. We announced in another paragraph that, at audiences given to the French and to the English Ambassadors respectively, the Em peror hall expressed himself in the strongest language ; and that• he had even said that, if his fleets were destroyed, ho would still invade Turkey. LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 9, 183. A VERY stout math festo in a journal of autho rity, on Thursday, announced to the world the complete union of the English and French Governments with respect to the TurkiNh Theprineipal organ of Lord ABMIDICRN has contnidieted this latter statement by means of an adroit equivocation. It declares that the Emperor had had no interviews with the French or English Ministers aiswe the news inTiveti of the rejection of the ultimatum. It. was dearly 1111110Rmible that his Imperial MAJ ESTI' could, as the despatch which brought the news we gave started immediately after the news arrived at St. Petersburg of the re jection. Nevertheless, the interviews we referred to dui lake 'dare, and the wurib we puoted were seed. We have the proofs by our side. Them are also some other ambiguous alle gations of itmeeuracy respecting the informa tion we gave, of less moment, and which sure less (164611(4. We will now content ourselves by saying that all these contniry statements of our contemporary are alike founded on equi• vocation. No positive statement has been made by the Pecss with respect to foreign affairs which has not been strictly aeetunte and nothing has been given as a rumour for which there was not an adequate foundation, as we are always, when fitting, prepared to show. THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. TUN administration of our naval affairs under the govermuent of Lord DEnsv was the most euergetie and the most successful of modern times ; and its vigour and happy conduct were mainly attributable to the personal character and personal exertions of the First Lord. Never was so much done, and so well done, in the same space of time. Facts speak for themselves. The defences of 4,11 r I►orts were in it very unsatisfactory state when the I)uke of Nolan usturiti.ANn entered office. Theireondition %vas a source of public alarm. The following table, will show the number of ships, guns, and men on the home station when the Duke assumed, and when he resioed, 11.451. JAN. I, IN!►'i. 5t ,„,,,„„ . mem lildpM. thusw. meu. I'l~nn~uth ll/1 I,7:M► .. le, 624 3,191 9 274 2,949 .. 21 913 7,625 $11PP11114414 1: 321 1,139 . 1; 332 1,72111 W 1.1% iele 3 34 371 .. 5 Ma 1,1311 11 41 .. 2 11 4/ 1 ilium' West yrs* tiliniolron 11 417 4,335 at Cork. I.ltilmts question. This concord was to be immediately evinced by deeds as well as by state papers. The united fleets were incontinently to pass the Dardanelles, invade even the Black Sea, and, at the name time, vindicate the indepen dence of the Porte, and secure by their energy that peace which Europe is loth to relin quish. We wish wo oould confirm, or even credit, this statement. On the contrary, all that reaches us has a very opposite tendency. In stead of England and France being united, we fear the communications between the Govern ments of the two countries are at this mo ment, in the last degree, inconsistent and distrustful. This state of incoherence and suspicion is the natural consequence of the distracted condition of the English Cabinet. We believe that condition to be one of anarchy. It would seem that the Cabinet is not merely divided into two parties, but those parties again are composed of sections of oscillating opinions. Their almost daily vacillation is not the result of continued thought and increased information, but is rather the sheer offspring of nervous incompetence. The present Ca binet is called upon to guide the fortunes of England during the solution of the most im portant problem of modern politics. There are unquestionably statesmen in that Cabinet who comprehend the question, however con trary may be their opinions as to the me thod by which it should be encountered. Lord ABERDEEN and Lord PALMERSTON doubtless both know what is at stake. They know that on their management of the circumstances with which they have to deal the future of England, as a first rate power, depends. They are well aware that, if their resources are not equal to the occasion, an empire will arise which will absorb Europe, conquer Asia, and will greatly influence the condition of America, of which a great por tion already belongs to Russia. We often hear of such phrases as " the commencement of the end." There is such a thing in politics as "the end of the commencement." Russia has reached that period. How far this result has been precipitated by the conduct of Lord ABERDEEN we will not now stop to inquire. A firm and prudent policy might, in our opinion, have long averted it, and prepared a condition of things in the interval which might have ultimately bathed its evil con- sequences. But it is useless now to speculate on the past. What is our present position •? Have we an ally? Has Lord AIIMMDEEN sue ceeded in satisfying France, or in soothing Russia? In attempting to secure present peace for England, even by the sacrifice of our future power, has he not in reality advanced the prospect of a general war? But what is he going to do ? What is his plan ? Has he any ? A week ago we were told the Cabi net were united, and all was to be energy, vigour, and success. It was even confidenti a lly intimated, under the rose, that the Russians would not even cross the Prnth, or, at any rate, not until the autumn, and before the autumn a great deal would happen. The Russians have already crossed the Pnith, as we said they would. What are we to do now? Is the Cabinet as united and energetic as last week ? Now that the moment of decision has arrived, it reaches us that, besides the principal fol lowers of Sir RossatT PEEL, Lord CLAmomos, Lord Cram.tv.....x, the Duke of ARGYLL, and Sir WILLIAM MOLIPAWORTII are of opinion that all cants MU should be confined to the Cabinet. War is only to rage in the council chamber of Downing-street. The last resolution of the Government, as it reaches us, is most strange. While everybody else is acting, they are. to take refuge in tem porising. They are to suggest to the Porte and to St. Petersburg that the privileges de manded by the Czar for the Greek Christians should be secured to Christians of all denomina tions in the Turkish dominions, under a treaty of guarantee to which the great powers shall be parties. This is, virtually, the propo sition made by the Turkish Minister to MENSCHIKOFF on the eve of the Russian Prince leaving Constantinople, and which he treated with contempt. The " great powers" will not combine to ex tricate England from its embarrassment. The two " great powers" of Germany are against England. Count Beam, the Prime Minister of Austria, is most unfriendly to us, and is the brother-in-law of the Russian. Minister, Count Mcxsooune, with whom he acts in complete tic eordanee. These rumours and pntjeets may amuse newspaper readers, excite I'llykneys, and assist the Stock Exchange, but they will not govern the world. If Lord A tiKKUEEN meant to surrender at discretion he should have made a grace of his feebleness, not a necessity. lie should have pretended, from the first, to have been the confiding ally of Russia, and not have played the game of its unsuccessful opponent. And Lord PAtamitsros—what will he do? lie may lose office, but he may retain his reputa tion. Will he ? We live in an age of great events and little men. The star 4.f England pales : our country already begins to take its position in the class of the Tyres and the. Cartilages. It ceases to be imperial and eter nal, at least in thought. Sonic-thing ignomi nious is impending. This last prgject Of our Government as sumes that the pretext of Russian invasion is sincere. To temporise while others act requires no great genius, and must end only in humiliation and disaster. lie who gains Time gains everything, but he who wastes Time is an idiot. AVE announced in our lust number that news had arrived in St. Petersburg of the rejection of 4:1 1,9n6 11,041 47 1,141 I 6 Ar4s Observe, at Plymouth in March, 1852, seven shil►s of 100 guns 9114 1,730 men; in January. 1553, tea ships of 622 guns and 3,102 men. At Portsmouth, instead of nine ships of 272 glllllll and 2,909 men, the Duke left twentyone ships