The Press. — London, England, 1853-12-17 00:00:00

W"'" _ ...... ‘ --.4---e, c, 4,1t,t,Ap,. , No. 33.—VoL. I. Vrtss. that her part way taken, and that part was WAR. The reeeipt of this declaration, so far as our Government was coneerned, was denied by its principal organ, but in terms carefully adjusted. not to say suspieiously equivocal. At the same time there appeared to be no little Menu sistency between our second announcement and the important information of which, on the preceding week, we had been first the means of tsimmunicating. Confident in the authenticity of our sourer, we awaited, without apprehension, the evidence of its truth. It appears, then, that more than a mouth ago Austria did make to the combined Govern ments the above-named suggestion of an minis tiee. They, eager to secure the renewal of iplomatie eo-operation with Austria, replied without loss of time, and favourably, to the overture, but added that they could not consent to the proposition 14ir an armistiee, unless it was considered the preliminary of a negotia• Lion for peace. T 4) this Austria, in time, re joined that, 104 peace was the objeet of all Governments, the armistiee might be eon, (tittered as a preliminary to that end. In due time it was reported to Austria that the Porte had been Hounded on the sub jeet, but that the Sultan would consent to no negotiat . of which " the instant and com plete evacuation of the principalities," as pro mised by Lord CLARENDON to the British Par liament, was not a condition precedent. Upon this at despatch (not it note, as was hurriedly and incorreetedly expressed) instantly arrived from St. Petersburg, and was read to a French Minister, who communicated its contents to his Sovereign, diselaiming negotiations, and appealing to war as the only arbiter. We will not stop now to inquire whether the same declaration was made by a similar pro cess to our own Government. On this head we have much to say ; but time presses. It. is the less necessary to enter into this matter now, since our readers may depend upon the foll44wing statement, however incredible it may seem—viz., that Great Britain, notwithstand• ing the pledge of Lord CLARENDON to Parlia ment, and all that has since occurred, con sented to recommend, in the most urgent manner, an armistice to the Porte, and a con sequent negotiation for peace, without making the slightest stipulation respecting the prin cipalities, or even alluding to the subject. We have reason to believe that it was even agreed that an amingement in the spirit of the MENR- CtiIKOFF propositions should be pressed upon the Porte ; and all this upon the ground that the four Powers had entered into a loose decla ration that, in their opinion, it was expedient that the integrity of the Ottoman dominions should be maintained. LONDON, R.4TURD.4r, DECE.VBER 17, 11451. "PRESS" OFFICE, Friday Night, Per. 10. A RI'MOVII that was prevalent in well-informed circles on Thursday received an authoritative shape this morning. Adieu the retirement of Lord Viscount PA imEnsTox, one of the principal Secretaries of State, from her Majesty's Conn -as, was announeed by the leading Govern ment organ. The withdrawal, at this moment especially, of the most eminent member of the Adminis tration, without whose presence the Cabinet could never originally have been formed, and to whom the Ministry are indebted for the only degree of public confidence which they ever possessed, has produced a profound sensation. It is understood that this step was taken by Lord PALMER4TON with the coneurrenee and approbation of the Marquis of LAN24DOWNE, and of the principal members of the old Whig party. Lord PALMEnsrom is now on a visit to the Noble Marquis at Dowood, to which seat he repaired after having sent in the resignation of his office to the Prime Minister, in order that it might be formally laid before her Majesty. Lord lananEEN left town for ()Amine for that purpose on Thursday, and returned, we believe, this night. A Cabinet Council is summoned for to- 11101 TOW. THERE is an enormous diplomatic conspi►acy hatching at this moment, which, it' successful, will prove most disastrous to the honour and the interests of Queen Vo-rolitA 111141 her realms. Our readers may perhaps remember that, three weeks ago, we were the first to announce to the public that Austria, at the unavowed, yet understood, instigation of Russia, had proposed to the combined Governments of England and Fr.uaee that they should join with her in suggesting to the belligerents an armistice for the winter. These proceedings take place while the organ of Lord ABLIWEEN is assur►ng its credulous, or its perplexed, readers that Russia, by the re- turn of the German Powers to diplomatic concert with the combined Governments, and by their consequent arrangements, has received " a great diplomatic cheek," end lost the fruits of half a century of its successes ; it being an undoubted fact that the German Powers have throughout the affair been ever playing the game of St. Petersburg, and that the Cabinet of the Kremlin has suggested every ppr)ve and 1.4e3 evet7 hitrizz Seven days after it was l our duty also to RUIVAIIIO3 that Russia had signified that fur thor nalotiations would 11,1 1:e ii.totea to, LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1853. PRICE SIXPENCE. In the meantime, not withstanding the denia of our tunutuncement. that the sword would be the only arbiter between Russia anti Tun , key, there tteetirm the slaughter of Siuope, Me lowed up by a eonsequent victory of the RUM • sians on land. Observe the facts, though they ate almost incredible ; but they will not be contradicted, for we have the authority by our side. After innumerable delays and fatal pro crastination, the combined fleets of England and Franco anchor in the Bosphorus, and immediately the Russians obtain their first success, and that on the very element on which the combined fleets could alone assist Turkey But it is not only the English and the French fleets that are tying idle almost in sight of this untoward event. The Turkish and Egyptian fleet is also inert. And why" Its crews were Hot plating ehampagne grog. It. was inert through the influence of the English Ambassador! Our readers are aware that the Admiral of the Turkish tleet is a gallant Eugliah officer, Captain Amu PH UN Sttuc, bearing in Turkey the title of Ilushoover Paella. It being known, some little time ago, that a squadron under this officer was about to enlist , in the Black sea, 1.4)111 STRATFoRD, our Ambassador at the Bale, sent for Captain SLADK, and endeavoured to prevent the expedition, on the ground that, " as the Turkish Admiral was an English **biker, "it ;night tend to embroil with Russia." i rho gallant SLAox, as became a msn of honour in the serviee of the Porte, treated the appeal with the eontempt whieh it deserved. He went, And he returned ; and he recommended to the Turkish Government that the whole fleet should immediately repair to the Elaine. Every means were had recourse to in order to 1 prevent this step; and, finally, Admiral DeNtma—no very wise man, to ho sure, but one, certainly, who would not net from his own inspiration--declared to the Turkish Govern- ment that if their fleet entered the Black Sea ho would return with the English fleet to the Mediterranean. The Divan, with a protest. yielded to this violence, and, under these cir cumstances, the English, the French, and the Turkish fleets permitted an expedition of five thousand troops, convoyed by a few frigates. to be massacred by Russian men-of-war. What infamy ! It is all very well to say that the retirement of Lord PALMERSTON from the Coalition Cabi net is not occasioned by the conduct of their foreign policy ; that the supposed divisions of the Ministry on that subject are " fictions:" and that " his retirement will not in say 4.• " gree lower the tone or relax the energy ou " foreign affairs of the Cabinet." No doubt the withdrawal of Lord PALMIRSTON from the Ministry is not merely, or even perhaps mainly, occasioned by the conduct of their foreign policy. It is occasioned by a general l convic tion that the whole bent of their administration is alien both to the reason and the feelings of the country,—that they do nut appreciate the character of England, and have no rout in the heart of any large portion of the community. But as for pretending that the divisions of the Ministry on our foreign policy are imaginary— this is indeed a " Action," and a hold one. It is true that the policy of Lord PALMERSTOS has. in the main, been followed, but it has barn aluays followed too late : on almost every occa sion it has been adopted by Lord Asuman:4 under the threat of Lord PALVIPArrOIedi rest • 141400 n 01} Atnwet rag ocosstot; bps