The Press. — London, England, 1854-07-15 00:00:00

660 THE WEEK. ANOTHZR sudden and unexpected change has taken place in the aspect of the war in the East. The diplomatists of the Russian and German Courts are actively endeavouring to find some basis for a pacific settlement. The attitude of Austria is much less decided than it was supposed to be a fortnight back : her armies halt on the fron • tier. Prussia remonstrates against the execution of the Austro-Turkish convention, and for the present there is no longer a question of Austrian troops entering the Principalities. On the other hand, the retreat of the Russians from Wallachia is stopped : the Russian generals and troops seem to have r e g ained coura g e, and they appear to be preparing once more to contest with the Turkish army the line of the Danube, though the Ottoman combatants are being reinforced by the allied troops. Some accounts represent this Russian move ment as made in anticipation of Austrian hostilities, but more pro bably it may be strategically designed to draw the allies from Varna, whence an expedition against the Crimea could be most conveniently undertaken. If the land forces of the allies are separated from the fleets, Russia would be relieved from the fear of an invasion of her territory. If this be the policy of Prince GORTSCRAKOFF, it has already to some extent succeeded : 15,000 of the allies have advanced to Rutschuk, and a large Turkish force has crossed the river to the opposite position of Giurgevo. Here a smart action seems to have been fought, the Turks, with a superior force, surrounding General Summon% The only details given are that the Russians " cut their " way through " after a combat of n i n e hours, with a heavy loss of killed and wounded, and retired on Bucharest. The Turks have crossed also at Oltenitza, and taken some of the old Russian positions on the loft bank of the Danube : to meet them two separate detachments of Russians of 30,000 each are advancing from Bucharest. We shall probably soon hear that the allied forces have crossed the Danube : in that case, the Russian advance might again be changed to retreat, and, while the allies were drawn far into the principalities, Russia might fulfil what some days back seemed to be her intention, of making the line of the Sereth, instead of the Danube, the base of her operations. The English Commissariat is reported to be break ing down, and, if the troops entered the exhausted districts of the principalities, they might have to contend not only with the enemy, but with short supplies, and possibly with sickness. Such speculations must as yet be merely conjectural, but it would appear that the allies would disadvantageously exchange their posi tion at Varna for the centre of the Wallachian territory. Both the French and English forces continue to be increased by reinforce ments. The last intelligence of the Black Sea fleets is that they were sighted, fifty-eight sail, steering direct for Sebastopol, but no hint is given that any active operations were intended. The Czar's reply to the German Courts is still kept secret. In the opinion of Prussia certainly—and in the opinion of Austria pro bably—it offers a basis for pacific negotiations, and it is positively announced that Colonel MANTEUFFEL has left Berlin on a mission to our Government. As the German Courts are bent on the mainte name of the states quo auto, and as Russia professes to desire no more, it appears extremely improbable that there will be any collision between them. Even Austria, whose activity was most to be expected, must look with great suspicion on certain proceedings in this country and on the tone of a portion of our press. Rossetti is enthusiastically received at crowded meetings, and continues incessantly to repeat that it is the interest of England to ally herself with " oppressed nationali ties against despotic governments," and to proclaim that Sebastopol is to be taken at Warsaw, and the integrity of the Turkish empire to be secured in Hungary. Austria may arm and negotiate, but we must not delude ourselves with the hope that she will cordially take part with the allies while Kosstrru has a following here, and the French Emperor reminds the troops he destines for the Baltic of the glories of Austerlitz. Sir CHARLES NAPIER, with the Baltic fleet, arrived within eightmiles of Cronstadt on the 28th of June, and several accounts concur in stating that the signal ran through the fleet, " Prepare for action." The men accordingly put on their fighting•dresses and looked to their arms, but, instead of proceeding to attack, the fleet came to anchor, waited for ten or twelve days, sending forth small steamers to recon noitre, and then returned to its former anchorage at Baro Sund. The destination of the French force reviewed by the Emperor at Boulogne now excites lively speculation. The force will consist altogether of 25,000 or 30,000 men. The first brigade, of about 10,000, was to embark on Thursday from Calais, but its departure has been countermanded to the 20th. Four English and four French ships-of-the-line, with many smaller vessels, are provided to convey this force to the Baltic. It will depart with sealed instructions. Military strategists are of opinion that an attempt will be made by the fleet to destroy the fortifications of some advanced post at Cronstadt or elsewhere, and that the troops will then take possession of it, and make .it a base for conducting further operations against the enem y . The time for action is now, however, getting short; but the despatch of this force to the Baltic, and the strong reinforcements sent to the East, argue either a determination to make some attempt agai nst Russia promptly, or to cloak latent designs and secret negotiations. In our Legislature more Government bills have been withdrawn, and there have been further displays of that radical opposition of sentiment among the Ministry which renders it impossible for them to carry measures, however salutary or essential. One failure countenances another. Because the Testamentary Jurisdiction Bill is withdrawn in the Commons, the Matrimonial Divorce Bill is withdrawn in the Lords. The withdrawal of the Irish THE PRESS. SATURDAY, Land Bills led to animated debates in both Houses on Thursday. The two bills, prepared with great care by Mr. NAPIER, were accom panied with a third, by Sir J. YouNG, for Tenant Compensation. The last was rejected by the Lords' committee, the Duke of ARGYLL con curring in the propriety of its rejection. Lord JOHN RUSSELL him self virtually admitted that the Legislature would never pass a bill which, by interfering with the rights of property, had a communistic tendency. The best measure, he argued, would be that which afforded facilities for contracts, and gave power to enforce them. Yet Sir JOHN YouNG abandoned the two bills, universally acknowledged to be excellent in principle, on the ground that they were not ac companied by a third, which his colleagues disapproved, and which could never be expected to pass. Mr. DISRAELI took part in the debate, giving expression to masterly argument and sound political philosophy in a strain of superb sarcasm. His characterisation of the Lord President of the Council, owing his administrative success to evasion of difficulties; his suggestion that an independent supporter of the Administration should test the opinion of the House by a vote of confidence ; and his prophetic answer to the question how long the Coalition would stand, " Until the character cf every one of its mem " bers was irretrievably injured," were recognised as electric flashes of true oratorial genius. The omission of the Bishop of NEW ZEALAND ' S salary from the estimates is universally denounced as an ungracious and shabby proceeding. When Sir Jous PAKINGTON announced that the vote on account of New Zealand should cease, he never intended that this 6001. should drop. The present Colonial Minister seems to have eagerly seized a plausible opportunity for stopping the grant. The vote might easily have been brought forward in some other shape, had there not existed a determination to suppress it. The conduct of the Bishops on the Oxford University Bill has been much discussed. It is felt that on that occasion the episcopal bench has taken a course wholly adverse to Conservative interests and the strength and unity of the Church. The Lords' amendments are to be considered in the Commons on Thursday next. The public, generally indisposed to Indian politics, with which they have no immediate concern, are not likely to interest them selves much in the debate of Tuesday night and with " ryot-war " and " zemindar " systems. It was shown that the existing system of land tenure in India was oppressive, unfair, and totally opposed to im provement. Mr. Lowes answer to the case made out for inquiry was curious. " The theory of the Government of India was based upon despotism, and it would be unwise to show the people of India that there was an authority in England that could supersede this despotic power." These were his words. Justice, good faith, beneficent rule, all must give way to the necessity of impressing the native people of India with a belief in the irresistible despotism of Lord DALHOustz and the India-house. He admitted the existence of many evils, but, if despotism would not or could not cure them, Parliament ought by no means to interfere. To this doctrine Sir J. HOOO and Sir C. WOOD cried ditto, ditto, the latter making many "admissions," such as that the assessment was too high, and urging that, if this and other evils were left alone, they would probably be remedied some time or other. A decision has at last been pronounced on the application for a new trial in the case of the Duchess of MANCHESTER'S will. Our scandals commonly take a pecuniary shape. " The least-erected spirit that fell from heaven" seems to dominate in modern society. HOGARTH'S satire of the attendant of a dying woman drawing a ring from her finger but feebly expresses the covetousness which may minister to a death-bed and mingle with solemn prayers and pious exhortations. The founder of Wesleyanism, to the last day of his life, lamented the worldliness of his flock. The disciples of GEORGE Fox would scarcely be as willing to dispense with the world's wealth as they are with its vanities. Large allowance must be made for natural instincts and worldly necessities, but the disclosures on this trial are of an ugly character. The counsel employed thought it ne cessary that their speeches should accord in length to the amount of property at stake; but the question at issue—the legal question at least—has a short one. What was the Duchess's state of mind at the period when she made the will? Sir PAGE WooD, in his judgment, drew a somewhat subtle distinction. A lucid interval in a person afflicted with permanent insanity should be regarded with more suspicion than a lucid interval in one suffering from fits of de lirium. An acute juryman on the trial had asked whether in a lucid interval a person might not execute a disposition of property previously resolved on : the presiding judge replied in the affirmative. But, as he did not fence round his reply by showing how greatly a simple in tention might be modified by the details purporting to express it, the Vice-Chancellor thought a new trial should be granted. Iu his opinion the Duke was morally bound by the wishes of the Duchess, but legally free by the instrument she left, if that instrument were estab lished,—an opposition between moral and legal justice by no means singular in the world. We are inclined to believe that if, in the dispo sition of property, less was left to individual weakness or caprice, society would on the whole be the gainer. The new trial is ordered to take place at Guildford during the present assizes. It would be rash to assume that the troubles in Spain are yet over. For years past her successful generals have proved her curse. O'DONNELL is a fierce and daring soldier, with a considerable following, and SERRANO has now joined the insurgent ranks. The Government accounts state that some !disturbances have been put down in Va lencia; but the longer the insurgents hold out the more opportunity they will have of tampering with the disaffected, and of seducing the soldiery—seldom, to their disgrace be it said, loyally attached to their colours—from their allegiance. ML -aL