The Press. — London, England, 1856-01-12 00:00:00

gortigt ant Colonial Ottlligcnte. FRANCE. Every variety of speculation upon the reply of Russia to the Austrian proposals has been hazarded this week in the French papers. In so complete a dearth of authentic information the imaginative politer of our lively neighbours has en joyed full play. The Russian Circular of the 22nd, at first received as a substantial rejection of the terms proposed by the Western powers, is now accepted as a proof that Russia is at least desirous to negotiate ; for telegraphic information from St. Petersburg— stating the public anxiety to be great, and the war and peace party as engaged in close contest, that M. Nesselrode, with the Empress Mother, inclined to a pacific solution, while Privy Councillor Senaivine, with the Empress, was for war, and that the Em peror hesitated to declare himself—restored conf deuce in some degree, and every argument which had been urged to prove the improbability of the Czar's acceptance of the Austrian proposal was sud denly found a powerful point in favour of the hope that wisdom and moderation would influence the Czar, and that peace tea; not yet to be despaired of. Meanwhile, the gathering of the members of the Great Council of War has been accepted in Paris as direct proof of the intention of the Western powers to carry on the war earnestly this summer in the northern provinces of Russia. The Emperor, it is said, will lead in person the grand army, and nothing less is anticipated than a promenade militaire on or beyond the banks of the Elbe. The account in the Emancipation Beige of the cool reception of the Austrian Minister at St. Peters burg is accepted by the French papers. The Em peror Alexander, it is said, after hearing the Count out, confined his reply to simple inquiries after Count Esterhazy's health and journey; and with a second failure to bring the Czar to an exchange of explanations, Count Esterhazy left the palace. The Mats St. Petersburg correspondent affirms that at the second interview with Count Nesselrode, the conference was " completely taken up with mutual recriminations," and that the special and precise object of the mission of the Austrian Minister was not raised. Yesterday the Mats, upon the authority of its own information, denied the accuracy of the state ment that the Imperial Chancellery had given its reply to the Austrian proposals. Up to the 6th no answer, it states, had been given, and at the expira tion, on the Bth, of the first period granted for a reply by Austria, Count Esterhazy was to renew his demand, giving a further period of ten days for a re ply. The members of the Council of War arrived in Paris early in the week, and on Thursday held their first sitting at the Tuileries, under the presidency of the Emperor. AUSTRIA. The mission of Colonel Manteuffel to Vienna has in some measure transpired. The autograph letter he is known to have brought from his master to the Emperor Francis Joseph is said to contain expres sions of regret from the King, that, though with every desire to act in perfect harmony with Austria, he cannot support the Austrian proposal.; at St. Peters burgh otherwise than by a general recommendation of a pacific policy; to point out the necessity of a close union between Austria and l'russia ; and to ascertain whether, in case of operations on the Baltic coasts, Austria was disposed to guarantee Prussia an integrity of territory. Colonel Manteuffel, it is also Said, has exerted himself to persuade C.unt l3uol and the Austrian Cabinet that Russia would make concessions beyond those indicated in the Circular of the 22nd nit., if Germany would exercise an "equi table influence" upon the Western powers. What step Austria will take should her terms be not acceded to try Russia remains yet to be proved. The Vienna correspondent of the Constitutionnel writes on the 6th : It is important to know that it has been arranged be tween Austria and the Western powers, that if the reply of Russia be such as to remove the hope of a prompt re establishment of peace, the Court of Vienna will not limit itself to the recal of its aittbassador from St. Petersburg, hat without delay will deliberate in common with its allies on efficacious means for obtaining the object of their al. liance according to the terms of Article 3 of the Treaty of the 2nd of December. Tie "efficacious means" here indicated can refer or.ly to an active co-operation with the Western powers. That Austria will "act up to her engage ments" is believed in Vienna, but since the late serious reduction of her army, and the sale of 45,000 horses, it appears questionable whether by the spring she could replace her artillery, cava'ry, and baggage corps on the footing it held two months since. Ac cording to the Allgemeine Zeitung, Austi ia's object is the solution of the Eastern question, and the termina tion of the war between the West and East, but her time of action will not come until the war has exceeded the limits of the original objects proposed. The 'flit PRESS. Gazette d'Augsbourg, on the other hand, says frankly, that if Russia reject the proposals, Austria has no other course but war : Next spring will see Russia at peace with the Western powers or at war with Austria; in tact, it' the present effort fur peace fails, the only word that Austria can pronounce is War. As to Germany, if she wishes peace she must show herself ready for a possible war, otherwise she cannot have peace, and will be compelled into war. There is no third course. _ . PRUSSIA. - - - The election of the President for the House of Re presentatives has resulted in the rtturn of Count tialenberg, a Tory, in preference to Count Schwerin, of the Liberal party. The Prussian support of the Austrian proposals has not yet resulted in any official communications upon the subject between the Cabinets of Berlin and St. Petersburg. The mission of Count Bauch is believed to be of a private nature, though it is not doubted in Berlin that he bears recommendations to the Emperor Alexander not to uselessly prolong the war. RUSSIA. The incredible activity displayed by the Russian Government in preparing for a renewal of the contest on the shores of the Baltic is worthy of the traditions of the nation. Vast intrenched camps are being established, gigantic defences thrown up, new armies raised and organised, enormous Cores collected, cannon and mortars of heavy calibre and great range founded, gun-boats and mortar rafts built, powder, lead, shot, and arms bought up on the Con tinent in vast quantities, and every element collected and preparation made for an obstinate and desperate defence—nothing else appears to occupy the minds of the people or the Government. The fall of Kars has been turned by the old Slavonian party into a triumph," which will lead to results that will cor respond to the god-like objects of the war, and to the sacrifices made." Their whole effort is to stamp the conflict with a religious character, and excite the enthusiasm of the people to the highest pitch. The appointment of Prince Menschikoff to the command of Cronstadt was regarded at St. Peters burg as an earnest of the intention of the Govern ment to carry out the views of the war party. TURKEY. The Sultan, for the first time in the history of his country, has accepted a decoration from the hands of a foreign potentate. On the 29th ult., M. Thou vette', the French Ambassador, proceeded to the Imperial Palace in state, to present his Majesty with the Grand Cordon of the Legion of Hononr. In ad dressing the Sultan, M. Thouvenel represented the fact, as a pledge of the honourable a liance, which places the Ottoman empire under the guarantee of the European powers. The Sultan accepting the cordon, replied ! 1 firmly hope that my unceasing efforts to secure the happiness of all my subjects will be crowned with the desired success, and that my empire, henceforth one of the member of the great European family, will prove to the entire universe that it is worthy to occupy an important place iu the assembly of the civilised nations. Turkey will never forget the generous sacrifices which her noble allies have imposed upon themselves in order that this great and happy result. may be obtained. The first budget of the Ottoman empire has been published, and details the expenses occasioned by the war to Turkey. The document is of extreme length, extending front the 27th May, 1853, to 27th Sept., 1855 : During this time the treasury disbursed for extraordi nary expenses of the departments of war, marine, and artillery, 3,015,583 bourses, or 11.200,0001. The resources raised by the Government over and above the budget con. silt of 2,284,5001., the proceeds of the first loan ; 600,000/., advanced by M. Itoshschild on the new loan ; 201,800 E., national gifts ; 1,440,0001. from the issue of paper money ; and 4 ~7001., lent by the caisse des depots et des denrees, forming a total of 4,573,000/. The total ordinary outlay of the war during the twenty-eight months being 5,800,0000., and the amount of the resources which the treasury has disposed of being 4,573,001)1., the treasury has to claim 1,227,0tt0/. In the twenty-eight months, therefore, the extraordinary expenses of the war have amounted to about 7,400,0001., in which sum is included 70,0001. advanced to the allied armies in warlike materiel, ammunition, ttc. In that period of time, 'turkey, in order to resist Russia and the encroachments of the Greeks, has never had under arms less than 2.50,(00 men. The troops of Egypt and Tunis, though paid by those provinces, have been sup ported by the I mperial Government. The Turkish Cabi net, without levying any fresh taxes, has supported this war for two years and a half, without any other resources from Europe than 2,500.1)001 of the first loan, and 000,000/. advanced on the second. The amount required by the War Department, during the coming year, over and above its ordinary budget, is 2,850,0001., and that by the marine and artillery 1,400,000/. The returie; of the army give 0000 effective reditfit, awl 105,325 men of the regular army. The report concludes by calling the attention of the Western powers to the economy and care, which has enabled the Government of the Forty, with only small extraordinary resources, to maintain a vigorous war. DENMARK. The Danish Government, in a circular addressed to the various European States, renews the declara tion in virtue of which it persists in continuing its position as a neutral power, and declines to admit that it is bound in any way by the treaty concluded on the 21st of November between Sweden and the Western powers. AMEEICA. Another mail has arrived without the Message. The election of a Speaker could not be decided, and on the whole the public seemed rather indifferent to the matter. President Pierce, it is stated, has had his Message put in type in his own house, and makes the necessary alterations demanded by the political changes in every fresh week's intelligence from Europe. The compositors are locked up s e parat e ly, and the greatest secrecy is maintained as to sub stance of the Message. The steamship Northern Light, on the point of sailing on a II ibustering ezpedition to Nicaragua, had been seized by the Government at New York. The principal officers were held to bail in heavy sums, but the passengers mostly allowed to go tree. The New York Herald Washington correspondent states that Mr. Marcy's demands upon the British Government require, among other things, the recal of Mr. Cranipton, or some other public act of equally signal satisfaction to the United States. FOREIGN MISCELLANEA. THE RUSSIAN ORGAN, Le Nord, in publishing the current version of the Austrian proposals, remarks that if the Emperor Alexander, from the explana• tions and commentaries given in support of the pro positions, " can derive the conviction that the Western powers really desire peace without wishing to inflict an injury on the dignity or honour of Russia, the propositions will be received with a' good will," from which the friends of peace may expect much. THE NEW SPANISH CONSTITUTION will be promul. gated immediately on the recovery of lieneral O'Donnell. THE KING OF TIIE BELGIANS gave a private audience to the Duke of Beaufort on Monday at Lacken. THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON lately made her Majesty a pretty and precious Christmas gift in the form of a lady's album s containing watercolour drawings by the first artists of France illustrative of the various inci• dents of her Majest)'s visit to earis. THE GRAND w MII.ITARY COUNCIL AT ST. PETERS BURG is dissolved. Every emergency in the possible future campaign upon the shores (31 the Baltic or the banks of the Danube is said to have been provided against, and the few remaining months before spring will be devoted to consolidating the armies and ful filling the strategic plans agreed on by the Council. AN [MPORTANT POLITICAL MOVEMENT in the matter of education has just occurred at Turin. The Muni• cipal Council have decided to dispense with the ser vices of priestly teachers in the communal schools of the capital. THE KING OF NAPLES, in his late interview with M. Brennier, the French Ambassador, refused to withdraw his prohibition upon the export of grain. BAVARIA, it is reported, is about to follow the example of Saxony, and send a special envoy to Russia to back the Austrian proposals. M. VON STACKHAUSEN, the Hanoverian Minister at Vienna, invited a large party to see the old year nut and the new one in. Sir Hamilton Seymour first arrived, and chanced to be so deeply engaged in con versation that he did not remark Prince Oortschaltoff's entry. The Russian Minister had hardly made him self comfortable in his chair when M. de Bourqueney, accompanied by one or two of the members of the French Embassy, entered the room. I'rince Liorts chakoff retired almost immediately. M. D. NISARD, Professor of Literature to the Sar• bonne, and once a stanch Republican, and redacteur of the Naticual, when making his first appearance in the amphitheatre of the university last Saturday, was met with a charivari by the students for his apostacy. It is reported of him that when lie was offered his present appointment he said, " I have my opinions, but 15,000 f. a year is a matter of consideration to my family ; " and it is also reported that lie justified his acceptance of the place by insisting upon the theory that there are two rules of morality, one for the vulgar, and another for men of genius. PREPARATIONS AT THE ROYAL PALACE AT TURIN have lately led to the belief among the Turinese that the King is certainly about to contract a marriage. It is reported in Turin that such a step will be the result of the King's visit to England. THE KING OF DENMARK has issued a r 0.141 proclamation decreeing that his marriage with the Countess Danner shall ever remain morganatic, and be so inscribed in the State calendar. M. CAMPE, THE HAMBURG BOOKSELLER, arrested at the instance of the Grand Duko of Mecklenburg- Schwerin for publishing certain secret memoirs of the Court, has been ieleastd without bail by order of the Senate. Sift,