The Press. — London, England, 1855-03-03 00:00:00

206 Sort* Correspulnutt. FRANKFORT, Feb. 28. of tho recal of Lord John Russell from his Vienna mission, and the secession of Sir James Graham, Mr. Gladstone, and Mr. Sid ney Herbert, from the Ministry of Lord Palmerston, have created a sensation throughout Germany sub versive of all reliance on the English Government as at present constituted. This state of uncertainty is most injurious to the constitutional cause, and de. structive of the real weight which England asserts as a right in the council of nations. The manner in which many of the leading English journals descant on continental affairs evinces little acquaintance with those secret springs of policy which work, as it were, in direct opposition to the open declarations of accredited statesmen. These journals would believe—or rather they would desire to inculcate the belief—that the Ministers of the ve nous nations are candid " Publicists " that the spirit and substance of their manifestoes convey the real sentiments of their respective Sovereigns—that the envoys for a conference on dispute d points meet together with the most cordial frankness to discuss and to set in order the affairs of Europe. It may be so; yet this will not prevent the asser tion that the corruption, the deception, and the political profligacy of the entire mass of Germany at the present moment is without a parallel in his tory, except in some of the darker passages of Spanish chronicles. The cold insincerity of Lord Aberdeen in concert with this German depravity has placed Europe in a position surcharged with evil; and, moreover, has rendered the future course of the Czar easy and plain. The corrupter•general of Ger many has been and is M. de Benckendorf, the nephew of the Princess Lieven g —resident at Berlin as military plenipotentiary of the Emperor Nicholas. t is his province to disseminate throughout the Germanic States those peculiar and cogent reasons which induce the princes to regard as patriotism that which in other countries would bear a less euphonious designation. Louis Philippe corrupted the " bourgeosie " of France, and the fruits thereof were speedy. The Czar applies a similar pressure upon the princes of Germany, and he awaits with patience and confidence the effect of his craft. The decisions of the Diet vary from hour to hour, and, like the web of Penelope, the work of the day is nullified by the messenger of the ensuing night. The Minister of Prussia is not always in the confi dence of his King, and the vacillation of the latter is frequently derived from the by-play which is forced upon by him by his more intimate communications with Russia. Hence the duplicity that has caused the ready and public application of an unkingly epithet. M. Niebuhr, the son of the eminent his torian, and the bitter foe of England, has failed in his mission to subdue the integrity of Holland. M. de Wedell and M. Von Usedom profess to have been more successful in their negotiations with France and England. True it is that, apparently, the terms of proposal have not been refused, viz., an armed intervention, if Russia should invade the principalities ; or, secondly, the territory of Aus tria; and, thirdly, in the event of Russia departing from the four points of Vienna, which, be it observed, that Government has not unreservedly accepted. But under Russian dictation Prussia refuses to be bound by the majority of the Conference—that is to say, that whenever Prussia may absolutely differ from the other powers, she will assume the right to return to her original position of armed neutrality, or open hostility, as she may deem fit. This is precisely what has been said in a former letter, that the admission of Prussia to the Vienna Conference on her own terms would place a Russian spy at the council-board of the allies. It is now proved by the act and demand of Prussia herself. This Prussian scheme was not unknown to high parties at Vienna, who hoped to use that country in such manner at the Conference against England and France by the menace of disunion, as to enable Austria to mollify the asperity of the Czar against herself. Never was there a moment when England more required a firm and unflinching band at home and an acute diplomatist at Vienna. Has she either the one or the other? The friends of England are in dismay—M. De Bismarck and the Russian party make merry with the innocent peculiarities of Lord Westmoreland, and state freely that Lord Palmerston has become Sachsenised, and fear him no longer. The Sachsens generally consider the retire ment of the Peelites in a body to be significant of strength, and of their future return to power without extraneous aid, at a time not far distant, and they cou nt upon their being supp orted b y the disaffection o f England, civil, ecclesia stical, an d political. In the meantime let it be plainly stated, without doubt and circumlocution, that Sachsen(' and Prussian Germany on one hand, and Austria on the other, regard Lord THE THE PRESS. Derby as the personification of that England of the olden day which was both feared and honoured. They dread the energy of his race, the incorruptibility of his honour, and the predominant ability of this chi valrous descendant of the royal Margaret Beaufort. The debate on the Russian trade has been discussed at the Brosenhalle unfavorably to Mr. Cardwell. The Frankfort merchants put the case fairly. They say that, under existing circumstances, the blockade of the Baltic porta works simply as an undue expense to England, if Prussian merchants are permitted to bring Russian goods to an English market, wherein they benefit both as carriers and retailers. The trade has decreased to a small amount in quantity, which is made up in price, and the payment to Russia is made "de rigour" in gold, without exchange of merchandise. That this English gold has been em ployed for Crimean purposes is self-evident; the Russian finances would have been materially da maged had an exclusive policy been adopted. The forced loans, exorbitant taxation, and paper money have produced that altered tone in the imperial ma nifesto which no military defeat could have extorted. Thus say the very capitalists who are gaining, through their connections, by that egregious folly which was vaunted by Sir William Molesworth as a proof of a philosophic civilisation, of a humanised system of warfare. What means this contradiction of terms? Can his friend Mill explain the metaphysical jargon; or are the principles of a humane warfare and a san guinary peace to be found in Hobbes ? Nothing has damaged the Palmerston Ministry more in Germany than the speech of Mr. Macgregor, the member for Glasgow. A high opinion of the statistical and historical ability of that gentleman is entertained everywhere on the Continent, both from personal acquaintance, and from the wide circulation of his valuable works. His moderation, and his al legiance generally to Lord Palmerston, would pre sume that a" force m aj eure" alone, and painful no doubt, compelled him to withhold his support, and further to state that the Ministry did not possess the confidence of the country. Mr. Macgregor well knew and expressed the truth of public feeling. Expecta tion is intense for the fall of the Palmerston Admi nistration, and, in proportion, Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli attract continental attention. No sentiment of regard towards these gentlemen animates the be wildered Diet—they know that the time for Sachsen intrigue is over—and Russian, Prussian, Austrian, German, and Rhinelander fear the consequences of a coming policy, stalwart, uncompromising, Protestant, and English. J. E. L. PS.—I reopen my letter with the hazard of being too late for the post to furnish a hasty account of • con versation reported to have been held recently with the King of Prussia. In that private conference the King is said to have expressed himself with un changed regard for his old ally of England, and added that his own opinions were neither shaken nor varied from those he expressed to the Duke of Wellington at the last parting interview with his old warrior friend in England :—" When we shook (serre) each other by the hand, we knew that it was for the last time, and with the memoried regret, I do not, I cannot, and never will, forget that our senti ments were in perfect unison, as I am certain was our mutual regard. Well may England—ay, all of us—be proud of one who never flinched in the line prescribed by duty, firm duty, patriotic duty. He knew the value of sovereignty and counselled it faithfully in its allotted course to act, as he did, for the welfare of all, and not from selfish or jealous motives. Had he been alive this war would never have been undertaken, still less prosecuted with such deplorable results for England. It would have been averted." No blame was attached to the army, but the incompetency in the management of such a fine military maariel received the severest cen sure; it seemed an insult to the memory of his old friend. Not for one instant did he doubt the valour of the English recruits. Battles have been won with young troops, and will be again. It was the squandering with such spendthrift imbecility this fine matiriel that caused the regret of the comrade of Wellington. The name of Sir Robert Peel was mentioned by the Duke in regard to his Ministry having been based upon "economy and retrench ment." It is clear the great Duke had predia that " a commercial majority," by incessant demands of reducing the army estimates, would bring England into a dilemma in case of a sudden war. It may be gathered from the conversation that the alarming attitude and increasing preponderance of military France, the temporary annihilation of the English army, and the paralysed executive of the country, are combining to throw Prussia more and more into strict alliance with Russia. The opinions of the Duke of Wellington, the same as recorded in his speeches in the House of Peers, are clung to with superstitious tenacity :—" How is her Majesty's Go vernment to be carried on?" And they point to the present state of the English Ministry. SATURDAY, lortign and dolonial 3uttiligcna. FRANCE. All doubts as to the Emperor's journey to Sebasto. pol are at an end. The departure of his Majesty is now determined on ; it is even said :that he will certainly leave Paris either this day or on Monday next. The Empress will accompany him. A con sultation of physicians has taken place as to whether or not it would be prudent for her Majesty to make the journey. The result is, that it has been, to her great delight, that seeing that her health is exceedingly good at present she may certainly undertake to go with the Emperor. The Emperor has nominated the personages who are to attend him. The whole of the famous band of the Guides, so well known and so much admired at London, has also received orders to set out. _ _ Jt is announced that the King of Portugal, Don Pedro V., has determined to pay a visit to Paris this year, to see the Great Exhibition. M. Thiers has met with a severe accident by a fall on the snow. His arm was broken in two places, and it was feared that amputation would be found neces sary. The two prosecutions pending against the Slide, have been abandoned. Accounts have reached the French Government of the total destruction of the frigate Semillante, in the Black Sea, laden with troops and ammunition. The ship is said to have foundered, and every soul on board, amounting to 700 persons, perished. AUSTRIA. A telegraphic despatch from Vienna on Thursday gives the following account of tho approaching con . ferences : Baron de Brack is expected here to-morrow. The Con gress will be opened in four days' time. The Porte will be represented by a distinguished dignitary besides Arif Effendi. Mons. de Titoff and Prince tiortschakoff will re present Russia in the Congress; Lord John Russell and the Earl of Westmoreland, England; but M. de Bout , queney alone as yet represents France. For Austria M. de Buol and Baron de Prokesch-Osten will appear. All powers thus testify an earnest desire to restore peace. Full justice has been done to military honour on all sides. A satisfactory basis for negotiations is now established, and the Congress will commence under promising auspices. TURKEY. General 'Vivian is appointed a General of Division of the Turks, with full powers to organise the army of Asia. Circassian volunteers to the nunber of 40,000 have sub mitted themselves to regular discipline. Omer Pacha has lost his son-iu-law at Eupatoria, by an attack of typhus fever. M. Koller, the Austrian Ambassador, arrived in Con stantinople or the 18th ult., and was received in a very flat tering manner. A report was current at Constantinople that the blockade of the mouths of the Danube was to be raised in order to remedy the dearness of provisions. RUSSIA. A new Nesselrode circular has appeared stating and de nouncing the declaration of war against Russia by Pied mont. A letter from Moscow states that trade is completely dead there. Four great failures took place there in a single day, and other disasters of a similar kind hare taken place in other parts of the Russian empire. GREECE. M. de Bruck left Athens on the 24th ult., after having had an interview with the BEng. Baron Mercier, the new Ambassador from France, had been presented to his Majesty. The French Artillery had left the Pincus, and embarked for the Crimea. A battalion of Marine Infantry alone re mained in Greece of the French forces. The English troops were also preparing to take their de parture for the Crimea. UNITED STATES. New York dates to the 13th nit. have arrived : the poli tical news is of little interest. A telegraphic despatch from New Orleans states that a portion of an expedition, between 3,000 and 4,0(X) strong, had sailed against Cuba from that port. Mr. Breakenbridge had declined the Madrid mission. The Hon. C. Dodge, of Ohio, had been appointed thereto. Mr. Appleton had been appointed to the Secretaryship of Legation to England. AUSTRALIA. The Marco Polo packet reached Liverpool on Wednes day from Melbourne. She brought 211 passengers and 47,000 ounces of gold. At her departure gold was com manding very high prices, but the general business of the col.ily was much depressed. Despatches from Ceylon announce that the people of Australia,have risen and proclaimed their independence. Some troops, sent to put down the insurrection, bad fought some sanguinary engagements. Melbourne was in a state of siege. THE bill for the appointment of " Public Prot •-- tors" is now issued. The Lord Chancellor, in event of the bill becoming law, is to appoint barristers to the office in districts at 1,5001. a year, and deputies may be appointed at 101. a day when employed. Jus tices mao remand to take the opinion of a public prosecutor. District agents are to be appointed in fur therance of the act. ALIN