The Press. — London, England, 1856-02-09 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 9, 1856. naries," the undersigned, after having paraphed it, con- formably to authorisation received to that effect, have ag reed that their Governments shall each nominate Pleni potentiaries, who, furnished with the full powers necessary for proceeding to the signature of formal preliminaries of peace, shall conclude an armistice and a definitive treaty of pea c e . The said Plenipotentiaries will have to assemble at Paris within the term of three weeks dating from this day, or sooner if it can be done. Lone at Vienna, this Ist day of February, 1866. (The Five Signatures.) A telegraphic despatch from Vienna, on Saturday night, stated that Prince Gortschakoff, when signing, requested that Prussia should be invited to take part in the Conferences. Count Buol supported the request. The French and English Ministers took notice of it ad referendum. The object of .Austria in laying the propositions before the Frankfort Diet is believed at Vienna to have been with a view of giving Prussia an opportunity of declaring her in tentions. PRUSSIA. Intelligence from Berlin states that Prussia, sooner than introduce any fresh subject of contention between the allies, will relinquish all claims for ad mission to the Conferences. The Gazette de la Croix of the 3rd maintains that Prussia will con tinue in her neutrality in the face of the Conferences, and will enter into no engagements tending to sup port the Western powers against Russia. A fresh issue of paper to the amount of ten mil lions was under consideration. The Zeit, the organ of the Berlin Government, discusses the question of Prussia's participation in the Conferences : A great power possessing a political value like that of Prussia will not stop to solicit her entrance into the Con ferences, and •he owes it to her dignity not to take any step for obtaining what they affect to call her admission to the European council. We shall abstain, therefore, from enforcing the right Prussia has acquired of having a seat at the Congress, while employing the influence she possesses at St. Peters burg to decide the pure and simple acceptance of the Austrian propositions. The political motive that imperiously requires the con• curreuce of Prussia in the future treaty arises naturally from the object of the war, and of the treaty that is to put an end to it. This object is neither more nor less than to place the political equilibrium of Europe on more solid bases, and to insure it against the preponderance of Russia. Should Prussia not be invited to take her seat at the Conferences, she could neither sign nor guarantee the treaty that is to issue from them. All these reasons induce us to believe that Prussia has a right to expect an invitation from the contracting powers. l'russia wishes to spare the allied powers the fault of leav ing her shut out from the pacific relations of Europe, because she wished to keep herself aloof from the compli cations of war. This fault could only be pernicious and entail serious results with respect to the consolidation and stability of the new order of things that it is now in con templation to create. RUSSIA. Letters from St. Petersburg state that, with the exception of the ultra old Russian party, the Em peror enjoyed high popularity for his decision in lour of peace. The Northern Bee on the 26th ult. writes : A rainbow of peace has appeared in the horizon and has been joyfully hailed by all friends of civilisation, by all those who desire to see the prosperity of commerce in all is branches. In those two years of war with four powers the Russian people has given a striking proof of its great and noble character, and has earned the respect of its enemies. May God grant us peace. But, should it not be con• eluded, Russia still has at her disposal sufficient means of resistance to repel her enemies with energy. We hope, at all events, that peace will give a new impetus to Russian trade and manufactures, which will completely emanci pate Russian commerce from strangers. _ . • - Every strong power, even during peace, should be con stantly prepared for war. Russia desires peace, but she does not fear war. A modified commercial tariff in favour of the Western powers was believed at Berlin as probable to be granted by Russia. The neutralisation of the Sea of Azoff, it was thought, would not be insisted on by the allies. TURKEY. The intelligence of the acceptance by Russia of the Austrian terms has created much excitement among the softas, who have openly declared for war. The Government have taken measures to re press any disturbances. The official appointment of Aali Pacha, Grand Vizier, as Turkish Plenipotentiary to the Conference at Paris, was announced by telegraph from Constan tiloplc on the 3rd. The Grand Vizier was to embark on the 6th, and expected to reach Marseilles on the 16th. The reform measure in favour of the Christian Rajahs proposed at the Conferences now holding at Constantinople, has been presented by Aali and Fuad Pachas to the Sultan, and agreed to by his Highness. It will be promulgated so soon as the assent of the Council is obtained. This measure is stated to establish the complete emancipation of the Chris tian Rajahs. Objections were anticipated on the part of the Council, THE PRESS. The draft of the contract entered into between the Government of the Porte and Mr. Forbes Campbell for the construction of the Russova-Danube Canal has been published. A lease of ninety-nine years is granted the canal, to revert to the Turkish Govern ment at the expiration of that period. A tribute of ten per cent. on profits is to be paid by the com pany during its lease. No foreign ships of war are to be permitted to pass through, and in event of the Turkish Government granting permission for the construction of a railway preference to be given to the canal company. Letters from Bucharest announce the opening of an Extraordinary Council of Administration on the 14th ult. to consider the question of the final aboli tion of serfdom. The Bajars and Princes were not agreed, and a petition against the proposed measure had been forwarded to the Sultan. The Hospodar had declared that he would sooner resign than per mit the Porte to interfere with the internal affairs of his principality. The budget for 1855-t shows an excess of receipts of two and a half millions. The Government is in negotiation with several companies for the establishment of railways and the introduction of lighting with gas. SPAIN. The Government has presented a demand for 16,000 men for the army. This has created some sensation, but it is stated the men are required for the service of the Peninsula. At Valencia and in some other towns of Alicante new attempts at dis turbance have been made, but they have failed in presence of the energetic attitude of the authorities. SWEDEN. Letters from Stockholm express serious appre hensions on the part of the people if the Aland Isles are allowed to be retained by Russia. The chamberlain of the King's Cabinet, Cout t Bjionstjerna, set out on the 29th ult. for London, to present Prince Albert with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Seraphim. FOREIGN MISCELLANEA. THE FRENCH EMPEROR is notorious for his design of rendering Paris the finest city in the world. His improvements have already cost the corporation and the State many millions, and left the former body in heavy debt, to say nothing of other pecuniary matters. A Few days [since, while returning from the Ecole Militaire, it is related that his carriage was blocked up in the Rue de Bac. His Majesty's attention was immediately directed to the street, and he expressed surprise that such a great thoroughfare should have remained so narrow. On his return to the Tuileries a plan for widening the street was at once decided on. It will be an immenbe undertaking, and quite alarms the Prefect of the Seine; but the work of demolition and reconstruction has now made its delnit, and most gigantic undertakings, it is said, will Boon be commenced in this and other parts of Paris. THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA is reported, on autho rity, to have declared that henceforth no man in Austrian Italy shall be called to account for his poli tical behaviour during 1848 and 1849. "Itis my desire," said the Emperor, " that the events of those years should be buried in oblivion." THE ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS has lately issued a proclamation to the faithful of his diocese, intimating that they may eat eggs every day, meat four times in the week, and continue to enjoy, ad libitum, their milk and butter et breakfast, without loss of salva tion. This indulgence, however, on the part of the Church, he plainly informs them, can only be pur chased by liberal alms, as a set-off for such dimi nished severity of the Church's laws, though he admits that abstinence is but a tradition in most houses. Additional alms are to be given for the use of the matutinal milk and butter. SAID DACHA, Viceroy of Egypt, by the last accounts from Alexandria, was suffering severely from boils. His Highness had become extremely petulant. He had mulcted all the employes in every Government department of a week's pay, on the plea that the crops this year might possibly be deficient—had hanged a Sheik on a most trivial matter, and by neglect, injustice, ill-temper, and tyranny, was doing his best to make himself thoroughly unpopular. Stopping the week's pay of his employes on ouch a plea recalls Sydney Smith's tradition of the boy who was privately whipped by his master in March on suspicion of an attempt to rob the henroost in July. THE Couyr OF Ciumuunn is reported to have addressed a circular to the leaders of Orleanists and Legitimists, announcing to them that the fusion be. tween the two branches of the Bourbon family is accomplished, and calling on all the Royalists in France to forget their old feuds and enmities, after the example of the chiefs of both houses. THE BIRTH OF THE EMPRESS EUGENIE'S CHILD is being prepared for with great state in the Tuileries. The city of Paris, too, have given orders for the presentation to the Empress of a silver and rosewood cradle, surpassing in beauty and taste the celebrated one of the King of Rome. • 129 CONSTANTINZ SIMONIDES, a literary Greek, well known at Leipsic, was lately arrested in that town for an extremely clever forgery of MSS., pur porting to be three books on the history of Egypt by Urauros, an Alexandrian writer. The King of Prussia had purchased the MSS. for 2,000 dollars but ProfessoriLepsius, of Berlin, unhesitatingly pre_ nounced the work to be a forgery. SouLocurE, the Emperor of Hayti, has been de feated with great loss by the Dominicans in an attempt to conquer their country. His Imperial Majesty only preserved his life by concealing himself, immediately after the defeat, in a prickly pear bush. His mantle and imperial crown were left as spoils in the hands of the enemy. Returned at length to his own territory, the Emperor has taken a terrible ven geance upon his generals. Three of the highest rank were immediately shot, while as many more of a lower grade were hanged, and a few dozen subordinates severely punished as an example to the rest. THE EMPEROR LOUIS NAPOLEON, it is said, intends to entertain the plenipotentiaries to be deputed to the forthcoming congress with a grand review in the Champ de Mars, at which from 100,000 to 140,000 troops will be seen under arms. THE CZAR ALEXANDER, if peace results from the congress, will proceed to Moscow for the ceremony of his coronation. It is believed in Paris that he will then NiSit that city in the course of May next. Dn. ltucKER, who has arrived in England on a mis sion from the three Hanseatic towns, according to a letter in Le Nord of this week, has not met with an agreeable reception. Lord Clarendon, says the account, received the Doctor "in a manner so little diplomatic that a parallel is vainly sought in history," while Lord Palmerston cried out in the midst of the explanations, " Why, you Hamburgers are nothing but a set of smugglers !" The feelings of the citizens of Hamburg are reported to be seriously wounded. THE HOLSTEIN DIET has passed a resolution in favour of the impeachment of the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, M. Van Scheele. The King of Denmark has refused to receive any address, and annulled by royal rescript the deliberations and votes of the Assembly. It is felt that matters are coming to a serious crisis. The criminal prosecution is to he brought before the Superior Court of Appeal. (Intl an lastum. Her Majesty and the Court will arrive in town for the season on Monday next. Her Majesty will remain in town till the 22nd of March, when the Court returns to Windsor for the Easter vacation. Her Majesty will hold levees at St. James's Palace on the 20th and :27th inst., and on the 12th of March. The Court and Royal Family have remained at Windsor during the week. The Queen, accompanied by Prince Albert and the junior members of the Royal Family, attended a children's ball at Frogmore, on Tuesday evening, given by her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent. His Serene Highness Prince Ernest of Leiningen arrived at Windsor on Wednesday, on a visit to the Queen. His Royal Highness Prince Alberti attended by Captain Duplat, went on Thursday to the site of the Wellington College, near 131ackwater. The Duchess of Sutherland has left Stafford house, to join the Duke and family at Trentham, Staffordshire. The Marquis and Marchioness of Blandford have come to town from visiting the Duke of Marlborough at Blenheim Palace, where Lord Alfred Churchill is staying with his Grace. The Countess Persigny gave a the dansante on Tuesday evening at Albert-gate House. The corps diplomatique and a brilliant assembly attended. Viscountess Palmerston's second reception tales place this evening. The Marquis of Clanricarde, as colonel of the Galway Militia, gave a grand entertainment to the officers of that regiment, at Aldershott, on Tuesday evening. The Earl of Eglinton received the Earl and Coun tess of Derby, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl of Hardwicke, and a distinguished circle, at dinner on W'ednesiay. Volitiral. UR. JOllll BRIGHT, M.P., at the annual meeting c; the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, on Monday, spoke at some length upon the subject of the present state of our relations with America. Mr. Bright set out by remarking "that ail int we knew was, that nothing could be known." Everything was concealed, the Foreign Minister was going to Faris, and just as we were emerging from a war with Russia, we found ourselves in so delicate a position with America that