The Press. — London, England, 1856-05-10 00:00:00

to the demands of Europe, and denies that France desired any but a satisfactory peace. With respect to the terms of peace, the neutralisation of the Black Sea is regarded as satisfactory, and is asserted to imply, in a moral sense, " the complete suspension of a war marine at Nicolaieff," while the writer points to the position of Turkey maintaining the same force as Russia in the Black Sea, with power of appeal to the allies, as sufficient to prevent Russia from contemplat ing an infringement on her obligations contracted. The " union " of the principalities is regarded with most favour, the present political state of Europe re viewed, and the Italian question timidly touched on:— Our good understanding (observes the author) with the secondary States of Europe and Italy may have happy results beyound the East itself. If our policy is rather to moderate Piedmont than to encourage her in certain hopes, we evidently desire the prosperity of Piedmont, as proved in the protocols ; but venturing beyond certain combinations we should disapprove. If the Austrian alliance puts us in a position to apply a conservative policy to the Governments of the Peninsula, that of Piedmont permits us to hope we can prevent those exaggerations of liberalism which compromise reforms which the Congress of Paris views as legitimate. The incognito visit of the King of Wurtemburg has been extended during the week. His Majesty arrived on Saturday night, and has held frequent interviews with the Emperor. General Edgar Ney left Paris on Wednesday night for the Court at St. Petersburg to acknowledge the notification of the Czar's accession made by Count Orloff. AUSTRIA. The evacuation of the Danubian principalities is stated in letters from Vienna to have began, and it is anticipated that the entire Austrian force will have left those territories by the autumn. Ceunt Buol, since his return to Vienna, professes himself thoroughly satisfied with the treaty of peace, and with the conduct of the plenipotentiaries. The appointment of Prince Gortschakoff to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at St. Petersburg is not regarded favorably at Vienna. PRUSSIA. The King closed the Chambers in person on the :3rd. His Majesty's speech mainly adverted to ques tions of domestic import, but the opening paragraph announced the conclusion of peace. "By the wise moderation of the belligerent powers," be observed, the long-desired work of peace, has been happily brought to a conclusion with the co-operation and common consent of my Government." He antici epsted a cheap and plentiful harvest, complimented the Chambers on the activity they bad shown in the conduct of their legislative labours, and concluded by advising them to cultivate concord among them selves, so that the country, in friendly rivalry with other nations, might be enabled more and more to develop the resources of peace. A solemn "Te Deum" and thanksgiving for the restoration of peace was read in all the churches on the 4th. The King and Omit attended per sonally in the cathedral. RUSSIA. The disbandment of the irregular troops in the Crimea has been ordered, and the evacuation of the fortresses of Remi and Ismail commenced. The new organisation of the fleet has also been arranged. Three divisions will be stationed in the Baltic. The Pontus fleet, it is stated, will retain the denomination of the fleet of the Black Sea." The Dowager Empress of Russia was on the sth too unwell to undertake her projected journey to Germany. General Soukhosanet has been appointed Minister of War, and the appointment of Prince Gortschakotf as Minister for Foreign Affairs officially published. The coronation of the Emperor at Moscow is offi cially fixed for August. _ _ Tile Emperor has published &severe censure upon several staff and medical officers for their neglect of the hospitals at Simferopol. The chief medical officers of the hospital of Sebastopol and the director of the dispensary were to be tried by a Council of War. TURKEY. Intelligence from Constantinople of 'the 21st. gives the following account of the Circassian movement : When the Circassians, on receiving the news of the con elusion of peace, learned that nothing had been stipulated for them, and that nothing was changed in their condition, they displayed a good deal of agitation, and 4,000 or 5,000 of them assembled at Anapa. There a deliberation took place between 300 and 400 of the chiefs of the principal families, and it was decided that representations should be addressed to Turkey and to the Western powers. An address was drawn up in Arabic, to be presented to the Sultan, to the Emperor Napoleon, and to the Queen of England, and it was decided that it should be sent off by a deputation of twelve Circassians. The address says that from the beginning of the war up to the present time not a single Russian had appeared on the Circassian terri tory, and that during the whole of that time the Circas sians had preserved order, and had administered their affairs in their own way; that things had not gone on the worbe for that, and that having enjoyed absolute indepen dence they intended to do all in their power to preserve it; that consequently they would incessantly combat the Russians, and that they asked Turkey and the Western powers to support them. Some of the members of the assembly of Anapa declared that if Turkey and Europe were to abandon them, they would go to St. Petersburg to give in their submission. But that is more to menace than anything else, for they say that if Circassia were to be annexed to Russia, Turkey would have no frontiers in that part of the empire, and would have to fear the greatest dangers; and Sefer Pacha, a Circassian chief, who pos• Messes great influence amongst bis countrymen, declares that, for his part, if Circassia be abandoned to her own resources, he will make a war of partisans, and that death alone shall make him and his countrymen lay down their arms. A number of Circassiau►s have already arrived in Constantinople to endeavour to excite sympathy for their CAUSE. The disturbances long fermenting at Mecca have at last broken out into a serious rebellion. The Scheriff of Mecca, recalled by the Turkish Govern ment, has refused to give up his post, and, backed by 50,000 Arabs, has virtually thrown off his allegi ance to the Sultan. The disturbances at Nablous were repressed. ITALY. Count Cavour arrived in Turin on the 29th. In answer to interpellations addressed to him on the 6th in the Chamber of Deputies, he declared that the negotiations now pending on the subject of the affairs of Italy imposed on him a great reserve He explained the moral and material advantage arising out of the treaty of peace. The Italian question has been brought before the congress, and France and England have frankly adopted the views of Piedmont. Aus'xia had met the question by a plea of not discussing it, but the Italian question has not the less become uow a European question. The Minister declared, in conclusion, that the relations between Sardinia and Austria hod not improved. The Piedinontese Government placed its whole reliance in the omnipotence of public opinion. Letters from Parma announce the departure of the Duchess Regent and the assumption of authority by the Austrian Military Commandant. The num ber of Austrian troops was being gradually aug mented. A large camp was established at Somma, and the relations between Piedmont and Austria were not considered pacific. The political prisoners were sent to Mantua and Styria. ,ottrt Mt lastion. Her Majesty the Queen, with her royal family, attended Westminster Abbey last Sunday afternoon' to return thanks for the restoration of peace. The festivities and public receptions of the Court have been numerous this week. On Saturday her Majesty the Queen held a Court, and gave audience to Baron Brunow. On Monday evening her Majesty visited the Adelphi Theatre. On Wednesday her Majesty held a levee, which was very fully attended. On Thursday her ajesty held a Court for the re ception of the Parliamentary and City Addresses on the Peace, and in the evening gave the first state ball of the season, when upwards of 1,800 of the nobility attended. On Friday, accompanied by the I'rince and the elder members of the family, her Majesty attended the inauguration of the Peace statue at the Crystal Palace. . . _ Her Majesty will not visit Southampton, for the purpose of laying the foundation-stone of the new military hospital, till the 19th inst. Het Majesty gave audience on Friday to Aali Dacha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, to re ceive a letter from the Sultan. Vittoßzlitan. DINNER TO HER MAJESTY'S MINISTERS. THE LORD MAYOR, On Wednesday, entertained the members of her Majesty's Government and a dis tingui,died party of ladies and gentlemen at a grand banquet at the Mansion-house. The French and Turkish Ambassadors, with the Prussian, Greek, and Sardinian Ministers, were also prasent. The health of the Queen and Royal Family having been drunk, the Lord Mayor, in an appropriate speech expressive of the earnest desire of England for a close union between the French and English peoples, proposed " The Emperor of the French." Count PERSIGNY, who was received with warm applause, replied, and declared that the sentiments expressed by the Lord Mayor were fully reciprocated by the Emperor and France:— A Our oldl hatreds ( continued M. de Persigny 1 we have extinguished for ever in the confraternile of the battle•field. But we have perhaps done more still for our union in both repudiating the false economical doctrines of the past, which founded the prosperity of ono country upon the ruin of its neighbours. Sir CHARLES Woon, who amid some laughter alluded to the late display at Spithead, and General Fox, having returned thanks for the army and navy, the Lord Mayor proposed " Her Majesty's Ministers." Lord PALMERSTON replied, and spoke of the peace concluded as one upon which the people might and would look with satisfaction:— We are convinced that the peace which has been con. eluded, though it may not be attended with the acquisition of territory, or with contributions levied on a vanquished enemy—though it may not be accompanied with those consequences which sometimes grace the termination of a war—the more its conditions are examined, the more the people compare the dangers which beset Europe when the contest began, and the position of that country for the protection of which we took up arms, with the present posture of affairs as established by the treaty which my noble friend Lord Clarendon, with such distinguished ability, foresight, and anxious care to guard every interest involved in the negotiations, has happily concluded, the more they will have reason to feel that their sacrifices have not been in vain, that their noble efforts have not been without adequate results, and while they may look back on the one hand to the war with proper satisfaction, they may on the other view the peace with confidence as to the future. M. Musuaus next acknowledged the toast of "The Corps Diplomatique," and declared that the peace " attained the objects of the war, and satisfied the wishes of Turkey.' The health of Lord CLARENDON was next proposed. The noble earl, in acknowledging the toast, alluded to the reception of the peace by the people of Eng land : The war has been called " a war of statesmen," because it was one of principle, not of conquest or aggression, and was undertaken from a European necessity and a common sense of danger. Our institutions do not admit of the maintenance of a large standing army, and time was required, at the commencement of the war, to de velop the military resources of the country. After those resources had, however, been developed, and the heart of every Englishman had warmed to the conflict, it was, per not surprising that the prospect of peace was not hailed with so eager a welcome. Yet, though the peace was not at first received with exuberant enthusiasm and another campaign would not have been ungrateful to the people, when the conditions came to be de.iberately consi dered the sound practical common sense of England ac quiesed in an end being put to the calamities of war, inas much as that result secured the objects for which the struggle was undertaken, and vindicated the honour of the country. (Hear, hear.) He maintained that the peace had secured every object for which war had been undertaken, and ex pressed his belief that the future policy of Russia would henceforth be guided by the common opinion of Europe. In conclusion, he spoke highly of the conduct of General Mouravieff towards General Wil liams, and read a portion of a letter he had that day received from the gallant officer: — General Williams and his brave companions found in the person of General slouravieff a splendid example of Russian chivalry and magnanimity. (Hear, hear.) 1 received a letter, only to-day, from General Williams, from which, as it illustrates the character of that highwinded commander, I will take the liberty of reading a brief ex tract. General Williams writes : I have already told your lordship of General Mouraviars kindness towards myself and my party, but his humanity and benevolent treatment of the poor famished garrison of Kars will gain for him the respect of the civilised world, and must tend to lessen, if not eradicate, the animosity which for more than a century has existed between Russia and Turkey, especially on the part of the latter. I shall therefore quit General hlouravieff with great regret, although I have every hope that on my arrival at Riazan we shall hear of the re-establishment of peace, and continue our journey towards England. A THE ROYAL LITERARY FUND DINNER. THE annual dinner of this society was given on Wed nesday evening at the Freemasons' Tavern. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge presided, and a distinguished company, including M. Van de Weyer and Mr. Dallas, the Belgian and American Ministers ; Generals Burgoyne, Pasley, Cator, and Beatson ; Lords Harry Vane, Ravensworth, and Dynevor ; Mr. Horsfall, M.P., Dr. Sandwith, Mr. Robert Bell, Mr. Reeve, Mr. D. T. Coulton, Mr. Herman Merivale, Mr. Murray, The Rev. Chas. Men vale, Professor Owen, Sir Henry Ellis, and upwards of 150 gentlemen, assembled on the occasion. The usual loyal and professional toasts having been given, the Duke of Cambridge proposed " The Corps Diplo matique, and the health of the Belgian Minister," who, in returning thanks, made a happy allusion to the services of the Duke in the field, by pointing out that in his present position as chairman he bad an opportunity of ascertaining that the heights also of Par nassus had their dangers and difficulties ; that those who endeavoured to ascend them very frequently failed in the attempt, not for want of courage or talent, but for want of assistance and support, and. that those who had even had the advantage of reach ing the summit might suddenly be precipitated from it by an unexpected stroke of fortune. Sir JOHN BURGOYNE responded to the toast of " The Army and Navy," and in a terse speech remarked upon the illiberality and injustice of attributing to the officers the evils of governmental neglect in the various departments of the army, and contended that in every branch of the military service, as a whole, our officers, though gentlemen, were not inferior to those of the army of any country in the world. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE next gave " Prosperity to the Fund," and in an excellent speech traced the rise and progress of the institution, its aims and its successes, and paid a high tribute to the admirebh' 442 ail THE PRESS. SATURDAY ,