The Press. — London, England, 1856-01-05 00:00:00

. _ _ • THE PRESS. 12 -a. • , 4 THE WEEK. Is there ono person out of a hundred in England who really believes that a pacific negotiation between the Allies and Russia is now in progress? The language commonly held would lead ono to doubt it. Yet the negotiation has made some progress, and all the diplomatists of the Continent are in full activity,—speculating what is to happen, and scheming, we are afraid, to turn this great and solemn business to the advancement of their own little selfish ends. If the proposals borne by Count ESTERHAZY are correctly stated, we need not wonder at the activity of Austria• She has a natural desire to see the Danube freed from Russian interference, and has drawn up proposals such as she might have hoped to obtain had she been a principal and victorious party to the policy of the Allies. These proposals are substantially a revival of the four points, with added conditions that Russia shall altogether abandon her station on the Danube, that Consuls shall be admitted into the ports of the Black Sea, and that the fortification of the Aland Isles shall not be renewed. The knotty third point is to be solved by the Euxine being /made a neutral sea, without Russian arsenals and fortresses on its coasts. But nothing is said of any fortifications for Turkey. Is her Asiatic frontier to be left defenceless ? The conditions published give one the idea that the war has been undertaken for the benefit of Austria, not for the protection of Turkey The " Alice Grey "of a Whig contemporary is certainly playing her new part adroitly. It is said that ten days were to be allowed for the consideration of these proposals by the St. Petersburg Cabinet. As Count ESTERHAZY arrived on the 26th ult., and communicated his proposals on the rith, that period has just expired, and we suppose the answer of Russia will soon be known. But for what purpose has Baron SEERACH gone to St. Petersburg ? Not surely with a message from the French Emperor urging the acceptance of the proposals. That would be at once absurd and d 2rogatory. More probably he conveys a hint that some middle course is open to Russia between acceptance or rejection of the Austrian terms. The German Courts are all agitated in the most lively manner by what is taking place. The King of PRUSSIA, it is reported, declines t 3 support the Austrian scheme, and the usual intrigues are fermenting in the smaller Courts, consequent on the jealousy of the two great German Powers. The circularjustissued by the Russian Government may probably be taken as an answer by anticipation to the Austrian proposition The circular is a dignified and temperate document. The Imperial Cabinet " owns frankly that the desire expressed by the Emperor of " the Faxxcur, at a public solemnity, in favour of a prompt and " durable peace, was at the same time, and still is, the dearest wish of " the Emperor ALEXANDER." Further, " the Emperor will give a new • pledge of the sentiments of conciliation by which he is animated, • and of the sacrifices he is ready to make for the peace of the world." The instant it is said, the Allies showed a sentiment of conciliation, the Emperor frankly responded to it. Must not every one ask, with what object the Allies have reopened negotiations, if not with a bona fide desire to bring them to a satisfactory conclusion? Is it to be supposed that they have voluntarily made themselves the cat's paw of Austtia ? That will be the inference if the negotiation proves abortive. The position of Prussia has called forth a blustering manifesto from the Montiny Post. " The contemptible impotence—the die " honourable neutrality of Prussia—must and shall have an end." " It is easier to reach Berlin than Moscow," and so forth, the intent being a menace to Prussia that she must make up her mind to join the Allies, or prepare for their hostility. Prussia has hitherto been emphatically the natural ally of this country, and the great support of Protestant interests in Germany. Austria would, no doubt, regard her humiliation with favour; but is it quite so clear that it is our policy to play the Austrian game ? The speech of the Emperor of the FRENCH to the Imperial Guard on their triumphal entry into Paris is naturally warlike in its tone. It gives the impression that he is, while disposed for peace, preparing to strike a new and unexpected blow against the enemy. What does the Paris Council of War portend ? Is a grand expedition against St. Petersburg contemplated? The allied fleets, with the new gun boats —some 120 odd—will form by far the mightiest force ever directed against a single place. By rapid action the Allies would have no difficulty in collecting a powerful army to act in concert with the fleet; and, in that case, the operations against Sebastopol would he probably far eclipsed in magnitude by those undertaken against St. Petersburg- Sir EDNIUND LYONS, it is believed, will have the command of the Baltic fleet this spring. The American Congress was, by the last accounts, still squabbling over the election of a Speaker. Sixty-five ballots have taken place, and still the required majority has not been gained. How can so shrewd and practical a people as the Americans tolerate this farce? If they cannot be content to adopt the rational principle of electing the man who has must votes, why not strike off in succession the lowest on the poll? Poor President PtEncF. is in sad perplexity. Events move on while the Congress stands still, and the President's Message will have lost its point and purpose before it can be delivered. Its state of suspension will resemble the tunes of SATURDAY, Munchausen's horn. It will be in a manner frozen up, so that he will have to prepare another and another, and deliver a whole batch o; messages together. A serious difficulty presents itself. What will become of the American Constitution if no Speaker can be elected? If sixty-live trials cannot determine so simple a matter, it would be vain to speculate on the number which can. The Nightingale subscriptio►►, it is whispered, does not proceed so rapidly us could be wished. Why is this? Most persons suspect it is because the committee have put forward no definite object to which the money raised will be applied. In our opinion it would be wise to announce at once that the Fund, whatever it may amount to, will be placed absolutely at Miss NIGHTINGALE'S disposal, to be applied as she may think proper. This would answer two purposes. It would be a noble proof of confidence in her judgment, and it would insure the application of the fund in the very best practical manner. Were her singular charity and devotedness all that distinguished her from the rest of her sex, there would doubtless be a large class of persons who would be ready with their usual wisdom to depreciate her usefulness. Fortunately, however, Miss NIGHTINGALE has placed herself' beyond the reach of these familiar objections. The greatest foe to enthusiasm, the most devout worshipper of the practical, must admit that she has beaten him at his own weapons, and displayed a talent for organisation which even an Administrative Reformer might envy. To the sublime convictions and glowing piety of a saint of old, Miss NIGHTINGALE unites a store of common sense and a loving sympathy with all that is human, which proves that she is well fitted to cope with those difficulties which beset the transaction of worldly business. We entertain a confident hope that were the public made aware that the Fund subsc►ibed would be at the sole and uncontrolled disposal of Miss NIGHTINGALE, the wish to do her honour, and to show the confidence reposed in her, would have a salutary influence in stimulating subscriptions. " Natus moriensque fefellit," says the old Roman of his model character of a man ; and whichever interpretation we adopt of the last word of the verse, the description will admirably suit the present Deputy-Keeper of the Public Records. It is because the acts of Sir FRANCIS PALORAVE " escape the notice" of the public that he is per mitted to " deceive " the public to the extent he does. Will it be be lieved that, after all the exposures that have appeared in the papers, the country is to be saddled with the expense of finding house-room for the " War-office and Admiralty rubbish," to the exclusion of the invaluable historical muniments, for the concentration of which alone the new Record-office, in Fetter-lane, was constructed at an outlay of nearly 100,0001.? The Balaklava-hut plan has been given up, after a painful struggle between inclination and duty, or rather between two opposite evils, of which, with national perversity, the Deputy has chosen the greater; and Sir FRANCIS'S dearly-beloved and, as it will turn out, dearly-bought collection of trash is to be intruded into the repository into which it was his original intention to thrust it. The whole affair looks like a Christmas Pantomime, the parts of Clown and Pantaloon being enacted by the Master of the Rolls and the Deputy-Keeper, the tricks and changes played off upon poor John Bull. CABINET COINS. WE understand that a cabinet of curious old coins will shortly be offered for sale by the firm of Lefevre and Co., so well known for their liberality as purchasers and dexterity as dealers in articles of (more or less) vertu. Among the specimens in the present series the follow ing are chiefly worth description : I. A Greek Denarius. Age unknown. This coin has evidently seen much service, and from the marks would appear to have belonged to several owners. From its colour the metal is supposed to have been the celebrated Corinthian brass. Presents on the obverse a somewhat incongruous figure. Head crowned with ivy. Hand dropping a thunderbolt. Attitude lounging and nonchalant. On the ground beside lies a jester's cap. Might pass for Alcibiades, but is much too aged. Motto, Paimam qui meruit. On the reverse a Cupid with broken bow. Though much battered, it is still perceptible that the execution was bold and florid. 11. A Roman As. In tolerable preservation. Obverse, portrait of the god PAN. Reverse, armed soldiers leading a bear in chains. Legend, A. U. C. (interpreted as Alexander Ursa Captus) with a date (illegible). 111. A Scotch bawbee, of rough workmanship and common material. Designed apparently for local circulation, and bearing, therefore, a suppositious value in certain northern districts. This would appear from the inscription " Argyll," in largo letters, occupying ostentation.ily the whole face of the coin. On the reverse is the usual thistle and nemo me impte, legend. IV. A Louis. Fabricated of base metal, and so rudely executed that the piece could never have obtained currency. It might, how ever, have been employed as a Bank-token. V. A medal. Copper washed with silver, representing a turbaned figure, whose arms and legs are tightly held down by men in flowing diplomatic robes. Legend, Byzantio Pacato. Several handfuls of sous pieces, or Underlings ; a number of small coins, supposed Celtic or Saxon, but worn perfectly smooth and very thin ; together with half a dozen counters, used as 'Harken in the game of shuffleboard, will be comprised in subsequent lots.