The Press. — London, England, 1855-01-06 00:00:00

which relates to the happiness of the French people, the success of our alliance, and the glory of our arms. This speech was hailed with repeated cries of "Viva I'Empereur!" by all the members of the Senate. The marshal's baton was delivered to Admiral Hamelin on the 20th ult., and on the 23rd Admiral Bruat was to take upon himself the command of the French fleet in the Black Sea. The measures taken by the French War Depart ment, from the moment that hostilities began with Russia, are stated to be of greater magnitude than has generally been supposed. The number of men who have sailed from France and Algeria for the seat of war in the East amounts to 118,000. How many of these are now actually in the neighbourhood of the Danube, at Adrianople, at Varna, Constanti nople, and before Sebastopol, cannot with precision be stated ; but the force engaged or at hand must be very considerable, and troops are still being sent for ward in a steady, unceasing stream. Some sensation has been created in Paris by the arrival of the Princess Lieven at Tier old residence in the Hotel Talleyrand. The Princess arrived on the 29th ult. It is said that she is on her way to Nice, where she has been recommended to proceed for the benefit of her health; but it is thought not unlikely that she will remain in Paris during the winter. The Princess had obtained permission from the Govern ment to pass through France. GERMANY. The Kolnische Zeitung, under date Vienna, Dec. 26, states :—" The day before yesterday a separate convention was definitively concluded between Aus tria and France, with reference to the maintenance of peace in Italy. The exchange of the ratifications will probably not be delayed long ; on the other hand, it is doubted that this treaty will be made public." PRUSSIA. The Brussels journal, the Indipendance Beige, publishes the following analysis of the note dated Dec. 19, addressed by the Prussian Cabinet to its envoys in London and Pans : The despatch commences,lq a reference to the agree ment of Prussia with the point of view taken up by the Western powers, and appeals, in proof thereof, to the diplo matic documents which Prussia has signed in common with the other powers. The provisions of the treaty of Pee. 2 are declared to be, as to their substantial contents, in harmony with the Prussian programme. It is further said that Prussia, in consideration of the menacing atti tude of Russia, which Prussia was the first to recognise, had even promised her military co operation within certain limits. It further contains the remark that Prussia had facilitated the conclusion of a peace by obtaining fron► Russia the acceptance of the four guarantees. The des patch dwells without asperity on the treaty between Austria and the Western powers, but it results from the document taken as a whole that Prussia considers herself unable fur the moment to sign the treaty in its present form. The author of this analysis, who dates from Berlin, remarks that the tendency to maintain neutrality as long as possible prevails at Berlin, but that M. Man teuffel is for immediate adhesion. AUSTRIA. Troops are being rapidly moved towards the Rus sian frontier. Some companies of pioneers, who recently arrived from Italy, left Vienna on the 2tith for Gallicia. All the generals who were on leave at Vienna are immediately to leave for the army. Colonel Miulteuifel, on his return to Berlin from Vienna, on the Ist., had long audiences of the King, to render an account of his mission. It is expected that he will be sent to St. Petersburg. The foreigners enlistment scheme of the British Government has been met by some significant pro ceedings on the part of the Prus-dan authorities. The Governor of the province of Posen has issued the following notification:— The criminal code of Prussia Prescribes that whoever enlists a Prussian into the military service of foreign States, or introduces him to their recruiting agents, like wise whoever intentionally seduces a Prussian soldier to desert, or knowingly assists his desertion, will be punished with from three months' to three years' imprisonment. Any attempt at the above will be visited with a similar punishment. As offices are now about to be opened in the Netherlands and tree towns, for the purpose of enlisting men into foreign service, I take this opportunity of bring ing the above penal law to mind, and call upon all the police authorities of the province immediately to arrest any recruiting agent, and hand him over to the State prosecu tor, to take from him his papers, and, if he is a foreigner, to take measures for his being sent over the frontier after undergoing his punishment. 1 require to be informed of each separate instance. At the same time we find it stated in the Berlin journals; that nearly 1(X) German surgeons have been enlisted by Russian envoys for military hos pital duties, and are to assemble in that capital in order to be provided with the necessary passports and directions. These surgeons engage to serve as doctors, or army surgeons, for the duration of the war; they submit to Russian military jurisdiction, and take an oath of fidelity to the Emperor so long as the contract lasts ; after which they may remain in the Russian service if they please. While en- THE PRESS. gaged they are to enjoy the same privileges, rank, and immunities as Russian surgeons of the same classes, and are not to be submitted to examination in Russia. It is also asserted in Berlin that the Russian Government has issued orders to its agents to engage as many rifle guntnakers as possible in Germany and Belgium, and to forward them to the Imperial arms•factories at Tula and elsewhere. The Brunswick Gazette of the 28th ult. announces that " some great event may be shortly expected in Prussia; all the chiefs of the Russian party are hastening to Berlin, evidently obeying some mot d'ordre." On the proposition of Prussia, the exportation of horses has been prohibited in all the German States. A storm from the north-west on Tuesday caused the inundation of one-half of the city of Hamburg. The dykes were all broken, and the losses very con siderable. SWITZERLAND. The Opinian4 of Turin quotes letters from the canton of Orisons, from which it appears that the idea of taking service under England meets with great favour iu that and the adjoining cantons, but a despatch from Berne states that when the British Charge d'Affaires addressed an official demand to the Federal Council for its permission for the enlistment of volunteers in Switzerland, the President replied by a formal refusal, based upon the absolute neutra lity which Switzerland was bound to maintain in the great war. SPAIN. The resignation of M. Collado, Finance Minister in the Espartero Cabinet, has been accepted, and M. Sevillano is appointed his successor. The new func tionary was formally introduced to the Cortes on the 28th ult. At the same time the question relating to the " consumo " tax, the opposition to which occa sioned the retirement of M. Collado, has been de cided, by a small majority of twelve, in favour of the Government, and the impost which the Spanish revenue can hardly spare is to be maintained in its former integrity. The new Minister is, however, very popular, anti enjoys the reputation of having made several lucky hits, not only in politics, but in finance, having become exceedingly rich through fortunate speculations, while in the Cortes he has often successfully opposed what were considered the narrow views of Collado. The Deputies of the Basque Provinces have exerted themselves to obtain permission from the Duke de la Vittoria for the Jeusits to remain in the convent of Loyola. The duke replied that he could not alone revoke a measure which was the work of the whole Cabinet. He is stated to have added as his personal opinion—" Donde hay tin Jesuita, hay un peligro (where there is a Jesuit, there is a danger)." TURKEY. The Sultan has at length paid his long-expected visit to the Duke of Cambridge. The Journal de Constantinople, of the 24th ult., gives the following accuunt of this ceremonial : His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, whose health is better, left the Hotel d'Augleterre on Monday last ( Dec. la), to take up his residence at the palace of the British Embassy at Vera. On Friday his Imperial Majesty the Sultan, accom. panied by his ordinary suite, proceeded to the palace of the Embassy, to visit his Royal Highness. The Sultan was received at the entrance of the pale , * by Lord Stratford de Redcliffe and the whole personnel of the British Legation in full uniform, and by the Duke of Cambridge, who waited at the head of the grand staircase. . . Introduced into the chief saloon, the Sultan entered most affably into conversation with the Duke. Lord Stratford de Redcliffe and M. Etienne Pisani, first drago man of the Embassy, were present at this interview, and as the noble ambassador remained standing, his Majesty graciously requested him to be seated. After the inter view, which lasted twenty minutes, and in which the Sultan expre►sed to the Duke his sentiments of friendship and sympathy for Queen Victoria and the English people, and his satisfaction at the improvement in the Duke's health, his Majesty then visited Lady Stratford, who, with her daughters, was iu the ball-room, and conversed with them in the most friendly manner. The Duke accompanied the Sultan half-way down the grand staircase, when the. Sultan insisted he should go no farther. Lord Stratford and the other members of the Legation accompanied his Majesty to the great vestibule. M. Etienne Pisani accompanied his Majesty to the palace gates, where the Sultan mounted his horse and returned to TchCragan. A European police is talked of for Pere and Galata, and a council has already been held at the Turkish War-office upon this most important and necessary innovation. Ladies, it is stated, feel nervous about moving out towards evening, as drunken sailors and soldiers perambulate the town. The Turkish police dare not interfere with them ; indeed, have orders not to meddle with them. There have been a good many brawls of late, in which several sailors were killed, and too Englishmen (grooms) stabbed on coming out of the theatre. A good police would be a real godsend to the peaceable S AT URDAY. inhabitants of ',,he foreign quarter of the Turkish capital. RUSSIA. On Christmas-day the Emperor Nicholas issued the following proclamation : By the f.race of God, We, Nicholas the First, limper:or and Autocrat of all the Russias, &c., Sco., SAL, mike known: The causes of the war, that still lasts, are well under. stood by our beloved Russia. The country knows that neither ambitious views, nor the desire of obtaining new advantages to which we had no right, were the motives for those acts and circumstances that have unexpectedly resulted in the existing struggle. We had solely in view the safeguard of the solemnly-recognised immunities of the Orthodox Church, and of our coreligiouists in the East. liut certain Governments, attributing to us inte rested and secret intentions that were far from our thoughts, have complicated the solution of the question, and have finished by forming au hostile alliance against Russia. Attar having proclaimed as their object the safety of the Ottoman empire, they have waged open war against us— not in Turkey, but within the limits of our own realm, directing their blows on such points as were more or less accessible to them—in the Baltic, the White Sea, the Black Sea, in the Crimea, and even on the far distant coasts of the Pacific Ocean. Thanks to the Most High, both in our troops and in all classes of our subjects, they everywhere meet with intrepid opponent►, animated by their love for us and for their country ; and, to our conPo lation in these troublosts circumstances, amidst the cala mities inseparable from war, we are constantly witnessing brilliant examples and proofs of this feeling, as well as of the courage that it inspires. Such are the defeats more than once inflicted on the enemy's troops on the other aide of the el‘lltAbllb, not withstanding a great disparity of fuzee. Such was the unequal conflict sustained with success by the defenders of the coasts of Finland, of the convent of Suvoletsky, and of the port of Petropaulo7sky in Kambehatka. Such, above all, is the heroic defence of Seba►topol, signalised by so many exploits of invincible courage, and of indefatigable activity, as to be admired awl dune justice to by our enemies themselves. Beholding, with humble gratitude towards God, the toils, the bravery, the self-denial of our forces both by laud and sea, and also the general outburst of devotion that animates all ranks of the empire, we venture to re cognise therein the pledge and augury of a happier future. Penetrated with our duty as a Christian, we cannot desire a prolonged effusion 01; blood, and certainly we shall not repulse any otters and conditions of peace that are compatible with the dignity of our empire and the interests of our well•beloved subjects. But another and not less sacred duty commands us, iu th a obstinate strug gle, to keep ourselves prepared fur efforts and sacrifices proportioned to the means ut action directed against us. Russians ! my faithful children ! you are accustomed to spare nothing when called by Providence to a great and holy work—neith,T your wealth, the fruit of long years of toil, nor your lives—not your own blood nor the blood of your children. The noble ardour that has inflamed your hearts from the first hour of the war will not be extin guished, happen what may; and your feelings are those also of your Sovereign. We all, Monarch and subjects, if it be necessary— echoing the words of the Emperor Alexander, in a year of like trial, the sword in our hands, and the Cross in our hearts —know how to fade the ranks of our enemies, for the defence of the most precious gifts of this world, the secu rity and the honour of our country. Given at Gatchina, the fourteenth day of the month of December, in the year of grace, ltibf , and the thirtieth of our reign. (Signed) NICHOLAS. The admirals of the Russian Baltic fleet and the generals having command in the large towns on the shores of the Gulf of Finland have been summoned to the Ministry of War at St. Petersburg, where a number of councils have been held. It has been decided that the fortifications of the coast towns must be strengthened, and that intrenched camps, each large enough to receive au infantry division, must be formed near them. A system of strongly intrenched camps, which is forthwith to be carried into execution, will extend from Cronstadt to most of the strategetic points in Poland. The Grand Dukes Nicholas and Michael have re turned from Sebastopol, and at the pressing solicita tion of the Empress of Russia, whose health continues to be very feeble, were summoned to °stains, where the Court is now staying. They arrived there on the 20th ult., but intended, it is stated, to remain but a few days, and by the 7th instant at latest would be on their return to the scene of hostilities in the Crimea. The first corps of a division of grenadiers are con centrated between the Vistula, the Pilicer, and the IVartha. Field-Marshal Prince Paskiewitch left Warsaw on the 30th ult. for St. Petersburg. The Emperor has conferred the order of St. Vladimir of the First Class upon General Annenkoff, Governor of Odessa. A letter from that place, in a Vienna journal, says :—" The 9th divisions of in fantry, under the command of General Popoff, has this day (Dec. 191 received orders to proceed by forced marches to the Crimea. The 7th and Bth divisions left on the 18th. It is considered probable