The Press. — London, England, 1855-07-07 00:00:00

638 lortign 6orrtsponbtutt. FRANKFORT, July 5. LORD LYNDHURST never strikes other than an effec tive blow. Neither that venerable lord, nor Lord Derby, nor Mr. Disraeli, have ever flinched from de claring the actual state of the Continent, as to Ger man sympathy for, or animosity against, England. The pages of THE PRESS, nearly a year since, pre dicted the course that would inevitably be pursued by Prussia, and would most certainly be followed by Austria. And now, at the end of another year, how stands the case—was THE PRESS right or was it wrong ? In the weak reply of Lord Clarendon to the noble and venerable lord on Tuesday last, there are both fallacies and something more mixed up with a copious insincerity. It is not true that the German people, as a people, are inimical to England and the English ; it was the unpopularity, the insincerity, and the palpable im potency of the Aberdeen and Coalition Government, that shattered reliance upon their old ally. It was the flagrant antipathy of the English people, openly declared, to the Aberdeen Government, that naturally and properly destroyed all confidence in the acts of a Ministry that was forced upon an unwilling and exasperated nation. Had the first Coalition, and the second and present Coalition Ministry taken a bold and decided tone with Austria and Prussia matters would have been settled differently —a plain word and a strong army on the Rhine would have ex plained everything. But the Coalition went unwil lingly to war, mismanaged the militia, and crippled the recruiting. Then came the appeal to the foreign bayonet, which was to be procured in countries at peace with Russia, subjecting the enlisted, when taken prisoners, to be shot according to the rules of war. The project of Germanising the army was unpalatable to the English nation, and the expres sions of dissent and censure that fell from Lord Derby and others belonging to the great national party on that ( ccasion were just and in strict harmony with public opinion. Seeing this national disrelish to the late and present Coalition Ministries, and coupling it with the recorded animadversion of the House of Commons and the duplicity of the Vienna Conferences, how is it possible that the Germans can have a respect for a country rendered almost governmentally impotent from the permitted usurpation of office by five or six Whig families ? Regard and disrespect are incompatible, and, there fore, it is, as Lord Clarendon observes correctly, that the sympathies of other nations have been alienated; but to him and to his fellows that alienation is due, and not to the English people. Another proof of our governmental debility, in German eyes, is the publication of Le Nord, at Brussels, without remonstrance and par:iamentary observation. It is held to be a case of superlative defiance, to be a mocking insult, and the more grave since M. de Creptowitch boldly puts forth that although hostile to England, yet the journal is to be conducted in strict conformity to the opinions and principles, if not sympathies, of Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Sidney Herbert. It is so publicly affirmed in Le Nord. It may or may not be the case; but M. de Creptowitch, in proof of his affirmation, quotes at length from the pages of the Morning Chronicle. At any rate he has justified himself. Nothing has been more fatal to the reputation of England on the Continent than the conduct of the peace party, public and private. It hardly wanted the addition of incompetency and insincerity displayed at Vienna by Lord John Russell thoroughly to injure national character. J. E. L. lortign anb Colonial ntelligtrite. FRANCE. OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. An extraordinary session of the French Legislative Assembly was opened on Monday, when the Emperor delivered the following speech : The diplomatic negotiations commenced during the course of our last session already made you foresee that I should be obliged to call you together when they came to a termination. Unhappily the Conferences of Vienna have failed in procuring peace, and I come again to appeal to the patriotism of the country and to your own. Were we wanting in moderation in settling the conditions ? Ido not fear to examine the question before you. One year already had passed since the commencement of the war, and already France and England had saved Turkey, gained two battles, forced Russia to evacuate the Principalities, and to exhaust her forces in the defence of the Crimea. We had, moreover, in our favour the adhesion of Austria and the moral approbation of the rest of Europe. In that situation the Cabinet of Vienna asked us if we would consent to treat upon bases vaguely formulated. Before our successes a refusal on our part seemed natural. Was it not to be supposed; forsooth, that the demands of THE PRESS. France and England would increase in proportion to the greatness of the struggle and of the sacrifices already made ? Well, France and England did not turn their advantages to account, or even make the most of the rights given to them by previous treaties, so much had they at heart to facilitate peace and to give an unchallangeable proof of their moderation. We restricted ourselves to ask, in the interests of Ger many, the free navigation of the Danube, and a break water against the Russian flood which continually ob structed the mouths of that great river. We demanded, in the interests of Austria and of Ger many, a better constitution for the Danubian Principali ties, that they might serve as a barrier against these repeated invasions of the North. We demanded, in the interest of humanity and of justice, the same guarantees for the Christians of every confession under the exclusive protection of the Sultan. In the interests of the Porte, as well as in those of Europe, we demanded that Russia should limit to a rea sonable degree, sufficient to shield her against any attack, the number of her ships in the Black Sea, a number which she could only maintain with an aggressive object. Well, all these propositions, which I may call magnani mous from their disinterestedness, and which were ap• proved in principle by Austria, by Prussia, and by Russia herself, have evaporated in the Conferences. Russia, who had consented, in theory, to put an end to her preponderance in the Black Sea, has refused every limitation of her naval forces, and we have still to wait for Austria to fulfil her engagements, which consisted in ren dering our treaty of alliance offensive and defensive if the negotiations failed. Austria, it is true, proposed to us to guarantee with her by treaty the independence of Turkey, and to consider for the future as a emus belli an increase of the number of Russian ships of war exceeding that before the commence ment of hostilities. To accept such a proposition was impossible, for it in no manner bound Russia; and, on the contrary, we should apparently have sanctioned her preponderance in the Black Sea by treaty. The war had to follow its course. The admirable devotion of the army and navy will, I trust, soon lead to a happy result. It is for you to provide me with the means to continue the struggle. The country has already shown what resources it has at its command, and the confidence it places in me. Some months since it offered me 1,700,000,000 f. more than I demanded. A portion of that sum will suffice to maintain its military honour and its rights as a great nation. I had resolved to go and place myself in the midst of that valiant army, where the presence of the Sovereign could not have failed to produce a happy influence, and, a witness of the heroic efforts of our soldiers, I should have been proud to lead them; but serious questions agitated abroad, which have always remained pending, and the na• ture of circumstances demanded at home new and im• portant measures. It is, therefore, with regret that I abandoned the idea. My Government will propose to you to vote the annual Recruitment Bill; there will be no extisoidinary levy, and the bill will take the usual course necessary for the regu• larity of the administration of a recruitment bill. In conclusion, gentlemen, let us pay here, solemnly, a just tribute of praise to those who fight for the country ; let us mingle our regrets for those whose loss we have to deplore. So great an example of unselfishness and constancy will not have been given in vain to the world. Let us not be discouraged by the sacrifices which are ne cessary, for, as you are aware, a nation must either abdi• cats every political character, or, if it possesses the instinct and the will to act conformably to its generous nature, to its historical traditions, to its providential mission, it must learn how to support at times the trials which alone can retemper it, and restore to it the rank which is its due. Faith in the Almighty, perseverance in our efforts, and we shall obtain a peace worthy of the alliance of two great nations. The Legislative Body having assembled after this speech, the Ministers presented a law for a new loan of 750,000,000 francs, 30,000,0001. sterling ; another for the levy of 140,000 men, and some further bills extending the imposts on brandy, railways, Orders have been given at Marseilles to prepare shipping for the embarkation of 40,000 men. The Emperor has ordered that 1,500 men of the garrison of Paris shall be daily admitted, free of expense, to the Exhibition. The Earl of Westmorland, the English Ambassador at the Court of Austria, had an audienie on Tuesday at the Tuileries with the Emperor Napoleon on his lordship's way to London. The Countess de Montijo, mother of the Empress, and the Duke and Duchess of Alba, have arrived in Paris. The Journal de Vaucluse states that the harvest is going on with such rapidity in that department that in a very few days not an ear of corn will be left standing. All the farmers agree in saying that the crop will be an abundant one; the ears are heavy, and will yield more than last year. AUSTRIA. The Vienna Zeitung gives an official statement of the receipts and expenditure of Austria during the last two years. The ordinary receipts for 1854 amounted to 245 millions of florins, 244 millions sterling, being about eight millions more than the previous year. The ordinary expenditure of the State rose from 286 millions of florins in 1853 to 378 millions last year, showing a surplus expendi- SATURDAY, ture of 02 millions. The total annual deficiency rose from 56 millions in 1853 to 140 millions in 1854, chiefly in consequence of the enormous ex. penses of the army, and especially of the last levy of 95,000 men. The ordinary expenses of the army cost 117 millions of florins, together with 91 millions of extraordinary expenses, making a total of 208 millions of florins, or nearly al million pounds ster ling. The late reduction of the army is calculated to bring down the annual deficiency to its former level. As long as the Austrian army was on the war footing, it cost a million of florins (100,0001.) every day. PIEDMONT. Monsignor Franzoni, Archbishop of Turin, exiled for seditious practices in Piedmont, has transmitted from Lyons an incendiary notification to the clergy and religious orders in his diocese. Affirming that the new convent law is null and void, and that its execution would be robbery and sacrilege, he advises the monks to bar the gates of the convents, and yield nothing except to main force. Canons of collegiate foundations are not to give up their benefices, but, if driven from them, may accept the pension which the new law provides. The object of the prelate is evidently to provide scandalous scenes which may act on the religious passions of the ignorant. SPAIN. The Cortes has approved of the decree which fixes the army reserve at 00,000 men, forming 80 battalions. -------- Marshal Espartero is completely re-established. TURKEY. Accounts from Constantinople of the 25th ult. say that 2,000 wounded had arrived there. Captain Lyons had been buried with all the honours. -- - A great fire had destroyed 3,000 houses at Con stantinople. Abd el-Kader had returned to Broussa. AUSTRALIA. The Royal mail-ship Lightning has arrived from Melbourne with mails, 260 passengers, and 69,060 ounces of gold. A nugget weighing 851b5., found at the Forest Creek diggings, was also on board. She left Melbourne on the 11th of April. The commission appointed to inquire into the grievances existing on the gold-fields have published their report. They advise the abolition of the license fee, and the substitution of an export duty. The receipts of gold by escort at Melbourne for the quarter ending March 31 show a decrease of 5,785 ounces when compared with the corresponding period of 1854. The shipments from Melbourne for the same time were 119,372 less than in 1854. _ _ Several new and apparently produc ive gold mines have been discovered near Melbourne and Geelong respectively. A magnificent mass of pure gold, weighing 841b5., from Castlemaine, and one of 40lbs. from Ballarat, bad arrived at Melbourne by escort. Trade at Melbourne was improving. Gold was in increased demand, and quoted N. 16s. 6d. per ounce. In the labour-market the demand for agricultural servants was on the increase, and wages had conse quently an upward tendency. PRINCE ALBERT, OR Tuesday last, presided at the inauguration ceremony of the new buildings at Earlswood, near Reigate, intended as an iasylum for idiots. The new structure will accommodate about 400 children, and has been built at a cost of about 35,000/. Atter the ceremony of inauguration had been gone through, the Rev. Mr. Champney read an address to his Royal Highness, thanking him for the interest he had shown in the asylum. The pro ceedings were closed by a dijeuner, given by the vice• presidents. THE BANK OF ENGLAND and the London and County Bank are each about to open a branch establishment at the West-end of London. The latter will also open a branch in Southwark. A REPORT upon the present condition and progress of the new Westminster bridge has been presented by Mr. Page, the engineer, to Parliament en Tuesday He details t he progress made since July last, and thinks the new bridge will be completed about December, 1857, or before Midsummer, 1858. Mr. Page adds that, from constant observations, he finds the old bridge undisturbed in its position. MR. RICHARD M. LYNCH, late poor-law inspector in Ireland, will be the new Commissioner of Income Tax, in the room of Mr. Godley, appointed director general of stores in the War Department. By this appointment 3001. a year will be saved to the public, that being the compensatory allowance awarded to Mr. Lynch upon the occasion of ae late reduction of the Irish poor-law establishment. . . THE report that Rear-Admiral Berkeley was about to leave the Admiralty and retire into private life is premature. It appears that the gallant officer's exertions have rendered it indispensably necessary that he should seek some relaxation in the country for the benefit of his health.