The Press. — London, England, 1855-04-21 00:00:00

372 remombrunces. The Adriatic, exposed to the brusque attack of a slave coalition, would cease to be the niart and bulwark of the Austrian empire, and the key of the Gull of Taegu) would pass by a surprise from Vienna to St. Petersburg. - Passing on to the pending negotiations and present Sews and motives of the allied powers, the article p roceeds : As regards the conditions of peace, nothing can be more just, more moderate, more conformable to the rights and interests of Europe. It will be easy for us to establish this by characterising clearly the thought which dictated them and tit,: object which they were to achieve. The first of ute tour conditions, in putting an end to the protectorate of Russia in the principalities of Moldavia ' Wallachia, and Berrie, and in placing their privileges under the collective guarautee of the great powers, takes away from the Cabi net of St. Petersburg the rights which it pretended to hold from ancient treaties, and which were only the means for subjugating those populations, for dominating Turkey, for approaching Austria on her most vulnerable side, and for troubling the whole of Europe ; the second, by stipula ting the free navigation of the Danube, liberates the com merce of all nations—especially of Austria—from the moral and material obstacles which impede it, and throws open the mouths of that great river to the States of which it is the fortune and the defence. The fourth, in delivering Turkey from the pretensions of Russia to a religious protectorate of the Greek subjects of the Sultan, nevertheless assures more than ever freedom of conscience at the same time that it destroys the supre macy which the Czars arrogated to themselves, the political object of which, the better to impose, was concealed under a religious mask. As regards the third of those conditions—that which has for object to limit the preponderance of Russia in the Black Sea—we have reserved it expressly as the most im portant and most contested, so as to explain it here, cate gorically. First of all, how must it be understood ? Evi dently anything equivocal on so grave a point cannot suit soy one. The allied Governments, who have a conscious ness of the justice of their pretensions, have not feared defining them. Russia has turned the Black Sea into a Russian lake ; she has gradually founded maritime esta blishments there of the first class; she has accumulated there, with as much perseverance as mystery, considerable naval forces, and it may be said that by that exclusive do• mination of the Black Sea she has placed Constantinople in a permanent state of siege. This state of things is not possible, because it is incom patible not only with the integrity of the Ottoman empire but with the security of the whole of Europe. France and England, in demanding Russia to limit her power in the Black Sea, or to neutralise that sea, are therefore completely in their right. If that result was not obtained by peace or by war, such a peace would be ephe meral and suck a war useless ; and, let it be well observed, -this demand for the limitation of Russian power, or for the nentralisation of the Black Sea, does not respond only to Anglo-French interests, it responds also to the interests of Austria, for which the Danube, a commercial and mili tary river, is a magnificent highway, open to her activity towards the Euxine and Asia. An argument is brought against this pretension which we do not think serious; it is said to the allied powers, " You ask a concession from Russia, which at most might be the price of the surrender of Sebastopol, and that place is still held by the Russisn army." Our reply is this :—" The law of nations grants that a portion of what is obtained by war may be kept by peace.' We have not yet taken Sebastopol, that is true ; but what is Sebastopol at the present moment to Russia? It is no longer a naval port, as her fleet, sunk at the mouth of the harbour, or shut up behind that insurpassable bar rier, is withdrawn from the struggle. The Black Sea is the battle-field which we have won —or, if they like it, which has been abandoned to us by the enemy. The Russian flag could not show itself them. Our ships and those of England and Turkey navigate it in every sense. Its do mination has changed hands. It has gone from Sebastopol to Constantinople. Whatever may be the result of the negotiations, the writer contends that the allies are placed in a better position by their having been undertaken : Ent a great result is acquired already from the very fact of these negotiations. France and England have loyally negotiated with Austria to allow her policy to exhaust the last resources of conciliation. Those conferences of which Vienna is the centre are the loyal and honest act of the Emperor Francis Joseph. But the allied powers know that if Austria does not succeed in this nob!e effort of her European patriotism, she will fight resolutely with them. In limiting their demand to the very conditions accepted by the Vienna Cabinet in the treaty of the '2nd of Decem ber they have gained to the common cause an important and devoted ally. The possibility of peace, like the neces sity of war, must henceforth he only a fact in common to le three powers who signed that treaty. The solidanty of their interests and of their engagements would unite them in the struggle as it has united them in the Confer ences, and that grand European confederation will soon have triumphed over every resistance. France and England may therefore congratulate them selves in having consented to negotiate while continuing to tight. In acting thus they have not only given a proof of moderation—they have increased their strength. Their adhesion to an honourable and possible peace, having as consequence the support of Austria in a necessary and legitimate war, is an act counselled by wisdom, and which will be approved by public opinion. THE SHERIFFS OF LONDON AND MIDDLESEX gave a magnificent entertainment on Tuesday evening at the Albion Tavern, to the Prefect of Ale Seim:, M. 1) iangle, Senat .r Pelonae, Senator Thayer, Senator Get-raga Thibault,. IL Earlier de. roarette, anti, AI. Mille. 1 THE TRESS. CDutt anb lastion. VISIT OF TILE FRENCH EMPEROR AND EMPRESS. THIS memorable event has begun and ended since our last publication. On Saturday last the Emperor Napoleon made a farewell address to the members of the Corps Legislatif announcing his brief absence from France ; and this day he will quit the English shores on his return. The visit has been paid under the most brilliant auspices, favoured by mag nificent weather. Our illustrious guests obtained everywhere the most cordial reception from ail classes, every public movement they have made being watched by eager and enthusiastic crowds, who omitted no opportunity of evincing the warmth of the welcome which they accorded to our imperial ally and his Empress. Each day of the five to which the visit was unavoidably restricted has been occupied to the fullest extent with various performances of cere mony, compliment, or festivity. The following diary presents the incidents of chief interest. Their Ma jesties left Paris on Sunday by railway and slept that night at Calais. Prince Albert also travelled on Sunday afternoon to Dover in order to be in readi • ness to receive them next morning. MONDAY. The morning was exceedingly fine and calm, but a heavy fog lay on the water, obscuring all view sea ward and rendering the transit across the Channel somewhat hazardous, owing to the crowd of shipping that had assembled round and off Dover harbour. Preparations of every description had been made on shore for the safe landing and honourable reception of the expected visitors. Prince Albert, together with the town authorities and various public function aries, were in waiting at an early hour in the fore noon. Presently guns were heard reverberating from Calais, and the telegraph announced that the Pelican steam-yacht had left that port with their Majesties and suite. There was no fog on the French side of the Channel, but as the convoy neared the English coast it became entangled in the dense mist, and its progress was necessarily cautious and slow. An interval of long and anxious waiting on the part of Prince Albert and the attendants at Dover took place. At length, however, at a few minutes after one, the ships-of war fired a royal salute, which told the spectators on shore that the convoy had arrived, and shortly afterwards the graceful Pelican hove in sight, in tow of one of her Majesty's steamers, when a shout of welcome was raised all along the pier, was taken up in the harbour, and re-echoed from the cliff. As the vessel neared the shore his Imverial Majesty could be distinguished, wearing the uniform of a Marshal of Fiance, and the grand cordon of the Legion of Honour, and beside him stood the Empress, who was in truth an object of the most intense in terest to the thousands, male and female, who lined the shore, impatient to bid her a cordial welcome. Her Majesty was most simply attired in a Chapeau de Paille, a grey paletot, and tartan dress, of a quiet and unobtrusive pattern. Behind the Emperor and Empress stood Marshal Valliant, and about a dozen French officers, in brilliant uniforms, and on the paddle-box might be recognised Admiral the Vis comte de Chabannes, who had the honour of com manding the imperial yacht on this occasion. The light vessel was soon alongside the steps, the deco rated gangway was run out, the cheering reached its olimax, and in another moment Prince Albert might be seen handing the Empress on shore. The Em peror followed alone, etiquette, it is presumed, pre venting his Imperial Majesty offering his arm to the Countess Walewski, who was most graciously recog nised by the Empress at the landing,-place. The dames d'honneur followed, then the English and French Court functionaries, the whole party proceed ing slowly amid deafening cheers to the hotel. At the Lord Warden Hotel luncheon had been prepared, which was soon despatched, and the Em peror Napoleon afterwards received a ceremonial deputation from the town council, who presented him with a congratulatory address, to which his Majesty returned the following retily, the first of many similar expressions of thanks for similar corn pliments. He spoke in English, with but a slight accent : I ant exceedingly grateful that your Queen has allowed me to dud such an occasion to pay my respects to her and to show my sentiments of esteem and sympathy for the English people. I hope that the two nations will be always united in peace and in war, for I am convinced that it will be for the welfare of the whole world and for their owe. prosperity. lam exceedingly grateful to you for the senti ments you have expressed towards myself and the Empress, and I hope you will be the interpreter of my sentiments and hers to your countrymen. ' - The mayor and corporation having withdrawn, Prince Albeit at once conducted his guests to the railway-station, immediately adjoining the hotel. The interior of the sjation bad, been nicely decorated fgr the occasion withflags and evergreens, and the plat- . form was kept clear by a guard of of troops of the Line. The journey to London was perform more than two hours. The royal at the Bricklayers' Arms station, Mayor of London was in waiting passant, and proceeded in carriages Western station along the New Kj minster-bridge, Whitehall, Charing. St. James's-street, Piccadilly, It north side of Serpentine, Victoria-gr This first transit through Londe one of the most memorable incidi The route was about five miles Ion; an hour and a half was occupied - that distance. The carriages proceeded pace, and the whole length was tra: broken lines of spectators. The hL describes the journey : The route through London, from the station, was thronged with countless thousani tore, by whom the Emperor and Empress the most enthusiastic demonstrations. tele passed up Whitehall, Pall-mall, Si along Piccadilly, the members of the the families of the nobility and gentry, dows, each vieing with the other in one generous and hospitable welcome. recognition of the representative of a soldiers are fighting side by side wi) and fathers. As the cortege went along, the m. gratulation appeared to increase, u.. Duke of Wellington's statue. and past the Achilles, the ap pearance of a gay party waving their handkerchiefs from the balcony of Apsley-house, with the windows of the Waterloo Gallery thrown open, reminded all pleasantly how transitory may be even national enmities. Hyde-park presented a scene such as has not been wit nessed since the opening of the Great Exhibition. Through the whole extent of the road from Victoria-gate to Apsley house, along the north bank of the Serpentine, a space of more than two miles, a double line of carriages was drawn up, consisting of all the rank, fashion, and wealth of Eng land now resident in the metropolis. Thousands of gay parties promenaded on the green sward by the side of the road, while others of less degree lined the footpaths for the whole distance. In Kensington-gardens, protected in front from all pressure of the crowd by the ditch and sunken wall, were drawn tip whole brigades of young children, flanked by their attendants. The magnificence and wealth displayed in so great a collection of equipages, but more than all the beauty of their occupants, and the warm welcome given by the* to her Imperial Majesty of France, rendered th whole of this promenade of the cortege from Hyde-park-corny to Victoria-gate a perfect ovation for the Empress, and a striking compliment to the Emperor. It was a drawing room and levee extemporised, by the nobility and gentry of the country, to exhibit to them the warmth of feeling, The cordiality, and the grateful heartiness with which England welcomes her tried and trusty ally. A rare sunshine enlivened the scene ; our climate did its hest in honour of the occasion, and gave a brightness and brilliancy to the fast budding trees—the early verdure of the lawn. Ou turning out of Victoria-gate by Sussex-gardens, to wards Westbourn-terrace, and so by Spring-street and Weatbourne-terrace to the railway terminus, it became evident that Tyburnia was in unusual excitement—that for one day at least, crochet was suspended, and potichomanie superseded. At the Great Western station everything was in readiness, the royal party entered the train without delay, and were whirled off to Windsor, Mr. Brunel himself driving the engine at a rate of seventy-two miles an hour. _ _ Their Majesties arrived at Windsor shortly after seven o'clock, and at once proceeded to the castle, alighting at the Grand Hall, where the Queen, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Priifess Royal, the Duke of Cambridge, and the Prinee of Leiningen, received her illustrious guests The great officers of state and the household (in levee dress), and the Ladies and Maids of Honour in Waiting, were in attendance with the Queen at the Grand Hall. Viscount Palmerston, First Lord of the Treasury, and the Earl of Clarendon, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, were also present. The Queen, taking the arm of the Emperor, and the Empress that of Prince Albert, followed by the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Cambridge, and the Prince of Leitingen, passed up the grand staircase, through the Music-room, into the Throne-room, where the younger members of the Royal Family were assembled, and subse quently proceeded to the Reception-room, where the ladies and gentlemen of the household of the Queen and the Prince were presented to their Imperial Majesties. After these and some other ceremonies the imperial and royal personages retired to their private apartments to prepare for the grand banquet in St. George's•hall given by the Queen that even ing. The apartments prepared by her Majesty for her guests have been described as follows: — The sleeping apartment of the Empress Eugenie. which is known as the Council Chamber, and adjoins the Queen's Closet, has been decorated in an equally gorgeous style. The state bed has been redecorated with preen satin and crimson embroidery. The furniture *like thate the Emperor's, green and gold. The toilet, is covered with SAltlßiul l ......--_____. f honour consi s ti ng rformed in a littl e party left the tr a i n 1, where the L or d ; to receive the m en ages to the Gr ea t Kent-road, West- ig-cross, Pall-mall, Hyde-park- corner, -gate, to the stati on . tdun was, perhaps, dents tif the visit. ng, and more than . in accomplishing )ceeded at a foot's iversed between un- Horning Post thus the Bricklayers' Arms thousands of specta- .ess were received with t. As the imperial col , St. James's•street, and le different clubs, and ry, thronged the win. me united acclaim of Their cheers were a nation whose gallant ith our own brothers iultitndinoue roars of until turning by the 4 the Achilles, the ap-