The Sun. — London, England, 1856-04-30 00:00:00

PROTOCOLS OF CONFERENCES HELD AT PARIS RELATIVE TO THE GENERAL TREATY OF PEACE. PROTOCOL No. 1. Present.—For Austria : Count de Bnol Schauenstein, &c., and Baron de Hubner, &c. For France : Count Celonna Walewski, &c., and Baron de Bourqueney, &c. For Great Britain : The Earl of Clarendon, &c., and Lord Cowley, &c. For Russia : Count Orloff, &c., and Baron Brunnow, &c. For Sardinia : Count de Cavour, &C., and the Marquis de Villamarina, &c. For Tur key : Aali Pasha, &c., and Mehemmed Djemil Bey. The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, of France, of Great Britain, of Russia, of Sardinia, and of Turkey, met to day in Conference at the Hotel of the Ministry for Fo reign Affairs. Count Buol speaks, and proposes that the presidency of the labours of the Conference should be confided to Count Walewski. "This is not only," he observes, " d custom sanctioned by precedents and recently observeo at Vienna; it is at the same time an act of homage at, the Sovereign whose hospitality the Representatives of Europe are at this moment enjoying." Count Bun! en tertains no doubt of the unanimous assent with which this selection, which ensures, in all respects, the best di-i rection being given to the labours of the Conference will be received. The Plenipotentiaries unanimously agree to this pro posal, and Count Walewski, having assumed the Presi dency, thanks the Conference in these terms : " Gentlemen, --I thank you for the honour you have the goodness to do me in choosing me as your organ ; and though I esteem myself very unworthy of that ho nour, I cannot, I ought not to hesitate to accept it, for it is a fresh evidence of the sentiments which have in duced our allies, as well as our adversaries, to demand that Paris should be the seat of the negociations now about to be opened. "The unanimity manifested on this point augurs well for the final result of our efforts. "As far as concerns me personally, I shall endeavour to justify your confidence, by conscientiously fulfilling the duties which you have imposed on me ; it shall be my care to prevent useless prolixity ; but, while having spe cially in ♦iew the prompt attainment of this object, I shall, nevertheless, not forget that too much precipita tion may keep us from it. "Moreover, Gentlemen, being all animated with an equally conciliatory spirit, and disposed to evince mu tual goodwill by avoiding irritating discussions, we shall be able to accomplish scrupulously, and with all the completeness which it admits of, the great task which is imposed on us, without losing sight of the jest impa tience of Europe, the eyes of which are fixed upon us, and which anxiously awaits the results of our delibera tions." Upon the proposal of Count Walewski, the Confer encedecides to intrust the drawing up of the Protocols to M. Benedetti, Director of Political Affairs in the office for Foreign Affairs, who is introduced. The Plenipotentiaries then proceed to the verification of their respeotive powers, which, having been found in good and due form, are deposited among the Acts of tha Conference. Count Walewski proposes, and the Plenipotentiaries agree, mutually to engage to observe complete secresy respecting everything which shall pass in the Confer ence. Sardinia not having taken part in the signature of the Protocol agreed upon at Vienna on the Ist of February last, the Sardinian Plenipotentiaries declare that they fully assent to the said Protocol and the document an nexed to it. Count Walewski, after having explained the order of the labours with which the Conference would have to oc cupy itself, proposes to declare that the Protocol signed at Vienna on the let of February should serve as Pre liminaries of Peace. The Plenipotentiaries, after having exchanged their ideas on this point, considering that the Protocol signed at Vienna on the Ist of February by the Representatives of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, and Turkey, record the adhesion of their Courts to the bases of nego tiations laid down in the document annexed to the said Protocol, and that its provisions fulfil the object which would be obtained by an Act designated to settle the Preliminaries of Peace, agree that that same Protocol and its Annex, a copy of which shall be marked with their initials and annexed to the present Protocol, shall have the value of formal Preliminaries of Peace. The Plenipotentiaries being thus agreed respecting the Preliminaries of Peace, Count Walewski proposes to pro ceed to the conclusion of an armistice. The duration and nature thereof having been discussed, the Pienipoten tiaries of the belligerent Powers, considering that it is necessary to take steps for a suspension of hostilities between the armies in the field during the presumed continuance of the negotiations, resolve that an armis tice shall be concluded by the Commanders in -Chief, which shall cease absolutely on the 31st of March next, inclusively, if before that period it is not renewed by common consent. During the suspension of hostilities the troops shall retain the iespectivo positions which they occupy, ab staining from any act of aggression. In consequence, the pre,ent decision shall be trans mitted without delay, and, as far as possible, by the telegraph, to the Commanders-in-chief, in order that they may conform to it as soon as the orders of their Go vernments shall reach them. The Plenipotentiaries further resolve that the asmis tice shall not affect the blockade established or to be established ; but the Commanders of the naval forces shall receive orders to abstain, during the contlnuance of the:artuistic , ., from any act of hostility against the terri tories of the belligerents. This being settled, the Plenipotentiaries agree that they will meet on the day after to-morrow, the 27th of February, in order to proceed to the negotiation of the Defiaitive Treaty. Done at Paris, the twenty-fin of February, one thou sand eight hundred and fifty-six. (Signed) BUOL-SCHAUENSTEIN. COUNT ORLOFF. HUBNER. BRUNNOW. \VALI:WM. CAVOUR. BOURQTJENEY. VILLAMARINA. CLARENDON. A ALI, COWLEY. MEEIEUMED DJEIIIT. ANNEX TO PROTOCOL No. I. Present.—Tbe Representatives of Fiance, Austria, Great Britain, Russia, and Turkey. In consequence of the acceptance by their respective Courts of the five propositions contained in the annexed document under the title of a Project of Prelirnica , ies, the Undersigned, after having affixed their initials to it, -in conformity with the authority to that effect which they have received, have agreed that each of their Govern ments shall name Plenipotentiaries furnished with the ne cessary full powers in order to proceed to the signature of format Preliminaries of Peace, conclude an armistice and a Definitive Treaty of Peace. The said Plenipoten tiaries shall meet at Paris within a period of three weeks -from this day, or sooner if possible. Done at Vienna, in quintuplicate, the first of Febru ary, one thousand eight hundred and fifty--six. (Signed) BOURQUENEY. GOUTCLIAKOFF. BUM"' SCHaUENSTEIN. G. H. SEYMOUR. (Initials affixed) B. IL NV. 0. B. C. V. A. M. D. PROJECT OF PRELIMINA.RIES. 1. DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES. Complete abolition of the Rus'ian Protectbrate. Russia shall not exercise any special or exclusive right of protection or of interference in the internal affairs of the Danubian Principalities. The Principalities shall preserve their privileges and immunities under the suzerainty of the Porte, and the Sultan, in concert with the Contracting Poweri, shall further grant to these Principalities, or confirm therein, an internal organisation suitable to the wants and wishes o f th e populations. The Principalities shall, in concert with the Suzerain Power, adopt a permanent defensive system required by their geographical situation ; no obstacle shall he thrown in the way of the extramdinary defensive measures which they may be called upon to adopt in order to re pel any foreign aggression. In exchange for the fortified positions and territories occupied by the allied armies, Russia consents to a reo iifieectiorrof her frontier with Turkey in Europe': Tai frontier, thus rectified in a manner suitable to the gene ral interest s , would start from the neighbourhood of Cho tyn, follow the line of mountains which stretches in the south-easterly direction, and terminate on Lake Salzyk. The'line would be definitively settled in the Treaty of Peace, and the ceded territory revert to the Principal). ties and to the suzerainty of the Porte. 2. DANUEN. The freedom of the Danube and of its months shall be European i ns tit ut i ons , i n w hi c h effectually secured by the Contracting Powers shall be equally represented, without prejudice to the special positions of the river bordering Powers, which shall be settled upon the prin ciples established by the Act of the C ongress of Vienna on the subject of river navigation. Each of the Contracting Powers shall have the right of stationing one or two light vessels of war at the mouths of the river, for the purpose of insuring the exe cution of the regulations relative to the liberty of the Danube. 3. BLACK SEA. The Blacli' Sea shall be neutralised. Its waters, thrown open to the mercantile marine of every nation, shall be interdicted to vessels of war. Consequently there shall neither be created nor main tained there any military maritime arsenals. The prote:tion of the commercial and maritime interests of every nation shall be assured in the respective p ire} of the Black Sea, by the establishment of institutions in conformity with international right and the established Usages in :;uch matter. The two Powers bordering cn it shall mutually engage to maintain there only the nn?nber of light vessels, of fixed force, necessary for the service of their coasts. The Convention to be concluded between them to this effect, after having previously received the approbation of the Powers signing the General Treaty, shall be annexed to the said Treaty, and shall have the same force and value AS if it formed an integral portion of it. This Separate Convention shall neither be annulled nor modified with. Out the assent of the Powers signing the General Treaty. The closing of the Straits shall be subject to the excep tion in favour of the stationary vessels mentioned in the preceding Article. 4. CHRISTIAN POPULATIONS SUBJECT TO THE PORTE. The immunities of the Ravel) subjects of the Porte shall be confirmed, without prejudice to the independence and dignity of the Sultan's crown, Deliberations being in progress between Austria, France, Great 33ritain, and the Porte, with the view of insuring to the Christian subjects of the Sultan their religious and political rights, Russia shall be in. vited, at the peace, to take part therein. 5. SPECIAL CONDITIONS. The belligerent Powers reserve to themselves the right which belongs to them of proposing in the interests of Europe special conditions in addition to the four gua. rantees. (Initials affixed) B. B. H. S. G. H. (Initials affixed) B. H. W. B. C. C. O. B. C. V. A. M. D. PROTOCOL No. 2.—SITTING OF FEBRUARY 28, 1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The first Plenipotentiary of Russia announces that having communicated to his Government the resolution taken by the Congress on the subject of the armistice, he had been informed that orders had been immediately sent to the Commanders-in-chief of the Russian armies in the Crimea and in Asia. The Plenipotentiaries of France, of Sardinia, and of Turkey make similar communications. The Earl of Clarendon states, on his side, that the order had in like manner been sent to the commanders of the naval forces of the allies in the Black Sea, and in the Baltic to abstain from any act of hostility against the Russian territories. Count Walewski states that it is desirable to advert to certain preliminary points, in order to settle the course of the general negotiation. Count Buol is of opinion that it would be advantage ous, before proceeding to the development of each point, to pass rapidly in review the general bases. The Earl of Clarendon supports this opinion, and points out that the order to be followed, in the definitive examination, should be regulated by the importance of the subjects. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia, of Sardinia, and of Turkey, assent to this arrangement. The question whether one or more instruments should be drawn up was adjourned by common consont ; but all the Plenipotentiaries acknowledge that the negotiation must be closed by a general treaty, to which the other ' acts would be annexed. Count Walewski accordingly reads, paragraph by paragraph, the propositions of peace accepted by the con tracting Powers as bases of the negotiation, and which are enumerated in the document annexed to the Protocol signed at Vienna on the let February last. Upon the first paragraph of the first point, Baron Brunnow remarks that the word "protectorate" impro perly describes the position which bad been acquired by Russia in the Principalities ; the Russian Plenipoten tiaries had pointed this out at the Vienna Conferences, and had obtained the substitution of another term, in order to restore to the action of Russia its true character. Baron Brunnow demands that the interpretation which had been adopted in the Acts of the Vienna Conference should be adhered to. Count Buol remarks that the protectorate existed in the facts and in the situation, if the word itself was not in the diplomatic stipulations with Turkey ; that the term used is in effect that of " guarantee," but that it is important to find a form of expression calculated to show clearly that an end will be put to this exclusive guarantee. Aali Pasha, on his side, remarks that the word " pro tectorate" was employed in diplomatic documents, and specifically in the Organic Statute of the Principalities. The first Plecipotentaries of France and of Great Britain add the resolutions adopted at Vienna had not all equally satisfied the allied Powers, and that, moreover, there was no occasion now to trouble themselves about them, as the efforts made at that time for the re•esta blishment of peace had been inefisctual. The Russian Plenipotentiaries express a wish that, in order to hasten the proceedings of the Congress, the agreement which had been come to at that time on cer tain points, should at all events be taken into, account. Baron Brunnow is of opinion that the situation of Ser via should be the object of a Special Article. This opinion is assented to by all the Plenipoten taries. Ali Pasha remarks that the cessation of any single protectorate naturally excludes all idea of collective pro tectorate, and that the intervention of the Powers will be confined withix the limits of a simple guarantee. After having read the second paragraph of the first point, Count Walewski remarks that the future organi zation of the Principalities has given rise to several systems. The Plenipotentiaries are unanimously of opinion that all these .combinations shall be referred to a Committee selected from the Congress, which shall, moreover, itself only have to lay down the principles of the political and administrative Constitution of the Danubian Provinces, leaving eats duty of working out the details to a second Commission, in which the Contracting Parties shall be represented, and which shall meet immediately after the conclusion of peace. The third paragraph of the first point, relative to the system of defence in the Principalities, is read by Count Walewski. Baron Brunnow states that the Russian Plenipoten taries would willingly refer on this point to the terms agreed upon at Vienna. Baron de Bourqueney replies that the ideas on this important point are at present more developed and better defined ; that the reference would not effect the object contemplated by the terms of the paragraph under dis cussion. _ _ _ Count Walewski after having read.the fourth and last paragraph of the first point, passes on to the second point, which contains only a single paragraph. Count Orloff observes that the presence at the mouths of the Danube of vessels of war bearing the figs of Powers not bordering on the Black Sea, will constitute an infringement of the principle of neutralisation. Count Buol remarks that the ships of the non-border ing Powers intended to be stationed at the mouths of the Danube will, nevertheless, have the power of moving about freely in the Black Sea ; that the nature and re quirements of the service impos:d on them would not admit of the existence of any doubt on that point. Baron Brunnow observes that the object of their oi is, however, clearly defined. The reading of the first, second, and third paragraphs of the third point gives rise to no observation. A short discussion showed that the Plenipotentiaries were agreed as to the interpretation of the fourth, fifth, and sixth paragraphs, relating to the protection of com• mercial interests ia the Black Sea, and the Separate Con vention to be concluded between Russia and the Otto- man Porte. On the eighth paragraph, relating to the renewal of the Convention of the Straits, the Plenipotentiaries unanimously expressed a wish that the separate Act, des tined to record that important principle, should be an nexed to the General Treaty. Count Walewaki observes that it will be necessary, when the Plenipotentiaries enter upon this point of the negotiation, to inquire what Powers shall be called upon to concur in it; and Count Orloff, as well as Count Buol, add that Prussia would naturally be invited to take part in it. Whilst agreeing to thie opinion, the Earl of Clarendon stated that Prussia ought not to be invited to take part in the negotiation until the principal clauses of the Ge neral Treaty should be settled. Count Walewski points out that the Plenipotent!aries will have to decide later at what time this invitation should be sent to Prussia. The fourth point is read throughout, and Count Wa lewski remarks thereupon that it will be proper to re cord the entrance of Turkey within the public law of Europe. The Pienipotentiaries agree that it ia important ;o record this now fact by a special stipulation inserted the General Treaty. The terms agreed upon at Vienna o that effect were read, and it is admitted that they sight be accepted by the Congress. Count Orloff expresses a wish to be informed of the course which Turkey proposes to follow, in order to give the proper effect to the fourth point. Aali Pasba states that a new hatti-sherif has renewed the religious privileges granted to the non Mussulman subjects of the Porte, and prescribed new reforms, which proved the solicitude of hi Majesty the Sultan for all hie people without distinction ; that this Act has been pub lished, and that the Sublime Porte, in proposing to com municate it to the Powers by means of an official note, would in that matter have complied with the require ments in regard to the fourth point. Count Orloff, as well as Baron Hubner, and, after them, the other Plenipotentiaries, express an opinion that mention should be made, in the General Treaty, of the measures taken by the Ottoman Government. They Liipeal to the text itself of the fourth point, which im poses this as an obligation on the Plenipotentiaries, yet so that no prejudice should result from doing so to the independence and dignity of the Sultan's Crown. The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, of France, and of Great Britain acknowledge the liberal character of the measures which have been adopted at Constantinople, and state that it is under the same impression that they consider it indispensable to record them in the Final Act of the Congress ; and by no means in order to deduce therefrom any right whatever of interference in the re lations of the Government of his Majesty the Sultan with his subjects. Aali Pasha replies that his powers do not permit him to give his full assent to the opinion of the other Pleni potentiaries, and states that he will take the orders of his Court by telegraph. The sitting is broken up, and the consideration of the fifth point is deferred till the next meeting. (The signatures follow.) PROTOCOL No. 3.—SITTING or MARCH 1, 1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The Protocol of the preceding sitting is read and ap proved. The Congress, as it had resolved, proceeds to the con sideration of the fifth point. Count Walcwski reads it, and acids that, in the first place, and as a separate condition, the allied Powers de mand that henceforth Russia should no longer be able to rebuild or create any naval or military establishment in the Aland blends... C tun Orloff replies that Russia is dißposed to accede to this stipulation if the Plenipotentiaries succeed, as he hoped would be the case, in coming to an understandini, upon the other p oints of the ne g ot iation. He demands' that this stipulation should be recorded in a S ii e a p r a t rt i e n A t c h t e , tl be concluded between France, Great Britain a n d Rus sia, those Powers having exclusively taken warlike operations of which the Baltic has been the theatre. The Plenipotentiaries of Austria express the opinion that the Separate Act should, nevertheless, be annexed to the General Treaty. The Conference assent. Count Walewsli states that, as the second separate condition, the allied Powers require that the state of the territories situated to the east of the Black Sea should be specially inquired into. BArou Brunnow explains the diplomatic transactions THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNES which have placed Russia in possession of those tern•' tories, and their present situation. Aali Pasha observes that difficulties have arisen in this respect between the Porte and Russia, and that it would be advantageous to verify, and, if necessary, rectify the frontiers between the possessions of the two Empires in Asis. Baron Brunnow remarks that the lined determined by the Convention signed at St. Petersburgh in 1834, has not since that time, given occasion for any dispute be tween the two Goverments ; that in the district of Ca buletia, the map of which has been produced, claims bad indeed been advanced, but they had been exclusively of a private nature, having their origin in titles to properties in dispute. The Russian Plenipotentiary adds that Aus tria had given Russia an assurance that the separate con ditions would involve no cession of territory. Count Walewski answers that a revision of boundaries does not constitute a territorial readjustment, and pro poses, in order to demonstrate the spirit of equity that animated all parties, to resolve that a Mixed Commission shall be charged, after the conclusion of peace, to de cide on this point within a fixed period. This proposition is assented to in principle by all the Plenipotentiaries, but the definitive adoption of it is de ferred till the next meeting. Count Walewski observes that Russia had erected forts on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, which she had her self in part blown up, and that it will be necessary to come to an understanding in this respect. The Earl of Clarendon, relying, specifically, on the , principle of the neutralisation of the Black Sea, proceeds to show that these forts could not be rebuilt. The Russian Plenipotentiaries, setting up the distinc tion which, according to them, exists between these forts and military maritime arsenals, maintain the contrary opinion. The consideration of this point is adjourned. Count Walewski lays down that the town of Kars, and the Ottoman territory at present in the occupation f the Russian army, shall be restored to Turkey. The Earl of Clarendon supports and enlarges on this opinion. The Russian Plenipotentiaries admit the principle of this restitution ; but as it cannot be finally decided on till the end of the negotiation, they express a hope that, in the course of the negotiation, credit will be given to them for the concessions which they make in the consi deration of the separate conditions proposed in addition to the bases already agreed upon. Count Walewski, while taking note of the adhesion of the Russian Plenipotentiaries, bears witness to the con ciliatory disposition which they have evinced during the sitting, as well in regard to Kars as in regard to the Aland Islands. Before the sitting breaks up, Count Walewski remarks that at the next meeting it will be proper to proceed to the development of the bases and to the drawing up of the Articles of the Treaty. He is of opinion that it might be advisable to commence by the third point, relative to the neutralisation of the Black Sea. (The signatures follows.) PROTOCOL No. 4. —SITTING or MARCH 4, 1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, Sardiuia, and Turkey. The Protocol of the preceding meeting is read and approved. Count Walewski observes that the Congress had de cided upon adopting in the present sitting a definitive decision in regard to the Mixed Commission charged with the verification and rectification, if necessary, of the frontiers of Turkey and Russia in Asia. Baron Brunnow, on his side, reminds the Congress that this revision is to be effected without prejudice to the Parties, and so as not. to amount to any gratuitous or superfluous ces-ion of territory. Tne Plenipotentiaries of France, of Great Britain, and of Turkey consider that the Commission should comprise, in addition to the Commissioners of the two Parties directly interested, delegates of the Contracting Powers. Count Walewski consequently proposes that the Com mission should be composed of two Turkish Commis sionsrs, of two Russian Commissioners, of one English Commissioner, and of one French Commissioner. The Russian Plenipotentiaries assent, subject to the approval of their Court. It is agreed that the labours of this Commission shall be concluded within eight months after the signature of the Treaty of Peace. Count Walewski observes that, in accordance with the decision of the Congress, the development of the third point, relative to the neutralisation of the Black Sea, should be proceeded with by coming to an agreement as to the wording of the stipulations, the basis of which had been laid down at the preceding sittings. The first Pleni potentiary of France proposes the text of the first para graph, which, after having been the subject of a delibera tion in which all the Plenipotentiaries take part, is settled as follows : " The Black Sea is neutralised : its waters and its ports, thrown open to the mercantile marine of every na tion, aro formally and in perpetuity interdicted to the flag of war, either of the Powers possessing its coasts, or of any other Power, with the exceptions stipulated in the present Treaty. " Free from any impediment, the commerce, in the ports and waters of the Black Sea, shall be subject only to the regulations in force." The second paragraph is in like manner agreed to by all the Plenipotentiaries, after having been settled in the following form : " The Back Sea being declared neutral, the mainte nance or establishment upon its coast of military-mail time f , rtresses becomes alike unnecessary and purpose less. In consequence, his Majesty the Emperor of Rus sia and his Majesty the Sultan engage not to establish or to maintain, upon that coast, any military-maritime arsenal." The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain states that Russia possesses at Nicolaieff an arsenal of the first class for maritime works, the maintenance of which would be in contradiction to the principles on which the paragraph of which the Congress has just settled the terms is founded. This arsenal not being situated on the shores of the Black Bea, Lord Clarendon does not mean to assert that Russia is bound to destroy the ship-building yards which exist there ; but he remarks that public opinion would be authorised in attributing to Russia intentions which she cannot entertain, if. Nicolaieff were to retain, as a centre for all maritime works, the importance which it has acquired. The first Plenipotentiary of Russia replies that the Em peror, his august master, on acceding with sincerity to the propositions of peace, firmly resolved strictly to carry out all the engagements resulting from them ; but that Nico laieff, being situated far from the shore of the Black Sea, respect for her dignity would not permit Rue . t4ia to allow a principle solely applicable to the coast to be extended to the interior of the Empire; that the security of and watching over the oasts required, moreover, that Russia should have, as had been admitted, a certain number of light vessels in the Black Sea, and that, if the consented to give up the ship-building yards of Nicolaieff, she would be compelled to establish others in some other point of her southern possessions ; that, in order at once to pro vide for his engagements and for the requirements of the naval service, the Emperor intends only to authorise the coestruction at Nicolaieff of the vessels of war men tioned in the bases of the negotiation. The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, and, after him, the other Plenipotentiaries, consider this declaration satisfactory. Tne Earl of Clarendon inquires of the first Plenipoten tiary of Russia whether he agrees to the insertion of his declaration in the Protocol. After having replied in the affirmative, Cuunt Geoff adds that, in order to prove the sincerity of his intention; the Emperor has intrusted him to demand a free passage through the Straits of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles for the two ships of the line which alone are now at Nicolaieff, and which would have to proceed to the Baltic as soon as peace was con cluded. The terms of the other paragraphs relative to the third point, as deliberated on by the Plenipotentiaries, were thus settled : " In order to afford to the commercial and maritime interests of every nal;!on the security which is desired, Russia and the Sublime Porte will admit Consuls into their ports situated upon the coast of the B'alk Sea, in conformity with the principles of international law. "His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias and his Majesty the Sultan having concluded between them a Convention, for the purpose of settling the force and number of light vessels which tkey may maintain in the Black Sea, this Convention is annexed to the present Treaty, and shall have the same force and validity as if it formed an integral part thereof. It cannot be either annulled or modified without the assent of the Powers signing the present Treaty. "Thu Convention of July 13, 1841, which maintains the ancient rule of the Ottoman Empire, relative to the closing of the Straits of the Bosphorus and of the Dar danelles, having been revised by common consent, the Act concluded for that purpose is and remains annexed to the present Treaty." The Plenipotentiaries of Russia and Turkey are in• vited to agree together on the Convention to be concluded between them on the subject of the light vessels which the Sublime Porte and Russia may maintain in the Black Sea, and it is agreed that the project of it shall be com municated to the Congress at the next meeting. (The signatures follows.) PROTOCOL, No. S.—SITTING OF MARCH 6,1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The Protocol of the preceding meeting is real atd approved. Count Orloff states that the Plenipotentiaries of Tur key and of Russia are not prepared W lay before the Con gress the project of. Treaty relative to the vessels of war which the Powers possessing the coasts may keep in the Black Sea, and applies to defer this communication till the next sitting. The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain inquires of the Plenipotentiaries of Russia whether the declaration made by Count Orloff in the preceding sitting, on the subject of Nicolaicff, applies equally to Cherson and to the &a of Azoff. The first Pleoipotentiary of Russia replies that, like Nicolaieff, the Sea of Azoff cannot be included under the direct application of the principle accepted by Russia ; that, on the other hand, it is indubitable that large ves• sets cannot navigate that sea ; he abides, however, by the assurances to which the Earl of Clarendon has re ferred, and he repeats that Russia being desirous of act ing wholly iu conformity with the engagements which she has contracted, will not build, anywhere on the shores of the Black Sea, or in its tributaries, or in the waters which are dependent on it, any ships of war other than those which Russia will maintain in the Black Sea according to the terms of her Convention with Turkey. The Congres proceeds to the development of the second point. The first Plenipotentiary of Francs remarks that the Conference of Vienna had carefully studied all the ques- Cm relating to the navigation of the Danube, and that AY EVENING, APRIL 30, 1856 it would, consequently, be advisable to take into ac count what bad been then prepared. Count Buol reads the Annex to the fifth Vienna Pro tocol. Count Walewski proposes that the following clauses should be drawn up : " The Act of the Congress of Vienna having esta blished the principles intended to regulate the navigation of rivers which traverse several States, the Contracting Powers stipulate among themselves that these principles shall in future be equally 'applied to the Danube and its mouths ; they declare that this arrangement henceforth forms part of the public law of Europe, and take it under their guarantee. . _ "Tie navigation of the Danube cannot be subjected to any impediment or change not expressly provided for by the stipulations which follow : in consequence, there shall not be levied any toll founded solely upon the fact of the navigation of the river, nor any duty upon the goods which may be on board of vessels, and no obstacle whatever shall be opposed to free navigation. " The Sublime Porte engages to cause to be executed, in conjunction with the Local Government in the Prin cipalities, the works which are at present, or which may become, necessary, as well to clear the mouth of the Danube from the sands which obstruct it, as to put the river in the best possible state for navigation on other points in the upper part of its course, especially between the ports of Gatatz and Braila. "In order to cover the expenses of such works, as well of the establishments intended to secure and to foci- litate the navigation, fixed duties of a suitable rate way be levied on ships navigating the Lower Danube, on the express condition that, in this respect as in every other, the flags of all nations shall be treated on the footing of perfect equality. " With the view to carry out the arrangements of the preceding Article, a Commission, which can only be dissolved by common consent, and composed of shall be charged with the duty of determining the extent of the works to be executed, and of preparing the bases of a regulation for navigation, and for river and maritime police ; it shall also draw up instructions intended for the guidance of an Executive Commission. "In conformity with the stipulations of the Treaties of Vienna, this Commission will be composed of in their quality of river bordering states ; it will 'be permanent. In case of dis agreement relative to the interpretation of the establish. ed regulations, referenes shall be had to the Contracting Powers." Count Walewski observes that the Congress will fur ther have to take into consideration the composition of the Commissions mentioned in the two last paragraphs ; but that as the' Executive Commission is to comprise delegates of all the Powers bordering on the Danube, it will be proper to invite Bavaria to send representatives to it, Count Buol remarks, that the regulation of which this Commission will have to superintend the execution, can affect only the interests of the navigation of the Lower Danube ; that the navigation of the Upper Danube has not given rise to any dispute among the interested par ties, and that there could be no reason for giving to the authority of the Commission an extension for which there was no justification. The first Plenipotentiary of France replies, that the Congress has to deal with a general question affecting the navigation of the river ; that it had been thus laid down in the document which forms the basis of the negotia. tion ; and that, from the moment it is agreed that the Commission styled Executive is to be composed of river bordering Powers, it becomes impossible to exclude Bavaria from it ; he adds that, moreover, the text of the proposed Articles a•lmits of no ambiguity and sufficiently indicates the nature of the attributes of this Commission. Count Walewski reads the seventh and last paragraph, which is in the following terms : "In order to insure the execution of the regulations which shall have been drawn up by common consent in accordance with the principles above set forth, each of the Contracting Powers shall have the right of station. ing (one or t'.vo) light vessels at the mouths of the Danube." The Congress defers, to a future sitting, the final drawing up of these several paragraphs. The fir-t Plenipotentiary of Great Britain expresses the opinion that the terms of the stipulations inserted in the Protocols ought not to bind the Congress irrevocably. He adds, that, in his opinion, each Plenipotentiary re tains the right of furither proposing such modifications as he may consider it advantageous to bring forward. Count Orloff replies that, as the Plenipotentiaries transmit each Protocol to their respective Governments, he cannot admit that paragraphs, accepted unanimously, can be indefinitely altered. The Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain explain that they do not propose to reserve to each Plenipotentiary the right of revising the resolutions adopted and the principles accepted by the Congeess, but the power of proposing a simple revision of the text, if necessary, in order better to define its sense and bearing. The observations of the Earl of Clarendon, confined within these limits, are agreed to by the Congress. (The signatures follow). PROTOCOL No. 6.—SITTING or MARCH 8, 1356. Pre,ent.--The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The first Plenipotentiary of Turkey states that Mehemmed Djemil Bey would not be present at the sitting, the state of his health not allowing him to be so. The Protocol of the preceding meeting is read and approved. The first Plenipotentiary of Ru Fla states t'at his Court has assented to the establishment of the Mixed Commission Which will be charged with the revision of the Asiatic frontier, and to which, a; stated in Protocol No. 4, the Plenipotentiaries of Russia bad only agreed subject to the approval of their Government. On the proposal of Count Wa!ewski; the Congress proceeds to the development of the first point, and de cides that, before touching on the questions relating to the organisation of the Principalities, it will take up the rectification of the frontiers between the Danubian Pro vinces and the Russian territory. Baron Brunnow reads a memorandum tending to prove that the character of the localities, and the dine tion of the roads of communication, do not admit of a direct line being drawn between the two extreme points indicated in the Preliminaries of Peace. He observes that the Allied Powers propose to insure the free naviga tion of the Danube, and he conceives that this object would be attained by another line which he is instructed to propose to the Congress ; this line, which Would have the adrantag,e of causing no disturbance in the adminis tration of the Province, would start from Waduli-Tsaki on the Pruth, full )w the Val de Traja,n, and terminate on time north of Lake Yalput. Russia would abandon, the Islands of Delta, and raze the forts of Ismail and Kilia-nova. _ _ Count Walewski replies that this proplsition is too material a departure from the very bases of the negotia tion for the Plenipotentiaries of the allied Powers to be able to take it into serious consideration. fAy V • SJ • ••• _ Baron Brunnow, reverting to the observations which he had already urged, states that it would be difficult to fiz upon a good boundary, if the limits which he has sug gested are departed from. He adds that it might, how ever, be possible to add to the territory ceded by Russia by the line which he has already proposed, that which is included between the Lake Kartalabug, the Val de Tv - dam, and Lake Salsyk. Toe first Plenipote' t ary of Great Britain represents that the admission s f the line indicated by the Russian Plenipotentiary wou'd be equivalent to the abandonment of the propositions drawn up by Austria with the assent of the allied Powers ; that those prepositions have been accepted at St. Petersburg, confirmed at Vienna and Paris, and that the Plenipotentiaries of those Powers, whatever may be the spirit of coned ation by which they are animated, could not depart, to such an extent, from the conditions of peace, and entirely renounce conces sions admitted in principle by a'l the Governments repre sented a- the Congress. Count Walewski make, similar observations. Count Buol also remarks that the line proposed by Baron Brunnow comprises only a small portion of the territory the cession of which had been consented to by Russia when she accepted the conditions of peace con veyed by Austria to St. Petersburg, and that he hopes that the Plenipotentiaries of Russia will make to the Con gress a proposition approaching more nearly to the facts which had preceded the opening of the negotiationp. Baron Hubner observes that the line indicated by its two extreme points, in the Austrian propositions, is founded on the configuration of the country, as laid down in all the snaps. • The Plenipitenthries of Russia reply that they have given evidence, in the preceding sittings, of their concilia tory intentions ; that they have placed before the Con gress considerations which, iu their opinion, deserve to be taken into account ; that they have no other object than to elicit an understanding in conformity with the topo graphy of the country and with the interests of its Wm bitanta; and that they are consequently ready to discuss any other proposition which might be communicated to them. The first Plenipotentiary of France repeats that the allied Powers could not agree to a boundary which would not be in accordance with the concessions obtained by the negotiation ; but that it is nevertheless admissible to pro ceed by means of compensation ; and that, it might per haps be possible to come to an understanding by extend ing the boundary to the south-east and beyond Lake Salsyk, if, as the Plenipotentiaries of Russia conceive, it would encounter topographical difficulties to the north. After a discussion upon this amendment, in which all the Plenipotentiaries take part, it is proposed to the. Plenipotentiaries of Russia to settle the frontier by means of a line which, starting from the Pruth between Leova and Hush, would pass to the north of Lake Salsyk, and terminate above Lake Albedies. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia being obliged, they say, to ascertain what effect this would have upon the Bulgarian and-Russian colonies established in this part of Bessarabia, request that the continuation of the dis cussion may be deferred till the next sitting. The Congress agrees ; but the Plenipoten Liar ies of France and Great Britain maintain that the proposition, to which they have assented in a spirit of concord, constitutes, in every respect, a concession, the importance of which proved by the extent of territory comprised between Chotyn and Hush, and they express the conviction that this concession will be fully appreciated by the Plenipo tentiaries of Russia. Count Orloff bears witness to the goodwill which the Russian Plenipotentiaries, in their turn, experience from the other members of the Congress, and he adds, that in requesting to be allo wed time fully to examine the proposition which has been made to them, the only object they have in view, is to endeavour to reconcile it with local requirements. The Congress then proceeds to the examination of the propositions relative to tha organisation of the Principa lities. Count Walewski remarks that, before touching on this important point of negotiation, it is indispensable to deliberate on a question which is of a paramount ina, portance, and on the solution of which must necessarily depend the further labours of the Congress on that sub ject ; this question is, whether Moldavia and Wallachia shall henceforth be united in one single Principality, or whether they shall continue to possess a separate admi• nistration. The first Plenipotentiary of France conceives that, as the union of the two Provinces satisfies the re• quirements brought to light by an attentive investiga tion into thair true interests, the Congress should admit and proclaim it. The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain shares in and supports this opinion, relying especially on the utility and expediency of taking into serious considera tion the wishes of the people, which it is always right be adds, to take into account. The first Plenipotentiary of Turkey contests it. Alli Pasha maintains that the state of things to which it is proposed to put an end cannot Li attributed to the sepa ration of the two Provinces; that the separation dates from the most remote times, while the confusion which has prevailed in the Principalities dates from a conipara• tively recent period ; that the separation is the natural consequence of the difference of manners and habits in the two Provinces ; that some individuals, influenced by personal considerations, have propounded an opinion ad verse to the existing state of things, but such certainly is not the opinion of the people. Count Buol, although not authorised to discuss a question which is not provided for in his instructions, agrees with the first Plenipotentiary of Turkey, that n-- thing could justify the union of the two Provinces ; the people, he aids, have not been consulted ; and if the value which each community attaches to its self-govern ment is considered, it may be inferred a priori that the Moldavians, equally with the Wallachians, desire, above all things, to preserve their local and separate institu• tion3. After having added further arguments in support of his opinion, Count Walewski replies that the Congress cannot directly consult those people, and that it must ne cessarily, in this respect, act upon presumption. Now, he says, all accounts agree in representing the Moldo- Wallachians as unanimously imbued with the desire of forming for the future only one single Principality ; this desire is explained by the c)mmunity of origin and of religion, as well as by previous occurrences, which have shown the political and administrative inconveniences resulting from the separation the union being, no doubt, an element of prosperity for both Provinces, an swers the end to which the solicitude of the Congress is directed. _ _ The first Plenipotentiary of Austria does not think that he can plats implicit confidence in the information on which the first Plenipotentiary of France relies. He thinks, besides, that the opinion of the first Plenipoten tiary of Turkey, who is in a better position than any other member of the Congress for estimat-, ing the real wants and wishes of the people, de serves especial consideration ; that, on the other band, the Powers are, above all, bound to maintain the privileges of the Principalities, and that, to compel the two Provinces to amalgamate with each other, would be to inflict a severe blow on those privileges, since among the number of those privileges was, above all, comprised that of separate Administrations. He adds that, at a later period, and when there shall be established in the Principalities an institution which can be regu larly considered as the legitimate organ of the wishes of the country, it mightlbe possible, if necesfary, to unite the two provinces with a full knowledge of all the cir cumstances. Baron Bourqueney replies to the first plenipotentiary of Austria that he cannot share his views ; the bases of the negotiation, he says, sets forth that tie Principali ties shall preserve their privileges and their immunities, and that the Sultan, in concert with his allies, shall grant or confirm to them an internal organisation suita ble to th wants and wishes of the people. It hai there fore beeWreposed at Vienna to reserve to the Sultan and his allies the right and the care of devising tozether the measures calculated to ensure the happiness of these people, taking into account their own wishes. Now Fracce had presented at the Conferences of the preceding year, an Act which placed the question on the ground of the discussion ; and since that time no demonstration had taken place tending to invalidate the accounts which lead to the supposition that the Moldo-Wallachians de sired the union of the Provinces in one single Princi pality. Tde first Plenipoteatiary of Sardinia remarks, in order . . to prove that the wish of the people in this respect is antecedent to the present state ot affairs, that an article of the Organic Statute has decided the question by re cording in that Act the principle of the eventual union of the Principalities. Aali Pasha maintains that tho Article quoted by the Count de Cavonr would not bear such an interpretation. Count Orloff declares that the Plemp9testiaries of Russia, having Wad opportunities of ascertaining the wanti and wishes of the two Principalities, support the project of union as calculated to promote the prosperity the Provinces. Upon the declaration made by Aali Pasha that the Plenipotentiaries of Turkey are not authorised t , ) pursue the discussion on this basis, and the Plenipotentiaries of Austria being themselves without instructions, the ques tion is adjourned to another sitting, in order to enable theca to take the orders of their Courts. (The signatures follow.) PROTOCOL No. 7.—SITTING or MARCH 10, 1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. Tian second Plenipotentiary of Turkey, prevented by the st:ste of his health, does not assist at the sitting. The Protocol of the preceding sitting is read and ap proved. Tne CJugress resumes the discussion on the demarca tion of the frontiers in Bessarabia. Baron Brunnow explains that the Plenipotentiaries of Russia have examined, in the same spirit of conciliation which had suggested the terms of it to the Plenipoten tiaries of the Allied Powers, the line which had baen proposed to them at the preceding sitting ; that they acknowledge how much this line justifies the confidence which they had placed in the conci;iatory dispositions of the Congress; but that after having consulted their in structions, and grounding their opinion on the topo graphical and administrative considerations which they have already explained, they find themselves compelled, in the interest itself of a good demarcation, to demand a.n atnendment of the line which had-been offered to them, so that the frontier, starting from the confluence of the Prath and the Saratsika, should ascend this latter river as far as the village of the same name, and should proceed thence towards the river Yalpuck, the course of which it should descend as far as the point where it joins the Val de. Trajan, which it should follow as far as lake Salsyk, terminating finally at the northern extremity of Lake Alabies. This pronoiition is subjected to an examination in which all the Plenipotentiaries take part ; who come to an agree neat and decide that the frontier shall start from the Black Sea, cmelkilometre to the east of Lake Bourna Sola, shalt run perpendicularly to the Akerman follow this road as far as the Val de Trajan, pass to the south of B.)!grad, ascend the Yalpuc River to the Height of Sarateika, and terminate at Katamori on the Prutb. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia, whilst assenting to the result of this deliberation, yet having, they say, been obliged to depart from their instructions, reserve the approbation of their Court. A C)mmission, composed of engineers and surveyors, shall be charged with fixing in its details the line of the new frontier. Count Orloff, grounding his ar,uments on precedents, proposes to the Congress to decide that the inhabitants of the territory ceded by Russia should retain the full enjoyment of the rights and privileges of which they are in possession, and that they shall be permitted to transfer their abode,elsewhere, ceding their property in return for a pecuniary indemnity agreed upon by comm in consent, or by means of a separate agreement to be concluded with the Administration of the Principalities. Several plenipotentiaries observing that this proposi tion may raise difficulties which they are not in a posi tion to el pr.iciate, the Congress receive it ad referendum. Count Walewski remarks that the development of the first point, as far as concerns the future organisation of the Principalities, requires that the 'details of it should be coniftied to a Commission, the labours of which, if the conclusion of peace were made to depend on them. would delay, without sufficient reason, the principal object en trusted to the care of the Congress. In the opening of the first Plenipotentiary of France, they might confine themselves to laying down in the Treats the bases of the political and administrative system which shall henceforth regulate the Danubian Province 4, agreeing, at the same Alma, that_ the Contracting Parties shall conclude a Con vention on this subject with the least possible delay. In this case, he adds, the Treaty of Peace might be signeci shortly, and the expectation of Europe would be no longer kept in suspense. 1 his proposition is the subject of a discussion in whic h take part particularly the Plen;poteniaries of Austria and Great Britain. The first Plenipotentiary of Austria proposes an amend ment which is accepted ; and, in consequence, the Con gress decides that a Commission, composed of Count Buol, Baron Bourqueney, and Aa.li Pasha, shall present, at the next sitting, the text of the Articles of the Treaty of Peace destined to fix the bases of the Convention which shall be concluded on the subject of the Princi palities. Count Walewski expresses the opinion that at the point at which the negotiations have happily arrived, the moment is come to invite Prussia to send Representa tives to the Congress, in accordance with the decision come to'at the meeting of the 28th of February, and he proposes to adopt and forward to Berlin the following resolution :--- " The Congress, considering that it is a matter of Eu ropean interest that Prussia, a signing Party to the Con vention concluded at London on the 13th July, 1841, should participate in the new arrangements to be adopted, decides that an extract from the Protocol of this day , shall be forwarded tl Berlin through Count Walewski, as organ of the Congress, in order to invite the Prussian Government to send Plenipotentiaries to Paris," The Congress adheres. The Earl of Clarendon, expressing the confidence which he places in the sentiments of the Court of Rui t-ia, and speaking in the nams of the allied Powers, states that he thinks he may be sure that the ceme teries in which repose the officers and soldiers who have fallen before Sebastopol or on other points of the Rus. sian territory, as well as the monuments raised to their memory, will be maintained in perpetuity and treated with the respect due to the ashes of the dead ; he adds that he should, however, be happy to receive an assur ance of this from the mouth of the Plenipotentaries of Russia. ,Count Orloff thanks the Congress for the opportunity which is offered him of giving a proof of the di, p mition which animates the Emperor his august Master, of which he is sure that he is the loyal and faithful interpreter in declaring that all the necessary measures will be taken to rea,is3 fully the wish expressed by the Plenipoten tiaries of the allied Powers. Court Waleweki remarks that the Treaty of Peace should make mention of the full and complete amnesty which each belligerent P,)wer is to grant to its ()am sub jects for all co•operstiori in acts of war. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia assent to this opinion, which is equally agreed to by the other members of the Congress. (The signatures follow.) PROTOCOL No. B.—SITTING OF MARCH 12, 1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, Franca, Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The Protocol of the preceding sitting is - read and ap proved. Baron BJurquency givol an account of the hours of the Commission which at the last meeting had been charged with preparing the text of the Articles of the Trea'y concerning the future organisation of the Principalities. Before reading the Articles proposed by the Commis sion, Barony B oirqueney establishes that the object of the labonrs of this Commission has been to reconcile the opinions expressed et the last sitting. The course proposed by the Cominii , sion, Baron Boar queney adds, rests on three principles:— To conclude peace without making the final instru ment depend on a diplomatic act remaining in suspense ; To take proper measures for ascertaining the wishes of the populations on questions of principle not yet solved ; • To respect the rights of the Suzerain Power, and not to overlook those ot. the gwanteoing Powers, by estab lishing the douhie necesiity ot a diplomatic act to record the principles adopted as bases of the organisation of the Principalities, and of a hatti-shm if to promulgate the ap . Ition,of those principles. • Starting from.these three principles, .the Commission proposes to send delegates immediately to Bucharest, who shall meet there an Ottoman Commissioner. Divans ad hoc would be convoked without delay in the capital of the two Provinces. These Divans would be composed in such a manner as to afford guarantees of a true and serious representation. The European Commission. taking into consideration the wishes expressed by the Divans, would revise the statutes and regulations in force. The, mult of its labours would be transmitted to the present seat of the Confer ences. A Diplomatic Convention, founded on these labours, wool I he concluded between the Contractur; Powers, and a hatti sherif, const , tuting the definitive or ganisation, would be pronu ) gated by the Sultan. The Congress adopts the proposed course, and defers to a future sitting the definitive adoption 4.f the text of the Articles whicu Baron Bon rqueney has read. The Plenipotentiaries of . I.ll.usia and Turkey communi• cats to the (I)ngress the pr-ject of the Convention which is to be concluded between them, after being agreed to by the other Plenipotentiaries relative to the light vessels of war which the coast Powers shall maintain in the Black Sea. They announce that they are not agreed on one point. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia think that the Convention should authorise both Powers to maintain, besi.les the vessels of war which shall be employed in the police of the Black Sea, and a fixed number of transports, some vessels of less tonnage for the purpose of watching over the execution of the administrative and sanitary regulations in the ports. The Plenipotentiaries of Turkey are not authorised to accept a stipulation framed in this sense. The Plenipstentiaries of Russia give to the Congress explanations tending to prove the necessity of providing for the internal police of the ports, and of inserting in the Convention a clause relative to the stationary vessels which shall be there employed, so as not to expose the Powers on the coast of the Black Sea to the intepretations which might be authorised by this subject being passed over in silence. The Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain and France reply that, as these vessels cannot be either of the diinen slows or armament of ships cf war, there is no occasion to in ration them in the Convention, and that if Russia means only to have in in her ports such boats as those called " pataches," for the service of the custom-house and quarantine, 'and which censequently would not be employed at sea, there is no reason to fear that the pre sence of these " pataches" in the commercial ports can give rise to objectionable interpretations. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia withdraw their do maul relative to the insertion in the Convention of the clause concerning the small vessels destined for the in ternal service of the ports, reserving, at the same time, the approbation of their Court. The Earl of C'arandon remarks that tha t transport vessels should not be armed. Count Orloff replies that, like all the transports em ployed by the other Powers in other seas, the transpeits of Russia in the Black Sea will be exclusively furnished With a defensive anneal: es; suitable to the nature of the service for which they will be designed. The Earl of Clarendon not considering that be should be justified in admitting these explanations, the question is adjourned. The Congress resumes the discussion of the project for drawing up the second.point, which had been the subject of its deliberations in the sitting of the 6th of March. Count Boo! states, that the principles established by the Congress of Vienna, and intended to regulate the navigation of rivers which traverse several States, lay down, as the principal regulation, that the Powers on the banks of rivers 'shall be exclusively entitled to arrange regulations of river police, and to superintend the execu tion of such regulations ; that the European Commission, of which mention is made in the terms inserted in the Protoc it No. 5, will comprise, besides the delegates of the Powers on the banks of the Danube, delegates from Powers not on the banks of that river ; that the perma nent Commission which is to be substituted !or the European Commission, will be charged with executing the resolutions alopted by it ; that,•frona that time, and in order to abide by the. spirit as well as the terms_ef the Act of the Congress of Viennaf both Commissions should confine their labours to the Lower Danube and its mouths. Count Walewski recalls attention to the bases of the negotiation accepted by all the Contracting Powers, and which are to the effect that the liberty of the Danube and its mouths should be efficiently secured ; conse quently it has been understood that the free navigation of this river shall be presided for. The Earl of Clarendon adds that, if it were otherwise, Austria, remaining alone in poseessien of the Upper Da nube and sharing in the navigation of the lower part of the raver, would acquire separate and exclusive advae tages which the Congress could not sanction, The Plenipotentiaries of Austria reply that all the effsrts as well as the tendencies of their Government, in commercial matters, have for their object to esta!ilish and propagate on all points of the Empire, he principles Of complete liberty, and that the free navigation of the Danube is naturally comprised within the limits of the improvements which it proposes to make ; but that it finds itself hampered, in this matter, by previnus engage ments, and acquired rights, which it is obliged to take into account ; that its intentions, therefore, respond to the wish recorded in the Preliminaries of Peace ; that, nevertheless, they cannot recognise in the Commissions which it is proposed to esteteisli, an authority which could not belong to them on the Upper Danube. The first Plenipotentiary of France says that it is ne cessary, in fact, to distinguish between two resolutions, equally admitted in principle, but having each of them an object perfectly distinct ; that, on tha one hand, the Congress ought te provide e.ri the free navigation of the Danube throughout its whole course, upon the bases established by the Congress of Vienna ; and on the oth er , to consult as to the me ins of removing the obstacles which impede the movement of commerce in the lower part of the river and at its mouths ; that it is solely this latter task• which will devolve on the Commis&oners whom it is proposed to appoint; but that it is not less essential to come to an understanding on the develop ment of the general principle, in order to complete the wor k which the Centrasting Powers had i n v i ew i n s tipulating, as is said in the Preliminaries, that the navigation of the Danube and its mouths shall be efficiently secured, reserving the special positions of the river-bordering Powers, which shall be regulated on the principles established by the Act of the Congress of Vienna in the matter of river navigation. After the preceding explanations, it is decided that Plenipotentiaries of Austria shall present, at one of the future sittings, the amendments which they shall think it right to' propose in the terms inserted in Protocol No. 5. (The signatures follow.) PROTOCOL No. 9. —SITTING or IVlAuca 14, 1855. Present. —The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia; Sardinia, and Turkey. The Protocol of the preceding sitting is read and ap proved. Count Orloff announces that the line of demarcation between Russia and the Ottoman Eupire, in Eunipe, fixed by the Congress at its sitting; of the 10th of March, has obtained the approbation of his Court. The Congress resumes the examination of the draft of the Articles concerning the Principalities, destined to appear in the Treaty of Peace, prepared by the Commis sion, which Baron Bourqueney, as reporter, had com municated to the Congress at the preceding sitting. Each paragraph of this dratv is the subject of a discus sion in which all the Plenipotentiaries take part, and after having been amended in two points, it is adopted by the Congress in the following terms : " No exclusive protection shall henceforth be exer cised over the Danubian Principalities. There shall be neither exclusive guarantee nor separate right of inter ference in their internal affairs. They shall continue to enjoy, under the suzerainty of the Sublime Porte, and under the guarantee of Europe, the privileges and immu nities of which they are in possession. "In the revision which shall take place of the laws and statutes at present in force, the Sublime Porte shal I maintain, in the said Principalities, an independent and national administration, as well as full liberty of religior, of legislation, of com merce , an d -f navigation. " In order to establish a complete agreement between them upon this revision, a special Compuissios, on the composition of which the Contracting Parties will come to an understeniline: among themselves, shall as semble without delay at Bucharest, together with a Com missioner of the Sublime Porte. "The business of this Commission shall be to investi• gate the present state of Vie Principalities, and to pro pose basea fir future organization. "His Miikisty the Sultan will convoke immediately, in'each of the two Provinces, a Divan ad hoc, composed in such manner as to represent m ost closely the int erests of all classes of society. These Divans shall be calledto express the wishes of the p e ople in regard to th e defi nitive organization of the Principalities. " An instruction from the Congress shall regulate the relations between Commission and these Divans, " Taking into consideration the opinion expressed by the two Divans, the Commission shalt ilanamit tht re sult of its own labours to the present seat of the Con ferences. "The final agreement with the Suzerain Power shall be recorded by a Convention to be concluded at Pans between the High Contracting Parties ; and a hatti- Sherif, ill conformity YOth t . llO stipalAtiene of th e Con._ vention, shall constitute definitively the organization of these Provinces, placed thenceforward under the colic°• tive guarantee of the signing Powers. "There shall be a national armed force organized with the view to maintain the security of the interior, and to ensure that of the frontiers. No impediment shall be op posed to the extraordinary measures of defence which the Principalities, by agreement with the Sublime Porte, may be called upon to take in order to repel any external ag,grsssion. " If the internal tranquillity of the Principalities should he menaced or compromised, the guaranteeing Powers shall cone to an understanding with the Sublime Porte in regard to the measures to be taken for main• taining or re-establishing legal order. No armed inter vention shall take place without a previous understand ing between those Powers." The first Plenipotentiary of Turkey observes, that his ins ructions not permitting him to adhere definitively to these terms, he reserves the approbation of his Court, which he will apply for by telegraph. The members of the Commission who have prepared the matter with which the Congress have now been oc cupied, are requested to have the goodness to meet to elaborate the project of a text, to be also inserted in tl Treaty, and which shall fix the arrangements to be made if there is occasion, on the subject of Servia. The first Plenipotentiary of France says that it is se ssary to agree on the terms which shall be used in the Treaty to establish the entrance of Turkey into the sys tern (concert) of Europe, and reads a draft in two Ar tidies. The first Plenipotentiary of Turkey thinks that it would be advisable to adhere to the terms which be had proposed at the Vienna Congress, and submits this to the Congress. Up n the proposal of Count Walewaki, the Congress 'lecides that a Commission, composed of Aali Pasha, and the second Plenipotentiaries of France, Great Britain Russia, and Sardinia, shall meet as soon as possible to orepare a draft of all the stipulations of the Treaty of Pence, taking into account the resolutions laid down in the Protocols, and refers to this Commission the drafts presented by the first Plenipotentiaries of France and Turkey, on the admission of the Ottoman Empire into the public law of Europe. Count Walewski announces that, in reply to the eom• raanication which he has been charged to forward to Beein, ai organ of the Congress, he had been informed that Prussia accepts the invitation which has been ad: dressed to her, has named as her Plenipotentiaries the Baron de Mantuffel, President of the Council, Minister for FereLgn Affairs ; and the Count de Hatzfeldt, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of France. (The signatures follow.) (To be continued.) Country Markets. LIVERPOOL-Arm 29. A good attendance to-day, and although the demand was not lively a fair amount of business was done iu wheat and flour, at 2d advance per 701bs, and is per barrel, anti 25 per sack on prices of this day week. Oats and oatmeal a flow sale, and not dearer. Barley, beans, and peas ars without change. Indian corn, 30s for prime yellow and mixed, and 30s 6d for prime heat. IPSWICH-APRIL 29. The deliveries of wheat from the farmers continue fair, and yesterday's London report enables them to obtain eh advance of is per qr. on good dry samples. Barley is nigh exhausted, and commands full rates for all fine qualities. Beans and peas unaltered. PER QUARTER. MIR QUARTER Wheat, red (old) 64s to 684 Barley, grinding ... 36s to as Ditto (new) Ditto, white 64s to 68s Peas Ditto (old) Barley, malting 40s to 15F.,Flour, per sack AVERAGBB FOR. TIM WEEK ENDING APRIL 26, 1856. Wheat Oats Peas Barley ..... 831. „ 42s Od Bears HULL-APBIL 29. A moderate supply of wheat, which met free sale at Is to 2s over the prices current last week. Foreign in good request. Barley morel quiet. Beans is dearer, the late import of Egyptian being stored or gone into consumption. Oats fair sale, at 6d to is decline. Linseed and its pro ducts have recovered from the panic, which for a time was really severe, the drop in seed being in some cases as much as 28s per qr., oil 14'., and linseed cakes 51. per ton. A large business has bean done in each article during the week, and today seed must be written bs per ir., oil 300, and cakes 5s to 103 per ton dearer. Bones are unaltered. 0 Wheat, English, red 67 to 70'Peas grey and black to --- Ditto white I ' 70.t0 74 Linseed, Black Sea... to --"' Dantzic and Konigs- , Ditto Potersburgh ... --- to --- berg 7O to 72 Ditto Riga and Arch- Pomeranian aud Ham- t angel burgh Danish, Holstein, and Memel — to --- Friesland 57 to 60 Par Ton. Russian and Odessa 58 to 60,Lins. c., Hull / Os to 910 8 0d.., Oats,'English Ditto Danish Ditto Friesland Ditto Russian 26 to 30'Rape cakes —s Od to 135 s Od Barley, malting Ditto grinding 35 to 381 Ditto foreign Beaus Ditto foreign Peas, white and yel. 40 to 48IRye Mold COURSE OF EXCHANGE.-YESTRIDAY. trnsteraam.. 12 Gibraltar . .... • • .... Ditto, three months .. 12 2 Leghorn Rotterdam ............ 12 2 Genoa ...... ..;• 2a 90 Antwerp ............ 25 70 ;Allan ......•• .• •• Slrussels 25 70 Venice.......... .... Ciamburgh ............ 13 11% Naples •••• •• •• 43% Altana .. •• •• •• •• •• •• Palermo •• •• •••• •• •• 120 1 4 ••• i 30% Paris ........ —.. • • .... 25 45 IMessina •• ••• 1304 Ditto. three months .. 25 775 • Lisbon 25 77ys Oporto 1535( Bin:Meaux • • —Rio Janeiro...... •• -- Fi ankfort•on Maine • ... 121 U Buenos Ayres.. •••• • . .. Berlin ................ NOW York,6o days' sight -- Vienna 10 25 I Philadelphia ... .. Trieste:. •.....•• •• •. •. 10 27 PRICES Or BULLICN, PER OZ. Petersburg ............ 36% Foreign Gold In Bars £3 17 2 _ _ . Madrid •..•••• •• ••• •• •• 4D)i I Portugal Gold Coln •• 0 0 0 Cadiz .•••••••• •• •• •• 50 Elarcelona • •• •• •• •• •• ,„ Mexican Dollars .... 0 0 0 New Dollars 0 0 0 Silver in bars ...... 0 0 0 SRABORNB MA IL& slgnfiles that the mails are uc trom the General Post otiles -1 , the night—and M by the morning—lespatch.) 001133TRIEL. Day when dinar in in Goncral Post - Office, London.* Fruit wha Port Dispatche. w‘, ,, • due in En g land. April 31 Evory Friday ... dmerica(byltrit.pack)N &menu , . (by United Ste packet) • ..N &merlon (by U.. Statof packet) ..........N &r.stralla (via South ampton) Ditto (vla Marseilles) N Ditto (via Cape of Good Eope) •• •• •• •41 •• • •17 &Nee (West Coast) ..N A.iemandria.... e man (Ida ▪ .. Bahamas • • • • • • • • • • .7.1 Belgium ...........N Brazil . ) .... Buenos Ayres Cape of Good Hope ..N Cape of Good Hope ..N Cape de Verde ..N Ceylon (see India) Ceylon Channel Isles...▪ . ..N Chine • • .• Constantinople Constantinople Cont. of Europe M & N Egypt (see India) France ........ M Fl, Gibraltar • • Greece (ace India) 2nd 17th of mon re yto wt ~......NT uesday & Fri:l,l3 2n3 of tho moat Holland ..,„ Daily „ „ Honduras .......M 7t r 2 o t h t e o m nt h. i'udi (viaSotithampt.)M 4th h f mnn, India (via Marseilles)M, 9 , l h,L, 26 th of Tout' , Teeslonian (see indie)l". f_,a 2 , 7 , n' mon (raland ........M & N Twice " 4 "y • • • • • • Liahen :1 1;1 1 , 0 1 1 , t f4 he l 7 m o o r n m th • , a,/eira of month • ... ilalta (we India) • Waite .. ,4la na ttri tt itus(seol:Ldia) 14th of the month motto° of the month., .....N stblsth2tythormor.. ~: snaas 24& 17th of mom!: 4 " 7 Zcla774 " " • .• 7 15 R th t Y h i l p i i i th: 2 2 a 7 5 t t t e h li s o e l fin f i in p o o n iV.. Papal States Penin sula LP , 47 aa '7:4, Bahl2 d d y i & tpsriti 2 7: 7 i t st h t heo o sio t ni ' l: m op no ! ,icily ..........N sthl6th2sthoflnoti, Tn. V u ene a zu ny el7::::::.t Van Diomen'sf,.nd (tar Australia) West indie,t 1 Liverpooi 'Liverpool Ifiouthampt.t, Southampton Dover .... ' 'Uncertain ..... 23d of the month . 1 8, 9, 24,80 30 of m. 4th P 20th of mon. 17th of the moral. 1 9th of the month.. 19th of the month.. 'Plymouth Dover .... Southampton Southamptcu 'Dover (Deily iSouthamptobrMay 16. 'Southampton liny 16 'Various port lUucortile 9th of thl month !Southampton Nom 21k 17th of moat! 'Once a month.... 0,13,18,28,ic63 orn, 4th & 20th of mon. Twiot.. daily Southampton 45outhampto ITu.TbMat Misr 4 !Dover ...... ,Soathampton pover ...... l i Tericedalll (Twice dai1y...... 14, 7, 17, SO, 27 ..kfrn !Dover leouthamptor Inv:cod/011 !Southampton !London ..... Southampton Dover lsouthamptot, 'Plymouth .. May 2 tigi; 16thotmo 4 & 20 in Dtiver D0ver...... noljhead . Southampton Southampton Liverpool ... Twieedani i lda 6 !Dover 14, 20 mo. Southampt,i. ;Dover ...... 'Southampton Varioue port Dover Southampton leouthampton Various ports Dover .:.... May 1 ;llnftrtain Dover ...... Southampton Uncertain 17th ot montb !Southampton' lecl6mcn l& lemon Whenany of these dates fall on a Sunday, the de• ipatched on the following day. with the exception of the India (r•e Southampton), and the Malta. both of which will be despatched tl e preceding day. BIRTHS. or A SON. .On the: 28th inst. at Artesian H ous e, T o tt en h am , de wifo of Mr. D. Welch. Ou the 28th inst., at 101, Westbouroe-terrace, Hyde* Park, the wife of Edward Budd, Esq. OP A DAII7OHTER, On the 26th inst., at Rookvrood Park, Hants, the wife of Colonel William Grrenwood. On the 26th inst., at 21, Eaton-terrace, the wife ct Lieut.-Colonel Charles Townshend Wilson. MARRIED On the 2eth inst., at West Hackney Church, Mr. R. Grant, of Botolph-lane, to Louisa, the youngest daughter of the late 'Joseph Treacher, of Tower-street, city. On the 29th inst., at St. John's Church. Brixton, Chaiges John Cox, Esq., of the Admiralty, son of the late Captain ,G. Hamilton Cox, Bengal Amy, to Harriott Anne, daughter of William Waller, Esq., of Stockwell. DIEIL On the 2ah inßt., at St. Leonard's-en-Sea Richard Ataxwell Fox, member for the county of Longford, aged 40. On the 25th itist., at Southsea, John Biggar, Esq., of 3, Allen-terrace, and late of the Accountant-General's OfGots, Somerset house, aged 66. Ou the 25th inst., at Villeneuve-snr-Yonne, in France, John Ft.nwick Burgoyne Blackett, Esq., of Wylam, late M.P. for Newcastle-upon-Tyne. LONDON : Pzinted and Published by MITRDO YOUNG of No. 112, triaa,i, t'rinter, at The Sun Of No. 112, straw), in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County Of Wedneulpy, 40,30, Mg. ..