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

anteeing Powers. There shall be no separate right of interference in their internal affairs. " ARTICLE . " The Sublime Porte engages to preserve to the said Principalities an independent and national administra tion, as well, as full liberty of worship, of legislation, of commerce, and of navigation. " The laws and statutes at present in force shall be revised. In order to establish a complete agreement in regard to such revision, a Special Commission, as to the composition of which the High Contracting Parties will come to an understanding among themselves, shall as semble, without delay, at Bucharest ; together with a Commissioner of the Sublime Porte. "The business of the Commission shall be to investi gate the present state of the Principalities, and to pro pose bases for their future organisation. ARTICLE " His Majesty the Sultan proposes to convoke imme diately in each of the two Provinces a Divan ad hoc, composed in such a manner as to represent most closely the interests of all classes of society. These Divans shall be called upon to express, the wishes of the people in regard to the definitive organisation of the Principa lities. ' "An instruction from the Congress shall regulate the relations between the Commission and these Divans. ARTICLE . " Taking into consideration the opinion expressed by the two Divans, the Commission shall transmit, without delay, to the present seat of the Conferences, the result of its own labours. "Th© final agreement with the Suzerain Power shall be recorded in :Convention to be concluded at Paris be tween the High Contracting Parties ; and a hatti-sherif, in conformity with the stipulations of the Convention, shall comtitute definitively, the organisation of those Provinces, placed thenceforward under the collective guarantee of all the signing Powers. ".EiRTICLE "It is agreed that there shall be a national armed force, organised with the view to maintain the security of the interior, and to ensure that of the frontiers. No impediment shall be opposed to the extraordinary measures of defence which, by agreement with the Su blime Porte, the Principalities may be called upon to take in order to repel any external aggression. '' ARTICLE "If the internal tranquillity of the Principalities should be menaced or compromised, the Sublime Porte shall come to an understanding with the other Contracting Powers in regard to the measures to be taken for main taining or re-establishing legal order. No armed inter ♦ention can take pace without previous agreement be tween those Powers." Upon an observation made by the Earl of Clarendon, it is understood that the finnan enjoining the convoca tion of the Divans ad hoc, shall be agreed upon with the representatives of the Contracting Powers at Constanti nople, and he drawn up in such a mannertus to provide for the full execution of the Article which determined the composition of those assemblies. Before the conclusion of the sitting, Count Walewski observes that the greater part of the Articles of the General Treaty having bsen decided on, and been in serted in the Protocols, the Congress might, at the next sitting, pass iu review all the texts intended to form the final document. (The signatures follow.) PROTOCOL No. 15,—SITTING OF IaRCH 26, 1856. Pre-set.—The Plenipetentia.ries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia,, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The protocol of the preceding sitting having been read, the Plenipotentiaries of Austria, Great Brritain, and Turkey, declare that they consider the explanations fur nished by the Plenipotentiaries of Russia on the subject ' .of Montenegro, as implying the assurance that Russia has no relations with that Province of an exclusive politi cal character, Aali Pasha adds that the Porte coresiders Montenegro as an integral part of the Ottoman Empire, and declare however, chat the Sublime Porte has no intention of altering the present state of things. After these ex , planations the Protocols is read and approved. , . Count Walewski then proceeds to a general and de finitive realing of all the stipulations adopted by the Congress, and which are sucessively inserted in the pre sent Protocol, atter having received the modifications unanimously agreed upon : "Their Majesties, &c., animated by the desire of put ting an end to the calamities of war, and wishing to pre- Vent the return of the complications which occasioned it, resolve to come to an understanding with his Majesty the. Emperor of Austria as to the bases on which peace might be re-established end consolidated, by securing, through effectual and reciprocal guarantees, the indepen dence and integrity of the Ottoman Empire. " For this purpose their said Majesties named as Plenipotentiarie-, &c. ; which Plenipotentiaries assem bled in Congress at Paris. "An understanding having been happily esta blished between them, their Majesties the Empe ror of the French, the Betperor of Austria, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Emperor of all the Russias, the King of Sardinia, and the Sultan, considering that in the interest of Europe, his Majesty the King of Prussia, a signing party to the Convention of the 13th of July, 1841, should be invited to participate in the new arrange ,' extents to be adopted, and apreciating the value that the concurrence of his ,aid Majesty would add to a work of general pacification, invited him to send Plenipotentiaries to the Congress. "in consequence, his Majesty the King of Prussia named as his Plenipotentiaries, &c. ARTICLE 1. "From the day of the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty, there shall be peace and friendship be• tween his Majesty the Emperor of the French, her Ms• jesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bis Majesty the King of Sardinia, his Ma jesty the Sultan on the one part, and his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias on the other part, as well as between their heirs and successors, their respective 'dominions and subjects, in perpetuity. ARTICLE 2. " Peace being happily re-established between their said Majesties, the territories conquered or occupied by their armies during the war shall be reciprocally evacuated. Special arrangements shall regulate the mode of the evacuation, which shall be as prompt as possible. ARTICLE 3. "His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias engages to restore to His Majesty the Sultan the town and citadel of Kars, as well as the other parts of the Ottoman terri tory of which the Russian troops are in possession. ARTICLE 4. "Their. Majesties the Emperor of the French, the Queen ; of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the King of Sardinia, and the Sultan engage to restore to His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, the towns and ports of Sebastopol, Balaklava, Kamiesch, Zupa- Kertch, Jenika!e, Kinburn, as well as all other territories occupied by the allied troops. ARTICLE 5. "Their Majesties the Emperor of the French, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire land,. the Emperor of all, the Russias, the King of Sar dinia, and the Sultan, grant a full and entire amnesty to all those of their subjects who may have been com promiaed by any participation whatsoever in the events of the war in favour of the cause of the enemy. "It is expressly understood that such amnesty shall extend to the subjects of each of the belligerent Parties who nitiq have continued, during the war, to be employed - in the :service of one of the other belligerents. ARTICLE 6. "Prisoners of war shall be immediately given up on either aide. ARTICLE 7. "His Majesty the Emperor of the French, His Ma jesty the Emperor of Austria, Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, His Majesty the King of Prussia, His Majesty the Em• peror ot all the Russias, and His Majesty the King of Sardinia, declare the Sublime Porte admitted to parti cipate in the advantages ot the public law and system (concert) of Europe. Their Majesties engage, each on his part, to respect the independence and territorial in tegrity of the Ottoman Empire, guarantee in common the strict observance of that engagement, and will, in consequence, consider any act tending to its violation as a question of general interest. "ARTICLE 8. " If there should arise between the Sublime Porte and one or more of the other signing Powers, any mis understanding which might endanger the maintenance of their relations, the Sublime Porte, and each of such Powers, before having recourse to the use of force, shall afford th e other Contracting . Parties the opportunity preventi ng suc h an extremity by means of their media tion. I, ARTICLE 9. His Impe r i a l Majesty the Sultan h av i n g, in his con stant solicitude fortheire l lfa re of his su bj ec t s , issued a while arzei firman, which,r oaftirnagee recordsei their condition n generous distinction of reli g i on . or intentions towards the Christia n to give a furtherrpultAtion of his em comprnouonf.ef his sentiments em pire, and wishing emanating icate to the con in that respect, has resolved to spontaneously high valuethof tracting parties the said firman, from his sovereign will. " The contracting powers recognise the this communication. It is clearly understood cannot, in any case, give to the said powers the right a it interfere, either collective!y or separately, in the reltao tions of his Majesty the Sultan with his subjects, for in the internal administration of his empire. ARTICLE 10. " The Convention of the 13t,1i July, 1811, which main tains the ancient rule of the Ottoman Empire relative to the closing of the Straits of the Bosphorus and of the Dardanelles, has been revised by common consent. "The act concluded for that purpose, and in con formity with that principle bet•veen the high contracting parties, is awl remains annexed to the present Treaty, and shall have the same force and validity as if it formed an integral part thereof. ARTICLE 11. " The Back Sea is neutralised : its waters and its ports, thrown open to the mercantile marine of every nation, are formally and in perpetuity interdicted to the flag of war, either of the power , possessing its coasts or of any Other power, with the exceptions mentioned in articles and of the present treaty. ARTICLE 12. "Fi eo freim any imperlirn, it, the commerce in the ports and water, *f the Black Sea shall bo subject only to regulations of health, customs and police, framed in a spirit favourable to the development of commercialtrans antic n s. . "In order to afford to the commercial and maritime interests of every nation the security which is desired, Russia and the Sublime Porte will admit Consuls into their ports situated upon the coast of the Black Sea, in conformity with the principl e s of international law. ARTICLE 13, The Black Sea being neutralised according to .. • the '' - irrts of Article 11, the maintenance or establish ment upon its coasts of military-maritime arsenals becomes alike unnecessary and purposeless ; in conse qnence, His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias and His Imperial Majesty the Sultan engage not to establish or to maintain upon that coast any military-maritime arsenal. "ARTICLE XIV. "Their Majesties the Emperor of all the Rassias and the Sultan having concluded a Convention for the pur pose of settling the force and the number of light vessels, necessary for the service of their coasts which they re serve to themselves to maintain in the Black Sea, that Convention is annexed to the present Treaty, and shall have the same force and validity as if it formed an in tegral part thereof. It cannot be either annulled or modified without the assent of the Powers signing the present Treaty?' The. Conference defers the reading and adoption of the other Articles to the following sitting. (The signatures follow.) PROTOCOL No. 16.—Sumet or MAIM 27, 1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The Protocol of the preceding sitting is read and ap proved. Count Walewski reads the project of Convention de signed to replace the Act signed in London on the 13th of July, 1841. This project is adopted, and the Congress decides that it shall be annexed to the present Protocol. The Congress further determines that a special Proto col, which shall be signed before this Convention, shall stipulate, during the period necessary for the evacuation of the territories by the belligerent armies, for a tempo rary exception to the regulation respecting the closing. Count Walewski resumes the reading of the Articles of the General Treaty, which had been interrupted at the close of the preceding sitting ; these Articles are successively adopted in the following terms : " ARTICLE 15. "The act of the Congress of Vienna having established the principles intended to regulate the navigation of rivers which separate or traverse different states, the con tra.iting powers stipulate among themselves that those principles shall in future be equally applied to the Danube and its mouths. They declare that this arrange ment henceforth forms a part of the public law of Eu rope, and take it under their guarantee. "The navigation of the Danube cannot be subjected to any impediment or cl-iarge not expressly provided for by the stipulations contained in the following articles : 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. The regulations of policy and of quarantine to be established far the safety of the States separated or traversed by that river, shall be so framed as to facili tate, as much as possible, the passage of vessels. With the exception of such regulations, no obstacle whatever shall be opposed to free navigation. " ARTICLE IG. " With the view to carry out the arrangements of the preceding article, a commission, in which France, Aus tria, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey, shall each be represented by one delegate, shall be charged to designate and to cause t 3 be executed the works necessary below Toultcha, to clear the mouths of the Danube, as well as the neighbouring parts of the sea, from the sands and other impediments which obstruct them, in order to put that part of the river and the said parts of the sea in the best possible state for navigation. "In order to cover the expenses of such works, as well as of the establishments intended to secure and to facilitate the navigation at the mouths of the Danube, fixed duties, of a suitable rate, settled by the Commis sion by a majority of votes, may be levied, on the express conditions that, in this respect as in every other, the flags of all nations shall be treated on the footing of perfect equality." The Plenipotentiaries of Turkey declare that the Sublime Porte will willingly make the advances necessary for the execution of the works mentioned in the preced ing Article. " ARTICLE 17. "A Commission shall be established, and shall be en:nposed of delegates of Austria, Bavaria, the Sublime Pc.rte, and Wurtemberg (one for each of those powers), to whom shall be added Commissioners from the three Danubian Principalities, whose nomination shall have been approved by the Porte. This Commission, which shall be permanent : 1. Shall prepare regulations of navigation and river police ; 2. Shall remove the impe diments, of whatever nature they may be, which stil pr, vent the application to the Danube of the ar rangements of the treaty of Vienna ; Shall order, and cause to be executed the necessary works through. out the whole course of the river ; and 4. Shall, after the dissolution of the European commission, see to main taining the mouths of the Danube, and the neighbouring parts of the sea, in a navigable state. " ARTICLE 18. "It is understood that the European Commission shall have completed its task, and that the river commission shall have finished the works described in the preced ing article, under Nos. 1 and 2, within the period of two years. The signing Powers assembled in confer ence havinr , been informed of that fact, shall, after hay ing placed' it on record, pronounce the dissolution of the European Commission, and from that time the permanent river commission shall enjoy the same powers as those with which the European commission shall have until then been invested. " ARTICLE 19. " In order to insure the execution of the regulations which shall have been established by common agreement, in conformity with the principles above declared, each of the contracting powers shall have the right to station at all times, two light vessels at the months of the Danube. " ARTICLE 2U. In exchange for the towns, ports, and territories enu merated in Article 4 of the present treaty, and in order the better to assure the liberty of the navigation of the Danube, H. M. the Emperor of all the Russias consents to the rectification of his frontier in Bessarabia. " The new frontier shall begin from the Black Sea one kilometre to the east of Lake Bourns Sola, shall run per pendicularly to the Akerman-road, shall follow that road to the Fal de Trajan, pass to the south of Bolgrad, ascend the course of the river Yalpuck to the Height of Sarataika, and terminate at Katamori on the Pruth. Above that point the old frontier between the two empires shall not undergo any modification. Delegates of the contracting powers shall fix, in its details, the line of the new frontier. " ARTICLE 21. " The territory ceded by Russia shall be annexed to the Principality cf Moldavia, under the suzerainty of the Sublime Porte. The inhabitants of that territory shall enjoy the rights and privileges secured to the Principalities ; and, during the space of three years, they shall be permitted to tranfer their domicile elsewhere, disposing freely of their property. " ARTICLE 22. " The Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia shall continue to enjoy, under the suzerainty of the Porte, and under the guarantee of the contracting powers, the privileges and immunities of which they are in possession. No exclusive protection shall be exercised over them by any one of the guaranteeing Powers. There shall be no separate right of interference in their internal affairs.. " ARTICLE 23. " The Sublime Porte engages to preserve to the said Principalities au independent and national administration, as well as full liberty of worship, legislation, of com merce, and of navigation. "The laws and statutes at present in force to be revised. In order to establish a complete agreement in regard to such revision, a Special Cominissi , in, as to the composi tion of which the high contracting powers will come to an understanding among themselves, shall assemble without delay at Bucharest, together with a commissioner of the Sublime Porte. " The business of this Commission shall be to investi gate the present state of the Principalities, and to pro pose bases for their future organisation. " ARTICLE 24. " H. M. the Sultan promises to convoke immediately in each of the two provinces a Divan ad hoe, composed in such a manner as to represent most closely the inte rests of all classes of society. These Divans shall ha called upon to express the wishes of the people in regard to the definitive arganisation of the Principalities. " An instruction from the Congress shall regulate the rela',ions between the Commission and these Divans. " ARTICLE 35 . " Taking into consideration the opinion expressed by the two Divans, the Commission shall transmit, without delay, to the present seat of the Conferences, the result of its own labours. " The final agreement with the Suzerain Power shall be recorded in a convention to be concluded at Paris between the high contracting parties, and a hatti-scherif, in c.mfortnity with the stipulations of the Convention, shall constitute definitely the organisation of these pro vinces, placed thenceforward undor the collective guaran tee of all the signing Powers. "ARTICLE 26. " It is agreed that there shall be an national armed force, organised with the view to maintain the security of the interior, and to ensure that of the frontiers. No impediment shall be opposed to the extraordinary mea sures of defence, which, by agreement with the Sublime Porte, the Principalities may be called upon to take in order to repel any external aggression. " ARTICLE 27. " If the internal tranquillity of the Principalities should be menaced or compromised, the Sublime Porte shall com e t:) an understanding with the other contracting powers in regard to the measures to be taken for main taming or re establishin g legal order. No armed inter vention can t a k e place without a previous agreement with those Powers. ARTICLE 28. " The Principality of Servia shall continue to hold of the Sublime Porte, in conformity with the Imperial Hats which fix and determine its rights and immunities placed henceforward under the collective guarantee of the con tracting powers. " In consequence, the said Principality shall preserve Re independent and national administ ra ti on as well as ARTICLE 29. full liberty worship, commerce, an d of na vigation. " The right of garrison of the Sublime Porte, as stip u . lated by anterior regulations , is maintained. N o armed intervention can tak place in its territory without pre vious agreement between the high contracting Powers. ARTICLE 30. " His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias and His Majesty the Sultan maintain, in its integrity, the state of their possessions in Asia, such as it legally exiisted before the rupture. " In order to prevent all loc3l dispute the line of fron tier shall be verified, and, if necessary, rectified, without THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING,, MAY 1, 1856. any prejudice as regards territory being sustained by either Party. " For this purpose a Mixed Commission, composed of two Russian Commissioners, two Ottoman Commission ers, one English Commissioner, and one French Com missioner, shall be sent to the spot immediately after the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the Court of Russia and the Sublime Porte. Its labours shall be completed within the period of eight months after the exchange of the ratifications of the present Treaty. The first Plenipotentiary of France says that he arrives at the Article stipulating for the evacuation of the Otto man territory by the armies of the allied Powers. He remarks that the previous Conventions concluded with the Porte fix, on this subject, periods which, by reason of the development assumed by the war, have become physically insufficient for the evacuation of the troops and material collected at this time in the Crimea. He adds that the evacuation will commence immediately after the conclasion of peace, and that the intention of France, as well as of all her allies, is to recall her army within the shortest possible period, but that this opera tion will require not less than six months ; that the allies of the Porte find themselves, consequently, unable, however great their desire to conform to them, to fulfil, within the stipulated period, the engagement which they have taken on this point, and that it is, accordingly, necessary to come to some understanding. In consequence of these observations, the Congress decides that it will meet, immediately after the conclu sion of peace, in order to come to an agreement upon the arrangements to be adopted in order to fix the pe riods within which the evacuation shall be accomplished. The adoption of the last Articles of the General Treaty is deferred to the next meeting. The draft of .Convention to be concluded between Russia and Turkey, and which is annexed to Protocol No. 10, having been revised, is agreed to, and finally settled as it is annexed to the present Protocol. (The signatures follow.) ANNEX 2 TO PROTOCOL No. 16. CONVENTION RESPECTING THE STRAITS. In the Name of Almighty God. Their Majesties the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of the French, the Queen of the - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the King of Prussia, the Em peror of all the Russias, signing parties to the Conven tion of the 13th day of July, 1841 ; and his Majesty the King of Sardinia ; wishing to record in common their unanimous determination to conform to the ancient rule of the Ottoman Empire, according to which the Straits of the Dardanelles and of the Bosphorus are closed to foreign ships of war so long as the Porte is at peace : Their said Majesties, on the one part, and his Majesty the Sultan, on the other, have resolved to renew the Convention, concluded at London on the 13th day of July, 1841, with the exception of some modifications of detail which do not affect the principle upon which it rests. _ _ In consequence their said Majesties have named for he purpose their Plenipotentiaries, that is to say, &c. ARTICLE 1. His Majesty the Sultan, on the one part, declares that ho is firmly resolved to maintain for the future the prin ciple invariably established as the ancient rule of his Empire, and in virtue of which it has, at all tithes, been prohibited f r the ships of war of foreign Powers to Inter the Straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus ; and that, so long as the Porte is at peace, his Majesty will admit no foreign ship of war into the said Straits. And their Majesties the Emperor of Austria, the Em peror of the French, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the King of Pru-sia, the Emperor of all the Russias, and the King of Sardinia, on the other part, engage to respect this determination of the Su!tan, and to conform themselves to the principle above declared. most complete approbation of the Sovereigns whom the Plenipotentiaries have the honour to represent. The Congress adopts with eager unanimity the propo sition of the first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain. Count Walewski thanks the first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain for the proposition which he has just made, and does not hesitate to give the assurance that the Em peror, his august Sovereign, will be very sensible of the step suggested by Lord Clarendon, and not less grateful for the sentiments which have, dictated it than for the unanimous eagerness with which it has been adopted. The present Protocol is read and approved. (The signatures follow.) responding declaration which they made in the sitting of the 4th of April, and all the other Plenipotentiaries having expressed a favourable opinion, the Congress determines that all the measures, without distinction, adopted at the commencement or on the prospect of war, and having for their object to suspend commerce and navigation with the enemy, shall be abrogated, and that in all that concernseither commercial transactions, without excepting from them con traband of war, or the despatch of merchandise, and the treatment of merchant-vessels, matters are everywhere re placed from this date on the footing on which they were before they were before the war. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia announce that have re ceived ordersito declare, in reply to the request which had been made to them on the subject, that the port of Sebas topol will be opened to the vessels of the allied Powers, iu order to accelerate the embarkation of their trcops and of their material. They add, that the instructions which have reached them allow them to give the assurance that the evacuation of the Ottoman territory in Asia by the Russian army will com mence immediately after the exchange of the ratifications; that as soon as the season and the state of the roads shall admit of it, the transport of the magazines and of the ma terial of war be proceeded with ; and that the general movements of the Russian army will be effected simultan eously with that of the allies, and will be concluded at the same time and within the periods fixed for the evacuation of the other territories. In the name of the Commission charged with the pre paration thereof, Baron Bourqueney reads a draft of instruc tions intended for the Commisioners who will have to pro ceed to the Principalities, according to the terms of Article XXIII of the Treaty of Peace. The Earl of. Clarendon remarks that the Congress, in taking up the question of the Danubian Principalities, proposed to itself as a primary object to elicit the expres sion, freely uttered, of the wishes of the people, and that this object might possibly not be realized if the Hospodars remained in possession of the powers now at their command, and it might possibly be proper to devise some arrange ment calculated to ensure complete freedom to the Divans ad hoc. The first Plenipotentiary of Austria replies that the ad ministration should not be meddled with at a period of tran sition such as that through which the Principalities are about to pass, unless with extreme caution, and that it would tend to compromise everything if an end were put to all existing powers before fresh ones had been consti tuted; that in any case the Congress should leave to the Porte the care of adopting the measures which might be deemed necessary. Aali Pasha states that possibly the existing administra tion does not offer all the guarantees which the Congress might desire ; but that there would bo danger of anarchy if any attempt were made to deviate from the legal order. Lord Clarendon represents that ho by no moans intends to propose the subversion of the whole of the powers, and, with other Plenipotentiaries, he remarks that the autho rity of the present Hospodars is approaching the term fixed by the arrangement which entrusted it to thorn, and that in order to keep within the bonntls of legal order this is precisely the moment for deliberation. Several Plenipotentiaries likewise remark that the Organic Law anticipates the interruption of the power of the Hospodars. After these explanations the Congress decides that it leaves to the Sublime Porte to adopt, if occasion arises, on the expiration of the powers of the present Hospodars, the melsures which may be necessary and pioper for fulfilling the intentions of the Congress, by combining the free ex pressicn of the wishes of the Divans with the maintenance of order and respect for the legal state of things. On the proposal of the first Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain and of Franco, and in order to prevent any conflict or discussions which might give occasion for regret, it is likewise agreed that the finnan which is to decree the con vocation of the Divans ad hoc, shall fix the rules to be ob served in tegard. to the presidency over those assemblies, and the mode of their deliberations. After having taken these resolutions the Congress adopts, subject to some modifications which are inserted iu them, the instructions of which M. le Baron Bourqueney pre sented the project, and which aro annexed to the present Protocol. Count Walewski says that is desirable that the Plenipo tia ries, before they separate, should interchange their ideas on different subjects which require to be settled, and which it might be advantageous to take up in older to prevent fresh complications. Although specially assembled for set tling the Ea:.tern question, the Congress, according to the first Plenipotentiary of France, might reproach itself for not having taken advantage of the circumstance which brings together the Representatives of tho principal Powers of Europe, to clear up certain questions, to lay down cer tain principles, to express intentions, in fine to make certai❑ declarations, always and solely with the view of ensuring the future tranquility of the world, by dispelling the clouds which aro still seen looming in the political horizon before they become menacing. It cannot be denied, he says, that Greece is in an abnor mal state. The anarchy to which that country was a prey has compelled France and England to semi troops to the Piraeus at a time when their armies, nevertheless, did not want occupation. The Congress knows iu what state Greece was; neither is it ignorant that that in which it now is, is far from being satisfactory. Would it not there fore be advantageous that the Powers represented in the Congress should manifest the wish to see the three protect ing Courts take into serious consideration the deplorable situation of the kingdom which they have created, and de vise means to make provision for it? Count Walewski does not doubt that the Earl of Clarendon will join with him in declaring that the two Governments await with impatience the time when they shall bo at liberty to terminate an occupation to which nevertheless they are unable without the most serious inconvenience to put an end, so long as real modifications shall not be in troduced into the state of things in Greece. The first Plenipotentiary of France then observes that the Pontifical States are equally in an abnormal state; that the necessity for not leaving the country to anarchy had decided France as well as Austria to comply with the demand of the Holy See by causing Rome to be occupied by her troops, while the Austrian troops occupied the Legations. II; states that Franca had a twofold motive for complying without hesitation with the demand of the Holy See, as a Catholic Power and as an European Power. The title of eldest son of the Church, which is the boast of the Sove reign of France, makes it a duty for the Emperor to afford aid and support to the Sovereign Pontiff; the tranquillity of the Roman States and that of the whole of Italy affects too closely the maintenance of social order in Europe for France not to have an overbearing interest in securing it by all the means in her power. But, on the other hand, it is impossible to overlook the abnormal condition of a Power which, in order to maintain itself, requires to be supported by foreign troops. Count Walewski does not hesitate to declare and he trusts that Count Buol will joi n in th e declaration, that not only is France ready to withdraw her troops, but that she earnestly desires to recall them so soon as that can be done without inconvenience as regards the internal tran quility of the country and the authority of the Pontifical Government, in the prosperity of which the Emperor, his august Sovereign, takes the most lively interest. The first Plenipotentiary of France represents hew desir able it is for the balance of power in Europe that the Ro man Government should be consolidated in sufficient strength for the French and Austrian troops to be able, I without inconvenience, to evacuate the Pontificial States, and he considers that a wish expressed in this sense rsight not be without advantage. In any case he does not doubt that the assurances which might be given by France and Austria as to their real intentions in this respect would have a salutary influence. Following up the same order of ideas, Count Walewski asks himself if it is not to be desired thst certain Govern ments of the Italian Peninsula, by well-devised acts of clemency, and by rallying to themselves minds gone astray and not perverted, should put an end to a system which is directly opposed to its object, and which, instead of reach ing the enemies of public order, has the effect of weaken ing the Governments, and of furnishing partizans to popu lar faction. In his opinion it would render a signal service to the Government of the Two Sicilies, as well as to the cause of order in the Italian Peninsula, to enlighten that Government as to the false course in which it is engaged. He is of opinion that warnings conceived in this sense, and proceeding from the Powers represented in the Congress, would bo the better received by the Neapolitan Govern ment, as that Government could not doubt the motives which dictated them. The first Plenipotentiary of France then says that he must call the attention of the Congress to a subject which, although more particularly affecting France, is not the less of graa t interest for all the Powers of Europe. He con siders it superfluous to state that there are every day printed in Belgium publications the most insulting, the most hostile against France and her Government • that revolt an d assassination are openly advocated ' in them ; he rema r k s th a t qu it e recent l y B e l g i an news papers have ventured to extol the society called "La Marianne," the tendencies and object of which are known ; ithat all these publications are so many imple ments of war war directed against the repose and tran quility of France by the enemies of social order, who, rely ing on the impunity which they find under the shelter of the Belgian legislation, retain the hopo of eventually realising their culpable designs. Count Walewski declares that the intention and sole de sire of the Government of the Empire is to maintain the best relations with Belgium • he readily adds that France has reaso n t o b o satisfied with the Belgian Government, and with its efforts to mitigate a state of things which it is unable to alter, its legislation not allowing it either to re strain the excesses of the press, or to take the initiative in a reform which has become absolutely indispensable. We should regret, he says. to be obliged ourselves to make Bel gium comprehend the strict necessity for modifying a legis lation which does not allow its Government to fulfil the first of international duties—that of not assailing, or allowing to be assailed, the internal tranquillity of the neighbouring States. Representations addressed by the stronger to the less strong have too much the appearance of menace, and that is what we desire to avoid. But if the Representatives of the Great Powers of Europe, viewing in the same light with ourselves this necessity, should find it useful to express their opinion in this respect, it is more than probable that the Belgian Government, relying upon all reasonable persons in Belgium, would be able to put an end to a state of things which cannot fail sooner or later to give rise to difficulties, and even real dangers, which it is the int eres t o f Belgium to avert beforehand. Count Walewski proposes to the Congress to conclude its work by a declaration which would constitute a remarkable advance in international law, and which would be received by the whole world with a sentiment of lively gratitude. The Congress of Westphalia, be adds, sanctioned liberty of conscience ; the Congress of Vienna the abolition of the Slave Trade and the freedom of the navigation of rivers. It would be truly worthy of the Congress of Paris to lay down the basis of an uniform maritime law in time of war as regards neutrals. The four following principles would completely effect that object:- 1. The abolition of privateering ; 2. The neutral flag covers enemy's goods except contra band of war ; Neutral goods, except contraband of war, are not liable to capture even under enemy's flag ; 4. Blockades are not binding except in so far as they are effective. This would indeed be a glorious result, to which none of us could be indifferent. The Earl of Clarendon sharing the opinions expressed by Count IValewski, declares that, like France, England pro poses to recall the troops which she was obliged to send to Greece so soon as she shall be able to do so without incon venience to the public tranquillity ; but that it is neces sary, in the first instance, to provide solid guarantees for the maintenance of a satisfactory state of things. Accord ing to him the Protecting Powers may agree among them selves upon the remedy which it is indispensable to apply to a system injurious to the country, and which has alto. Bother departed from the object which they had propo se d to themselves, when establishing there a n inde pendent mo narchy, for the well-being and the prosperity of the Greek people. The first Plenipotentiary of Groat Britain remarks that the Treaty of March 30 opens a new era ; that as the E m . peror had said to the Congress on receiving it after the sig nature of the Treaty, this era is that of peace; but der to be consistent, nothing should be omitted to render that peace solid and lasting; that representing the principal Powers of Europe, the Congress would fad in its duty if, on separating, it sanctioned by its silence a state of things which is injurious to the political equilibrium, and which is far from securing peace from all danger in one of the most interesting countries of Europe. We have just provided, continues the Earl of Clarendon, for the evacuation of the different territories occupied by foreign armies during the war ; we have just taken the so lemn engagement to effect the evacuation within the shortest period ; how would it be possible for us not seri ously to advert to occupations which took place bofore the war, and to abstain from devising meansfor putting an end to them ? The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain does not con sider it of any use to inquire as to the causes which have brought in foreign armies upon various points of Italy, but he considers that even admitting that those causes were legitimate, it is not the less true, he says, that the re sult is an abnormal and irregular state of things, which can be justified only by extreme necessity, and which should come to an end as soon as that necessity is no longer impe riously felt ; that nevertheless, if endeavours are not made to put an end to that necessity, it will continue to exist ; that if we are content to depend upon the armed force in stead of seeking to apply a remedy to the just causes of discontent, it is certain that a system little honourable for the Governments, and lamentable for the people, will be perpetuated. He conceives that the administration of the Roman States presents inconveniences from whence dangers may arise which the Congress has the right to attempt to avert ; that to neglect them would be to run the risk of labouring for the benefit of the revolution which all the Go vernments condemn and wish to prevent. The problem which it is a matter of urgency to solve, consists, he con ceives, in combining the retreat of the foreign troops with the maintenance oetranquillity, and the solution depends on the organisation of an administration which by reviving confidence would render the Government independent of foreign support; that support never succeeding in main taining a Government to which the public sentiment is hos• tile, and there would result from it, in his opinion, a part which France and Austria would not wish their armies to perform. For the well-being of the Pontifical States, as also for the interest of the sovereign authority of the Pope, it would, therefore, in his opinion, be advantageous to re commend the secularisation of the Government, and the organisation of an administrative system in harmony with the spirit of the age, and having for its object the happiness of the people. He admits that this reform might perhaps offer in Rome itself, at the present moment, certain diffi culties, but he thinks that it might easily be accomplished in the Legations. The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain observes that for the last eight years Bologna has been in a state of siege, and that the rural districts aro harrassod by brigands : it may be hoped, he thinks, that by establishing in this part of the Roman States an administrative and judicial sys tem, at once secular and distinct, and that by organising there a national armed force, security and confidence wculd rapidly be restored, and the Austrian troops might shortly Withdraw without having to apprehend the return of fresh troubles ; it is at least an experiment which, in his opi nion, ought to be attempted, and this remedy proposed for indisputable evils ought to be submitted by the Congress to the serious consideration of the Pope. As regards the Neapolitan Government, the first Pleni potentiary of Great Britain is desirous of imitating the ex ample given him by Count Walewski by passing over in silence acts which have obtained such grievous notoriety. He is of opinion that it must doubtless be admitted in prin ciple that no Government has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other States, but he considers there are cases in which the exception to this rule becomes equally a right and a duty. The Neapolitan Government seems to him to have conferred this right, and to have imposed this duty upon Europe ; and as the Governments represented in the Congress are all equally desirous to support the mo narchical principle and to repel revolution, it is a duty to lift' up the voice against a system which keeps up revolu tionary ferment among the masses instead of seeking to moderate it. "We do not wish," he says, " that peace should be disturbed, and there is no peace without justice, we ought then to make known t 3 the Kim , of Naples the wish of the Congress for the amelioration of his system of Government—a wish which cannot remain without effect —and require of him an amnesty in favour of the persons who have been condemned or who are imprisoned without trial for political offences," As regards the observations offered by Count Walewski on the excesses of the Belgian press, and the dangers which result therefrom for the adjoining countries, the Plenipo tentiaries of England admit their importance ; but, as the representatives of a country in which a free and indepen dent preis is, so to say, one of the fundamental institutions, they cannot associate themtelvos to measures of coercion against the press of another State. The first Plenipoten tiary of Groat Britain, while deploring the violence in which certain organs of the Belgian press indulge, does not hesitate to declare that the authors of the execrable doctrines to which Count Walewski alludes, the men who preach assassination as the means of attaining a political object, are undeserving of the protection which guarantees to the press its liberty and its independence. In concluding, the Earl of Clarendon observes that, like France, England at the commencement of the war sought by every means to mitigate its effects, and that with this view she renounced, for the' benefit of neutrals during the struggle which has now come to an end, principles which up to that time she hod invariably maintained. He adds, that England is disposed to renounce them definitely, provided that privateering is equally abolished for ever; that privateering is nothing else than an organised and legal piracy, and that privateers are one of the greatest scourges of war, and our condition of civilization and hu manity requires that an end should be put to a system which is no longer suitable to the present day. If the whole of the Congress were to adopt the proposition of Count Walewski, it should be well understood that it would only be binding in regard to the Powers who may accede to it, and that it could not be appealed to by Governments who may refuse their acceptance. Count Orloff observes that the powers with which he is furnished having for their sole object the restoration of peace, he does not consider himself authorized to take part in a discussion which his instructions had not provided for Count Buol congratulates himself on seeing the Govern-. ments of France and England disposed to put an end, as speedily as possible, to the occupation of Greece. Aus tria, he gives the assurance, wishes moat sincerely for the prosperity of that kingdom, and is equally desirous with Erance that all the States of Europe should enjoy, under the protection of public law, their political independence and complete prosperity. He does not doubt that one of the essential conditions of so desirable a state of things exists in the wisdom of a legislation so combined as to prevent or repress the excesses of the press which Count Walewski, with so much reason, has blamed, when speak ing of a neighbouring State, and the repression of which must be considered as an European necessity He hopes that in all the States of the Continent where the press pre sents the same dangers, the Governments will be able to find in their legislation the means of restraining it within proper limits, and that they will thus be enabled to secure peace against fresh international complications. As regards the principles of maritime law which the first Plenipotentiary of France has proposed for adoption, Count Buol declares that he appreciates their spit it and bearing, but that not being authorised by his instructions to express an opinion upon a matter of such importance. he must for the time confine himself to announcing to the Con gress that he is prepared to request the orders of his Sove reign. But here, ho says, his task must end. It would be im possible indeed to discuss the internal situation of inde pendent States which are not represented at the Congress. The Plenipotentiaries have received no other commission than to apply themselves to the affairs of the Levant, and they have not been convened for the purpose of making known to independent Sovereigns wishes in regard to the internal organisation of their State= ; the full powers de posited among the acts of the Congress prove this. The instructions of the Austrian Plenipotentiaries, at all events, having defined the object of the mission which has been intrusted to them, they would not be at liberty to take part in a discussion which those instructions have not antici pated. For the same reasons, Count Buol conceives that he must abstain from entering into the order of ideas adverted to by the first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, and from giving explanations upon the duration of the occupation of the Roman ,States hy the Austrian troops, although adhering entirely and completely to the words uttered by the first Plenipotentiary of France on this subject. Count Walewski observes that there is no question either of adopting definitive resolutions or of entering into en gagements, still less of interfering directly with the inter nal affairs of Governments represented or not represented at the Congress, but merely of consolidating, of completing the work of peace, by taking into serious consideration beforehand the fresh complications which might arise, either from the indefinite and unjustifiable prolongation of certain foreign occupations, or from an unseasonable and impolitic system of severity, or from a turbulent licentious ness at variance with international duties. Baron Hubner replies that the Plenipotentiaries of Aus tria are not authorised either to give an assurance or to express wishes • the reduction of th e A us t r i an arm y i n th e Legations sufficiently shows, in his opinion, that the Im perial Cabinet intends to withdraw its troops as soon as such a measure shall be considered opportune. Baron Manteuffel declares that he knows enough of the intentions of the King, his augast Master, not to hesitate to express his opinion on the questions on which the Con gress is engaged, although he has no instructions on the subject. The maritime principles, says the first Plenipotentiary of Prussia, which the Congress is invited to adopt have always been professed by Prussia, who has constantly ex• orted herself to obtain their recognition ; and he considers himself authorised to take part iu the signature of any Act having forits object their definitive admission into the pub lic law of Europe. He expresses his conviction that Lis Sovereign would not withhold his approval from the agree ment which might be established in this sense among the Plenipotentiaries. Baron Manteuffel by no means overlooks the great im portance of the other questions which have been discussed, bat he observes that an affair of the utmost interest for his Court and for Europe has been passed over in silence ; ho refers to the present situation of Neufchatel. He remarks that this Principality is, perhaps, the only point in Europe where, in contradiction to Treaties and to what has been formally recognised by all the great Powers, a revolution ary power which disregards the rights of the sovereign, holds sway. Baron Manteuffel demands that this question should be included in the number of those to be inquired into. He adds that the King, his Sovereign, anxiously wishes for the prosperity of the Kingdom of Greece, aud that he ardently desires to witness the disappearance of the causes which have produced the abnormal state of things occasioned by the presence of foreign troops ; he admits, however, that it might be proper to examine into circumstances calculated to present this matter in its truo light. As for the steps which it might be considered advan tageous to take, iu what relates to the state of affairs in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilios, Baron Manteuffel observes that such steps might present various ineworeeiences. He says that it might be well to ask one's self whether admo nitions such as those which have been proposal, would not excite in the country a spirit of opposition and revolutionary movements, instead of answering to the ideas which it had been contemplated to carry out, certainly with a benevo lent intention. lie does not deers it proper to enter upon an examination of the actual situation of the Pontifical States. He confines himself to expressing the desire that it may be possible to place the Government in a condition which would henceforth render superfluous the occup•ttiou of foreign troops. Baron Manteuffel concludes by declaring that the Prnssiala Cabinet fully admits the p ei . eic i ous in fluence exercised by the press, subversive of all regular or der, and the dangers which it propogates by preaching up regicide and revolt ; the adds, hat Prussia would volun tarily take part in the inquiry into the m easures which might be be deemed suitable for putting an end to such practices. • Count Cavour does not mein to question the right of each Plenipotentiary not to take part ie the discussion of a question which is not contemplated by his instructions ; it is nevertheless, he thinks, of theutmost importance 'that the opinion manifoted by certai4 Powers, in, regard to the ARTICLE 2. The Snltai reserves to himself, as in past times, to deliver firrnaos of passage for light vessels under flag of war, which shall be employed, as is usual, in the service of the Missions of Foreign Powers. ARTICLE 3. The same exception applies to the light vessels under flag of war, which each of the Contracti • g Powers is authorised to ntatioa at the mouths of the Danube in order to secure the execution of the regulations relative to the liberty of that river, and the number of which is not to exceed two for each Power. ARTICLE 4. The present Convention, annexed to the General Treaty signed at Paris this day, shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Paris in the space of four weeks, or sooner if possible. In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. PROTOCOL No. 17.—SITTIN4 or MARCH 28, 1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria. France, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sar linia, and Turkey. The Protocol of the preceding sitting is read and ap proved. Count Walewski reads the last Articles of the General Treaty ; these Articles are settled and agreed to by the Congreis in the following terms ARTICLE 31. The Ottoman territories occuoied during the war by the troops of their Majesties the Emperor of the French, the Emperorof Austria, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the King of Sardinia, according to the terms of the Conventions signed at Constantinople on March 12, 1854, between France, Great Britain, and the Sublime Porte, the 14th of June of the same year between Austria and the Sublime Purteland the 15th of March, 1855, between Sardinia and the Sublime Porte, shall be evacuated as soon as possible after the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty. The periods and the means of execution shall form the object of an arangement between the Sub blime Porte and the powers whose troops have occupied its territory. ARTICLE 32. " Until the treaties or conventions which existed before the war between the belligerent powers have been either renewed or replaced by new acts, commerce of importa tion or of exportation shall take place reciprocally, for each of them, on the footing of the regulations in force before the war, and in all other matters their subjects shall be respectively treated upon the footing of the most favonred nation. ARTICLE 33. " The Convention concluded this day between their Majesties the Emperor of the French, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, on the one part, and his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias on the other part, respecting the Aland Islands, is and remains annexed to the present treaty, and shall have the same force and validity as it it formed a part thereof. ARTICLE 34. " The present treaty shall be ratified, and the ratifica tions shall be exchanged at Paris in the space of four weeks, or sooner, if possible. " In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed hereto the seal of th sir arms. " Done at Paris, &c." The CongrePs further decides that the Treaty shall terminate with the following additional and transitory Article : "ADDITIONAL AND TRANSITORY ARTICLE. "The stipulations of the Convention respecting the Straits, signed this day shall not be applicable to the vessels of war employed by the belligerent Powers for the evacuation, by sea, of the territories occupied by their armies ; but thesaid stipulations shall resume their entire effect as soon as the evacuation shall be termi nated." All the articles having been read and approved, Count Walewski proposes to the Congress to meet in the course of to-morrow, in order to affix their initials to the Treaty and to the Conventions which will be annexed to it. He likewise proposes to fix Sunday, the 30th of the present month, for the signature of the Peace. The Conference agrees. Count Walewski finally remarks that, upon signing the Treaty of Peace, the Congress will not have arrived at the conclusion of its labours ; that it must continue to meet in order to settle all that relates to the cessation of hostilities, and particularly to the blockades ; to pre- pare the instructions designed for the Commission which is to proceed to the Principalities ; and, finally, to agree upon the arrangements to be adopted in order 0 insure the evacuation of all the territories occupied by the armies of the allied Powers. The Congress consequently decides that it will con tinue to sit and to assemble at the place of its sittings. (The signatures follow,) PROTOCOL No. 19.—SITTING OF MAr.CEI 30, 1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. Having met together at noon in the saloon of their deliberations, the Plenipotentiaries collate with the in struments which they had marked with their initials at the preceding sitting 1. The General Treaty of Peace ; 2. The Convention respecting the Straits ; 3. The Convention relative to the light vessels of war which the Powers bordering on the coasts shall maintain in the Black Sea ; 4. The Convention respecting the Aland Islands. And all these Acts having been found in due form, the Plenipotentiaries affix to them their signature and the seal of their arms. After which, and upon the proposition of Count Wa lewski, the Congress declares that the armistice, in con sequence of the signature of peace, is prolonged till the time of the exchange of the ratifications, and it is agreed between the Plenipotentiaries of France, of Great Bri tain, of Sardinia, and of Turkey, on the one part, and the Plenipotentiaries of Russia, on the other, that orders to this effect shall be transmitted without delay. The Congress further decides that the exchange of the ratifications shall be made in six copies, that the Addi tional Article to the General Treaty shall be ratified in the same instrument with tha General Treaty itself, and that the' ratifications of that Treaty and of each of the annexed Conventions shall be prepared in Separate Acts. The Earl of Clarendon proposes to the Plenipotentia ries to proceed to the Tuileries to inform the Emperor that the Congress has just concluded the work of pacifi cation in which His Majesty took a great interest, and which Europe was awaiting with such lively impatience. The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain says, that this proceeding, as regards the Sovereign of the country in which the Congress is assembled, is at once a respect ful prove w hieh the expression of gratitude due to the great kindness and gracious hospit a lity which the Plenipotentiaries, indivi -1"11Y and collectively, had met with on the part of His Imperil Maj es t y. Lord Clarendon adds, that he feels assured b e f )rehand, that everything which might tend to feelings o f respect and high consideration with the Pleni potent i ar i es are an i ma ted towards the person of th e E tup eror Napoleon, will meet with the PROTOCOL No. 20.—MEETING or APRIL 2, 1856. Present. The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. In conformity with the decision which had been taken, the Congress applies itself to the question whether the blockades can be raised before the exchange of the ratifica tions of the Treaty of Peace. Count Walewski states that the precedents established that, generally, blockades have not been r aised until the time of the exchange of the ra tifications, in virtue of the principle that a war is not terminated until the time when the stipulations which are to put an end to it have that the spirit of re ceived the sanctions of the Sovereigns ; liberality which exercises, in our days , so ha ppy an infla once over international law, and over the relations admits that Franca and the different Powers maintain am on g themsel ves ' nevertheless of a departure f rom thi s ru l e ; Great Britain, who have imp ose d th e ex isting bl o F kades, which have agreed between thems e l ves t o manifest on this occa sion their solicitude for comm erce i n genT consequently, it only now rema i ns t o devise tefi_ the proper means for bestowing upon Eu ro p e thi s f res h The Earl of Clarendon, in concert with the fir ti P sE l i e e n e iP b ° v " tentiary of France, proposes to conclude an sea. This measure, in his opinion, would cans ing blockades to be immediately raised. Count Walewski adds that this arrangement avetnildrea(olf a'o—the--e-Xisi- mit of captures made subsequently to the signa;;;,,,„ -- Peace, being considered void, and of the ships and -- , - _,7 - 1.. - the Pleni potentiaries being restored • that commerce would th; r ",,, - authorised to resume, without further delay, all its -. .,11; sactions, if Russia, on her side, were to revoke, from ted- time, the exceptional measures which she has adop ' n w t i h n i g c h t o t took place wish edsur expresseding peace. by during the war, for interdicting, in her ports, the -s, comm er c i a E I operations „ceriy asse patentiaries of Fiance and Great Britain, the Plenipoten tiaries of Russia reply th a t th e p ropos iti on sub ro itt e i to the Congress will probably be accepted with extrem e favour by their Governm en t ; th a t they hasten, conse quently, to assent to it from the same motives which have suggested it to the Plenipotentiaries who have taken the initiative in regard to it, but that they feel themselves obliged tl emselves obliged to reserve the approval of their Court. The Plenipotentiaries of the othe r P owers declare that this measure will be received with a feeling of lively grati tude by the neutral States. _ _ It is decided that if, in the next sitting, the Plenipotentiaries of Russia, as they presum e , are autho rised to state that their Govern men t has revoked the pro hibitions imposed, during the war, upon commerce of im portation and of exportation, i n the ports and on the fron tiers of the Russian Empire, there shall be concluded be tween France, Great Britain, Sardinia, and Turkey, on the one part, and Russia, on the other, an armistice by sea, which shall reckon from the date of th e signature of the Peace, and shall have for its effect the raising of all block ades. Consequently, prizes made subsequently to the date of the 30th of March last will be restored. The Consular acts and formalities required by seafaring persons and by merchants will be provisionally performed by the Agents of the Powers who have consented during the war to take care, unofficially, of the interests of the subjects of the belligerent Powers. ( Le signatures follow.) PROTOCOL No. 21.—SITTING or APRIL 4, 1856. Present..—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The Protocol of the preceding sitting is road and ap proved._ _ _ _ The Plonipotontiaries of Russia announce that they are authorised to state that the prohibitive measures adapted during the war for closing the B,uspian ports to commerce of exportation, are about. to be revoked. In consequence of this declaration, and in conformity with the resolution which it adopted at its preceding sit ting, the Congress determines that an armistice by sea is concluded between France, Great Britian Sardinia, and Turkey, on th e one p ar t , an d R uss i a, one the other, and that prizes m a d e su b sequen tl y to the signature of Peace shall be restored. It is consequently agreed that orders shall be given for the immediate raising of the existing blockades, and that the measures adopted in Russia during the war, against the export of Russian produce, and especially of grain, shall be revoked without delay. After having proposed to the Congress to take up the question of the evacuation of the Russian and Ottoman territories, Count Walewski says that, as regards the allies, it is their intention, as they have already given an assur ance, to recall their troops without delay, and to give orders that this movement shall commence immediately after the exchange of ratifications. Ho thinks, and he be lieves that he may give an assurance, that the Russian ter ritories will be totally evacuated within a peri.gl of six months. He acids that the Allied armies will quit, within the same term, the positions which they occupy in Turkey. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia give an assurance, on their side, that measures shall be taken for the Russian troops which are now in Kars and in its environs with drawing, as promptly as possible, within the Russian terri tory. They engage to communicate to the Congress, at one of its ensuing meetings, the term which shall be consi dered necessary for the prompt execution of this operation. They express the desire that the Allied armies which are in the Crime). shall commence their withdrawal by Kertch and Jenikale, in order that the Sea of Azoff may, as soon as possible, be opened to navigation and commerce. Count Buol expresses his gratification at the eagerness shown by the belligerent Powers to recall their armies, and thus to execute without delay one iof the most important stipulations of the Treaty of Peace. He says that Austria, on her side, will take care to withdraw within her territory such of her troops as occupy the Principalities. He adds that as this operation is not subject to the same difficulties as the embarkation of the armies in the Crimea and their material, it can be accomplished more promptly, and that the Austrian troops will have evacuated the Principalities before the belligerent armies will have been able, on their side, to complete the evacuation of the Ottoman empire. After these explanations, it is unanimously agreed that all the belligerent or Allied armies shall commence their withd-pwal immediately after the exchange of the ratifica tions of the Treaty of Peace, and that they shall continue it without interruption. It is equally agreed that the armies of France, of Great Britain, and of Sardinia, shall have a period of six months to effect the total evacuation of the territories which they occupy in Russia and in the Ottoman: empire ; that this evacuation shall commence, as far as possible, by Kertch, Senikale, Kinburn, and Eupa toria. The Treaties concluded at Constantinople on March 12, 1851, and March 15, 1855, between France, Great Britain, Sardinia, and Turkey, stipulating that on the conclusion of peace the territory of the Ottoman Empire shall be evacu ated within the space of forty days, and the execution of this engagement having become physically impossible in consequence of the development assumed by the war, it is agreed that instructions and powers shall be sent to the Representatives of France, Great Britain, and Sardinia, at Constantinople, to conclude a C o nv e ntion with th e P or t e , for the purpose of fixing a new term, which shall not exceed six months. The Congress then decides that the Commissioners who, by the terms of Article XX of the Treaty of Peace, will have to undertake the demarkation of the new frontier in Bessarabia, shall meet at Galata on the 6th of May next, and shall execute without delay the mission which will be intrusted to them. " The Plenipotentiaries of Russia declare that the Rus sian authorities, as soon as this operation shall be concluded, will make over to the Moldavian authorities the portion of territory which, in pursuance of the fresh detnarkation, will have to be annexed to Moldavia. It is understood that this cession takes place in exchange for, an.l shall co incide with, the evacuation of the Russian territories by the allied armies. The Earl of Clarendon remarks that in order to hasten the evacuation of the Crimea, it would be advantageous that vessels of the allied Powers should have the power of freely entering the harbour of Sebastopol ; this facility, in the opinion of the first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, would accelerate the embarkation of men and material by several weeks. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia reply that they will take the orders of their Court in this respect. Count Walewski says that it is proper to take up the question of the instructions intended for the Commis sioners who will be required to repair to the Principalities to investigate, according to the provisions of Article XXIII of the Treaty of Peace, the present state of those Provinces, and to propose the bases of their future organisation. He states that those instructions might be drawn up in general terms ; that in fixing the object of the mission of the Com missioners, such as it had been defined by the Treaty itself, they must leave them the latitude necessary for obtaining information and for qualifying themselves to perform in a complete and satisfactory manner the task which will be intrusted to them. It seems to him that this opinion may the more readily be adopted by the Congress, inasmuch as the Orman ordaining the convocation of the Divans ad hoc, is, according to Protocol No. 14, to be concerted with the Re presentatives of the Contracting Powers at Constantinople, and drawn up in such a manner as to provide for the entire execution of the Article of the Treaty which determines the composition of those bodies. He is finally of opinion that the drawing up of thsse instructions, which could not be prepared by the Congress, should be intrusted to a Com mission selected from among its members. The Congress agrees, and the Commission is composed of the first Plenipotentiary of Turkey, and of the second Ple nipotentiaries of France and of Great Britain. The Congress, after a further examination, and consi dering that it would be advantageous to modify the deci sion which it had taken on this same subject in the sitting of March 30, adopts the following resolutions :-- In the ratifications of the General Treaty, that Treaty shall be followed word for word, and in extenso by the Ad ditional Article and the throe Conventions annexed ; but the ratification shall apply to the General Treaty and th e Additional Article, in the following terms: " We, g r , c . having seen and examined the said Treaty, and the s a id Additional and Transitory Article, have approved and do approve them in all and each of the provisions contained in them," &c. These ratifications shall be exchanged in six copies for each Contractim; Powers. The Convention respecting the light vessels shall be rati fied between the Porte and Russia. The Convention respecting the Straits shall be ratified between the Porte, on the one part, which shall present six copies, and the other Powers on the other part, who, not having to exchange ratifications between themselves, will simply have to ratify with the Porte, and consequently to present a single copy The Convention respecting Aland shall be ratified be tween France and England, on the one part, who shall produce each o ne co py intended for Russia, and Russia on the other part, who will have to produce two copies. (The signatures follow.) PROTOCOL No. 22. SITTIFG OE APRIL 8, 185$. - -•- Present. —The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, Prance, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The Proto co l o f th e preceding sitting is read and ap proved. The Earl of Clarendon remarks that in the last meeling, and in consequence of the Plenipotentiaries not being yet in a position to accede to other propositions, the • ci gress had confined itself to agreeing upon the raising of the blockades. Ho announces that the Pleni potentaries of Great Britain are now authorised to make known that the restrictive decision imposed on the occa sion of the War on commerce and navigation are on the eve of being revoked. The Plenipotentiaries of Amnia haying repeated the core 4 .`" occupation of the Romau States, should be recorded in the Protocol. The first Plenipotentiary of Sardinia states that the ocupation of the Roman States by the Austrian trunlie asaumes every day more of a 'permanent character ; that it has lasted seven years, and that, nevertheless, no indication appears which would lead to the our position that it will cease at a more or leas early period ; that the causes which gave rise to it are still in existence; that the state of the country w hi c h they occupy is, assuredly, not improved, and that in order to bo satisfied of this, it is enough to remark that Austria con siders herself obliged to maintain, in its utmost severitY, the state of siege at Bologna, although it dates from the occupation itself. He observes that the presence of the Austrian troops in the Legations and in the Duchy of i Parma, destroys the b a l ance o f p ower i n Italy, and constitutes a real danger f o r S ar di n i a . The Pon' potentiaries of Sardinia., he says, deem it, there fore, a dut to oint out to the attention of Euroe a state of things so y abnormal as that which results from the inde finite occupation of i a great part of Italy by Austrian troops. As regards the qfiestion of Naples, Count Cavonr shar e ! entirely the opinions expressed by Count Walewski and the Earl of Clarendon, and he conceives that it is in , the highest degree important to suggest modifications which by appeasing passions, would render less difficult the regu lar progress of affairs in the other States of the Peninsula- Baron Hubner, on his part, says that the first Pleeipo tentiary of Sardinia has spoken only of the . A us trians N patio°, and kept silence in regard to that of France ; O nevertheless the two occupations took place at the same time and with the same object; that it aas impossible to admit the argument drawn by Count Cavour, from th e permanency of the state of siege at Bologna ; that if ,°, ll _, exceptional state of things is still necessary in that 0 1 1 '7., while it has long since ceased at Rome and Ancona , tul ' appears at the utmost to prove that the dispositions of the people of Rome and of Ancona are more satisfactory than those of the city of Bologna. He remarks that in Italy. it is not only the Roman States which are occupied by fore i g n troops ; that the Communes of Menton and of Rog forming part of the Principality of Monaco, have been f,_o r the last eight years occupied by Sardinia, and that tu e only difference which exists between the two occupsti°l l . B uebruue• is, that the Austrians and the French were invited by s he Sovereign of the country, while the Sardinian troops Or tered the territory of the Prince of Monaco contrary to lo g wishes, and maintain themselves therein, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the Sovereign of the country. t , In reply to Baron Hubner, Count Cavour says that be is desirous that the French occupation should cease " r well as the Austrian, but that he cannot help uoosi d e ing the one as being far more dangerous than the other foci the independent S ates of Italy. He adds, that a set a corps d'armee, at a great distance from France, is mensa l 's for no one; whereas it is very alarming to see Austria resting on Ferrara and on Placentia, the fortifications O f which she is enlarging, contrary to the spirit if not to the letter of the Treaties of Vienna, and extending herself along the Adriatic as far as Ancona. As for Monaco, Count Cavour declares that Sardinia le ready to withdraw the fifty men who occupy Menton , the Prince is in a condition to return to the country with out exposing himself to the most serious dangers. Bol d "' lie does not consider that Sardinia can he accused of her" ing contributed to the overthrow of the ancient Govern: mont, in order to occupy those States, since the PAX:IOOW not been able to maintain his authority in the single W O, of Monaco, which Sardinia occupied in 1848, in virtu e the Treaties. Baron Brunnow thinks it is his duty to point out a P er titular circumstance, that the occupation of G r t e o by the allied troops took place during the war, „d that relations being happily re-established betvre!.. the three Protecting Courts, the time is arrived I°o`f coming to an understanding as to the memo ~a reverting to a situation in conformity with the cora l % interest. He gives the assurance that the Plenipotentiarrily of Russia have received with satisfaction, and will e.ag e to l trauma to their Government, the intentions marol r es a o f in this respect by the Plenipotentiaries of France al. e - c t Great Britain, and that Russia, with a conservative o bj ect an with a view to ameliorate th e s t a t e o f thingsexist' in Greece, will readily join in every measure which 133 " the i appear calculated to effect the pu r p ose contemplated n foundation of the Hellenic Kingdom. take The Plenipotenti +ries of Russia add, that they :11 t ° the orders of their Court upon the proposal submitt ed the Co unt Congress relati to maritie law. Walewski ve congratulates himself on having in duc t! the Plenipotentiaries to interchange their ideas on t ed questions which have been discussed. He had etiPP °6 to that might have been possible, perhaps with advantage, of express themselves in a more complete manner on som e n . the subjects which have fined the attention of the " - O f gross. "But such as it is," he says, "the intercha n g e - ideas which has taken place is not without advantage. The first Plenipotentiary of France states that the res at of it is, in effect : • uslY 1. That no one has contested the necessity of ea rl° • deliberating as to the means for improving the eitti atic6 of Greece, and that the three protecting Courts have reel; nised the importance of corning to an understanding ow ° themselves in this respect. 2. That the Plenipotentiaries of Austria have accede:4,n the wish expressed by the Plenipotentiaries of France d the evacuation of the Pontifical States by the. French it. Austrian troops, as soon as it can be effected without P',l„ j udice to the tranquillity of the country and to the cotton" dation of the authority of the Holy Bee. riot 3. That the greater part of the Plenipotentiaries have „ questioned the good effect which would result from niel`. sures of clemency, opportunely adopted by the Gard merits of the Italian Peninsula, and especially by tha t the Two Sicilies. 4. That all the Plenipotentiaries, and even those whtohnen;: sidered themselves bound to reserve the principle of berty of the press, have not hesitated loudly to conderoi the excesses in which the Belgian -newspapers indulge with impunity, by recognising the necessity of retool' ing the inconvenices which is so greatly abusued 13° glum. I That, finally, the reception given by all the Plenipote n* tiaries to the idea of closing their labour. by a declaratio n of principles in the matter of maritime law must give rev son to hope that at the next sitting they will have re' ceived from their respective Governments authority tto sn Act which, while completing the work of Congress of Paris, would effect an improvement worthy of our epoch. ' (The signatures follow.) Country Markets. EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET—ArIin 29. There were in the market to-day 14 sacks oatmeal, elb cii weighing 280 lbs imperial, which sold at 425. Od. EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARICET--' Arlin, 29. Supplies of all kinds these last six days again large. Oat straw, from 89 6d to Ils 0(1 per kemple of 16 ond. tron; wheat do., 8s Od to 9s 6d; barley do., Ss Od to 715 Hay from 10d to 15d. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET—Arm 28 Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs First. Second. I n--„, whir od imperial Barleymeal, per ditto Peasemeal, per ditto Flour, per ditto 3ss Od. —s Od --- Od Pot-barley, per ditto GLASGOW—Amur, 30. At to-day's mark e t use f u l qua li t i es of w h ea t brough- t „ n b per 2451bs advan ce . Fl our in request at an impro ve t d. of 6d to is p er b r l. Barley quiet, and value uneha s s - Oats and oatme a l s l ow o f sa l e at former rates. Beans an peas the same. Indian ccrn, 17s 6d to 18s per 280110., CORK—APRIL 30. White wheat, 35 5 ; red, 30a to 34. s 3d ; barley,l 7o 18s 9d ; oats, 12 s t o 15s. DUBLIN, APRIL 29. White wheat, 37s Od to 41s ; red ditto, 34s Od to 3 8, 0 barley, 14s Od to 19s Od ; oa t s , ll s Od to 14s Od ; r a t ese i,:r d ; —s Od to —s Od pe r b r l ; oa t mea l, 14 s Od to 15 s Od ; v t "l AA flour, 21s Od to 27s Od per cwt; Indian corna9s Od to 31 1 per 480 lbs. COAL MARKE' Prices of Coal per ton at 1 ;T.-APRIL 30. the close of the market. s. d. Bate's West Hartley 17 0 Huddle W. Hartley lB 0 Byass's West Hartley l7 9 Davison's West Hartley 18 0 Hosting's Hartley l7 9 Howard's West Hartley , Wallsend, &c. Haswelll Hetton 0. ' • 17 6 P. Hetton Lyons Main l5 ,f, P, I Plummer ißussell's Hetton 16 3 PSouth Hetton 11 '; 6 Stewart's Cassop .1 17 6 0 Hartlepool l7 Eleugb Hall 16 1 South Kelloe 16 Pees l7 ~ 'Trhudon Hartlepool 16 V Whitworth l6 0 Birehgrove Graigola ..• 21 a Carr's Merthyr 2l Derwentwater Hartley l7 " 35 I Sold Netherton 17 9' Longridge's Wst Hartley 17 Taufield Moor 13utee 14 6 Wylam 15 6j Wallsend, &c. Heaton fiedley Wharneliffe l5 9' Pell's Primrose 14 0 Eden Maim l6 3 Braddyll l6 0 Ships at market... [ADVERTISEMENT.J—HoIIoway's Ointment and Fil ls never failing remedies for Bad Legs,—Extract of a le t• ter from Mr. William Mabson, druggist, of Great Yfigr . mouth.—To Professor Holloway. "Sir,—Samuel mariner, had a v er y b a d l eg for nearly three years. 111 obtained the advice of several medical men, and tried various remedies, but instead of deriving benefit there' from, his leg continued to get worse, which prevented him following his employment. He was then induced to try Holloway's ointment and pills, which have bseo the weans of effecting a perfecting cure.—Sold by all medicine vendors throughout the world, at Professor Holloway's establishments, 244, Strand, London, find 80, Maiden lane, New York ; by A. Stampa, Constanti nople ;A. Guidicy, Smyrna; and E. Muir, Malta. B I T H OP S. SON. Oa the 23th ult., at St. John's-wood, Mrs. Williams 33' A DAUGHTNE. On the 30th ult., at Ashley House, Wiekham - terll' ee ' the wife of Hugh E. Alontgonierie, Esq. MARRIED On the 29th ult., at St. James's Church, Paddington , John T. C amp b e l l, Esq., only son of John Campbell. Esq late M a j or o f H,M . ' s 74th Regiment, to ALDO Katharin e Lindesay Bethune, eldest daughter of the late Major-G o ' neral Sir Henry Bethune, Bart: D I E D, On the 30th ult.. at 52, Inverness-terrace, Hyde.park, Thomas Ashmore, Esq., aged 72. On the 29th u l t ., at Highgate, Thomas Broadbent, aged 64. On the 27th ult., at Westwell, Kent, Mrs. Whittle, aged 92. 'Oa the 27th ult., at Drompton, Kent, William Woods, Esq., of her Majesty's Dockyard, Woolwich, aged 61. On the 25th ult., at Tatton-park, Cheshire, Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., aged 75. LeNID011: erintexi and Rbii b3ti by It CritDO yoUNn, of No. 112, Strand, Printer at The Soot Office, No. 11 2 , Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the oount7 01 middiesex, Thursday, May 1, 1806, It, i will C On: during . Theat; the ; pu tide es and he prospe and su roniini NUCC The had 10 110011C01 fortun, four st ' Ofta Will im Will arr VIM an will m POUR as excel] the e] Now p oedi Princli The Prices In ad Of th kind Fore 80C. 801 Will Pain Hew Princi