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. Prezent.—For Austria : Count de Buol Schattenstein, &c., and Baron de Hubner, &c. For France : Count Colonnia Walewaki, and Baron de Bourqueney, &c. For Great Britain : The Earl of Clarendon, &c., and Lord Cowley, &c. For Russia : Count Orloff, tte„ and Baron Brunnow, &c. Fur Sardinia : Count de Cavour, &c., and the Marquis de Villamarina, &c. For Tur key : Aali Pasha, &c., and Mehemmel 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 notonly," 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 Buol 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,—l thank you for the honour yon 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 afresh 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 respective powers, which, having been found in good and due form, are deposited among the Acts of the 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 tite labours with which the Conference would have to oc cupy itself, proposes to declare that the Protocol signed M Vienna ou 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 let of February by the Representatives of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, and Turkey, record the adhesion of their Courts to the bases of nego- Cations 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 Pienipot‘m- Caries 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 respective pQsitions which they occupy, ab staining from any act of aggression. In consequence, the pre.ent decision shall be trans raitted without delay, and, as far as possible, by the telegraph, to the Commanders-►n-ohief, in order that they may conform to it as soon as the orlers of their Go vernments shall reach them. The Plenipotentiaries further resolve that the asmis tice shall not aff'ct the blockade established or to be established ; but the Commanders of the naval forces shall receive orders to abstain, during the oont'.nuance of the armistice, from any act of hostility against the terri tories of the belligerents. This being settied, 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 Definitive Treaty, Done at Paris, the twenty-fitfh of February, one thou , sand eight hundred and fifty-six. (Signed) BUOL-SCHA.UENSTEIN. COUNT ORLOFF. HUBNER. BRUNNOW, WALEwsKr. CAVOUR. BOURQUENEY. CLARENDON. AALI, COWLEY. MECIEIIMED DJEMII, ANNEX TO PROTOCOL No. I. Present.—The Representatives of France, 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 Preliminaries, 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 formal Preliminaries of Peace, conclude an armistice and a Definitive Treaty of Peace. The said Plenipoten tiaries shall meet at iiaris within a period of three weeks from this day, or sooner if possible. Done at Vienna, in quintuplic.ste, the first of Febru. ary, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six. (Signed) BouRQumNEY- GORTCELIKOFF. BUM', SCII.IUF.NSTEIN. G. H. SEYMOUR. (Initials affixed) B. 0. B. C. V. A. M. D. PROJECT OF PRELIMINARIES. 1. DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES. Complete abolition of the Russian Protectorate. 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 Powers, shall further grant to these Principaiities, or confirm therein, an iaternal organisation suitable to the wants and wishes of the populations. The Principalities shall, in concert with the Suzerain Power, adopt a permanent defensive system required by their geographical situation ; no obstacle shall be thrown in the way. of the extraordinary 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 ree tification of her frontier with Turkey in Europe. This frontier, thus rectified in a manner suitable to the geile ral interest°, would start from the neighbourhood of Cho tyn, fello w 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 Prineipali , ties and to the suzerainty of the Porte. 2. DANI:Me. The freedom of the Danube and of its mouths shall be effectually secured by European institations, in which the Contracting Powers shall be equally represented, without prejudice to the special positions of the river bordering Powers,which sh a ll b e settled upon the prin. eiples established by the Act of the Congress 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 Black Sea shall be neutralised. Its waters, thrown open to the mercantile marine of every nation, shall be interdicted to ves3als of war. Consequently there shall neither be created nor main ned there any milit ary maritime arsena l s. The protection cf the commercial and maritime interests of every nation shall be assured in the respective p )rts of the Black Sea, by tke establishment of institutions in conformity with international right and the established usages in such matter. Tile two Powers bordering on it shall mutually engage to maintain there only the number 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 bare 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 i❑ favour of the stationary vessels mentioned in the preceding Article. 4. CHRISTIAN POPULATIONS SUBJECT TO THE PORTE. The immunities of the Ravah 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 Britain, and the Sublime Porte, with the TEL 81CIN. L014001'4 9 WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 30. 185 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 rigbi which belongs to them of proposing in the interests of Europe special conditions in addition to the four gua. ranteeq. (Initials affixed) (Initials affixed) B. B. H. S. G. U. B. H. W. 13. C. C. 0. B. C. V. A. M. D. which have placed Russia in plasession of More terii-' tories, and their present situation. Aali Ylsha observes that difficulties have arisen in this respect between the Porte and Russia, and that it would be al vantageoul to verify, and, if necessary, rectify the frontiers between the possessions of the two Empires in Asia. 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 tfie 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 Po were as bases of the negotiation, and which are enumerated in the document annexed to the Protocol signed at Vienna on the Ist 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 ineffectual. The Russiaa 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. Berou Brunnow is of opinion that the situation of Ser via should be the object of a Special Article. This opinion is a . :sented to by all the Plenipoten tariee. Ali Pasha remarks that the cessation of any single protectorate naturally excludes ali idea of collective pro tectorate, and that the intervention of the Powers will be confined withia 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 the 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 slates that the Russian Plenipoten- Lulea would willingly refer on this point to the terms agreed upon at Vienna. Baron de Bourqueney replies that the ideas on this important point aro 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. Baron Drunnow remarks that the lined determined by the Convention signed at St. Petersburg,h in 183 i, 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 Walowski answers that a revi,ion 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 bad 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 toe 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 Walewaki lays down that the town of Karg, and the Ottoman territory at present in the occupation of 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 Waleweki, white 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 Waleweki 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 OF MARCEE 4, 1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The Protocol of the preceding meeting. is read and approved. Count Walewski observes that the Congress bad 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 Bruncow, 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. The 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 sioners, of two Russian Commissioners, of one English Commissioner, and of one French Commissioner. Toe 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 bad 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, are 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 B.ack Sea being declared neutral, the mainte nance or establishment upon its coast of military-maii time fertresses 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, upsn that coast, any miiitary-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 Sea, Lord Clarendon does not mean to assert that Russia is bound to destroy the ship-building yards which exist there • but he remarks that pubiic opi n ion 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, r,n acceding with. sincerity to the propositions of peace, firmly resolved strictly to carry out all the engagements resulting from them ; but that Nieo ' laieff, being situated far from the shore of the Black Sea, respect for her dignity would not permit Russia 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 coasts 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 construction 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. 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 flags of Powers not border;ng ou 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 imposed on them would not admit of the existence of any doubt on that point. Baron Brunnow observes that the object of their mis . 4 in 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 parajaphs, relating to the protection of com mercial interests in the Black Sea, and the Separate Con veution 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 Walewski observes that it will be necessary, when tho Plenipotentiaries enter upon this point of the negotiation, to inquire what Powers shall be called upon to cincur tu it; and Count (Huff, as well as C,unt . Buol, add that Prussia, would naturally be invited to take part in it. Whilst agreeing. to this 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 Plenipotentiaries have to decide later at what time this invitation shoul I be sent to Prussia. The fourth point is read throughout, and Count Wa lewski remarks thereupon that it will he proper to re surd the entrance of Turkey within the public law of Europe. The Plenipotentiaries agree that it is important a) record this new fact by a special stipulation inserted the Gaieral 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 Pasha states that a new hatti-sherif has renewed the religious privileges granted to thu non Mussulman subjects of the Porte, and prescribed new reforms, which probed the solicitu.le of his Majesty the Sultan for all his people without distinction ; that this Act has been pub lishA, 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 appeal to the text itself of the fourth point, which ha 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.) Toe 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, Count Orloff adds that, in order to prove the sincerity of his intentions, the Emperor has intrusted him to demand a free passage through the Straits of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles for the two shins of the line which alone are now at Nicolaieff, and which would hare to proceed to the Baltic as soon as peace was con cluded. Tne 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 nation the security which is desired, Russia and the Sublime Porte will admit Consuls into their ports situated upon the coast of the B.a3k Sea, in conformity with the principles of international law. "His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russia.s and his :llajesty the Sultan having concluded between them a Convention, for the purpose of settling the force and number of light vessels which they 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. "The Convention of July 13, 1841, which maintains the ancient rule of the Ottoman Empire, relative to the closing of the Straits of the Busphorus 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 subje , ..t of the light vessels which the Sublime Porte and Russia may maintain in the Black See, and it is agreed that the project of it shall be com municated to the Congress at the next meeting. (rho signatures follows.) PROTOCOL, No. S.—SITTING OF llfaitca 6, 1856. Present.—The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The Protocol of the preceding meeting is read ar.d --- approved. pßoTocoL No. 3.—SITTING OF MARCH 1, 1856. Count Orloff states that the Plenipotentiaries of Tur- Present.—Tae Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France' key and of Russia are not prepared to lay before the Con- Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. , grass the pr eject of Treaty relative to th e vesse l s o f war provThe d Protocol o f th e p rece di ng s itti ng i s rea d an d ap- which the Powers possessing the coasts ma y k eep i n t h e e. The Congress as it had resolved, proceeds to the con- Black Sea, and applies to defer this communication till sider a ti on of the fifth point.the next sitting. Count W a l ewski reads it and adds that in the first The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain inquires of , , the Plenipotentiaries of Russia whether the declaration place, and a s a separate condition, the allied Power-it do. made by Count Orloff in the preceding sitting, on the rebuild or create any naval or ' hi' h mand that henceforth Russia should no longer be ab le to military este is mr.n in the Aland Islands, Count Orloff replies that Russia is disposed to a ace de the Sea of Azoff. . . subject of Nicolaieff, applies equally to Cherson and to The first Plenipotentiary of Russia replies that, like to this stipulation if th e P Nicolaieff, the Sea of Azoff cannot be included under the lenipotenti ar i es succee d , .as b e hoped would be the ca-e, in co m i ng t direct application of the principle accepted by Russia ;t , ,a n understandi og upon the other points of the n egot i at i on. He demands that, on the other hand, it is indubitable that large yes. that this stipulation should be record e d i n a Separte At t, sale cannot navigate that sea ; he abides, however, by the assurances to which the Earl of Clarendon has IT- Obe concluded between France, Great Britain and Ru s. the and he repeats that Russia being desirous of act sia, those Powers having exclusively taken part in tt ,e warlike operations of which the Baltic ha s been t. no wholly in conformity with the engagements which th ea t re. I she has contracted, will not build, anywhere on the 'of Austria exp ress the • The Plenipotentiaries opin ion shores of the Black Sea, or in its tributaries, or in the that th e S e p ara t e A c t should, nevertheless, be annex red waters which are dependent on it, any ships of war other to the G enera l T rea t y . than those which Russia will maintain in the Black Sea The Confe r en ce asse nt, according to the terms of her Convention with Turkey. Count Walewski states that, as the second sepses is The Congress proceeds to the development of the condition, The first Plenipotentiary of France remarks that the the allied P ower s require that the state of tl to ii second point. territories situated to the east of the Black Sea should I be 1 m. Conference o f Vi enna h a d c a refully studied all th e gu specially i nqu i red into, Lions relating to th e nav i ga tion of the Danube, and th a t Baron Biun tiow exp l a i ns the diplomat i c t ramac ti o Fli it would, consequently, be advisable to take into ac count what had been then prepared. Gmnt BU9I reads the Annex to the filth Vienna Pro tocol. Count Walewshi proposes that the following elauf..7es should he 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 the-e 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. "The 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 Galata and Braila. "In order to cover the expenses of such works, as well of the establishments intended to secure and to faci litate the navigation, fixed duties of a suitable rate may 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, reference 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. portance, and on the solution of which must necessarily depend the further labours of the Cong,r;?ss on that sub ject ; thin question is, whether Moldavia and Wallachia shall henceforth be ucited in one single Principality, or whether they shall co,tinue to possess a separate admi• nistration. The first Plenipotentiary of Franco conceives that, as the union of the two Provinces satisfies the ro• quirements brought to light by an attentive investiga tion into their tru3 interests, the Congress should admit and proclaim it. Tho 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 he adds, to take into account. Count Buol remarks, that the regulation of which this Commission will have to superintend the execution, can affict 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 Turkey contests it. Aali Pasha maintains that the state of things to which it is proposed to put an end cannot le 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 compara 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 no thing could justify the union of the two Provinces ; the people, be aids, have not been consulted ; amsd 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• tion 3. After having added further arguments in support of his opinion, Count Wale wski replies that the Congress cannot directly consult those people, and that it must ne cessarily, in thiA 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 community 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 hr both Provinces, an swers the fend to which the solicitude of the Congress is directed. 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 admits of no ambiguity and sufficiently indicates the nature of the attributes of this Commission. Count Walewski reads the seventh and last paragraph, which is is 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 two) 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 furiher 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 expla'n that they do not propose to reserve to each Plenipotentiary the right of revising the resolutions adopted and the principles accepted by the Congress, 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). The first Plenipotentiary of Austria does not think that he can place 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 hand, 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 pi ivileges, since among the number of those privileges was, above all, comprised tbat of separate Administrations. He adds that, at a later period, and when there shall be established in the Principalities an institution which cm be regu larly considered as the legitimate organ of the wishes of the country, it mightlbe possible, if necessary, to unite the two provinces with a full knowledge of all the cir cumstances. PROTOCOL No. G.—SITTING or MARCH 8, 1850. Present.--The Plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The first Plenipotentiary of Turkey states that Mehemmed Djetnil 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 its states t'-at his Court has assented to the establishment of the Mixed Commis-ion which will be charged with the revision of the Asiatic frontier, and to which, as stated in Protocol No. 4, the PleniOtentiaries of Russia hal only agreed subject to the approval of their Government. On the propos:7'4 of Count Wa!ewski, the Congress proceeds to the de . zelopsnent 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 anti the Russian territory. Baron Brunnow reads a memorandum tending to prove that the character of the localities, and the direc 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• Lion of the Donuts?, 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 advantage of causing no disturbance in the admigis tration of the Province, would start from Waduli-Ti-alti on the Prutb, follow the Val de Trajan, and terminate on the north of Lake Yalput. Russia would abandon the Islands of Delta, and raze the forts of Ismail and Kilia-nova. Count Walewski reples that this proposition is too material a departure from the very bases of the negctia tion for the Plenipotentiaries of the allied Powers to be able to take it into serious consideration. Baron Brunnow, reverting to the observations which ho bad already urge], states that it would be difficult to fix 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 Trajan, and, Lake Salsyk. Tne first Pleuipotet t sry cf Great Britain represents that the admission f the line indicated by the Russian Plenipotentiary won d be equivalent to the abandonment of the propositions drawn up by Austria with the assent of the allied Powers ; that those propositions have been accepted at St. Petersburg, confirmed at Vienna and Paris, and that the Plenipotentiaries of those Powers, whatever may be the spirit of concilation by which they are animated, could not depart, to sucO an extent, from the conditions of penes, and entirely renounce conces sions ndmitted in principle by a 1 the Governments repre sented a% the Congress. Count Walewskr makes similar observations. Count Boot 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 snore nearly to the facts which bad preceded the opening of the negotiatione. Baron Hubner observes that the line indicated by its two ex 4 rente point, in the Austrian propositions, is founded on the configuration of the country, as laid down in all the snaps. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia reply that they have given evidence, in the preceding sittings, of their concilia tory intentions ; that' they have placid before the Con gress considerations which, in their opinion, deserve to be taken into account ; that they have no other object than to elicit an understanding in conformity with the tops. graphy of the country and with the interests of its inha bitants; and that they are consequently ready to discuss any other proposition which might be communicated to them. 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 the wants and wishes of the people. It hal there fore been proposed at Vienna to reserve to the Sultan and his allies the right and the care of devising toether the measures calculated to ensure the happiness of these people, taking into account their own wishes. Now Fracce had presented at the C.mforences 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 lVioldo-Wallachians de sired the union of the Provinces in one single Princi pality. _ _ Tice first Plenipotentiary of 3arilinia remarks, in order to prove that the wish of the people iu this respect is antecedent to the present state o , 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 the Article quoted by the Count de Cavour would not bear such an interpretation. Count Orloff declares that the Plenipotentiaries of Russia, having had opportunities of ascertaining the wants and wishes of the two Principalities, support the project of union as calculated to promote the prosperity o the Provinces. Upon the declaration made by Aali Pasha that the Plenipotentiaries of Turkey are Hot authorised to purstie 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 there to take the orders of their Courts. (Tee signatures follow.) PROTOCOL No. 7.—SITTING OF MARCH 10, 1855. Present.—The Pienivotentiaries of Austria, France, Great Britain, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. The second Plenipotentiary of Turkey, prevented by the state of his health, does not assist at the sitting. Toe Protocol of the preceding sitting is read and ap proved. Tne Congress resumes the discussion on the demarca tion of the frontiers in Bessarabia. Baron Bruunow 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 bsen proposed to them at the preceding sitting ; that they acknowledge how much this line justifies the confidence which they bad placed in the conciliatory 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 halt: already explained, they find themselves compelled, in the interest itself of a good demarcation, to demand an amendment of the line which had been offered to them, so that the frontier, starting from the confluence of the Pruth and the Saratsika, should ascend this latter river as far as the village of the same name, and should procee I thence towards the river Yalpuok, the course of which it should descend as far as the point where it joins the Val de Trajan, which it should fellow as far as lake Salsyk, terminating finally at the northern extremity of Lake Alabies. This proposition is subjected to an examination in which all the Plenipotentiaries take part; who come to an agree nut and decide that the frontier shall start from the Black Sea, nue:kilometre to the east of Lake B 'urea Sola, shall run perpendicularly to the Akei man road, fellow this road as far as the Val de Trajan, pass to the "Routh of Bolgrad, ascend the Yalptic:t River to the height of Saratisika, and terminate at Kataineri nn the Pruth. 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 Commission, composed of engineers and surveyors, shall be charged with fixing in its details the line of the new frontier. Count Orloff, grounding his arguments on precedents, proposes to the Congress to decide that the inhabitants of the territory cede.' 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 common consent, or by means of a separate agreement to be concluded with the Administration of the Principalities. Several plenipotentiaries observing that this proposi von may raise difficulties which they are not in a posi tion to ai pr s.ciate, the Congress receive.; it ad referendum. Count Walewski remarks that the development of the first point, as far as concerns the future orgenisation of the Princip a liti es , requ i res t h at the details of it should be confided to a Chonuis,ion, 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 rn , f4},t confine themselves to laying down in the Treaty the bases of the politioal and administrative system which shall henceforth regulate the Danuliiati Province 4, agreeing, at the same time, 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 signed shortly, and the expectation of Europe would be no longer kept in suspense. his proposition is the subject.of a discussion in take part particularly the Pledpoteniaries of Austria and Great Britain. 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 t o pro ceed by means of compensation ; and that it might per haps be possible to come to an understanding by ex t end. ing the boundary to the sout heast 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 pr o p ose d 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, thel say, to ascertain what effect this would hav e upon th e Bulgarian and Russian colonies established in this part of Bessarabia, request that the continuation of the dis• mission may be deferred till the next sitting. The Congress agrees ; but the Plenipoten t i ar i es o f F rance and Great Britain maintain that the proposition, to which they have assented in a spirit of concord, con s tit utes, i n every respect, a concession, the importance of w hi c h i s proved by the extent of territory comprised between Chotyn and Hush, and they express the con v i c ti on that this conc e ssio n will be fully appreciated by the Plenipr.)- teutiaries 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 allowed 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- The first Plenipotentiary of Austria proposes an amend ment which is accepted ; and, in consequence, the Curl. cress decides that a Giminission, composed of Coun t Buol, Baron tourqueney, and Aali 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 expresso 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 23th 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 t Berlin through Count Walewski, as organ of the Congress, in order to invite the Prussian Government to send Plenipotentiaries to Paris." The Couvress adheres. The Earl of Clarendon, expressing the confidence which he places in the sentiments of the Court of Rus- sia, and speaking in the name 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 Rims. sian territory, as well as the monuments raised to their !Timmy, will be maintained in perpetuity and treated with the respect due to the ashes of the dead ; he add. that he should, however, be happy to recaive an a,sur ance of this from the mouth of the Plenipotentaries of Russia. Count Walewski remarks that, before touching on this important point of negotiation, it is indi , ponsahle to deliberate on a question which is of a paramount ina. Count Orloff thanks the Congress for the opportunity which is offered him of giving a proof of the dif p which animates the Emperor h►s august Ala:.ter, of which he is sure that he is the loyal and faithful interpreter in declaring that all the necessary ineasures :till be taken to reajsd full , the wish expressed by the Plenipoten tiaries of the allied Powers. Count Walewski remarks that the Treaty of Peace fih o 1) Id make mention of the fall anti compete amnesty each be!ligerent Power is to grant to its own sub jec,-.s for a!1 co-operation in acts of war. The Pienip .tentlaries of Russia assent to this opinion, whi , :;) is equally ngreer.l to by the other members of the Congi ess. (The signatures fAlow.) PROTOCOL No. 8. —Sim:IQ, OF MALoa 185 G. Present.—Tho Plenipotentiaries of Austria, Francs, Great Britaio, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey. Tile Protocol of the preceding sitting is read aud ap proved. Baron Bitiquency gives an account of the la bours of the Commission which at the last meeting had been charged with preparing the text of the Articles of the Treaty concerning the future organisation of the Principalities. Br±ford reading the Articles proposed by the Commis sion, Barony B )urqueney establishes that the object Of the labonrs of this Commission has been to reconcile the opinions expressed at the last sitting. The course proposed by the Commission, Baron B - Jur• queney adds, rests on three principles : To conclude peace without making the final instru• meat depend on a diplomatic act ramaining; in suspense ; To take proper measures for ascertaining the wishes of the populations on questions of principle not yet solved • , T. respect the rights of the Suzarain Power, and not to overlook those ot the guaranteeing Powers, by estab lishing the double necessity ot a diplomatic act to record the principles adopted as bases of the organisation of the Principalities, and of a haul-she' if to promulgato the ap plication of those principles. Starting from these three principles, the Commission proposes to send delegates immediately to Bucharest, who Waal' 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 re-ollt of its labours would be transmitted to the present seat of the Confer ences. A Diplomatic Convention, founded on these labours, would be concluded between the Contracting, Powers, and a hatti sherif, constituting the definitive or ganisation, would be promulgated by the Sultan. The Congress adopts the proposed course, and defers to a future sitting the definitive adoption of the text of the Articles which Baron Bourqueney has read. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia and Turkey communi nate to the Congress the project 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 PleNipotentiaties of Russia think that the Convention should authorise both Powers to maintain, besides 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 purpo,e of watching over the execution of the administrative and sanitary regulations in the ports. The Pienipotentiaries of Turkey are not authorised to accept a btipuiation framed in this sense. The Plenipotentiaries 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 dimen sions or armament of ships of war, there is no occasion to m-ritien them in the Convection, and that if Russia rnrans only to have in in her ports such boats as tho::e callr~t" pataches," for the service of the custom-house and quarantine, and which consequently would not he employed at sea, there is no reason to fear that the prs- Nene° of these " patachee" in the commercial ports can give rise to objectionable interpretations. The Plenipotentiaries of Russia withdraw their de mand 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'a,rendon remarks that the transport vessels should not be armed. Count Orloff replies that, like all the transports em ployed by the other Powers in other seas, the transports of Russia in the Black Sea will be exclusively furnished with a defensive armam:nt suitable to the nature of the service for which they will be designed. The Earl of Clarendon not considering that he 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 Buol 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 Protocol 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 for the European Commission, will be charged with executing the resolutions adopted by it ; that, from that time, and in order to abide by the spirit as well as the terms of the Act of the Congress of Vienuaf 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 provided for. The Earl of Clarendon adds that, if it were otherwise, Austria, remaining alone in possession of the Upper Da nube and sharing in the ,navigation of the lower part of the raver, would acquire separate and exclusive advan tages which the Congress could not sanction. The Plenipotentiaries of Austria reply that all the efforts as well as the tendencies of their Government, in commercial matters, have for their object to estaelish and propagate on all points of the Empire, the 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 previous engage . meats, and acquired right., which it is obliged to take into account ; that its intentions, therefore, respond t o the wish recorded in the Preliminaries of Pean ; that, nevertheless, they cannot recognise in the Commissions which it is proposed to establish, 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 resolutio ns , equally admitted in principle, but Navin, each of them an object perfectly distinct ; that, on the one hand, the Congress ought to provide for the free navigation of the Danube throughout its whols course, upon the bases established by the Congress of Vienna ; and on the other, to consult as to the means 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 Commissioners whom it is proposed to appoint ; but that it is net less essential to c-line to an understanding on the develop ment of the general principle, in order to cnuplete the work which the Contracting Powers had in view in stipulating, as is said in the Preliminaries, that the navigation of the Danube and its mouths shall be efficiently securer], 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. D.—SITTING OF MARCH 14, 185 g. Pre4ent.—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 Empire, in Europe, 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 draft 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 lawn and statutes at present in force, the Sublime Porte shall maintain, in the said Principalities, an independent and national administration, as well as lull liberty of religion, of legislation, of commerce, and 4.f navigation. " In order to establish a complete agreement between them upon this revision, a special Commission, on the composition of which the High Contracting Parties will come to an understrwling among themselves. shall as seinble without delay at Bucharest, together with a Com missioner of the Sublime Porte. "The business of this Commi;sion shall be to investi ' gate the present state of the Principalities, and to pro pose bases for future organization. "His Majesty the Sultan will convoke immediately, in each of the two Provinces, a Divan ad hoc, composed in such manner as to represent most closely the interests of all classes of society. These Divans shall be called to express the wishes of the people in regard to the 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 expri seed by the two Divans, the Commission Pilaff tlabsnnt tbt re sult of its own labours to the present Peat of the CAl fereree.. _ "Ile final agreement with the Suzerain Power shall be recorded by a Convention to be concluded at Parts between the High Contracting Parties ; and a hatti sherd, in conformity with the stipulations of the Con- yen/ion, shall constitute definitively the orgaeizatil: those Provinces, pl ace d thenc,forwa,rd under the c"' tive guaranteo of the signing Powers. a W ig " There shall be a national armed force organize d the view to maintain the security of the interior, an ensure that of the f ro nti ers . N o impediment shall bel posed to the extraordinary measures of defence ob the Principalities, by agreement with the Sublime P rvi may be called upon to t a k e i n or d er t o re p e l an y e%ter s " If the internal tranquillity of tb >alitice Elb° Ly, -13 Prineipt weft be menaced or compromised, the guaranteeing -2 1 4 shall C0,1)0 to an underst an di n g w ith the StP"isi Porte in regard to the measures to be taken for 03 3 0 . taining or reestablishing legal order. No armed it i j, vention shall t a k e pl ace w i t h out a prev i ous undeillil" - I ing between tho , e Powers." t The first Pl en ip o t en ti ary o f T ur k ey o b serves , 11A to ins ructions not permitting him to adhere definitiv,l l / 0 6 these terms, h e reserves t h e appro b at i on o f his which he will apply for by telegraph. The members of the Commission who have PreP sl : l 4. the matter with whi c h th e C ongress h ave now hel l o copied, are requested to have the goodness to !De g o elaborate the project of a text, to be also inserted to Treaty, :and which shall ti x th e arrangemen t s t o be'' if there is occasion, on the subj,ict of Servia. The first Plenipotentiary of France says that it ce;sary to agree on the terms which shall be used it' l , Treaty to establish the entrance o f T ur k e y i n to lbe l tam (concert) of Europe, and reads a draft in tO tidies. t The first Plenipotentiary of T ur k e y thi n ks tbs lo l would he advisable to adhere to th e t e rm s which be proposed at th e Vi enna C ongress , an d su b m its t 5" the Congress. Up in the proposal of Count Walewski, the Coen decides that a Commission, composed of Aali Pashs! t o the second Plenip o t en ti ar i es o f F rance , G rea t Br i , Russia, and Sardi n i a , shall meet as soon as possib l° orepare a draft of all the stipulations of the Tres_. tl ) Peace, taking into account th e reso l u ti ons l a id &no the Protocols, and refers to thi s C omm i ss ion the presented by the first Plenipotentiaries of Franco Turkey, on the admission of the Ottoman Empire int. public law of Europe. Count Walewski announces that, in reply to 030_ 1 1 munication which he has been ch a r ge d to forwal_:ji, Berlin, as organ of the Congr ess , h e h a d b e en inf°',ll that Prussia accepts the invitation which has bees dressed to her, has named as her Plenipotentiarit‘ Baron de Mantuffel, President of the Council, 3d,,,,i f ,1 for Foreign Aff a i rs ; an d t h e C ount d e H ats f e ldt, Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary A S Court of France. (The signatures Mow.) (To be continued.) Co retry Markets. LIVERPOOL—APRIL 29. A good attendance to-day, and although the deMall riot lively a fair amount of business was done is ‘‘,ll , and flour, at 2d advance per 701b s , an d la p e r barrek," 2s per sack on pri ces o f thi s d a y wee k. O a t s an d oew, a slow sale, and not dearer. Barley, beans, and Ici° l4 ,o without change. Indian corn, 30s for prime yellof mixed, and 30s 6d for prime wheat. IPSWICH—APRIL 29. co The deliveries of wheat from the farmers continue, and yesterday's London report e na bl es th em t o o btold advance of is per qr. on good dry samples. Barley is„.e exhausted, and commands full rates for all fine qul''' Beans and peas unaltered. f 0 PER QUARTER. YEE 414 , - , Wheat, red (old) 64s to 68e. Barley, grinding ... 364° 4 0 Ditto (new) Ditto, white 6ls to 68E Peas Ditto (old) —s to —s,Ditto (white) ... 4 .. --"' to Barley, malting AVERAGES FOR THE WEER ENDING APRIL 26, 1856 ' Wheat Oats ,f -s Oil Peas Barley Beaus HULL—APRIL 29. A moderate supply of wheat, which met free sale i ' so 4 to 2s over the prices curr en t l as t wee k. F ore ign in pf request. Barley more quiet. Beans is d e arer, theo import of Egyptian being stored or gone into c onsuniy Oats fir s a le, at Cd t o i s d ec li ne . Li nsee d an d it 9 ducts have recovered from the panic, which for a time really severe, the drop in seed being in come cases r° as 28s per qr., o il 14/., an d linseed cakes 5/. per ton• i v large business has been done in each article duriof week, and to-day seed must be written 5s per in, 1 : 4 and cakes 5s to 10. 3 p er ton d earer . B ones are u nalter e d i Peas, grey and black Linseed, Black Sea vo ' Ditto Petersburgh Ditto Riga and Arch- ....to , angel 'Ditto Konigsberg and Memel r3r Lius. c., Hull / Os to 91 4.0 'Ditto ile for. 7/ lOs 81 . 1 0 . 0: ;Ditto inf. for O/ Os Od t s fl o/ 'Rapeseed OOl Os t• Rape cakes —s Od to 15u ' !fares, English lo Ditto foreign l iorn n an es o OO/ Os 8/ 015 no 01 1255 Od to 0 1 Rye Meal .. 8 at Wheat, English, red 67 to 70 1 Ditto white 7O t o 74 Dautzie and Konigs berg Pome rauian and Ham- burgh Da.nieh,Holstoin and Friesland 57 to (10 Russian and Odessa 58 to 60: Oats, English Ditto Danish Ditto Friesland Ditto Russian 26 to 30 Barley, malting Ditto grinding 36 to 38 Beans Ditto foreign Peas, white and yel 4O to 48! COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—YESTERDAi. 1m5terdam............ 12 Gibraltar ......•• •• •• .. . 30 lo t Ditto, three months .. 12 2 Leghorn .. •• •• .. .. •• •• 9O Rotterdam ............ 12 2 . Genoa ...... ..•• ••• , ,ttitwerp .............. 25 70 , Milan ......•• .. .... •• Brussels .............. 25 70 Venice , at ilamburgh ............ 13 11% Naples •• •• ........•• •• 12 0 Altona •• .• •• •• •• •• •• • • .....' ' Palermo •••• •••••• .. •• ov _..4 Paris ........ —..•..... 25 45 : Messina .. ••• „.... Ditto, three months .. 25 775{ Lisbon .. Marseill 59 ....-...... .. 25 77g Oporto ..............•• ~. Bourdcaux .—..— .. .. i Rio Janeiro ..... .•••• •. ...• Frankfort.ort Maine •• .. 121% • Buenos Ayres •••• - Berlin •• •• •• •• •• .• •• •• New York,6o days' sight .... Vienna .......... •• .... 10 25 Philadelphia • •• •• 0 %. Trielle.. •• .. .. •....... 10 27 PRICE S OF LULL Icti. 75 17 0 Petersburg ............ 3fi34 F ore i gn Gold in Bars £3 06 Madrid .•• .• •• •• e . 0 • • • 49 3 4 Portugal Gold Coin •• 0 0 0 Cadiz .•• ..... .•• ...... 50 M ex i can Dollars .... 0 0 0 1 Barcelona .• •• •• •• .• •• --New Dollars •• •• •• ° A 0 'Aevillo.. • • .. Silver in bars ...... SBA .B ORM? MAILS. (If seinifio that the malls art suit from the General the night—and Mby the moraine' 4espateh.) , 3* the night—and M by the morning—stespateh.) „ i ,s Gay wheruna.le u;From if:4 " { 5 OOUNTRIEv, In General Post- Port dr!e iss j, Office, London.* Diap•atehe.. 0H ......, ,,./ --.—•••• kraerica(by i ;rit.pae ON livery Friday •• • • Liverpool APr' 0 30 krnericp. tby United Stfi packet) ..........1 .. ••- •• • Liverpool A.ruerica (by U. States packet) ...........N ** •• •• • • Southamptoe Australia (via • South ampton) .. ........ hi •••••• - •• • • So tor Ditto (via Marseilles) N • • • -• • - • • • Dover .... Ditto (via Capo of Wed' S .° Hope) ............N1 Has Africat Wes t Coas:)..N i23d of the month .. Plymouth . .. 4' exandria .....„ .„ „ N ;li, 9, 24, & 30 of iit• ; Dover •• •• Alexandria-- ~ _II "4th tic 20th of morn jSouthamptor, / Bahamas ...........3i I l'ith of the moult :Southanaptcn( „, Belgium ... ~.. ,•..N 1 I) eitY • • .... ••• • • • !Dover ...... iDa"'l Brazil ..............m i9th of the month ..!S outhamp toy , AMY ,66. Buenos Ayres ----Id . 9th of the month ..ISouthanyrton IMO ..a0 Cape of Good Hope ..I. Various port 11 0 ' 3 Cape of Good Hope .•N 9th of th 3 month Southampton Cape de Verds .... N Ceylon (see India) Ceylon ........ .... ..1'; ! Si i Chatmel Lies.. ~ , „ ~N l'lon.,Vred.,tlstio'.jB ou th amploi: Tu.211. Chill—. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,11 2 d ' 17,11 of ni ontl , Iliouthamp to China ... .. "Once a raonth.... May 4 Cons nt ' tantlnople ~ ••„ s.; 8,18,18,33,&28 of 0 Dover -.... ° 6 4th Ye. 20th of 'non.' Southampton ddll Cont. n t a of E i 11,1 i r e , . e 'kr - g r ,. . i, ; :• Twice daily •.. • . • Do ver •... . . Twi ce Egypt (sea India) I 0 111 d France ........ M& N !Twice daily - ... . Dover ,„ „ Twice Gibraltar ....., „„ m '4, 7, 17, 50,27 ,fm South .mpto! " Greece (ace India) Gre own ..........M 2nd &17th of mon.Southamptop yt l i ambw , gh ..........N Tuesday is Prida),London ....• , $ Havanna!' - „ ,„ „ ~ m Ind of fhb month!Southanipto, 'MO Holland .. ~........ &I: Dally, • • ... .. !Dover ....... ilia l ,: n ' t plo t i orithira3 .......... 3 1 ,17t.i Tithe montlLlSouthampton 1 aw n - A 0 ma Marseilles )H , MSc 25th of month Dover .... .. India (viatiouthampt,)m '4th A. 20th of inon.lymouth - '4 & '- India 17, &27 of mon !Dover...". , chili lonian Is:es (see IntlIa) 1, Ireland ........M & I.:• Twi eu le'lY • • • • • • illol: head ~. ;Twice, Lisbon ...... „ „ ~, to "7, 9, 17, &27 of rn.Boutharnptonhlsiv ma , teira ............N ,9th of the month Southamptonl Madeira ............ N , 1 23 d of month ....'Liverpool ... j Malta (see India) 1 1 .10, 8 18 &28 of mou.•Dover .„ „„ „ , s, 20 .- Malta ............ ~.N, , , 1 3 1 5t a u u r rl it t i l us " ( ! e . e .. In .. 61 . 4 . ) ..1 ,!1Ath of the Ix on :LI ~...,„„ .. _ . __ _ _ .. m 2nd of the Month., Sontharapt.,n . Kay I 1 17 - pies w ..... " . .::::"...N s thlOth2sthormon. Dover ...... :2 , 1 & 17 tit of month'Southampton private st; ip ..j Various port I:7 ll C artilli tle e vr w Ze Gr a a l n an ad d a ... . . . .. . . . . . 34 , !BY ”___, ,„.,_ ........2.,:`,l:lllsth2hthohnon.lDover .... „ 1 r p a o P n r n 7 u 77 ... .. ..• ... u llthl7th27thofinou.'7outhamptcLl Peru ....... il2d S. 27th of mon.l.Southampton, Pe:'t Natal .... ......N ! AY Private ship... Various ports Uneert ill° Tony ~............Ns t hlbthtl st holmon,'Dover ...... Tu5cany............1 4 "5t1115025 thofinoni Dover ...... 6 v en ,„ uth m rid & 17th ofmonth!Southampta o 1 & I -00 y private ship... re:'t Natal , Telly I Sthssthoanon, Tilauany stlll6th2athorinon. v enomeii lid& 17th otmonth I Van Dlemon'a L.nd (se ( . l A.mitralia) West „ I IVA; 17th (1,/ mouth Southampton laigo'', Whenany of those dates fall on a Sunday, the malls will pe a ./ spatched on the following day, with the exteption of the Triallc t Fouthampton), and the Malta, both of which w i ll be desMatel`d preceding day, BIRTHS. ON A Sox, On the MI inst., at A r t es i an House, Tottenham, ill wife of Mr. J. D. Welch. e On the 28th in s t., a t 101, Westbourne-terrace, 119 d park, the wife of Edward Budd, Esq. A DAI7GHTZB. On the 26th inst. o at Roukwoocl Park, Hants, the 14 of Colonel Williara'Grrenwood. On the 26th inst., at 21, Eaton-terr ace , th e w ife °I Lieut.-Col one l Charles Townshend Wilson. MARRIED. On the 2eth inst., at West Hackney Church, Mr. 11; Grant, o f B o t o l p h-l ane, t o L ou i sa, the youngest (taught'. of the Into Joseph Treacher, of Tower-street, city. On the 29th inst., at St. John's Church, Brixtq' Charles John Cox, Elq., of the Admiralty, son of the la te Captain G. H am ilt on C ox, B enga l Army, to Harr iet Anne, daughter of William Waller, Esq., of Stockivell• I) I E On the Vth inst., at St. Leonard's-o n -S ea Riche l l Maxwell F o x, mem b er f or th e coun t y of Longford, aged 40. On the 25th inst., at Southee s , J o h n Biggar, Esq., et 3, Allen-terrace, and late of th e A ccoun t ant -G enc rerl Office, SomerseChouse, aged 66. On the 25th inst., at Villeueuvo-sur-Yonne, in Franc, John Fenwick Burgoyne Blackett, Esct, of Wylem, late M.P. for Newcastle-upon-Tyne. LONDON: Printed and Published by MUltl3O YOUN Ci n of No. 112, Strand, P r i nter, at T he Sin Office, No. 11 1 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the eensiti Middlesex, Wednesday, April 30, 1866. :Y ti+ t :0. ,+ • I ' r r : 4 I J 1 r t C t • • ig 4 S 1 '41 3 • let . • CrtN tht F- Dov P.m. f Up 7 niediat from 1, Curr 51: - P, 4 76' n street, At )3 n. iien Ty ife .4 Per c . __.-. W V*. Ever: 11 ithoul (Pao ---___ 30 40 1 B O 2 B O a is Fri D 4 "TgT The am ong , O laPels that th e l'esPecti Rev. gatioa c r a nd to e ' u rward v itereetin 1. - ger " 31 " Call a tha i and a n I "lcienr Yours fa At. a r zriday, 1118 Gr; It w e That Make ls 0 the inn at Co, Which, 14155, h * Rei crossed office, I Jolla letter o Sc Sold London and So chants N.B, and pl on the krankl sand 1 Resat Es°le I Mll/11 .i. 4 s DA !Pad "?lag bas Tyr it.M Vide Of 134 that of tl ea tic bite/ Cl a - - es Ziawf .~ C Th o'cloc Oxfoi Th, kenh( Aynh on to The Trai n With I will lc coax° can al will le t train f at He r is a rei coneeq caelou are pr, errors efreztu er hares Stays Is the awbrt, evit a b **rite, TRI Lnd of Itithot 'Mt cur C 1 there 1 tered To eo:nhi f V. 4 41 R. 3r: Lora, Dablll