The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-06 00:00:00

. . .....,,,~„„ y ~ ~--- - -~ THE SUN, LOND'ON, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 6, 1854. THE NEWSPAPER PRESS DIRECTORY and ADVERTISER'S GUIDE, thoraugely Revised, and in a new and popular form, is now ready. Price One Florin. C. Mitchell, Red Lion-court, Fleet-street, and all booksellers. ENT ERING CLERKS.-WANTED, in a Large Wholesale lieu e, TWO YOUNG MEN, fully capable of Entering Lace, Haberdashery, &c. Apply, by letter only, to W. W., F. Wood, Station. r, 24, Milk-street, Cheapside. THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.- Lessee, Mr. E. T. g vIITII. —On WED ESDAY MORNING, March 3, GRAND NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION in AID of a FIJND for the support of the WIVES and CHILDREN of the BRITISH SOLDIERS who have been sent as an exneditionary force on foreign service. The Lessee has placed the Theatre, free of ex pense, for a performance of THE CORSI :AN BROTHERS, in which Mr. G. V BROOKE (who on this occasion gives his services gratuitously) will appea - , under the immediate patr mage and spe cial desire of the Lord Mayor, the Sieriffi. and civic authorities, and the following illustrious patronesses, who have signified their Inten tion of attending on this occasion:— Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge. Her Ronal ess the Princess Mary of Cambridge. The Lady Mayoress. Her Grace the Duchess of Hamilton. Her Grace the Duchess of Beaufort. Her Grace the Duchess of Montrose. Her Grace the Duchess of gomerset. Her Grace the Duchess of Inverness. The Most Noble the Marchioness of Aylesbury. The Most Noble the Marchioness of Londonderry. The Most Noble the Marchioness of Blandford. The Right lion. the Countess of Chesterfield. The Right Hon. the Countess of Kinnoutl. The Right Hon. the Countess of Glengahl. The Right Hon. the Countess of Desb >rough. The Right Hon. the Countess of Derby. The Right Ho I. the Countess of She burne. The Right Hon. the Countess of Wilton The Right Hon. the Countess of Desert. The Right Hon. the Countess of Don ughmOre. The Right Hon. the Viscountess Palmerston. The Right Hon. the Viscountess Maidstone. The Right Hon. the Viscountess Nerrpo,t. Lady Sophia DirlettUZ. Lady Colville. Lady Raglan. The Hon. Mrs. Anson. Mrs Disraeli. Mrs. 3. +tanley, C. The Lord Mayor, with his usual kiciness and generosity, has con sented to act as treasurer, and to wheal subscriptions may be sent The entire receipts to be forwarded to the Lord Mayor and Lady Patronesses, to form a public fund for the above purpose. Door open at half -put one, and commence at two o'clock precisely. —Sub scription_ received by the Coin nercial Bank of Lon ion, Henrietta street. The Lessee also begs leans to inform the nobility and gentry that ;,his Theatre will be placed at th e di sposal of the 'Lady Patronesses Ibr a Fancy Fair, or Bazaar, o s Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. April 12, 13, and 14, on which occasion the entire Pit will be covered over for their accommodation ; and all articles intended to be for warded as a present for this national purpose, will be entered in a book, with names and addresses of donors. THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE. Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith. The Last Week bat Three of Mr. G. V. BROIKE'A Eitragement previous to his sailing for California and Australia. THIS EVENING, MAliCli 6, Will be performed THE VENDETTA; or, The Corsican Br then. The principal characters by Mears. U V. Brooke and T. Mead. To conclude with MIDAS. The principal character by Miss Featherstone. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYM kRICET. Under the management of Nir. lauckstone. TEII3 EVENING, Nissen 6, Will be performed GUY MANNERING. Supported by Messrs. W. Farren, Elliott Galer, Compton, it 'gem Howe, Clark, Corri, and Cullenford; Miss Cushman (as Meg Merrilies), Miss Julia Harlan I, and Mrs. L. S. Buckingham After which, the Grand C HMS TM , AS PANTOMIMr., call d lIARLEQUINI AND THE THREE BEAR • ; or, Little Silverhair and the F sines. Columbine, Miss M Brown ; II trleguln, Mr. J. Marshall; Pantaloon, Mr, W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. H. Marshall. ROY %L PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD- , iTRE ET. under the Managemmt of Mr. Cuaat.ks KEAN. THIS EVENING, Mallon 6, Will be performed RICHARD THE THIRD Principal ohirac ter by Mr. C. Kean. After wklch will be presented the new Grand CHRISTMAS PAN TOMIME, entitled HARLEQUIN AND Tit& - MILLER AND HIS MEN; or, King Salamandar and the Fairy of the Azure Lake. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborough. LYCEUM THEATRE. Under the Management of Madame Vestris. THIS EVENING, MARCH 6, Will be performed, A BACHELOR OF ARTS. Characters by Messrs. C. Nta.thews, F. Matthews, and Baker; Alias F. Hughes. After which, the original Fairy Extravaganza, calle 1 ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WERE TWO KIWIA. Characters by Messrs. Roxby, F. Matthews, and Bland; Madame Vestris, Misses St. George, Eglanton, Mason, Martindale, alis, Wadham, and Foote. To conclade with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER. Principal character by Mr. Charles Mathews. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Proprietor, Mr. B. Weluter.—Directress, Madame Celeste. THIS EVENING, Meson 6, Will be presented the highly Popular New Nautical Melo-drama in five taolcaux, with new scenery, the Sea of Ice, &c., new dresses and appointments, callel TIM T am! . OF GOLD; or, THE LOST SHIP AND TUE WILD FLOWER OF MEXICO. Principal characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Keeley, Paul Bedford, Madame Celeste, &c. To conclude with THE SERIOUS FAMILY. Characters by Messrs. B. Webster, Leigh Murray. PArselle, and Keeley ; ors L. Murray, Misses Woolgar, Fanny Maskell, and Laidiaw, and Mrs. Keeley. ROYAL. OLYMPIC TfIEtTRE. Lessee and Manager. Mr. A. Wigan. THIS ETENISG. Maacn Will be performed TO ORLI , SE REN•SON Supported by Messrs Emery, Robson, and Leslie ; Mrs. Stirling and Miss Wyndham. To be followed by PLOT A.S'Lli P ssION. Prlncipat crotracters by Messrs. a. Wigan, F. Robson, Emery, Leslie, White, Franks, and ii. Ccoper ; Miss E. Turner, and Mrs. Stirling After which, TUE BENGAL TIGER. Principal characters by Messrs. Alfred Wigan, and F. Robson ; and Mrs. Wigan and MIS, Marston. STRAND THEATRE. Bole Lessee, Mr. F. W. Allcroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isa:rs. THIS EMSNING, AlDacia Will be performed THE HEART OF AN IRISHMAN. Princi pal characters by .Messrs. G. Hodson, Herbert, and Miss Noel. Followed by the ANONYMOUS LETTER. After which, THE WATERMAN. The principal character by Miss G. Hodson, Scc. To conclude with THE CORKONIAN lIRITHERS. Paddy and Tim Mulligan (the Brothers), Mr. G. Hodson. Stalls, Is.; Boxes, 35.; Pit, l+. 6d; tlallery. 6d. ; Private Boxes It. lls. 6d., to be nad of Mr. Allcroft, IS, New Bond-street. ASTLEY'S EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITHEATRE. Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke. Triumphant success of the New Spectac'e. LAST NIGHT of the PANTOdIEME. THIS EVENING, Mancn 6, Ana during the week, wilt be presented the new, grand, and romantic spectacle entitled TILE .VOOD‘IA.,'S ROB*: ; or, The False Knight—the Woodman's Horse by the pet steed, Beauty, xpressly trained by Mr. William Cooke. After which, -lcenes of the ARENA.. To conclude with the Comic Pantomime of BILLY UrIT rON'S JOURNEY TO BRENTIORD ; or, Harlequin and the Ladies' Favourite. Box-office open from E!even till /VII', Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. HIGH WATER AT' LONDON BRIDGE. T:irm DAY ---liorning 21 min.fifter . 6 I Evening 41 min.aft. 6 ro-Nfoaaow— Morning 2 inin.after 7 Evening 25 nin.aft. 7 THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, MARCH 5. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 51 —high est since noon yesterday. 40 —lowest this morning and during the night. 44 —this day art noon. BAROMETER, 30'77—falling. WIND, S.E.—Light breeze, with fine, cold, sunshiny weather. MARCH 6. 46 highest since noon yesterday. 35—lowest this morning and during the night. 37—this day, at noon. BAROMETER, 30'57—falling rapidly. WIND, S. to S.E.—Light breeze, with heavy fog. Hoar frost in the night. ; , 27 . ' , (.§l.lll LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1854. The Emperor NICHOLAS, it appears, has not only answered his " good friend"—the Imperial Chief of 30,000,000 of Frenchmen—but has given the signal of battle to his own subjects through the medium of a most warlike, and, we must add also in truth, a_ really blasphemous, Proclam a ti on . t.s His Majesty the CZAR speaks in his autograph epistle .of confidence being in kzen an d . in his own Right . He talks, moreover, in his manifesto, of his hitherto 'not having ceased ' to wi s h , as he protests, indeed, that he still wishes, the cessation of bloodshed. Mark that ! His " Right !" and his continued wish for the " cessa tion of bloodshed t" After the mission of MEN SCIIIKOFF to Co nstantinople_after the passage of the Pruth by his soldiers under GORTSCHAKOFF— after the attacks made successively (though un successfully) upon Citate and Oltenitza—after the sangu i nar y conflicts in the Caucasus and the in human butchery at Sinope, ' After all these mon strous and notorious acts of aggression —open and unprovoked a gg res sion upon on e w h o was supposed to be a mush w eaker neighbour—the Russian AUTOCRAT talks now, f orsooth, of his " Right," that is to say , of the j u stice of hip cause, and of his desire to brin g about th e " cessation . of bloodshed: 4 Nay, after the Sinope massacre, he talks of his confidence in GOD Even more than all this, he has the unexampled effrontery, not to say the heinous impiety, to close his man i . festo to the Russians with the exprossion of a hope that, in the approaching 3tr uggle, Lia _ ALMIGHTY may assist them to approve themselves worthy of their fathers in the last generation. adding, somewhat in the same profane spirit of affected piety which some months back induced him to close a docu ment, which was nothing less than a tissue of gross and wilful misstatements, with the sublime versicle of the Royal PSILIIIST—" In to DOMINE speravi : non confundar in xternum "_adding here, with kindred profanity, this extraordilArY ejaculation ; " With this hope [that Lope the assistance of the ALMIGHTY], combating for our persecuted brethren, followers of the faith of CHRIST, with one accord let all Russia exclaim— ' 0 LORD, our Redeemer ! whom shall we fear ? May GOD be glorified and his enemies be scat tered !'" Assuredly we cannot be guilty of any tr in saying that seldom before have the x HOLYavaganNce A arßs been more flagrantly dragged e through the mire and blood of an infamous conflict by the hands of a great political blas phemer. It is impossible, at the same time, not to detect through all this affected confidence, the CZAR'S secret desire t o o ward off, even now, the blow im pending over his empire from the armaments, both military and maritime, of the two most powerful races of Christendom. He says, no doubt, in his letter to the Emperor of the FRENCH —" menaces will not induce me to recede." But the whole tone of that communication, though haughty at moments, cannot but be regarded, corn ing as it does directly from the hand of this mighty AUTOCRAT of all the Russias, as really on the whole somewhat meek and conciliatory. Listen to him— "lf your Majesty should frankly return to our pro gramme—if you should proffer me a cordial hand, as I now offer it to you at this last moment—l will willingly forget what has wounded my feelings in the past then, Sire, but then only, we may discuss, and perhaps we may come to an understanding." Fine words enough—but picture to yourself, 0 unbiassed beholder of these occurrences ! picture to yourself the Emperor NICHOLAS, on the Bth of February, sitting down in his Cabinet at St. Petersburgh, and writing about his " wounded feelings !" As we have already but just now remarked—after the mission of MEN SCHIKOFF, and the aggression of GORTSCHA KOFF, and the massacre at Sinope, and the seizure of the two Principalities ! Effrontery could not assuredly surpass this—yet the effrontery of the CZAR is altogether exceeded, as we have said, by his bias. phemous allusions at the same time to DIVINE PROVIDENCE. Nothing now remains to be learnt beyond the reply of the Emperor NICHOLAS to the final de mand sent to him simultaneously by the Four Allied Governments. The nature of that reply may be readily anticipated. It may be the more readily anticipated now after the appearance of this autograph espistle to the French EMPEROR, and especially after the appearance of this most insensate and flagitious Proclamation. War, then, to the knife—guerre a routrance—in the Black Sea, in the Baltic, on the Danube, in the Caucasus. And then indeed " GOD defend the Right" in that supreme junc ture, when France and England, side by side, shall be fighting against Russian Barbarism the battle of Civilisation. We fully share the mortification of all sincere Liberals at the postponement of the second read ing of the New Reform Bill, but can neither join in unfair denunciation of its author, nor in over sanguine hopes of what a month may bring forth. We would not be unfair to Lord JOHN himself ; he has every inducement to stand by his bill ; for, although from his own confession he would have preferred a 5/. borough franchise, all the other parts probably are quite after his own neart. The tables we published on Thursday, and which we repeat to-day, more enlarged, show what an inconsistent amount of petty boroughs are still enfranchised, while so many larger towns remain unrepresented. The minority clause in the counties is specially favourable to Whig landlords, and no future Reform Bill will be tolerated which lets off Whigs and Tories so easily as these two arrangements. Radicals will insist on more, and will get it. Hence, we think, Lord JOHN'S strong aristocratic prepossessions guarantee his earnestness for the present bill. Something considerable is due, also, to his man liness in bringing it forward while the clouds of war were gathering ♦ery thick, and when all the croakers and hostile at heart were calling upon him to alter his course. He then stoutly refused even to shorten sail ; and now that the storm is ' all but ready to burst, he ought to be permitted to lay-to, without damage to his sincerity or his courage. We were proud of his genuine English boldness at the time, and are willing to give him the benefit of it now. We will not deny, also, that the main reasons he gave for postponement were practical and obvious ones. The Ways and Means will occupy the time at least till the 13th ; for while there will be, we are confident, an unflinching determination to find them, the method of doing so may give rise to very serious and protracted debates. Then the final message from the CZAR will be arriving, and even we confess to a wish not to have the Reform discussions just at that time. Our hearts and heads will, in spite of our selves, be fuller of something else. If, as every one seems to think, the answer will be war, that will absorb us for a time, and well, if we get our mental balance for another mouth. If it be that the very apparition of NAPIEIi in the Baltic has frightened the brutal bully of St. Petersburg into concession, then, indeed, will the British public need to watch with Argus eyes that secret diplomacy does not present us with another blue book, after the mischief is (tone, of gulled Minis ters, of all our vast preparatory expenditure for nothing, and of Russia still master of its stolen territories ; still impudently barring two large seas against the fleets of the most civilised nations of Europe; and still but hybornating during the blasts of European indignation, ready to resume its savage activity when the sunshine of general peace returns. The character of the bill, there fore, and the reasons assigned by Lord JOHN, together with his whole bearing on the subject, give us hope that postponement only is meant. On the other hand it is not easy to forget Lord JOHN'S past. We gladly give him the benefit of his appeal to his determined fight for the first Reform Bill. Still we are haunted by the recol lection of liberal pledges abandoned, and party plans renounced, under the pressure of an incon veniently large opposition. Lord JoHres name is too closely associated with an " Appropriation Clause" now quite turned to dust ; with " Fina lity" of the first Reform Bill, renounced in due time, and solemnly interred at the birth of the second one, which latter was, indeed, little better than a substitute for finality under the name of Reform. Now, however, we have at least a sche dule A and a schedule B worth having, though leaving ample scope for two more schedules quite equal to them. Church Rates, Endowing Irish Priests, the Eight Shilling Duty, a Durham Letter, ending in an Ecclesiastical Titles Act ; such things again will remind us that 14)rd. jaws eau yield to the exigencies of office, and work on pretty patiently too,_ Fully believing, therefore, that lie would prefer to make the last great inprovelnent on his own Reform Bill - which it is lil4oly,.as he may hope, to receive in his life time, we yet meet remember that, like TIONER'a heroes, he can run, and run away, too, as well as fight. Again, if reports be true, of which probably imagination rather than knowledge is the parent, he has not a very unanimous or cordial Cabinet with him. For ourselves, we see no reason why the Bill should be at all objectionable to the vete ran Statesman whose name is most prominent in these reports. It will rather benefit than injure, in all likelihood, the party with which he has acted so long in later years. Setting aside, however, Cabinet difficulties, of which, except by conjecture from character, we ought to know no thing, the House of Commons can hardly be really well disposed towards such a measure. All the members to be unseated must, to a man, in wardly dislike the bill. Then it would seem the Tory county members do not relish, as we ex pected they would not, the thought of a RUSSELLITE Colleague. Some even of the borough members appear to be in no small affliction at the prospect of forming but two-thirds of the representatives of their large constituencies; and others, as if nothing would please, are angry that a third colleague is not allotted to them. All this added to the gene ral antipathy of the great Conservative party to any reform, presents a formidable array of indi vidual and party hostility; a large part of it, too, being rather ashamed to manifest itself openly, would gladly ride , oft under coyer of a factious motion like Sir E. DERING'S. It would not be inconsistent with Lord JOHN'S antecedents to quail before such determined enemies and unwilling allies. We must own, however, that it may be good strategy in debated questions to leave the enemy in a position which every day's discussion will weaken, and especially not to give them the benefit of a device by which they will, in the same act, lay claim to Liberal principles, while they are joining Conservatives to defeat a liberal measure. With some apprehension about his eventual firmness, therefore, we give Lord JOHN RUSSELL credit for sincerity. He must prefer to pass his bill if he can. If he cannot, the fault will be with recreant-hearted Liberals, and perhaps with the country. It wants, indeed, many of those ma nifestly popular points, such as the ballot, house hold or municipal suffrage, and a self-consistent distribution of representatives, which would arouse irresistible enthusiasm out of the house ; but still we maintain, with such an old and consistent re former as Mr. HUME, that the bill is worth having. The abolition of so many petty boroughs, the deduction of one member from others, the abolition of the hateful ratepaying clauses, the enlargement of the county qualifica tion, and even the miserably small lowering of the borough franchise, are all worth having ; and no declamation will satisfy a thoughtful Liberal that any member of Parliament who, by a direct or indirect movement, attempts to burke this bill is himself an honest Liberal. With the hope that the measure will be pressed after the Easter holi days, it is a decided advantage to have the three bills, for England, Scotland, and Ireland be fore us, previously to the debate on the second reading. An advantage to the full and fair consideration of the whole scheme we mean, for what effect it may have on Irish members, if many of their constituencies are dealt with, as in all reason they ought to be, it is but too easy to divine ; an effect no way favourable on their vutes. The mere introduction of these bills looks, at least, as if it were intended to proceed with all of them. It would otherwise have been easy to excuse their non-appearance till the principles for all had been decided on the second reading of the. English Bill. The majority of the South-Eastern Railway Company Board have been virulently attacked in consequence of the manly and decisive course which they have adopted for the purpose of dis tinctly and unequivocally ascertaining the true sentiments of their constituents. It would, in deed, be difficult to discover any line of policy that would please the malcontents, who are pre pared for censure in any and every step taken by those whose power they covet, and whose places they would gladly fill. Although thoroughly alive to the importance of the decision that must be come to at the forthcoming meeting, although aware that a crisis has arrived on which the future welfare and prosperity of the undertaking must mainly if not altogether depend, they yet cavil at the issue of proxy-papers duly stamped, and in con formity with the law, to every proprietor who may be unable to attend on the appointed day. They speak of the expense, as if it were not a matter of the most trivial importance in comparison to the other matters involved in the result. The half-crown which it may cost to obtain the views of the proprietors of Stock—to the amount of many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pounds— is deplored •as if it were an in s t ance o f the ut mos t prodigality and recklessness of expenditure, and is treasured up, with other accusations, to be hurled against the devoted heads of the Directors whenever the opportunity may arise. The dig nified and unanswerable vindication of the step, which appeared in our impression of Saturday, must, however, remove every undue impression that could be formed in reference-thereto; proving, as it does, that the omission thereof would have been a piece of very culpable negligence, for which the managers would have justly merited the cen sure of the shareholders. It is impossible not to perceive that the mal contents are endeavouring to raise a question of want of confidence in the management—to change the direction of affairs per fas aut nefas. To achieve this object, to worm themselves into the positions from which they hope to expel the pre sent occupants, they are prepared to do any act, however prejudicial to the best interests of the general body of proprietors. They endeavour, then, to get up an unreasoning and parrot-cry against " extensions"—thinking that they may be enabled thereby to induce timid and weak-minded persons to change their opinions, and to rescind the resolutions at which they had formerly arrived, and that persons, without due examination, will condemn a project adopted by the Board after the most mature and anxious consideration, and not then objected to by a single proprietor. It is paying but a very sinister compliment to the proprietors generally to suppose that they could be guilty of so much fickleness and incon sistency, or that a state of things may be pro duced -(‘ Where gentry, title, wisdom Cannot conclude but by the yea and n* Of general Ignorance." Where ---" It must omit Real necessitieS, and give way the while To unstable slightness ; purpose so barr'd, it follows Nothing is done to purpose'" This is not what the proprietors desire. It is not consistent either with their reputation or their interests. The bill now before Parliament for making the Lewisham and Bromley line had been long since sanctioned and approved of. It was merely postponed, not abandoned. The notice of its temporary withdrawal was to avoid any pretext for hostility with the Brighton Company, with whom negotiations were then pending—negotiations which have proved hitherto abortive, but which most probably will terminate in arrangements highly beneficial to all parties concerned, and more especially so to the South-Eastern proprietors. Indeed, the situation of the lines distinctly points out the propriety not merely of a cordial alliance, but of a perfect amalgamation by which their interests may be for ever rendered " one and indivisible." To the satisfactory settlement of these matters, the con struction of the Bromley and Lewisham line is indispensable ; for, as Mr. MACGREGOR justly remarked in a former circular, "it is of every consequence that the position of the South- Eastern Company be maintained, and its equitable proportion of the future joint earnings be se cured." If, then, the proposed line should not prove remunerative, it might still be of vital importance that the sanction of Parliament should be ob tained. to its construction. , But, inasmuch as those most competent to speak authoritatively on the point, who have closely scrutinised the prospects of the undertaking, founding their estimates as to the probable results on the best data, are decidedly of opinion that it will prove remunerative, and would be well worth carrying into practical execu tion, independently of their relation 'Leith any other company or companies, and although it were not required for the purpose of self-defence, it seems clear that it should not be lightly or wantonly rejected, and that the decision of a matter of such vital importance to the well-being of the South-Eastern Company should not be left to chance. The Directors then would, as we have stated, have been guilty of culpable negligence had they not issued these proxy papers, about which the interested parties, who see thereby the inevitable defeat of their machinations, have raised so loud an outcry. Where the effect of the decision might be, that the conduct of the com pany's affairs, and management of its concerns, might pass into the hands of a clamorous minority, whose objects were " of a passing and transient character, perchance inimical to the permanent interests of the company," it was surely desirable that the sense of the proprieters should be fully and fairly - ascertained. This was the more im perative, as some of those who have faithfully conducted the affairs of the company for nine years have once more to appeal to their constituents, and it is intended to put forth the whole strength of the opposition against their re-election. What proprietor would abstain from Toting under ;ucla circumstances I Those who could by any possibility attend would do so, while those unable to do so would hasten to confide their proxies to men on whose steadiness and con sistency they could place implicit dependence. Where, then, is the unnecessary expense ? Where the cost that might so easily have been avoided ? What signifies it whether the amount came from the pockets of individual proprietors or was de ducted from the dividends that might otherwise be paid to these same proprietors? The objection is, indeed, one of a very captious and untenable character, for, as the Directors truly declare, the right of voting by proxy would be a dead letter if the means of voting by proxy papers were not, when necessary, supplied. Every one at all familiar with the proceedings at railway meetings, when a poll has been called for, must be well aware of the numerous objections taken to the form and sufficiency of the proxies, arid of the many instances where parties have been thereby practically disfranchised. The object, then, of all persons desirous of eliciting the real opinions of the shareholders, and of allowing the views of every man to be represented at the meeting, should be in favour of the step so judiciously taken ; and from which it is clearly perceptible that the Board do not fear the result of appeal, while their opponents, who complain of the measure, are desirous of being enabled to re sort to the tactics in use on such occasions, and to obtain a result which does not coincide with the views of the majority. It is scarcely necessary to add, although we do so to prevent the possibi lity of misconception, that the proxies so issued are not necessarily in favour of any person or any line of policy, but that each person may fill in the name of any proprietor to whom he may think proper to entrust his vote... We repeat the circular for illustration : " South-Eastern Railway, Linden-bridge Terminus, March 3, 1854. Gentlemen,—lf anything were wanting to show the ne cessity for union iu the direction of your affairs it is to be found iu some of the papers lately pot forth. "The circular of February the 16th, signed by the chair man only, was submitted to the full board of nine directors for consideration, and was finally, in its published form, sanctioned by a majority of six, three dissentient directors opposing it. " Voting by proxy is secured to you by act of Parliament, to enable each shareholder, when unable to attend, to expreis his opinion and sen;dments through his proxy, in whom he places confidence and trust. It is of the highest moment, therefore, in order to obtain tho decision and government of your affairs by the majority, that papers stamped as required by Parliament should be issued and place i in your hands, to be used at your discretion and by your own free judgment, for the control and administration of your affairs. It has ever been an attentive m irk of our duty to court your opinion on questions of moment, when the views of the proprietors at large should be taken ; for, unless the board of directors sup plied to the shareholders the means of voting by proxy, it will be obvious that each shareholder, unapprised of the necessary form and the stamp to be affixed, would be deprived of the exercise of that right of represent* his opinions at the meet mg which th e L eg islature intended. " The ci rcu l ar o f February 16, therefore, thus opens and leaves the question and decision to all the shareholders, carefully pointing out that the insertion of any other pro prietor's name, instead of the chairman's, will make the en closed paper of proxy equally available in favour of the name substituted as you may think proper. " Unless the means of so representing yourselves at the meeting were c fired for and provided, you will readily see that the conduct of your affairs might drop into the hands of a minority, whose object may be of a passing and transient character, perhaps inimical to the permanent interest of the company. " In either case the expense, which has been greatly over stated, is the same, whether defrayed by yourselves person ally, or by the company out of your own assets. But in prac tice the right of voting by proxy would be a dead letter if the means of voting by proxy papers were uot, when necessary, supplied to you for your use. " The bill for making the Lewisham and Bromley line was before Parliament before the resolution of the company with regard to the outlay of further capital, passed on the 17th of March, 1853. It had previously received the careful and anxious consideration of a full board, and no objection to it had been offered by any proprietor. It was withdrawn only on prudential motives, to avoid any hostility with the Brighton Comeany, who, p •nding negotiations with us, and without our knowledge, proposed to amalgamate with the South-Western. In the judgment of the majority of the board it will be remunerative ; but it was important not un necessarily to disclose an opinion which might suggest au opposition to deprive you of its advantages. " It would have been a mere waste of time and expense to have convened a meeting to deliberate on the initiatory step of re-proposing that which previously existed. Our duty was to replace you in the former position, with everything prepared, in order that at the right time you should decide. " These are the plain facts, and we leave them to weigh against the statements which have been made. You will be enabled by the proxy papers placed at your disposal to assert your own opinions, and to enable the sense of the proprietors at large to bo fairly and fully obtained ; and a week still re mains within which you may forward them to the secretary. " Our anxiety is natural, that no misrepresentation for a moment shall be abroad of the good faith aad earnest atten tion with which we watch over your interests and regard your confidence.—We have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obe dient faithful servants, " JAMES MAC GREGOR, Chairman. JAMES RENSHAW, Deputy Chairman. HENRY RICH. CHARLES IRONSIDE. HENRY LEWIS SMALL ROBERT BROWNE." ARRIVAL OM THE GUARDS AT GIBRALTAR. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's ship Indus, which reached Southampton yesterday afternoon, brings intelligence of the safe arrival at Gibraltar of the Ripon, having on board the battalion of Grenadier Guards—all well—after an exceedingly fine passage of six days from South ampton. The Orinoco, with the battalion of Coldstream Guards, had been in sight on the horizon through out the voyage, but would pass the Ripon at Gib raltar, as she would not stop to coal. POST-OFFICE LONDON DIRECTORY. SUPPLEMENT FOR 1854. Kelly and Co. According to annual oustom, the proprietors of this mammoth directory of the metropolis, par excellence "the" London Directory, have issued before the spring arrives, and long before Easter commences, an ample (pp. 124) and peculiarly ac ceptable supplement. It is a supplement givinc , us in a new form—corrected up to the last moment — an additional directory both Postal and Parliament ary. The latest changes are therein introduced. Changes caused, some of them by removal, some of them by death, some of them by promotion. An ample peerage is prefixed. It would be difficult to speak in too high terms of praise of this remark able mass trf useful and valuable information. COLOURED MAPS OF TIIE "SEAT OF WAR." BY JAMES WYLD. - - Several additional maps, illustrative of the "Seat of War," have been recently issued from the esta blishment of this eminent geographer. Like their predecessors, they are worthy of their publisher's reputation. Their minuteness and their authen ticity are alike in the highest degree commendable. Conspicuous among the maps last presented to the community by Mr. Wyld are the following :—A masterly sketch of the whole line of the river Danube, from Hirsova up to Orschova, extending on the left bank far northward into Wallachia, and on the right bank far southward into Bulgaria. An admirable chart of the East Sea, or Baltic, in cluding the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland—tracing out, moreover, in midsea, between Sweden and Russia, a clear red line of demarcation. An excel lent chart of the Black Sea has also to be particu larised—a chart embracing, besides the Euxine, the lesser seas of Azof an+l Marmora. The appear ance of these singularly useful and meritorious maps will be welcome, we doubt not, to all the more intelligent masses of our population. CA.BINEr COIINCIL.-1 Cabinet Council was held on Saturday afternoon, at the Foreign Office, Downing. street. The Ministers present were the Earl of Aber deen, Lord John Russell, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Viscount Palmerston, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir James Graham, Sir Charles Wood, the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, and Sir William Molesworth. The Earl and Countess of Sefton entertained a large party at Croxteth Hall during the past week, on the occasion of the Liverpool Spring Meeting, including the Earl and Countess Craven and Lady Elizabeth Craven, Sir Frederick and Lady Bathurst, the Viscount and Lady Seaham, Mr. Henry and Lady Sophia Des Vceux, Captain Molyneux, &c. The Duke and Duchess of Somerset entertained Lord Glenelg, Lord Seymour, Mr. Babbage, and a small party at dinner on Saturday evening, in Park-lane, after which her Grace attended Lady Palmerston's party. The Marchioness of Ailesbury has arrived in Gros venor-square, frmu visiting the Duke of Rutland, at Belvoir Castle. The Earl and Countess of Ashburnham and family have arrived at Ashburnham House, so long the seat of the mission from the Czar, and where the great Autocrat sojourned during his brief visit to England, from Ash burnham-place. His Excellency Sir Henry and Lady Bulwer, who have been passing the winter at Brighton, have returned to town. ARRIVAL OF SIR H. SEYMOUR IN ENGLAND.—Dover, Sunday Evening, 7.3o.—His Excellency, Sir 11. Sey mour, family and suite, save arrived at Birmingham's Royal Ship Hotel here, from Calais. There is a very thick fog here. Her Majesty'spacket Onyx, with his excellency on bard, got ashore. He was consequently rowed four miles in a boat ; all, however, arrived quite well, and were not alarmed. The packet is safe, and dill iloat next tide. _ MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, TWO O'CLOCK. The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday were estimated at 4,000 bales, including 500 Ame rican on speculation. The market closed heavily without alteration in prices. The sales comprised 3,400 American, 40 Pernam and Maranhani at 68d. to 7d., 50 Bahia at Gild, 100 Egyptian at bid. to 7-Id., and 400 Surat at 3(1. to 3id. per lb. Railway shares were flat, at a decline of to 1 per cent. The corn trade is dull this morning. The public sales of wool have concluded, 55,101 bales having been offered altogether, and of which 47,671 bales were colonial. The series opened at the full average rates of October and November for Port Philip and Sydney flocks, but Sydney after wards became a little cheaper. Cape of Good Hope, of good clean quality, was scarce. The gun trade at Birmingham are much disap pointed at the Government having in contempla tion the transfer of the manufacture of Ordnance guns from that town to Woolwich. The manufac turers, it is urged, have expended large sums of money in the erection of extensive works and ma chinery, the best mechanics have been secured, and the highest amount of perfection attained. A seri ous derangement in the event of such contempla tion being carried out, will therefore accrue to this branch of local industry. The railway meetings announced are the fol lowing : Date. Pla, 0, &c. Aberdeen Caledonian _ . Mar. 22, Glasgow.. , Charleroi and Erquelines Mar. 21, Charleroi. Chester and Holyhead Mar. 18, Euston Station. Edinburgh and Glasgow Mar. 7, Glasgow. Glasgow and South-Western Mar. 8, Glasgow. Graissessae and Beziers.. Maria Antonia Mid. Gt. Western of Ireland Mar. 14, Dublin. Rouen andHaYre Mar. 30, Paris. Sambre and Meuse Do. Do. South Eastern Toun., Jurb., Land. & Haslt Mar. 27, Brussels. Western of France.. Mar. 30, Paris. At the special meeting of the shareholders of the Waterford and Kilkenny Railway, to receive a statement from the directors relative to the present condition of the company—Mr. Haddo in the chair—the cha'rman and Mr. Bates, another direc tor, addressed the meeting, and explained the present financial difficulties, and stated that the liabilities of the company amounted to about 17,0001., irrespective of a very large sum claimed by the contractor. One of the most pressing of these liabilities was a sum of about 3,0001. duo to the Government Loan Commissioners, and failing the prompt payment of this it was probable the railway might be taken possession of by the Com missioners. The assets in debentures, &c., were about 14,0001., but the directors were utterly un able to get these debentures taken up. There was also 2/. a share which could, with the consent of the meeting, be called up on the pre ference shares, which would amount to 80,000/. — Mr. Taylor, of Dublin, said, that at the request of the Irish shareholders he had come over especially to attend the meeting. They found that every one of the promises of the directors had remained un fulfilled, and that their management of the line had been so bad, and so little dependence was placed on the company, that although 28 miles of the rail way were opened, passengers and goods were sent by cars on the road, instead of by the railway.— Mr. Dowling took the same view as to the manage ment, and said that the chairman of the Irish South Eastern Railway had written to state that it was impossible there could be a junction with the Wa terford and Kilkenny while it was so conducted.— After such corroborative proofs, the meeting wisely appointed a committee of investigation, which is to report to a special meeting on the 14th April next. Accounts of the Ist instant from Vienna, state that the new loan was now considered to be decided upon. The price at which it would be issued is 92, or according to other versions 90, and the amount would be 40 to 50, instead of 60 millions of florins in 4 per cent. lottery obligations. There would be an annual drawing, however, and the numbers drawn would bear interest afterwards at 5 per cent. This part of the scheme has caused the lottery obligations of 1834 and 1839 to fall during the last few days more in proportion than the other national securities. The text of the treaty of commerce between Bel gium and France has been published, and is some what voluminous. The duties upon yarns and piece goods are regulated according to a new scale. France admits Belgian coal duty free; also stone or building materials, and upon straw hats, dtc., there is an abatement of 20 to 50 per cent. _ The opinions of City men are rather divided as to the course which the Chancellor of the Exchequer will adopt in raising the means of carrying on the war. If his present necessities can be met by an issue of 2,000,0001. Exchequer bills, there will be no need of a loan, as fresh taxation will come in aid, but otherwise it would be advisable to borrow while the money market is strong, since an issue of five millions of floating securities would be too large. Probably Mr. Gladstone will take power to fund if requisite. There has been a dull market for public securi ties, the speculators not appearing disposed to ope rate until the budget is known, but, upon the whole, rather a firm tone prevails, with an expecta tion of temporary improvement, if a loan be not required. Consols have been quoted 90g to 91 for transfer, and 90g. to 90q for account. Exchequer Bills have declined to 13s. premium, in anticipation of a further issue. East India Bonds have been at Bs. premium. Bank Stock has been steady at 220 ; East India Stock has realised 235. Foreign Securities have been passive, but not weaker. Mexican Bond: have been done at 24} g, and Peruvian 3 per Cents. at 451. Spanish 3 per Cents. have been quoted 371 • Russian 5 per Cents. are supported at 85 to 86, and the 4-; per Cents. at 80. Dutch 4 per Cents. have been marked 84i :I. Sardinian Stock is 77 to 781. Railway Shares are rather cheaper again, the decline in most of the English lines being about per cent. French shares have been merely no minal. _ _ The current prices for the Jamaica Mines not. officially quoted are as follows :—Metcalfe, k dis count to par ; Sue River, 4 discount to par ; Port Royal, to k premium. In the Foreign and Colonial Mining Market there is no business doing. Australasia Bank Shares are about 10s. lower, but most of the others, including British North American, steady. The shares of the Land Companies have been slightly iu favour of buyers. BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOL)K. (From the Olicial Li3t. Business done Bank Stock ......... ....... ..... . ..... ...... 220 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 3 per Cent Consols Annuities 9O„ a New 31 per Cent. Annuities 92g t India Stock 23 - India Bonds, £lOOO Consols for Account 16th March Exchequer Bills, ld. £1000 £5OO l3 P Small l3 P PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Wexican 3 per Cent. Peruvian 3 per Cent. Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent. Ditto for the Account B5 6 Dia) 4i per Cent •. 80 Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent 77 Si Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 37; it Dividends on the above payable in London. Dutch Exchange, 2} per Cent. 12 Gun 55 Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates ...„ HALP-PA ST TWO. Consols 9oi 1 Ditto 3 , Larch Account 9 oi ii LIEUT. O'REILLY'S PLAN OF SEBASTOPOL HARBOUR. —On the 6th ult. Lieut. Montagu O'Reilly, of the Retri bution, 24, steam-frigate, Capt. the Hon. H. R. Drum mond, had the honour of a private audience of the Sultan to present a plan of Sebastopol harbour and fortifications, which were sketched by that officer when the Retribu tion so boldly entered that inviolable port with des patches. His Majesty graciously accepted the diagram and view, and expressed himself gratified by this second indication of the lieutenant to afford information in the highest degree interesting. The Turkish chief officers of state were all strictly attentive to Lieutenant O'Reilly, who partook with them of seasonable refreshments. Soon after the cruel affair at Sinope Lieutenant Mon tagu O'Reilly furnished the Sultan with a► correct sketch of the remains of his frigates, their positions in that bay, &c. LATEST FOREIGN NEWS. THE WAR IN THE EAST. The Moniteur of this day (Monday) publishes a circular of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to French diplomatic agents, on the letter of the Czar awl the Russian manifesto. The publication of those documents, says, destroys the last hopes in the wisdom of the abinet of St. Petersburg ; and it adds that that hand which had become honoured by the firmness with which it had offered a support to Europe, when it was shakan in its foundations, opens now a course to passions and chances. The FrenchrGovernment, it continues, afflicted at the inutility of its efforts and niofleration, declines the responsibility that must rest with Russia, which will have to render an account to history and to God. The great topic of interest yesterday in Paris, is the letter addressed by the Emperor Nicholas to the Emperor of the French in reply to the latter. It is considered on all sides a tissue of the most barefaced misrepresentations—of statements which have been repeatedly refuted. The part which appears to have most excited resentment is the allusion to 1812. True, it is said, the French army was destroyed during that terrible campaign ; but it was not destroyed, not by Russian valour in the field, but by the fire of Moscow and the rigour of t ie elements ; and the fact of the Russians hav ing been beaten whenever they encountered the French is shown by the latter having penetrated to the heart of the empire. The last accounts from St. Petersburg state that the Russian Government was indefatigable in its exertions to excite the fanaticism of the population. Every day processions traversed the streets and exhibited to the people the relics of the saints of the Greek Calendar. The clergy everywhere urge the true believers to take arms for the defence of the orthodox faith. The Government on its side published bulletins containing accounts of victories supposed to have been gained by the Russians in Asia. Those demonstrations dispirit both the merchants and upper classes. Advices from Constantinople, of the 20th ult., state that the news of the rupture between Russia and the Western Powers had been received with the liveliest satisfaction. On the 18th the French steam-frigate Mogador returned to the Bosphorus, after a reconnaissance as far as Kaffa, where she saw six Russian line-of-battle ships and several frigates. The coast of Albania has been declared in a state of blockade, and the Viceroy of Egypt has been requested to send into the Adriatic the squadron which he intended for Constantinople. A. telegraphic despatch, dated three days later, mentions that Zuinit Paella was to leave on the 4th March for Salonica, to quell the insurrection, which hail greatly increased. Tho English steamer Niger was likewise to go thither on the same day. Four daughters of the Sultan wore said to have been betrothed. From Athens, Feb. 24, we learn that the Eng lish frigate Diamond and the French steamer Promethee have left for Prevesa. A body of Mon tenegrin marauders, having invaded Albania, had been defeated by the Turks, with a loss of 300 men. The Vienna journals publish the letter of Prince Alexander of Servia to the Sultan, on receiving the firman confirming the privileges of the Servian nation, and the address of the Senate to the Prince on the same occasion. The letter is as follows : "Your Majesty, in your inexhaustible solicitude for the welfare and tranquillity of your people, deigned to send me in the month of Rebjoi Fwel, 1270 (1854) a fir man which confirms the privileges of the Servian nation. I have had the happiness to receive this striking and precious testimony of the kindness of your Majesty from the hands of Elten Paella, and I have caused the firman to be proclaimed, with sentiments of profound re spect and devotedness to your Majesty, at Belgrade, in the usual solemn form. I have also directed the firinao to be published in all the districts of the country, in order that this new proof of the kindness of your Ma jesty may be known throughout the whole country. This manifestation of your Majesty's favour is for me a proof of the solicitude which animates you for the welfare and tranquillity of Servia. The prerogatives accorded to Servia by the late glorious Sultan Mah snood, enumerated in the hatti-scheriffs of 1829, 1830, 1834, and 1838, have founded the present prosperity of Servia. Your Majesty in confirming these privileges, and in promising to the Servian nation other proofs of your kindness, consolidates the welfare of the country, as much by the privileges accorded as by those in prospect. The Servian nation and its Sovereign believe themselves obliged by this generosity to entertain heart felt gratitude to your Majesty. As their fidelity has up to this day been firm under all circumstances, so it will preserve it for the future, in order to render itself worthy of your Majesty's kindness, and to obtain in the future new proofs of your inexhaustible grace. I and all my subjects pray the Almighty is the most fervent manner to grant a long and happy life to your Majesty, for the happiness of your subjects. I humbly pray the Most High also to cause your Majesty to preserve your kind ness to me and the Servian nation. "ALEXANDER KARAGEORGEWITCH. "Belgrade, 26th Jan. (7th Feb.)." The address of the Senate is as follows : " Gracious Sovereign, the Senate has received, with your !eaur of the 28th inst., a translation of the Impe rial firman, confirming the rights of the Servian nation, which was lately read and made puhlic, in presence of the members of the Senate and of other persons invited, as well as the reply of your Highness to the Sultan, to thank him for the proof of interest which he has been pleased to accord. The Senate unanimously concurs in the sentiments of fidelity and devotedness which your Highness expresses towards the Sultan, and is convinced that the Servian nation will also share in them. In virtue of the rights conferred by Sultan Mahmoud in 1245, 1246, 1249, and 1254, and confirmed by the present hatti-soheriff, the Senate regards it as its duty to support your Highness in the sense of the con stitution, whi h offers the possibility of preserving the benevolence which the Sultan testifies to you, and of rendering ourselves worthy of the Imperial favour mari fested in the firman. " General E. STEPHANOVICH, " J. IVANOTICH, First Secretary. " Belgrade, Jan. 29 (Feb. 10)." _ A letter from Koenigsberg of the 27th ult. states that, on the preceding day, messengers, with a million of gold roubles, passed through that place from Berlin for St. Petersburg. THE CZAR'S ANSWER TO THE FRENCH EMPEROR'S AUTOGRAPH LETTER. Iu the St. Petersburg Journal of 12 (21) February we read as follows : " The Moniteur Universel having in its official part published a letter addressed to H.M. the Em peror by the Emperor of the French, we are autho rised, while re-producing that document, to publish at the same time the answer of our august Sovereign : " ' ST. PETERSBURG, JAN. 23 (FEB. 9), 1854. " Sire,—l know not how better to reply to your Majesty than by repeating, since they are my own, the concluding words of your Majesty's letter, •‘ Our relations should be sincerely friendly, and repose upon identical intentions, the maintenance of order, the love of peace, respect for treaties, and reciprocal good will., ' In accepting, your Majesty says, the pro gramme which I had traced, your Majesty affirms that you have remained faithful to it. I venture to think, and my conscience tells me so. that I have not departed from it. For in the affair which divides us, and which did not originate with me, I have all along sought to maintain friendly relations with France. I have with the greatest care avoided coming into col lision on this ground with the interests of the religion professed by your Majesty. I have made for the main tenance of peace every concession both in form and sub stance that was possible consistently with my honour, and in claiming for my co-religionists in Turkey the confirmation of the rights and privileges acquired for them long ago at the price of Russian blood, I asked for nothing but what was founded upon treaties. If the Porte had been left to itself, the difference which holds Europe in suspense would have been long since settled. A fatal influence has thrown itself in the way of an arrangement. By exciting gratuitous suspicions, by encouraging the fanaticism of the Turks, by mis leading their Government as to my intentions, and the this influenc e h as i mpar t e d real import of my demands, to the question such exaggerated proportions that war has been the consequence. "` Your Majesty will permit me not to dwell too much in detail upon the circumstances treated of according to your Majesty's own point of view, which are connectedly stated in your letter. Many acts of mine, not correctly appreciated, as I think, and more than one fact distorted, would require to be put right, in such a way at least as I understand them, long dev.,lopments not of a nature to be entered upon in a correspondence between sovereign and sovereign. For instance, your Majesty attributes to the occupation if the Principalities the fault of having suddenly removed the question from the domain of dis cussion to that of fact. But your Majesty loses sight of the fact that this occupation, purely eventual as it was, was preceded, and to a great extent brought about, by an anterior fact of great gravity, that of the appearance of the combined fleets in the neighbourhood of the Dar danelles, besides which long before, and while England still hesitated to assume a menacing attitude towards Russia, your Majesty had been the first to send your fleet to Salamis. This offensive (blessante) demonstration certainly announced but little confidence in me. It was calculated to encourage the Turks, and to paralyse be forehand the success of the negotiations, by exhibiting Franco and England as ready to aid their cause at all events. In the same manner your Majesty attributes to the explanatory commentaries on the Vienna note the impossibility in which France and England found them selves to recommend its adoption to the Porte. But your Majesty may remember that our comments followed, and did not precede the pure and simple non -acceptance of the note ; and I think the Powers, if they had seri ously desired peace, were bound to assist ou this adop tion, purely and simply, instead of permitting the P orte o modify what we had adopted without change, " Besides, if any portion of our commentaries had given rise to difficulties, I offered at Ohuutz a sa tisfactory solution, and one which appeared so to Austria and Prussia, Unfortunately in the interval a part of the Anglo-French fleet had already entered the Dardanelles, uhder the pretence of protecting the life and property of English and French subjects, and to enable the whole of the fleets to enter without a viola tion of the treaty of 1841, it was necessary for the Otto mon Government to declare war against us. My opinion is that if France and England ha wished for peace as much I do. they ought at, any price to have prevented this declaration of war, or when war was once declared they ought at least so to have acted as to confine it within the narrow limit. which I desired to trace for it on the aoluhe, so that I might not have been torn by force from the purely defensive system which I wished to pursue. But from the moment when they allowed the Turks to attack our Asiatic territory, to take one of our frontier posts (even before the time fixed for the comint i:ceitient of h e4ilities), to blockade Akhaltsykh, and to ravage the Armenian provinces, from the moment when they left the Turkish fleet free to convey troops, arms, and ammunition to our coasts—could it be reason ably expected that we should patiently await the result of such designs ? Was it not to be supposed that we should do something to prevent their execution ? The affair of Sinope occurred ; it was the forced consequence of the attitude adopted by the two powers, and the event certainly could not have appeared to them un expected. I had declared that I wished to remain on the defensive, but that was before the explosion of the war, while my honour and interests allowed me to do so, and while the was was restrained within certain bounds. Was that done which ought to have been done to prevent these : bounds from being passed ? If the part of a spectator, or of that of a mediator even, was not enough for your Majesty, and you desired to make your self the auxiliary of my armed enemies, it would have been more loyal, sire, and more worthy of yourself, to have told me so frankly at first, and to have declared war against me. Every one would then have known what part he had to play. But to impute to us as a crime api.,9 coup, an event which you did nothing to avert, is that an equitable proceeding ? If the cannon of Sinope echoed painfully in the hearts of all those who in France and England have an intense sentiment of national dignity, does your Majesty think that the me naciug presence at the mouth of the B ,sphorus of the three thousand cannon's mouths, of which your Majesty speaks, and the report of their entrance into the Black Sea, are facts which remain without an echo in the heart of the nation whose honour I have to defend ? I learn from your Majesty, for the first time (for the verbal declarations made to me have hitherto said nothing of the kind), that while protecting the re-victual ling of the Turkish troops in their own territory, the two Powers have resolved to interdict us from the navigation of the Black Sea —that is to say, ap parently the right to re-victual our own forts. I leave it to your Majesty to judge whether that is, as your Majesty says, to facilitate the conclusion of peace, and if in the alternative presented it is permissible for me to discuss—to examine even for a moment your Majesty's propositions for an armistice for the immediate evacuation of the Principalities, and for the negotiation with the Porte of a convention to be submitted to the four Courts. Would you, sire, in my place accept such a proposal ? Would your national feeling allow you to do so ? I boldly answer, No, you would not. Grant me then, on my part, the right to think as you would do yourself. Whatever your Majesty may decide, it is not to threats that you will see me give way. My con fidence is in God and my right, and Russia, I will answer for her, will show herself in 1854 what she was in 1812. " 'lf, however, your Majesty, with less indifference to my honour, will frankly return to our programme—if your Majesty will extend to me a cordial hand, as I noW at this last moment offer you mine, I will willingly for get everything insulting (blessante) to me in the past. Then, sire, but then only, we may discuss, and come to an understanding. Let your Majesty's fleet confine it self to preventing the Turks from carrying further rein forcements to the theatre of war. I promise willingly that they shall have nothing to fear from me. Let them send a negotiator. I will receive him in a befitting man ner. My conditions are known at Vienna. It is upon that basis alone that I can treat. I pray your Majesty to believe in the sincerity of the sentiment with which am, sii e, your Majesty's bon ami, "'NICHOLAS."' FRANCE. The Emperor also reviewed yesterday, in the Carrousel, the 6th regiment of infantry, the sth and 9th battalions of Chasseurs de Vincennes, who are to form part of the expeditionary army in the East, and will quit Paris to day for Marseilles ; the two battalions of Gendarmerie d'Elito, the regiment of Guides, and the 4th regiment of Chas seurs. Those troops were under the orders of General Levasseur, Commander of the 3rd divi sion of the army of Paris. The Emperor, haying by his side the Duke of Saxe Coburg, and fol lowed by a brilliant itat major, in which figured several German and other foreign officers, rode in front of the lines, an' afterwards took his station at the Pavillon de l'Horloge, when the troops defiled before him, cheering him with loud cries of Vice Empereur ! The Empress witnessed the review front the balcony of that pavilion. An immense concourse of people filled the place. On the arrival of the Emperor thou sands of cries were heard on every side, from soldiers as well as civilians. Louis Napoleon re sponded with much courtesy to the salutations of the crowd, and he never appeared more pleased and happy. He entered the palace after the troops had defiled, and the cheering was still continued by the soldiers and the people. The Eastern question has done a great deal for the popularity of the Emperor. The most complete order pre vailed everywhere, and all passed off with the greatest decorum. It was reported in Paris on Saturday evening that Queen Isabella 11. had taken to flight, and that the republic had been proclaimed at Madrid. It had also been rumoured that the Duke of Saxe- Cobourg had undertaken to broach the subject, to the Emperor, of the re-establishment of the king dom of Poland. It is believed that by the 20th inst. 25,000 French troops will have embarked at Toulon for Constantinople ; and it is calculated that by the 20th of May the first collision will have taken place between the auxiliary armies and the Rus sians. The circulation of the Assemblee Nationale has been prohibited for two mouths, because, in spite of two warnings, it persists in advocating the anti national policy which it has maintained ever since the commencement of the Oriental question. The first division of the French expeditionary army is to embark at Toulon, and at the different ports of Algeria, on the 20th of March, and to sail on the same day for the Dardanelles. The second division will sail on the 15th of April. The generals who are to command the different divisions are also preparing to leave Paris for their respective posts. All of them will be at the dif ferent ports of embarkation in time to superintend the embarking of the troops, with the exception of the Commander-in-Chief, the Marshal de St. Ar naud, and the Prince Napoleon. Marshal de St. Arnaud will leave Paris, should the state of his health (which is very precarious) permit him, on the 15th of March. The Prince Napoleon and his staff will not leave Paris till the Ist of April. Two battalions of the Chasseurs de Vincennes will leave Paris f it the East, at the same time as the Prince Napoleon. On Saturday, at ten o'clock, a Council Extraor dinary of Ministers was held at the Palace of tho Tuileries, at which the Emperor presided, and which, besides the members of the Cabinet, was attended by M. Baroche and M. Billault. It is understood that at this Council the instructions, bot.li military and political, to be given to Marshal de St. Arnaud, were communicated by the Minis ters of War and Foreign Affairs, and agreed to by the Council. After the Council the Emperor drove out to the Avenue from Paris to Versailles, accompanied ipy the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, to review a body of cavalry collected there for the purpose. The Em peror was dressed in the uniform of a general of division, and the Duke in a white uniform, with a silver helinit. The troops reviewed consisted of the 12th Dragoons, the 9th and 10th Cuirassier, and the Ist and 2d Carbineers. The fine and sol dier-like bearing of these troops appea re d t o s t r ike the Duke with admiration. The review lasted about three-quarters of an hour. The Russians who have broken up th e i r res id enc e are in a state of great excitement. It appears that the Emperor Nicholas has intimated to them that they will not be permitted to remain in any part of Europe excepting Russia. They have all been re called, and are now preparing t o bring themselves within the jurisdiction of the Czar. The inconve nience felt is very great, a s many o f th ese person ages resided i n the different capitals of Europe, not fur pleasure only, but ou account of their health. It appears, however, that th e measure a ppli es t o a ll —the highest as w e ll as th e l owes t , an d t h a t an ex ception is not made even in favour of princesses. All the letters from St. Petersburg concur in say ing that the Emp eror o f R uss i a wi ll no t ma k e an y concessions, and that the pr e p a rations for w ar are on an immense scale. On Saturday took place the funeral obsequies of the Baroness Salvage do Faveroles, so remarkable for her devotedness to Queen Hortense, mother of the present Emperor of the French, and who had been appointed by her royal mistress to act as her testamentary executrix. An imperial carriage ac companied the funeral cortege, the Emperor being represented by Count d'Arjuzon, ono of his cham berlains, and Baron de Berkeim, one of his aides de-camp. Prince Jerome, Prince Napoleon, and Prince Murat also sent their aides-de-camp. A great number of high personages, known for their attachment to the Bonaparte family, attended on the , )ccasion. The body was deposited in a vault at the cemetery of Mont-Parnasse. The Bourse was firm on Saturday, without much business. doing, except in railway shares,. which were in geed demand. 1111wirs h Two'. Regime bad an French they we raents r expecte portion The died on The them 3.9 The ] and its The car 28th a The r. at 35g. The royal do Govern has occi M. 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