The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-08-07 00:00:00

NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.

RUMOURS are rife of a probability of renewed nego-
tiations for conditions of peace with Russia ; and the
belief in their truth was sufficiently strong to cause a
rise in the public funds, on Friday, though it was not
maintained on the following day. The foundation for
this report arises from the departure of General LETANG
from Paris, on Thursday, despatched, it is said, by the
Emperor Louis NAPOLEON, on a special and confi-
dential mission to the Emperor of AUSTRIA, in reply
to a communication from the latter, addressed to the
Emperor of the FRENCH. As the communications are
from one sovereign personally to the other, nothing is
positively known as to their contents ; but it is con-
jectured that they refer to propositions contained in a
letter from the Empress Dowager of RUSSIA. to the
Archduchess SOPHIA. of At-mu. These, it is be-
lieved, infer a willingness on the part of Russia to
make some further concession on the limitation in-
volved in the third point of the recent conferences, so
as to lead to the hope that an arrangement may be
be come to with the Western Powers on this all-im-
portant point. It is well known that Austria is
extremely desirous to assume the part of a mediator in
the quarrel; and, as no means present themselves of
re-opening communications except through this chan-
nel, it is not at all surprising that the medium of a
personal communication should be adopted to suggest
concessions, to which a sense of national dignity would
not stoop through the ordinary diplomatic channels.
Should these conjectures be true, we may shortly hear
of an attempt to re-open the negotiations at Vienna
upon an assumed proposal of Austria, in reality ema-
nating from Russia ; and as this, no doubt, will be but
a modification of power in former proposals, apparent
perhaps more in words than in intentions, the subject
will require the greater attention, lest that diplomatic
skill for which Russia has long been pre-eminent
should prove more successful than even the defenders
of Sebastopol.

However desirous we may be that the object for
which the war was undertaken should be effectually
accomplished, we can have no valid objections to treat
for conditions of peace, provided that such concessions
are made as may afford a reasonable hope of the negoti-
ations being brought to a satisfactory conclusion. At
the same time, however, special care should be taken
that the renewal of conferences is not used as a pretext
for slackening the efforts which are being made to
obtain possession of Sebastopol. We have not the
slightest ground for placing any reliance whatever on
Russian professions, unless accompanied with material
guarantees. We may feel sure that Russia will yield
nothing which she has the power to retain, and that,
even should it prove true that she is now willing to
yield more than was the case a few months since, this
change in her policy can only have arisen from the
apprehension that she will not much longer be able to
retain her position in the Crimea. After all, negoti-
ations, under present circumstances, will prove but a
waste of words, to inspire hopes in the advocates for
Kate at any price. The gordian knot can only be

1.
untied by the capture and destruction of Sebaswro
and then, if Russia be inclined to treat for peace 0n.,,
unconditional acceptance of the terms proposed by v;
Western Powers, diplomatists may confer at Vienn3
long as they please.

THE BALTIC FLEET'
•
of lENua f r
opeew,
and
dektsh
ethe l
blockade
natdeer
owf iltlhsee
Russian
a ntlie p
00l
the Baltic will be left to the all-triumphant 4
'
which regards neither friend nor foe. Ris reoo
prising, therefore, that public anxiety should he'cli
to the doings of that magnificent fleet NVl'',--eiliejolD
shores in the Spring to dare the dangers of 14°,10.
navigation, and humble the power of Russia 10,0
borg or Cronstadt. Last year the most inflate
were indulged in, for all had confidence in theer-9
and daring of Sir CHARLES NAPIER, who
forth, amidst a flourish of trumpets, to rival to Of
deeds. The season, however, passed over wit',
realisation of the many fond hopes, and was vi°o4,o
with the knocking down of the fort at Boners ofie
a mere something upon which to found aeeritif
despatch. Then we were told that our shiPe reicif
large in size for the work which they had w
t°,.poil4j
in shallow waters; that smaller vessels were,:reff
and the Admiral, excusing his inactivity 11°'
of the Admiralty to adopt his unexplained s
for the destruction of Sveaborg, took creclitt°oB43
for bringing home the fleet in safety, °toil!
himself for the mortification of his disapP°d,il-
- in vituperation of his official Par;beitg7;
had to learn wisdom by experience, and, .1,1" oble'°,l;
mitted that a flotilla of gunboats was indisr pot
the performance of the required service, feotict;
were instantly made to supply the defect, an, 001',4
tions of Russian humiliation were postpone' fer,
breaking-up of the frost should allow of tbileeetrovo
of hostilities. The spring returned, and aloe 'fj
powerful than the last, and far surpassing
which the victories of the Nile, Trafalgar,
were won, set forth under the command e'Aej,7l
DUNDAS. The former defect had been remewifete°;
in addition to the floating fortresses, there be"
merous small vessels, but we have reached
of August, and, with the exception of the 'of ,As
Fredericksham, there is nothing to trela (10°c
prowess in the Baltic. Last year, they ee""eprj
thing, because they had no gunboats; this
can do nothing, because they want guns eeP 11 ),, ;$,
carry heavy metal a longer range, so as t°
15,f
assailants out of harm's way. Old Sir SlDl'llps
who so gallantly defended Acre, said that r.
JESTY'S ships were built to be placed in dalbefOsiii
modern Admirals seem to be of the opinielliofir
success is only to be gained by keeping /I°' iof4
ships out of harm's way. This may be °,ll
ment arising from the refinement of incaleSts, 1014
tion, but, unfortunately, it is barren of resw
have, therefore, only to wait until Russ.il:lool7;,i
shall, by the fleets coming out of their in o,ollB'
give our Baltic crews an opportunity of 51300 1,0 f)
the Baltic cruise was not undertaken for I'D P
0 131+
To be serious, however, it is quite tinle• tlie
some more satisfactory account of the 110_, to!. 1
tish Fleet, or some better understanding
j".!
the fault of inactivity lies—whether with ti* 5.5
in command, or with Sir CHARLES Wo°" 1
Lord of the Admiralty. The public have
suppose that the expedition was undertakers
bu,
view to cripple the power of Russia by the de
of her fleets and fortresses in the j3-altlese; t
s for o°i,
we have yet received have bee"ex"
which seems interminable.
be satisfied with the safetY $6l
Tile Sir CIiARISs,,,
ade of the Russian ports ; w--1 • d Icl4P ere
more than hinted at his being restrained
GRATIAM_ This-year. we have a change in bfhe re,;,
ments, and a far more powerful force, but
are equally, if not more unsatisfgety,y aS act
id Abe
the eve of breaking up ; and it wou' so"
oe
perhaps, if Ministers were questioned on
oent
so that we may understand if the Gover e 9
had any serious intention of doing oiere
olfhtheefifirseteteaanrdwelea.l4);
I cising the fleet in the intricacies of Baltic

ommumnimmaumesnimsmgelm.oo2
F 0
ADULTERATION OF
it.
.0- efoi
THERE is not an abuse perpetrated,ll° coo 07
its enormity, but what defenders may be t)f
e°
by the most specious sophistry. The evi
,efie bhas been given before the committee of t"
Commons, corroborating previous inve4is,7
proved to demonstration that there is netedi/,`,olPv,
general consumption, either of food or Inf etola
ble of adulteration, in which this dangereT e of'
otyble fraud is not largely practised, and Se 1,0
that the adulteration is not injurious,
tively poisonous ; that, if poisonous, as a/ the totil.l
no very ill effects upon the health of baye
,prpetr
and that the public, as consumers, 50
themselves to blame for displaying /
an anxiety for cheapness. This mode °,
may suit a code of morals very far renleN 0,14
was once understood as common honestY;aaitited,
ever may be said as to the innocence of 40' /
it is at the best fraud, and should be P"alt
may be true that the mixture of chieurlilie
does not render it actually deleterious to '10,(1`;4
that bean-meal, when added to wheaten 11°.oatr,./
render it poisonous ; and that various otherl, vii;"
which the art of the chemist has discovete tee
under sundry fictitious names, may be des lilR
03‘
as they are of good. But these facts, a- sop dir
to be facts, do not offer the slightest rell ()Jei:
r
consumer, however strong his desire for
of ,
should be made to believe he is buyingietle
when in reality he is buying a large P 55. 04
.
some other article comparatively w°l tble o
may not destroy the wholesomeness of 113.1
indeed improve some other beverages, oeo
'0 9
0
the slightest justification ; and thoughl in be 4
be multiplied in which dealers, prowl°ea tlie,6fitie-
table, have practised such frauds, it is only r- .
°et, 1315'
reason why the law should interpose f°1.0,0 44,
of those who cannot help themselves.
easy : it requires but an act to declare 00 pal/ti,
tications to be offences liable to o°,l tl'e 11,-1
ment by fine or imprisonment, an selles oer
might soon be enabled to protect tbe-
-0 1
cularly if encouragement were given 105 043
an award of half the penalty.
tionons 4t,ievf,
A committee of the Honse of C°:iie itice:oo,l
been sitting for some weeks past, but e sessl,,tfol'At
has been driven so close to the end of is dove ti ',14
even if they present their report, wilic • itigil°
to
a, 31 AllY tr
results can be expected this year ; 3 ~cipate
experience of late, it is folly to anus,siou. Ip,
experience
se
from the promises made for a future tiiitig I°A ty
meantime, the public may do •sellae delay.
selves, without relying on the laws
aid of oett:s
sumers' Protection Society, the 010
analytical chemist, might reform c
of tradesmen by a fearless exposure acabie
with the olalr
nd o
the press might be used in order to I'l to cli:vjoii:4
make quality the test of cheapness Shell e
between the honest' and dishonest• effee
duties.
performance of s legitimate
11."
P A js
shouldboldly pthuerslue;dis,.l:wtuorueldeosiolotinnuheavteo
paro;uijoate
sc
THE PEELIT —g
Tt''' ir
• .et- 4
• Whig' col
SiNcE the old distinctions of c
~soy
been almost obliterated, by the num° i,' it
'Lich have pes'
and the multitudinous changes vir 05, _
difficultin the otpohil.ieofne r
taon
pd a
rptryo fdees
definition
IVlte
of
able prospect of satisfactory tee
ralism had been successful in ear leo
Bill, the diminished ranks of the Tones
°isit'itisi°llll°csft owP:l3-i.tl

.
bast°P°ls
see .., ~
~
ed by °I
'Viennall