The Press.
London, England, 1855-05-26 00:00:00

THE RUSSIAN CIRCULAR.

Count Nesselrode's note giving the Russian version
of the proceedings at the late Vienna Conferences
was published in the St. Peterabourg Gazette on the
12th inst. The document is dated April 2d (May
10) ; its substance is as follows :
The deliberations 3f the Conference of Vienna, without
being definitively broken oil; reinsin iu suspense, the pleni-
potentiaries of France and Great Britain having declared
that their instructions were exhausted.
In order to place the Imperial legations in a position to
form a correct judgment on the actual state of the negotia-
thnis, 1 think it my duty to retrace the whole of them,
to state the results they have produced, and finally to point
out the circumstances which, by checking their progress,
have opposed obstacles to their success.
From the beginning the Imperial Government, without
provoking a revision of the treaty of 1841, was prepared
to renew the provisions of it.
It was only with a view of exhausting all the means of
negotiation in its power that the Cabinet believed it met
the views of those of London and Paris, by proposing to
them to open the navigation of the Black Sea to the flags
of all nations. Their refusal to adopt this mode of concilia-
tion completely exonerated the Imperial Cabinet from in-
sisting on it. Far trom that, more than one reason, in our
opinion, combined to favour the principle of the closing of
the straits, which we had consented to renounce, not in the
sense of an exclusive policy, but with reference to the
graver considerations of the general interest.
In the situation which resulted to us from the issue of
the conference of the' Ist of April, our plenipotentiaries,
liberated from the obligation to plead the cause of the open-
ing of the Black Sea, rejected as it was by our adversaries
themselves, remained at liberty to propose a new plan.
This comprised two articles. Thu tirst confirmed the
ancient rule of the closing of the straits. The second left
the Sublime Porte itself to be the sovereign judge of the
cases in which the interests of its security might require
exceptions from this principle, and in which it might feel
bound to call upon, according to circumstances, either the
fleets of the Western powers, or those of Russia.
The French Minister for Foreign Affairs, reiterating
the declaration that he considered his instructions to he
exhausted, did nut think himself authorised to discuss the
project thus actually offered for deliberation. The Otto-
wan plen.potentiaries abstained from giving an opinion
upon its merits. The Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs,
in taking into consideration this proposal, saw with satis-
faction that in Article 1 the principle of the closing had been
substituted for that of the opening of the straits. Ho
thought, moreover, that Article 2, which reserved to the
Sultan the power of eventually calling to his aid foreign
fleets, and of exceptionally ope ' • •
tible of a practical application,
him to be legitimately open '
elements of which Austria •
approximation ; but, i
still were, he could not

On their side, the
tained that it was they
on the protocol the last proposal
third point of the negotiations •
seated, with the same view,
the subject of the thirteenth
by declaring that they h
thus pn.posing several
tendered by Prince Uortschakoff,
26th of April. On the followi-
for Foreign Affairs quitted v.

Such ci a summary
(26th) of April. In or
character of simplicity
historical statement,
all recrimination. It v.
their connection to enlib
which the Imperial Cabinet
each of the questions
recapitulate them.
The first was one
considered the matter
it in the sense of the
which Russia had promised
She has kept, and will kxs'

malty opening the straits, was Nuseep-
plication. The proposal appeared to
y open to discussion, and to comprise
usu•ia might avail itself as a means of
in the crude state in which affairs
of consider it as a basis of solution.
e plenipotentiaries of Russia main-
ty who, iu the 12th conference, placed
last proposal ten-ling to resolve the
gotiations ; and again, that they pre-
e view, the new ideas which tanned
irteenth conference. They concluded
y had amply redeemed their word in
sl modes of solution. 'lbis declaration,
iortschakott, closed the sitting of the
he following day the French Jlinister
nitted Vienna on his return to l'ari►.
y of the negotiations up to the 16th
order to preserve fur this repose the
ity and calmness which belongs to a
we have been careful to keep clear of
t was enough to establish the facts and
enlighten you as to the intentions
abinet has prominently put forth upon
under deliberation. 11e will briefly
eof political rivalry. The Emperor
rin a higher point of view. He took
e wellbeing of the principalities, of
promised to guarantee the prosperity.
I know how still to keep, this prong's.

The second was intimately connected with the general
interests of commerce. The Emperor decided it in favour
of tho commercial freedom of all nations.

The third concerned not only the common equilibrium,
but closely interested the dignity and honour of ltussia. So
our august master judged. The national feeling of the
whole country will respond to this decision.
The fourth was a question of religious liberty, of civili-
sation, and social order for all Christen lom. In the judg-
ment of the Imperial Cabinet, it was one which would
one day be placed at the head of a treaty of general
pacification that might be worthy of being invested with
the sanction of all the Sovereigns of Europe. The plenipo-
tentiaries of England and France even refused to entertain
this question of religious interests before the one that con-
cerned the navigation of the Black Sea should be arranged.
After this explanation we hays nothing to add to the
recital which I have just made.

THE BALTIC FLEET.
(From a Correspondent.)

OFF REVEL.
MAY 19.—1 closed my last on our way to Gulf of
Finland, with a strong, fair wind, which made us
reduce our sail to close-reefed topsails, under which
sail, with some occasional alterations, in accordance
with wind and weather, we made out our voyage in
forty hours to this anchorage, which we found
free from ice. The island of Nargen, under whose
lee the blockading fleet are now anchored, forms a
sort of bay, some seven or eight miles from Revel,
whose magnificent "Domberg," powerfully protected
by some 1,100 guns, frowns contemptuously down on
our wooden walls, which could make but little impres-
sion on the rocky embrasures which surround it. We
have taken possession of this island, and lighted the
lighthouse, which will be of great advantage to our
cruisers, whose principal station is between here and
Revel (about twenty miles from point to point).
Some of the flying squadron have dropped in to-day,
and, I regret to say, report that there has been a
collision between the Imperieuse and Tartar, both
vessels having been much damaged, the latter so
much so that it was necessary to send her under
escort to Faro. She lost her mainmast, and the
Imperieuse her bowsprit. The particulars are not
exactly known, but it is very vexatious. The Rus-
sian fleet in Helsingfors have decamped, we suppose,
to Cronstadt, so that now our natural (nautically
speaking) enemies are all sheltered there. Query—
Can we get at them? The admiral, with a large
staff, has been reconnoitring within a couple of miles
of Revel to-day. Euryalus, Cossack, and Esk have
arrived here, after a month's harassing cruise.—No
prize money. There are two or three dismantled
Russian vessels-of-war of the smaller class inside the
mole here not worth troubling ourselves about.
There are some curious (and to sailors interesting)
relics at this little island of Nargen, in the shape of
tombs of officers and men belonging to Nelson's fleet,
who came as far as Revel during the war with Rus-
sia ; and no doubt, had peace not been declared
immediately after their arrival, in those days, when
fighting was rather a matter of amusement than of
serious reflection, would have tried their strength in
competition with the fortification of Revel.
MAY 11.—The admiral has gone to day to have a
look at Helsingfors.
MAY 13.—The reconnoitring party from Helsing-
fors returned late last evening, and report that that
place, already renowned for its strength, has had
great additions made to its fortifications during the
absence of the allied fleets, and now is decided, by
the most sanguine, to be perfectly impregnable.
Geyser has arrived from cruising in the Gulf of Riga,
where she has, in company with the Archer, captured
nine neutral vessels who were loading in the roads
there. The question of their being good prizes is
difficult to decide on ; and one must hear both sides
before forming an opinion. Ithperieuse is to go to
England, as also probably will Tartar, as their
damages are so serious that they cannot be made
good here. Princess Alice is all right, and will Join
us here shortly.
MAY 14.—Driver has arrived, with the mails from
England, to-day, and starts to-morrow for Dantzic,
with the return letters. News from dear England is
to us like water in the desert, and tends much to
alleviate the monotony of a Baltic cruise. impfriettee
sails to-morrow for home. Poor Imperieuse! I hope
she will be back in time for anything that may be
going on this year, as she has always had hard times
in the Baltic, being, both this and last year, the first
to arrive at the scene of operations and the last to
quit. Geyser has gone back to her cruising-ground
off Riga. Fogs are very prevalent. Fleet are pretty
healthy ; but this climate always has a bad effect on
our men, in one way or the other, on our first coming
here. Nothing is so bad for an English sailor as
monotony. Let us have a shot at the Russians, and
you will have no report of sickness. We are anxiously
expecting
,arrivals from England. All *omen and