The Press.
London, England, 1855-01-06 00:00:00

S AT URDAY.

inhabitants of ',,he foreign quarter of the Turkish
capital.

RUSSIA.

On Christmas-day the Emperor Nicholas issued
the following proclamation :
By the f.race of God, We, Nicholas the First, limper:or
and Autocrat of all the Russias, &c., Sco., SAL, mike
known:

The causes of the war, that still lasts, are well under.
stood by our beloved Russia. The country knows that
neither ambitious views, nor the desire of obtaining new
advantages to which we had no right, were the motives for
those acts and circumstances that have unexpectedly
resulted in the existing struggle. We had solely in view
the safeguard of the solemnly-recognised immunities of
the Orthodox Church, and of our coreligiouists in the
East. liut certain Governments, attributing to us inte-
rested and secret intentions that were far from our
thoughts, have complicated the solution of the question,
and have finished by forming au hostile alliance against
Russia.

Attar having proclaimed as their object the safety of the
Ottoman empire, they have waged open war against us—
not in Turkey, but within the limits of our own realm,
directing their blows on such points as were more or less
accessible to them—in the Baltic, the White Sea, the
Black Sea, in the Crimea, and even on the far distant
coasts of the Pacific Ocean. Thanks to the Most High,
both in our troops and in all classes of our subjects, they
everywhere meet with intrepid opponent►, animated by
their love for us and for their country ; and, to our conPo-
lation in these troublosts circumstances, amidst the cala-
mities inseparable from war, we are constantly witnessing
brilliant examples and proofs of this feeling, as well as of
the courage that it inspires.
Such are the defeats more than once inflicted on the
enemy's troops on the other aide of the el‘lltAbllb, not-
withstanding a great disparity of fuzee. Such was the
unequal conflict sustained with success by the defenders
of the coasts of Finland, of the convent of Suvoletsky, and
of the port of Petropaulo7sky in Kambehatka. Such,
above all, is the heroic defence of Seba►topol, signalised by
so many exploits of invincible courage, and of indefatigable
activity, as to be admired awl dune justice to by our
enemies themselves.

Beholding, with humble gratitude towards God, the
toils, the bravery, the self-denial of our forces both by
laud and sea, and also the general outburst of devotion
that animates all ranks of the empire, we venture to re-
cognise therein the pledge and augury of a happier future.
Penetrated with our duty as a Christian, we cannot
desire a prolonged effusion 01; blood, and certainly we
shall not repulse any otters and conditions of peace that
are compatible with the dignity of our empire and the
interests of our well•beloved subjects. But another and
not less sacred duty commands us, iu th a obstinate strug-
gle, to keep ourselves prepared fur efforts and sacrifices
proportioned to the means ut action directed against us.
Russians ! my faithful children ! you are accustomed to
spare nothing when called by Providence to a great and
holy work—neith,T your wealth, the fruit of long years of
toil, nor your lives—not your own blood nor the blood of
your children. The noble ardour that has inflamed your
hearts from the first hour of the war will not be extin-
guished, happen what may; and your feelings are those
also of your Sovereign.
We all, Monarch and subjects, if it be necessary—
echoing the words of the Emperor Alexander, in a year of
like trial, the sword in our hands, and the Cross in our hearts
—know how to fade the ranks of our enemies, for the
defence of the most precious gifts of this world, the secu-
rity and the honour of our country.
Given at Gatchina, the fourteenth day of the month of
December, in the year of grace, ltibf, and the thirtieth of
our reign.