The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-17 00:00:00

256

THE WEEK.

THE ingenuity of the gentlemen who " do " the editorials for the
morning papers, appears even to us who are of the craft something
marvellous. Day after day do Times, Herald, Chronicle, Post, &c.,
appear with articles on the Vienna Congress, which read very smoothly,
and seem to contain a vast amount of good sense and information,
till, subjected to a scrutiny, they are found to be mere dissolving-views
of politics, a collection of phrases from which it is impossible to
collect the slightest idea of what is doing, what is intended, or what
will happen. One writer hammers away on the disposition of the
late Emperor NICHOLAS, and another on the disposition of the present
Emperor ALEXANDER. The King of PRUSSIA is sure to be abused, and
the Emperor of AUSTRIA. doubted ; on the whole, negotiation will pro •
ceed, and will probably occupy a certain number of days. Much may
depend on the temper of the Russian Court, much ou the terms the
allies will demand, something on the events of the war. At all events,
Sebastopol ought to be taken, and then—we shall see what will
happen next.
All this uncertainty is due of course to our ignorance of the
terms likely to be proposed by the allies. What limitation of the
power of Russia in the Black Sea will satisfy them? Much depends on
the answer to this question, next to nothing on the Emperor
ALEXANDER. He can concede to a certain point, but not beyond it.
If the reduction of Sebastopol be not insisted on, there will probably
be peace; if nothing short of that will satisfy the allies, the war will
most likely he long protracted. But as this point, we may con-
jecture, will very early engage the attention of the Congress, it is
possible that another week may go far to substantially decide the
grand question of peace or war. The Congress held its first con-
ference on Thursday last; it was attended by one French, two
Ottoman, two English, and two Austrian Plenipotentiaries.
The Emperor of the FRENCH has certainly postponed his projected
departure for the Crimea for a time, but the reason of this delay is not
known. It must have been some powerful motive which detained
him, as he is known to have said that he never acted on his own will
without having reason to be satisfied with the result ; nor ever gave
way to the persuasion of another without having reason to bitterly
repent it. Prince NAPOLEON iS in Paris, and vents unsparing criticism
on the management of the war, and on both French and English
commanders.
Full details of the last hours of the Emperor NICHOLAS are con-
tained in letters and journals from St. Petersburg. The conjecture,
originating in the suddenness of his demise, that he might have died
a violent death, is proved to be wholly unfounded. In him the ruling
passion seems to have prevailed to the last. His illness was aggra-
vated by his attention to military duties against the advice of his phy-
sicians, and on his dying-bed he fulfilled all offices of religion and
affection as if on parade. - He manifested care for his family and
anxiety for his empire as long as life remained ; and if it be true that
almost his last words expressed regret that he had not been able to
accomplish the complete emancipation of the serfs of his empire, his
name will long linger among the inhabitants of the vast forests and
illimitable plains of Russia as that of the father of his people.
The death of Czar NICHOLAS does not seem to have occasioned
any of that panic at St. Petersburg which might have been anticipated.
The military appointments of the new Emperor denote sound judg-
ment, and thus far the disappearance of NICHOLAS from the scene
seems to have occasioned no change.
The mission of the Archduke WILLIAM, brother of the Emperor of
AUSTRIA, to St. Petersburg, though stated to have no diplomatic signifi-
cance, shows the friendly feeling still subsisting between the two
Courts. " Hawks will not pick out hawks' eyes." If the death of the
Emperor NICHOLAS has no other result, it will probably tend to bring
the two young Emperors together, and establish a good understanding
between them.

The last despatches from the Crimea show that considerable pro-
gress is now making with the works in front of Sebastopol. The
railway is far advanced, and is already of available use in carrying
stores, huts, &c., as far as Kadikoi. The weather appears unsettled,
a fall of snow having taken place again upon the morning of

the 2nd.
The Russians are unremitting in their exertions to render Sebas-
- topol impregnable, as far as art and science can avail. They have
sunk some additional ships at the mouth of the harbour, and have
commenced throwing up some fresh batteries upon the extreme right;
and their army, Lord RAGLAN states, appears to be increasing in force.
The Redan Battery, which in October mounted only 45 guns, now
mounts, upon estimation, some 220 guns in all, upon two lines of
works ; the earthworks round the Malakoff Tower, which then mounted
only 25 guns, now mounts 70 ; and the Flagstaff Battery, which then
inotinted WU 50 guns, now maunti At kith 1601 The Quarantine,