The Press.
London, England, 1855-04-28 00:00:00

APRIL 28, 1855.

the opinions which they represent than from their armies
and their fleet.
This anti-despotic truism tells with superlative
force when coining from one armed with the un-
bounded powers of an irresponsible sovereignty. It
is a voluntary acceptance of public opinion as a
guide, and the determination of fulfilment as a duty.
The effect may be more easily imagined than
described upon brutal Russia, and upon disloyal and
lying Prussia. On hearing the memorable and
golden words, Poland, Hungary, Italy, and the op-
pressed nationalities, not excepting the Rhinelands
of Prussia and Bavaria, recur instantly to the mind.
Austria must beware in time.
M. de Bismarck founds his cry of Germanic union
upon the avowed antagonism of the Western against
the Northern powers, forgetful that in this not in-
correct statement he inclines to a dissolution of the
predicated union. Moreover, he reveals the source
of weakness, and infers by the warmth of his en-
treaties that the Germanic princes are far from being
of one mind on the means of consolidation. The
attitude of Austria is damaging to all, and in a
serious degree prejudicial to herself. After the
Napoleonic speech which still more increases her
bewildered hesitation, she must adopt, voluntarily or
involuntarily, a decided course. The fear of losing
Italy is not allayed by the firm assurances of France
and England that the Austrian dominions shall re-
main intact ; and a knowledge of the exposure of her
northern frontier is heightened by the consciousness
that the high officers of her army entertain strong
predilections for Russia, and that the discontented of
Hungary are to a man Muscovite.
Russia, on the other hand, offers the same, if not
better, terms than those of the Western powers. It
has been signified to the Tiquelurdat Camarilla that
the integrity of the empire shall be guaranteed—that
the Germanic influence of Austria shall be respected,
and the Prussian intrigues arrested—and in addition
to this that the Danubian rights, and the question
of the principalities, comprised in the two first points
of the Vienna Conference, and there agreed upon,
shall form a separate treaty betwixt Russia and
Austria. This is to be the price of her neutrality,
whereby she will be placed upon surer ground, and
reap more solid advantages than by adhering to an
anti-Russian policy. Against this must be set off the
drawback of Italy, the whole of which peninsula will
be revolutionised whenever France may be opposed
to Austria. It is this dread that predominates with
M. de Buol ShOnstein, whose plastic temperament
has been paralysed by the straightforward declaration
of the Emperor Napoleon.
The communications betwixt Lord John Russell
and Lord Raglan since the arrival of the latter at
Vienna have been constant, and the dilatoriness of
the siege with all the appliances ready is attributed
to the influence of these passing councils. This
partakes of the nature of an armistice worse than
equivocal, with which the French have nothing to do,
and to which the Emperor so peremptorily refused
to accede when requested by Austria. One of these
special and military messengers has just passed
through Frankfort on his way to the Horse Guards,
and scrupled not to make public the dissatisfaction
felt by the English army at the tardiness and inutility
of the Vienna conferences. if the integrity of the
third point be in any way invaded, the lives lost
betere Sebastopol will have been a useless slaughter.
The misconduct of Austria in the principalities
outherods the former atrocities of the Russians.
Rape, rubbery, and murder, are every-day acts, justi-
fied by the officers in command by a refusal to punish
the delinquents or to listen to complaint.
J. E. L.
PS.—The conferences are at an end. This will
not the more readily induce Austria to fulfil her bond;
she dare not engage in active hostility against Russia
unless supported by the whole of Germany.

ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE AT BROUSSA.
BROUSSA, April 11.
YESTERDAY evening, at about a quarter to eight
o'clock, two or three violent shocks were felt here,
and caused universal terror and agitation. The re-
collection of the horrible scenes witnessed only a few
weeks ago rushed upon the mind of every one, and
inspired a dread of results which unhappily was only
tno completely realised. Five minutes afterwards
every public monument and building in Broussa was
in ruins !

The full details of the catastrophe, and of the
ravages it has caused, cannot be yet ascertained, but
it. may he said, in brief, that the city is destroyed—
fire having devoured the wrecks which earthquake
had left. Among other noble monuments that have
perished is the magnificent Mosque of Oulon Djami,
the pride of the city. Two minarets of this edifice
were thrown down in the first earthquake and the
cupola cracked. It is now destroyed from top to bottom,
leaving nothing but a pile of crumbled stones, amidst
which the renowned turbelis of the first Sultans are