The Press.
London, England, 1853-12-31 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

THE latest telegraphic despatches relating to the
Turkish question reach London from Paris, and are
.principally occupied with accounts of resumed nego-
tiations, and comments and predictions founded
thereupon. Yesterday's Moniteur on the subject
announces that, according to the latest advices froin
Constantinople, the Divan was in perfect harmony
with the representatives of France, England, Austria,
and Prussia, as to the conditions on which the Porte
could with honour concur in the re-establishment of

peace.
Intelligence received at the same time by the
Foreign-office in Paris tends to confirm the an-
nouncement, and leading to the positive inference
that Turkey had actually accepted the propositions
of the allies. Respecting the intentions of Russia,
however, nothing was known by the French Govern.
inent ; and it is mentioned as somewhat significant
that Austria, who is supposed to be admitted into
all Russian secrets, preserves an utter silence on
this topic. Neither by direct message from Vienna,
nor by information elicited from the Austrian Mi-
nister in Paris, can anything be known, or even
a guess be hazarded, of the probable conduct of the
Czar regarding their latest attempts at finding a
diplomatic solution of the difficulty. In a letter of
recent date from Constantinople it is, however, stated
that, " if Russia should reject the proposed arrange-
ment, the great powers are determined to compel
his acceptance."
From Constantinople itself the despatches briefly
state, under date of the 19th, negotiations on the
peace project have commenced. The Porte manifests
a pacific disposition.
A further meeting of the Divan had been convoked
for the 22nd inst., at which the question of the
armistice would be discussed. It was f reseen that
there were serious difficulties in the way of the cessa-
tion of hostilities existing, especially in Asia and in
the Black Sea; and even on the Danube there could
he no armistice come to, unless the Turks retire be-
hind the Danube, and the Russians recrossed the
Truth. These difficulties would, it Wits apprehended,
prove insurmountable, and render all proposals for
an armistice at present untenable.
The Porte has contracted a loan of 311 millions of
piastres—about 1041,000/. with three important
banking-houses at Constantinople. One of them is
the firm of italtazi. It is thought that this money
has been raised for the purchase of ships.
A private letter from Constantinople, Dec. nth,
states :—" During the night of the 11th December a
Russian schooner of war, loaded with combustible
and incendiary articles, for the purpose of destroying
the allied fleets stationed in the Bosphorus, appeared
in front of the Ottoman forts, and tried to surprise
the vigilance of the guards; but luckily she was de-
tected, and was forced by the firing of the forts to
anchor, trying at the same time to throw overboard
the destructive matters." _

The only military intelligence lately received con•
mists of some vague reports of Turkish successes.
The Eusgians are said to have been driven back at

THE PRESS.

Adrianople. Selint Paella i. reported to have
a brilliant id. iry near Lllttitt : 811111 Pattie! Hey is
stated, in letters front l'rebisond, to be also sir
torions at Terell.

It must be recorded as a somewhat singular
eient that the last week has brought forth 1141 Rus-
sian bulletins annunneing new triumphs over the
.Moslems.

Telegraphic Loh-ices from Odessa announce an
extraordinary rise in the wheat-market on the 1-ith
instant, eottpleil with very extensive transactions.
Freights also had advanced.
The Servian Government is showing some unntis•l
takable tokens of abandoning its professed nentra
lily, and taking the side of Turkey. On the national
fite-day of St. Andrew, kept in Belgnule, on the '_.;td
instant, it was customary to other up prayers: and
thanksgivings for the Sultan as Suzerain, and for
the Emperor Nicholas as patron and protector Of
Servia. This year the latter observance was omitted.
Thanksgivings were offered by the Patriarch for the
Sultan only; and, to mark the omission more strongly,
the Waywod and most officials present in the cathe-
dral left before the service was quite concluded. On
the " Nicholas I lay," the I.2th inst., all the customary
salutes, parades, and illitutinat. s were also omitted,
and the day passed witl t any reeegnition 4,f the
services. The Prince of Servia was absent at the
time, it being evident that he purposely remained
away from Belgrade that lie might not be in the way
of this demonstration on the part of the Sert tan
Government.
The Cza,t. a Polish journal, gives some important
information respecting the preparat. which are
being made in Asia, and proves that Russia,
far front wishing to confine the war within its
veritable limits, is endeavouring to give it the
dimensions of a conflict with England on the
domination in Asia. " Russia," says the (:as,
" has prepared a great expedition, the pretext of
which is to chastise the Khan of Kltiva, but which
is only a mask for vast projects. For fifteen years
Russia has been working towards the possession of
Mongolia and of the Kingisen : she has organised
their hordes by providing them with officers, anns,
and money, and at this present moment an army of
.200,000 horsemen, consisting of the Tartar and
Mongolian tribes of Central Asia, well aimed,
hardened to fatigue, and accustomed to traverse the
greatest distances, has taken the field under the
orders of Russia. At the same time ltusais is doing
all she can to excite the Persians and the Affghans to
a war against England, and to join their armies to
the Tartar hordes she is urging towards India. If
she succeeds—if the independent and hostile tribes
to England beyond the Ganges are gained over—it
is doubtful whether England will be able to main,
tain her dominion in the East Indies. Incalculable
changes may, therefore, be expected in India as well
as in Central Asia. Perhaps the days of Gengis
Khan may be renewed, and India once more become
the prey of the Tartars."
A letter front St. Petersburg affirms that the
exchange of the ratitications of an offensive and
defensive treaty between the Government of the
Schalk of Persia and Russia took place on the even-
ing of the ISth instant. The Czar has, it is staled,
engaged to furnish Persia with arms, ammunition,
and money, in ease she declared war against Turkey.
Several Russian officers had already arrived at
Teheran to serve in the Persian army.
Letters from Erzemmn announce that the Scluth
had decided on dismissing the English, German,
French, and Italian officers who were serving in his
army.
An official letter from Lord Palnterston has been
received this week by the civic authorities of Glas-
gow, requesting to know particulars respecting some
warsteamers which his lordship was informed were
building on the Clyde for the Emperor of Russia.
The Home Secretary, however, says the North
British Daily Mail, appears to have been misin•
formed on the subject, as there are no ships building
for the Czar; but there are being constructed two
pairs of powerful first-class marine-engines and ma-
chinery for war-steamers, by one of our first en-
gineers, who is under contract to have them at Cron-
malt in April. and to fit them up in the vessels there
by his own workmen. Although there are no ships
building here for the Autocrat, we have reason to be,.
lieve that his lordship may learn something on the
subject if lie institutes inquiries on the banks of the
Tyne or Wear.
Mercantite letters from Bagdad state that a
body of Persians were to march against that city,
and that they were expected during the present
month. It is added that Persian troops were also
concentrating at Shiraz, probably to guard against a
descent front Bombay.

The Munikur publishes a deme abolishing the
restrictions on raw cotton imported into France from
Great Britain and the British possessions in Europe.
There is no change to be made for the present in the
regulations respecting the imports of cotton yarns.

831

The tirst aide tie ramp of the \linikt.•r of Marine
has set out for •fottloti, where he will entbark for
Constantinople, Ilia' in•troetiona to the
It is said that the appilititittent of M. rortonr A.
Mk senator preliminary to the abolition of the oath,'
of Minister of Piddle Instruetion.

SI. Visconti, menther of the Itonitute and actin
tea to the Emperor, tlietl suddenly at I'*n on

A violent hurl•ieane visitt*l the Wand of Spezzia
•oollle day% ',Mee. A gnat many 111011 Se% Were de
army Vl, IHI(t the torrent fonneil IN the rain at
Sl►eiria foamed with such impetuosity into the
harbour that it broke the anchorage of a great many
ship•, and drove then► mu Its set,.

The inishion the Count him-tides to Enuntry
i% stated to have referenee to the Eie.torn tine%finii.
The count Wits, for SUMP time Prie.enitti hlinixter pt

'onslantinople, and his visit to Imuslon is believed to
foreshadow a more I,erfeet accordance of pohey bi
tween Prussia, England, and France.

Itr. Itibwring ham been appiiinted by the Queen
t'. error liong.liiing And blinister fur
China. and succeeding iu those (millions Sir G. par-
-110111. WIIII`e T 0,40101011 was lately aniiiinueed.
Itowring arrived in Paris on Tuesday, but will return
tie China berilmjih.

TM: TOTAL St. •FIIIES Is LIINDOS during
11453, according to official docitinents now preparing,
Lad reached 1,05:1up to Wednesday evening, and had
been accompanied by greet 14aeritiee of humus lite, and
iwoperty destroyed atioutisting to et least '2,010,1 mmi/.
sterling. IMt of the hitter sum many thousands wen+
sacrificed at paper iiiiiiinfactories and paper nulls—
abut one twentieth of the whole amount.

PRIM!: FREW:IM ( AnI.E%, son of PlittCO elon'lni
l'isissiet, is to it princess of Anindt,
He",,an.

THE .11':•TItIAN MINISTER to the French Court, the
Chevalier Hubner, returned to London ria TlK•sday
from Brighton, ► n route t.► resume his diplomatic
duties in Paris.

The Polish exiles in London atmembled numer-
ously, on the 21st instant, at Sussex Chambers, Duke-
street, St—James's, to maul the stweelt of Prince Adam
Czartoryaki, delivered by his highness at Paris on the
...)itth nit., Isnot voted to him an address expressive of
confidence, respect, an4l gratitude, for the ability, and
prudence with which, during a long career, lie has
watched over the destinies of l'oland.

r ESTE, ill the Lombardo-Venetian province, on
the 111th, fifteen men were shot, in execution of a
sentence of court martial, tor murdera and arta of
brigandage. They were all executed at the same
time. They formed pert of a band of 39 men, and
the remaining 21 were condemned to periods
prisonment, with hard labour, varying from four to
eighteen years.
The following seditious proclamation, printed upon
yellow paper, was placarded on Chris.lmes night in
several parts of Paris :--" The tyrant, to amuse pub
lie opinion, which is manifesting itself against hint,
is preparing a coup de police. Let all good eitiAena
be on their guard."
witty"' DEVASTATINII 'her occurred in the City
on Thursday morning, and destroyed some largo
premi•es, oecupied as on upholstery warehouse, 111
tart nt. Winchester-street, I.ondon.well. Nobody was
in the house when the fire was first discovered. Mr.
Burgin, the owner, has suffered a eonsidtiablo
The intense frost. prevailing at the time or tie row
Migration much impeded the firemen, whom' drchses
heroine ccated with ire tool their helmets fringed
with hick's. The destroyed edifice was very old,
being a relic of !Amain' architeeture in days long
prior to the Great Fire of lOW During the height
of the conflagrations the opposite houses were iss great
danger, and actually caught fire from the flaines
which furiously poured over them, but were ulti-
mately saved, with some damage.

FROM THE I.4)NDON HAZErIE.
nimbly, Der. 27.

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832

iteraturt.

MACAULAY.

Speeches of the Riyht Hon. T. B. Macaulay,
M.P. Corrected by Himself. London:
Longman and Co.
Speeches, Parliamentary and Miscellaneous. By
the Right Hon. T. Babingtmi Nlacanlay.
(Two volumes.) London: Clarke, Becton,
and Co. _