The Press.
London, England, 1853-09-03 00:00:00

g.4e Vrtss.

perceived that the praises of their recent per-
formance must abate. "So much that was sub-
stantially important to Turkey was left unpro-
vided for "—so the cont millet ions of the present
reflect their light on the incapacity displayed
iu the past.
If we look for intimations as to the course
which England is to pursue iu the contin-
gency which has arisen, here again we meet
with evidences of an indecision which is in-
credible. Peace, of course, is to be main-
tained at any price. But, at One moment, it
is pursued by directly commending the un-
qualified submission of the Porte to Russia;
at another, by the adoption of the modifica-
tions proposed, and their urgent commenda-
tion by the four Great Powers. While the
leading organ of the Ministry announces that
the latter have given instructions to their
Ministers at St. Petersburg to afford the
strongest support to these modifications in
their communications with the Russian Go
vermnent, the organ of a section of the Minis-
try simultaneously on their
withdrawal ; ,
firm attitude is
of authoritieo,
posals.
One thing alone is clear—that amid
confusion the question of peace or war
more than ever at the mercy of accidents.
is admitted that the popular feeling in Tur-
key would not have permitted the advisers of
the Sultan to stipulate for one condition less
stringently precise ; and there is a growing
indignation even against those who appear to
espouse her interests to propitiate her foes,
and interpose their protection to prejudice
her defence. The recent additions to her
fleet, the ambition of her military chief, the
ardour of her soldiery, or the passions of her
people, may either of them prompt escape
from the diplomatic tangle by a sudden out-
burst of which the consequences are im-
measurable. Should this be the issue of
Lord ABERDEEN'S gestation, here, for instance,
is one of the contingencies impending, if we
may credit the Augsburg Gazette :
When the Times asserts that Austria has taken the lead
against Russia, it either deceives itself or attempts to de-
ceive its readers. Austria is so far from being in oppo-
sition to Russia, that if things had come to the worst, if
her honest, well-meant, and impartial counsels had not
proved sufficient to prevent a general appeal to arms, no
doubt would have arisen as to where her place was, and
that place would certainly not have been ut the side of
England.
Granting that the opportunity may not
arise, it will be a small consolation to think
how fortuitously it was averted, or that a
forced Coalition was approaching its term,
while a palsied hand was fumbling with the
reins of empire.

LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER

THE Vienna note is now before the public, and
there is no longer any doubt of its phraseology
or purport.

- -
This note, upon which its authors so con-
fidingly relied for the settlement of all differ-
ences between Russia and the Porte, in its
form, at least, involved these absurdities.
It gave Russia credit for an active solicitude
for the maintenance of the immunities and
privileges of the Greek Church in the Ottoman
Empire ; and, pro tanto, it recognised the
right of Russia to interpose between the Porte
and its subjects.
It further required the Sultan to declare
that he regarded it " as a point of honour
to allow the Greek worship to participate, in
a spirit of high justice, in the advantages Con-
ceded to other Christians by convention or
special agreement." The advantages, that is to
say, that were conceded as a matter of course
to foreign merchants and
.foreign tourists, to
foreign ambassadors and their foreign suites,
were thus extended by the terms of the note
to two-thirds of the natural-born subjects of
the Sultan. The solicitude of the Czar being
recognised in a preliminary sense as devoted
rightfully to this proportion of the Ottomans,
the extent to which this solicitude might be
indulged hereafter was thus generously but
gravely discriminated. On such terms Minis
tern could congratulate the House that the
differences between Russia and Turkey were
arranged, and that the evacuation of the
provinces might be fully relied on (no ha-
probable inference we are bound to say),
as a result of this considerate intervention.
This note was exhibited intermediately to
Russia, and her assent to it procured. With
this cheering information the Ministry were
happy to dismiss the House of Commons,
and to congratulate themselves on the rise of
public securities.
But the common sense of the Divan made
utter havoc of this fool's paradise before it
could present us with a single partridge.
With the addition of two or three verbal
modifications of minor consequence, the Porte
has insisted on the expurgation of every word
which is susceptible of a construction favour-
able to the claim of Russia to intermeddle
between itself and its subjects,
Its just requirements on this head are con-
tained in the first and fifth modifications pro
posed by the Divan, and communicated to the
four Powers as the conditions of its ac-
quiescence. So far we may perfectly rely on
our intelligence, but beyond this stage we are
lost in contradictions and the shifts of an in-
competence apparently self-conscious, but dog-
gedly endeavouring to hide its perplexities.
At one moment we are told that the modifi-
cations of the Porte are of no substantial im
portance. At the same instant their possible
rejection by Russia, unimportant as they are
said to be, is so far contemplated that the
Porte is threatened with a perilous responsi
bility. A day or two later their importance is
admitted, and then the imputations against
Turkey are softened. To the extent to whieh the
Ministerial censure is thus mitigated it. is not
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unprecedented
, the floating debt _
not float, but is steadily sinking.
In his excuse,—for it is telt hi' needs
excuse,--it is said that unforeseen accidents
alone defeated his schemes. We fully admit
that many circumstances have changed fur
the worse in our social as well as our political
state since the Coalition came into taw, bat
yet it must be admitted that in all whielt
relates to the management and conversion of
the public debt Mr. LADSTONS—to are the
mildest phrase—has been especially unfur
tunate.

THE LATE SIR CHARLES NAPIER.
ON the death-roll of our heroes, so lately aug-
mented with the names of SALTOUN and Cock
BURN, must now be inscribed that of NAPIER
His death took place in the fulness of his
years, and was therefore iu the ordinary
course of nature; but it has left a void in the
national regard which cannot easily be filled,
because it has broken one of the remaining
links that connected the present generation
with the most brilliant period of our later
history.
It is creditable to the people of this country
that with discerning gratitude they should
have recognised in the late Sir CHARLES NA-
Pint the man who stood next in the hierarchy
of honour to the Duke of WELLINGTON. 0110 n
looking the great claims of some living officers,
they fixed on his marked individuality of chi•
meter, his versatility, and his rough soldier
like qualities, with a tenacious admiration,
which was evinced also by more discriminating
minds in respect to his higher merit% as a
effintilatilder and au administrator.

A the praises of their recent per- believe that England was never less prepared
st abate. "So much that was sub- to meet a deficiency in her harvest than at the
portant to Turkey was left unpro- present time. There is now no huge stock in
.nthe contradictions of the present bond to be set free when prices should rise to
light on the incapacity displayed a point indicating real scarcity ; and thatithere
will he a very serious deficiency iu our home
for intimations as to the course growth, as compared with past years, is now a •
ad is to inmate iu the contin- point settled past doubt. For several seasons.
has arisen, here again we meet the farmers, owing to the low rates of corn,
es of an indecision which is in- have paid more attention to grazing than to
!ace, of course, is to be main- cereal produce ; but, independently of that,
price. But, at one . moment, it the lust autumn was peculiarly uulivounible
by directly commending the MI• to getting seed in the ground. In some eases
mission of the Porte to Russia ; the sowing was deterred until too late in the •
by the adoption of the modifies- spring ; and in others, owing to the continuous
ed, and their urgent eommenda- rains, the seed perished in the earth. Gene-1
four Great Powers. While the rally throughout England the wheat huaproved •
aof the Ministry announces that thin, while the rain at. harvest time must
.eve given instructions to their damage the quality of the yield.
t St. Petersburg to attbrd the The rise by the Bank in the rate of discount •
pport to these modifications in to 4 per cent. is a significant feet, and, in spite •
inications with the Russian Oo of the continued arrivals of gull from
e organ of a section of the Minis- !Australia. the return of the Bank bullion thin
3ously comments on their averred !week shows a decline of LOVAS. ou the pre-
and public criticism ou our iu- •vious statement.
is thus precluded in the *lndict It is a fact—amount for it as we =ye—
s) end representation*, and pro- Id*. the MOW, _market has never recovered
tom the WI whit& took.plael on Mr. GUI•
alone is clear—that amid this worts announcing his scheme for the mat*.
re question of peace or war is sion of that portion of the Three per Gents.
ver at the mercy of accidents. It with which be proposed to deal.
that the popular feeling in Tur- When he assumed the Exchequer .die Bank
A have permitted the advisers of discounted at the rate of 2 per cent: • It new
) stipulate for one condition less requires double that rate,--a rise, us le Tip*,
precise) ; and •there is a growing admits, unprecedented within the same space'
even against those who appear to of time ; the floating debt of the country will'
. . ita tdeittillV