The Press.
London, England, 1855-12-29 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

Tax diplomatists of the Continent have been unusually active this
week, and all their movements have had a pacific tendency. Count
ESTERHAZY, the Austrian Minister at Berlin, had an audience of the
King of PRUSSIA on the 28th instant, and delivered to him an autograph
letter from the Emperor of AUSTRIA, containing, it is said, an urgent
request that the King would use his influence with the Russian Court
to secure the acceptance of the pacific proposals which had been sent
to St. Petersburg. A copy of these proposals had been forwarded to the
King two days previously. On Wednesday last, M. de SEEBACH, the
Minister of Saxony at the French Court, had a long interview with
the Emperor just previous to his departure from Paris for St. Peters-
burg. He is the son-in-law of M. de NESSELRODE, and it is said that
the object of his mission is to suggest to the Russian Court the pro-
priety of a European Congress. The notion put forward by our
Ministerial journals that Count VALENTINE ESTERHAZY was the bearer
of an Ida/satins, is universally discredited by the continental journals,
and it is confidently stated by the best-informed German papers that
Austria is not disposed to insist on either the demolition of the
Russian fortresses in the Black Sea, or the cession of a part of Bess-
arabia to secure the freedom of the Danube. All that is certain is,
that Count ESTERHAZY is the bearer of undoubted pacific proposals,
and that he will be well inclined to confer with the Russian Cabinet in
the most friendly spirit.
The paper just published in Paris on the " Necessity of a Congress
to Pacify Europe," is issued with a great show of authority, and at
first sight seems as if it could only proceed from the Imperial pen.
The style of the Emperor is adroitly imitated, and the object is to
follow out the idea he projected in his address on closing the Paris
Exposition. It does not appear, however, how a Congress of all the
Powers of Europe, which is here hinted at, would be practicable, or
what decisive influence such Congress could exercise over the con-
tending Powers, were the representative of all States, great and small,
to assemble. When the animals met to choose a king, the lion, dis-
gusted with the absurd pretensions he heard, was the first to with-
draw, satisfied with his own position, and he was followed by the other
beasts next in dignity. A Congress of all the States of Europe would
be likely to break up in much the same manner. The document,
however, has some significance, as indicating the strength of the party
favorable to a pacific settlement in Paris, and as embodying the
sentiments of an influential portion of the Cabinet.
As accounts have reached us of the safe arrival of Count ESTER-
NAZY at St. Petersburg, we shall probably have important news from
that capital in the course of another week.
The leading journal of yesterday again cutrerforward the mis-
ohievous notion that a pacific settlement, w debated, must
lithedukd upon " suck terms as the successes of one party enable them
demand, and the necessities of the other oblige them to concede."
Aeosito this, the terms of the Allies would vary with every alter-
nation • rtune. Thcy would rise a little higher just after the fall
of Sebastopol, and sink a little lower just after the fall of Kars. As a
consequence, the belligerents would be for ever haggling, one side
enhancing every success, the other diminishing every failure.
Plainly, the more principled policy is to declare that we can
be satisfied with no less terms than will secure our objects,
and that, unless forced from our atttitude of moderation, we have no
wish to ask for more. It is a barbarous notion that in war there is no
right or wrong but as the sword sways. We are much deceived in the
spirit of our country if it will ever consent to adopt this sentiment, or,
whatever may be the turns and accidents of the struggle, to accede to
other conditions than aro consistent with justice and sound policy.

The fall of Kars, if it proves nothing else, proves the most gross
negligence of the responsible authorities in this country. The private
letters of General WILLIAMS, lately received, declare appeals to have
been made time after time to the Government of the Porte and the
Government of this country for assistance and relief. How these
were regarded, the fate of the town can well answer. No honest
•Engliah heart can read the terrible accounts of the sufferings of that
garrison and people without a sense of shame at the criminal policy,
or wilful indifference, which oould condemn brave men to such a trial
Women and children dying of hunger in the streets—starving
men beseeching General WILLIAMS to give them food, and dying
on his door-step the hospitals crowded with sick, and
the streets with corpses what a picture does not all
this brieg before the mind ! Lord PALMERSTON last session
urged upon the House the necessities of Turkey. Has he taken
one sin le step to relieve Kars ? Lord PANMURE, who is held up
by his friends as a fit object for worship for energy and decision, and a
thorough acquaintance with the principles of military administration—
we should be glad to know what steps he took during the last six
months of his career for the relief of Kars. That this result is due
mainly to our having men of but " one idea," and that an indifferent
one, at the head of affairs, we are inclined to believe. Had Lord
ELLENBOROUOII directed the administration of the War Department,
his large views, his undoubted sagacity, his appreciation of the
dangers of Russian successes in Asia Minor, anti his great energy,
would have preserved us from this sad shame. Under his adminis-
tration, MtF.tt l'AestA would not have been kept idle in the Crimea
while his countrymen were starving at Kars : the strong farce at
Erzerottin would not have been intrusted to incapable hands, and the
• relief wonltt at least have been effectually attempted, if nut successfully
achierid.