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

THE PRESS.

Derby as the personification of that England of the
olden day which was both feared and honoured. They
dread the energy of his race, the incorruptibility of
his honour, and the predominant ability of this chi-
valrous descendant of the royal Margaret Beaufort.
The debate on the Russian trade has been discussed
at the Brosenhalle unfavorably to Mr. Cardwell.
The Frankfort merchants put the case fairly. They
say that, under existing circumstances, the blockade
of the Baltic porta works simply as an undue expense
to England, if Prussian merchants are permitted to
bring Russian goods to an English market, wherein
they benefit both as carriers and retailers. The
trade has decreased to a small amount in quantity,
which is made up in price, and the payment to Russia
is made "de rigour" in gold, without exchange of
merchandise. That this English gold has been em-
ployed for Crimean purposes is self-evident; the
Russian finances would have been materially da-
maged had an exclusive policy been adopted. The
forced loans, exorbitant taxation, and paper money
have produced that altered tone in the imperial ma-
nifesto which no military defeat could have extorted.
Thus say the very capitalists who are gaining, through
their connections, by that egregious folly which was
vaunted by Sir William Molesworth as a proof of a
philosophic civilisation, of a humanised system of
warfare. What means this contradiction of terms?
Can his friend Mill explain the metaphysical jargon;
or are the principles of a humane warfare and a san-
guinary peace to be found in Hobbes ?
Nothing has damaged the Palmerston Ministry
more in Germany than the speech of Mr. Macgregor,
the member for Glasgow. A high opinion of the
statistical and historical ability of that gentleman is
entertained everywhere on the Continent, both from
personal acquaintance, and from the wide circulation
of his valuable works. His moderation, and his al-
legiance generally to Lord Palmerston, would pre-
sume that a" force majeure" alone, and painful no
doubt, compelled him to withhold his support, and
further to state that the Ministry did not possess the
confidence of the country. Mr. Macgregor well knew
and expressed the truth of public feeling. Expecta-
tion is intense for the fall of the Palmerston Admi-
nistration, and, in proportion, Lord Derby and Mr.
Disraeli attract continental attention. No sentiment
of regard towards these gentlemen animates the be-
wildered Diet—they know that the time for Sachsen
intrigue is over—and Russian, Prussian, Austrian,
German, and Rhinelander fear the consequences of a
coming policy, stalwart, uncompromising, Protestant,
and English.

J. E. L.
PS.—I reopen my letter with the hazard of being too
late for the post to furnish a hasty account of • con-
versation reported to have been held recently with
the King of Prussia. In that private conference the
King is said to have expressed himself with un-
changed regard for his old ally of England, and
added that his own opinions were neither shaken nor
varied from those he expressed to the Duke of
Wellington at the last parting interview with his old
warrior friend in England :—" When we shook
(serre) each other by the hand, we knew that it was
for the last time, and with the memoried regret, I do
not, I cannot, and never will, forget that our senti-
ments were in perfect unison, as I am certain was
our mutual regard. Well may England—ay, all of
us—be proud of one who never flinched in the line
prescribed by duty, firm duty, patriotic duty. He
knew the value of sovereignty and counselled it
faithfully in its allotted course to act, as he did, for
the welfare of all, and not from selfish or jealous
motives. Had he been alive this war would never
have been undertaken, still less prosecuted with
such deplorable results for England. It would have
been averted." No blame was attached to the army,
but the incompetency in the management of such a
fine military maariel received the severest cen-
sure; it seemed an insult to the memory of his old
friend. Not for one instant did he doubt the valour
of the English recruits. Battles have been won
with young troops, and will be again. It was the
squandering with such spendthrift imbecility this
fine matiriel that caused the regret of the comrade
of Wellington. The name of Sir Robert Peel was
mentioned by the Duke in regard to his Ministry
having been based upon "economy and retrench-
ment." It is clear the great Duke had predia
that " a commercial majority," by incessant demands
of reducing the army estimates, would bring England
into a dilemma in case of a sudden war. It may be
gathered from the conversation that the alarming
attitude and increasing preponderance of military
France, the temporary annihilation of the English
army, and the paralysed executive of the country,
are combining to throw Prussia more and more
into strict alliance with Russia. The opinions of the
Duke of Wellington, the same as recorded in his
speeches in the House of Peers, are clung to with
superstitious tenacity :—" How is her Majesty's Go-
vernment to be carried on?" And they point to the
present state of the English Ministry.

SATURDAY,

lortign and dolonial 3uttiligcna.

FRANCE.

All doubts as to the Emperor's journey to Sebasto.
pol are at an end. The departure of his Majesty is
now determined on ; it is even said :that he will
certainly leave Paris either this day or on Monday
next. The Empress will accompany him. A con-
sultation of physicians has taken place as to whether
or not it would be prudent for her Majesty to make
the journey. The result is, that it has been, to her
great delight, that seeing that her health is exceedingly
good at present she may certainly undertake to go
with the Emperor. The Emperor has nominated the
personages who are to attend him. The whole of the
famous band of the Guides, so well known and so
much admired at London, has also received orders to
set out. _ _

Jt is announced that the King of Portugal, Don
Pedro V., has determined to pay a visit to Paris this
year, to see the Great Exhibition.
M. Thiers has met with a severe accident by a fall
on the snow. His arm was broken in two places, and
it was feared that amputation would be found neces-
sary.
The two prosecutions pending against the Slide,
have been abandoned.
Accounts have reached the French Government of
the total destruction of the frigate Semillante, in the
Black Sea, laden with troops and ammunition. The
ship is said to have foundered, and every soul on
board, amounting to 700 persons, perished.