The Press.
London, England, 1855-12-22 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

WITH refermee to certii::l statements which have appeared in several
of our contemporaries relative to a supposed breach in the ranks of
of the Conservative party in North Essex, we have the highest autho-
rity for giving a most emphatic contradiction to any such sinister
reports. The Conservatives of North Essex are thoroughly united
upon all essential points. The differences which exist are trifling and
insignificant, and have their origin in the malevolent attempt of a
local journal to avenge itself upon a cause which some years since
abjured its equivocal advocacy. We have the best ground for believ•
ing that whenever a dissolution shall occur, the Whig-Radical party
will find the True Blue Electors ready to meet them with two candi-
dates, whose principles and whose character entitle them to the sup-
port and confidence of a Conservative constituency.

Two notable events have occurred in the political world this week.
Prince ESTERHAZY has departed from Vienna, charged with a special
mission to the Court of St. Petersburg. It seems to be the policy of
our " leading journal " Ito let its important news leak out through
its Paris correspondence, though there are suspicions abroad, from
certain curious coincidences, that parts of that correspondence are
manufactured at a spot inuchinearer.Plinting-house-square than Paris.
Be this as it may, it is the Paris correspondent, nominally, who in-
forms us that " the propositions which Count VALENTINE ESTERHAZY is
" carrying to St. Petersburg are completely adopted by the three Powers
"—France, England, and Austria." The same correspondent also
makes a much more remarkable announcement :—" You will be sur-
" prised to hear that Russia has been beforehand with us, and has herself
" made a proposition, to which, as it has the priority, that carried by
" Count ESTERHAZY must be considered a counter-proposition." This
proposition is stated to he a plan for neutralising the Black Sea, by
leaving the naval forces to be maintained by Russia and Turkey
respectively to be settled by those two Powers. This statement is
worth nothing but the fact that the Russian Ambassador at Vienna
has actually been in communication " for some (lays " with the Aus-
trian Government, on conditions of peace, is significant as to the
. nature of the negotiations really in progress. More will be, doubt-
less, let out by degrees. The other event of the week is the treaty
between the Allies and Sweden. The object, it will at once be seen,
is simply to preserve the integrity of that kingdom in its present limit.
Sweden engages never to cede any portion of her territory to Russia,
and the Allies engage to support her refusal to any such cession.
The Ministerial papers have very unnecessarily endeavoured to
magnify the importance of this treaty, by representing that Russia
was eager for un Atlantic port, and with the view of having ships
in readiness to ravage our 'shores and so forth The treaty does not
need such exaggeration to set off its value. It is a move in the right
direction, as tending to bind the European Powers more closely
together, to establish a code of European law and policy, and to place
the minor kingdoms of the Continent under its protection. As regards
Russia, the treaty cannot be considered as aggressive, though as
regards Sweden or Europe generally it is protective and even pacific,
by removing one cause of alarm in the north, and by defining limits
which it will he impossible for Russia to pass.

The capitulation of Kars is of course what everyone for months
past has been expecting, and everyone foresaw, except those apparently
whose especial business it was to prevent such a catastrophe. For
six months has that heroic garrison been left to fight and battle it out
as best it may against hunger and MOURAVIEFF. Representation and
appeal were alike listened to and neglected by our Government and
the Porte. It was a mere question of starvation against time, and
there could be little doubt which would hold out longest. But no
single effort was made to relieve the garrison ; for those contemptible
reconraissances out of Erzeroum of SELIM PACHA, who instinctively
dreads a Cossack, do not deserve the name of an attempt at relief.
The Turkish army was kept in the Crimea utterly useless, wasting
invaluable time, and becoming demoralised and disgusted with
inactivity. The Turkish Contingent, comprising a tolerably effective
force, was kept in utter idleness at the Bosphorus ; and in spite of the
earnest representations of General BEATSON, who, in September, laid a
plan before our Government for the relief of Kars by the Contingent,
the plan was disallowed, and no single step taken in the matter. The
capture of Kars seemed so certain an event, that it was waste of time
to attempt its relief. Those mild and amiable Bashi-Bazouks were
therefore saved the trouble of a campaign, and kept in pleasant
quarters on the Bosphorus. Then, when at last OMER PACHA does
reach Asia Minor, for some unaccountable reason, he attempts, with
26,000 men, to create merely a diversion of the Russian forces, not the
positive relief of the town. The terrible straits to which the garrison
was reduced left but one means open for its relief—a direct advance
from Erzeroum ; and had OMER PACHA, instead of attempting so
hazardous and uncertain a movement as ii diversion in MOURAVIEFF'S
rear, marched upon Erzeroum, where a garrison of 16,000 men lay ready
to join him, who will say that the Sirdar, with such augmented forces,
would not have forced the defiles of one of the routes open to him,
and lave succeeded in reaching and relieving Kars? But the town is
lost, lin(' a mixerere has been sang over its fate by all the Government