The Press.
London, England, 1855-06-30 00:00:00

lortign torrtsponbnut.

BRUSSELS, Thursday.
THE Journal du Nord has made its appearance
at Brussels under the immediate patronage of M. de
Creptowitch, and the first number was issued on
Wednesday last from the printing-office of J. Greuze.
The true version of its birth and parentage may be
given in a few words. It had been determined by
the Russian Government to put forth a newspaper,
that should be circulated throughout Europe, to
counteract the sympathy generally evinced by the
middle classes for the allied armies and the cause
catholic of warfare. To M. de Creptowitch was
intrusted the care to superintend the arrangements,
and the Independence Beige mainly supplied the
necessary material. Editor and staff wended their
way to Berlin, which place was selected as being the
most proper for the purpose. But a few days only
before its promised advent the Prussian Government,
under the dictation of the King, peremptorily refused
the permission to publish, for the reason that in a
country professedly neutral the establishment of a
foreign journal, totally unconnected with Prussia,
and for the sole purpose of serving a belligerent,
would be fairly construed by the allies, the party
attacked, as an infringement of honourable neu-
trality. Fear of consequences, and no other motive,
extorted the decision of the King of Prussia. There
must be no mistake upon this point. Accepting the
policy as just, it would be folly to be misled into
attributing a higher motive of action than the case
warrants, and more especially as the Hohenzollern
timidity is the immediate gauge of the intrinsic
value belonging to this bold and fearless attempt of
Russian propagandism. The Belgians generally,
the Belgian Government, and the Belgian press,
honestly take the proper view of the matter. Listen
to the Emancipation:—

Although the want of another Russian journal was not
fblt in Belgium, yet the first impression of Le Nord
appeared yesterday morning from the printing office of J.
Greuze. The prospectus is astutely temperate, but signi-
ficant. It is therein proclaimed that the particular object
of the journal is to make known the opinions of Russia,
which have never been justly appreciated by Western
Europe • that it will plead the Russian cause ; that its
subscribers are Russian ; yet will it be conducted with
moderation and impartiality ; that it will be shown clearly
that Russia was justified in going to war, and that the
French and English press err materially in not frankly
acknowledging this truth ; that Russia during the nine•
teenth century has made immense progress in civilisation ;
that on more than one occasion she has overtaken, if not
outstepped, those who have preceded her in the path of
social progress ; that the natural and progressive develop.
went of Russia is not dangerous to Europe, tic. (This is
an almost literal analysis of the confession of political
faith put forth by Le Nord).
To give a specimen of its moderation and intpeniality
the Nord complains of the injurious expressions applied
to Russia by the English press relative to the Ilango affair,
which is there charactensed as a heinous crime against
the international tights of man. The Nord is convinced
beforehand that the Russians conducted themselves with
punctilious honour, and have no reason to fear a searching
investigation. In recrimination of the allies appears the
following sentence, which both in its conception and lan-
guage is far more Russian than French :
Les missions ineendiares que ler vaisseaux Britanniques
out rualheurensement LA MISSION d'aceompllr sur les rhsges
de la Finlande, PMUVENT pour le moans espllquer us fait, qut
POURBLIT n'etre, spies tout que la consequence dune me-
prise.—Nord.
We shall have occasion again to notice this unhappy
publication, and we cannot avoid expressing our regret
that pelgian writers should have consented to lend their
assistance to such a cause. Belgian citizens ought not to
make a base traffic of their political rights. In making
themselves thus responsible for the deceitful manoeuvres
of a foreign policy they forget the duties of honour which
neutrality imposes upon Belgium, and they compromise
their country by doing the work of, and pandering to,
foreign ambition. We do not shrink from declaring pub-
licly and boldly that the price of harlotry will be paid by
the foreigner, and not by our countrymen. The anairs of
Belgium are hardly noticed in Le Nord, which is exclu-
sively devoted to Russian propagandism.—Emancipation,
June 22.

- -
Thus manfully and generously speaks out one of
the leading Belgian journals. There is no subter•

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fuge, or attempt at subterfuge, in the Russian
manifesto. It is candidly avowed, and with scrupu-
lous particularity, that Belgium or Belgian affaiis
have nothing to do with Le Nord; that its contents
are excursively Russian ; and that the expenses of
publication are furnished from St. Petersburg ; that
its nature and intent is to advance and to protect
Russian ideas, Russian principles, and Russian
policy; to justify the acts that led to the present
war; to maintain dominantly against all contradic-
tion the canons of despotism, albeit of titular pro-
gress, and to battle against the liberties of congre-
gated peoples. Then follows the unabashed
assurance that the development of such principles,
and the acts generated by such principles, are not
dangerous to Europe. Why then are we at war?
This newspaper is one of the curses entailed by Lord
Aberdeen.
The French Government has remonstrated without
effect. The Belgians, even those who do not dis-
guise their sympathies for the Russian cause—and
every one has a right to his opinion—protest against
this journalist aggression. The Ministers have
notified their displeasure ; but M. de Creptowitch
affirms, and affirms rightly, that he simply corrobo-
rates the identical opinions of the Morning Chronicle,
and the principles ostentatiously exhibited in Parlia-
ment by Earl Grey, Sir James Graham, Mr. Glad-
stone, and Mr. Sidney Herbert. He produces a
manifesto published in extols() in the Nord, and
circulated in the manufacturing districts, highly re-
proving the injustice of the present war, and insist-
ing for immediate peace at all cost ; and then M.
Creptowitch demands a strict reading of the clause
in the Belgian Constitution declaratory of the abso-
lute liberty of the press. Be it so. Any evil may
be borne rather than that the Palladium of liberty
should be violated. Under the protection of this
sacred law M. de Creptowitch can beard the King of
the Belgians, flout his Ministry, laugh at the Belgian
people, and insult France and England.

E. R.

PS.—The law of Belgium does not permit a
foreigner to publish, or to be a party in publishing,
any matter that may have a tendency to excite the
people against foreign Governmants. As M. de
Creptowitch appeals to the letter of the law, an even
justice has been measured out to bim. M. Jolt, a
Parisian, and one of the principals of Le Nord, has
been compelled to depart, and a Russian and a
Prussian engaged in the service of the journal have
been summarily sent out of the country. The Bel-
gian Government has acted with firmness and
impartiality.

FRANKFORT, Juno 21.
EACH succeeding week estranges Germany more and
more from the allies, and the temporary reverse in
the Crimea has caused the congratulations of the
Prussians to outpass the ordinary bounds of conven-
tional decorum. The Vienna Military Gazette awl
the Prussian Gazette no longer affect an ambiguity
of expression in their defence of the Russian cause,
and this in despite of their knowledge of the insidious
practices of the St. Petersburg policy in suborning
the princes of the Confederation. Their common
sense points out to them that the war is at its com-
mencement, that the interests now involved are of
such magnitude, are so thoroughly European, that
the sword cannot return to the sheath until the Con-
tinent be arranged on a basis distinct from the pre-
sent insecure foundation of empire.

It has been observed in Germany amongst the
middle classes—and these, although furiously anti-
Gallic, are equally averse to Russia—that Lord John
Russell has publicly denounced nationalities "en
masse," and condemned any attempt to embody
them with a view of governmental fortnation. Not
popular before, this flippant censure of people who
are provincially, it might be almost st.id parochially,
national, has miserably damaged the spectral repu-
tation that the noble lord hod left behind him on the
banks of tl a Danube and the Rhine. His politica
sayings, like his political life, appear to be redolent
of blunders. Nationalities never were more rife than
at this moment, and a studied disregard of popular
right and popular custom will be fatal to the states-
man who may hold them at defiance.
The Report of the committee on the mis•
management of the war, and the motion of Mr. Roe-
buck thereon, has conic somewhat unexpectedly on
the German politicians. A result of grave importance
is expected, notwithstanding the endeavour of the
Prince Consort to avert the catastrophe. It ass
generally imagined that the Report would be simply
declaratory without reverting to primary causes, but
the calm yet stern censure of the Aberdeen Ministry
and of the present, with an insignificant exception,
cannot be misunderstood, and will t o doubt be re-
sponded to cordially by the people of England. Even
here the effect was most stirring, as the Germans
cannot realise the unimpassioned posture of an offended

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people passively deliberating on the exact measure
of condemnation to be passed upon the executive of

a mighty Government. The position of Lord John
Russell is unhappy. Every way that he may turn
censure awaits him. And let justice be done.

In proof of the antagonistic bearing of Austria at
the present moment, it is sufficient to state that the
military commissioners of France and England have
not been invited to accompany the Emperor in his
visitto Gallicia. In the purlieus of the Diet, and in the
shape of an echo from Vienna, persons well informed
in these matters have broadly asserted that Austria
will not evacuate the principalities if the Crimea he
dissevered from Russia ; and, on the other hand, the
fact that the allies will not now be content with the
limitation of the four points has been officially cora-
municated to M. de Buo I.

J. E. L.

SIENA, June 24.
THE attempt to assassinate Cardinal Antonelli is
supposed to have been planned by authority, and the
clumsiness of the whole affair betokened that there
was no practical intent to injure. In matters apper-
taining te the " colpo di coltello" it is easy to detect
a feint from the reality. No Italian, unless a mad-
man, ever would make use of a two-pronged fork for
his purpose. The " coltello "is a long round-
handled knife without clasp, the back of the blade
issuing in a straight line from the shaft and tapering
to a point. Enveloped in the folds of the never-
failing cloak, the bravo awaits patiently a fitting
opportunity, and, with a short, sharp, and back-
handed blow, buries the knife deeply behind the left
shoulder of his victim. No noise or confusion pre-
cedes the deed, and the alarm is generally given by
the heavy fall of the murdered man.
A misdemeanour against the Cardinal was neces•
say to furnish a pretext for unusual severity.
" Birbo-Bomba," of Naples, becoming extremely
alarmed at certain signs in his dominions, and fear-
ing consequences that, if perfected, might almost be
deemed just, sought counsel and protection from the
cardinal son of the brigand chief; and as the latter
also had his misgivings, in order to strike terror into
the legion of popehaters, he straightway ordered the
execution of certain political prisoners in the
Romagna, to whom it. had been signified that after a
certain time of "penitenza" they would be liberated.
" Birbo-Bomba," on his part, performed a similar
act of inhumanity, removed Poerio to another and
severer prison, and sent troops to the Roman fron
tier. This coldblooded and cruel treachery has
effectually exasperated the Liberals ; the hatred of
the priests, hardly possible of increase, has, how-
ever, been intensified, and the " maledetto it prete,"
openly enunciated, is the vivifying principle of
action. To exemplify the temper of the priests, the
Archbishop Franconi, in Piedmont, styling the Con-
vent Bill, lately enacted by the Sardinian Govern
ment, a " sacrilego furto," has publicly absolved all
those who may be disobedient to this law, upon th•
principle that submission to the command of the
priest is paramount to the duty to princely or govern-
mental rule.
The Jesuits are making their peace with the King
of Naples, and have persuaded him that unless their
cause is made dominant the entire peninsula will
become the prey of anarchists. In this there is a
certain degree of truth. Under the present state of
parties in Italy there can be no national bond of uniou
betwixt the States, unless it be hatred of the" Tederen
rabbis." The Sardinians have no deadlier enemies
than the Milanese, and the Venetians still nourish
their ancient enmity to the descendants of the
Visconti and the Tuscan Medici. The Romagnese,
not forgetful of the times of the Malatesta and the
house of Este, bear no affection for Pontifical sove-
reignty; the Romans have nothing in common with
the Neapolitans, except the "Toro Farnese," and
these again are nationally indisposed to the Sicilians,
by whom they are detested. Any federation betwixt
such incongruous materials is not practical, and
upon this disunion the Jesuits are seeking to raise
their infernal power.
M. T. A.

A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE CONSERVA
'FIVE LAND SOCIETY for the alteration of rules, and
for the transaction of the ordinary business at the
eleventh quarterly meeting, was held at Exeter-hall
on Wednesday last, Viscount Ranelagh presiding.
The report adverted to the approaching proceedings
in the Registration Courts, which would be conducted
by the society for its members as formerly, free of
expense ; and the committee requested that the ne-
cessary instructions and conveyances be forwarded to
the solicitors in time by the allottees who are entitled
to the freehold franchise.

THE corn inspectors in the market towns have re-
ceived orders from the Board of Trade to enforce the
penalties against corn dealers, who do not furnish
particulars of sales of corn as to quantity and prices.

THE PRESS.

fortign anb dolonial

FRANCE.

The Empress Eugenie arrived at Pau on Tuesday
evening, where her Majesty was received by the
crowd assembled with every mark of enthusiastic ap-
probation.