The Press.
London, England, 1855-12-08 00:00:00

THE WAR IN ASIA.

No further despatches or accounts of the opera-
tions of the army under Omer Pacha, after the battle
of the Ingonr, have yet reached us. A rumour in
Vienna stated that " Kars had fallen," but no official
intelligence to that effect has been received. Letters
from Samsoon, of the 24th of November, make men
tion of the cap'ure, by the Russians, prior to the
25th of October, of a messenger conveying despatches
from the War office to General Williams at Kart.

THE Iwo:mist-now AT ROME is still as active as in
the days of Torquemada. A letter lately published
in Turin gives the following account of the manner
in which arrests are conducted :
When the inquisitors want either to arrest or question
you, they neither send officers of justice nor a warrant;
such extreme measures are only reserved for those who
attempt to escape ; but a gentleman calls upon you in a
quiet way, and informs you that the Holy Office requests
the pleasure of your company. Should you happen to ex-
postulate, the quiet gentleman politely suggests the ex-
pediency of being punctual. When you reach the outer
court of the Vatican, you find a priest who conducts you to
the tribunal, and if you are only summoned as a witness,
it is he who conducts you back. When in the presence of
the inquisitor, you are made to swear that you will speak
the truth; your answers to the questions put to you are
written down in Latin, and, before being released, you
• will reveal nothing of

THE PRESS.

fortigit 6arrrsponbetut.

FRANKFORT, Dec. 5.
FEW political strictures have been more opportune
than the leading article of the Times of Nov. 27th,
on the Austro-Papal Concordat. It has been exten-
sively read and circulated in a private translation,
and has been slightly commented upon in the Frank.
fort Journal. The question is put on its proper
basis, apart from any religious consideration,
and the whole is ably dealt with in reference to
its certain consequence on the affairs of Central Eu-
rope. There are occasions, and this is one of them,
when the Times superbly works out a real and bene•
ficial end for the cause catholic of human benevo-
lence and civilisation. Most correctly is it observed
that this return to the sacerdotal tyranny of the dark
ages is certain to lead to the opposite of its intent;
and instead of consolidating the Papal power in
Italy and Austro•Germany, it will insure the fierce
opposition that will only terminate in the discomfi-
ture, and it may be said the destruction, of the Aus-
trian empire. It was impolitic in the extrome that
the first intimation of Austro-Roman intolerance
should have emanated from an act of persecution
towards a Prussian subject. The Pastor Borzinski
had seceded from the idolatrous practices of the
Church of Rome. A religious enlightenment, spiri-
tualised by revelation, and simplified by common
sense, confuted in his mind the Roman and Papal
addenda, unscriptural and unauthorised, which had
vitiated the commands of evangelium. He made
public his convictions, and avowed his Protestant
disbelief in the Egyptian mysticism of Roman error.
By ecclesiastical order he was summarily arrested
and cast into one of those dungeons that are about
to be set apart for the use of the Roman priesthood,
according to the special proviso of the Concordat, fit
types of the Dantescan Hades, with its ever-flaming
and appropriate motto, " Lasciate ogni speranza
voiche entrate." But even the Familiars conspired
against the nascent enormities of the Austrian
"Vepres," and, assisted by faithful friends of the
" Gotha" party, the persecuted Protestant escaped
from the fangs of his read) tormentors of the cowl.
His deliverance, however, was not effected before the
Government of Prussia had energetically protested
against his incarceration. Let the "parts de la
Croix " take counsel in time, and ponder upon this
overt monition of a forthcoming and papistic dia-
bolism.

M. de Gerlach, Councillor of State, an intimate
partisan of the King of Prussia, and one of the
inveterate chiefs positive of the Russian faction "de
la Croix," made comparatively notorious by his pam-
phlet calling on Prussia and Germany to unite in a
common war to dethrot-m the Emperor Napoleon,
and to dismember France, has now attained to a
superlative degree of obloquy by the recent discovery
of his participation in an intrigue against the Prince
Royal of Prussia. Rogues cannot confederate with
honest men, but with their fellows only. This is a
course of action which Providence has necessarily so
shaped for the punishment of the politically and
radically wicked, and as a saving health unto all who
are true and loyal of heart. M. de Gerlach fulfilled
the decree of Providence. His servants were var-
lets, "proprement dit," and held their master in
congenial honour. He was unscrupulous, they
were not punctilious; he was malignant, they were
not tender-hearted ; he was greedy, they were not
squeamish ; he was " alieni appetens," but they
asserted he was not "sui protusus," and, being
wrath thereat, they stole his most secret despatches,
to be as a golden stream of coin from the hard rock
of Gerlach. The fact was bruited about, and
reached the ears of the King. But the Right
Honourable Counsellor of State solemnly protested
to his Sovereign, "on the faith of a gentleman," that
he had not compromised him, nor had he, or any of
the "parts de la Croix," written or done evil against
his Royal brother, a declaration that well merits
the title of " splendide mentlax." The Prince
of Prussia, having possession of the original docu-
ments, demanded an audience, and placed the
papers, replete with foul abuse and patent con-
spiracy against the Prince and the Gotha party, in
the King's hands. M. de Gerlach departed into the
country, "en retraite," for a few weeks. Neverthe-
less, he has been again restored to the confidence of
his master.

The retirement of M. de Prokesch•Oiten from the
Presidency of the Diet ha, been agreeable to M. de
Bismarck-Schonhausen. Of the former he was wont
to observe, " qu'il traitait lea affaires avec une brusque
rie malhonnete et touts militaire," and he augurs
more favorably for Prussian intrigue from "le carae-
tere modere, et conciliant," of M. le Comte de
Rechberg. The four points of Vienna have been

SATURDAY,

afresh and privately forced upon the consideration of
the Diet, and it is evident that both the Austrian and
Prussian envoys will use every means to effect a
Germanic recognition of them befure preliminaries of
a negotiation for peace may be declsred, should such
be the proximate course of events. The gravest im-
portance is attached to the question of the Danubian
principalities, far more than to that of the Black Sea,
which can admit of but one solution under the ex-
isting and victorious position of the allies. Austria
has always coveted the Moldo-Wallachian provinces ;
and her unopposed occupation of them—was more
than hinted at the time b) Russia—might be con-
verted into • permanency, provided always that the
secret parole agreement on the intcgnty of the four
points, and nothing beyond, should be duly observed
by her. The fall of Sebastopol, the annihilation of
the Russian fleet, and the rejection of the four points
by the allies as inefficient for their one intent and
purpose, has marvellously vexed Austria, and the
fate of the Danubian principalities is the cause of
intense anxiety with the Cabinet of Vienna. Alone,
it cannot resist the allies; and it is sought to precipi-
tate the acceptation of the four points by the Diet
with the forlorn hope of assistance in obtaining that
secret prize for which the house of Hapsburg-
Lorraine has been playing its faithless part.
_ _

J. E. L

THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.
( Frost a Correspondent.)

ROUMANIA, or "Zara Romanesca," the indigenous
inhabitants of which are called " Rumunyi," is pro-
perly formed by the provinces of Moldo-Wallachia,
Transylvania, Bukovina, the Banat, part of Hungary
and Bessarabia, and comprises the extent of country
between the rivers Thiess, the Dniester, the Danube,
and the Black Sea. This was ancient Dacia, origi-
nally inhabited by a Pelasgic race, miscalled fierce
because courageous against aggression, and accounted
perversely indomitable by reason of a successful re-
sistance to foreign subjugation. Words, like nobler
and fairer things, may be applied to an improper
purpose. Trojan, the Roman Emperor, after five
years of incessant warfare, from A.D. 101 to 100, at
last exterminated the Pelasgi, and entirely colonised
the country with the "Vle.cci," a people whom he
brought from the banks of the Tiber, and who had
been located in the vicinity of Rome. The soft lan-
guage of the " Rumunyi," abounding in vowels, and
deriving most of its words from the Latin, with only
a slight admixture of Sclavonic, is strikingly indica-
tive of its Roman origin, and the modern pronuncia-
tion, with the singular fact of the common termination
of their words in vowels, in close resemblance to the
Italian, goes far to prove that the dialectic changes
are those which a polished language must be certain
to undergo when simplified by the use of an unedu-
cated people. And with the melodious suavities of
Ausonian diction the "Rumunyi " have inherited the
noble hearts and strong hands of their Transteverean
progenitors.
It may be observed, " passim," that the Germans
call the Moldo-Wallachians " Vallios," and the Ita-
lians also " Vallios." The French in the fourteenth
century named the Italians " Valloches" and the
Wallachians " Vallaques," the Poles " Vloch"
and " Vallowni," and the Hungarians " Olas "
and " Oloch." In the Hungarian language Italy is
"Vlockazenie," and Moldo-Wallachia" Voloskazenie."
—(Confidences sur la Turquie, Paris, 1855. Manu-
script 7,512. Bibliotheque de Is Rue Richelieu.)
To this Roman colonised country was given the
name of " Dacia Felix Augusta," or " Dacia Trajana,"
and the capital, "Zarmethusa," was possessed of
Roman rights, and exempted from the payment of
tribute. Aurelian, unable to protect the inhabitants
from the inroads of the Goths, withdrew the principal
families into Maria or Bulgaria, and to this district
south of the Danube was attached the name of
" Dacia Aureliani." The Maass-Goths were ultimately
expelled the country, and it was divided into "Dacia
Superior," Moldavia and Transylvania " Dacia
Ripensis," Lower Wallachia and Upper Bulgaria on
the banks of the Danube—and " Dacia Interior,"
which extended to the confines of Macedonia.
Finally, Constantine annexed the country to the
Eastern empire.
" Itumunyi " descendants of the Roman colo-
nists emancipated themselves from the domination
of the Byzantine empire in the twelfth century, and
founded a distinct kingdom under the dynasty of the
house of Aszen. A member of this family was
anointed and crowned by Cardinal Leoni, the Legate
of Innocent 111., A. n. 1209 (Ducange—Guillaume
de Tyr). But the Osmanli had obtruded upon the
demesnes of Christianity, and had absorbed the
Byzantine empire. He had been beaten upon the
banks of the Loire by the grandsire of Charlemagne;
Portugal had been wrested from him by Henry of
Bourbon, 1087; he had lost the greater portion of
Spain, and the kingdom of Granada was about to
escape from his power; yet the losses sustained in
the West were atoned for by the subjugation of
Eastern Europe. The last Sovereign of the house

written down in Latin, and, heti
must take another oath that yon
what y ou have either seen or heard.
lIIIIIIIIIihnr.._

DECEMBER 8, 1855.

of Pozen perished at Nicopolis, 1396. He was one '
of the 10,000 whom the Sultan Bajazet with savage
cruelty commanded to be slaughtered in cold blood
after the battle. Although driven north •of the
Danube, the " Rumunyi" were not subdued, and
under their "Domni" fought for and preserved their
national liberties against the repeated attacks of the
Sultans of Constantinople. The Domni, or royal
chieftains, separately reigned over " Fagarasch,"
Transylvania, Almasch—comprising the Binat of
Temeswar—and Maramourech, which is Moldavia,
Wallachia, and Bessarabia (De I'etat de present et
l'avenir des Principautes, par Felix Colson). In the
nineteenth century, Michael, surnamed the Brave,
valiantly attempted to re-establish the fallen Ron-
inami dynasty of kszen, and, after having defeated
and driven the Turkish armies across the Balkan,
be was about to reap the long desired fruits of his
brilliant triumph, when the reigning Prince of
Hapsburg, jealous of a hero inconveniently near to
his Austrian and Hungarian possessions, sent an
assassin to do the deed familiar to Austro-Hapsburg
policy. It was accomplished. Nevertheless, the
family of Bessarabia, the chief of the Domni, pre•
served Rumunyi independence, and the people of
the nation, proud of their descent, carefully abstained
from any admixture of blood with the Sclave and
Greeks. It is grateful to record the struggle of
freemen against overwhelming numbers—it is pain
ful to admit the injury of the right, and the triumph
of the wrong. Russia and Poland, Austria and
Lombardy, England and her colonies, Russian Den-
mark and German Holstein, the Asiatic Turkoman
and the last of the Palteologi, the Janitsar and the
Roumani, bear witness to the same needs, and
convey the same unhappy moral. Motives change
not, and the means to the end are unrighteous as of
yore. What proof do nations afford of stifling pro-
gress, what mark of a more exalted civili-ation, if
the right or wrong of the moralist, the virtue and
vice of the pietist, or the pleasure and pain of the
materialist, are to be judged and to be determined
only according t 3 the unholy and impious schedule
of blood?
The "Roumani" princes and chieftains were
always to be found fighting with the Hungarians
against the Turks, with the Poles against the Rus-
sians, and with any one against the perfidies of the
house of Hapsburg Lorraine. " Even in their ashes
live the wonted fires," for to this hour the
"Roumani" is ready to win his independence with
the sword. He lives pure and uncontaminated in
his race, nominally untrammelled, and, as yet, is not
incorporated with the barbarian, Turk, Russian, or
Austrian, who may be the momentary master. Yet
is lie but a remnant of the old Trajan colony.
Transylvania, BAkosina, Lower Hungary, and the
Banat of Terneswar, have become the spoil of
Austria. Bessarabia is Russian, and Servia and
Bulgaria are Turkish provinces. The principalites
of the Danube remain, and are entire in themselves,
irrevocably guaranteed by the treaties of 1811, and
paying a tribute of 80J,0 .0 francs to the Porte, upon
the express stipulation of the conservation of their
rights of sovereignty. Since that period the local
government has been placed in the hands of Boyards,
termed " Circois," a word for " parvenu," and typical
of the most abject depravity. The Phanariotes, or '
Greek population, claim Russian protection, and the
Hospodars se*.ected from amongst them by Russia for
the approval of the Porte are Muscovite agents of the
most worthless class. Bouchers, Boyard, Phanariote,
Hospodar, "pour nous ont la mime signification."
Every cession made to Austria westward on the line
of the Danube, and to Russia in the north and east,
is invalid and in direct contravention of the solemn
rites of treaties between nations and peoples.
Claiming a descent strictly and equally Latin, it is
in no way singular that France should feel deeply
and peculiarly interested in restoring the ancient
Roumani kingdom to an independent state. The
French author already quoted remarks well and

truly :
Rien n'empecherait les Principautes Danubiennes (la
Roumanie) de redevenir ce qu'elle a ete pendant des
alleles, c'est dire la seutinelle avancee de l'Europe, et
car n'ayant sur cea pays qu'un simple droit de suzerain*
le Sultan n'apu valablement ceder une souverainte qui ne
liti appartenait pas, et qua les maisons de (iottorp et de
Hapabuig•Lonnine avaient solennellement reconnues dana
leur trait:ea directs avec les Roumania.
An enemy not less persevering than Russia—
valiant—under

THE PRESS.

fleuve traverse la Hongroie, le Bing, le Transylvanie , pays
qui frtmissent encore au souvenir de seetntsses reeentes
La liberli des hansactions conduit a l'indipenclance. Ap-
pciurrie les peuplea twn suunlis est use remit de is polilique
traditionelle du Gouvernement .lutrichien.—(Coulidences sur
la Turquie, Paris,
A translation of this passage would weaken its
brilliant point. The evil of Austria, her besetting
sin of hereditary guile, and the serpent coils where-
with she enfolds the victim of her rapacity, are here
given forth as a part and parcel of the historical past.
Thu historical present of Orientalism is vested in
France and England, and the historical future hangs
upon their flat.

Paton AO toionial Intelligtna.

FRANCE.
The French papers during the whole week have
been filled with little else but speculations upon the
probabilities of peace. "We are persuaded," says
M. St. Marc Gerardin in the Ddiats, " that through-
out Europe, in Russia as in Germany, in France as
in England, the reasons for making peace are more
forcible and numerous than those for continuing the
war; but," he continues, "against peace there are
passions and prejudices, systems and sides." " The
value of these peace rumours," says the Prase, "is
infinitesimally small," while the Assembles Nationale
declares that, they do not merit the honour of being
discussed ; and the Siècle treats them " as supremely
ridiculous." The latter paper, in adverting to the
late speech of the King of Prussia, says :
His Majesty of Prussia does not compromise himself,
and we doubt if the French Government will be satisfied
with his language. It is not the clear, decisive answer,
which the Emperor Napoleon demanded from those
powers of Europe who had not yet pronounced them-
selves in the great conflict which agitates the world. All
that diplomatic art could invent in order to disguise one's
thoughts has been employed by the King of Prussia in
the passages of the speech which we publish. Are you on
our side or not? he was asked. He replied that he has
taken an " independent attitude friendly to all." This is
not all; the King of Prussia, generally so reserved, tries to
consolidate his policy with that of Austria and the German
Confederation, who we believe had not intrusted him with
the mission of speaking for them. We will not allude to
the boast which would fain show that the King reigns in
the ardour of his people ready for the fray. A more serious
matter is the fact that the thoughts and the mouth of
Frederick William betray that it is not against Russia that
Prussia would be so ready to unfurl her standard, but really
against other powers.
At the conclusion of this article the Siècle lays
down the objects to be achieved in the present war
before pr ace can be made, viz.:—
To place the Turkish empire beyond the reach of fresh
aggressions, and to connect Turkey with European civili-
sation by means of liberal institutions.
To restore Poland—to restore to Italy independence and
unity. To strengthen the secondary powers who are at
present at the mercy of the greater.
The Debuts, on the other hand, considers that a
war of undefined purposes, a war guided by a revo-
lutionary policy, is one which will risk the alliance
between France and England:—
As long as the war (writes M. St. Marc Girardin) re-
tains its present Conservative policy the alliance will not
be endangered, but "la pulitique conquerante el la poli•
tique revolutionaire" will at once arouse all the ancient
jealousies of France and England. I know well that some
people believe we can enter upon such a war with the
assent of England, but to remain in alliance with her
under such circumstances is another and a graver ques-
tion. Without doubt such a policy, whether it come from
France or from England, will dissolve the alliance of the
two countries by the peculiar colour it will give to the war,
and by the unforeseen events it will bring about.
The whole tone of this article is expressive of the
content of France with the result of the war and of
desire for peace.
The return of General Canrobert, who reached
Paris on Sunday night, gave fresh vigour to the
rumours of peace. The Times Paris correspondent,
writing on Tuesday, says :
I am at this moment informed that the day after his de-
parture an act, convention, or protocol, was signed between
the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs on one side, and
the English and French Ministers Plenipotentiary on the
other, and that the articles of that convention, or by
whatever other name it be called, are, as I stated in a
former letter, most satisfactory to the allies, and advan-
tageous to Sweden.
The Paris correspondent of the Chronicle asserts
• - h

1163

the new French Minister at the Court of Naples, left
Paris direct for his Embassy on Monday.
AUSTRIA AND GERMANY.
The rumours of toe intervention of Austria, and
of her discussing with France and England the terms
upon which the Western powers will make peace,
have gained ground during the week. The Thies
Paris correspondent positively asserts that Austria is
actively labouring to bring about a peace, that she is
disposed to tender propositions to Russia, which, if
refused, will lead her at once to break off all diplo-
matic intercourse with that power, if not ultimately
to declare in favour of the Western powers. It is
certain that Austria maintains its validity of the
treaty of the 2nd of December, and is now ready to
accept the interpretation given to the third point at
the late Vienna Conferences.
The Weser Gazette states that Russia lately officially
inquired of Austria whether she would undertake to
present new propositions of mediation and support
them, and that the Government cf Vienna replied
that Austria was not in a position to open new
negotiations unless they were based on definite con-
ditions.
The question of the reorganisation of the principa-
lities is now under discussion at Vienna. Austria
favours the election for life of Prince Stirby.
The secondary German States, Bavaria and
Saxony, were busy in endeavouring to assume the
initiative in the question of peace. The late visit of
MM. de Beust and Pfordten to Paris it is now
asserted was for the purpose of sounding the French
Government as to how far French support might be
depended on in obtaining for the smaller States of
Germany greater freedom of action independent of
Austria and Prussia, and the power of bringing Ger-
many to pronounce fur peace at a proposed Germanic
Congress at Dresden or Munich.
The Austrian army, it was stated at Vienna on
Thursday, would be further reduced by 80,000 men.
RUSSIA.
Since the return of the Emperor to the capital
frequent conferences had taken place, at which Count
Nesselrode, the principal Councillors of State, and
generals were present. The result of these con-
ferences had in no way transpired, but the energetic
preparations throughout the empire, and the immense
efforts made at Cronatadt to increase the flotilla of
gun-boats, the raising new regiments, and activity
pervading all the Government establishments, marked
an intention, at least, to provide suitably for the
exigencies of time.
The new levy of ten men in every thousand was
being pressed forward with great energy, and the in-
corporation of the militia with the standing army was
being proceeded with rapidly.
A political article in the Northern Bee, headed
" The War Beginning in Earnest," and quoting
Kutusoffs words on the fall of Moscow, " The loss
of Moscow is not the loss of Russia," has excited
some comment in Europe. The capture of the
south side of Sebastopol it argues is not a defeat,
but the result of a sagacious strategic movement ou
the part of Prince Gurtschakoff: it then continues :
At first it was supposed in the West that by obtaining
possession of the south side of Sebastopol they had gained
everything. and they are now the more surprised to find
out their error, and to see that the war has in reality only
just commenced—s war which cannot possibly reflect any
glory on the tiovernments which brought it on, and can
only end in their total prostration. Even now the blood
of their own subjects is not sufficient for their insatiable
ambition, and they are obliged to have recourse to all sorts
of shifts to obtain men front other nations. With Sardinia
the contract of sale has been concluded, and Olozaga will,
no doubt, be easily purchased; but it is still a question
whether the brave Castilians will allow themselves to be
sold. The loan of 1101,000,000 francs is no proof of
patriotic sentiments, for it was nothing more than a
jobbing speculation of mostly Jewish bankers to suck out
the resources of France and leave her bound hand and
foot, when she will find out to her cost that the empire,
instead of the promised peace and plenty, has brought
nothing but war and desolation on the unhappy country.
England has sunk low, both in the estimation of Russia
and France. Turkey is unable to move under the weight
of the French and English pro-Consuls.
A grand council of war has been convoked at St.
Petersburg, at which all the Archdukes, with
Generals Paniutin, Berg, Sievers, and Grabbe, and
all the admirals except those employed in the south,
are summoned to attend.
TURKEY.
Changes are still taking place among high official
stionaries, ail Pacba, ex .President of the

leur traitia directs avec lea nonunion,.
An enemy nut less persevering than Russia— tageous to Sweden.
cunning, nut clever—desperate, not valiant—under
the mask of amity, bides its time :
D'une mitre cote l'Autriche nourrit depuis des siecles _
gaT;nheed,Paanr ids
adcodrare:slondent of the Chronicle asserts
with confidence that an important step has been 1 intim'.
Changes are still taking place among high official
functionaries, Kyamil l'acha, ex President of the
Superior Council, has been nominated Minister
l'k
l'espoir de se mparer des principautes. Engluber dans ses
possessions la nation Roumaine est un de ses roves lea
plus constants.
Again : I can also confirm what I stated a few days ago, that re• without a Portfolio, and the Governor of Trebizond
presentations have been addressed to Russia by the German has been dismis from his post for not supplying
powers of the second and third order. Without going to
the extent, then, of crediting nll the rumours afloat as to
peace negotiations, it appesrs
.clear that. the powers con- the army of Asi according to orders.
The Porte has forwarded an energetic protest
IF En Allemagne et dans la diplomatie on trouve lea esprits condi• against the conduct of the Austrian troops in the
cri eniettent le vceu que lea principautes et lea bunches de
1 later suient cedees a l'Autriche, dans le but de l'eluigner du
midi de l'Europe. Ceux qui nouruissent sea peusees soot
dans one strange illusion, s'ils cruient que, menie dans le
osa dont nous parluns le Cabinet de Vienne renoncerait it
favoriser Trieste et i► dormer au commerce du Danube cerned
.oh_ are seriously occupied in examining on what condi.
ti a peace can be concluded that will be acceptable to
all; that something in that way is actually being drafted
either in London or hese, and that Austria has been a
mover in the matter. principalities, particularly with regard to the cases of
Colonel Turn and Dr. Schratrt•
PIEDMONT AND TUSCANY.
The matter in dispute between these States has at
The differences between France and Naples are length been definitively) ettled, through the media-
tout la develloppement qo.'il oat en droit d'attendre. Cs stated to be now entirely settled. Baron Brenier, Lion of France and Engand.
1
i I
\
i