The Press.
London, England, 1855-01-13 00:00:00

lortign Corrtsponlytntt.

PARIS, Jan. 11.
PERHAPS you may like to have a few lines about the
effect which the Russian acceptance of the " four

points" has occasioned here. By the Emperor and
his Ministers it was received with painful surprise;

by the diplomatic and political circles generally with
astonishment ; by the public with an indignant
" Pshaw !" Nothing whatever had occurred at

Vienna to render such a step probable ; indeed,
Prince Gortschakoff, on receiving the interpretation
which the allies put on the four points, is stated to
have declared that it was unreasonable and unac-

- - -
ceptable ; and it was consequently expected by the
French Cabinet that the Czar, instead of signifying
his acceptance, would have given a positive and in-
dignant refusal. When the first surprise had worn
away the French Cabinet began to reflect what the
acceptance could mean. • It soon came to the con-
clusion that the Czar could not possibly be in
earnest, and that his object was threefold :-1. To
gain time, in order to bring large bodies of troops
near to the Austrian frontier; 2. To delay the sign-
ing of the offensive treaty by Austria; and 3. To
give Prussia a pretext for continuing to violate the
obligations she is under by solemn trea,,y to Austria.
To this conclusion the French Government up to
this moment steadily adheres. It has not, 1 can
assure you, the slightest confidence in the sincerity of
the Czar. As to the public, you could not, I verily
believe, find a dozen men, whose opinions are worth
a straw, who think that Nicholas is in earnest.
Even supposing that the Emperor of Russia be
really anxious for peace, it is not thought in well-
informed quarters that peace is at present at all pro-
bable. In the first place, it appears that the tele-
graph went a good deal too far in asserting that
Prince Gortschakoff had accepted the interpretation
of the four points " without conditions;" he, on the
contrary, has already notified that his Government
hopes that the allies, instead of declaring that they
will cause the Russian domination in the Black Sea to
" cease " Claire teaser), will content themselves with
saying that it shall be " diminished." In the second
place, England and France cannot consistently with
honour consent to peace without exacting a heavy
indemnity for war expenses, and it is doubted whe-
ther Russia will be willing to pay one. Thirdly,
pending the negotiations for peace, hostilities are to
be continued; and, whatever may be the result of
them, they will render peace difficult, not to say im-
possible, inasmuch as neither party will like to sub-
mit to the humiliation of a defeat without a revanche.
Finally, sound political reason demands that England
and France should take advantage of the present op-
portunity (the like of which may not occur again for
centuries) to impair Russia's power of future mis-
chief.
Another circumstance should be taken into serious
consideration in the present grave conjuncture, and
that is, the internal state of,France. Now, there can
be no question that the French people en mane
would think themselves dishonoured by the conclu-
sion of peace on any other terms than a complete,
exemplary, undeniable humiliation of Russia. If,
then, the four points, with their interpretation, should
turn out not to provide sufficiently for such humilia-
tion, they would receive them with indignation and
scorn. It is hardly likely that the Emperor would
be more disposed to submit to national disgrace than
his people; but, if by any extraordinary chance, or
by the piessure of Lord Aberdeen, he should do so,
he would most certitiaty exadiager ha axone,

-....

32

lortign anb Qtoluniat Initiligtitte.

FRANCE.

A letter from Lord Clarendon, addressed to the
French Ambassador in London, appeared in the
Moniteut of Sunday last, in which the English
Foreign Secretary acknowledges the receipt of an
official copy of the address pronounced by the Presi-
dent of the French Legislative Corps when the law
authorising the new loan was unanimously adopted
by that body as well as of the Emperor's reply
thereto. Lord Clarendon adds

have placed before the Queen the communication of
your Excellency, and am commanded by her Majesty to
express to you her high appreciation of the cordial terms
in which were recognised, both in the speech of the Presi-
dent of the Legislative Corps and the reply of his Imperial
Majesty, the co-operation of the British military and naval
forces who share the trials and perils of the soldiers and
sailors of France.
Permit me, at the same time, to express the thanks of
her Majesty's Government for the communication, of
which your Excellency was the interpreter. Your Excel-
lency knows how completely the British Legislature and
nation are penetrated, towards the French army and navy,
with those sentiments of sympathy and gratitude so grace-
fully expressed towards the military and naval forces of her
Majesty, both in the address of the President of the Legis-
lative Corps and in the reply of the Emperor.
On Wednesday, at mid-day, the Emperor reviewed
the detachment of the Imperial Guard destined to
join the army in the Crimea. These troops, com-
manded by General Ulrich, were composed of a
company of Sappers, of detachments of the Ist and
2nd Regiments of Grenadiers, of half a battalion of
Rifles, of detachments of the Ist and 2nd Regiments
of Light Infantry, and of two troops of Horse
Artillery. The review took place in the grand court-
yard of the Tuileries. The infantry was drawn up
in three lines, and behind it was the artillery. His
Majesty, having passed down the tanks, placed him-
self near the Pavillon de l'Horloge, where the batta-
lions were formed into square, and addressed the men
in the following effective speech :

The French nation, by its sovereign will, has resuscitated
many things which were thought for ever dead, and now
the empire is reconstituted ; intimate alliance exists with
our ancient enemies ; the flag of France waves with
honour on those distant shores where the bold flight of
our eagles had not before ventured ; the Imperial Guard,
the heroic representation of military glory and honour, is
now before me, surrounding' the Emperor as formerly,
wearing the same uniform, carrying the same flag, and
having, especially, in their hearts the same sentiments of
devotion to their country. Receive, then, these standards,
which will lead you to victory as they led your fathers, as
they have just led your comrades. Go, and take your
share of what still remains of danger to be overcome and
glory to be earned; yon will soon have received the
noble baptism which is your ambition, and you will have
lent your assistance to plant our eagles upon the walls of
Sebastopol.

The Emperor and Empress honoured the Grand
Opera with their presence on Tuesday evening, to
witness the first representation of the ballet of
La Fonti.

The Moniteur at length announces the return of
Prince Napoleon to France. The fact had long been
known that the Prince would not resume his
military duties in the Crimea. " Notwithstanding
his severe sufferings," says the Moniteur, " Piince
Napoleon was preparing to leave Constantinople to
return to the Crimea, but the Emperor, having been

informed by the medical men that the state of
health of the Prince would not allow of his con-
tinuing the campaign, has given him orders to return
to France."

A letter from Meta says :—" During the last
month we have sent by railway for Marseilles and
Toulon, for the • army of the East, upwards of a
million of Congreve rockets, large bombs, and
howitzer-shells, and 150,000 kilogrammes of gun

powder."
The railway companies of France have come to
an understanding among themselves by which they
are to subscribe 10 o,ooof. to the fund now raising for
the skit and wounded in the army of the Crimea.
On Thursday it Was announced that the whole
amount of the new 500 million loan had already
been subscribed for, and it was believed that before
the time arrived for closing the lists the total sub-
scription would exceed S(X) millions. Among the
great capitalists and trading companies in France
the company of the Credit Mobilier has subscribed
for 00,001,000 E, and MM. de Rothschild, it is under.
stood, for the same amount. The company of the
Agens de Change sent in a subscription-list amount-
ing to 22,000,000 f. The notaries of Paris subscribed
for the capital of 120,000 f. of Rentes (about
1,1 ,40 0 , ) . The Comptoir d'Escompte is to send
in a long list of subscribers, but the precise amount
is not vet known. The accounts from London are
elan favourable. Lists have been opened by Messrs.
Baring and Messrs. Rothschild, both of which will
be more than filled up.
The Minister of War has received a despatch from
the Governor-Oeneral of Algeria, announcing that,