The Press.
London, England, 1854-07-01 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

POLITICAL events, just now, possess the interest of a stirring drama.
They move but slowly, yet a change is visible from week to week,
though far from being decisive enough to satisfy public impatience. A
fortnight • ago we were speculating whether Silistria would hold out
till succours arrived. No one imagined that the garrison alone would
suffice to heat the Russian army, and occasion it such disastrous loss as it
has certainly sustained. Now, the question is asked, what the Russian
retreat signifies ? It is an acknowledgment of defeat that no one can
doubt, but it is adopted for purposes of concentration and generalship,
or is it really preliminary to a complete evacuation of the principalities?
Other questions of nearer interest agitate our public. Will the great
interests at stake be decided by istiETTERNICH, MANTEUFFEL, and ABER-
DEEN, or by NAPIER, DUNDAS, and ST. ARNAUD? Is the pen or the sword
to bear sway? Diplomatists aro at present the most active. While
we expect, in vain. decisive news from the Enxine and the Baltic, we
hear that a treaty has been concluded between Austria and the Porte,
which has completely changed the aspect of the European question,
and may lead either,—according to the interpretation put on it,—to a
speedy peace or a long-protracted war.
Considering our intimate relations with the Porte, and the pro-
digious exertions we are now making to assist it against its great
enemy, it seemed reasonable to suppose that our Government would
have been informed of any negotiations for a treaty with Austria,
which would not only make that Power a principal in the great war
question, but would place it in the position of supreme arbiter by re-
signing to its custody the provinces which have, thus far, been the
cause of quarrel and the seat of war. But no. The President of 'the
Council declared on Thursday night, with complacent simplicity that
the British Government had not yet received any copy of the conven-
tion by which Turkey gave over the custody of the principalities to
Austria, and that all he knew on the subject was that such a conven-
tion was concluded. Considering that the treaty was signed on the
14th of June, we must suppose that the contracting parties are in no
seat haste to give our Government information on the subject.
The Austrian army for occupation is stated to amount to 300,000
men. Should it turn out that the action of the German Courts has
been concerted with Russia, that not only has the evacuation of the
Danubian provinces on one side, and their occupition on the other,
been arranged, but that the questions of the navigation of the Danube
and the Black Sea have been settled, what course would then be taken
by France and England? Are their Governments prepared. at once
to entertain proposals of peace framed by the astute diplomatists of
Germany ? If not, and the resolve be taken that Russia is, according to
the popular phrase, to be " crippled "—how long may the war last?
A crisis or decisive turn in the contest is plainly at hand Peace
or war now trembles in the balance, as it did last autumn when the
Court of St. Petersburg acceded to the proposals of the Vienna con
ference. The policy of Count NESSELRODE was then too fine for his
country's interests. His famous despatch giving a Russian interpre-
tation to the Vienna note turned the scale for war. The despatch pub-
lished early in the week that Russia had acceded to the German
proposal, has received no confirmation. A decisive answer cannot
much longer be delayed. Is it probable that rumour in this instance,
as in so many others, has preceded truth? Our own anticipations are
on record.

Meanwhile, our Goverment is compelled to act as if it contem-
plated a long continuance of hostilities. Five more regiments of
infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and a field battery of artillery have
been ordered for service in Turkey. With these reinforcements our
army in the East will amount to 30,000 effective men.
Varna has suddenly assumed great importance. The English
force amounts to 20,000, the Duke of CAMBRIDGE being with the camp
on the Balkan between Varna and Schumla, and the French army to
40,000. This choice force is in .high condition and ready for action.
Its destination furnishes new matter for keen speculation. When and
where will it meet the foe the gallant fellows are so eager to engage ?
The Danube has almost ceased to occupy attention. Another map will
have to be enrolled for the seat of war. The Emperor NICHOLAS is
now looking anxiously to the Crimea, and the coast about Odessa. He
has set out from his capital for the south, to visit the Crimea, and
inspect his Black Sea fortresses.
Last week we announced that Sir C. NAPIER, with his fleet, was to
sail for Cronstadt on the 21st; the last advices say he did sail on
the 27th, though what he was to d' when he approached Cronstadt
baffles conjecture. Will the great case of " Wooden versus Stone
Walls" be tried this season. The issue might be perilous and must
not be rashly joined. If Helsingfors, before which the fleet lingered
long, be impregnable, what chance is there that Cronstadt will be less
strong? No land forces have been prepared to assist the fleet. The
time for active operations is but short. A few weeks more of inaction
would terminate au inglorious campaign, and lead to a total suspen-
sion of hostilities for eight months at least. Is that the result con-
templated in certain quarters, and is it hoped that the forced inac-
tivity through the long Baltic winter would cool the warlike fervour of
our people ?
The despatches from Sir C. NAPIER vaunted by the First Lord of
the Admiralty are printed in last night's Gazette ;" but there is no
glory in reckoning up the number of barrels of pitch and tar, or the
spats, plank, deals, rope, sails, and naval stores, destroyed by our
ships. The damage we have yet inflicted on the.enemy counts for little
r
• in comparison with the loss of the Tiger, and the disaster at Old Carleby.
The official details of that fatal casualty do not differ from the accounts
before published. The loss in killed, wounded, and missing was ex-
ceedingly heavy for the numbers engaged.