The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-30 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1854.

perform her work, and to advance those " divers
" German objects" which she wishes to attain.
It suits the purpose of the leading Ministerial
organ of yesterday to assert that" the diplomatic
" agents of Austria in all parts of Europe con-
" tinue to speak of war between that empire
" and Russia as not only probable but inevita-
" ble ;" but the circular itself does not antici-
pate circumstances which will force Austria
into a " coercive state," and expressly states
that she will, if possible, avert them. It refers
to her engagement with Prussia to show that
the treaty depends on her not taking part in
the war against Russia, and especially on her
not crossing the Russian frontier. In short,
Austria will continue to maintain an attitude
of armed neutrality, but does not conceive she
can prevent the allies from entering the prin-
cipalities, as she only occupies them to defend
the integrity of the Ottoman empire.
In conformity with the language of this
circular is the text of a note addressed by
Count Bum. to the Austrian Envoy at St.
Petersburg ou the rejection of ale pro-
posed bases of peace. It thinks the " four
" points ought to have furnished an equita-
" ble point de depart" for a pacification, hut
indignantly repels the insinuation that Aus-
tria desired the moral and material humi-
liation of Russia. The evacuation of the
principalities is noticed with " sincere antis-
' " faction," as removing an insurmountable
obstacle to a general understanding. The
conciliatory language of this note, taken in
connection with the declarations of the cir-
cular, shows that the Court of Vienna has no
thought of taking part in the hostilities against
Russia.
Admitting that Austria has a difficult part
to play—that she conceives it necessary to
conciliate the allies, to please and satisfy the
States of Germany, and to avoid coining into
direct collision with her gigantic Northern
neighbour—is it to be expected that this
country can view with complacency the inde•
cisive policy by which she seeks to combine
these various objects ? What cause is there
for congratulation in the announcement that
Austria, while keenly watching for opportu-
nities to profit by the war, will herself take no
part in it ? Are we fallen so low that we are
compelled to welcome her neutrality as a
success? The Ministerial prints, without ex-
ception, hail the circular of Count 131101, as a
triumph of our diplomacy ; but impartial
England will regard it only as another proof
of that " credulity or connivance " which,
since Lord ABERDEEN'S Premiership, has been
disgracefully evident in the management of
our foreign relations.
Lord ABERDEEN, though the progress of
events has removed the war from his control,
still struggles to retain his hold of the strings
of diplomacy. Austria is now his only ally.
He clung to Austria for guidance and safety
from the instant when he. was compelled to
offer resistance to the designs of the Emperor
NICHOLAS ; and he adhered to her policy, as
opposed to that of France, until the mutiny in
his Cabinet, and the loudly-expressed indigna-
tion of the English people, warned him that he
could do so no longer. But ho followed the
lead of France with reluctance, and seized
every possible occasion of acting in concert
with Austria, and of delaying action by fruit
less negotiation.

This is the answer to those Ministeriulists
who attempt to shield their Government
under the mantle of France, and who assert

that the Administration of that country is,
equally with our own. chargeable with the abor-
tive negotiations and delays which . have
occurred. Lord ABERDEEN has constantly. en-
deavoured to neutralise the influence of
France by the influence of Austria, and has
notoriously alleged his expeehaion of being
able to engage the latter Power in an offen-
sive and defensive alliance, as an excuse for
the continued inaction of his Government.
He insisted that the interests of Austria were
identical with the interests of England, and that
Austria had stronger grounds than any other
Power to oppose the pretensions of Russia.
The delusion is still to be maintained, and
the Ministerial press is instructed to insult
the sense of the country by representing the
Austrian circular as a near approach to the
policy of the allies.

Austria might have averted the war—she
might bring it to a speedy conclusion. But
it suits her purpose that it should continue.
She hopes to reap great and solid advantages
from the extremities to which it seems pro-
bable Russia will be reduced by the superior
power of the allies. This policy is hazardous,
and may hereafter lead to great disaster; but
it is possible, so long as Lord ABERDEEN re•
mains at the head of our Government to en-
courage and support it, and while the Ministe-
rial press submits to the degradation of
applauding it as wise and fitting.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE HARVEST.—
THOUGHTS FOR TOMORROW.
SMILING faces, cheery thoughts, bowed heads,
and happy hearts for to-morrow; for there, in
her Gon-fearing way, Old England keeps her
harvest-home.
And such a harvest ! The like of it we none
of us remember. The prices of last' year had
encouraged the tillage of a breadth of land
perhaps unequalled in extent. A winter of
unusual severity cleared the ground of the
vermin that a few ungeuial seasons had bred
in it. Two months of sunny spring, a
showery May and June, and then a long and
cloudless summer, have done their perfect
work of blessing. Never before, perhaps, was
the russet beauty of our English fields so
gloriously golden rich ; and now, in quantity,
in quality, and in weight of grain, our garners
are full beyond all example. We shall need
no sermon to-morrow—" n sermonem qua•ris
" circum spice ."
Or, if some blank stump orator at Manches-
ter. or other " painful preacher," is at fault for
once, let him just bethink himself of the too
possible contrast that there might have been.
A muggy winter, the dull fogs of February, pro-
longed into March and April, a blighting May,
an ungentle June—or fancy all these reversed,
' as they have mercifully been, and yet a close,
mildewy July, a rainy harvest-time, two
months of those hot, damp, murky, seething,
rotting days of which we have known so many
before now, a middling crop, badly got in, the
pestilence upon us, the war before us, and the
famine on its way.
And these, after all, are but the outward
symbols and tokens of miseries that do not
appear on the surface, or at once. Suppose a
season such as we have said. Landlords
are never over rich ;- taxes are inexor-

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