The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-17 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND CHINA.

The Russian naval division destined for the
Chinese waters has quitted Cronstadt. It consists
of three corvettes and three steam-clippers.

THE PRINCIPALITIES.

The Paris correspondent of the Times, writing
on Thursday evening, says :
A report current this week, but which obtained no
credit, that the British and Austrian Ambassadors at
Constantinople had protested against the second Molda-
vian elections, on the ground of illegality and malpractices,
was founded, as it now appears, on the fact that M. de
Prokesch received from the Austrian commissioner in the
Principalities a communication concerning the elections,
painting out a great number of irregularities. This docu-
ment was submitted to the Sublime Porte, and is to be
sent to Paris to be laid before the Congress when it as-
sembles. That there is abundant foundation for the
complaints it contains is perfectly well known here, and
by none better than by the French Government itself.
The Porte has addressed a circular despatch to
its diplomatic agents at the Courts of London, Paris,
Vienna, Berlin, and St. Petersburg, with a view to
point out to the powers parties to the Treaty of Paris,
and sureties for the integrity of the Ottoman empire,
how greatly the idea of the union of the Principalities
is contrary to the maintenance of that integrity and
the sovereign rights of the Porte :
If we frequently return to this subject (says the de-
spatch) it is simply because we, being most directly inte-
rested in the subject, wish to enlighten our allies, and not
to leave them in ignorance of the determination (l'opinion
arritee) of the Sublime Porte Oil a matter which tends to
inflict a severe blow upon its legitimate rights—rights
which are consecrated by ages pnd unexceptionable docu-
ments—and to endeavour to destrcy any unfavourable im•
pression which some hundreds of publications which have
been disseminated by the opposite party may have pro-
duced on the minds of the governments or of the nations.
Consequently, at the same time that it keeps within the
limits of the Treaty of the 311th March, the Imperial
Government considers it a duty to renew the aforesaid de-
claration of the 11th October, and frankly to declare tha t
whatever may he the wish expressed by the Divans ad hoc
relative to the union of the two Principalities, the Subihne
Porte, relying on (a'appeyant sue) the text of the Treaty of
Paris—a text, in virtue of which the final settlement of the
definitive organisation of the Principalities is to depend
entirely on an understanding between the Sublime Porte

Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, the Princess Royal, and the
Princess Alice, left Balmoral on Wednesday morn-
ing, and travelling by Deeside to Ballatee arrived at
Haddo-house at 4.20 p.m. The Royal party were
received by the Earl of Aberdeen. Her Majesty
passed the night at Haddo-house, and left on
Thursday for Aberdeen, where her Majesty arrived
atone p.m. After a short stay the Royal progress was
continued for Edinburgh. Holyrood was safely
reached at six p.m.

His Excellency the Prussian Minister and the
Countess Bertstorff have returned to the residence
of the Prussian Legation on Carlton House-terrace,
from Brighton.
The Duke of Bedford arrived in town on Thurs-
day. His grace has since returned to Woburn
Abbey.
Lady Graham is in a very precarious state of
health. Faint hopes of her ladyship's recovery are
entertained. Sir James Graham is in constant
attendance.