The Press.
London, England, 1854-12-23 00:00:00

1119

wife's bed-room. On reading it au angry exclama-
tion escaped him which frightened the Czarina. She
fancied that some misfortune had happened to her
sons, and fainted away. It was very long before she
recovered her senses, and ever since that she has
suffered from constantly-increasing fever. The
latest telegraphic advices from St. Petersburg bring
a more favourable report of the health of the
Empress. The fetes usually given to celebrate the
anniversary of the Emperor's accession were reduced
this year to a religious service.
A proposal made by the Minister of Finance to
raise the price of salt from '2B to 44 copecks has
been accepted by the Czar as a profitable financial
measure.
Accounts from St. Petersburg state that great
',orations were making to fortify Finland, and r
Nainst any attack of the allies next season.

pre-
pi epare
any Besides
forts, there was to be an intrenched camp. The
entrance to the port of Riga is stated to have been
blocked up by the sinking of vessels laden with
granite.
A despatoli from Odessa says that a perfect panic
reigns in that city. The garrison is weak from the
repeated drafts to the Crimea. All the trading
establishments are closed. Some tainilies have
departed for the interior of Bessarabia ' • others to
the Ukraine. The troops which Omer Paella has
embarked at Varna are expected, as well as a bom
Larding squadron from the allied fleets. Several of
the enemy's steamers are in sight,
The Morgen Post of Vienna states, tinder
Odessa, the 14th, that the Russians are '

. date
.e transporting
their treasures and archives from the Pruth into gm
interior. General Liprandi has been deprived of bia
command for a fault committed at Inkermann on
the iith of November. The roads in the Crimea are
impassable.
UNITED STATES.
President Pierce delivered his annual message to
the Senate at Washington on the 4th inst. The
document presents the usual minuteness and ampli-
tude of dimensions, occupying several columns' in
the journals, but is chiefly to the detail of domestic:
results and prosperity of administration. In re-
ferring to the treaty between the United. States, s$
Great Britain relative to the coasting lisherise, And
reciprocal trade with the British North Anierienn
colonies, the President mentions the steps that biuve
been taken on both sides to hasten and anticipate
the operation of that treaty, and asps pf,,tlierg the
sanction of the Legislature.
Respecting the pending contest in rurepeile
message enforces the principle of neutrality add *-
intervention. It proceeds :
Leaving the transatlantic nations to adjust their poli-
tical system in the way they may think best Sir their com-
mon welfare, the independent powers of this cootinent
may well assert the right to be exempt from all annoying
interference on their part. Systematic abstinence from
intimate political connection with distant foreign nations
does not conflict with giving the widest range to our
foreign commerce. This distinction, so clearly marked
in history, seems to have been overlooked, or disregarded,
by some leading foreign States. Our refusal to be brought
within and subjected to their peculiar system, has, I fear
created a jealous distrust of our conduct, and induced, on
their part, occasional acts of disturbing effect upon our
foreign relations. Our present attitude and past course
give assurances, which should not be questioned, that our
purposes are not aggressive, nor threatening to Cita eiiLty
and welfare of other nations.
The subsequent proceedings in Congress were of
little interest, the only motion of consequence being
one for repealing the impost duty on coals, which
was carried, on the dth, by a large majority.
CANADA.
Lord Elgin gave his farewell assembly on the lst
at Spencer Wood, to upwards of (lOU persons,
including every member of both Houses of the
Legislature.
THE USUAL WARDMOTES for the election of mem-
bent to represent the inhabitants of each ward in the
Court or Common Council, took place on Thursday,
being St.. Thomas's-day. The business was of an
almost formal character, and in most wards the
former representatives were re-elected. 'the speeches
generally were in support of the present war, and the
increase of exertions in aid of the Patriotic Fund.
'the only wards in which any change or contest
took place were Castle Ilaynard, Coleman-street,
Farringdon Within and Without, the Touts, and
Queenhithe.
THE PRUSSIAN GOVERNMENT has made a demand
upon the Germanic Diet, to abolish all public gamb-
ling-houses. It is believed that all States—some,
will—such, for in-
' Electoral
con-