The Press.
London, England, 1856-02-02 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

NOTHING has occurred during the week to change the aspect of the
great European question. The pacific negotiation makes steady
progress. Paris is the capital fixed on for the approaching Congress.
and the Plenipotentiaries of the respective Powers have been nomi-
nated. M. WALEWSKI (whose pacific tendencies are well known) will
represent France, and Lord CLARENDON has announced in the House
of Lords that he will appear on the part of England. Austria will lay
the peace propositions before the German Diet, with a view to obtain
a representation of Germany in the Congress; and Sardinia, if we are
to believe the Paris papers, will only occupy a subordinate place in
the Congress, and not be permitted to discuss questions which do not
affect her interests. The forms of diplomacy will not, we fear, allow
very rapid progress to be made, and it is therefore of the more im-
portance that a good understanding should be come to between the
parties chiefly concerned, as to the principles of settlement. Turkey,
we must suppose, fully concurs in the expediency of a peace on the
proposed basis, as she has authorised her Ambassador at Vienna to
sign the protocol, embodying the acceptance of the preliminaries by
Russia.

The Ministerial speeches on the Address in both Houses were of
a reassuring character Lord CLARENDON, in particular, expressed his
belief in the sincerity of Russia, and his conviction that there was not
a point in the proposed terms which she might not accept with honour.
" A peace degrading to Russia," he said, " could neither be safe nor
" permanent." It is singular that in face of the fifth article of the
propositions, reserving to the Allies the right to introduce new condi-
tions. he should have stated that the terms were made as precise as
possible, to prevent any future misunderstanding. This statement
must probably be read as meaning that Russia was informed of the
nature of the reserved stipulations before signifying her acceptance,
and that hence there is little danger of rupture on that ground. We
imagine that the armistice which Lord CLARENDON announced as im-
pending will speedily be agreed on, as the opposing forces will, with
the knowledge that terms of peace have been arranged, feel themselves
most awkwardly placed until they are authorised to suspend
hostilities.

Parliament has opened most auspiciously for the Conservative
party. Ministers were completely cast into the shade by the splendid
eloquence of Lord DERBY, whose great effort on Thursday night was
one of that accomplished orator's most successful displays. Not less
effective, though in a different style, was the admirably judicious
speech of Mr. DISRAELI, whose address was eagerly looked for. From
the tone of both these remarkable speeches, the Conservatives
throughout the country 1611 see that their elected leaders have
assumed the patriotic tone worthy of the grave emergency. The
Crown will be loyally and heartily supported, and all means given to
support the honour of her Majesty's arms ; but while thus acting in
support of the national interests, it will be seen from the important
remarks of Lord DERBY, that certain blunders of the Cabinet must be
explained, and that no fictitious plea about " embarrassing the Govern-
ment " can be accepted as a shield from impending discussions and
perhaps " exposure "of the leiehes of the Ministry. The calamity at
Kars, as our readers remember, was strongly persisted upon by us as
one demanding the most rigorous scrutiny. Even after what has
been said and written upon it, the extraordinary neglect of that
stronghold looks still more culpable after considering the speeches of
Lord DERBY and Mr. DISRAELI. The language of Lord DERBY in
allusion to the fall of Kars was worthy of a Chatham. "If my
Lords," cried the Noble Earl, " the name of Kars reflects immortal
"honour on its heroic defenders, it equally reflects eternal shame and
" reproach on those, be they who they may, by whom this important
" post was left to fall unsuccoured, and even unavenged.” The
language of Mr. DISRAELI in connection with the same topic was not
less eloquent, and drew down tremendous cheers. We direct the
special attention of our readers to it, and we can fancy the thrill of
pleasure with which it will be read by the brave Englishmen who were
so cruelly betrayed.

In the event of the return of Mr. WALPOLE for the University of
Cambridge, there can now be no doubt of the election of Mr. WARREN
for the vacant seat of Midhurst. It is gratifying that the retirement of
Mr. MACAULAY on the one side should be speedily followed by the
entrance of so distinguished a literary man as Mr. WARREN on the
other. His successful canvass at Midhurst has resulted solely from
his high literary qualifications, his eminent abilities, and a character
distinguished for truthfulness and integrity.

It is useless to inquire for what good purpose Providence has or-
dained that so able a man as Mr. BRIGHT should be lost to the service

of his country. It is seldom we road a speech evincing greater ability
than the one delivered by him at Manchester on Tuesday last. It is
seldom we read one so wholly, so irredeemably, given up to narrow
views—and narrow views without anything to recommend them but
their narrowness. Mr. BRIGHT will have it that nobody can be right
but himself. Everybody who is opposed to the Hon. Member is either
corrupt or effete, or incompetent, for some reason or other. Cotton
alone can save the world. We have heard of men catching at a straw,

but Mr. BRIGHT would have us all catching at a thread. This gentle-
man seems to have some intellectual or moral impediment ivhich for.