The Press.
London, England, 1856-01-19 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

Tun greatest political excitement has prevailed in all circles during
the week. As the time approached when it was known that Russia
must give a definitive answer to the allied propositions, the anxiety
increased to know what that answer would be. The announcement in
this Journal of Saturday last, that the proposals sent from St. Peters-
burg by Count STACKELBERG were of a favorable character, had a
reassuring effect ; and this was, on the whole, rather strengthened
than weakened by the statements in the public journals of Monday.
The Morning Post conspicuously announced that Russia accepted the
chief propositions, including the neutralisation of the Black Sea, but
rejected the proposed new line of frontier, and the last proposition
reserving the right to the Allies of introducing further conditions
understood to mean the prohibition of further fortifications on the
Aland Isles. Opinion was much divided to know what the result
would be. On the one hand it was understood that Austria would
withdraw her Ambassador from St. Petersburg if an uncon-
ditional acceptance was not notified by the day fixed, the
18th ; and on the other, the points at issue seemed too trifling to
warrant a continuance of hostilities. This suspense endured, though
with the predominance of intelligent opinion on the side of ;peace,
until Thursday morning, when, about noon, the intelligence spread
like wildfire through the metropolis that Russia had signified her
unconditional acceptance of the Austrian terms. Second editions of
the morning journals soon after appeared, announcing the fact by
telegraph from Vienna. The news was not believed till the Times
appeared, and even then there were some doubters. The Post, how-
ever, gave the intelligence officially as from a despatch from Sir
HAMILTON SEYMOUR to the Government, and this settled the question.
The Funds went up rapidly, and the conviction was general that this
time there would be no mistake. Yesterday, the mind of the public
was a little more calm and sceptical. The general tone of the public
prints was much alike. It hinted the possibility of difficulties—stated
that the conditions accepted by Russia wonld dorm, after all, but a
" basis of negotiation," and that the failure of the spring negotiation
justified mistrust in all well-informed circles. These doubts found
no place ; it was understood that the Continental Courts were
thoroughly agreed ; and the confidence could hardly have been greater
had it been known that a treaty had been actually signed.
It is not possible to gather thus early the opinion of the public on
this sudden, and to most persons unexpected, conclusion of the war.
The Ministerial journals, which a few days ago were loudest iu their
clamour against Russia, now discover wonderful virtue in the peace
propositions. The Radical organs alone mutter discontent, and they
seem uncertain what line it may eventually be prudent to take Those
who watch opinion most narrowly, say that the country is sulky, and
apprehend strong expressions of discontent. The people have been
worked up to a high state of war excitement ; they fully expected
another campaign with great victories by sea and land, and there is
little probability that they will be in a temper to receive, at least for a
time, the announcement of peace with satisfaction. On the other•
band, the delay which must elapse before peace can be formally de-
clared will allow time for them to cool; and when that process begins
the reaction will most likely be rapid. The whole land will feel
to have relieved itself from a great burden, and we may, perhaps, ex-
pect bell•ringing and illuminations after all. By the summer we may
expect a Russiaphobia to set in, and there are more unlikely things
than that the season will he enlivened by a visit of ALEXANDER 11. to
oar Court. How long will it be before we shall see his portrait in the
print shops ?

The rapidity of modern communication was never more strikingly
exemplified than in the transmission of intelligence between the
Courts of Europe during the last few days. The proposition brought
back from St. Petersburg by M. de SEEBACH, and forwarded to our
Government by the Emperor of the FRENCH, was rejected by the Cabi-
net Council held on Wednesday afternoon. The rejection was notified
to St. Petersburg the same evening, and while our highest Ministerial
circles were rejoicing at the failure of this overture, and speculating
with certainty upon a continuance of the war, the Russian
Cabinet was deliberating on the course it should adopt. The
decision was taken to accept the Austrian Proposals, and tarly on
Thursday morning the Cabinet of Vienna received a despatch an-
nouncing the fact. The intelligence shortly after reached London
and Paris, and was published some time before noon in both capitals,

President PIERCE, after waiting till he was thoroughly tired, and
worn out with the cares of locking up his compositors and altering
his Message to suit every fresh mail from Europe, like an invalid
suffering from successive throes, has at length unexpectedly voided
his secretion upon the Representative Body. The bile from which he
had been so long suffering from the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, is at length
discharged, and, although he had no Speaker to receive it, we doubt
not that President PIERCE felt himself much relieved. We have no
right, says President PIERCE, to any territorial claims in Central
America, as the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty decided the relinquishment of
all claims. Yet he concedes that Belize was permitted to be retained.
Why, if Belize was tacitly permitted to be retained, were not Ruatan
a ti the other islands on the coast of Honduras, as well as that portion
of territory between the Sibun and Sarstoon, in Central America,
and the Protectorate of the Mosquito kingdom, included in