The Press.
London, England, 1854-03-18 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

The position which Prussia is about to assume with
regard to the controversy between the Russian
Emperor and the great powers of Europe had be-
come a matter of much uncertainty. Rumours of
Russian intrigues in Berlin and of weakness on the
part of the King of Prussia were rife in London and
Paris, and the language used both in the English
press and Parliament in commenting upon the anti-
cipated conduct of Prussia asssumed a tone of high
censure and indignation. Meanwhile the King has
despatched on special missions on the Oriental ques
tion Count Groeber to London, Prince Hohenzollern•
Sigmaringen to I'aris, and M. Bismark to 'Vienna.
But, without waiting for the result of the communi-
cations which these envoys are instructed to make to
the respective Courts, an official statement on the
subject has been issued in the Preussische Corre-
spondenz. In this paper the Berlin Cabinet says :

" The nearer the decisive crisis of the conflict in the
East approaches, the more reason have we to congratulate
ourselves that Prussia, thanks to a policy as honourable
as it is independent, is placed beyond the immediate
influences of a dispute which, in spite of every attempt
at mediation, threatens to increase in importance and
extent. _ _

" Whoever has followed impartially the progress of the
late negotiations cannot deny that the policy of Prussia—
and this ensures her the national sympathy—has been
characterised by an independence against which all pres-
sure from without has been powerless. But Prussian
policy, however national it may be, has not escaped the
suspicion of foreigners, because it proclaims openly
its object and its tendencies. To preserve the interests
of Germany and the equilibrium of Europe—those are
the two objects which she cannot lose sight of, but, on
the contrary, she must consider them as intimately con-
nected.
" However sincere may have been the intention of the
four Governments, so far as relates to the basis of an
honourable compromise between Russia and the Porte, the
protocols of Vienna do not compromise any engagement
respecting an armed intervention in the Oriental quarrel.
On the contrary, they leave to each of the Governments
interested the liberty to employ the means most appro-
priate to its position, with the end of maintaining that line
of policy which it had traced for itself. According to our
opinion, the great German powers are, above all, not bound
to acquiesce entirely in all the active measures which the
two Western Governments have put in execution from
their own decisions, whether in the course of the con-
ferences at Vienna, or when those conferences failed in
their object.
" In spite of their attachment for a Government which
has been their ally for many long years, the German
Governments did not hesitate to defend with all the weight
of their moral influence the independence of the l'orte
against the great pretensions of that ally. But it is allowed
to them to leave to the powers whose influence is decisive at
Constantinople and whose fleets command the Black Sea
the charge of giving armed assistance to the threatened
Ottoman empire, while by their attitude they reserve to
themselves the right, when circumstances may be more
favourable, of making the words of conciliation heard by
both sides.
" As regards Prussia in particular, under present circum-
stances, her neutral attitude between the disputing parties
is alone capable of preserving the peace of Central Europe.
From the moment that she might raise her arms, either
for the East or for the West, she would infalliby create war
on the banks of the Danube, the Rhine, or the Vistula.

247

This is what neither Germany our the rest of Europe can
desire. For these reasons we hope that the Government
of his Majesty will recollect the duties it has to fulfil
us a great European power, as well as the responsibility
which the private interests of Russia and Germany i ni.
pose upon it."
The main object of the Prussian missions of
General Count de Groben to the Queen, and of the
Prince of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen w the Emperor
Napoleon, is to state that, while Prussia adheres at
present to neutrality, it never can nor will assent to
measures of any kind which may tend to disturb the
status ante, either as regards the Ottoman Porte or
configurations of territory on one side or the other.
The report that the envoys have authority to make
any propositions on behalf of Russia is not correct.
Count Pourtales, who has for some time been
associated with M. Manteuffel in the duties of
the Prussian Foreign-office, and who not long since
came to London on a special mission, has just sepa-
rated himself from the Government. The moderate
Conservative party, which is decidedly anti-Russian,
and has of late supported the Government, has also
declared itself in opposition.
The following is the answer made by M. de Man-
teuffel to questions put to him in the Prussian Cham-
ber :

" The Government will hereafter make communications
to the Chamber, which will see that it has not deviated
from its policy. The fleets which have entered the Black
Sea belong to powers with which Prussia lives in peace and
good intelligence."

The Pretusische Correspotuienz of Wednesday
contains an article directed against the organs of the
press which urge an alliance with the Western
powers, and vindicates the independence of the
Ministerial policy, which has already silenced the
voiceswhich clamoured for an alliance with Russia.

The I'atriotic Association of the Women of l'russia,
established in IN4B for the purpose of building a
man-of-war schooner, has completed the work. The
ship will be named the k'inain Gabe, and she is about
to be placed, fully armed, at the disposal of the
Admiralty. The association will also create a fund
for pensions to the crew and their widows.

The King of Bavaria has named a commission to
devise and settle upon the measures necessary for
the defence of Munich in the event of war.
AUSTRIA.

A Vienna letter of the 13th states :

" Austria was invited to join the Western powers in an
alliance against Russia. Austria forwarded the pripoot•
lion to Prussia, with modifications to the fAlowing
effect:—
" She does not feel herself called on to join the Western
powers in a declaration of war against Russia, but is pre.
pared to sign a convention for securing the integrity of
Turkey in the spirit of the treaty of 1811.
" Austria will maintain peace in Servia, Montenegro, and
Bosnia, leaving it to the Western powers to care fur Greece
and the Greek provinces in Turkey.
" It appears from an article in the Oat Correspondens of
yesterday that Prussia approves this."
The subscriptions to the new loan on Saturday
have been very considerable, and the general opinion
is that the whole 50,000,000 florins will be taken in a
few days. The conditions of the loan are unusually
advantageous, but the moment is a most unfavoura-
ble one for raising money. '
The Lloyd, which has lately distinguished itself by
advocating an Austrian policy, and proclaiming the
necessity of opposing Russia, if need be, in the field,
has suddenly been suspended by the Government for
eight days. The event has produced a great
sensation. A desire to please Russia is the motive
for this proceeding, the Lloyd having in a recent
number exposed the Czar's Government as not being
at all conservative, but essentially revolutionary in its
character. _ _

ITALY.
Several earthquakes have just taken place in Cala-
bria, and have excited great alarm. The damage
done is immense. The number of persons killed ex-
ceeds 2,000.
The Piedmontese budget brought forward by
Count Caveur shows that the expenditure amounts
to 137,100,322 f., and the revenue to 128,182,503 f.
The deficit, which last year was 21,000,000 f., is thus
reduced to 0,000,00te.

SPAIN.
Advices from Madrid of the 9th state that M.
Isturitz had made no complaint to the British Go-
vernment before he left his post.
Senors Rances, Roberts, Galilee, and Bustamente,
directors or editors of the Tribuno, Noredarles, and
Diario Espanol, arrived at Cadiz on the 2hith ult.,
and were sent to the Castle of Santa Catalina. Senor
Galilee has had a passport offered him for any place
out of Spain.
The Tribuno was condemned in a line of 6,000
reels and seven months' imprisonment for its recpon-
sible editor ; and the Epoca in 5,000 reels, and six
months' imprisonment.

PORTUGAL.
At Lisbon, on the 11th, after a protracted debati
in the Chtunber of Peers, the address was voted by a

_ _ ~....ai1i~

248

large majority. An agreement has been concluded
between the Government and the proprietors of the
Bank of Portugal, which is deemed satisfactory.
A general battle had taken place at Coimbra during
the carnival between the " town and gown " men, in
which several were killed and many wounded.
Several Russian merchant ships had left the port
of Lisbon, and it was the intention of the Russian
Minister there to send others home under a neutral
flag, if hostilities commenced.
It was expected that the exports of wheat would be
stopped.
RUSSIA.
Fresh propositions are said to have reached Vienna
from the Emperor Nicholas. According to a des-
patch of Wednesday evening from that capital, the
new proposals of Russia are based
" on the maintenance of existing treaties between Russia
and the Porte. If this be admitted, Russia will quit the
principalities, provided that the combined fleets quit the
Black Sea and the Bosphorus. Negotiations will then be
resumed, in which the propositions of Prince MenschikOtT
will form the base of a new convention with the Porte, in
which the four powers are to participate. It is asserted
that Austria and Prussia were willing to agree to these
terms, and that Baron Bonrqueney, on the part of France,
thought them worthy of consideration, but that Lord West-
moreland insisted on the revision of the existing treaties.
It is also said that if the Western powers reject these
terms Austria will consider herself free from her engage-
ment to them."
On the sth instant martial law was proclaimed at
St. Petersburg and throughout the various provinces
of Russia and the kingdom of Poland. The govern-
ment of St. Petersburg has been put under the com-
mand of the Czarowitsch.
The St. Petersburg Gazette of the Senate published
on the 6th an imperial ukase ordering the immediate
issue of notes for a sum of six million silver roubles.
It published at the same time the ordinance pro-
hibiting the export of cereals from Odessa and other
ports of the Black Sea.
From Warsaw we learn that a very large issue of
paper money has already taken place there, but there
has also been a kind of copper rouble issued, de•
signed principally for circulation at the seat of
war. The rim is of silver, and the inscription on
the obverse is struck in a species of gilt letters.
The Emperor visited, on the 28th ult., the fortifi-
cations of Cronstadt, accompanied by his son the
Grand Duke Alexander. By order of the Russian
Admiralty, another ship-of-the-line of 120 guns, the
Empress Mary, has been fitted out at that port. This
will make the Russian Baltic fleet amount to twenty
eight ships .of-the line. The Empress Mary is coin
mended by Captain Bondischeft, and will form part
of the first division of the fleet now at Cronstadt.
In the recent accounts from Florence it was men-
tioned that the well-known and wealthy Prince
Demidoff lately gave a grand fancy ball to the society
of that place. It would appear that the lights could
scarcely have been extinguished when he received a
summary order to return immediately to Russia.
According to advices from the Russian Baltic
provinces, the utmost perturbation exists among the
inhabitants of the sea-border towns, from the neigh-
bourhood of Cronstadt to the frontier near Memel.
At St. Petersburg many families are preparing to
depart for the interior ; and it is asserted that orders
have been issued by the Emperor to the effect that
all women and children should quit Revel, and all
other open or even closed towns subject to the
assaults of the squadrons which are about to sweep
the Baltic.
Advices from Odessa state that 70,000 quarters of
wheat have been bought at that port to complete the
loading of ships, the Government having intimated
that they would allow the exportation to go on until
the 13th inst.
A commercial letter from Jassy, of the 2d inst.,
states that 300 Russian waggons, laden with bis-
cuits and brandy, had passed through the town
en route for Bucharest. A ball-foundry has been
organised at that place, and a powder mill at
Fokshany. Baron Budberg was inspecting all public
offices, prisons, &c., and a revision of all public
moneys in the principalites had likewise been
ordered. The theatre, aided by a considerable sub-
vention from the Russian treasury, was getting up
the "popular" drama of The Naval Victory at Sinope,
which would shortly appear on the Jassy stage.
An order of the day by Prince Gortscbakoff was
published at Bucharest on the Ist, announcing that
Field Marshal Prince Paskiewitsch, inspector- General
of the Imperial Russian Infantry, will in two or
three weeks arrive for the purpose of inspecting the
positions of the army on the Danube and in the
south of the empire.
Despatches from Hermannstadt report a Russian
expedition to the right bank of the Danube near
Thralls. The guns of a Turkish battery had several
times driven back a Russian flotilla which it was of
importance to conduct from Iteni to Galatz. The
Russians crossed over in considerable force, and
attacked the battery by land. The conflict was very
severe, and lasted several hours, and the loss of
killed and wounded was on both sides considerable.