The Press.
London, England, 1856-12-13 00:00:00

DECEMBER 13, 1856.

than even one thirteenth of that sum ; that a native
servant cannot buy a house, a horse, a carriage, or
any other thing cheaper than a European servant
can in India; and that it is as natural for a native to
wish to live well and comfortably as it is for a Euro-
pean. Perhaps Mr. Maclecd's Indian career has
impressed him with a notion that a European ser-
vant in India must lay out a portion of his salary in
champagne and hock and ham. If so, I beg to
remind Mr. Macleod that a native servant has extra
expenses to defray as well as a European. The ex-
penses attending the marriage of a respectable
native are much greater than those of a European ;
and I am persuaded that if inquiries were made, it
would he found that almost every native servant,
receiving 1201. a year or more, has a host of needy
relatives and connections to provide for, a misfortune
from which the generality of European civil servants
are happily free. The distinctions which are made
between European civil servants and native em-
ployees, and which Mr. Macleod appears desirous of
perpetuating for no valid reason whatever, are not
only invidious and unjust, but disgraceful to a
Government under the British nation, whom Mr.
Macleod places " in the foremost rank of the most
highly civilised and most enlightened nations upon
earth." A European civil judge is allowed a salary
of 2,500 rupees a month. A native principal
suddermeen, who is invested with the same powers as
the judge, and who does more work than the judge,
as may be readily perceived by reference to the
printed annual reports of the Sadder Dewanee
Adawluts, is permitted to draw an average salary of
only 450 rupees a month. A European magistrate
and collector receives 2,250 rupees a month. A
native deputy magistrate and deputy collector, who
possesses powers almost equal to those of the other,
and who works much harder than he does, gets only,
on an average, 350 or 400 rupees a month. A Euro-
pean civil servant, who enters the service generally
at twenty years of age, and who is scarcely qualified
for any office until he has been three years in the
service, is allowed to retire, on a handsome pension,
after twenty-five years of service. A native servant,
who scarcely ever enters the service before he is
twenty three years of age, and perfectly qualified for
performing his official duties, is not allowed to retire,
on a pension however small, till he has served thirty-
five years. A European servant is allowed furlough
to England after serving a certain numher of yee.rs. A
native servant is never allowed a furlough to Eng-
land, however anxious he may be to see that
country, and improve his mind by doing so. A
European servant is allowed leave of absence, on sick-
certificate or otherwise, on terms both just and
liberal. A native servant is allowed leave on terms
far less favorable than those alluded to. Can Mr.
Macleod say that the perpetuation of such dis
tinctions is becoming the Government of the
" most highly civilised and enlightened nation of the
earth "?

I intended commenting on other opinions and
remarks expressed by Mr. Macleod in his minute ;
but I must refrain from doing so, as I fear this
letter bas already become too long. Hoping you
will kindly publish it in your invaluable journal, I
remain, sir, your obedient servant,

A NATIVE IN THE SERVICE OF
IN INDIA.

India, North-Western Provinces, Oct. 10, 1850.

JUDGES AND LAW OFFICERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS."

Sir,—Several appointments have lately been made
of judges and law officers, and, so far as legal know
ledge and standing is considered, no one could com-
plain. All I would suggest is, that every man
appointed to any of the high legal offices should not
only be known as a man of high legal autho-
rity, but also as one of high moral character.
If any of the bishops lately appointed had at any
time done anything to cast a slur on their moral
character, what would have been said of Lord Pal-
merston's selection ? and should not the same judg-
ment he used in appointing those high legal func-
tionaries who represent her Majesty? It is time that
moral worth and character should be made the
stepping stone to honour as well as political
abilities.--I am, sir, yours obediently,
A Souctron.
Lincoln's-inn-fields, Dec. 2, 1856.

A RELIC OF BOTHWELL was sold at a book sale
in Edinburgh lately to Mr. Gibson Craig. It is
a 'npy of a mathematical work printed at Paris
in 1338—'' L'Arithmetique et Geometrie de Maistre
Estienne de la Roche." The book is in the original
binding, and has the sides stamped with a well-cut
die, showing the arms of Bothwell, with the motto
"Kiip Treat"—that is, keep tryst, and the inscrip-
tion " lacobvs Hepbvrn Comes Bcthv. D. Hailles
Cncthonre et Leddes. et Magn. Admiral. Scotise."
There is only another volume known to exist of the
fain3us earl's once magnificent library, and that is in
possession of the Faculty of Advocates.

THE PRESS.

THE RUSSIAN NOTE.

A DOCUMENT was addressed by the Russian Govern-
ment at the latter end of October to all the powers
that signed the treaty of Paris. It was accompanied
by a circular requesting the reconvocatiou of the
Paris Conferences. This memorandum is an expose
of the steps taken by the Cabinet of St. Petersburg
with a view to the fulfilment of Articles 20 and 21 of
the treaty of the 30th of March.

As regards the Isle of Serpents, the note ob-
serves:—

It will suffice to read carefully the text of the stipula-
tions to be convinced that they refer to a demarcation on
the mainland, and do not apply to the possession of an
island situate in the open sea. . . . In fact, no ex-
press stipulation of the treaty has either annexed to
Moldavia or adjudged to Turkey that island, which was
incontestably iu the possession of Russia before the
rupture.

The note then maintains that, " in matter of right,
if there is to be a transfer of any territory from one
possessor to another, it is necessary that the treaty
of peace should authorise this change by a stipula-
tion clearly expressed ;" that " the seizure by a
single party, without the consent of the last pos-
sessor, does not constitute a legal claim, as the treaty
is completely silent on the subject ;" and, finally,
"that to remedy this mistake it was requisite that the
representatives of the contracting powers should
meet, reserving for their decision a question which
had not acquired the authority of a thing decided by
the acts of the Congress."
The note then refers to the question of the Bes.
sarabian frontier, and quoting Art. 20 of the treaty,
which defines the new frontier as follows—" It will
start from the Black Sea at one kilometre east of the
Lake of Bouvna Sola, will rejoin perpendicularly the
Akermann road, will follow that road to the Valley
of rrajan, will pass south of Bolgrad, will run along-
side the River Yalpuck as far as the heights of
Saraszika, and will terminate at Katamori, on the
Pruth ; above this point the old frontier between
the two countries remains unchanged ;" insists
that the good faith of Russia was evident in the part
she took to secure a satisfactory and prompt conclu•
sion of the question. In support of this truth it will
suffice to mention two facts :

According to Art. 20 the new frontier, starting at one
kilometre from the Lake of Bouvna Sola, aas to rejoin
perpendicularly the Akermann road. That line cut in two
Lake Hadji•lbra',im, and left Lake Basiriam entirely to
Russia. An inspection of the localities showed the defect
of such a boundary.
The Imperial Cabinet allowed its delegates to remedy
this inconvenience, so as to include the two lakes in the
Moldavian territory.
Again, the 20th Article made the frontier end at Kata-
mori, on the Pruth. The text of the treaty did not express
whether that place was to belong to Russia or to be
given to Malaria. The Imperial Cabinet obviated that
difficulty by allowing Ratamori to be joined to the Princi-
pality.

Under these circumstances the frontier line was
for more than three parts of its extent completed by
the commissioners assembled on the spot. Two
gaps remained to be filled up, and the commissioners
drew up a convention fur the final decision of the
contracting powers :

This convention submits to the judgment of the Cabi•
nets four alternatives left to their choice. This plan is
founded upon a system of compensation so cleverly com-
bined that each of the two parties interested obtains
geographically the same aortae. of ground, whatever may
be the alternative selected by the Cabinets.
The note Caen discusses the terms of the conven-
tion, regarding the course of the Upper Yalpuck and
Bolgrad, as follows :
As regards the first point, the text of the treaty indicated
the river Yalpuck as the frontier line. In its course, at a
place called Andreeska, the river splits into two arms, one
bearing the natoe of Yalpuck, the other that of Yalpuckhel.
The letter of the treaty implies the former; the other
arm would give a more enlarged frontier to Moldavia. The
delegates have reserved this question for the solution of
the Cabinets.
As regards the second point in dispute, that of the town
of Bolgrad, a consideration of good faith seems to deter-
mine this question. It is this :—When the Congress came
to discuss and decree in principle the new frontier line, the
Russians frankly declared the importance of not taking
away the town of Bolgrad from the Bulgarian colonies of
which it is the capital. This administrative consideration,
so frankly expressed, received the unanimous votes of all
the representatives, given in a spirit of concord and con-
ciliation. Consequently it was resolved, by common
accord, that the frontier line should pass south of Bolgrad,
as is clearly and precisely stated in the text of Art. 20.
This resolution was not taken on the inspection of maps
produced at the Conferences by the Plenipotentiaries of
Russia; printed in Russian they might not have appeared
sufficiently intelligible to all the representatives at the
Congress. They therefore formed their conclusions from
the examination of a map placed at their disposal by the
care of the French Government.

1181

This fact is worthy of mention. It shows that if the
maps were faulty the responsibility does not rest with the
Russian Plenipotentiaries. Moreover, their frank speech
had set aside any misunderstanding. They had d'clared
that the town of Bolgrad, which it was important should
be preserved to Russia, was the capital of the Bulgarian
colonies.

in this avowal there was neither concealment. misunder-
standing, nor deceit. The Congress, in adhering to the
desire expressed by the Russian Plenipotentiaries, per-
formed an act of equity and wisdom. In fact, its decision
upon the question of Bo'grad brought the discussion to a
close. Art. 20 was drawn up conformably to the resolution
taken at the sitting of the 10th March. The Russian
Plenipotentiaries thought right, however, to make a re-
serve of the approbation of their Court. That approbation
was announced by Count Orloff in the sitting of the 14th
March, Prot. IX.

In this grave deliberation it may be said the unanimity
of opinion of the plenipotentiaries at the Conference was
complete. Doubtless, the Cabinets, by ratifying the acts
of their plenipotentiaries, had no intention of questioning
or disavowing the spirit of equity and harmony which pre.
sided over their labours.

The first motive of dissent arose when the delegates
had visited the localities; they then found that the town
of Rolgrad, instead of being situate at some distance from
Lake Yalpuck, as was indicated upon all the maps. touched
the northern extremity of the lake.

The position thus ascertained on the spot gave rise to a
difference of opinion between the respective delegates as
regarded the crossing of the frontier line intrusted to their
care.

The Russian delegates proposed to take as a boundary
the valley line (Thalweg). leaving the left shore of the
lake to Russia, the right shore to Moldavia.
_ _

This combination was deemed inadmissible by the other
commissioners. In their opinion, access to the lake open
on the left bank to Russia might engender the fear of the
Imperial Government forming a flotilla upon the lake, the
presence of which might some day be an impediment to
the free navigation of the Danube.
This supposition, we may be allowed to say, did not
tally in reality with the nature of the locality. Moreover,
if the project of the Russian Commissioners had been ad-
mitted, all subject of anxiety would have been removed
beforehand by the express condition that a single brand-
teach/ (boat) should he allowed for the use of the Russian
authorities, to be kept at a fixed station, for the use of the
Customs and sanitary officers. Such a condition would
surely have excluded the slightest anxiety respecting the
free navigation of the Danube.
Nevertheless, the proposal of the Russian delegates met
with decided opposition. The French Commissioner, with
a view to conciliate conflicting opinions, suggested a new
plan—to make a high road (chaessie) along the shore of
the lake, and thus to separate the town of Bolgrad from
the shores of Lake Yalpuck, with Jbe exception of permis-
sion to the inhabitants to have access to the borders of the
lake for their daily wants.
By this combination the whole lake would remain
Moldavian, while the town of Bolgrad, the capital of the
colonies, would remain in the possession of Russia.
The Imperial Cabinet of Russia did not hesitate to give
its consent to this proposal, which conciliated all interests
and all mutual considerations. The Austrian, English,
and Turkish delegates were not authorised to adopt this
compromise. In their opinion, the frontier line, instead
of passing south of Bolgrad, the capital, as understood by
the Congress, and as stated in Art. 20 of the treaty, ought
to be drawn south of the place named Tabak (see map
annexed to the preliminary convention of 30th August).
A much•to•be-regretted controversy has arisen on this
point.
A few words will suffice to elucidate the question by
placing it in its true light. The place called Tabak is not
the central point of the administration of the Bulgarian
colonies. For many years the town of Bolgrad has been
the capital. Church, school, government, population, are
all concentrated in Bolgrad. Tabak, as all the delegates
were able to ascertain, does not, therefore, in any manner
respond to the intention avowed openly, in which the Rus-
sian Plenipotentiaries asked, and which the other plenipo-
tentiaries united at the Congress granted, that Bolgrad
should remain in the possession of Russia.
This is a simple question of good faith. If the line
should be drawn south of Tabak it would he drawn con-
trary to the spirit and to the letter of the text. Bolgrad
would be separated from the colonies, while it was agreed
that that town should remain annexed to them. In a word,
the treaty of the 30th of March would not be carried out
conformably to the idea which presided over that trans-

In this state of affairs the Emperor is of opinion
that the most honourable part to take is to appeal to
the consciences of the Cabinets that signed the treaty of
Paris.

Consequently, by order of his Majesty, the Russian
Envoy ou a mission extraordinary to his Majesty the Em-
peror of the French had the honour of addressing to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, under date of September IP,
an official note, reiterating a request for the convocation of
a Conference, consisting of the representatives of all the
contracting powers.

Agreeing to this request, the Minister of Foreign Aftltirs,
in the name of his Government, has invited the other
Cabinets to decide by common accord all the points which
have hitherto remained in suspense.

So as to give to this diplomatic meeting the character
and the merit of a final solution of all the questions in dis-
pute, Count Wslewski asked Baron Brunow whether the
Court of Russia, participating in this deliberation, was de•
tided to abide by a majority of votes.

To this question, transmitted by telegraph to St.
Petersburg, the Imperial Cabinet seat back an immediate
reply in the qffirmative.