The Press.
London, England, 1853-12-17 00:00:00

No. 33.—VoL. I.

Vrtss.

that her part way taken, and that part was
WAR.

The reeeipt of this declaration, so far as our
Government was coneerned, was denied by its
principal organ, but in terms carefully adjusted.
not to say suspieiously equivocal. At the
same time there appeared to be no little Menu-
sistency between our second announcement
and the important information of which, on
the preceding week, we had been first the
means of tsimmunicating. Confident in the
authenticity of our sourer, we awaited, without
apprehension, the evidence of its truth.
It appears, then, that more than a mouth
ago Austria did make to the combined Govern
ments the above-named suggestion of an minis-
tiee. They, eager to secure the renewal of
iplomatie eo-operation with Austria, replied
without loss of time, and favourably, to the
overture, but added that they could not consent
to the proposition 14ir an armistiee, unless it
was considered the preliminary of a negotia•
Lion for peace. T 4) this Austria, in time, re-
joined that, 104 peace was the objeet of all
Governments, the armistiee might be eon,
(tittered as a preliminary to that end.
In due time it was reported to Austria
that the Porte had been Hounded on the sub-
jeet, but that the Sultan would consent to no
negotiat. of which " the instant and com-
plete evacuation of the principalities," as pro-
mised by Lord CLARENDON to the British Par-
liament, was not a condition precedent. Upon
this at despatch (not it note, as was hurriedly
and incorreetedly expressed) instantly arrived
from St. Petersburg, and was read to a French
Minister, who communicated its contents to
his Sovereign, diselaiming negotiations, and
appealing to war as the only arbiter.
We will not stop now to inquire whether
the same declaration was made by a similar pro-
cess to our own Government. On this head
we have much to say ; but time presses. It. is
the less necessary to enter into this matter
now, since our readers may depend upon the
foll44wing statement, however incredible it may
seem—viz., that Great Britain, notwithstand•
ing the pledge of Lord CLARENDON to Parlia-
ment, and all that has since occurred, con-
sented to recommend, in the most urgent
manner, an armistice to the Porte, and a con-
sequent negotiation for peace, without making
the slightest stipulation respecting the prin-
cipalities, or even alluding to the subject. We
have reason to believe that it was even agreed
that an amingement in the spirit of the MENR-
CtiIKOFF propositions should be pressed upon
the Porte ; and all this upon the ground that
the four Powers had entered into a loose decla-
ration that, in their opinion, it was expedient
that the integrity of the Ottoman dominions
should be maintained.

LONDON, R.4TURD.4r, DECE.VBER 17, 11451.

"PRESS" OFFICE,
Friday Night, Per. 10.

A RI'MOVII that was prevalent in well-informed
circles on Thursday received an authoritative
shape this morning. Adieu the retirement of
Lord Viscount PA imEnsTox, one of the principal
Secretaries of State, from her Majesty's Conn-
-as, was announeed by the leading Govern-
ment organ.

The withdrawal, at this moment especially,
of the most eminent member of the Adminis-
tration, without whose presence the Cabinet
could never originally have been formed, and
to whom the Ministry are indebted for the
only degree of public confidence which they
ever possessed, has produced a profound
sensation.

It is understood that this step was taken by
Lord PALMER4TON with the coneurrenee and
approbation of the Marquis of LAN24DOWNE,
and of the principal members of the old Whig
party.
Lord PALMEnsrom is now on a visit to the
Noble Marquis at Dowood, to which seat he
repaired after having sent in the resignation
of his office to the Prime Minister, in order
that it might be formally laid before her
Majesty.

Lord lananEEN left town for ()Amine for
that purpose on Thursday, and returned, we
believe, this night.

A Cabinet Council is summoned for to-

11101 TOW.

THERE is an enormous diplomatic conspi►acy
hatching at this moment, which, it' successful,
will prove most disastrous to the honour and
the interests of Queen Vo-rolitA 111141 her
realms.

Our readers may perhaps remember that,
three weeks ago, we were the first to announce
to the public that Austria, at the unavowed,
yet understood, instigation of Russia, had
proposed to the combined Governments of
England and Fr.uaee that they should join
with her in suggesting to the belligerents an
armistice for the winter.

These proceedings take place while the organ
of Lord ABLIWEEN is assur►ng its credulous, or
its perplexed, readers that Russia, by the re-
turn of the German Powers to diplomatic
concert with the combined Governments,
and by their consequent arrangements, has
received " a great diplomatic cheek," end lost
the fruits of half a century of its successes ;
it being an undoubted fact that the German
Powers have throughout the affair been ever
playing the game of St. Petersburg, and that
the Cabinet of the Kremlin has suggested
every ppr)ve and 1.4e3 evet7 hitrizz

Seven days after it was lour duty also to
RUIVAIIIO3 that Russia had signified that fur-
thor nalotiations would 11,1 1:e ii.totea to,

LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1853. PRICE SIXPENCE.

In the meantime, not withstanding the denia
of our tunutuncement. that the sword would
be the only arbiter between Russia anti Tun,
key, there tteetirm the slaughter of Siuope, Me
lowed up by a eonsequent victory of the RUM •
sians on land. Observe the facts, though they
ate almost incredible ; but they will not be
contradicted, for we have the authority by our
side. After innumerable delays and fatal pro-
crastination, the combined fleets of England
and Franco anchor in the Bosphorus, and
immediately the Russians obtain their first
success, and that on the very element on which
the combined fleets could alone assist Turkey
But it is not only the English and the French
fleets that are tying idle almost in sight of
this untoward event. The Turkish and
Egyptian fleet is also inert. And why" Its
crews were Hot plating ehampagne grog. It.
was inert through the influence of the English
Ambassador!

Our readers are aware that the Admiral of
the Turkish tleet is a gallant Eugliah officer,
Captain Amu PH UN Sttuc, bearing in Turkey
the title of Ilushoover Paella. It being known,
some little time ago, that a squadron under
this officer was about to enlist, in the Black
sea, 1.4)111 STRATFoRD, our Ambassador at the
Bale, sent for Captain SLADK, and endeavoured
to prevent the expedition, on the ground that,
" as the Turkish Admiral was an English **biker,
"it ;night tend to embroil with Russia." i rho
gallant SLAox, as became a msn of honour in
the serviee of the Porte, treated the appeal
with the eontempt whieh it deserved. He
went, And he returned ; and he recommended
to the Turkish Government that the whole
fleet should immediately repair to the Elaine.
Every means were had recourse to in order to
1 prevent this step; and, finally, Admiral
DeNtma—no very wise man, to ho sure, but
one, certainly, who would not net from his own
inspiration--declared to the Turkish Govern-

ment that if their fleet entered the Black Sea
ho would return with the English fleet to the
Mediterranean. The Divan, with a protest.
yielded to this violence, and, under these cir-
cumstances, the English, the French, and the
Turkish fleets permitted an expedition of five
thousand troops, convoyed by a few frigates.
to be massacred by Russian men-of-war.
What infamy !

It is all very well to say that the retirement
of Lord PALMERSTON from the Coalition Cabi-
net is not occasioned by the conduct of their
foreign policy ; that the supposed divisions of
the Ministry on that subject are " fictions:"
and that " his retirement will not in say 4.•
" gree lower the tone or relax the energy ou
" foreign affairs of the Cabinet." No doubt
the withdrawal of Lord PALMIRSTON from the
Ministry is not merely, or even perhaps mainly,
occasioned by the conduct of their foreign
policy. It is occasioned by a general l
convic-
tion that the whole bent of their administration

is alien both to the reason and the feelings of
the country,—that they do nut appreciate the
character of England, and have no rout in the
heart of any large portion of the community.
But as for pretending that the divisions of the
Ministry on our foreign policy are imaginary—
this is indeed a " Action," and a hold one. It
is true that the policy of Lord PALMERSTOS has.
in the main, been followed, but it has barn
aluays followed too late : on almost every occa-
sion it has been adopted by Lord Asuman:4
under the threat of Lord PALVIPArrOIedi rest •
141400 n 01} Atnwet rag ocosstot; bps