The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-03 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

SATURDAY,

some explanation on a subject which is beginning to excite much
anxiety—we mean, the rumoured intention of Russia to take advantage
of the opportunity afforded her by the conclusion of peace to make a
grand effort for the conquest of the country which lies between her
southern territory and her Transcaucasian provinces. Though it may
be true that no stipulation has been made to prevent such conquest on
her part, yet the !fact that hostilities are to be continued by Russia on
the frontier of Asia Minor for the subjugation of races which have so
nobly maintained their independence, would undoubtedly create an
ill-feeling in this country, and prevent that resumption of cordial
intercourse which it should be the object of both countries to cultivate.

It seems that the Government have some difficulty in finding a
Governor for the important colony of Victoria. The post was offered
to Lord Elam, but of course declined, as his Lordship has filled so
much higher a post, and is qualified by his eminent administrative
ability for the highest honours in the power of the Crown to offer.
Then Lord COURTENAY and Lord MoNcx were solicited, but both de-
clined ; and at last the post was offered to Mr. ROBERT LOWE. Now,
though it would notoriously be very convenient for the Government to
send this gentleman to " Australia, 0," it would not be quite so conve-
nient for this gentleman to proceed thither. One would think that
after Mr. LOWE, the Government must by the exhaustive process be
driven to the insertion of an advertisement in the papers. " Wanted
a Governor, &c."

Startling revelations are in progress—revelations which seem so
incredible that it will take some time to rouse the public to a per-
ception of their truth. Lord JOHN MANNERS, with equal sagacity
and caution, called the attention of the Premier, on Thursday, to the
fact that in one of the Protocols there was a discussion on the ques-
tion 11 hether the Russian forts on the eastern coast of the Black Sea
should or should not be restored. The consideration of the point,
he stated truly, was adjourned at one Conference, and no reference
was made to it, though surely of great importance, in any of the suc-
ceeding protocols. He asked :
Whether that discussion was ever resumed ; if it were, with what result ; and if it
was not resumed, I beg to inquire whether the Russian forts on the eastern coast of the
Black Sea are to be rebuilt?

Lord PALMERSTON replied :-1. There was a discussion, but it led to
no definite result; 2. There was nothing in the Trcaty on the subject;
3. That all the discussions of a formal nature which took place at the
Conference are recorded in the Protocols. From which answers we
are to conclude that the subject, being an awkward one, was suffered
to drop out of sight, and that Russia will be at full liberty to restore
those forts, the express purpose of which is to subjugate the Caucasus.
Coincidently with this little discussion, we read in the Times corre-
spondence from Berlin, under date of April 28, that Russia is making
preparations to invade the Caucasus on a grand scale:—
In St. Petersburg they are already beginning to talk of warlike expeditions to he
undertaken in the summer; a portion of the Caucasian army, under the command of
General Khruleff, is to operate towards the Tschetschnaia, while other troops that will
ty that time have been set free from the Crimea are to act against the Abchasen. It
appears that, carefully as all news of the facts have been kept from the knowledge of the
Western press, these mountain tribes had availed themselves of the Russians being per.
fectly occupied with their more imposing foes to harass them in a variety of ways, and
to have encountered them in a variety of skirmishes, not always without success. Ihe
first use their implacable neighbour the Muscovite intends to make of the leisure that
the present peace has procured him is to subdue and subjugate these tribes, and then
to rebuild the frontier fortresses for the purpose of perpetuating that subjugation.

An important announcement also reaches us from Constantinople :
Vienna, Wednesday evening, April 30.
Advices from Corstantinople of the 24th of April have been received here.
A deputation had arrived there from Circassia, to request the recognition and the
guarantee of the independence of that country by the Porte, England, and France.
These three statements from different quarters all point to one con-
clusion, that Russia proposes to immediately make a grand effort for
the complete conquest of the Caucasus. Can it be that the Treaty
of Peace will have this result ? Can it be that the state of the Cau-
casus has been designedly overlooked ? We are in a mist on the
subject at present. Our Government assuredly did not want power
to insist on some stipulation guaranteeing the independence of the
Circassian territory—such stipulation would have been reasonable,
and would have met with the united support of our people. This
point is of such vital magnitude, that upon it, as we think, must
turn the question whether the Peace is to be regarded as solid, and
even glorious, or as hollow and ignominious.

PEACE DIVERSIONS.
The wisdom of our rulers note--
Who, failing in their plans afloat,
Apply the powder of our fleet
To squibs and crackers in the street,
And, sparing the strong forts of Revel,
In London play the very D—l.

POSITIVELY THE LAST JOKE ON THE NAVAL REVIEW.
BY SIR CHARLES WOOD.
Sic(k) "Transit " Gloria " Wednesday"!
Sir Charles Wood also delivered himself of another joke this week.
Remarking that his colleague, Mr. Labouchere had some difficulty in
getting rid of the Governorship of Victoria, Sir Charles suggested " that
the appointment of an infant prince would be the most appropriate, as
the population were essentially mine(o)rs."
The extraordinary prolificacy which delivered Sir Charles of
two such tolerable jokes in one week excited the serious apprehensions
of his friends. A consultation with Dr. Forbes Winslow was held, and
Sir Charles has, since been limited to a diet of water-gruel, and sub•
jected to frequent dry cuppings.

TCH OF SEA SONGS.

AlR—"Sing a song of sixpence."
,ing a song of mockery,
A fleet without a foe,
'orty score of ships of war
All in a row ;
When the war was over
The fleet was ready seen,—
Wasn't that a silly sight
To set before the Queen?
Lewis in his counting-house
Was counting up the money,
Lords and ladies all afloat
Thought it fine, but funny.
Old Chai ley Wood there
Muttered, " Hang the show!"
or up came a little bird there
And whistled, " Out you go

" RULE BRITANNIA ! "
, play an air less bold and brave,
.nd play no more the fool.
; now Britannia "rules the wave"—
Iritannia "waives the rule."

0? OR, THE FLEET'S STATISTICS.
forty-three ships, 9,172 guns, and 32,610 men, compose this mighty
Id and forty-three vessels of war !
build this big fleet for?
Black and the Baltic Main.
id i►, do ?—lt came back again

tsand one hundred and seventy-two !
)d's name did these great guns do?
lied with shot, and they practised with shell,
. on Wednesday wonderfully well!
thousand eight hundred and ten
they done—all these Englishmen ?
2d at Sweaborg, and fished in Azoff,
tan their yards without tumbling off.

AL MEETING OF CREDITORS.
From our City Correspondent.)

the embarrassments into which the firm of
ture, and Co., have recently and notoriously been
•.dently convened a meeting of their creditors at
of their senior partner, in Piccadilly, on Monday
lain the state of their affairs, and to take the sense

they should continue to attempt to can on bue-
undred individuals attended.

. addressed the meeting, and did not appear to be
reumstances which had rendered it necessary. He
;tingly, to the condition of the firm, and evinced
to go into the Gazette, if his terms were not
thought, however, that this indifference was by no
was known that he had been instigating private
to propitiate certain parties who could at any
business to a stand-still. We are informed that
rejected, but that he was apprised by the parties
tarsh steps would be taken by which the interests
It be endangered, and that he would certainly be
)w what assets he could produce. Privately ford-
ice, he was the more able to meet his creditors
declined to enter into any detailed accounts, but
►artners were doing their best for everybody, and
refused, or hesitatingly given, he should at once

tall creditor from Exeter, volunteered a statement
to high honour of the firm, which he conceived
Id be expected ; but his speech was not very
ay the meeting, and his opinion was evidently
great value.
then put questions, but there was a reluctance to
tost general terms.
sat. he held a bill of the firm with which he had
education for his little boys, but the bill had been
-‘t was he to do?
said that accidents would happen.
stated that he had heard that the firm had been
had not behaved, even to them, in a straight-
'tad tried to get credit on a bill that was sure not

said that an eminent Hebrew lived a few doors
,mplainant had better go and inquire there upon

said that no firm could exist that did not pay
foreign agents. He knew that a representative
_ looked for a consignment of gunpowder and
Lenia, had been totally neglected, and finally

said that it was not his fault, but the fault of
Constantinople.
wished to know whether the great lawsuit in
!en engaged had been settled upon reasonable
tad only been patched up.

MAY 3, 1856.
A BA
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B 1
CUT BONO
"Two hundred and forty
armament."
Two hundred
What did we
To go to the
And what dic
Three thousa
What in God'
Oh, they drill
And saluted •
Thirty•two th
What have th
They potterer
And can man
MINISTERIA]
(F,
IN consequence of t
Palmerston, Panmure
placed, they very prud
the private residence
last, in order to explai
of that body whether t
ness. About two hum
Mr PALMERSTON a
depressed by the circu
alluded, somewhat jest
a perfect readiness t
acceded to. It was th
means sincere, as it w.
negotiations in order t
time have brought his
these overtures were r
in question that no ha
of other persons might
permitted time to shoes
fled with this assuranc
with confidence. He
said that he and his pa
that if support were r
put up the shutters.
Mr. DlvErr, a sma
of his conviction of th(
had done all that conic
favorably received by
deemed to be of no gre
Several creditors t
reply, except in the mu
A Creditor said till
intended to provide ed
dishonoured, and what
Mr. PALMERSTON sa
Another Creditor s
with the Jews, and h
forward manner, but 111
to be accepted.
Mr. PALMERSTON Si
further on, and the con
the subject.
A third Creditor st
Proper attention to its
of the firm, who had
other things in Arm
arrested out there.
Mr. PALMERSTON
their correspondent at
A fourth Creditor
which the firm had bee
terms, or whether it ha