The Press.
London, England, 1854-03-11 00:00:00

AUSTRIA.

The Emperor Francis Joseph left on Monday
night for Munich.
The Austrian Government has published an offi-
cial document, in which it makes known its views in.
regard to the differences between Russia and Turkey.
In this document the Government expresses regret
that the communication sent by the West, m powers
to Russia is of such a nature as to leave hardly any
hope of a favourable reply. It proceeds to say
that

" it was never doubted by the Imperial Government
that the demands of those powers were just, and in
accordance with the interests of Europe. Tin the very
last the Imperial Government has obeyed the calls of duty
to Europe, and those of friendship to its imperial ally.
Should war take place, the sole duty of the Austrian Go-
vernment is to maintain the interests of the nations under
the sceptre of his Majesty, which interests are not in con-
flict with those of any other nation. Austria is prepared
to meet the dangers which may accrue from a great war
in an adjoining country, and from the subversive tenden-
cies which may manifest themselves on the frontiers of
the empire during the continuance of that war."
New propositions have arrived in Vienna from St.
Petersburg, and were forwarded to Paris and London.
The proposals consist in counter-propositions to the
peace project of the 13th of January. Russia has
sent a draft of preliminaries of peace, offering to
evacuate the principalities the moment these are
signed. The Conference at Vienna considers these
terms unacceptable, as the concessions now made do
not comprise all that the last project demanded.
Captain Blackwood, Queen's messenger, conse-
quently left for St. Petersburg with the ultimatis-
simum from the Western powers, after two days'
detention at Vienna.
The Austrian Government has opened a subscrip-
tion for a lottery loan of 50,000,000 florins, at 90.
The bonds are to be of 250 florins each, with coupons
at ten florins (that is, four per cent. interest per
annum). The amortisation of this loan is to take
place within fifty years, by equal annuities of about
five and a half per cent. for the capital and interest.
This annuity is to be divided in the earlier periods
into larger prizes, and in the later period in more
comprehensive amortisations of the capital. During
the first ten years the great prize will remain fixed
at 200,000 florins, whilst in the later periods this
prize is to be gradually reduced to 100,000 florins.
In the same proportion, the larger prizes of the
second half-yearly
_drawing s ill begin with tio,ooo
florins, and be gradually reduced to 40,000 florins.
On the other hand, the number of the lottery bonds
to be drawn half-yearly will be gradually augmented,
beginning with six hundred, until they somewhat
exceed four thousand. The smallest prize remains
fixed throughout at 300 florins for a lottery bond of
'250 florins. The drawings will take place twice in
the year throughout the whole period fixed for the
repayment of the loan. If the loan were taken at
par, it would guarantee a sure prize of fifty florins,
or twenty per cent. per lottery bond, besides the
running interest at four per cent. per annum. The
first instalment will consist in a deposit of ten per
cent. The remaining instalments will be payable
within a twelvemonth.
ITALY.

A despatch of the 4th from Turin states that France
and England have come to an understanding for
the repression of any revolutionary movement in
Italy.

SPAIN.

The latest dates from Madrid convey some vague
reports of a difference having arisen between Eng-
land and Spain, and of the expected recal of M.
Istuntz to Madrid.
The persons expelled from Spain and sent to
Cadiz are to be transported to the Canary Islands.
An insurrectional movement is reported to have
taken place at Barcelona. The battalion of insur-
gents which left Saragossa succeeded, to the number
of six hundred men, in finding its way into France,
and is now at Pau, where it arrived on the 28th of
February. The whole of the men are to be interne
till it. shall be determined how they shall be dis-
posed of.

\

One hundred and forty-two soldiers who deserted
from the regiment of Cordova made their submission
on the 27th. Lieutenant-Colonel Latorre, their
commander, was conducted to Saragossa, where he
will be shot.
PORTUGAL.
Much interest is taken in Lisbon respecting the
progress of the Eastern question, as it is imagined
that a Portuguese auxiliary force will be required in
the event of a collision taking place between the
great aggressor and the Western powers. Rumour
goes so far as to point out the Baron Lur as the
most likely person to be selected to command a
division of 10,000 or 12,000 men.
In the Chamber of Peers, during the debate on the
address, Count Thomar made a speech of three days'
duration. He terminated by asserting that the
Minister of Finance had falsified the estimates, and
that he had proofs of the fact. This statement was
allowed to pass unchallenged, although the incul-
pated Minister was present.
RUSSIA.
An imperial manifesto from the Czar to his people
was issued on the 23rd ult. It runs as follows :
" We, Nicholas 1., &c.,—
" We have already informed our beloved and faithful
subjects of the progress of our disagreements with the
Ottoman Porte.
" Since then, although hostilities have commenced, we
have not ceased sincerely to wish, as we still wish, the
cessation of bloodshed We entertained even the hope
that reflection and time would convince the Turkish Govern-
ment of its misconceptions engendered by treacherous in-
stigations, in which our just demands, founded on treaties,
have been represented as attempts at its independence
veiling intentions of aggrandisement. Vain, however, have
been our expectations, so far.
" The English and French Governments have sided with
Turkey, and the appearance of the combined fleets off Con-
stantinople served as a further incentive to its obstinacy;
and now both the Western powers, without previously de-
claring war, have sent their fleets into the Black Sea, pro-
claiming their intention to protect the Turks, and to
impede the fres navigation of our vessels of war for the
defence of our coasts. After so unheard-of a course of pro-
ceeding among civilised nations we recalled our embassies
from England and France, and have broken off all politica!
intercourse with those powers.
" Thus, England and Fiance have sided with the ene-
mies of Christianity against Russia combating for the or-
thodox faith.

...
" But Russia will not betray her holy calling ; and, if
enemies infringe her frontiers, we are ready to meet them
with the firmness bequeathed to us by our forefathers. Are
we not still the same Russian nation of whose exploits the
memorable events of 1812 bear witness ?
" May the Almighty assist us to prove this by deeds.
With this hope, combating for our persecuted brethren,
followers of the faith of Christ, with one accord let all
Russia exclaim—` 0 Lord, our Redeemer; whom shall we
fear ? May God be glorified, and His enemies be scat-
tered.'

" St. Petersburg, 9 (21) Feb., 1854."
The Emperor Nicholas and his family have left
St. Petersburg to take up their temporary residence
in the city of Warsaw, where the Czar hopes that
he will be able to exercise his influence more effectu-
ally against Prussia and Austria.
The messenger conveying the summons of France
and England to the Czar requiring him to withdraw
his troops from Turkey within a specified period left
Vienna on Tuesday. Neither the Austrian nor the
Prussian Government has joined the Western powers
in this act.
The ice in the Baltic had broken up on the 7th
instant as far as Revel, and the Russian fleet in that
harbour were making great exertions to join the
division at Cronstadt. The fleet in Helsingfors was
also preparing to put to sea immediately, immense
numbers of men being employed to saw through the
ice for that purpose.
The Russian army which is to protect the coasts
of the Baltic is to amount to 75,000 men. The Rus-
sian guards are to form a reserve in Poland, and not
to be employed either on the Danube or on the
Baltic. •
The Russians who have broken up their residences
at Paris and other continental cities are in a state of
great excitement. It appears that the Emperor
Nicholas has intimated that they will not be per-
mitted to remain in any part of Europe excepting
Russia. The inconvenience felt is very great., as
many of these personages resided in the different
capitals of Europe, not for pleasure only, but on
account of business or health. It appears, however,
that the measure applies to all—the highest as well
as the lowest—and that no exception is made even
in favour of princesses.
The Russian Government has prohibited the ex-
portation of corn from the Black Sea and the Sea of
Azof.

Field-Marshal Paskiewitsch has been definitively
named Generalissimo of the army on the Danube.
In the principalities, from the 14th to the 19th of
February, the Russian columns have made demon-
strations against Kalafat. As yet nothing more than
cannonades have taken place. Considerable masses
of troops are being concentrated near Oltenitza,
Kalaraschf and Caurgevo. The Russians appear to

THE PRESS.

be about to assume the offensive. The Turks have
30,000 men in Kalafat.
The troops of Gon. Osten Sacken's corps d'armee,
which have lately joined those of Gen. Luders, bear
the Greek cross on their colours.
A camp of 30,000 is forming at Odessa, and con-
siderable additions are being made to the fortifica-
tions of Sebastopol.
TURKEY.
Advices received from Constantinople of the 25th
ult. state that hostilities were still suspended in
consequence of the extreme cold. Sixty pieces of
artillery had been landed at Trebizond and Batoum.
The combined fleets were at Beycos on the 26th
February. Admiral Sir E. Lyon had returned to the
Bosphorus, after escorting the Turkish convoy. The
Russian fleet was invisible.
The Ottoman Government has at last given the
necessary authority for the formation of foreign
legions. General Wysocki is organising a Polish
legion at Constantinople of 2,000 men.
The nikiah (bethrothal) ceremony of the Sultan's
daughter to Ali Galib Pacha, the son of Redschid
Pacha, was to take place on the 2nd ult., without
ostentation. The marriage is fixed for the month of
June, and will go off in grand style, with public re
creations for three days and three nights. Similar
ceremonies cost upwards of 100,000 i.
The Porte is in great distress for money, its
finances being at the lowest ebb. In the case of
Namik's Pacha's failure in raising a loan in London
or Paris, an appeal will be made to the Ottoman
nation.
Sir John Lakeman, an English gentleman of for-
tune, who has distinguished himself by his military
exploits in India and at the Cape, has arrived in
Constantinople. He purposes raising a force of
volunteers at his own expense.
Lieut. Montagu O'Reilly, of the Retribution, has
had a private audience of the Sultan, to present a
plan of Sebastopol harbour and fortifications, which
were sketched by that officer when the Retribution
entered that inviolable port with despatches. His
Majesty accepted the diagram and view, and ex-
pressed himself much gratified by the information
it conveyed.
The new American Minister at Constantinople, in
his address to the Sultan on presenting his cre-
dentials, said

" Although the religions and political institutions of the
two countries are different, yet they have in some respects
followed the same policy. In each of them the spirit of
progress exercises a benignant influence. The two na-
tions have given an asylum to the political exiles of other
countries ; and even in the times of the illustrious an.
cestors of your Majesty the Christians have often found,
under the crescent, that protection which had been denied
them under the cross. In the great struggle in which
your Majesty is engaged, you have the sympathy and
the good wishes of the whole American nation. Whilst
the policy followed by our Government impedes all
na-
tional intervention in European questions, it never can
prevent us, as a people, from demanding of Heaven that
the arm, be it Mussulman or Christian, which holds the
sword in a just cause, be strong. May y )ur Majesty be
successful in preserving the integrity of an empire which
has often given refuge to the exiled sons of liberty of other
countries. This is the universal desire of the people of
the United States."