The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-06 00:00:00

THE PROSPECTS OF PEACE.

THE evidence that the Emperor of Runt died
"natural death" is irresistible. Yet we are not sur.
prised to hear that a rumour has been current of Lie
having been poisoned by an overdose of morphine.
The annals of the Russian Court are of a natan
to prompt suspicion. Indeed, under all ge,
potisms men are apt to disbelieve that the
despot can die the ordinary death of met
AU despotisms are tempered by assassination, sod
have been since the time of the fabulous Kings of the
East and the stern old Roman Emperors down to that
of the everyday world in which we live. Absolutism
is a monstrosity too much at variance with
the first instincts of our aatare to be el.
dured for ever, and therefore in all nation
where it has prevailed regicides have beet
so frequent as rather to have been honoured with the
rewards of patriotism than stigmatised with the
shame of crime. The very nobles and primates wbo
have bowed lowest around the throne have been
found the first to strike the fatal blow, and when it
last the man has perished miserably, who but yes.
terday fancied himself little leas than a demigod, ha
has fallen without a friend or a mourner—unwept
even by his own children ; and his ashes even have
been—too often for the credit of our nature—iosalted
by that fickle populace who, while he was in life,
, had buzzard themselves hoarse for him, and given up
their lives or liberties unresistingly at his nod. Fot
the very people in despotic countries loses its large
heart, its ready sympathy with the afflicting of
public men, its generosity and forgetfulness of in.
arias.

There are speculations too tempting for imagist.
tion to resist their deductions entirely. But the
urgency of the practical questions raised by the death
of the CZAR quickly recals us to the world of
prose Ind commonplace. That event cannot fail

in any case to be viewed as a matter of pars.

mount importance at the present crisis. We know
that our motives, as a nation, were pore from the Ina
of conquest and self-seeking when we raised the red
hand in this most unhappy war. We believed, as a
people, that we were standing forth as the champions
of progress and civil liberty against as gloomy
phantom of tyranny as ever menaced the freedom of
the world. We may leave the event of such a war

safely, therefore, in the hands of the Omnipotent
Master of the Universe, believing with unquestioning
faith that He defends the right, and that He in His
infinite mercy will guide and prosper our councils
yet.

While we have faith, however, in the aid of a
Power greater than that of generals and armies, let
us not buoy ourselves up with false hopes, which at
this moment present a smaller chance than ever
of being immediately realised. The general opinion
of all the most eminent statesmen of the
Western Powers is, that, however difficult may be the
prosecution of the war, negotiations for peace must
be still more so. We can hardly lay down our arms
till Russia has in some manner indemnified our Allies
and ourselves for the expenses of the war. To waive
this point might bring a national bankruptcy on
France—it would certainly be financial ruin to
Turkey; and we should be entailing the male-
dictions of posterity upon ourselves for au increase
of the millions which will too probably be added
to the national debt. It is, however, extremely
doubtful how far Russia will be able to comply with our
most modest demands in this respect. The recent ac-
counts of most travellers whose means of information
have been such as to give them satisfactory opportunities
of learning anything positive upon so delicate a
question agree in assuring us that the Comicial re-
sources at the disposal of the Russian Government have
not only been always grossly exaggerated, but that
they are at this time in a state of utter exhaustion.
The enormous expenditure of the Court, the number
and magnitude of the public works, the overwhelm-
ing extravagance of the vast military establishments,
and, finally, the organised system of peculation in all
the public departments, are generally believed to have
almost emptied the Treasury ; and it is added that
when, before the war, the EMPEROR withdrew the
sums of money which he had invested in the French
and English fund'', this measure, so humbling to his
pride, was merely dictated by necessity, instead of by
these questionable political motives which have been
so often assigned for it. We do not, however, build
any peace theory upon these facts. A forced paper
currency will long supply all the necessities of the
war while it is carried on in Russia, just as the same
expedient served the Austrians in Hungary. Par
ments in paper, however, will hardly coincide with
our ideas of indemnity, in an account which already
comprises so many millions. Before peace can be
concluded, the Russian Government will have to re•
concile the national pride of one of the vainest
and proudest aristocracies in the world to the abso-
lute renunciation of an influence in foreign countries
which was once equal, if not superior, to our own.
The Protectorate of the Danubian Principalities must
be resigned absolutely and for ever. The greatest
fortress in the empire must fall, or be ignominiously
demolished. The power of Russia in the Black Sea
must be destroyed utterly. She must see her long-
cherished designs on the banks of the Oxus and on
the frontiers of Persia and Cabool frustrated after so

many years of unrivalled diplomacy. She most con-
sent also to restrictions on the power of her navy, or
we may find that we have purchased but a hollow
truce indeed, and within a few years an irresistible
fleet might sweep the seas, and carry terror and
misery to every shore in Europe ; or we should be
obliged, in sell-defence, to maintain our own military
and naval establishments on a footing which would

be absolutely ruinous.
Such is the real state of things ; and it behoves 111
to consider it fairly, and not to be deluded by any
vain dreams on a subject which not only concerns
the loss of our influence in Europe, and even now
impedes the progress of our commercial prosper*
but which may yet threaten even our existence as. a
nation. We are not of those who look ifiroull
at the state of affair. we are not alarmist' Ws.
look forward cheerfully towards a triumphant pace

in due meson ; but in order the sooner to memo
mob a pssoe, and to avert all peril of farther dia-
gram and diaoonifitnre, it is necessary to see our
danger clearly, and to prepare to most it like brave
and determined men,--Daily Nnes.

Ine Court.

The Berl of Clarendon bad an audience of the
Quinn yesterday, at Buckingham Palace.
Priam Albert, accompanied by Prises Ernest of Lsinin-
pis, and attended by Captain Da Plat, rode ea horseback
is the forenoon, and visited the Crystal Palace at Sydenhass.

Prince Arthur and the Princesses Helena a•d Louisa
took a drive is an open carriage end four, and the Princess
Royal and Princes• Aiice took equestrian exercise in the
riding schwa.
Her Majesty had • dinner party in the evening. The
conapeny iseluded the Duchess of Lest, Prince Ernest of
Leiningen, the Belgian Minister and Madame Van de
Weyer, Lady Fanny 'beard, the Baroness de Bpetb,
Viscount Canning, Viscount and Viscountese Emile, Lady
••d Min Peel, Sir Robert 11. Inglis, Sir Hamilton and
Lady Beynsour, Lieut.-Genteel Sir Hew D. Hose, Colonel
Stephens, and Mr. Frederick Peel.

The band of the Ist Life Gaud' attended is the Palate
and played chain dinar.

A Cabinet Council was held at half-past twelve o'clock
yesterday morning at the Foreign-office, Downing-street.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, and
the Right Hog. Vernon Smith, were not present, .being
absent from town ; bat the 'teasel' was attended by the rest
of the Ministers. Shortly before three o'clock the Bari of
Clarendon left his colleagues and proceeded to Buckingham
Palace to have an audience of her Majesty. The council
broke up at a quarter to four o'clock.
A deputation of Members of Parliament had an interview
with Lord Stanley of Alderley yesterday, at the Board of
Trade, for the purpose of obtaining authority for the forma-
tion of as Art Union in the county of York. The deputa-
tion eonsisted of Sir 0. Goodman, Mr. Milligan, Mr. Basil
Woodd, Mr. Oliveira, and Mr. Cayley.
Despatches were received from the Governor of Canada
yesterday at the Colonial•of:ce.

Prince Charles of Prussia left Berlin on Sunday,
to attend the funeral of the late Coat. _

Correspoeden: contains an

article praising the high qualities of the late Emperor
Nicholas, and ezpreseing a confident hope that the Era-
perm Alexander will complete the work of peace birth by
his lather.

ELECTION.

MONDAT, MARCH 5.

The aom;nation of candidates to represent our
bonnet took plate today. At 10 a.m. the nteraing officer
wended the hustmge, where he was speedily joined by the
Hight Hon. K. V. Smith and friends, and Mr. J. I. Lock-
hart and his friends. There was no oonsertative in the
field, so that the opposition that was threatened lay be-
tween Mr. V. Smith, the whig, and the advanced liberal,
Mr. Lockhart.

The mud formalities having been observed,
E. H. Bsawitu., Req., proposed the Right Hon. R. V.
Smith Gl' re4dettion.

The Rev. J. Baxxsrr seconded the nossinat;on.
Mr. GURNIT proposed Mr. Lockhart as a fit person to
represent the borough.

Mr. RTMILL tacondedthe nomination.

No other candidate being proposed,

The Right Mon. R. Vstra.Lx`Suritt cams forward, and
was received with a perfect storm of hisses ai.cl groans. On
esaayiag to speak, the yelling was redoubled, and it was
only after Mr. Lockhart had besought his adherents to give
the right hon. gentleman a quiet hearing that he was per-
mitted to proceed. He said tee experience of the past few
weeks had informed them that the difficulties in the way of
. .

the formation of an

had become shaosCia•

supersble. Altar the retirement of Lord Aberdeen, Lord
Derby was applied to, and failed ; Lord John Rumen was
applied to, end failed, end the whole of England was
pressing fur the appointment of one man as indispensable.
That one man was Lord Palmerston. Upon his appoint-
ment, it was hoped and bells ved that the war would be
carried ten in ouch a satisfactory manner, that the whole of
Europe would be abashed and entire England would exult.
Upon taking office, Lord Palmerston resented to some of
the most eminent statesmen or toe day. (N., no.) He
resolved the adhesion of Sir James Graham, Mr. Gladstone,
and Mr. Sidney Herbert, who, before a fortnight had
elapsed, left him, because they found that he would no
longer resist the inquiry which the house, by a prepon-
derating vote, had required. Rather than yield they
withdrew. Under these circumstances Lord Palmerston
applied to others, and to himself amongst the number.
Ile was not, however, so vain as nut te be aware that he
should not have been asked to accept office if they could
have got anybody else. He made no secret of saying that
he was the last man asked. Referring to his vote on Mr.
Roebuck's motion, the right boo. gentleman &aid he had
opposed the appointment et a committee, although strongly
in favour of inquiry, because he was satisfied that a com-
mittee of the Houle of Commons was not the best agency
for accomplishing the object. With regard to the war, he
told them in his address that with the origin of the war he
had nothing to do He was not in office at the time, sag
therefore was not responsible for the conduct of the guverse
ment. lie might say, however, that as parliament and she
government were at present constituted, it was a most dia.
cult matter to ascertain wh. ther the government was going
to war or t 3 interfere with diplomatic relations. No maths/
at what stage of proceedings a member asked questions, the
invariable reply was, Hush, hush, hush." lie was told
at one time to be quiet, lest his question might lead be
war ; an another, lest it might embartass negotiations, and
so on. To a great extent be admitted that for a repels
sentative government to carry on war was a difficult teak.
Representative government, however, was now upon its triek
and it was for the country to show that it was, at the sine
time, able to maintain its free institutions and to wage SO&
ceufsl war. If there was a state of society—anarchy, he
would rather cell it—that he truly abhorred, it was war.
He was an ardent lover of peace, but he bed no terror of war.
He wished to make that distinction, believing it was the
notion that England would seek peace at any price, whisk
had brought upon us much of that war in which the Ems
peter of Russia had involved us. And what was the ob-
ject of the war ? They did net ge to war so much with the
view to keeping the Turks er here they are, as top t tho
Russians from getting there. Englishmen had nn wish
that the Csar should tarry the conqueror's palm over Eu-
rope. The band of Providence had, however, arrested the
Emperor of Russia, and be bad died in the midst of his
craving ambition. (Hear, hear) God alone knew what
might happen now—whether his successor would be a man
of peace, or whether he would be displaced by one of a more
warlike diapositive, was in the womb of time. EarneAly
did be pray shit the cause in which our arms were em-
barked Welt epeedily mutt in the establishment of a just
sad beememsble passe. The right hon. gentleman having
referred N hi Mai isemaexion with the borough, concluded
by expressing lb esnillibinee that his friends would support
him trines
thoregh the poll.
Mr. Locations this addressed the electors atoms length.
Oa a show el hese being taken,
The MAY 01,111144 a tumult of applause, declared if Is
be in favour of Mr. Lockhart.
Mr. Bxzwat.t. demanded a poll oa behalf of M. V.
Smith; and a vete of thank* having bees given to the Mayer
the proceedings were thought to have terminated, wbes
Mr. 001t1111, the proposer of Mr. LOCKHART, withdreof
that genii man, not being prepared, MI he stated, to go IP
the poll with • prospect (Amami&
Toe MAYOR than declared the Right Hon. R. V. Ude
duly elected.
(be elector. were subsequently addressed from the balcony
of the Peace& Hotel by Mr V. Smith gad Mr. Raikes
Currie, the latter gentleman labouring bard to reverse the
unfavourable impression that had been created in the minds
of Mr. Smith's supporters, by his refusal to support Mr.
Roebuck's motion for inquiry.
Mr. Hon; the conservative candidate= the last election,
also addressed his friends at the Hotel, at 8 p.m., to
explain thermions that had isthmoid not to offer say
opposition to the astern of Mr. V. OW* oa the present co
caaioo.

DAVIES V. PRATT.—TUE ARSITILATOR 8 AWARD.—
Tao Patrice of yesterday says : The award of Mr.
Whitely, Q.C., the arbitrator in this Important "libel"
caw, is now known. The übitrator finds in favour of the
defendant, sad awards and detirminos that the plaintiff
shall pay to the defendant the costs of the reference and of
the sward.
CONVICTS AT LARGE IN ENGLAND.—A return or
dared by the Hoeft of lends, and whisk has just been
printed, shows that cm the 81st January there were 6,686
convicts ander materna of tramps/tali.* is oratleenseat in
Engl and, sad that UN mains were at large with tickets
of leave.

Tea LaTs Carrels NoLax.—A neat tablet is
about to be erected fa Maidstone Chateh to the memory of
Captain Nola. whist' bears the followlag appropriate In-
scription :—" He fell at the head of the light cavalry brigade,
is the charge at Balaklava, ea the 26th October, 1851,
aged 36. Gland Sir George Berkeley, es whose
staff he served is ladis, Bowel Aim, his betakes Aeon
aa4 Meads, have *hiked this i-sliglit Whale MI
Shelf ~teem lad 11094695ete IMO ter the 10407 of ow
of the met gellsat, fate llgs t, and words alma is
her Majesty's untie." The tablet, is the kite of a skartia
siren, is essested by T. NM&