The Press.
London, England, 1856-12-27 00:00:00

THE CONFERENCES.

Ir is believed in Paris that the plenipotentiariest
will meet, and the first conference take place, this
day, the 27th, but it is not positively known. It is
said that they will probably not last more than two
sittings. _ _

Count Croudenhoven's Secretary of Legation lef
Vienna on the 16th for Paris with despatches fo
Baron Hubner, containing a verbal note which the
latter is to submit to the French Government, and
which replies negatively to the question of granting a
compensation to Russia for the abandonment of
Bolgrad.
Redschid Paella's son has arrived in Paris with
the following resolutions for the Turkish Ambas-
sador

Full and complete fulfilment of the treaty of Paris
for the organisation of the Danubian principalities.
To settle as soon as possible the Turco-Russian
frontier line in Asia, when the season of the year will
permit it.

The great powers are begged to take into serious con-
sideration the state of Turkey, which desiros to deve-
lop its resources, to become a strong power, and to
be no longer a source of anxiety to the West.

..,
Its rivalries of influence and the lamentable mis-
understanding on the treaty of Paris have prevented

1227

it from occupying itself with the great commercial
and financial measures which its wants require.

The Sardinian Plenipotentiary has also received
instructions, while the French and English Govern-
ments are perfectly agreed on the points under
discussion.

The Conferences will only be occupied with the
questions of Bo'grad and of the isle of Serpents.

PERSIA AND ENGLAND.

IT appears by accounts from Constantinople, of the
19th inst., that Ferouk Khan was to set out on the
next day for Paris. The negotiations with Lord
Stratford de Redcliffe had been without result,
though Redschid Pacha had advised Persia to give
way to England.
Some of the Vienna journals profess to give the
ultimatum of Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, as
demanding the revision of the treaties now existing
with Persia ; the evacuation of Herat ; authorisation

to establish trading settlements on the shores of the
Persian Gulf ; and the concession of railways on
the Persian territory to English companies. Tho
same intelligence states that Persia, supported by
Russia, demands the neutrality of Turkey in the
present war; whilst England, on the contrary, wishes
for the alliance of Turkey, or at least for authorisa-
tion for the passage of her troops to Trebizond. The
Imaum of Muscat sides with the English, and refuses
to pay the annual tribute which he owes for salt
mines in Persia.

The Caucase, of Tiflis, publishes some particulars
which coincide with the news lately received direct
from St. Petersburg. That journal announces that
3,000 men have been detached from the division of
reserve of the corps of the Caucasus, and sent vitt
Kislar,• towards the Caspian Sea, in order to rein-
force the flotilla. Another body of 3,000 men from the
reserve had been previously despatched from us-
trakan to the south-eastern ports of the Caspian Sea.
Intelligence from Constantinople of the 101 h states
that the Russians have landed arms and ammuni-
tion at Zella.+ The works in the arsenal of Persia
are going on with great activity, according to in-
structions received from Teheran.

The Invalirle Russe of the 11th publishes some
news from Persia relative to the capture of Herat,
hut adds nothing to our former information. The
same journal states that the English consuls at
Teheran and Tabriz had placed the subjects of
England in those places under the protection of the
Russian consuls. This intelligence is at variance
with the account received through Constantinople,
which declared that the English subjects were placed
under the protection of Turkey.
A commission composed of several officers has
been sent from the Russian head-quarters to visit the
Mazanderan, a province of Persia adjoining the
Caspian Sea, to reconnoitre the passage for troops
and draw topographical plans. It appears that, in
the event of serious hostilities taking place between
England and Persia, the Mazanderan will be a very
important strategic point. Troops will be concen-
trated in that province, and the defiles of the Capsian
gates and that of Komis will be strongly occupied. It
is by these two points that the centre of the Persian
empire, which, in this case, is destined to become the
theatre of the struggle, tnay be approached.
A Polish correspondent of the Augsburg Gazette
writes that the Russians have long been preparing
for the outbreak of war between England and Persia.
The garrison of Astrakan has been stren. thened,
and the Cossacks in the neighbourhood of that city
have received a new commander in the person of
Lieutenant- General Krassnik, but the reports relative
to the concentration of troops, which are to Ibe con-
veyed by the flotilla of the Capsian Sea to Astrabad,
" are totally unfounded." The Orenburg corps, of
which so much has recently been said, consists of the
23rd infantry division and of the Orenburg battalions
of the line, but it is too weak to be sent on an expe-
dition to Persia. The distance is so enormous that
there can he no question of a reinforcement being
cent from Southern Russia. The principal force of
Russia in Asia is in the Caucasus and on the Araxes,
and, if her troops should enter rersia, it would pro-
bably be by way of the province of Azerbijan, but no
Russian troops by the latest accounts have yet
crossed the Persian froniter.
There is a doubtful runuour at Teheran that Murad
Mirza, the Commander-in-Chief of the Persian army,
hail marched southward, and occupied Turab, in
Cabul. Of the British expedition we have no farther
intelligence. Mr. Murray and his staff still continue
at Bagdad.

• Eisler, or Kisljar, is a little fortress situated in the delta of
the River Terck. at the point of separation of its different
mouths. The River Terck flows north of the Caucasian moun-
tain range into the Caspian Sea.
♦ Most prob►bly a Persian port near the mouth of the River
Rizil Ozien is meant, from which the communication between
the Caspian Sea and Teheran is easily carried on by meat sof
the River Kizil Ozien. and through the mountain range, which
easompasses the southern half of the Caapi an Sea.

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1228

jortign otarresp►anbence.

Bncssms, Dec. 24.
TEE Minister of the Interior has conveyed to the
provincial governors the manifesto of King Leopold,
addressed to the "Communes" of Belgium in an-
swer to their congratulatory manifestations on the
twenty-fifth anniversary of his reign. The expres-
sions are simple and trite, befitting the word of truth:
His Majesty says :

It would have been pleasing to me, and it was my wish,
to have personally visited every village in Belgium, even
to the smallest hamlet, and to have found myself in the
midst of my faithful people, to whose welfare I have de-
voted every hour of my existence. lam happy, however,
in being able to assure the Belgian people, through the
medium of the Communal Administrations, that my heart
is deeply sensible of the confidence and affection that they
have so generously testified for me.

It is precisely in " the smallest hamlet" that the
King is more particularly regarded with profound
attachment. His sympathy for the poor on all occa
sions, and the deep anxiety with which he has constantly
endeavoured to relieve their wants, have won their
undivided favour, and have been adverse, alone, to
the integrity of the well-known line of the friend of
Beaumarchais, sculptured on the pedestal of the
statue of " Henri Qultre "
Seul Roi de qui le pauvre ait garde la memoire.
And the memory of the Hero• King will not be injured
by a royal companionship in the grateful annals of
the poor.
Free trade is making progress. The Ministers
brought forward a proposition to take off the duties
on the exportation of "denrees alimentaires," and to
reduce those on imports to a trifling sum. The
debates on the prohibition of exports first took place.
Various amendments were proposed : these were
defeated, and it ended in a complete triumph of the
Ministerial measure—that all duties on the export of
cereals should cease after the next 15th of February.
Then followed the more serious discussion ou im-
ports. M. Mercier, the Minister of Finance, finding
the sense of the Chamber to be unmistakeably in
favour of unrestricted commerce, proposed that, as a
provisional law, the importation of corn should be
free until the Ist of September, 1857. M. Frere
Orban moved an amendment that such law should
be extended to the 31st of December, and it was
carried by a majority of 54 to 30. The Ministerial
measure, thus amended, was brought up and carried
by a majority of 70 to 1. The importance of this
decision must not be underrated, fur although the
definitive law has not yet been carried and is in
abeyance, the principle of free trade has been adopted
oa account of the admitted insufficiency of protection
for its required end. The prohibition of exports did
not give cheap bread, and was productive of com•
mercial injury, whilst a duty on the import of cereals
was proved to confer no benefit on the home pro-
ducer, and fettered the action of international trade.
This has not been made a party question ; it has
been an honest declaration of principle, and an im
portant victor•, of what was termed in the Times of
last week, "Tory free trade over Whig protection."

The article of the Moniteur has given a forced
impidse to the Neufchatel extravagance. France
requested through her Entperor that the cantonal
prisoners should be pardoned and released without
trial, upon the relinquishment of Prussia to certain
of her demands. and that the cause of dispute should
be referred to amicable intervention. The Federal
Council peremptorily refused; the trials are to be
proceeded with, and the sentence adjudged. M.
Sydow, the Prussian Minister at Berne, in conse-
quence, has taken his official departure, and France
has signified her intention to side with Prussia. On
the announcement of the retirement of M. Sydow,
the Federal Council held a meeting, and passed the
following resolutions :

1. The Federal Assembly is convoked for an ex•
traordinary session on the 27th of the present month.

2. The cantons are to be officially informed of the
rupture of all diplomatic relations with Pru-sia, and
of the immediate convocation of the Federal As-
sembly.

3. The cantons are requested to complete their
respective war contingenLs, and to place them in an
efficient state for active service without any delay.

The Federal Council has placed 20,000 men under
arms ; 10,000, under Colonel Bourgeois, are to be
statictied at Baski, and 10,000, commanded by
Colonel Zeigler, are to occupy the canton of
Schaffhausen. In the debate of the Federal Coun-
cil, one of the members expressed himself to
the following effect :—" ThA council, after long
deliberation, has taken a deliberate step ; it is
bound to maintain its position, and to accept the
consequences. The rebel prisoners, therefore, should
be instwntly brought to trial, and prerarations made
for a war with Prussia to the death (tine guerre
*dazzle° contre la) Prusse)." And Prussia thus