The Press.
London, England, 1856-08-09 00:00:00

TURKEY.

The question of the Isle of Serpents is not yet
settled. The Porte had, however, decided upon not
attempting to exclude the Russians by force.
A despatch from Berlin, of the 6th, received in
Paris, stated :—" Intelligence has arrived here that
the English fleet which remained in the East had
received orders to concentrate its force in the Black
Sea to superintend the execution of article 20 of the
treaty of peace, not yet carried into effect in conse--
quence of the non-restoration of Kars and of the
occupation of the Isle of Serpents by the Russians."
Letters from 3t. Petersburg stated that M. de
Boutenieff was invested with full powers to arrange,
on his arrival at Constantinople, the differences
which have arisen relative to the Isle of Serpents.
The Russian authorities in the Crimea have every-
where resumed their functions.

Sefer Pacha still maintains himself at Anapa with
a numerous corps of cavalry, and makes excursions
in the neighbourhood. It is thought that the Rus.
sians would soon direct an attack against the Cauca-
sian army commanded by Safer, and attempt the
reduction of Anapa.
With respect to the principalities, a letter from
Vienna states :

The Porte has forwarded to the various powers a new
expose of the principalities question. It is drawn up by
the Grand Vizier Ali Nem, and pronounces itself in a
decided manner against the union of the Danubian pro-
vinces. The question of the tribute is likewise treated in
the expose. It is positively known that Russia will pro-
pose a diminution of the tribute, bat to this the Porte will
never consent.

The evacuation of the allied troops, it was antici-
pated, would be completed on the 15th of August.
The Cologne Gazette says:—

We learn from Vienna that the Cabinet of St. Peters-
burgh is making groat efforts to regain the preponderating
influence it once possessed in the Danubian principalities—
that it spares no means to accomplish its objeet and ac-
quire the sympathies of the people. Several more boyards,
devoted to Russian interests, have again received decora-
tions and orders; the union of the principalities is preached
up by their agents, and a diminution of the annual tribute
is prospectively held out.
Kissiesli Mehemet Pacha has been appointed to
represent the Sultan at the Emperor of Russia's
coronation.
The town of Sslonica has been nearly reduced to
ashes through an explosion of gunpowder.

THE WHIGS AND ELECTORAL REFORM.
TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRES 3."

SPA, August 5, 1856.

Sir,—Mr. Paget—Whig, Whig-Radical, Radical, or
Red Radical, according to Liberal order—being asked
at Nottingham whether he were favorable to an exten-
sion of the suffrage, equivocally refrained from
giving a direct answer, remarking :—" There was a
great extension of the suffrage made at the time of
the Reform Bill. . . . It was quite right to
widen the basis so long as the foundation on which
it. rested was firm. . . . If they built upon quick-
sands, their house might fall. . . . He should
always be open to an extension of the franchise
where it could be done with safety . . . but if
he ventured to touch that constitution, under which
the people had enjoyed so many blessings, it would
be with a tender hand and full of veneration." Thus
is the Whig-Radical Tartuffe turned Conservative.
The above passages, reported in the Times, were
commented upon by two peripatetic Whig-Radicals,
one of them in Parliament and in office, whilst en-
joying their cigars in the " Promenade de Sept
Heures " at Spa. The summary of their conversa-
tion showed that the ten-pound franchise worked
well for the Whigs—that the slightest alteration
would be prejudicial to Whig-Radical interests—that
the question of extension must never be yielded
except under extreme pressure from without ; and,
whenever that time arrived, the extinction of the
landed interest should be made a simultaneous act
by enforcing electoral districts. These Whig-
Radical worthies, having settled the question of the
franchise according to the Whig programme, and
after a gulp of the Pouhon "Spa," retired to recreate
themselves at the table d'hote of the Hotel de
Flandre. "Ex uno—(i.e., the fellow in office)—discs
°nines." I. DAN. S.
PS. The high names confidentially quoted as
authorities for the entertainment of these opinions
would not be entertaining to those high personages,
if divulged.