The Press.
London, England, 1856-01-19 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

The prolonged sojourn of Colonel Manteuffel at
Vienna was regarded at Berlin as proof of the
desire of Prussia to aid the effults of the Western
powers to bring about peace, or at least, should
negotiations fail, to prevent Austria from actually
entering upon hostilities against Russia. Baron
Werther, at St. Petersburg, bad received instructions
to represent to Russia that she cannot refuse the
concessions demanded without making a general
European crisis, and that the high tone she had
hitherto held must be lowered to meet the real state
of the case.

The princes of the Germanic Confederation were
about to assemble at Berlin, for the purpose of dis-
cussing German interests in connection with the
great question at present agitating Europe.

RUSSIA.

Little authentic information has been received
from St. Petersburg during the week. The rumours
circulated in the French and German papers, the
descriptions of the reception of Count Esterhazy and
Baron Seebach at the Court of St. Petersburg, and
the circumstantial details given of the various con-
ferences held by those high functionaries with Count
Nesselrode and the Emperor of Russia, are possibly
manufactured in Paris, Vienna, and other minor
German towns. Thus much appears certain, that
Russia at first replied to the Austrian proposals by
counter-propositions, admitting the neutralisation of
the Black Sea with modifications, offering Kars in
exchange for the ground won by the allies, and
rejecting any rectification of frontier in Bessarabia
—beyond restoring the delta of the Danube—as well
as those special conditions restricting the erection of
fortifications on the Aland Isles. The decided re-
fusal by Austria to entertain these counter-proposi-
tions appears to have led to the unconditional accep-
tance by Russia of the Austrian proposals.
Preparations for a vigorous defence of the Baltic
coast are still continued. The Baltic army is to be raised
to 100,000 men, while the vast fortifications of Revel,
Riga, Dunamunde, and St. Petersburg, are being
greatly strengthened. Archangel, also, was not for-
gotten, and forty-two guns of heavy calibre were
about to be transported at once on sledges to insure
its safety.
A semi-official letter in Le Nord, referring to the
recent treaty between Sweden and the Western
powers, defines the boundaries between Russia and
Sweden, and denies that Russia ever contemplated a
naval or military establishment on the Frozen Ocean.
The letter is addressed specially against a recent
article which appeared in the Paris Constitutionnei.
TURKEY AND THE PRINCIPALITIES.
The Turkish Government has published a report
upon the defence and fall of Kars. The document
is lengthy, pays high tribute to the bravery of the
garrison, but explains that the intentions of the Im-
perial Government for the relief of the town unfor-
tunately could not be carried out until the fall of
Sebastopol set the Turkish army free to act in Asia.
The document then describes the operations under-
taken by Omer Pacha, and attributes to " unforeseen
circumstances which it was impossible to control"
the delay in the concentration at Batoum, whereby
the operations destined to save Kars were drawn to
such a length "that the garrison could no more count
on this means of relief."
Omer Pacha is believed to have tendered his re-
signation, which the Sultan refused.
The Bucharest correspondent of the Times has this
week forwarded extracts from reports of the local
authorities of these unhappy countries, detailing the
outrages committed by the Austrian soldiery since
their occupation. Murder and robbery constitute the
common crimes of these " protectors," while every
species of indignity and assault is committed with
impunity against men, women, and children.