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

THE PRESS.

lative Senate, has excited considerable attention.
Those distinguished men, who enjoy 30,(X)0 francs
a year, as part of their " high and serene mission,"
are urged to take an initiative from which they have
hitherto abstained, and not to ape the importance of
the old Chamber cf Peers, instead of attending to
their own peculiar duties. The specific object of the
Government inflicting so marked a castigation upon
the "First Power of the State," as it is designated by
the Pays, is not clearly understood. The Constitu-
tional says it was less to enlighten the Senate than
to inform the public of the "logic and harmony "
which prevailed in all the elements of the Constitu
tion; while the Pays sees in it only "a wise and
splendid exhottation " to that august body to profit
with resolution by their attributes, and accomplish
all possible good in their sphere. The general feeling
in Paris is, that some great constitutional change
may be shortly expected.
The report of the Minister of Finance on the
general financial position of France shows a dis-
posable total of 535,000,000 francs balance, to meet
the necessities of 1856. The sum actually in hand
amounts to 120,000,000 francs, which, added to the
415,000,000 francs yet to be received from the two
last loans, gives the total of 21,800,0001. sterling.
111. Magne congratulates the Emperor upon the
sound financial state of the country, and concludes
his report, which is of great length, as follows :

To sum up, Sire, this simple résumé of the principal
financial events of the past year shows us a commercial
activity without a parallel ; unheard-of progress in con-
sumption ; two immense loans, paid up with the greatest
regularity, and in a great measure before the payments
were due ; besides the loans, more than 135000,000, a
sum which had never before been known to have been em-
ployed in the purchase of renter, for the departments ;
the direct contributions paid by anticipation, and almost
without expense; a well-balanced budget; the floating
debt reduced ; and all this despite the war, despite the
crisis in the high price of food, despite the serious outlay
which accidental circumstances have imposed upon us.
What greater proof could be given of the vitality, of the
wealth of the country, and of all that France is capable of
under a popular Government, with such resources wisely
employed? Extravagance alone might be feared. Your
Majesty will know how to obviate that danger by your
high prudence, by firmly opposing the inconsiderate temp-
tations of speculation, and by adjourning, in the interest
of the enterprises already commenced, all those which do
not bear the evident manifest characteristics of urgency.
(Signed) P. filsorrz.
Paris, Jan. 15, 1856.

The grand military spectacle on Tuesday excited
an immense enthusiam among the troops and the
people. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
uridge, accompanied by the Emperor and a brilliant
staff, reviewed the Crimean corps now in Paris, and,
in the name of our Queen and Government, distri-
buted medals for distinguished service in the East.
The whole ceremony was most brilliant and impos-
ing. At the moment of presentation, the Duke, dis-
mounting, entered the circle of officers, and spoke as
follows :

Her Majesty the Queen of England has deigned to
charge me with the office of presenting to the generals,
officers, and rank and file of the French army, my brave
and worthy comrades, these medals as a token of the cor•
dial esteem and friendship which exist between the two
nations, and of the admiration of which her Majesty and
the English nation have fell in seeing the glorious feats of
arms performed by the army of the East. It was in the
great combats of the Alma, Inkermanu, and Sebastopol
that the alliance of the two nations was ratified by the two
armies. God grant that this great alliance may always
continue for the advantage and glory of both nations ! As
for myself, my dear comrades, the honour which has been
conferred on me is the greater that I have served with you,
and have seen with my own eyes your bravery, your great
military qualities, and the devotedness with which you
have supported so many fatigues and so many dangers.
I s4ncetely thank the Emperor for his kindness in allowing
me to have the honour of distributing these medals in his
presence.
AUSTRIA.

The suspense as to the tenor of Russia's reply to
the Austrian proposals has subsided in Vienna. The
intense activity of the diplomatic world, the constant
despatch and arrival of couriers, first resulted in the
semi-official announcement of the Austrian Corre
spondence, that the substance of the Russian in-
tended reply to the proposals had been communi-
cated on the 12th to Count Buol, and, though not
unreservedly accepting the propositions, expressed
peaceable sentiments, leading to the hope that suc-
cessful negotiations would ensue:—
The answer of the Imperial Russian Cabinet (says the
Correspondence) to the well-known proposals which Austria,
sating in concurrence with France and England, caused to
be delivered at St. Petersburg, as the fundamental condi-
tions of the conclusion of peace, has been communicated
by Prince Gortschakoff, the Russian Ambassador, to the
Imperial Royal Minister for Foreign Affairs.
- -

The Russian answer is, we understand, couched in a
conciliatory spirit, and expresses peaceable sentiments ;
still it does not contain the full and unreserved acceptance
of the propositions, which alone guarantees the peace.
But as the objections raised are to a great extent of a
formal nature, we adhere to the hope that the object aimed
at is still to be attained.

55

That these counter-propositions were at once rejected
by Austria the Times Vienna correspondent of the
13th assures us ; and the subsequent unconditional
acceptance by Russia of the original proposals, as a
basis for negotiation, would seem to have resulted
from the statements Prince Gortschakoff made to his
Government upon the actual position of affairs.
On Wednesday evening the despatch from Count
Esteihazy, announcing that all his points were
accepted, arrived at Vienna, and was immediately
published.

The Emperor of Austria is reported as having
displayed great firmness, insisting on the uncon-
ditional acceptance by Russia of the terms proposed ;
but in the event of Russia's refusal, and the continu-
ance of hostilities, Count Buol informed the ambas-
sadors of France and England that Austria would
not take the field this year.