The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-30 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

The clause was opposed by the Government, and
lost on a division by 100 to 72.
Sir C. Wow) then moved a clause fixing the salary
of the chairman and deputy-chairman of the Company
at 1,5001., and that of the directors at 1,0001., a year.
Mr. HADFIELD moved as an amendment that the
salary of the chairman and deputy-chairman be

1,006/.
On a division the clause was lost by a majority of
99 to 8:1.
Sir C. Wool) then stated that he would take 1,0(X)!.
a. year for the chairman and deputy-chairman, and
500/. a year for the directors. a proposal which was

agreed to.
The bill then passed, amidst some cheers from the
Ministerial side.
The other orderA occupied the remainder of the
night.

THE TURKISH PROTEST.
A formal protest against the Russian aggression
has been issued by the Porte, being communicated
in the first instance to the representatives of the
Four Powers in Constantinople. After alluding .to
the invasion of the principalities, and expressing
pain at the act itself—surpnse at such an aggres-
sion from a power which had so frequently reiterated
the most friendly assurances—and astonishment at a
transaction that struck at the principles established
by the treaty of I N4l—the writer of the protest pro-
ceeds to recapitulate the circumstances attending or
following the recent negotiations :
"These, it is urged, when opened by agreement with
Prince Menschikolf, were confined at first to points con-
fleeted with the difficulties relative to the question of the
Holy Places ; and the differences which were the principal
objects of these negotiations received without delay a solu-
tion proper to satisfy all the parties interested. We con-
sented besides to the construction of a church and an hos-
pital at Jerusalem for the special service of the Russians ;
so that the concessions deumnded in favour of the priests
and pilgrims of the same nation have not been refused.
" After the happy conclusion of the part of the negotia-
tions which was the sole ostensible object of the extra-
ordinary mission of Prince Menschikoff, that ambassador
addressed himself with the most pressing instances to
have another demand accepted, of which the consequences,
if it hail been admitted by the Government of his Majesty
the Sultan, could not have failed to strike a grievous blow
at the interests of the empire, and to compromise those
sovereign rights which are its ornaments and supporters.
" It is seen by the official communications which the
Sublime Porte has minute to the great powers, that she
does not hesitate to give sufficient assurances to dispel the
doubts which have led to the discussions relative to the
rights, the spiritual privileges, and other immunities which
thereunto belong, and in the possesion of which the Greek
churches mid the tireek priests are placed by his Majesty
the Sultan. Far from thinking of withdrawing any part
whatever of these privileges, or even of restricting their
enjoyment consecrated by use, his Impthiid Majesty
glorifies himself in confirming them publicly, and, faithful
to the maxims of justice and clemency, places them in a
position of safety from all prejudice by means of a solemn
act confirmed by his listti-scheriff, and which has been com-
muniested to all friendly Governments. Such being the
case, it would be useless to encumber the question with a
mass of details It will suffice here to state that, on one
side, the demand of the Russian Ambassador, notwith-
standing certain modifications, whether as to terms or
whether as to form, remained at the end inadmissible, for
the reasons just now explained; while, on the other side, it
becamo without any real object, on account of the solemn
guarantees spontaneously given by the Sovereign himself
in face of the whole world. These incontestable facts
suffice to absolve the Sublime Forte ftom all obligation to
explain further on the subject of the religious privileges.
It is incontestably evident that the independence of a
sovereign state is null if among its attributions is nut pre-
served that of refusing without offence a demand which is
unauthorised by treaties, and whose acceptance would be
at the same time superfluous as to the ostensible object,
and not less humiliating than injurious to the high party
which declines it.
" Nevertheless the Sublime Porte does not in any way
retire from its friendly and profoundly sincere desire not
only to fulfil all its engagements towards Russia with the
most scrupulous exactitude, but further to give it such en-
tirely new proof of its cordial dispositions as is compatible
with the sacred rights of its sovereignty, and with the
honour and fundamental interests of its empire.
" The Sublime Porte is even prepared to reiterate the
assunusces promised in the letter of the Ith (16th) June,
written in reply to that of his Excellency Count Nessel-
rode, bearing date the 19th May (o s ); and it is still
disposed, if an arrangement of a nature to satisfy Russia
can be arrived at without prejudice to the sacred rights of
the Sultan, to send an ambassador extraordinary to St.
Petersburg to seek, in concert. with the Russian Cabinet,
the means of arriving at that end.
" It is in this state of things that the Sublime Porte has
just received the official mails, that the Russian troops
have crossed the frontier."
Referring then to the treaty of Kainard,ii, the
writer contends that the religious protectorate therein
assigned to Russia is only conveyed in general terms,
—that not until Turkey had stingily failed in per-
forming its promise towards the Greek Christians
was Russia entitled even to appeal to that treaty,—
and that neither that nor any subsequent treaties
gave Russia a right to send troops into the princi-
palities. The protest continues :