The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-16 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 16, 1853.

which Russia has for a century and a half been
labouring to entangle Turkey in its netsiare blown to
the winds by the outbreak of hostilities. When
the war eude, New Treaties meat regulate the re-
lations of the countries to each other and to the
European system. The broad outlines of such con-
ventions as are dictated by equity are obvious enourh.
In the first place, Turkey ought to insist upon eman-
cipation from all contracts under the shadow of
which Russia can pretend to interfere in its domestic
arrangements. In the second place, it can be no
longer tolerated that the Black Bea shall be a Rus-
sian lake; France and England have each a large
and crowing commerce there, and are entitled to
watch over and protect it. To this end free ingress
and egress by the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, in
time of peace, for as many French and English men-
of-war as may be deemed necessary to protect
the trading marines of the two countries ought to be
arranged. Thirdly, Russia should be called on to
renounce explicitly for the future all claims to
establish paper blockades of the Circassian coast.
And lastly, in conformity to the great principle
established (in theory at least) by the treaty of
Vienna, the navigation of the Danube ought to be
thrown open, and the care of maintaining and
improving it confided to a committee or congress
of all the ,tats rirerains. Other minor points
will require to be attended to ; but the above are
essential and indispensable.

THE great defender of the present licensing system
is Mr. Alderman WIRE, an active, bustling, self-satis-
fied attorney, formerly very active in " the City
Sheriff business", now a City Sheriff himself. Pro-
fessionally concerned for the Licensed Victuallers'
Association, as their solicitor, he has, of course, con-
siderable experience in procuring the renewal of
licenses for old public-houses when damaged a little
in charecter, and in opposing the issue of licenses for
new taverns when competition is disagreeable to
existing interests. Every man, said Sir ROBERT
Para.—generalising the case of the Scotch fish-
curer, who was so hugely delighted with all the new

tariff except the item which concerned his own
trade,—" Every man has his herring." The licensing
system is Mr. Alderman Wise's " herring," and a
very dry and salt one it is. Our worthy friend, as
all the City knows, is in politics a peculiar Liberal ;
as a Liberal, he professes to be a Free Trader in every.
thing—except public-houses and law. Being him-
self in the legal profession, he never hesitated for
an instant in assuring Mr. W. BROWN—in reply to
inquiries in the Committee how Mr. WIRE would like
to see restrictions introduced into his own profession
—that he thought a restriction in the number of
solicitors would be a very great public benefit;
and, as • lawyer engaged for publicans, he
is quite certain that a limitation of the num-
ber of public-houses is for the general good.
But whilst he would restrict to the "people of
England" the number of taverns, he denounces in
the strongest language any restriction on the
houses that are licensed. Not to permit tavern-keepers
to keep fiddling for custom as much and as long as
they choose is, Mr. Alderman WIRE thinks, " an
unjust and tyrannical interference with tl'e liberties
of the subject." Mr. ESTCOURT'S Act for restricting
taverns is, according to him, the most useful and
soundest of statutes; but the law of GEORGE THE
SECOND, which restricts music in taverns was, on
the contrary, " passed at a time when the liberties of
the people were not regarded, and when legislators
trod them under foot as the dust of the earth."

To linger over such magniloquent inconsisten-
cies as these would be waste of time. It is sufficient
to state them, for the purpose of showing into what
absurdities an indiscreet advocate is sure to precipi-
tate his client's case, and then to pass on to the
graver reasons on which the Alderman rests the
defence of his favourite system. Mr. WIRE is not,
however, quite satisfied with the system. He thinks
that " the people of England" (who, we thought,
had very emphatically laid down the doctrine
of " unrestricted competition" as the rule of
their commercial life) require greater restrictions
than even now exist on the tavern trade. But what
the restrictions are Mr. WIRE keeps entirely to him-
self; so that we have no opportunity of discussing
the views which he—after the fashion of the Tooley-
street Tailors—fastens on "the people of England."
When, however, we say that his main reason lee
"adhering to the present law" is because, under it,
magistrates " protect property," a very good notion
of what are his general views may be obtained. In
putting, however, the defence of the law on this
ground, Mr. WIRE overlooks the very simple, bat
irresistible fact, that the law was enacted, not
to protect property but to protect morality ; and
if it can be shown that it is supererogatory for the
►attar purpose, it has no locus standi for the former.
The public may consent to maintain the last relic of
restrictive legislation, if it does restrain vice and
immorality; but if it only "protects property," then
it clearly has not a log to stand on ; for artificial
"protection" of that sort is just what the whole
country has resolved to put an end to. Here, again,
Mr. Wines zeal may be found carrying him into
another indiscretion.

We grant that Mr. WIRE does also defend the
existing law on moral grounds; but his principal
argument is that of property; to that be always
sooner or later recurs. He is obliged to admit that,
in spite of greater facilities for drinking than ever,
the English people are becoming more and more
temperate, an I that as the moderate use of beer is
increasing, so their consumption of spiritsis decreasing.
He asserts, too, what we believe is indisputable, that
in London the character of the licensed victuallers

has greatly improved, and that they do not encourage
drunkenness ; and having, by these large admissions,
exhausted the moral part of the case, he falls back
on what he thinks the safer ground of property. The
value of property in the trade altogether he estimates
at 22,777,2001., and this, he boldiy contends, would be
"altogether destroyed " by either opening it or by
giving power of licensing to any persons but
magistrates. The absurdity of this apprehension
lies on the very face of the statement. The licensed
victualling trade must always be a great trade in
this country; and under a system of free competi-
tion old established homes with established reputa-
tion and sufficient capital, selling good articles,
would have the same advantages that they have in
all other trades. The same difficulties would exist in
starting new houses as are to be seen in opening
, new shop,. Confidence has to be inspired, credit to be
established, custom secured; and these the older esta- !
; bliahnieuts have already obtained. If, indeed, under a
close and Restricted system, profits are too high, under
a free system profits would fall, but not below a re.
munerative rate ; for, in that case, capital would
I leave the trade, and by its departure the rates of profit
Iwould again rise to a living level.
1 So long as the Legislature protected Agriculture,
rent was always eating up capital ; and something
, very like the same process is going on in the Licensed
1 Victualling trade. For though Mr. Win': says that
1 magistrates can determine the wants of the public
as to taverns " with mathematical certainty," he
confesses that in old districts "there are too many
houses." Yet a license once obtained is very seldom
' abandoned. When the number of beer-houses
i exceeded the demand, under the operation
of Free Trade, the number fell off ; but not so
with licensed houses. The license is in itself deemed
to he a property ; on it the great brewers will always
advance money; so into this trade are attracted a

snoesadex of persons with small and insufficient
capitals, who, hiving exhausted their little means in
an old district where " there are too many houses,"
are forced out and succeeded by others persuaded
that they are certain to succeed in " the public lino."
By this continual succession of persons in a " pro-
tected trade" the number of taverns is, in many parts
of London, far larger than the demand requires; for
magistrates, though they constantly refuse licenses on
their view of the " public wants," never with-
draw them on any such grounds,—a pro-
perty having been created therein,—whilst in
other districts the supply is far beneath what
the demand needs. The immediate effect of a Free
Trade would be to adjust on natural principles the
supply to the demand; and how that adjust-
ment could destroy property, except in those cases
where property has been artificially created, and is
consequently a public injury and a national loss, it
is impossible to see.
The Magistracy of England have no mission, even
if they had the power, to determine the public wants
as to taverns. That is the right of the people
themselves. There is no doubt that in very many,
if not in all, districts Justices of the Peace do at-
tempt to exercise their authority honestly. But
their licensing functions aim at accomplishing an im-
possibility, and there lies the vice of the system.
The question of determining the public wants is owe
that experience only can solve ; not the experience d
country gentlemen in different districts, but the ex-
perience of trade : that is, the experience of profit
and the experience of loss; and to deny to any man
with undamaged reputation the opportunity of trying
to succeed in keeping a tavern is to give to all others
who have the opportunity a privilege abhorrent to
unmercial freedom, and to a constitutional govern.

meet. It is to create a monopoly which, so far u it
represses competition and fair-play, must be a pecu-
niary burthen on the public.

LATEST FROM ABROAD.

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

DEFEAT OF THE RUSSIANS.-BURNING
OF BUCHAREST.

The following startling despatch has been for-
warded by the correspondent of a contemporary at
Vienna, who states that the source whence it is de-
rived is excellent, but that at the same time the intel-
ligence is of so extraordinary a character that it
must be received with caution :
" VIENNA, WEDNINIDAT MORNING.
"The Turks have already passed Bucharest, which
is in flames in three places.
" The Russians are retreating on Cronstadt.
" Fifteen thousand Turks have been despatched to
intercept them through the Principality of Servia.
" The Austrian Government have ordered an army
corps to be immediately concentrated in Croatia."
Cronstadt, in Transylvania, is situate in the direct
line of retreat from Bucharest, supposing the Rus-
sians to have been cut off from their communications
with Moldavia.

CONSTAN CINOPLE, Nov. 3.
Important reinforcements have been sent to Trebi-
sonde for Abdi I'acha'e corps. Tho Russians have
from 15,000 to 20,000 men posted between Lamgan
and Apra, on the road to Batoum, and a reserve of
equal strength at the foot of the Dehala Dagh.
The Turkish government is sending large numbers
of regular troops, redifs, and riflemen to act with the
volunteer and irregular forces. _ .

The Circassianshave gained possession of the only
good military road across the Caucasus.
The Sultan has declared his intention to join the
army. Volunteers present themselves in large num-
bers daily.

VIENNA, TUTADAY.

The Turks were attacked at Oltenitza on Friday
lut by General Dannenbcrg's corps, but without
succeu.

VIENNA, Nov. 10.

Letters from Batoum state that Selim Bey
hu led an expedition into the Russian territory,
and defeated 5,000 Russians. The Russians lost
230 men and 22 officers. The Turks, it is
said, lost 195 men. The attack is said to have been
organised in connection with Schamyl, who ope-
rated at the same time on the left flank of the
principal Russian corps. According to the same
report, conflicts between the Russians and Can-
Guiana are of daily occurrence.

VIENNA, MONDAY.

The Austrian funds have again declined, and the
Exchange on London continues to rise. Five per
Cent. Metallics, 911. Exchange on London, 11.19.
Bank shares, 1,300. _ _

The Oest Cos. contains a communique on the Rus-
sian and Turkish question. It is denied that the
note published a few days since by the Dads as
having been remitted to the Turkish Minister by the
Austrian Internuncio, and in which the Porte wu
urged, in the name of Austria, Prussia, France, and
England, to accept the Vienna note, was delivered as
a diplomatic document. It was never more than a
scheme or plan:of a note, which was not presented,
" because Franc* sad England refused their concur-
rence, and Austria would not proceed without them.
u Of course" (it is further said) " the Austrian
government does not suppose now that war has been
declared on both sides, and is actually commenced,
that a mere exchange of rotes between the Sublime
Porte and the Imperial Russian cabinet can be the
means of restoring peace. At the same time a good
foundation has been laid for direct negotiations be-
tween these two powers in the material of the con-
clusions made at Olmutz by the Czar. These nego-
tiations the Austrian cabinet will do its best to pro-
mote, and its knowledge of the sentiments reigning
.
at Paris, London, and Berlin enable it while so doing
to reckon on the co-operation of those courts."

FRANCE.

PARIS, TIALIDAT EVZNIKO.

An article of very considerable pretensions, headed
"Turkey and Russia before Europe," appears both
in the Pays and the Constitutionnet, with the signa-
ture of M. de la Guerroniere. The writer sets out
by saying that he now feels at his sue in treating of
this Eastern question, which hitherto, on account of
its vast importance, it has been necessary to ap-
proach with caution and reserve. But now that
facts have spoken—now that there is au end to the
mystery and uncertainty of negotiation—now that
the question is no longer debated with closed doors
round a green baize table, but in broad daylight on
the field of battle between two nations, in the face of
the world and of history, and in the presence of the
European governments interested in the event, and re-
presented on theimposingscene by their material force, I
the situation may be surveyed with a sure and confi-
dent eye, and the issue conjecturally deduced not
from intentions more or lees sincere, but from patent
and authentic facts. After this exordium it might
be thought that the newly appointed political director
of the twin
.government journals was about to supply
the conclusion remarked as wanting in the recent
article in the Moniteur, and afford the public some
indication of the course of action which is to supply
the place of that diplomatic mystery, the time for
which it is admitted has gone by. Any such expeo-
tation, however, iedoomed to disappointment. Forery-
thing that appears in the seven columns of M. de la
Guerronniere'sarticle,thealliesof Turkey arestill wait-
ing for some undefined event before they will venture
to say to Russia, " We have proclaimed you a wrong-
doer, and you turned a deaf ear to us. We will now
arrest your course, and force you to repair the wrong
that you have done." The article under considera-
tion argues at unnecessary length that, should war
result from the present crisis, either as a " sad neces-
sity or a glorious duty," it would be no departure
from the policy of peace, because in modern times the
establishment of a solid peace is the only
rational object of all war. The object and
the interest of Europe in the present question
is, in one word—the independence of Turkey.
The " point de depart" of European policy,
whether in action or negotiation, in the face of Rue. I
Man pretensions, is, says the article, that Turkey'
shall come out of the struggle without being either
weakened or humiliated, for she could neither be
weakened nor humiliated without injury to Europe.
So far it is well said; but lower down the writer is
careful to say that Western Europe will not humi-
;iate Russia, and he does not attempt to show in
what practical way this amiable policy of pleasing
everybody is to be carried out,. The Czar is spoken
of in that tone of fear and trembling which has
been adopted far too long, and will certainly never
succeed in abating one jot of his insolent
pretensions. "We know," it is said, " that
Russia would prefer the moat terrible chances
of war to any sacrifice of her dignity ; and
she would be right, for governments, like
men, have need of that prestige of consideration which
ennobles authority. The bridge of honour across
the Pruth or the Danube shall therefore not be cut
away from him. His armies may retreat after
having fought valiantly, as becomes a great nation,
and his voluntary retreat will be on his part a recog-
nition of European right." It is painful to read this
twaddle. It is perfectly childish to suppose that
the Emperor of Russia will retire " voluntarily,"
unless Turkey submit to terms which she has dis-
tinctly rejected, and which France and England now
admit she was right in rejecting. The Constitutionnet
itself said the other day that Russia by her own con-
duct bad placed herself in this dilemma—that she
must either suffer a " moral check or a material de-
feat." That is the truth. M. de la Guerronnieree
porn curante language reminds one of the dandy in
the farce, who, after many opinions had been given
as to the best way to extinguish a fire, suggested that
perhaps it would go out of itself. Indeed, there is
too much reason to believe that while the Western
Powers have been talking about peace, and
professing a horror of bloodshed, they have
but fanned the flame of war. These advo-
cates of peace no longer talk about a duel
"for first blood." In this very article, it is said with
exquisite complacency, "We do not delude ourselves
into the belief that fortune will always be faithful
to the Turkish arms. There will inevitably be cotta
pensations for the first reverses suffered by Russia.
The struggle will doubtless be prolonged with various
results. Blood will again flow. Humanity will
suffer and be sad." So then, it is calculated, ex- I
petted, that hecatombs of human beings must be
sacrificed before the finer feelings of the lawless
aggressor', can be appeased, and his " voluntary
withdrawal" from the prosecution of his unrighteous
cause effected! And yet the time has not come for
action by the
.powers who stand forth professing that
they have a right to interfere in this matter, and that
they will not see injustice done!
The article contains a remarkable confession of the
imbecility of the Vienna Conference—l should rather
say of the French and English members of it—for in
all probability the Prussian and Austrian Ministers
showed their ability by drawing them into a snare.
I give this passage textually :
It costs us nothing to admit that if we could for a
single instant have imagined the result of the diplo-
matic negotiations, we should not have hesitated to advise
the entry of the fleets into the Dardanelles the instant the
Dugan army crossed the Pruth. We wish to be frank in
this discussion, and we therefore owe a confession to our
readers. There is a reason for the failure of the negotia-
tions—a reason less attributable to the conference than to
an error of public opinion. Turkey was not en much con-
sidered by the Conference as she ought to have been. She
was thought to be weak, falling, powerless. It was taken for
granted that her weakness was to be protected rather than her
rights acknowledged. Thus the diplomatists of Vienna, at
the same time that they most honourably exerted themselves
to preserve her independence, were lad away by an erroneous
estimate of her weakness to seek rather sot what would be
acceptable to the Sultan but what would be accepted by the
Cur. They had so little doubt of this assent of the Divan,
that they did not even communicate their project to Con-
stantinople. They lent it at ones to fit. Petereburg, and
when the affirmative answer arrived, it
them to doubt for a moment that the affair was settled.
They took no thought of the answer from Constantinople.
It appeared to them that Turkey had no will, because she
bed no strength, no individuality, no resources, no character,
Is a word because she was no longer a nation."
At tho Bourse there was scarcely any variation to-
day, and very little business doing.
About a month since a protestant was buried at
Chelles (Oise). Three weeks later the sub-prefect
furtively during a wet day, took up the body,
dragged it through the mud, and buried it in a spot
destined to receive the corpses of nabaptized
infants. The priests came the next day to re-conse-
crate the burial-ground " polluted by a protestant
interment." To add insult to injury, a bill of 66f. was
sent to the family of the deceased for expenses of
exhumation. Complaint has been made to the Ali-
Mater of Public Worship, and it is to be hoped this
illegal outrage will be promptly redressed.
Tho Prince and Princess de Chimay, who had been
invited by the Emperor to spend some days at the
Palace of Fontainebleau, left Brussels on Saturday
for that place. Before his departure, the Prince had
the honour of a private audience of the King of the
Belgians.

The Moniteur publishes a decree of the Emperor,
dated the 14th, for the better regulation of the ser-
vice of railroads and other modes of communication,
&c. It is as follows :
Art. 1. The railroad service at the Ministry of Agricul-
ture, Commerce, and Public Works shall form a general
direction under the name of Direction Gi,ao,role des
Chemins de ler.
Art. 2. The aerviee of the roads and that of navigation
are united, and will form one direction, under the name of
Direction des Ponta it C'nausst;es.
Art. 3. Count Eugene Dubois, maitre des requetes of
the first class at the Council of State, and ca-director of
public works in Aliteris, is appointed director-general of
railroads. M. de Frenqueville, chef de division of navi.
gation, is appointed director of pouts et chaussees, and M.
de Buureuille, chief of the division of mines, is appointed
director of mines.

PORTUGAL.

--~-

The Severn brings advices from Lisbon to the
11th. A smart shock of earthquake was felt on the
4th. Elections in different parts of Portugal to fill
up vacancies in the Chamber of Deputies had ter-
minated in favour of ministerial candidates. There
was a great influx of gold, and English sovereigns
consequently were at a discount of 50 reis. Silver
was scarce. The Gem, from Denis, had put into the
Tagus in a leaky state.

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

A letter from Trebisonde announces that the Rus-
sian fortress of Dariel, situate in Circassia, on the
right bank of the Terek, between kloadok and Tiflis,
was surrounded by the insurgent Ossetes and by a
large force of Circassian', and that it was on the
point of falling into their power. The same letter
announces that the authentic details had been re-
ceived of the affair which took place some time back,
when 20,000 Russians, lately arrived in the country,
were overpowered by Schamyl's troops, and all that
were not killed were made prisoners, and are now at
Ardiauskai, in Circassia.
Letters fromr St. Petersburg, of the sth, state that
the manifesto of the Czar had been read in all the
churches en the 4th. A corps dorm& was under
orders to embark from Odessa, for Georgia, to rein-
force Prince Woronzoff, who urgently asks for suc-
cours. The embarkation has been countermanded
since the proclamation of war by Turkey, as the
naval forces of that Power in the Black Sea might
effectually hinder the corps (formes from reaching
its destination. The forces will now proceed to the
Principalities. Russian cavalry had been ordered to
proceed to the Danubian Provinces, but the state of
those countries, in consequence of recent rain, is
such as to preclude any operations, save en high
road. The marching orders of the cavalry have,
therefore, been withdrawn.
The Sleek gives information, apparently obtained
from the Turkish embassy, stating, in opposing the
establishment of the Turks on the Wallachian side of
the Danube on the 2nd and 3rd, the Russians lost
600 men and 18 officers. The attack was re-com-
menced on the 4th, and continued through part of the
sth. The Russians had 1,200 killed or wounded.
Almost all the commanders of corps fell. The Sieck
has no details on the consequences of this second
engagement, but from the summons made to Prince ,
Oortschakoff by Omer Pacha to deliver up all the
fortified places into the hands of the Turks, and to
evacuate the Principalities as promptly as possible,
infers that the troops of the Sultan have assumed a
real attitude of superiority.
A Special correspondent of the Presse, writing from
Trebizond on the 22nd October, says that Abdhi-
Pacha left Erzeroum for Kars on the 12th October,
at the head of 12,000 regular troops of all arms.
10,000 regulars had already arrived at head-quarters
from Kurdistan and Diarbekir. 15,000 milts were
also encamped in the neighbourhood of Kars. The
overnment has called the Bashi-Bozouks into active

service, and they were distributed along the
whole frontier. These are irregular volunteers, armed
with muskets without bayonets, pistols, and a kama
(a kind of poignard with a large blade). There
are nearly 30,000 at these troops between
Batoum and Kars. A Russian army of 30,000
men had been encamped for the last twenty
days at the foot of the mountain which commands the
town of Alexandropol, situated 12 hours' march from
Kars, on the Georgian territory. Another corps of
15,000 was at Akhalzikh, whose destination was to
take Batoum, marching over the mountains which
command it, while Russian ships would bombard the
town by sea. On the 21st four Turkish steam-frigates
disembarked at Trebizoad 1,500 riflemen, armed as
the Chasseurs de Vincennes, and £,OOO infantry. All
these are excellent troops, well armed and equipped.
Twenty-two more steamers, with troops for Erze-
ream and Kars, were expected. It was thought that
the Turkish government would in the next week
send four or five thousand good troops from Con-
stantinople to Batoum.
A correspondent calls attention to the despatch
from Vienna, according to which the Russian autho-
rities have ordered all the subjects of Turkey to quit
the Principalities, and remarks that " the order would
include the entire population of the Principalities."
Of course it would, and its absurdity is its chief
claim to notice. The fact, however, is not to be
called in question : the following is the exact
language of the despatch as published by the Austrian
government: " Russiseher Seits wurden elle Tiirkis-
chen Unterthanen aus den Fiirstenthumern Rogge-
wiesen, demzufolge bereits 20 Familien die Erlaubniss
zum Aufenthalte in Dorna angesucht flatten." The
obvious intention of the Russians and Austrians in
employing this incorrect phraseology is to prepare
the way for the direct assertion that the people of
Moldo-Wallachia are not subjects of the Porte.

ITALY.

NAPLES, Nov. 4,

To reduce the price of corn the government of
Naples has thought proper not only to threaten corn
dealers, but to arrest private persons who hold grain.
Meanwhile, the King has purchased corn with a
view of selling at such prices as shall bring down
bread, and, if possible, prevent the poorer classes
from revolution.

The Grand Duke and Duchess of Tuscany have
arrived in Naples.

Neapolitan Fives, 106 ; Sicilian Fives, 94 ; Ex-
change on London, 562. The government is buying
largely to keep up the quotations. No loan can be
obtained just now, either from Rothschild's of Na-
ples, or Tortonia's of Rome. It is said government
intends to add to the national debt by selling as much
paper as they can at 105 for five per cent.

The official journal has just published a strange
article, endeavouring to defend the King and the
government from the ill-feeling arising on account of
the high price of bread. The mode of argument,
if not logical, is at least amusing : " With regard to
the anxiety which is felt on account of the price of
corn, the increase cannot be attributed to scarcity,
for in none of our markets is corn wanting. Dealers,
in fact, are speculating; but they will soon find oat
that this practice will turn to their disadvantage.
It was a necessary consequence that our markets
should feel the effects of high prices all over Europe.
Our prices, however, are below those of other mar-
kets, especially the Italian; and this is due to the
wisdom of the best amongst the sovereigns—of our
august master, who has not left, and does not leave,
any means in his power untried which might injure
the interests of his beloved and faithful subjects (!)"
All this means nothing. The facts are, the go-
vernment issued decrees prohibiting the exportation
of grain when it was too late, and allowing corn to
come in duty free when grain had advanced in price
all over Europe. The general price of corn in the
Two Siciliee was 17 carlini per totnole—it is now
28 and 30, and bread, of course, in proportion. 30
will allow merchants to import with profit; and orders
have lett Naples accordingly.