The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-23 00:00:00

oue way or the other

It is, in fact,

contradictory, as, by the way, most of our
charming Emperor's acts are, when he is striving
at any object which, for any reason, he chooses to
keep secret for a time. On the one hand, lam
positively assured, and by an authority not inferior
to that which I had occasion to cite the other day,
and which was to the same effect, that the Emperor

no more means making peace, than he contem-
plates abdication, and that his reason for tolerating
a demonstration of peace is to make the people
willing to subscribe to the new loan, which he will
shortly have to raise, whether there be peace or
war. It is added that the Emperor and Lord Pal-
merston are thoroughly agreed as to the conditions
which are to be exacted from Russia, in addition
to those proposed by Austria—and that in every
thing that may arise in the approaching confer
ences, their agents will act cordially together. On
the other hand, I believe that there is no doubt
that the Emperor has for his part granted, or at
least expressed his readiness to grant, an armis-
tice to Russia ; and it is asserted that he has done
this in spite of the earnest remonstrances of the
English government. I am further told, that when
he received a telegraphic despatch from Vienna,
announcing that Russia had not accepted the Aus-
trian propositions, and that in consequence Austria
meant to recal her ambassador, he was greatly
annoyed, and telegraphed to the Austrian cabinet
to act with the greatest caution.
Be, however, the real views of the French
Emperor what they may, certain it is that the mot
d'ordre to all official dignitaries is to show them-
selves in favour of peace, and to speak of it as
certain, The Minister of Foreign Affairs speaks
to that effect to everybody who approaches him ;
so do his colleagues, and the prefects of depart.
ments have been ordered to employ similar
language. As to the semi-official news-
papers, and the correspondence in 'daily news-
papers of semi-official agents, they are scandalously
favourable to peace at any cost, and speak of Rus-
sia in terms of respect, and of England in terms of
contempt, which are absolutely revolting, Indeed
the language of the whole French press,—of all
parties, with, however, the single exception of the
Siecle, the Republican organ, is perfectly disgrace.
ful—such a craven desire does it manifest for
peace—so infamous is the manner in which it
refers to England.

It is again stated to-day, and more positively
than yesterday, that Prussia will be admitted to
the conferences. provided she will take the engage•
ment to fight Russia in the event of peace not
being concluded.
The German papers assert that no indemnity is
to be demanded from Russia; but it is said that
evan if England and France consent not to e 3

for themselves, they will require one for Sardinia,
and another for Turkey.
Official returns published to-day, show that the
Customs duties, in 1855, amounted-to 189,704.690
francs, in 1854 to 150,587,301 francs, and in 1853 to
141,607,552 francs

THr!, CRIM2A.

A. gale all

—Camp, Sebastopol, January 7.
the huts have stool well ; the tempe-
miH ; sn,,v melting and disappearing
in copious streams along the ravines sloping down to-
wards the roadstead. Yesterday, on the other hand,
it was severely cold. It is understood that as soon as
Practicable, steps will be taken to blow up and completely
destroy, the ships which were sunk by th^ Russians at
the time of the evacuation.' If the opportunity Were
given, there seems little doubt but that some of them
could be hereafter raised by the Russians; and, at any
rate, much valuable property could be recovered by them
without much expenditure of labour or money. The
.56th regiment has p.ot a most comfortable reading-room ;
and on Saturday the officers of the 90th opened their
billiard-room.--Daily News.
The Times says :—lf we refuse an armistice it will be
worth while for Russia to negociate for the sake of
negociation, and apply all the wily arts of which she is
the mistress, to protract the breathing time allowed her,
and to use threats, promises, and intrigues, to sow
evasions in the councils of the Allies and among the
German States. To us it is of very great importance
that our councils should not be distracted by a state of
things which is neither the one nor the other, but
the whole advantage of which is with our enemy and
against us. The best and first proof that we can ask of
Russian sincerity is, that the Czar should be content to
negociate without requiring a suspension of hostilities.
This will be a proof that negnciation is not to him a
feint, but means that the object he has in view is peace
itself, and not intrigue or delay.
At a European conference, like that now impending,
there is but one man, who could worthily represent us,
in whose hands every Englishman would feel con-
fident the destinies of the country were safe, and in the
presence of whose long experience and firm resolution
no diplomatic tour de force would he attempted. If the
negociation is to be long it ought net to be entered into

ratiire has be

at all ; if it is to be shUit, no man is so fit to conduct it

as Lord. Palmerston. The Prime Minister of England,
the leader of the ,House of Commons, is also at this
moment the complete representative of the feeling and
spirit of the English people, arid in that, the highest
character of the three, we trust he will not refuse his
services to the nation which he has saved from disgrace,
and conducted to victory.--Times.

The Siecle is the only Paris paper which does not
express its joy and satisfaction at the prospect of peace.
The other journals criticise rather sharply the opinions
of the English journals ; and at present there is a great
estrangement of opinion between the London and Paris
press.

- The Derry Sentinel intimates that Admiral Jonesis about
to'retire from the representation of the county of London-
derry; and, accordingly, Major Miller, of Moneymore, has
addressed the electors as proxy for a gentleman (anony-
mous) who proposes to offer himself for the suffrages of
the conservative electors.

THE ATTEMPT TO POISON A WSFE.—Thomas Robson,
who was remanded by the magistrates at the Manor
police-court, Newcastle, on a charge of having attempted
to poison his wife, was brought up again on Friday, when
Jane Temperly gave her evidence, sheaving a motive for
this atrocious act. She stated that she was twenty-seven
years of age, and resided in the village of Acomb, near
Hexham. She kaew the prisoner by the name of William
Wilson. She became acquainted with him about July,
and continued to keep his company until the first week in
November. He paid his addresses to her, and expressed
a wish to marry her. He represented himself as an
unmarried man. His wife came to Acomb, and the'ac-
qualutance then broke off. She had no more interviews
with him after his wife came:Ro Acomb.t ;The prisoner
was committed for trial at the assizes, charged with
administering sugar of lead to his wife with a view to
kill her.

PASKIEWITCH.—According to advices from Warsaw,
the doctors have pronounced the case of Prince Paskie-
witch, cancer of the breast, to be hopelessly incurable.
Baron Klotz, nevertheless, tries magnetic treatment.
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE WEST INDIES.—It iS
reported that Rear-admiral Fanshawe, C. 8., Commander-
in-Chief on the West India station, has applied to be
superseded on the score of ill health, and that he will be
succeeded by Rear-admiral Sir Michael Seymour, K.C.B.
—United Servirl Gazette.

THE INCOME TAX AND THE WAR.—On Friday evening
a numerous meeting of the inhabitants of Birmingham was
held in the Town-hall, for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the present unjust operation of the tax upon
income, with a view to its more equitable adjustment and
imposition. Mr. Arthur Ryland was called to the chair.
Among those present were—Mr. Muntz, M.P.. Mr. Schole-
field, M.P., Mr. T. A. Attwood, Mr. T. C. Salt, Mr. Geo.
Downing, Mr. Brool 3 Smith, Mr. C. Sturge, and other
influential inhabitants of the borough. A series of reso-
lutions were passed in accordance with the objects of the
meetinc, which then separated.

—Theiineen who has manifested such sympathy for the
sick and wounded by presents of various kinds, has again
sought to lighten the monotony of hospital routine, by
sending several copies of appropriate songs for the
amusement of the inmates of the General Hospital, Fort
Fitt.