The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-22 00:00:00

FRANCE.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.
PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING.
Although I have told you that an eminent
political authority assures me, that the French
Emperor does not sincerely desire peace, and that
the anxiety his government professes for it is mere
pretence, destined to tranquilise the moneyed
interest and the bourgeoisie,—l must not disguise
from you that all the secondary personages, who
are dependent on the government, or who are
anxious to appear to be acquainted with its wishes,
go about prating that peace may be considered as
perfectly certain, and that if England " dares" to
throw any obstacles in its way France will not
hesitate to toss her overboard. From the
language of the semi-official newspapers of
the government it appears, too, that they have
received the cue to represent peace as morally
certain, and the obligations which England may
attempt to impose on Russia, in virtue of the last
article of the accepted conditions, as so unim-
portant that they cannot possibly be an obstacle
to the conclusion of it. The language of the
papers which represent the Orleanist and Legiti-
mist factions, that is—the Assemblee Nationale, in
this city, and the Independance, of Brussels, is
absolutely insulting to England ; it is to the effect
that, as France has covered herself with glory by
her arms and diplomacy in the war, whilst
England has disgracefully fallen in to a
secondary position in both, France alone has a
right to say on what terms peace shall be con-
sented to; and, that if England presumes to say a
word to the contrary, " France and Germany" will
be arrayed against her, and she will encounter the
malediction of all Europe.
We have received no telegraphic despatches up
to this moment, which throw any new light on the
peace question. Dresden, and not Paris, is how-
ever, now spoken of as likely to be the theatre of
the Conferences. The choice of that place will be
a very had one, if for no other reason than
that it will give the petty German governments
even a higher opinion of their importance, than
they at present entertain. It is said that Prussia
will most likely be admitted to the Conferences,
as France, supposing her desire for peace to be as
strong as it is said, will be glad of her support
against England. At Vienna, as was to be expected,
the news of peace being probable, was received
with the greatest joy, and at the theatre, the
Emperor was greeted with acclamations. All the
Austrian papers and letters concur in ascribing the
acceptance of peace by Russia, to her dread of
Austrian power !
Some sensation has been created to day by an
article in the French Journal of Frankfort,—an
article which, from the manner in which it is
printed, evidently emanates from an official source.
It is somewhat obscure in language, but declares
that ;Russia cannot be completely conquered by
the West, and that consequently she has displayed
great moderation, and rendered an immense
service to Germany and Europe by accepting the
conditions offered. The importance of the article
lies, however, in the conclusion, which is this—
that though peace may be concluded now, it will
most likely not he durable.
The news of the peace has not yet been known
long enough to exercise any decisive effect on
French trade in general, but it has been received
with the greatest satisfaction by all the trading
classes. In the Corn market, however, it has
created a great sensation, as it is fore-
seen that in the event of peace Russia will pour
immense stores of wheat into Europe. At Havre
a rise of nearly 4 fr. the bale has taken place in
cotton. The affair of the Transatlantic Steam
Navigation Companies is approaching a satisfac-
factory conclusion, and it is said that before long,
lines of steamers will be established between
France, and New York and Brazil.
The Marseilles telegraph announces the receipt
of Constantinople news to the 10th, by the Jour-
dain. The Russians had destroyed the advanced
works of Kars, had left 1000 men as a garrison,
and had fallen back on Gumri. 15,000 Turks and
Egyptians were at Trebizonde, ready to proceed
to Erzeroum, but they were suffering great priva-
tions. There was a question of an English
expedition in Georgia in the spring, under Sir
C. Campbell. The Russians were continuing to fire
on the Allies from the northern forts of Sebastopol,
and the latter are stated to have postponed their
design of blowing up the docks. Tne rupture of
diplomatic relations between Persia and England
is confirmed, and Mr. Murray, our minister, had
retired to Mossul. France had offered her media-
tion, but Persia, after receiving news of the fall of
Kars, refused to accept it.
P.S.—One of the government organs, the Pays,
of this evening, has a long article, complaining of
the English press, for not showing the same plea-
sure at the prospect of peace, as that of France. The
Pays assures its readers that the acceptance of
the Austrian propositions by Russia removes all
obstacles to the conclusion of an honourable peace,
and that the addition of new conditions about
Bomarsund, &c , cannot be allowed to be of any
consequence. It tells England that she has no need
to go to war to retrieve her military renown, as,
though it is true she has played a secondary part
to France, no one doubts her power, and that it is
barbarous to continue war for such a purpose. It,
finally, warns her that she will be accused of in-
terested motives in continuing the war (the destruc-
tion of the Baltic fleet of Russia), when France has
covered herself with glory by her disinterestedness

PARIS, SATURDAY EVENING,

A despatch received this morning from Berlin
says that Russia has only accepted the propositions
of Austria under the reserve of " discussing them
in the conference ;" but others from the same city
say that she has accepted them without reserves,
and this, certainly, is the general opinion, and is
no doubt the fact.

No little vexation has been manifested to-day by
tha patrons of peace—and you know they are
tolerably numerous in this city—on the tone of the
English newspapers on the acceptance of
the propositions by Russia. It is taken
for granted that England is not at all
favourable to peace, and the language of the press
is considered a proof that she will in the approach
ing conferences excite difficulties to the conclusion
of it. In consequence of this there has been a
general decline in the funds, and in all securities
in the Stock Exchange.
During the last few days it has been ',reported
that the students would to day, as they have done
on one or two occasions recently, make an uproar
at the lectures of Professor Nisard at the Sorbonne,
—the object thereof being a demonstration
against him personally, for having allowed
himself to be bribed, by a place, to abandon
the republican party of which he was once a
burning and shining light, and against the
government for having bribed him. I accordingly
went down to the Sorbonne, though warned that
the government meant to send an immense force of
police, and that I should probably be arrested. I
arrived before the time fixed for the beginning of
the lecture, but found that it had been some time
before, and that the room was packed by Nisard's
personal friends. A very strong body of police
was assembled in the Court-yard, and there was
also a large gathering of students, both in the yard
and in the street outside. But the only demon-
stration that took place, was at the close of the
lecture, when a number of the students assembled
and began hooting. The police immediately
rushed amongst them and dispersed them. The
yard and the neighbourhood were then cleared,
and several arrests were effected. The whole
affair was of no great importance, but I am credibly
informed, that the hostility to the Government,
which has always existed amongst the young naen
of the University, has become so strong, as to
threaten an early explosion. In corroboration of
this fact, I am informed that an Inspector of the
Academy—a great official dignitary—was hissed
onyouths thesecond lecturefthe college
rs
ol fe
Grand,dfaor y
havingtheattended
Nisard, in :order to overawe the students. In
consequence of this manifestation of feeling not
fewer than three divisions 2 !of the college have
been broken up, and the youths composing them
have been sent home.

There are other and more important signs that
a re-awakening of public opinion in France is
taking place. At Amiens, Nantes, La Rochelle,
and several other towns, domiciliary visits
have recently been made, and arrests have
been effected; in Paris, some gentlemen
known for republican opinions have been
lyclggd im stwl; tuzcl thQ paper toll us