The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-03-26 00:00:00

FRANCE.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, MONDAY EVENING.
The Conference held a new sitting to-day; but,
from what I hear in a quarter likely to be well
informed, it has not yet been able to come to an
understanding on the precise terms of the treaty of
peace. No doubt, however, is entertained that all
difficulties will be removed, so as to enable the
treaty to be signed before the end of the month.
In addition to the conditions which it is already
known have been imposed on Russia, namely
—the destruction of Sebastopol, the trans-
formation of Nicolaieff into a commer-
cial port, the neutralisation of the Black
Sea, the abandonment of the protectorate
of the Danubian Principalities, the giving up of a
slice of territory on the Danube, and the non-
fortification of the Aland Islands; she has, it is
said, been made to consent to attempt no pro-
tectorship over the Christian populations of
Turkey, except such as is exercised jointly by other
powers, and to admit that the sending of a single
soldier across the Pruth by her, shall be a cams
belli.

No more bulletins about the Empress, her child,
or Prince Jerome, are to be published—a proof that
those high and mighty personages are going on
well.

Now that peace is close at hand it would have
seemed natural, from the impetuous character of
the French, for traders to have launched wildly
into speculation, but, on the contrary, they are
displaying great reserve both in Paris and in the
provinces, both manufacturers and retailers. To
avoid all risk, they prefer waiting until peace
shall be really signed, sealed, and delivered ; they
are also anxious to see a reduction in the rate
of discount of bills adopted. The general belief
is that when peace shall become consolidated,
the trade of France with foreign countries
will take a development, of which, some
years back, it would have been considered
madness even to have dreamt. The grand affair
of the establishment of steam communication
with America, which has been long talked of, has
not yet been decided, the government being
unwilling to see an enterprise of so much
importance started in the present state of the
Bourse. The prices of wheat are firmer ; they
fell on receipt of the telegraphic despatch from
Naples, announcing that the government had
allowed the export of meat, but recovered
when the precise nature of the measure became
known.

A letter from Constantinople, of the 13th, says
that what delayed the conclusion of the armistice
in the Crimea was, that the English wanted to take
their vessels into the bay, and that the Russians
would not consent unless they were allowed to send
the vessels of war they still have to Odessa ; a
thing of which Marshal Pelissier would not hear
speak.
___

- The Wallachians and Moldavians resident at
Paris have presented a petition to Count Walewski,
French Minister of Foreign Affairs, for presenta-
tion to the Congress, praying that the two pro-
vinces may be united.

I omitted to mention yesterday that Parma had
been declared in a state of siege, in consequence
of two new political assassinations, one of an advo-
cate named Brodi, the other of Count Giovanni.
These crimes had plunged the city and country
into consternation•

According to the Independance of Brussels, the
Congress, before separating, will occupy itself
with the state of Italy, if not officially, at least
officieusement,—Piedmont having demanded that
Austria shall remove the sequestration of the
property of the Lombard refugees who have been
naturalised Piedmontese, and England and France
supporting her. The same journal says that the
question of withdrawing the French and Austrian
troops from the German States isalso to be brought
forward.

It appears, from a letter from Nioolaieff, in the
Moniteur de la Flotte, which is almost a semi-
official authority, that the removal of the naval
and other stores from that place has commenced.
This certainly looks as if it were intended to
destroy the place.

A wholesale reduction is about to be made in the
Austrian arna3 ; it is to be, it appears, not inferior
to 200,000 men.

A French newspaper, to be called the Messager,
and which is destined to defend Russian interests,
is about to be established at Berlin.

ROYAL COLOSSEUM.—The Easter novelties, produced by
the enterprising proprietor, Mr. Heath, have attracted
unusually large audiences, who seem highly delighted with
the extraordinary and interesting performance. The
vocalists are pleasing, and beside the concert there are
other entertainments—so varied as to keen up a:succession
of interest during the entire evening. We do not wonder
at the patronage bestowed on this popular place of public
amusement.

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF A COTTON FACTORY.—On Mon
day night, about eleven o'clock, a fire broke out in Mr.
Threlfall's mill, Regent Road, Manchester, which resulted
in the total destruction of the building, and in considerable
damage to the surrounding premises. It appeared to have
occurred in one of the upper storys, for in less than an
hour, the roof fell in, and, as each succeeding floor gave
way, fuel seemed to be added to the conflagration. The
fire had obtained such a mastery, that all attempts to arrest
its progress in the building in which it originated was
hopeless, and therefore the efforts of the fire brigade, when
they reached the scene of destruction, were directed to save
the adjoining properties. At the time we write the mill
itself was one mass of ruins, and the fire blazed away
fiercely, consuming what yet remained, of the combustible
contents of the building. It had also extended to other
parts of Mr. Threlfall's premises, to which a row of cot-
tages stands in dangerous Proximity. The destruction of
machinery and material must be very considerable, and a
large number of hands will be thrown idle. The bright
glare which the fire spread ,0 the sky excited general
alarm, and attracted immense crowis of spectators. The
sight of the burning building was imposing in the extreme;
and was a spectacle which one might have viewed with
interest, were it not a catastrophe deplorable in proportion
to its grandeur.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE•

AUSTRIA

We are in receipt of advices from Vienna to the
date of the 21st instant.

One o f the Vienna papers says that everything
concerning the navigation of the Danube has been
definitively regulated in the congress at Paris, not-
withstanding the apprehensions entertained of
discussions arising on the subject between Austria
and the belligerent Powers.
A letter in the Mercure de Souabe intimates that
the diplomatic despatches between Austria and
Sardinia are not yet arranged, but that the media-
tion of the Emperor of the French is likely to effect
a happy adjustment.
Another letter from Vienna, in the Bourse Gazette
of Berlin, says—
We learn from a good source that the tension which
existed in the relations between Russia and Austria had
disappeared at the moment at which it became known to
the public. It is certain that the wishes expressed by
the Cabinet of Vienna, for the suppression of obstacles
to the commerce of the two countries have been favourably
received, and we do not believe that we deceive ourselves
in saying that important reforms iwill soon be accom-
plished.

A letter from Vienna, of the 20th, in the Corriere
Italiano, says:—

It is stated that as soon as the news of the birth of the
Prince Imperial of France arrived in Vienna, M. de Bala-
bini, who replaces for the moment Prince Gortschakoff as
representative of Russia, went to Viscount de Serves, the
representative of France, and presented him his congra-
tulations.

PRUSSIA

The new Prussian Gazette of Saturday publishes
the following :—" There have been circulated
during the last few days through the post, letters
secretly printed, containing an exposé of the
robbery of the Potsdam despatches. We have
only to repeat that which we have said so often,
viz., that we can but desire to see the whole affair
completely explained, and that those who have
been robbed, General de Gerlach and Cabinet
Councillor Niebuhr, have taken all the necessary
steps to bring about a judicial inquiry."
om other sources we learn that this expose is
in the form of a report of a functionary to the Pre-
sident of his court. The affair revived by the
issue of this document—is creating much sensation
in Berlin, it being the common report that one of
the King's Ministers has had some share in employ-
ing or rewarding the men who have violated the
sanctity of their masters' correspondence. If the
account of the transaction current at Berlin be cor-
rect, some of the King's advisers have thought
right to employ the vilest of mankind in discover-
ing the secrets of persons who may in some sense
be called their colleagues—M. Niebuhr and Gerlach
being among a small knot of men, who, under the
names of chamberlains and adjutants, report on the
measures of the accredited advisers, have sight of
all documents, and are said to sway the royal
purpose „according to their own views. One of
the papers stolen was the copy of a report sent
to General Gerlach by a spy who had been em-
ployed to observe and record " all the Prince of
Prussia's sayings and doings while on a tour of
military inspection, and was full of the most odious
incriminations of his Royal Highness." There
were also private communications from Count
Munster, at St. Petersburg, to General Gerlach.

♦
RUSSIA.

The Journal de St. Petersbourg, of the 16th inst.,
publishes an account, taken from a maritime maga-
zine, of an attack made on the 3rd of October,
1855, by an English squadron, on the east coast of
Siberia. The English squadron consisted of the
Sibyl, Encounter, and Hornet.

The Invalids Busse announces that the Emperor,
having been informed that the battalions which
were sent from the division of the depot of the 6th
corps d'armee, in 1855, to complete the troops in the
Crimea, were not properly armed, and were unfit
to continue their march, published an order of the
day on the subject on the 12th. In that document
the Emperor severely censures-1, General Marine,
who commands the depot; and 2, General Von
Brine, the chief of the staff of all the reserve and
depots. The Tribunal of War, after having
decided the degree of culpability and participation
in the defective equipment of the said bat-
talions, of the persons in command of
the depot division of the sixth corps d'armee,
will sentence them to the punishment prescribed
by the law. This announcement has produced a
considerable sensation in this city. For some
time past remarkable changes have been going on
in the Russian army. Not only will the uncom
fortable helmets make way for the French kepi
but the coats will be supplanted by the poloukaf-
tan, a sort of frock imitated from the French.
As much in the arms as in the general
regulations the Russian army is at present
being organised after the plan of that of
Napoleon I. Turning to the lighter matters,
I can give you some details of the first
visit of the Imperial family to the Grand
Theatre since the death of the late Emperor. It
was on the sth of March, and the piece represented
was Il Trovatore. All the places were occupied by
the higher classes, and the foreign ministers were
to be seen in the boxes. The Emperor, accom-
panied by the Empress, entered the state box at
ten minutes past eight. On the arrival of the
Emperor, loud cheers were raised, and they con-
tinued until the national hymn, " Bosehe chrani
Zara " (God protect the Czar ! ) was struck
up by the orchestra. When the hymn
,vas terminated, the hurrahs recommenced, and
did not cease until after the rising of the curtain.
The imperial family remained to the end of the
performances at midnight. On rising to leave,
the Emperor bowed to the audience, and was
greeted with loud cheers."
The Austrian Gazette announces the death and
burial at .Warsaw of General Popoff, Hetman of
the Don Cossacks.

THE BALTIC,

KIEL, MARCH 21

The Sampson left this morning to join the
squadron under Captain Watson, off Nargen, as
the renewal of the blockade had been officially
annotnaced, and it was requisite to have an efficient
force for its maintenance throughout that part of
the Gulf of Finland where the navigation is now
open. The Amphion has not sustained any
injury from having taken the ground, and she
too will proceed to the same destination in a
few days, after she has taken on board a supply of
coals. The Danish government, in the expectation
of the English fleet soon making its appearance
here, have sent their steam corvette Thor to act as
guard-ship while they may remain at this anchor-
age. She arrived here this morning, when the
captain lost no time in paying his respects to Capt.
Chads on board of the Amphion.