The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-22 00:00:00

SPAIN.

Our accounts from Madrid are of the 16th. The
collection of the first quarter's direct contributions
was taking place with much facility. The purely
Democratic fraction of the Cortes seemed to have
completely broken with the Duke de la Victoria,
as he had abstained from voting on the question
of the indemnity bill relative to the expulsion of
Queen Maria Christina.
The Chamber of Commerce of Madrid has had an
interview with the Minister of Finance, in order to
demand the suppression of the Custom-house at the
gates of the capital, that establishment being con-
sidered useless since the freedom of internal traffic
had been granted.

The Three per Cents. were done at 32 ; ditto
Deferred, at 18.15.

A telegraphic despatch, dated Berlin, 19th inst.,
states that the Austrian Government addressed a
note on the let February to the Bavarian Govern-
ment, formally announcing that Austria considers
the placing on a war footing of the Federal army
of Germany simply as a preparatory step to its
mobilisation, the demand of which will shortly be
renewed.

The Wanderer of Vienna of the 17th states, as
coming from a good source, that Prince Gortscha-
kcff, desirous et being relieved from the responsi-
bility of the conferences which aro about to open,
has Requested the Russian Government to send a
special plenipotentiary to Vienna for the paose,
while he would daily send the minutes of each con-
ference to St. Petersburg to keep the Court in-
formed of the progress of affairs. It is also stated
that Russia will appoint M. de Titotl, to this special
mission.

ABANDONMENT OF THE EMPEROR'S
VISIT Td THE CRIMEA.

The following letter has been received from
Paris, dated yesterday, 6 p.m.:—
" It was very generally rumoured to-day, and, I am
told, with much probability of its truth, that the so-
much-talked-of, and generally c .ndernned, project of
the Emperor's journey to the Crimea, has been re-
linquished. Some say it is adjourned to the sth of.
March, but the general belief is that it is at all
events postponed; and the change is, rightly or
wrongly, attributed to the influence of Lord John
Rusell, who arrived in Paris last night. The imme-
diate result has been a feeling of satisfaction and con
fidence among the public and some murmuring among
those, few it must be said, who had some vague notion
that the Emperor's absence would present favourable
chances for their party. It is stated positively that late
in the afternoon of yesterday there appeared no prospect
of a relinquishment of the journey ; this day, however,
all seems changed, and a mere confident ,hope is ex-
pressed that it is for the present postponed., Oue hears,
however, so many contradictory account:, even in quar-
ters that ought to be well informed, that it is difficult to
say whether the project is entirely abandoned or not."
Another letter says :

"The Emperor, though he has not formally announced
the change in his intentions, is considered, by those who
have the best opportunity of knowing, as having finally
though reluctantly ceded. It must not, however, be
supposed, as will now very probably be maintained, that
the intention never existed. Not only was the reso-
lution taken, but preparations ezt an extensive scale
were made. The steamers were in reacLeess at Toulon
(and are so still), the aides-de-camp to accompany his
Majesty were selected, two ladies of honour were ap
polo • ted to accompany the Empress, and persons were
despatched to Constantinople to prepare the palace of the
French embassy for the reception of theguests. For some
time past the wishes of the Emperor have pointed to the
Crimea, and long before any one imagined that he enter-
tained the idea of a ctuallygratifyi ng these wishes, he often
spoke of his anxiety to place himself at the head of his brave
army, and to share with them their hardships and dangeris
as well as their glory. The Empress, so far from dis-
suading Louis Napoleon from the enterprise, was the fort-
most, perhaps the only one, who encouraged liim. Hared-
venturous spirit is so well known that no one wonders that
she should he glad for a time to exchange the splendid
dulness of the Tuileries for the excitement of a campaign
and for the novelty of Oriental life. Many think that
the encouragement she gave to Louis Napoleon was
the secret of the obstinacy with which he resisted
the advice and prayers of all his most sensible and
devoted advisers ; and you are aware that when
Louis Napoleon yie!ded so far to the counsel of his
Ministers as to consent that the Empress should be
left behind, she insisted upon accompanying her
lord and master, at least as far a 4 Constantinople.
I have in former letters informed you that not only
the Ministers, but M. do Morny, M. de Persigny,
and all the usual confidant:3 of the Emperor, had in
vain endeavoured to dissuade him from the design.
Tt is not, however, • believed that their entreaties
and persuasions, or even the internal dangers to
France which they all foreboded, would have weighed
with him, bad it not been for the remonstrances of
England and Austria. Rumours have been current here
of an autograph letter written by Queen Victoria on the
subject ; but the' probability is that the affair was ma-
naged in the
usual official communications between the Governments
of the two countries."