The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-10 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
rim DAY —Morning 7 min.after 6 I Evening 26 min.aft. 6
To-11mm -- Morning 46 min./Liter 6 1 Evening 7 min. aft. 7

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, Jan. 10.
THERMOMETER, IN THZ SHAM!.
52—highest since noon yesterday.
40 —lowest this morning and during the night.
42—this day, at noon.
BAROMETER, 30'63—the highest for a year.
Wryn, westerly and ligkt, with thick, hazy weather—
dense fog in the morning.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
"An Old Soldier" is informed that we decline to insert
attacks on other journals from anonymous correspondents.

tfi,4
i§atvy.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1855.

Much joy is already expressed in certain circles
at the concessions (!) made by the CZAR ! It
would seem as if an honourable peace had been
negotiated, which exhibited every prospect of
permanency—as if the CZAR had completely
changed his nature and Russia her traditional
policy—that, in fact, NICHOLAS cold look on
unclaimed territory temptingly situated without a
single ambitious or covetous feeling !

All this exultation has arisen from the simple
fact that he has (through his representative Prince
Gonnate KoFF) expressed his readiness to treat
on certain bases commonly known as " the
Four Points." It is known that he has
listened to proposals which some time since he
contumeliously rejected ; that he has, in answer
to propositions submitted for his consideration,--
for the Allied Powers still consent to supplicate
where they might command—expressed his readi-
ness "to treat." But does it therefore follow
that a satisfactory arrangement must necessarily
be arrived at ?—or that Russia will change her
character, and act with perfect faith and sincerity
in all matters under discussion ? Before we can
think so, we must maturely consider all the cir-
cumstances of the case, and more especially regard
any objects which the CZAR might desire to
achieve, could he gain anything by procrastina-
tion, or by an affected moderation. Even a
trifling advantage would be a sufficient compensa-
tion for any damage to his character by the aban-
donment of the position he had previously occu-
pied, or the refusal to continue pending delibe-
rations.

I Now, in the first place, as to procrastination.
NICHOLAS is not mad enough to suppose that any
pretended anxiety on his part for peace could
stop, or even suspend, the operations of the
Allied Armies at present in the Crimea. He does
not anticipate that the siege would be raised—
that Balaklava and the southern district about
Sebastopol would be abandoned, or that the troops
would seek permission to embark without annoy-
ance. He would too gladly build a bridge for
such an enemy—if retreating ! Assume an ap-
pearance of magnanimity. Even " the Devil can
quote Scripture" when it suits his purpose ; and
the junior NICHOLAS could put forward specious
and plausible pretexts enough if the opportunity
were afforded. But there is no such chance. He
thoroughly understands how far his friends in the
English Cabinet, whether of "forty" or of two
years' standing, can go ; and he knows that they
would not venture to consent to an armistice or
temporary truce so shortly before the meeting of
the English Parliament, when they should answer
for their conduct in both branches of the Legis-
lature, and before the justly indignant country !

But although they could not consent to a ces-
sation of operations, they might abstain from
sending out the ieinforeements so urgently re-
quired ! They might excuse themselves through
a Financial Minister who has proclaimed the prin-
ciple that the entire expenses of the War should
be defrayed by the existing generation, and out
of the current revenue of the country—for seek-
ing to economise ; and the message of the CZAR
would supply an apology and excuse, in some de-
gree, for new /aches !
Besides, independently of any transactions with
the Western Powers, Austria and Prussia are
to be conciliated. They are to be provided
with excuses for continuing inactive—possibly
for disagreeing with France and England. Tri
such discussions as must be entered on the seeds
of dissension may be sown—materials for future
differences may be artfully provided—many mat-
ters beneficial to the CZAR, and consequently in-
jurious to his opponents, may be effected. Such
we believe to be the only objects of the AUTOCRAT
in re-opening the negotiations. He is not,
we fear, as yet sufficiently humiliated to
seek for peace on the only terms that
can render it permanent and lasting. He is
not yet prepared to surrender the Crimea, or
enter into stipulations for the limitation of his
power in the Black Sea. The present state of
affairs, therefore, appears to us by no means so
auspicious as has been supposed; on the contrary,
they afford further evidence for the necessity
of additional caution and vigilance on the part of
the English Government—more especially of the
Members entrusted with the control and manage-
ment of the War.

There is, it appears, a more cogent reason for
the Extension of the Russian territories than any
that has as yet been acknowledged. The CZAR,
though " every inch an Emperor," has still the
ordinary feelings of humanity. He is troubled
with a restless and ambitious son, who,
consideringthe that his father was allowed
Pre-eminence over an elder brother, hopes
that
precedent may be followed, and that
the superior
—be tdibesrillee"—m. claimsiie of his elder brother
appears, --o—f`a:oGreral,endaeDefuuki eALEXANDER—ma
favour ! ALEXANDER is, ity
younger brother. Re does disposition than his
not possess the fierce
enthusiasm of CONSTAN
latter to aim at universal —"rilielt
it
prompts the
pr.
ow stands,
main contented with Russia
as Re could re-
' and is not disposed to risk all in the
,i,,
tious attempt to grasp at more. But the Et h
Coll3Cleilag-
Admiral is made of sterner stuff. He seems i a modern GLOUCESTER without the to be
personal de-
' fortuity—ready to risk all in order to appropriate
the sovereign power to himself. The AUTOCRAT
sees the elements of future disturbance spring-
, lug from these differences. He wishes to
gratify CONSTANTINE without grossly wrenu-
ing ALEXANDER, -- to procure another Em-
pire which he can bequeath as an appanage to his
1
second son, without touching on the vested
rights of his first-born. Turkey, therefore,
He fancied that
n'
attracted his
maniasn
~a tinteingthiot
be accelerated oh his
downward journey, and that his darling
CONSTANTINE might be provided forout of
the wide.opread dominions that would thereby be

left without a master., Tho youthful aspirant to
Imperial power laboured under a similar delu-
sion, and he, and his tool, MENSCIIIKOFF, stimu-
lated existing acerbities, until they produced the
War now pending, and which the pride and vanity
of the EMPEROR induces him to continue rather
than to make the necessary concessioxis
and suitable recompenses for his unwarrantable

aggression.
Now it is said that he is looking in another
direction, being satisfied that he has been mis-
guided so far as the Ottoman Empire is concerned.
Poland, Hungary, open new fields for specula-
tion. Either would afford great opportunities to
an energetic man, and probably, for a time at
least, satisfy the ambition of the modern RICHARD
the THIRD. Hungary has, therefore, been already
tampered with. The experience of 1849 teaches
the intriguer how fragile are the bonds by which
she is connected with Austria. He therefore
fancies that the hope of an independent
existence would tempt the gallant Magyars to
accept even CONSTANTINE as a monarch, and to
escape the " frying-pan "of Austrian tyranny by
voluntarily seeking " the fire " of Russian des-
potism. They are not, however, to be so easily
misled. They will achieve real independence
when the opportunity occurs, and not be con-
tented to exchange one burden for another still
more onerous without the assent of a large
majority of the people. Such a transfer would
not be practicable, and we believe that such an
assent is perfectly unattainable.
The CZAR may be satisfied that nothing can
be done in Hungary, and even Poland—deeply.
injured and long-suffering Poland—would repu-
diate such allegiance, save as a means of
eventually shaking off the yoke, and
springing anew from her ashes, like another
Phoenix. Great care and attention would be indis-
pensable, and we cannot as yet see how such an
arrangement is possible, even though Austria
should be satisfied to disgorge the booty which she
obtained at the time of ths memorable partition.
It is well, moreover, to warn the friends of free-
dom that such a notion has been ventilated, in
order that they may not be taken by surprise
when the hour for action shall arrive.