The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-08 00:00:00

DEATH OF TEE NIGnOLAS.

( From the Assemblee Nationale.)
The sensation produced by the death of the Em-
peror Nicholas has been immense. In stating this
fact we wish to explain the meaning of it. Must
we admit this impression 'which has been so gene-
ral and so deep to be a kind of barbarous joy at
witnessing the fall of a formidable enemy ? Such
an interpretation would be insulting to the country.
France has more generosity in her character ; she
has been frequently engaged in struggles against
formidable adversaries, and she has never been seen
animated by sentiments which would be so little
worthy of her character. In combating her enemies
she has always known how to render them justice,
and her energy has never lessened her sense of
equity. There is not, therefore, in the deep sensa-
tion produced by the death of the Emperor Nicholas
any explosion of hateful passion ; it is explained by
a very different feeling—a sincere desire for peace.
When the Emperor Nicholas was seen to disappear
so suddenly from the political stage, it was thought
that with him would tall the principal obstacle to a
general pacification, so much did he appear to be the .
only cause of the great conflict which now disturbs
Europe. The hope of peace has been suddenly
awakened with extraordinary vivacity, as might
have been seen by what occured at the Bourse on
the day when this great news took Paris by surprise,.
On this occasion, the Bourse has been really the
mirror of public opinion, and there is nothing asto-
nishing in it. Formerly that building was a theatre'
reserved to a small number of speculators, andto some
high financial powers; now it is open to every one.
France is no longer only a landed proprietor; she is
a holder of public stock. Every one finds himself
interested in the public funds, and their movements
at certain hours are the faithful indications of pub-
lic opinion. By the great and sudden rise of Satur-
day last, a unanimous feeling was manifesteft,..►
namely, the desire arid the hope of peace.,- This
sentiment was everywhere visible.: The eent. of •
the 2d March, the death of the Emperor • Nicholas,,has brought to light what was in men's minds.; • ' w
Statesmen, political parties, manufacturers, trs,.des•
men, fuudholders, workmen—all wi:kh the Emma
frankness, raised a cry of -hope and desir.3 fc,r „Tmace.
How far will that unanimous expectatio tt 7bt- satis-
fied or deceived ? But if some obstacles:' Air) peace
seem to disappear, do not others arise, in their --
place ? Under what conditions will • the new
Emperor, Alexander the Second, fie& himself
placed as much towards his own people as towards
Europe.? Can or will the Powers engaget.'l in this
great conflict with Russia relax anything, in , the.
rigour of their original conditions ? We do not pre,
i tend by conjectures to anticipate the knowlage of ' •' •
facts ; we only wish at present to point out pre-
cisely the true meaning and the moral part of the c.,
deep emotion which has been caused throughout
Europe by the death of the Emperor Nicholas, an
event which at the same time terminates one phase
of the Eastern question and commences another.

- •
(From the Union.)
The reign which 'has just commenced,modiftes
without transforming, .softells without completely
removing, the situation of Russia towards Europe..
It allows us to see chanties of pacification which. did"-
not before exist, but it would be a strangeillu.siOn
to believe in great facilities for peace in presence of
the serious obstacles which exist, as, for instance,
the question of Sebastopol. Europe knows ,it -as
well as we do, and it is for that reattou, that the
journals which are supposer.l.-tr.. best express the
ideas of the gnat Cabiuels :lire far from sharing
in the hopes at first conceived in the less
I official world of speculation. As to the feelings of
i the German poweis we shall no tspak of them.
Their policy, which before was not 'very clear, does
not appear to be now much plainer in consequence
of the death of the Emperor Nicholls.. However
this may be, they are about to have an ppportunity
of expressing their views in the conferences of .
Vienna. Until then we shall not prejudge the
question, but shall wait patiently, without giving
way to conjectures, which may be only so many
acts of rashness.

PLYMOUTH, March 7.—Tbe Conqueror; new screw
steam-ship, of 100 guns, and 800 horsepower, is ,to
launched at this port the first spring tiies 11:L3/ay.
ANOTHER STEAM-BOAT COLLISION AT' BRISTOIi.—
BRISTOL (FILL), March G.— A collision took place in.
former, from Hayle, arrived this morning?, and, owing
Kingroari to-day with the Queen and steamers.; ,The
V) a de&ie fog, was brought to anchor there ; the latteri -
coining from Newport (and which should also have, bees.
detained), ran into the
.Queen, striking her amidships,
and nearly cut her down to the water's edge ; the
also sustained extensive damage, but above water.. The
passengers describe the shoc as terrific, though no
material accident occurred to any one beyond. theirighte
Both steamers have proceeded to the basin. No vessel
taobltehetofogb.e taken from the basin,
or steamer o
owing
THE RUMOUR OF AN APPROACHING- Dr.stiourriON.--.-
-In consequence of the mysterious rumen:v.ln, circula-
tion at the Clubs and elsewhere, implying hat
the Go•
vernment were greatly erabairassed by Mr.. Roebuck's
committee of inquiry, and contemplated dissolution,
several of the supportersof Lord Palmerston hoisted
,tawaidthtahlaltbut Mr. Hayter,
his official in.:
seriously on some information as to the facts. &Tamer
to these inquiries,
eaer, huyndearss
cretaurtothe Treasury,
we
thority, protested, first, that the Government entertain
no apprehensions as to the disclosures of witnesses be..
fore the committee of inquiry ; and, secendly, that the
Emperor of the French has iradi no rep" resentatiow in
regard to that committee. With respect to the continued
vacancies in aoveral of the subordinate appoiatinent
the assurance is conveyed that there is no diffiouttyOU
the part of the Government in filling them up, an4,;t4lat
the, delay has arisen from the desire of Lord-Paln ViennieritOna
to await the return of Lord John Russell froth
before completing these rirrangentents.--Norning 4clr•
vertiller. . ,
-1,1 an OF Gsumit'loa
DEATH OF LIEUTENANT J,OIINFO
lieutenant of 1802,
ilosmaL.—This gallant vetar_a_ni
ears 4
commissioned
is dead,' .having been only .43
17, coinymanded the Thresher,
officer, during which Lai:le
the
pvace,
and was en gaged
gun brig, from 1807 till
et
of services in the Channelgag
during that time on a vale y
: in 1809 when h
and North Sea, parton y e -engaged, a
division of the Boulogne flotilla nearly 40 iti numberi for
seven hours, sinking three, driving six of the number on
shore and seventeen into Boulogne. lie was also inthe
Watelieren expedition. This officer's servieee,.and:ths
neglect with which he has been treated, afford a remark-
able contrast to the late promotions of the Clads and ,
Blumfields and Co., and say very little for thiParginnent
in favour of artily promotion being acsimilated,O. o*in
the navy. If Lieutenant Dornford had been in the
army, instead of the navy, he would have been a gendral
offiecr, despite the "purchase system." elind'i"ertais
naval officers who have served in•the Baltic and Black
Seas during the last 12 months bad.been in die arnay
(some in command), they alen would have been promoted
notwithstanding the " purchase system." The death of
Lieutenant Dornford gives a resident officer's appeitet...
4,
meat to Admiralty patronage:

1,-