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

TIIE NEGOTIATIONS AT VIENNA..

A letter from Vienna of the 3d, in the Constitvii;
tionnel, says : _

" Baron de Bourqueney, it is known, received
nearly a week back his full powers for the con•
ferences about to open. The Emperor Napoleon
has not adjoined to him any other plenipotentiary.
Austria and Great Britain had, however, expressed
the desire to have one named, if only as a. matter
of form, inasmuch as the other great powers were t•
be represented in the Congress each by two pleni-
potentiaries. But as soon A it was understood
how flattering such an exception was for Baron de
Bourqueney, and that it was made by the express
order of his Sovereign, every one hastened to al)•
plaud it. The instructions which accompany the
powers sent to Baron de Bourqueney are, it i$
stated from Paris, precisely the same as those of
Lord John Russell. The Cabinets of France and
England have desired to prove thereby once more
their perfect understanding in everything that con-
cerns the arrangements for peace, not only as re-
gards principles, but also as to questions of detail.
These instructions are, it is said, very simple.
They leave to the conscientious appreciation of the
French and English plenipotentiaries to ascertain
and decide whether or not Russia is animated
with the sincere desire to effect an honourable and
solid peace. It is not necessary to state that
the protocol of the 28th December last, setting
forth the interpretation of the four guarantees,
is to solve as a touchstone for ascertaining
the sincerity of the pacific protestations of
Russia. If the plenipotentiaries of the -Western
Powers acquire the conviction that Russian diplo-
macy desires to elude the guarantees exacted by
the allies of 2d December, they are to cut short
an idle discussion and declare the negotiations
closed. It was this second alternative which before
the death of the Emperor Nicholas appeared the
most probable, to which Lord Palmerston recently
alluded, when he said in the House of Commons
that the absence of Lord John Russell would not
be of long duration. The Cabinet of Berlin having
neither adhered to the treaty of 2d December, nor
even accepted the protocol of 28th December, as
proposed by the Cabinet of the Tuileries, to pre-
pare the way for its entrance into the Congress, the
instructions of the English and French Plenipoten-
tiaries set forth that the conferences shall open
apart from and without the co-operation of Prus-
sia,' France and England being firmly resolved not
to accord to that Power any participation in the
regulations of peace' until it shall have placed
itself, with respect to the four guarantees, on
the same line as the parties to the treaty of alliance
of the 2d December.' This declaration was, it is
said, made to General Wedell, by order of the
Emperor of the French, in such peremptory terms,
that the general deemed it indispensable to go to
Berlin to inform King Frederick William of the
veritable state of things."

DEATH OF THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS.

(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 7 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 Rot, 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 fall 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, and to som •
high financial powers; now it is open to every one.
France is no longer oWy 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 suthle a rise of Satur-
day last, a unanimous feeling was manifested—
namely, the desire and the hope of peace. • This
sentiment was everywhere visible. The event of
the 2,1 March, the death of the Emperor Nicholas,
has brought to light what was in men's minds.
statesmen, political parties, manufacturers, trades-
' men, fund holders, workmen—all with the same
frankness, raised a cry of hope and desire f 'r peace.
How far will that unanimous expectation be satis-
fied or deceived ? But if some obstacles to peace
seem to disappear, do not others arise in their
place ? Under what conditions will the new
Emperor, Alexander the Second, find himself
placed as much towards his own people as towards
• Europe ? Can or will the Powers engaged in this
great conflict with Russia relax anything in the
rigour of their original conditions ? We do not pre-
tend by conjectures to anticipate the knowledge of
facts ; we only wish at present to point out pre-
cisely the true meaning and the moral part of tho
'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.)
Tho reign which has just commenced modifies
without transforming, softens without completely
removing, the situation of Russia towards Europe.
It allows us to see chances of pacification which did
not before exist, but it would bo a strange illusion
to believe in great facilities for peace in presence of
the serious obstacles which exist, as, for instance,
the question of Sebastopol. Europo knows it as
well as we do, and it is for that reason that the
journals which are supposed to best express the
ideas of the great Cabinets are far from sharing
in the hopes at first conceived in the less
official world of speculation. As to the feelings of
the German powers we shall not speak 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 Nicholas. However
this may be, they are about to have an opportunity
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.—The Conqueror, new screw
steam-ship, of 100 guns, and 800 horse-power, is to be
launched at this port the first spring tides in May.
ANOTHER STEAM-BOAT COLLISION AT BRISTOL.—.
BRISTOL (PILL), March 6.—A collision took place in
Kingroad to-day with the Queen and—steamers. The
former, from Hayle, arrived this morning, and, owing
to a dense fog, was brought to anchor there ; the latter,
coming from Newport (and which should also have been,
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 shook as terrific, though no
material accident occurred to any one beyond the fright.
Both steamers have proceeded to the basin. No vessel
or steamer was able to be taken from the basin this
morning, owing to the fog.
THE RUMOUR OF AN APPROACHING DISSOLUTION.—+
—ln consequence of the mysterious rumours in circulae
tion at the Clubs and elsewhere, implying that the Go-
vernment were greatly embarrassed by Mr. Roebuck's
committee of inquiry, and contemplated dissolution,
several of the supporters of Lord Palmerston insisted
seriously on some information as to the facts. In answer
to these inquiries, we understand that Mr. Hayter, Se-
cretary to the Treasury, leas, with all but his official au-
thority, protested, first, that the Government entertain
no apprehensions as to the disclosures of witnesses be-
fore the committee of inquiry ; and, secondly, that the
Emperor of the French has trade no representation in
regard to that committee. With respect to the continued
vacancies in several of the subordinate appointments,
the assurance is conveyed that there is no difficulty on
the part of the Government in filling them up, and
that
the delay has arisen from the desire of Lord _Palmerston
to await the return of Lord John Russell from Vienna
before completing these arrangements.-2lforning di d.
vertiser.
DEATH OF LIEUTENANT DOENFORD, OF GREENWICa
is dead, having been only 53
yenta the
officer, during which time he commanded Thresher,
HosmAri.—This gallant veteran, a lieuatecnornntloisfslioBlolo2s,
gun lA.-, from 1307 till
.the peace, and. was engaged
during that time on a variety of services in the Channel
and North Sea, particularly in 1809, when he engaged a
division of the Boulogne flotilla nearly 40 in number, for
seven hours, sinking three, driving six of the number on
shore and seventeen into Boulogne. He was also in the
Walcheren exeedition. This officer's services, and the
neglect with which ho has been treated, afford a remark.
able contrast to the late promotions of the Chads and
Blomfields and Co., and say very little for the argument
in favour of army promotion being assimilated to that in
the navy. If Lieutenant Dornford had been in the
army, instead of the navy, he would have been a general
officer, despite the " purchase system." And if certain
naval officers who have served in the Baltic and Black
Seas during the last 12 months had been in the army
(some in command), they also would havebeen promoted
notwithstanding the " purchase system." The death of
Lieutenant Dornford gives a resident officer's appoint!
_
I meat to Admiralty patronage.