The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-08 00:00:00

THE WEATHER.—SUN OVIICM, Dec. S.

THIBNONETIII, IN Tan SHAD'.
46—highest since noon yesterday.
41—lowost this morning and during the night.
50—this day, at noon.
BARomrrlE, 29.30 falling.
WIND, S.W.—Moderate, with dull weather and partial
rain.
it was a hard frost yesterday morning.

not disdain occasionally to derive inspiration,
and would also deprilie their antagonists of
the opportunity of considering the details, in
all their varied aspects, before expressing their
views in reference thereto. These are points
which, trifling as they may appear to
the community at large, are not lost sight of by
Parliamentary strategists, and on which the fate
of a division may occasionally depend. It is,
therefore, tolerably certain that so far as these
matters can be withheld from the public know-
ledge they will be kept back, until the representa-
tives of the people are enabled t o open a smart
fire of questions on the Members of the GoTern-
meat.

At present, then, we can only proceed on guess-
work, or rather a close calculation of probabili-
ties, founded on the most reliable and trustworthy
intelligence that can be obtained from various
quarters ; and, accord to each, the weight to
which it seems to be entitled. Still, using to the
utmost all accessible sources, and bringing rather
extensive experience to test to the utmost tke in-
formation thus obtained, we can only argue on
probabilities, and not speak with certainty ; and
those who pretend to do more are either deceiving
the public, or have resorted to unfair means of
procuring intelligence from tainted sources, which
cannot be implicitly relied on.

We have nothing, then, to add to, alter, or
amend, in the views we put forward in our im-
pression of yesterday. We believe that before
Austria takes an active part in the War she is to
make another application to Russia to accept the
Four Points—as interpreted by the Allies—that
if that demand be not acceded to within one
month from the 2d December, the Austrian Am-
bassador is to be withdrawn from St. Petersburg ;
and that in three months, i. e. on the 2d March,
war is to be declared. As to the alleged secret
article in the Treaty, we are utterly incredulous.
Simply because even Lord ABERDEEN would
not venture to ask the assent of Parlia-
.inent to an unknown condition, or to use a
IT.
homely, but expressive, comparison, "to buy a
• -
pig in a poke," from so sharp a practitioner in
Austria. Nor do we believe that he has ventured
to promise that England shall act the part of a
gaoler over the ardent spirits that sigh for inde-
pendence in various lands that now are placed
under Austrian rule. On this, however, we are
not quite so satisfied. We must, therefore, be
. contented to record our solemn protest against
any such conditions and to call upon the chosen
of the people to ascertain the fact at the earliest
moment, and to act, as the circumstances then
elicited may require.

We are enabled to give another " NESSELRODE
Note" to our readers this day. It exhibits the
same unbounded contempt for " facts," formerly
displayed by the Russian Chancellor—and a
similar desire to distract attention from the real
point in dispute, and to ride off on a collateral
issue ; but in other respects it exhibits a remark-
able contrast to former documents, more especially
that in which the Russian Chancellor put forward
his interpretation of the terms contained in the
contemplated Treaty of Vienna—the evils result-

ing from which were only averted by the acute
ness of the Ottoman Government. Alas--

" Quantum. mutatus ab lb Hectore."

These propositions are as follows :

There is, indeed, a striking a:Horatio* in tone and
matter. The same expressions of deference are
used towards " the Facesaoa, our augulh master,"
but that peculiar arrogance, that dictatorial
supremacy formerly.assumed, are completely want-
ing. It is no longer an autocratic ukase to which
every hearer must render implicit and reverential
obedience. We kear of something beside the
rights of the CZAR, and his mission to advance
the Orthodox Church. There are no appeals to
the DElTY—nothing hypocritical or blasphemous
to stimulate the fanaticism of the people, or ex-
press his unbending determination to have mat-
ters all his own way, or to involve the world in
war. No—the " Bear" is, for the moment, a
model of courtesy. His tender heart is moved
at the calamities that may happen to—not
to " Russia," that is placed beyond the reach of
danger—but to " Germany," should he continue
implacable. He has learned that " nearly all
the German Governments are possessed with
a common fear—that of seeing a schism arise
between the two great German Powers re-
specting the affairs of the East, an event which
might endanger the tranquillity of the common
country, and even endanger the existence of the
Germanic Confederation."

This impending danger has softened his heart.
NICHOLAS desires, "so far as on him depends, to
preserve Germany from the curse that would
menace in such a case." This is his only motive.
He has no personal interest. Oh ! dear, not at
all. His whole solicitude is for Germany. The
existence of thd Confederation may be en-
dangered. That peril penetrates his very heart.
He yields to a flood of tenderness, and is there-
fore " disposed to take part in negotiations which
should have for their object the re-establishment
of peace," and for which the four propositions
therein set forth should serve as " a starting
point."

" 1. A common guaranteee by the Five Powers
of the religious and civil rights of the Christian
populations of the Ottoman Empire, without dis-
tinction of form of worship.
"2. Protectorate of the Principalities exercised
in common by the Five Powers, on the same con-
ditions as stipulated in their favour by our trea-
ties with the Porte.

"3. Revision of the Treaty of 1841. Russia
will not oppose its abolition, if the Sultan, the
principal party interested, consents thereto.

"4. Free navigation of the Danube, which
exists de jure, and which Russia never had the
intention of preventing."

These are neither more nor less than the
" Four Points," modified, in some degree, to suit
the wishes of the CZAR, so as to preserve his
vanity from any appearance of yielding. This
was, however, written on the 6th November, the
very day after the battle of Inkerman, and before
the CZAR could have known the decided repulse
which his numerous troops had sustained, on the
occasion when his sons were summoned to wit-
ness the brilliancy of their anticipated triumph.
MENSCIIIKOFF had led him to believe that the
Allied Armies could not possibly escape, that they
must necessarily succumb before the vastly supe-
rior number of veterans brought from other dis-
tricts, where, through the friendly assistance
rendered by Austria, their services could be dis-
pensed with. When he heard the result of that
day's operations he might possibly have changed
his notes, and put for ward in earnest
what in the first instance was merely " a mockery
and a delusion." He strove to sow dissension
ailli7itgou_to
thes Powers for whose "unity" he was so
so
so that they place thorn in opposite divisions,
might
at least delay quarrel among themselves, or
any hostile measures agaiust him,
and for some time " turn their unanimity to ac-
count, to throw their balance into the scales of
Europe in favour of a Peace of which Austria