The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-21 00:00:00

FRANCE.

General Castelbajc, Minister Plenipotentiary at St.
a—
Petersburg, has arrived in Paris.
"It appears, says the bidependance of Brussels,
" that the commercial negotiations with France are on
the point of being terminated ; and according to a
rumour,
which we believe to be well-founded, the signa-
ture of a new treaty may be daily expected."
The Prase says of Lord John Russell's 'speech :
"Never did the minister of a great nation use firmer or
more dignified language, never was outraged public mo-
rality vindicated more eloquently, and never were more
withering epithets applied to the conduct of any crowned
head."

The Siecle says the Emperor's letter arrived at St.
Petersburg on the morning of the 6th, and that General
Castelbajac immediately asked for an audience to de-
liver it personally to the Czar. He was told that his
Majesty was unwell, and would be unable to receive
him till the next day, or perhaps the day alter. What
happened afterwards is not known in detail.
The note of the Moniteur, explanatory of the inten-
tions of France with respect to Russia, has created an
immense sensation in Paris. The letter of the Czar, in
answer to that of the Emperor of the French was
brought by General de Castelbajac himself, who arrived in
Paris late on Saturday night. The letter, it appears, is
not to be published by the French Government in ex-
tenso, because it is thought that it will do injury. It has
been reported that the Czar's letter was short and vio-
lent. It is now said that, on the contrary, it is long
and argumentative ; and that,
.although not violent, it
in oon.oeived iu terms ao ammo to Louis Napoleon

/1 2

himself; butted by one of his most confiden.
tial friends, it is too bad to be published. It is probable,
however, that the document will soon find its way into
the public prints, as it is evident that if the Emperor
Napoleon, in writing and publishing his letter, had an
object to gain in France, , the Emperor Nicholas may
also hope that, by publishing his answer, he may gain a
point with the people of Russia.-
It is worth while to note that among other passages
in-it-this one is said to occur :—" I have the same confi-
dence that my troops will reply in the same manner as
they replied in 1812."
.1f such words be really in the
document`they are clearly intended to be.a hit as well
as a prediction. The Russian campaign was, it is true,
the principal cause of the fall of Napoleon 1., and the
actual campaign will, in the opinion of the Czar, be the
prelude to , a similar catastrophe, but the circumstances
are not the same. If ever a war could be called just.
the present is a just one, and the conduct of Russia is
of so iniquitous a kind that not even her own most de-
voted friends dare to approve it.

'lt has been particularly remarked that the note in
the Moateux is perfectly silent with respect to Prussia ;
uhiie it not 'only alludes pointedly to Austria,. but gives
the young Emperor of. Austria an exhortation as to his
duties in the present conjuncture. The inference drawn
from this fact is that, notwithstanding all the rumours
as to the want of success of Count Orloff, in his mission
to Vienna, the French Government is by no means sa-
tisfied as to the intentions of Austria.
It has been discovered that attempts have been making
in the Faubourgs to get up a demonstration of the
working classes against the war ; in fact, any pretext
whatever-4or instance, that France is sold to England ;
that England is about to seize, with the consent of France
the island of Candia ; that France is giving up Algeria to
please England. It is also circulated among the working
classes ,that two or three of the exiled GeneralS have
gained over several regiments ; one or two to proclaim
the Red Republic, one or two others to restore the
legitimate King, &c. Efforts are likewise made to get
up a manifestation for the 24th, the anniversary of the
Revolution of 1848. The Republican chiefs are op-
posed to anything of the kind, and the people seem to
pay very little attention to the agents referred to, who
are, very probably, anything but Republican.
The announcement in the Moniteur that the Emperor
of Russia had refused to negotiate on the terms proposed
by the Emperor Louis Napoleon produced a disastrous
fall in the price of public securities at the Bourse to-day.
The Three per Cents, opened at 66f. 50c:, and fell to
65f, 75c. They closed at 65f. 80c. for the end of the
month, being a fall of 2f. sc. as compared with the
closing price of Saturday. • The Four-and-a-Half per
Cents. closed at ,95f. ; Orleans Railway. Shares, 1,040 f. ;
Rouen, 870 f. ; Havre, 425 f. ; Great. Northern, 705 f. ;
Paris and Strasburg, 692 f. 50c. ; ditto, New, 550 f. ;
Western of France, 550 f. ; Bordeaux and Cette, 520 f. ;
Great Central, 422 f. • 50c. ; Lyons to Geneva, 440 f. ;
Shares of the Bank of Crddit Mobilier, 510 f. '

iliaelt that, as wadated