The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-03 00:00:00

TEE EASTERN QUESTION.

(Prom the Times.)
The destinies of Europe hang upon the decision of the
two great Gertnan Powers. Will the Cabinets of Vienna

and Berlin unite themselves heartily and sincerely with
the Fren9ha,nd British Governments for the maintenance
of the existing territorial arrangements of Europe ? If
this be so, there is even set' a possibility that the hos-
tilities already begun'upon a section of the Danube may
not rise to the proportions 6;4* general war,,,,;,741.'he point
at issue is in reality of far mo4immediatelnoment to the
German Sovereigns than to the Western Powers. Let
us speak of each in turn. One- of the principal objects
which the Russian Emperor now seeks to realise is the
conquest of the mouths of the Danube—in other words
he desires to seal up the principal outlet for the
commerce of the Austrian dominions. Now, the
Danube is an Austrian river,—for all practical pur-
poses, as much so as the Rhone is a French or the
Thames an English river. OE course the Austrian Cabinet
is amused with propositions for indemnification, but it
would be just as possible to indemnify the Emperor
Francis Joseph for the loss of his head, as it would be
to compensate his subjects for the loss of the Danube.
The Austrian should rejoice to see Europe rising in arms
to fight a battle peculiarly his own. We dismiss the hy-
pothesis of neutrality as unworthy of serious notice, should
the struggle assume a character of reality. Before two
months of war are over every Power in Europe, with the
exception possibly of Spain, will be engaged on one side
or the other. Let us assume for a moment that Austria
should side with Russia, and with all the other German
Governments, against France and England, against the
population of Germany, of Hungary, of Poland, of Italy.
Surely Lombardy would make herself heard once more,
and with effective allies the result might be very
different. Let us ask the councillors of Francis Joseph
to consider what the effect would be if some 50,000
Frenchmen should cross the Lombard frontier six weeks
hence, and a fleet, manned with English blue-jackets,
should support their operations on either coast of the
Peninsula ? Would it cost the two Governments much
pains to set Italy on fire at the four corners ? Hungary
and Poland remain ; but we do not think the Austrian
Cabinet can derive much satisfaction from the contem-
plation of those provinces, if their discontent were backed
by Western Europe. On minor points, such as the fate
of Trieste and Venice, in case of a war between Austria
aul the naval Powers, we need not dwell, but would
leave the case in its full simplicity for the consideration
of the house of Hapsburgh. After all, why is the
young Emperor bound to the triumphant sledge of
the Czar? The Hungarian operations in which the
Russian army was engaged were undertaken far more
for the Emperor Nicholas's own security than for that
of the dominions of Francis Joseph. The campaign
which the Russian generals conducted in Hungary they
must otherwise have conducted in Russian Poland. In
saving Hungary to the house 'of Hapsburgh they saved
the European provinces of their own master. Such is
the simple statement of Austria's obligations to Russia ;
but we have yet to learn that questions of sentiment can
be permitted to influence the decisions of a great Go-
vernment. To these considerations we would add, that
if by siding with the other European powers the Aus-
trian Monarch should succeed in making war impossible
to the Russian, he will have saved the Emperor Nicho-
las from destruction and his empire from dismember-
ment. Surely this is the best proof of gratitude which
could be given in return for service performed.
In Prussia, indeed, there is not the same amount of
discontent as in the provinces of which the Austrian
empire is constituted. So far she enjoys a felicity denied
to her neighbour and ally. On the other hand, whereas
Austria is not immediately assailable by France in any
of her provinces save Lombardy, Prussia is open to every
blow. There can be no doubt that the military spirit
of the French nation would be highly gratified by at
least a partial restoration of the old Napoleonic limits ;
and they lie very invitingly to the Great Emperor's
nephew and successor. The question then remains for
the attentive consideration of the Prussian Cabinet, if
they could now hope to rouse the spirit of Germany
against the French invader as in the time of the War of
Liberation ? The fiery youth of Germany then came for-
ward to be slain in hecatombs for the cause of their
country's freedom. We doubt if they could be induced
to fight with the same degree of vigour in support of
Russian aggrandisement. It may also be said that
the people of Germany have had some specimen of
the manner in which the rulers of their country un-
derstand the meaning of the term " freedom "—of
that talismanic word which induced their fathers to
spill so much of their own credulous blood._ Between
the War of Liberation and the present time we have had
the violated promises of ISIS, and the reaction against
the revolutionary outbreak of 1848. All these matters
considered, we have very serious doubts if the German
Kings could lead their subjects to a renewal of the
struggles of ISO 3-15, even for the sake of German
thrones ; but we have no doubt at all should the point
at issue be merely the aggrandisement of the Russian
Czar. The public will be glad to see that the telegraphic
despatches we publish to-day announce that the Crown
Prince of Prussia has ranged himself decisively on tho
side of the western powers. If his counsel be acted
upon, he will have saved the Prussian monarchy. Now
or never, the time has come to show the world that there
is some use in the vast armaments which have been kept
on foot in Germany since 1815. If properly directed at
the present moment, they may preserve the peace of
the world.

THE NEW CATTLE-MARKET AT COPENHAGEN-FIELDS.
—Mr. Deputy Hicks, accompanied by Mr. W. Collins,
the master of the Butchers' Company, and other gentle-
men connected with the trade, waited upon the Lord
Mayor yesterday, to complain of some observations
made by his lordship a few days ago, to the effect that
under the present system the proper observance of the
Sabbath was neglected, in order that preparation might
be made for Monday's market. Mr. Hicks, who intro-
duced the subject, stated that the Butchers' Company
had since held a meeting and passed a resolution, in
which they denied that any part of the Sabbath was de-
voted to preparations for attending market on Monday.
The Lord Mayor said he was rejoiced to hear that the
butchers paid attention to the Sabbath. He was, how-
ever, of opinion that there was a decided feeling in the
public mind that the market day ought to be changed
from Monday to Tuesday. It was the system he blamed
and not the men, and he thought the best interests of
society would be promoted by the suggested change.
ANOTHER LONDON FOG.—This morning the metro-
polis was enveloped by a fog denser than any that has
visited it during the present winter. Traffic on the river
was almost entirely suspended, and nearly all the shops
and other places of business were lighted-up as if it
were the evening.
DETERMINED ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE AT LONDON-BRIDGE.
—This morning, a respectable young woman who gave
her nameby
Jumping Nlary Ann Jackson, attempted self-destruc-
tion
off London-bridge. She was fortu-
nately rescued from a watery grave, and taken in an
insensible state to Saint Thomas's Hospital, where she
now remains, and refuses to give any account what in-
duced her to attempt self-destruction.
THE SUPPLY OF COALS AT PORTSMOITTM—The shift
of wind has brought a most seasonable relief in the sup-
ply of coals. We believe for the last month there have
not been 1000 tons of coals in all Portsmouth, Portsea,
or Gosport ; the price had consequently got up to U.
10s. per ton. The number of colliers in to-day has re-
duced the price to 2/. This, however, is a fearful charge
to the poor, who are in great distress owing to the high
price of provisions.
NOTTINGHAM TRADE.—March and April being con-
sidered the best months in the year for lace business—
the present moment is pronounced by some branches of
the trade " a very good dull season "—but by others is
made out to be as dull as dull can be. We believe that
the latter is the rule, the former the exception ; but it
is impossible by any general statement to characterise
the condition of transactions so various as our infinitude
of manufactures give rise to. The silk market during
the past month has, according to Knowles' circular of
February, been void of interest, and but few transac-
tions have taken place. The hirivals of China silk
lately announced have been warehoused, and 'found very
deficient in best silk. The mills are still in full employ-
ment, and the demand for exportation, although consider-
ably subsided, continues to some extent. Hosiery ex-
hibits this week a decided improvement without any
furious excitement. The activity which prevails is very
encouraging ; and although buyers still manifest extreme
caution, the political causes of mistrust and misappre-
hension not being removed, it is evident that a fair busi-
ness must eventually be done, were it only to meet the
stated exigencies of the moment, and whether any Specu-
lative movement shall arise or not.—Notts Guardian.
THE LATE MR. THOJIASON.—The lamented Governor
of the North-west Provinces of India has bequeathed
the whole of his valuable private library to the Govern-
ment College at Agra.
_ .