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

TEE EASTERN QUESTION.

The answer of the British and French Govern-
ments to the communication recently addressed to
them on the subject of the entry of the combined
fleets into the Black Sea was delivered yesterday
in writing to Baron Brunow in London and to
M. de Kisseleff in Paris."-There is reason to believe
that the instructions already received by these en-
voys from their own Court leave them no option
as to the course they were to pursue in the event
of a negative answer to the questions put by Count
Nesselrode's despatch and their own Notes ; and
we entertain no doubt that the answer they have
received is such as to be regarded by them in an
unfavourable light, in as much as it cannot dif-
fer in any important particular from the verbal
communication already addressed by Sir Hamil-
ton Seymour and M. de Castelbajac to the Cabinet
of St. Petersburg on the same subject. Some short
interval of time may, however, still elapse before
this resolution is carried into effect, for it has ob-
viously been the desire of all parties in this mo-
mentous crisis to avoid every act which might bear
the semblance of haste or personal irritation, and
the closing diplomatic relations between the three
leading Governments of Europe ought still to wear
the forms of courteous dignity. It is due to the
Russian Ministers, who will probably to-morrow
suspend or break off the intercourse they had so
long cultivated with success, to acknowledge that
they have not been wanting in this part of their
duty, as far as we are at all acquainted with their
conduct; and, on the other hand, the British and
French Governments have shown no disposition to
hurry on this crisis by the precipitate recall of their
own Ministers at St. Petersburg, or by measures
of severity towards the diplomatic representatives
of the Emperor of Russia in Western Europe. On
these grounds alone we may regard the departure
of the Russian Ministers in London and Paris as
an event which has not yet taken place, but we
cannot allow ourselves to hope that this delay
affords any additional chance of a pacific arrange-
ment, or that negotiations are likely to be resumed,
unless the language of the German Courts is so
firm as to compel the Emperor of Russia to accede
to the preliminaries which are already before him.
—Times.

CABINET DINNER.—The Earl of Aberdeen gave a
dinner last evening at Argyll-house to his colleagues of
the Cabinet. The following were present :—Lord John
Russell, the Marquis of Lansdowne' the Lord Chan
cellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Viscount
Palmerston, the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of New-
castle, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Sir J. Graham,
Sir C. Wood, the Right Hon. Sidney lierbert, and Sir
William Moleswortb.
DINNER AT THE EARL OF DERBY'S.—Yesterday
evening the Earl of Derby gave his second Parliamentary
banquet this season to a distinguished party of members
of the House of Commons. The guests included the
Marquis of Blandford, Viscount Mandeville, Viscount
Chelsea, Lord Lovaine, Lord Stanley, Right Hon. Ben-
jamin Disraeli, Right Hon. James Napier, Hon. Henry
Liddell, Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, Sir John Trollope,
Sir Henry Menx, Colonel North, Colonel Blair, Mr.
Hamilton, Mr. Bentinck, Mr. Bankes Stanhope, Mr.
Masterman, Mr. Bagge, Mr. Robert Palmer, Mr.
Wodehouse, Mr. Cairns, Mr. M'Gregor, Mr. Wadding.
ton, Mr. Coles, Mr. Malins, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Brisco,
and Mr. Mullings. The noble earl has cards out for
another banquet on Monday next.
MEETING OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COM-

MONS AT THE EARL OF DERBY'S.—On Tuesday, at
twelve o'clock, a :meeting of the Conservative members
of the House of Commons took place at the Earl of
Derby's house in St. James's square. The attendance
was very numerous, and the noble earl addressed the
assembly in a speech of considerable length and with
his usual vigour. The speech was received with great
applause. His lordship dwelt at considerable length on
the necessity for a cordial union amongst the members
of the party—a sentiment which was warmly greeted.
SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE MARQUIS OF ANGLESEA.—
The public will learn with regret the serious indisposi-
tion of this venerable and distinguished officer. Yes-
terday morning, as his lordship was taking his usual
morning walk, he was observed to rest against a lamp.
post, when a gentleman who knew him by appearance
approached, and found that his weakness was the result
of an attack of paralysis. He immediately conveyed
him to Uxbridge-house, when medical aid was at once
called in.

THE MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY.—We are happy
to announce that the Marquis of Londonderry is com-
pletely recovered from his late severe indisposition.
A SOLDIER OF THE 16TH LANCERS KILLED.—This morn-
ing a young man, named Lary M`Farlen, of the 16th Lan-
cers, expired in King's College Hospital, under the follow-
ing melancholy circumstances. It appears that the unfor-
tunate man was thrown out, of a public-house in Wych-
street, Strand, and fell underneath a waggon loaded
with iron, the wheels passing over the lower part of his
body, fracturing his legs, arms, and thighs in a frightful
manner. He was instantly picked up by Serjt. Butler,
No. 13 F, and conveyed on a shutter to the above in-
stitution, where Mr. Palmer, the house surgeon, was
unremitting in his exertions till death shorly termi-
nated his sufferinge.
THE MUSEUM OF ORNAMENTAL ART AT MARLBOROUGH
HOUSE.—The numbers attending, &c., during the month
of January were as follows :-11,365 persons on the
public days, and admitted free ; 583 persons on the
students' days, and admitted as students on the payment
of 6d. each, besides the registered students of the
classes and schools.