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

not disdain occasionally to derive inspiration,
and would also deprive 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,nntil the represeata-
tivee of tke people are enabled to open a smart
fire of questions on the Members of the Govern-
ment.

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
wtmost all accessible sources, and bringing rather
extensive experience to test to the utmost the 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, is 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
monfh 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bassador is to be withdrawn from St. Petersburg ;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 •ven Lord ABBILDEEN would
not venture to ask the assent of ParliaA
ment to an unknown condition, or to use a
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 ♦arious 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 condition, 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 giro another " NEgSBLRODH
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 respeots 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 alerted by the acute-
ness of the Ottoman Government. Alas—

" Quantum mutatus ab ill° Hectore."
There is, indeed, a striking alteration in tone and
matter. The same expressions of deference are
used towards " the EldaEltOlt, our august 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—tho "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 pergonal interest. Oh t dear, not at
all. His whole solicitude is for Germany. The
existence of the 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," sad for which the four propositions
therein set forth should serve as " a starting
point."
These propositions are as follows

" 1. A common guarantee© 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 tile Five Powers, on the same con-
ditions as stipulated in their favour by our trea-
ties with the Port..

"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 ftere, 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 Cain, so as to preserve his
vanity from any appearance of yielding. This
was, however, written on the 6th November, tohre
very day after the battle of Inkerman, and
the CZAR could have known the decided repulse
which his numerms troops had sustained, on the
occasion when his sons were summoned to wit-
ness the brilliancy of their anticipated triumph.
MENSCIIIIEC/FF had led him to believe that the
Allied Armies could not possibly escape, that they
must necessarily succumb before the vastly sups.
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 ho might possibly have changed
his notes, and put forward in earnest
what in the first instance was merely " a mockery
and a delusion." Ho strove to sow dissension
among the Powers for whose "unity" he was so
solicitous—to
place them in opposite divisions,
so that they
might quarrel among themselves, or
at least delay any hostile measures against him,
and for some time "turn their unanimity to ac-
count, to throw their balance into the scales of
Europe iu favour of A React of which Alutria