The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-11 00:00:00

" THE THREE EMPERORS."

Napoleon's soldiers used to call Austerlitz the " battle
of the three Emperors ;" the event of December 2, 1854,
brings three emperors (successors to tko combatants of
Austerlitz) again face to face, and a common interest
surrounds the three most powerful men in Europe. The
Vienna Lloyd has an interesting article on the respec-
tive characters of th. three :

" Nine.and.twenty years to-day (Dec. 1) have passed
by since the Emperor Nicholas ascended the throne ;
the sixth year of the reign of the Empeior Francis
Joseph likewise terminates on this day ; and this is the
date of that historical event which, three years ago,
confirmed anew the power of the Emperor Napoleon it,
France. Two years back the Czar of All the Russias
could cast a proud and contented glance over the
many past years of his reign. The lives of few
rulers have ever bee* so uninterruptedly prosperous—to
few has been granted to win renown so rapidly and
to increase it so tranqiiilly, or to preserve inviolate a
degree of power and authority which has seldom been
attained. From the moment when the Czar ascended
the throne and quelled the storms that ushered in his
reign the eyes of the world and of contemporary mo-
narchs were fixed upon him with admiration. Without
having ever commanded an army, he was looked up to
as a hero, and, in after years, though not equal to Peter
and Catherine as a reformer and lawgiver, he wa-
honoured by Europe as a statesman of the first rank,
and almost regarded as a model. False greatness could
not maintain so prominent a position for a quarter of a
century, and still remain great in the searching eyes of
the world. Great courage, great strength, moderation,
and self-command are peculiar to the Czar and he is
-indefatigable in the faithful discharge of his duties as
the ruler of Russia. Wit believe that in an unguarded
niosuent, the Autocrat Of All the Russians has torn
himself from the good fortune which . has accom-
panied—nay, pursued- him—throughout his life ; but
his character is net of the description of those which
borrow lustre from fortune. Europe is engaged
with an opponent with whom she can combat with•
out hate, and whose dignity will guard him from
being treated with arrogance and scorn even in the horn
of victory.
"Hated by Liberal parties, and, the object of the
enmity of all classes of Englishmen, Napoleon, the
favourite of fortune, ascended the throne of France. A
self-denqminated parvenu, the partner of his throne
chosen in a manner contrary to the custom of monarchs,
he stood alone among the Sovereigns of Europe. Up-
braided as an Absolutist by the Liberals, suspected as a
Revolutionist by the Absolutists, he held in his hands, as
it were by chance, an enormous power, to find a secure
basis for which was his task. And now ! In England it
is all but treason to utter a word against Louis Napoleon
which could injure him ; and Englishmen now regard him
with almost as much voluntary respect as they do their
own Sovereign. The great body of the Conservatives
of all countries wish his power may long endure ; and
the vast majority of the Liberals recognise in him the
counterpoise to Russia's overwhelming power. Not a
vestige now remains of the stiff formality with which the
Courts of Europe but a very few years since sought to
repel the advances of the self-created Emperor. The
tranquil significance with which he smilingly refers to
his origin allows none to reflect upon the astonishing
course of his life with other feelings than those of re-
spect, wonder, and admiration.
"History tells of Austria's proverbial good fortune,
but of late years it has been rather of a negative cha-
racter. The empire has been much tried and sorely vi-
sited, and has experienced but one piece of positive good
fortune, namely, the great good fortune of the 2d of
1 December, which is a full indemnification for the past
and a guarantee for the future. The individuality of
Austria's Emperor is Austria's best hope. He is a ruler
equal to the trying times in which ho lives ; and on this
day the people joyfully thank Providence that it has
provided them with a rock of confidence whereupon the)
may confidently lean for support in the present storm.
That storm cannot be expected lightly to pass over Eu•
rope without exposing also this country to a most severe
ordeal."

RAIL WA Y SHARE MARKETS.

LIVERPOOL, DEC. 9.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market firm, and per cent
advance on all leading stocks. Caledonian, 30 ; Ease
Laicashire, 17i; Lancash. and Yorksh., 72i; London as(
N.-Western, 99i; Man., Shef., and Lincoln, 23; Midland
68i ; S,-Eastern, 17 15-16.