The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-28 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1854.

It is more than hinted that there is to be
another attempt on the part of Russia to enter

into fresh negotiations on the basis of the condi-
tions specified in the despatches from the French
and English Governments to Count BuoL, and re-
ferred to in The Sun of Tuesday last. It is said
that Prince GORTSCHAKOFF intimated at Vienna,
that " with some trifling modifications the CZAR
may be induced to take them into his august con-
sideration. Time, however, would be required for
the purpose, and of course the active operations
of war should be suspended while there was a
reasonable prospect of peace being restored." We
can easily credit the willingness of NICHOLAS and
his agents to renew the discussions that have for
some time been suspended, so as to weave a new net

of treachery and dissimulation. We have seen that
they are familiar with the most unblushing menda-
city in all its varied forms ; and that where a
direct contradiction is DO longer possible: they
quibble and distort passages from their obvious
meaning, so as to leave matters that ought to be
clear as light in the greatest doubt and uncer-

tainty. They find that in the field or on the
ocean they have no chance. A direct falsehood
will not arrest the flight of a shell or cannon ball,

or heal the wound from a Minie Rifle. The mosi

specious fallacies will not shield against the point
of the bayonet or the edge of the sabre. In phy-
sical contest the straightforward determination of
JOHN BULL will prevail, but in the encounter of
the wits, the slippery Russian, who thinks nothing
of the honourable observance of his plighted word,
will have the superiority.

NICHOLAS would gladly obtain a temporary
respite. For that purpose he would sanction
any amount of deceit that could throw the
Allies off their guard, and induce them to
surrender or disregard the advantages which
they must obtain by vigorous and energetic pro-
ceedings. He who had previously proved himself

totally insensible to all the dictates of honour and
conscience would not scruple further falsehoods
calculated to promote his nefarious projects, or to
save himself from the exemplary punishment
which he has so richly merited ; and we have no
reason to suppose that Austria would very keenly
scrutinise his plans, or endeavour to detect his
impositions. From the beginning we have felt
that she would act as a wet blanket, paralysing
our exertions and neutralising the advantages that
might be attained. This sinister rumour falls
sadly on our ear, convinced as we are that no
exertions will bo spared to baffle our hopes
respecting the energetic waging of the war.
Our apprehensions, too, are materially enhanced
by the rather significant announcement that " the
Earl of ABERDEEN will take no holiday, but that
he will remain at his post during the entire re-
cess." Having got rid of Parliament, being ex-
empted from the control of the hereditary or
representative branches of the Legislature, " the
good and excellent" friend of NICHOLAS contrives
also to send his colleagues about their business,
and, with the most exemplary devotion, to "remain
at his post during the entire recess." He then will
have the exclusive management of affairs for many
months to come. He it is who will have to de-
termine on the course to be adopted on any emer-
gencies, and when we consider his notorious fond-
ness for his negotiations, his undue estimate
of the character of the AIITOCRA.T, and- his
opinion that the ryequuoisitions
of
utrheaatsonaambilae,
ble despot were b
we see the greater reason to feeaarnsn that, unless the
voice of public opinion be unequivocally uplifted,
an unwise and impolitic truce may be patched
up, to be followed by
an inglorious and dis-
honourable peace.
Under such circumstances, it is the imperative
duty of journalists of all parties to warn the Pre-
mier as to the state of public feeling,susenisaonndofehneors--
ener-
getically to protest against any v
tilities. If we are to negotiate, our representa-
tions will be much more forcible, aye, and much
more likely to be attended to, if the most active
operations be carried on simultaneously in the
N
Euxine and the Bdtic. ICHOLAS will much
better undtrstand that his protectorate over the
- Danubian Principalities is for ever abolished,
when he has been driven, not merely across the
Pruth, but the Dniester, and when he finds
the same position assumed by other Powers with
respect to Bessarabia which he has heretofore
occupied in regard to Wallachia and
He will more clearly perceive the propriety of
allowing the free navigation of the Danube when
he has no longer the means of impeding, and
when he has been driven from all his quarters in
the vicinity of its mouths, whether held by way of
quarantine, or under any other pretence. Ha
will also recognise the removal of all restrictions
respecting the passage of the Dardanelles or the
Bosphorus, and the opening up of the Black
Sea, by the destruction of his fleet, the dis-
mantling of his stronghold at Sebastopol, and the
relieving him from any care respecting the Crimea
or the Caucasian country. Let us then push on
with zealous and unceasing activity. His plausible
excuses for new discussions only indicate