The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-22 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

The following are copies of the correspondence and
notes recently exchanged between the British and Ana-
trian Governments on the Eastern question :--
Tai EARL OF CLARENDON TO THE EARL OF
WESTMORELAND.

Foreign-ottico. July 2,1851.
My Lord,--I have to acknowledge the receipt, this day,
of your lordship's telegraphic despatch, by which her Ma-
jesty's Governinent learn that Prussia has declined to at-
tend the conference which Count Buol proposed to sum-
mon for the purpose of communicating the answer .to the
demands addressed by Austria to the Cabinet of tt,Peters-
burg, and that it will in consequence be transmitted_ by
Count Buol to Count Colloredo for the information of her
Majesty's Government.
Her Majesty's Government, however, being already in
possession of this answer, and having taken it into mature
consideration, I shall no longer delay communicating to
your lordship the views which they entertain with respect
to it.

It is unnecessary to dwell at any length upon the argu-
ments by which Count Nesselrode endeavours to throw
upon the Western Powers the responsibility of the war
which Russia alone has provoked. Count Nesselrode ob-
jects to the form of the summons addressed to Russia by
England and France, and maintains that this' summons,
rendered imperative by the acts of Russia, was the true
cause of war ; but he takes no account of the long series
of negotiations during the past year, nor of the repeated
warnings which were given to Russia by France and
England, and he chooses to forget that it was the inva-
sion of the Principalities by Russian troops which first
disturbed the peace of Europe, and which has rendered
abortive every effort for its restoration. The despatch
of Count ttuol to Count Esterhazy, to which Count
Nesselrode's despatch is an answer, points out clearly
upon whom the responsibility falls of the present
state of things ; and in the protocol of the 9th of April the
Four Powers have solemnly recorded their opinion that the
summons addressed to Russia by England and France was
founded in justice.
The opinion of Europe has been pronounced in favour
of the course pursued by England and France, and it is
. needless, therefore, that they should defend themselves
against the accusations of Russia. I proceed to examine
the other points contained in the Russian answer. In the
first place, if the demands of Austria, supported by Prus-
sia, are considered in a purely German sense, it is impos-
sible that the answer of the Russian Cabinet can be con-
sidered satisfactory by the two German Powers. The
main points put forward iu Count Buds despatch to Count
Esterhazy were :-
1. The necessity of a speedy evacuation of the Danubian
principalities.
2. The impossibilities of making this evacuation, re-
quired by the essential interests of Gei many, dependent
upon conditions which it was out of the power of Austria
to insure.
Bat Russia fixes no limit whatever to the occupation of
the principalities ; and she looks upon an armistice as a
previous condition, sine qua non, of the withdrawal of her
armies beyond the Pruth.
The injury, then, which in the opinion of Austria and
Prussia, the Russian occupation inflicts upon the Germanic
Confederation continues unabated; nay, more, it is aggra-
vated by the refusal of Russia to attend to the just de-
mands of the two German Powers.
Count Nesselrode professes, it is true, to adhere to the
principles laid down in the protocol of the 9th of April;
but this declaration is worth little as long as the Russian
troops remain on Turkish soil.
In fact, the evacuation of the principalities is essential
to the integrity of the Ottoman empire, and their occupa-
tion is in itself a flagrant breach of the public law of
Europe.
The crisis which disturbs the peace of the world had its
origin in the passage of the Pruth; and it is impossible to
admit the pretensions of Russia to make the repaiation
which she owes for an act universally condemned, depen-
dent upon the exigencies of a position which she has volun-
tarily created for herself.
Nor can England and France consent to an armistice
upon the vague assurances given by Count Nesselrode, of
the pacific disposition of the Russian Government. After
making such great efforts and sacrifices, and engaged as
they are in a cause so just, the allied Powers will not stop
in their course without the certainty that they will not
again be called upon, after a short interval, to recommence
the war. The particular conditions of peace must depend
upon too many contingencies for it to be possible to lay
them down definitively at the present moment. Her Ma-
jesty's Government have, however, no hesitation in stating
the guarantees which, in their opinion, and in that of the
Freuch Government, are essential to secure the tranquility
of Europe from futare disturbances. These guarantees
are naturally suggested by the dangers to guard against
which they are required.
Thus Russia has taken advantage of the exclusive right
which she had acquired by treaty, to watch over the rela-
tions of Wallachia and Moldavia with the suzerain Power,
to enter those provinces as if they were part of her own
territory.
Again, the privileged frontier of Russia in the Black
Sea has enabled her to establish in those waters a naval
power which, in the absence of any counterbalancing
force, is a standing menace to the Ottoman empire. The uncontrolled possession by Russia` of the principal
mouth of the Danube has created obstacles to the naviga-
tion of that great river which seriously affect the general
commerce of Europe.
Finally, the stipulations of the treaty of Kutschuk-
lisinardji, relative to the protection of the Christians,
have become, by a wrongful interpretation, the principal
cause of the present struggle.
Upon all these points the status quo aide tellunt must
undergo important modifications.
Her Majesty's Government cannot doubt that the Aus-
trian Government will admit that these views are in ac-
cordance with the principles laid down in the protocol of
April 9 ; and that it would be eifficult to restrict within
more moderate bounds the inquiry which by that protocol
the Four Powers engaged themselves to make in common,
as to the means hest calculated to maintain the Ottoman
empire, by attaching it to the general balance of Europe.
But it is remarkable that to this passage in the protocol of
the 9th of April—the only passage of capital importance,
implying, as it sloes, the necessity of a European revision
,of the ancient relations of Russia with Turkey—Count
Nesselrode carefully avoids making the slightest allusion.
In fact, the profession of the Russian Cabinet that it
adheres to the principles laid down by the Conference at
Vienna, contains nothing which is of a satisfactory nature.
Her Majesty's Government are at a loss to understand
the meaning of Count Nesselrode's declaration, that the
integrity of the Ottoman empire will not be menaced by I
Russia so long as that integrity is respected by the Powers
who now occupt the territory and waters of the Sultan.
What comparison can be drawn between the invaders and
the defenders of the Turkish territory ? What analogy
can exist between the presence of the allied troops at the
invitation of the Porte, under the authority of a diplo-
matic convention, and the forcible invasion of the Ottoman
territory by the Russian armies
It is unnecessary to say anything further as to the con-
ditions which are attached by Russia to the evacuation of
the Principalities; and I come now to that paragraph in
Count Nesselrode's despatch which relates to the situation
of the Christian subjects of the Sultan.
It amounts to nothing less than this, that the Russian
Cabinet includes among the ancient privileges which are to
be preserved to the Greek church the entire rights which
flow from the protectorate, civil as well as religious, claimed
by Russia ; but it cannot for a moment be supposed that
the system establiahed by such a protectorate, even if it
were based upon a European guarantee, could be compati-
ble with the independence and sovereign rights of the Porte.
Her Majesty's Government is very far from saying that
Europe can be indifferent to the amelioration of the condi-
tion of the Christians in Turkey ; on the contrary, they
think that Europe ought to take an active interest in the
welfare of the Rayah population, and ought to come to an
understanding as to the best mode of taking advantage of
the generous intentions of the Sultan towards his Christian
subjects ; but at the same time they are firmly convinced
that the reforms which are needed in the government of the
various Christian communities in the Ottoman empire can
only be effectually and beneficially carried out by the Porte
taking the initiative with regard to them, and that if such
reforms are to be promoted by any foreign influence, it can
only be by means of friendly counsel and advice, and not by,
an interference grounded upon treaty engagements into
which no State could enter without abdicating its indepen-
dence.

lo fine, it appears to her Majesty's Government that the
respective situations of the different Powers are in no way
whatever changed; they aro only more clearly marked out
by the answer of the Russian Cabinet. England and France
roust therefore continue in the attitude of belligerents on
the other hand, as the Principalities have not been eva-
cuated.

Austria and Prussia will, no doubt, consider that the
obligations of the treaty of the 20th April, strengthened,
so far as Austria is concerned, by he seperate engagement
with the Porte, subiist in all their force, and that now the
time has arrived for their fulfilment.

I have thus fully explained to you the views of her Ma-
jesty's Government, which aro entirely shared by the Go-
vernment of the Emperor of the French, with whom her
Majesty's Government have been in communication upon
this subject; and I have to instru A your lordship to deliver
a copy of this despatch to Count Buol.
I am, &c.,

CLARENDON.
THE EARL OF WESTMORELAND TO THE EARL OF
CLARENDON.—(Received August 12.)
Vienna, Aug. 8.
I have the honour to report to your lordship that I
waited this evening upon Count Buol by appointment, and
signed the note (No. 1), and received iu exchange the note
(No. 2) signed by Count Buol, copies of which I have the
honour herewith to transmit to your lordship.

Vienna, August S.

The undersigned, &c., has the honour to announce to
Count Buol, Rc., that.hehas received from his Goverment
the order, to declare, rin
the
present note, that it appears
conversations held between the
and of London, in conformity
with the
Courts of Vienna,fotthro.
protocol of the 9th of April last,
by which passageo
Austria, France, and Great Britain have en-
gaged themselves, together with Prussia, to seek the means
n
-f- again connecting the existence of the Ottoman einpite
-„lthe general equilibrium of Europe, that the three
Powers are equally of opinion that the relations of the
Sublime Porte with the Imperial Court of Russia cannot
be re-established on solid and durable bases—
'. If the protectorate hitherto exercised by the Impe-
rial Court of Russia over the principalities of Wallachia,
Moldavia, and Servia be not discontinued for the future ;
and if the privileges accorded by the Sultans to these pro-
vinces, dependencies of their empire, be not placed under
the collective guarantee of the Powers, in virtue of an ar-
rangement to be concluded with the Sublime Porte, and
the stipulations which should at the same time regulate
all questions of detail.
2. If the navigation of the Danube at its mouths be not
freed from all obstacle, and submitted to the application
of the principles established by the acts of the Congress
of Vienna.
3. If the treaty of the 13th of July, 1841, be not re-
vised in concert by the high contracting parties in the in-
terest of the balance of power in Europe.
4. If Russia do not give up the claim to exercise an
official protectorate over the subjects of the Sublime Porte,
to whatever rite they may belong, and if France, Austria,
Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia do not lend their
mutual assistance to obtain as an initiative from the Ot-
toman Government the confirmation and the observance of
the religious privileges of the different Christian t
of
commu-
nities, and to turn to account, in the common interest
their co-religionists, the generous intentions manifested
his Majesty the Sultan, at the same time avoiding a_urown.
v _ v
s c .
ag-
gressio❑ on his dignity and the independence o f bi
The undersigned, moreover, is authorised to declare that
the Government of her Mijesty the Queen of Great Britain,
make known,
while reserving to themselves the right to
diiions which
whenever it may be useful, the particular conditions
peace
with
they may put forward is the conclusion
1, asi' and to introduce in the generalguarauteee abode

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specified inch modification ae the continuation of hostililices
may render neeesaary, are decided not to discuss and not
to take into consideration any proposition from the Cabinet
of St. Petersburg which shall not imply on its part a full IQ
and entire adhesion :to the principles ou which they are
already agreed with the Governments of his Majesty the
Emperor of Austria aka of his Majesty the Emperor of the
French.
The undersigned, &c.

WESTMORELAND.

• Vienna, August 8.
The undersigned, Minister of Foreign Affairs of his Im-
perial and Royal Apostolic Majo.ty, hastens to acknow-
ledge the receipt of the note which his Excellency the
Earl of Westmoreland, &c., did him the honour to address
to him on the Bth of this month, and to declare in his
turn that it appears from the confidential conversations
held • between the Courts of Vienna, of Paris, and of
London, in conformity with the passage of the Protocol
of the 9th of April last, by which Austria, France, and
Great Britain have engaged themselves, together with
Prussia, to seek the means of again connecting the
existence of the Ottoman empire with the general
equilibrium of Europe, that the three Powers are
equally of opinion that the relations of the Sub-
lime Porte with the Imperial Court of Russia cannot be
re established on solid and durable bases—
.. _

1:ITii;;;;t;c1;ate hitherto exercised by the Imperial
Court of Ru-sia over the principalities of Wallachia, Mol-
davia, and Servia be not discontinued for the future, and
if the privileges accorded by the Sultans to these provinces,
dependencies of their empire, be not placed under the col-
lective guarantee of the Powers, in virtue of an arrange-
ment to be concluded with the Sublime Porte, and the
stipulations of which should at the same time regulate all
questions of detail.
2. If the navigation of the Danube at its mouths be not
freed from all obstacle and submitted to the application of
the principles established by the acts of the Congress of
Vienna

by all the high contracting parties in the interest 3. If the treaty of July 13, 1341, be not revised in con-
certo
the balance of power in Europe.
4. If Russia do not give up her claim to exercise an official
protectorate over the subjects of the Sublime Porte, to
whatever rite they may belong ; and if Austria. Great
Britain, France, Prussia, and Russia do not lend their
mutual assist•ince to obtain as an initiative from the Otto-
man Government the confirmation and the observance of
the religion, privileges of the different Christian commu-
nities, and to turn to account in the common interest of
their co-religionists, the generous intentions manifested
by his Maje.ty the Sultan, at the same time avoiding any
aggression on his dignity and the irdvendence of his
Crown.
The undersigned is, moreover, authorised to declare that
his Government takes cognisance of the determination of
England and of France not to enter into anv arrangement
with the Imperial Court of Russia which may not imply
on the part of the said Court a full and entire adhesion to
the four principles here above enumerated, and that it ac-
cepts for itself the engagement not to treat except on these
bases, always reserving to,itself a free deliberation on the
conditions which it may bring forward for the re-estab-
lishment of pace, if it should happen itself to be forced to
take part in the war.
The undersigned, &c.

fluor,.

THE FALL OF THE LYNN WORKHOUSE.
CORONER'S INQUEST.

RING'S LYNN, Monday Evening.—Yesterday, sub.
sequent to the departure of the despatch, the body of
Andrews, the clock maker, was found in the ruins, quite
dead, and, singularly enough, completely entangled
among the wires of the clock. It is now known that no
other lives were sacrificed, and a feeling of thankfulness
prevails through the town that the sacrifice of life was
no greater-, as, had the accident occurred one hour and a
half later—at dinner time—the loss of life must have
been horrible, the great dining-hall being at the bottom
of that part of the building which fell. We stated yes.
terday that the great tower dated as far back as the
fourteenth century ; it appears, however, to have beeu
erected two centuries earlier, so that it is no wonder the
beams and woodwork were decayed.
This morning Mr. Wilson, borough coroner, held an
inquest upon the bodies of Andrews and the pauper
Cana, Mr. H. Edwards, solicitor, watching proceedings
upon the part of the relatives of Mr. Andrews, and Mr,
Belbo on the part of the board of guardians.
The first witness examined was

The Rev. J. Bransby, chairman of the board of guar-
dians, who sail—My attention was first drawn to the
state of the building three months ago. A committee
was appointed to deliver a written opinion to the board
upon its state. I requested them to furnish the board
separately with a written account. On the 23,1, in the
board-room, Mr. Bennett gave me the document I pro-
duce. The paper was lying in the boardroom until last
Saturday :

"King's Lnn U, June 23, 1.8i4.
I have examined the buttyresses onnion the west front of
the union-houses. I au] of opinion the arches which sup-
port the octagon tower are giving way and spreading, by
which the west front wall is gradually being forced out-
wards. The giving way of the arches is, I think, caused
partly by a natund decay of the building, and principally
by the decay of the beams of the floors •,nd roof which tie
the buildings. Ido not think there is any immediate dan-
ger, and the building may probably stand in its present
state for many years. Any repairs which would have the
effect of securing the walls would be attended with a very
large outlay, which I cannot recommend, as the building
is very unfit for the purpose for which it is used.

" CHARLES BENNETT."
After that I several times met the other two gentlemen,
and strongly pre,sed them to give me a written state-
ment. I received none until last Saturday, when I met
Mr. Walker, in this room, and urged him to take pen,
ink, and paper, and give me his opinion, which he did.
" Aug. 19, 1854.
" Gentlernen,—l have this morning seen the dilapida-
tions of the west front of the Union-house, and think it
would be most proper to have the opinion of a practica
surveyor. " EDWD. WALKER."
On Sunday morning I was here from ten to eleven
o'clock, and observed that these chains were enlarged,
I and as one of the buttresses (which were very large ones)
was within about five feet of the old men's day room,
where there were then I think about 50 inmates, and
expecting that if the buttress fell it must have come on
to the low roof of that building, and crush them all, I
directed the master instantly to remove all the inmates
to a safe portion. of the building. After seeing this done,
I was in this room with the master, when a boy came
in, and stated that the clock was stopped. This was at
a quarter before 11. I then perceived that danger was
likely to occur, and expressed my gladness at our having
removed the tutu. I continued here for about ten
minutes.

By the Coroner—l do not think the attention of the
court of guardians was ever drawn to the state of the
building. The court of guardians never meet here or
come to see the building that I have ever heard of.
The board have always done all repairs. I never could
make out which was answerable fur the stability of the
i building.
The Court then adjourned to the hospital, and took
the evidence of Mr. Thurlow Nelson, the master of the
union house, who lay in the ward. He deposed as fol-
lows : —My attention was first drawn to the state of the
building a few months ago, and I have very often drawn
the attention of the board of guardians to the state of
the building several weeks ago. On Saturday I called
on several of the guardians, and showed them the state
of the building. They determined to call a meeting on
Monday morning. At that time they did not seem to
think there was imminent danger. I thought there was;
I told them so. On Sunday morning Mr. Bransby
called between 10 and 11, and said he would write to
the mayor, and see what steps should be taken. About
10 o'clock I warned all the Inert and boys to keep away
from that part of it, as I saw there was danger. I did
that of my own suggestion, and before Mr. Bransby
came. Most of the persons were then out in the yard.
The only person in time building at 10 o'clock, that I
was aware of, was Cana. Cana heard the warning that
was given, and I do not know why he did not come
away. He was not a cripple or unable to leave. He
was not under confinement. I sent for Andrews. When
he came I said, " I will walk up with you to see what
is amiss." We went up together, and as soon as we
got up we heard a rattling. I ran for the stairs, and
reached about five or six or seven stairs, I think, when
the building came down on me and knocked me down.
I think I spoke to Andrews, and said, " Come on," or
something of the kind. After being knocked down, I
laid there, I think, about five minutes before I heard
any one. That is my impression. lam not sensible of
having suffered much at that time. I could not see ;
there was a large long stone lying by the side of my
face. I could see that before any one came to me. I
had no difficulty in breathing, but I felt a pressure all
over my body. I never heard Andrews or anybody for,
I think, about five minutes. I then heard some people
talking, and I helloed as well as I could, and they
heard me. After a little time, some one said, " Lie
still, we'll soon have you out." In about ten minutes
or a quarter of an hour they cleared me out.
Thomas Harrison (who occupied another bed in the
room) was then sworn, and deposed as fullows--I was
in the old men's day.roow when the building fell. Mr.
Nelsen had warned every one to keep clear of the
building. I heard the warning ; and I know that Cana
heard it. He was talking abcut it afterwards, and said he
would not go into the young men's room to be locked up.
Mr. Thos. Marsters Kendall, surgeon—Examined
Cana's body. His head was crushed, and he was quite
doubled up. He was quite dead when discovered. An-
drews was also entangled in the ruins and quite dead.
Mr. Charles Bennett, architect and builder, examined
—I received instructions from Mr. Coulton, the clerk of
the board, about the middle of June, to examine certain
buttresses and the west front wall. Mr. Rolin and Mr.
Walker received the same instructions. We could not I
agree upon the time on account of our engagements.
therefore came alone. On the 23d of June I was askedn
by the guardians assembled whether I had made any
report. I said I had not had an opportunity of
the others, but had examined the building
there was no probability of our inedetinef,,
d which I then
this room and wrote the report pro I retr:oil; nA.
n Smithewn r
fissure that had been stopped
delivered in. I asked a white-
whether thehad
that he told me heremem-
beredl not. My impression iswasuhernamm.aesd
further giving way of these
Nelson that if he saw any
Con of the building to let
it for many years. I particularly requested
buttresses of any other portion
f it • and from that day
spoken to this he has never to me on the subject. After
ailed front the building, I
I saw the buttresses had
me, or one of the others, know o ,
could not see any ininiediatPe danger, more particularly
as the cracks appeared to have been there for years. I
was quite satisfied, from what I saw, that no portion of
the foundation had given way. That seemed to be the
general opinion.
After hearing some further evidence,
The jury, on a short consultation, returned the fol-
lowing verdict :—" That the deceased were killed by the
falling of the workhouse On Sunday, the 20th inst., and
the jury are of opinion that, after the report that the
board of guardians had received, stating that there was
no immediate danger, and that the building might pro-
' bab)), stand in ite present state for rummy years—no blame
attaches to the board of guardians, and that the cause of
the death of the deceased was purely accidental."

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