The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENIN,G, DECEMBER 7, 1854.

decided course, or to shake off the direputable and
impolitic neutrality to which she has hitherto
cluog with so much tenacity. Should this bo so
—and we fear there are but few grounds for hoping
that it is not substantially correct—the British
Parliament should express its dissent, aid adopt
any practicable means to prevent the ratification
cf the Treaty.

But, secondly, what is the time allowed ?
Some versions say one month, others three
months, while the Times declares that it " does
not postpone for three months the decision of a
question of vital interest to the conduct of the
war, and to the future peace of Europe," limiting
the period for suspense and neutrality to the cur-
rent month of December. This brings it very
close to the month said to be allowed for the sign-
ing of the Treaty on the anniversary of Austerlitz,
the 2d December ; but we fear that more re-
mains behind, and that the only step taken will
be the withdrawal of the Austrian Ambassador,
who has so unaccountably remained at St. Peters-
burg up to this period, and that at least two
months more will elapse before there is a positive
declaration of war, or a sending of any Austrian
troops to Varna, the Crimea, or any other locality
where they could render beneficial aid to the
Western Powers in their struggle against unwar-
ranted invasion.

As to a secret article, that is literally impos-
sible. No Englishman would listen to such a
suggestion for a single moment, particularly when
Lord ABERDEEN represents Great Britain, and
has to arrange the duty of settling the terms.
Nor do we conceive that there is much greater
reason to fear that France and England are now
to be restricted within the limits of the Four
Points—long since rejected by the CZAR—at
least, unless unexceptionable material guarantees
be given for the future observance of any terms
that may be agreed on, and the preserving of the
peace which lie had so unfairly, and, as it appears,
unwisely interrupted.
But there is one suggestion on which
England should speak unreservedly and une-
quivocally. It is impossible that France and
England should undertake to guarantee the
integrity of the Austrian dominions, at least
against any changes demanded by the inhabitants
of any portion of these dominions. Such a sug-
xestion would be scouted in every district through-
out the length and breadth of the land. It would
insure the overthrow of any Administration that
' even listened to it for a moment. At all events
there are sufficient grounds for the representatives
of the people of Great Britain insisting on full
and explicit information on all these points, and
expressing their views without reference to the
twaddle that may be urged respecting the neces-
Ecity or propriety of secresy and mystery. We
cannot trust Lord ABERDEEN so far as to leave
matters of such vital consequence to- the honour
and safety of the United Kingdom in his hands,
to deal with as he thinks proper.

It cannot be supposed that the winter Session
of the Imperial Parliament will be a mere matter
of form as some of the Ministerial journals would
wish us to believe. There are questions of deep
and vital importance to the honour and stability
of the British Empire that must be discussed, aye,
and decided before Honourable Gentlemen sepa-
rate for the Christmas holidays, or resume their
interrupted sports. If those who have obtained
the suffrages of free and independent constituen-
cies, and who probably aspire to a renewal of
the important trust confided to their charge,
should, at such a crisis, exhibit any appearance
of! apathy, indecision, or selfishness, they would
be ignominiously driven from the position for
which they had proved themselves to be disquali-
fied; or, at least, would have to submit to un-

mitigated censure for the past, and the sacrifice

of any hope of being again restored to the confi-
dence they had so shamefully and recklessly
violated.
No ; the British Parliament, as a body, will
discharge its duty. It will not palter with the
solemn trust reposed in its honour and integrity,
or permit any thought of rural sports, or rural
festivities, to divert it from its arduous and
importait task. We have already seen
that, in a mere party question, whether
a certain set of men should be removed from office

in December or January, or permitted to remain
therein until February, some five or six weeks
longer, all these desagremens and inconveniences
could be disregarded. It is not too much to ex-
pect that similar activity may now be displayed,
when the honour and safety of the United King-
dom are involved in th• result. The blood of our
gallant brethren shed in the Crimea, at Alma, at
Balaklava, at Inkerman, and before Sebastopol,
would cry for vengeance against the indifferent or
the dishonest man. However greatly they might
feel attached to their particular leaders or asso-
ciates, or bound by party ties, all such con-
siderations should be forgotten during the
present emergency—the chief, the sole qualifi-
cation for a Minister being an unflinching
determination to carry on the War in earnest,
and to display the vigour and energy neces-
sary to enforce an unconditional submission by
the AUTOCRAT to tn.e terms which the Western
Powers may deem it right to impose, either in
expiation of the past or as security for the future.
This is the chief Ministerial requisite ; and we
care not what may be the other views, so long as
nothing is done inconsistent with the domestic policy,
of universal toleration, free and unrestricted trade
with all the world, and general progress in the
various reforms, Parliamentary, legal, fiscal,

financial, and monetary, to which the attention of
the Legislature has already been directed.

The first point, as we have explained in another
part of this day's impression, is to ascertain the
exact terms and conditions of the Treaty with
Austria. On this all-important topic no conceal-
ment or equivocation can be sanctioned. If we
are a free people, and that, according to the Con-

stitutional theory, all power emanates from the
" many," there can be no compromise—no assent

even for a single moment to the untenable pro-
posals of secret diplomacy. England will not con-

sent to be led blindfold. Her children will not
be bound by obligations with the nature and ex-
tent whereof they are not fully acquainted.

The next great topic is the fiscal, financial, and
monetary condition of the country. Are we to
have any, and what, addition to our already too
onerous burdens ? Is the Income Tax to be again
increased without any mitigation of its atrocious
injustice ? If such matters are in contemplation
they should be forthwith announced, in order
that the opinion of the community may be exkressed
thereon. Is the policy of providing for all the
War expenditure out of current revenue to be still
maintained, or is there to be a loan to any and
what amount—even to replace the 8,000,000/.
abstracted from the Exchequer as the cost of the
GLADSTONE crotchet 7

These are matters of enormous importance to
the future welfare and prosperity of the nation.
But above all, and beyond all, it is to be ascer-
tained whether there is to be any relaxation of
the monetary code, or whether the prosperity
of the Empire is to be again sacrificed

to the maintenance of the "integrity of the stand-
ard," the safety of our troops, the vitality of the
national industry, to what we aro told is the
Englishman's fancy of having gold in his pocket,
and ignoring the "worthless rags" which, however,
carried the nation triumphantly through a former
and no less arduous crisis than the present.

WROUGHT IRON ORDNANCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SIIN.

Sir,—•l have to thank you for giving my letters on
the above subject so prominent a place in your valuable
columns.

I have since been almost overpowered with letters
offering me large sums of money to enable me to carry
out my views on this vital subject, should Government
not be disposed to do so.
I have the happiness, however, to inform you, and all
those who have taken so lively an interest in this great
national subject, that Government have entered most
cordially into my views, and in the most liberal spirit
have empowered me to proceed forthwith in carrying
out my designs.
I beg you will permit me to take this opportunity to
return my most sincere thanks to all those who have in
so hearty a manner offered me the aid of their purse%
in furtherance of this subject, to acknowledge which in-
dividually would be totally out of my power.
I am, Sir, yours most respectfully,
__

_
. . _
JA MES NASMYTH.
Bridgewater Foundry, Patricrofc, near Manchester,
December 4.

LORD RAGLAN AND THE HORSE
GUARDS.

The Horse Guards authorities are diligently employ-
ing themselves in circulating false reports. It was but
yesterday the chief stated to a high personage that Lord
Raglan had 30,000 bayonets under his orders.
Every man of common sense must be aware that on
the morning of the sth of November he had not 14,300
present under arms. The above statement having been
reported in tie presence of a general officer just arrived
from the Crimea, he observed that •n 'the morning of
the 6th of November Lord Raglan had not 12,000 bayo•
nets present under arms.
Now the plain Englisk of this is, the Government in
their meanness attempt to throw dust in tie eyes of the
the British public, and to discredit Lord Raglan, by
making out that he had greater means at his command
than he really had. Either Lord Raglan was grossly
wrong in not having more than 8,000 men at the battle
of Inkerman, or the Government were grossly wrong in
not supplying him with proper force and proper reserves.
The public will know upon which horse to put the
saddle.—Morning Herald.

LATEST NEWS. 7

THE. SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.
The Moniteur of to-day publishes the following
despatch from General Canrobert to the Minister

of War :

BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Nov. 28.

The rain has ceased. The weather is clearing
up. Our works, which were delayed by the bad

state of the trenches, will assume a new activity.

I have just received the Gth Regiment of Dra-
goons, the 6th Battalion of Chasseurs, besides

-various detachments of different regiments.

Reinforcements continue to arrive.

The enemy remain immovable. They are

throwing up multiplied entrenchments.

VIENNA, WEDNESDAY MORNING.

The Presse makes mention of the sortie on the
25th of November, and states, on the authority
of a despatch of the 26th from Balaklava, that
the English took two batteries of seven guns each,
which the Russians had not had time to spike.
On the 26th a part of the garrison attacked the
French lines, but was routed with a loss of 230

men.

The French lost 75 men, three of whom were

officers.

THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.
PARIS, THURSDAY, DEC. 7.

The following are the essential dispositions of
the Treaty between Austria and the Western

Powers :

If before the end of 1854 Russia does not

make acceptable propositions which will assure a
good and durable peace, the Three Powers will
take measures to obtain that peace.

The three contracting parties engage them-

selves not to accept any proposition for peace
without having deliberated in common.

AUSTRIA AND RUSSIA.
We have received from Berlin the following

despatch, dated yesterday :
" The Russian Guards and Grenadiers are ad-

vancing into Poland.
" The entire Ist Infantry Corps, under General
Sievres, is being concentrated on the left bank of

the Vistula.

" The 2d Corps, under General Paniutin, has

orders to proceed to Vollignia and Podolia.
"An Imperial decree, dated NovenalAr 18,

orders two more battalions to be added to the
regiments of the Finland army.
" Sixty battalions of sharpshooters are to be

raised.
"The 'state of siege' at St. Petersburg had
been suspended by an ukase dated October 10."

THE BALTIC FLEET.

NYBORG, DEC. 5.

The Majestic and Cressy, which sailed from Kiel
on the 3d, passed. the Belt this afternoon, in
charge of native pilots. The weather was calm,

ad .interim ministry held by M. Baroche sooner
than was originally intended, and to appoint a
permanent successor to M. Binean at once. A
strong impression prevails that the new Finance
Minister will be M. Vuitry, the Councillor of
State, a good man of business, and a leading
member of budget committees, both during the
republic and in Louis Philippe's time.
M. MacDougall, a Danish officer who has served
in the Imperial navy, has just been nominated a
member of the Legion of Honour, for services
rendered in a fire at Manilla, and for having at
great risk jumped into the sea, and rescued a
sailor from drowning off the coast of Sumatra.
The movement of troops destined to reinforce
the army of the East continues without interrup-
tion towards the south of France. To the numerous
detachments already mentioned as having passed
through Paris must be added the following :—To-
morrow detachments will arrive in Paris from the
2d, 4th, sth, Bth, 13th, 16th, 22d, 23d, and 29th
regiments of the line, and of the 19th Light In-
fantry. The day after detachments are to arrive
of the Ist, 56th, 64th, and 69th regiments of the
line, and of the 15th and 17th regiments of Light
Infantry. These various detachments proceed to
Valence, Aix, and Avignon, for which places they
are to set out by the Lyons railway on the day of
their arrival. From these various quarters they
are to be directed to Toulon and Marseilles, accord-
ing as vessels are ready to receive them.
The Moniteur de l' Armee announces that the Ist
and 2d battalions of the 61st Regiment of the line,
in garrison at Nimes, eight war companies of the
6th battalion of Foot Chasseurs, at Lyons, and
eight war companies of the 10th battalion of Foot
Chasseurs, forming part of the division of occupa-
tion in Italy, have been ordered to the army of the
East. _ _

We read in a letter from Marseilles, of the 3d
inst., that 640 men belonging to the Bth, 9th, 17th,
and 37th regiments of the line left this morning for
Toulon, where they are to embark for the Crimea.
The Indiana, chartered by the English Government
for the conveyance of troops for the Crimea arrived
in our port this morning, having put in to coal at
Toulon. The Nubia, 2,500 tons, belonging to the
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Com-
pany, having the same destination as the Indiana,
is expected this evening or to-morrow.
The Constitutionnel says : " Private letters
every day bring us some new details relative to
the tempest of the 14th November in the Black
Sea. It is thus that we learn that about 40 French
seamen, including two officers, all of whom had
been cast on the coast and made prisoners by the
Russians, were left under the guard of a strong
picket of Cossacks. A fire was lit, and in the middle
of the night, the sailors, at the instigation of their
officers, seized on their burning brands and falling
on their guards disarmed some, put the rest to
flight, and succeeded in reaching the coast, where
they were taken on board by the boats of such
vessels as could keep the sea. Admiral Hamelin
left on the 15th for the bay of Kamiesh, where
he is provisionally to hoist his flag on board the
Montezuma.l It was generally thought that he
was about, to return to France. The same day
the Ville-de-Paris and the Friedland left for Con-
stantinople, towed by the Mogador and the Des-
cartes. The Bayard was to follow on the 16th in
tow by the Napoleon. All these vessels are in need
of repairs, and the Napoleon herself has her rudder
broken. The vessels of war which have least suf-
fered will remain at anchor in the bays of Kamiesh
and Kazatch. Men are employed at present in
establishing batteries at the entrance of these bays.
The saving of the stores and guns of the Henri IV.
and of the Pluton was effected by the Magellan, the
Brandon, and the Berthollet. We learn that pro-
visionally the crews of the Henri IV. and of the
Pluton are to increase the garrison of Eupatoria,
which place is to be fortified, and probably armed
with the artillery of these two vessels."
The Council-general of Martinique on learning
by a notice from the Minister of Marine that the
Emperor of the French had given a sum of 12,000
fr. towards the erection of a statue to the Empress
Josephine in that island, has voted a credit of
25,000 fr. towards the same object, with a resolu-
tion to increase the amount if necessary.

BOURSE, YESTERDAY.—CLOSING PRICES.
Cash. fr. c. End of Month.
4,1 per Cents 95 75 95f. 90c.
3 per Cents 72 70 72 75
Credit blobilier 735 Roman
Credit Foncier — Austrian
Belgian Fives — Spanish Threes
Piedmontese B6 50 Homo Debt 3&j
RAILWAYS—FOR CASH.
fr. c. fr. c.
Orleans 1,160 Lyons 985
Western . po Rouen —
Cette — Strasburg
Mediterranean B5O Havre 525
Northern

California, and over a million and a half in trea-
sure on freight. The news is of very little moment
beyond th© announcement of the amount of specie
which has arrived.

The money pressure was felt in San Francisco,
but the markets, notwithstanding, were rather
more buoyant than had marked the transactions in
trade for some time past.
By the arrival of the George Law, intelligence
from the Sandwich Islands, Singapore, and Peru
was received. The most, and in fact the only, news
of special importance from the Sandwich Islands is
the arrival of the first ship of the whaling fleet,
which brought favourable accounts of the business
of the season, all having met with more than aver-
age success. Nothing further respecting annexa-
tion had transpired.
We have Californian dates to the Ist of Novem-
ber, and the report of the arrival of one and a half
million dollars in gold dust.
The Anglo-French fleet has arrived at San Fran-
cisco. The Californian markets were more buoyant.
At the departure of the steamer business at New
York was very dull ; stocks still drooping, and
money very tight.
In the breadstuffs market things were looking
up, and prices advancing.
The provision market reported without alteration.
Freights much brisker.
The Exchange prices are not reported, as the
prices are unaltered.

TILE BEHRING'S STRAITS ARCTIC

EXPEDITION.

Her Britannic Majesty's ship Plover arrived in the
harbour of San Francisco, on the 27th October, from
Port Clarence. The Plover has been absent from Eng-
land seven year; and for the greater part of the time has
been wintered in the Arctic Ocean. The following are
her officers :—Captain M'Guire, Lieut. C. E. H. Vernon,
John Simpson, surgeon ; Mr. R. Hobson, mate ; Thos.
A. Hall, second master; Edwin Jago, clerk ; Henry
Grey, midshipman.