The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-23 00:00:00

THE irtlN, LONDON, SATURDAYEVEN'ING, DECEMBER 21, 1664.

bill. Everything Everything was risked to render the
surprise complete. Could there be stronger
or more unequivocal evidence of their own opinions
respecting the measure, and their conviction that
it would, on due consideration, be decisively re-
rejected by the Parliament ? By their own acts
are they condemned. It requires nothing more
to convince any unprejudiced and dispassionate
\
man that they knew that they were acting wrong,
and forcing an obnoxious measure on the country
which could not be carried if fair means only were
• resorted to.

The good "CmcQuoT" has completely jockeyed
the English Government. " The Angel of Peace"

has contrived to lay the foundation of " a war

navy," at the expense of those against whom it
may chiefly be required. He has, indeed, ex-
hibited that peculiar species of taloa, or rather
canviay, in the tri,nsaction that would strongly

excite the admiration of a gang of horse chaunters,
or " tarnatiou cute Yankees." He has managed
to exchange two gun-boats, now comparatively
worthless, for a frigate, not an " old one," as in-
timated by the First Lord of the Admiralty, but

one in excellent order and condition, ready for
service at a very short notice.

It appeared that the good KING saw the weak-
ness of the English fleet in a branch urgently
required for service in the Baltic. He

knew that we were without gun-boats, and
conceived the notion of obtaining an ex-

orbitant price for those which he had on
baud, paid, too, in a manner that would ren-

der it far more beneficial to himself. He wanted

frigates, and he thought that ho could obtain

them from England en peculiarly easy terms.
But how was he to do so without exciting the
wrath of his Autocratic} brother-ie-law ? " Hie

labor, hoc opus est." He could not relinquish the
pleasure of doing the Britons, but he could not
injure NICHOLAS. Under such circumstances
the plan required a high degree of diplomacy,
and truly it was required. The only point was
that it was a pity to waste so much address with
the rather obtuse personages whom they were
bent on. humbugging.
The mode adopted was as follows. In May last,
just at the time that the painful deficiency of the
Baltic Fleet in vessels of light draught became but too
perceptible, the Prussian Government proposed to
exchange two gun-boats, built in this country, the
Nix and Salamander, for two old corvettes, or
"donkey frigates," as they have sometimes been
termed. The representatives of England greedily
nibbed at the bait. They were quite willing to
make the Exchange, but, as Prussia well knew,
had not the peculiar class of vessels which she
required. The builder of the Prussian gun-boats
was specially sent to report on their value.
Without imputing the slightest impropriety to
Mr. SCOTT RUSSELL, for whom we entertain an un-
feigned respect, it must be admitted that he would
naturally take rather a prejudiced view of
the subject. Propositions were then made to
vary the terms by giving the Thetis frigate in ex-
change for the gun-boats, at which the Prussians
eagerly grasped, as she was at least four times the
value, and was just " the thing" for the new port
of Jande. Time was, however, wasted, and it
was not until September that the Prussian Go-
vernment signified its acceptance of the offer
long previously made. But by that time the
gun-boats -.were no longer wanting for the
Baltic at •least during the then season. The
British authorities had no longer any aaaire to
complete the transaction, and, in turn, procras-
tinated. But, as they got coy, Prussia became
more pressing—as they sought to slip out, so did
Prussia determine to hold them fast. They
urged that the bargain was not concluded.
Prussia responded that the English Government
was pledged to the exchange, and they submitted !
They allowed themselves to be shorn by those who
would only laugh at them for their exceeding
rerdantcy in return ; and thus the Thetis, worth
50,000/., will be handed over to Prussia, while
we receive the Nix and Salamander, worth
12,000/., in exchange.
But the pecuniary loss is the most trivial and
least objectionable part of the transaction. It is
not the X. s. d. out of which we have been
"chiselled" that we regret : it is that au Eng-
lish vessel of war, one that for some time
sailed under the British flag, should be
handed over to a power with whom
we may, ere many months have elapsed, be at
war ; and that her chief use should be to harass
and annoy British commerce. This is indeed de-
plorable—this indeed may well excite the disgust
and indignation of the people of Great Btitain !
Last year, when on the verge of war with Russia,
we allowed two of her frigates to refit in our
dockyards. This year we give a frigate, nearly
new, recently refitted at a heavy expense, and in
excellent condition and fit for immediate work, to
another Power, with whom our relations are, to
say the least of it, in a very unsettled and un-
satisfactory condition.

LATEST NEWS.

THE SIEGE OF SEBASTOPOL.

PARIS, SATURDAY, HALF-PAST 8 A.M.

The Moniteur states that the Austrian Am
bassador had had a private audience with the
Emperor, and delivered an autograph letter from
his Sovereign, with the insignia of the Grand
Co

,rdon of the Imperial Order of St. Etienne.
The Austrian Ambassador also introduced the
Prince of Schcenburg, who was the bearer of the

etter.

PARIS, FRIDAY.

Advices from Marseilles of the 21st announce

;he arrival at that pipit of the Indus, with nuns
Constantinople to the 10th, and from the

Crimea to the Bth.

When the assault takes place, 410 guns, of

which 130 are English, will open fire.

The scaling ladders were ready on the 6th.

The Russians had made a vigorous sortie against

the English. A smart engagement ensued, in
which 1,100 Russians were made prisoners, and a

small fort taken.

It is said that 30,000 Turks, and a division of

the Allies, will commence operations against

Perekop.

The Vladimir and a second Russian steamer

arrived on the 6th on the French flank outside

the Quarantine Point, and opened file.
The Valorous, the Terrible, and a French
steamer compelled them to put back under the

batteries.

The French repel the continual sallies of the

Russians.

The 9th and 90th Regiments and a part of the
34th had arrived since the 4th.

General Pennefather was ill at Balaklava.

Lord Cardigan had left for England.

The 4th light infantry embarked to-day at
Marseilles, and four regiments are waiting for

embarkation at Toulon.

FRANCE.
PARIS, FRIDAY MORNING.
The Moniteur publishes the following do•
spatches

THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES OF FRANCE AT CON.
STANTINOPLE TO THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS IN PARIS.

" Pera, Dec. 10.
" We yesterday learnt that the treaty had been
signed at Vienna on the 2d.
" Prince Napoleon is making his preparations to
return to the Crimea, although his health still re-
quires care.
" The English steamers Candia, Riao, Emeu, and
Thames, arrived yesterday and to-day, with 4,266
men of the 7th division."

" THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES OF FRANCE AT CON•
STANTINOPLE TO THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AF.
FAIRS IN PARIS.

" Pera, Dec. 15.

"General de Montebello has just arrived from
the Crimea. Ile leaves for Franco on the 22d.
The position before Sebastopol was very good on
the 13th."

" ADMIRAL HAMELIN TO THE MINISTER OF THE

li A.RINE.

"Montezuma, Kamiesh, Dec. 7.

"Yesterday a Russian frigate and corvette came
out of Sebastopol, and took the direction with all
speed towards the Bay of Strelestka. The Megere,
anchored as an advanced guard, exchanged shots
with tho two vessels, which were received at the
entrance by our two avisos anchored in that bay.
At the approach of an English frigate, which was
followed by three other French and English frigates,
the enemy retreated, and re-entered Sebastopol in
all haste. None of the Russian balls struck our
ships, nor did they reach the left of our troops en-
camped at Streletska.
The Moiii!eur publishes the following notice :
" On Tuesday, the 26th, the Emperor will open in
person, at the Palace of the Tuileries, in the Salle des
Manichaux, the legislative session of 1855, and will re-
ceive the oath GI those members of the Senate and Le-
gislative Col ps who have not yet fulfilled that forma-
lity. All the persons called upon to take part in the
corti,ge of their Majesties, as well as the corps diplo-
matique, the cardinals, ministers, marshals, and admi-
rals, the grand crosses of the Imperial Order of the
Legion of Honour, and the ladies invited, will enter by
the stairs of the Pavillon de Fiore. The persons in-
vited must he at the Palace of the Tuileries at latest at
half-past twelve."
General Sir De Lacy Evans arrived here on
Thursday evening, on his return from the East.
The gallant officer passed yesterday and last night
at Dijon ; his aide-de-camp, the Hon. Major Boyle,
arrived in Paris this morning. The General in-
tends spending a few days in Paris, to repose after
his long journey, and then to set out for England,
where there is little doubt he will be welcomed as
his gallant and chivalrous conduct deserves.
Subscriptions in favour of the soldiers of the
army of the East are being opened all over France.

Crimea. The Arabia, Captain Jenkins, has made
an extraordinary quick passage of seven days from
Dublin. She will sail on Thursday for Balaklava,
with troops and several tons of gunpowder, which
she has on board. If we had such vessels on
the Constantinople line, the Government would
receive the despatches within half the time at pre-
sent occupied in the transit to Marseilles. The
Andes, with General Sir De Lacy Evans on board,
had a slow passage from Malta, in consequence of a
slight derangement in her machinery. She was
three days off the harbour, detained by a head wind
and heavy sea. The Hydaspes, one of the three
steamers the Emperor has permitted the company
of the Messagenes Imperiales to purchase, in Eng-
land, will sail for the Black Sea on Thursday with
the mails, troops, and stores. The Orinoco has
arrived, and will proceed to Toulon to embark
troops. The Avenir has returned from the Black
Sea. She landed her cargo at Balaklava, and is
about to proceed there again, with troops. She does
not appear to have suffered any damage during
the late gales. Captain Charrie, of the Constance,
of Bayonne, has arrived here from the Black
Sea. Ho took troops from this to -Varna, and was
despatched from that port for Cape Chersonesus on
the Bth of November, with a detachment of troops,
I some stores, and 20 mules. He arrived at his des-
tination on the 12th, and anchored near the French
svadron. He was driven from his anchorage dur-
ing the awful hurricane of the 14th, and carried
under the forts of Sebastopol, and, although lie
passed close to the Napoleon, the crew of that ship
could render him no assistance. The Russians com-
menced hung at the unfortunate Constance, and
the captain at first feared that there was no resource
for him but to run his ship ashore, and submit to
be captured. Having, however, consulted the
troops and his crew, he determined to make a des-
perate effort, and, notwithstanding the Russian
balls, which fell around his ship without causing
her any damage, he succeeded in beating off the
coast, and at 11 o'clock that night ran his ship
aground five miles north of Eupatoria. The
following morning he perceived some Cossacks ap-
prc aching, when he hoisted a signal of distress,
which was perceived by the British Commander of
the Bellerophon, Who ordered a steamer to send a
boat to his assistance. The heavy sea rendered this
operation impossible. In the meantime the Rus-
sians had nearly reached the ship. Captain, Charrie
hastily launched his boats, and with great difficulty
reached the Bellerophon. In ten minutes after-
wards the Cossacks set fire to the Constance.

The Trieste Gazette says the Russians were re•
arming the ships with the cannon which had been
landed to serve in the fortifications on shore.
It is stated in letters from Warsaw that the
arrival of the Guards has raised the effective of the
Russian army in the Kingdom of Poland to 200,000
_men, with 400 gun,.
A letter from Brunswick, 18th, in a Frankfort
journal, says :
" The insolent note of Count de Nesselrode of the 6th
ult. is the last link in the disgraceful chain which bound
Germany to Russia ; it demanded once more, in insult-
ing terms, what Count Orloff and Count de Nesselrode
had twice before demanded from Germany, and always
in an insulting form. The cup is at length filled, and
has run ever, and it is precisely the contrary of what
Russia had demanded in all her previous notes that has
been done by the treaty of the 2d."
It is stated in Paris that the loan which is about
to be proposed, is to be raised by public subscrip-
tion, according to the method which succeeded so
admirably upon the last occasion. The amount
will, it is said, be fixed at between 250,000,000 f.
and 500,000,000 f. ; the positive sum is not yet
fixed.
By a decree in the Moniteur, the following com-
mission has been appointed to examine the ac-
counts of the different French Ministers for the
year 1854 :—The Marquis d'Audiffret, president ;
MM. A. Leroux, de Richmont, Godelle, Crignon
de Monsigny, Rihouet, Dupin, Arnaud, and
Dausse.
The Kreutz Zeitung has another article this even-
ing (20th), the object of which is to persuade its
readers that Prussia may safely commit what va-
garies she pleases, as she can have nothing to fear
from England, and not more from France, who is
reduced to such narrow straits that she cannot
bring more than 100,000 men into the field. It is
absurd, says the journal, to suppose that any one
would "dare attempt to compulse the monarchy
of the great Frederick." The monarchy, truly ;
but where are the men of the great Frederick's
time ? Surely the most vainglorious of the domi-
nant party do not go so far as to compare themselves
with those men

MONEY MARKET

AND
COL'IMEECTAL INTELLIG EN011.7.

CITY, TWO o'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday wero
estimated at 7,000 bales, including 1,000 Ameri-
can taken for export and on speculation. The
market closed tamely at former rates. Railway
shares were firm.

The intimation by the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer last evening, that the duties upon tea will not
be further reduced at present, is acquiesced in as a
proper course, considering the peculiar circum-
stances of the country, and the necessity of raising
money ; nor is the objection to this measure so
forcible as it otherwise might have been, seeing
that the further reduction has not yet come into
operation. It is rumoured in commercial circles
also, thA a highar duty upon timber is to be im-

posed.
The most intense dissatisfaction wo have wit-
nessed for a long time prevails with respect to the
declarations of Government last night concerning
the blockade of the Black Sea ports. It is per-
fectly notorious that cargoes are constantly shipped
from Odessa to Constantinople, as well as from the
&a of Azoff, and that there is, in fact, no blockade
whatever, and if it be true, as stated in a letter to one
of our merchants, that the British Ambassador in
Turkey actually assured th© captaias of trading
vessels that they might proceed unmolested to
Odessa and other places, it is impossible to recon-
cile the declaration last night made that there is a
blockade. Unless some definite policy is adopted,
we may expect Ministers to be much more severely
handled than they have yet been. No one would
complain if the intentions of Government were
understood one way or the other, but to assert that
there is a blockade is contrary to truth.
There is no important alteration shown in the
weekly account of the Bank of England, made up
to the 16th inst. ; but the close of the year makes
money temporarily in more request, and this is
shown by the increase of other securities. The
bullion account remains about the same ; but there
is a decided increase of assets arising from the ad-
dition made to the deposit accounts, both of the
Government and private parties. Compared with
the previous week, the changes are as follows :
Active circulation.
Decrease
Bullion
Increase
3,132,039
7,828
6,035,675

Rest
Increase
Public Deposits

Increase
Other Deposits
Increase
Seven-Day and other Bills
Decrease
Government Securities
Decrease
Other Securities
Increase
Notes unemployed

490,267
9,710,512
19,139
923,112
28,995
11,565,237
39,030
13,869,287
136,814
8,330,780

Increase 401,950
Bills of exchange were negotiated yesterday
upon most of the Continental cities at about the
former rates, viz. :—Paris, 25 32& to 35 ; Amster-
dam, 11 17i to 17:1 ; Hamburgh, 13 51- to 5/ ;
Frankfort, 1172. to 118 ; and Trieste, 12 39 to 45.
The shipments of specie direct from London
during the week to last Thursday comprised
243,383 ounces of silver and 6,335 ounces of gold,
principally to Hamburg, Belgium, and Boulogne.
The English Securities have been very inactive,
and prices have remained almost entirely as they
closed yesterday. Consols have been 91g 1. Bank
stock is firm at 209. Exchequer Bonds are 99? -
The New 3 per Cents. have been 91i to a.
Foreign Securities have been heavy. Turkish
Bonds are marked 751 to g. The Spanish Com-
mittee's Certificate is at 52. Russian Five per
Cents. have been dealt in at 98, and Danish at

The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks:—Grenada, Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6; Mexi-
can, 21 to 211 ; Peruvian, 69 to 71 ; ditto
3 per Cents., 48 to 50 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents.,
41. to 43 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 97 to 99 ; ditto
41, per Cents., 87 to 89 ; Spanish New Deferred,
182 to 19,1 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 382 to 391; ditto
Certificates, 5.1- to 52 ; ditto Passive, 42. to 4i.
The Railway Share Market has been inanimate,
but the quotations are not generally lower. The
foreign lines are at full rates.
Foreitm Nines have been at about the previous
rates. 'T he Banks are a shado higher, and Peel
River are in demand.

BRITISH FUNDS THIN DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.

( From the Oficial List. )

Bu.,iness done
3 Ink Stock
3 per Ci3ll t Reduced ......... 914
3 pur Cent Cor sots Annuities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 4 5-16
India Stock

...
India Bonds, 1:1000
Consols for Account, 10th January
Exchequer Bonds 1858, 34. per Cent. —
Ditto 1859, ~ .. 991 a
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent —
Ditto 5 per Cent
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £St 9B
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 39
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent IB-
Z Committee Cort. of Coup. not fun 53
Vurkish Scrip, paid up in full
Ditto for the Account . 7si i
Dividends on the above payable in London.
TWO O'CLOCK.
Consols

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS DAY.)
Their lordships met at the unusual hour of a quarter
to nine this morning.
The only peers present were the Lord Chancellor,
Earl Granville, and the Bishop of St. Asaph's:
FOREIGN ENLISTMENT BILL.

On the motion of Earl GRANVILLE, the Commons'
Amendments to this bill were agreed to.
The house then adjourned during pleasure.

AFTERNOON BITTING.
Their lordships re-assembled at a quarter past two
o'clock, to hear the Royal Assent, given by commission,
to the Foreigners Enlistment Bill, the Militia Bill, &c.
The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
the Duke of Argyll, and Viscount Canning.
The Commission was read by the Clerk at the table
giving the Royal assent to the bill for the Enlistment of
Foreigners, and the Militia Bill.
Their lordships then adjourncd to the 23d of January
next.