The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-08 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 1853.

The AUTOCRAT has accepted the propositions
dispatched from Vienna, by the Four Powers, on
the 24th ult., to St. Petersburgh. It is so stated
at least by the organ of the British Government.
According to that authority the Cabinet courier
from the Russian capital has been anticipated by
the electric telegraph. It appears,• in fact, that
up to this moment no positive information has
been received in reference to the ultimatissimum
decided upon by the English, French, Austrian,
and Prussian representatives—no intelligence even
to the effect that it had reached its destination.
Yet, in the absence of any such intimation, we
are informed that matters are already brought to
a satisfactory settlement. Western diplomacy, it
would seem, has suddenly acquired the gift of pre-
science. Before it is possible to learn whether the
proposal of the allies of Turkey has reached the
hands of the Emperor NICHOLAS we are assured tha,
his Imperial Majesty is willing at once to concede tc,
its suggestions unconditionally. Everything is de-
clared to have arrived in this matter at the hap-
piest conclusion. Substantial evidence of the fact
can be found nowhere -risible : but the oracle of
Downing-street has spoken, and we are expected
to listen to its utterance with all submissive cre-
dulity. Nay, the country is not only to accept
its statement as gospel-truth, but—to do a vast
deal more than that—to swallow its rather over-
confident, and, we fear, somewhat prernatur,
congratulations.

It remains, first of all, to be seen whether the
CZAR has really accepted the proposition of the Four
Powers thus cordially and—unconditionally! Sup-
posing he may really have done so, it will then
be requisite to discover what are actually the
terms of this mysterious ultimatissimum, ! There-
upon it must rest with the people of England them-
selves to decide whether or not they have reason
to be felicitated in regard to the result of these
negotiations. If it prove on inquiry that the
proposal forwarded on the 24th ultimo from
Vienna to St. Petersburgh has been in any par-
ticular modified—if the arrogant claims of the
CZA.R have been in any respect acceded to—if no
other advantage has been secured beyond the
mere evacuation of the Principalities—if no re-
paration whatever has been extorted from Russia
after all her duplicity and her insolence, after her
Violation of the Turkish frontiers, and her despotic
interference
with the rights of the Hospodar of
Moldavia then, assuredly, it must be maintained
that England, France,
Austria and Prussia have
no cause to indulge in ' self-gratulation. It there-
fore becomes necessary to
plicit intelligence ferhwe
await some more
Cabinetex-
of St. Peters-
burgh before we count nth
th
securityf upon the
avoidance of war, much leas before we rejoice over
the attainment of a still supposititious t•
means for arriving at which are, 1118 peace, the
up to this very
moment, at the best, so entirely
problematical.
Patience; consequently, is still a duty incumbent
_
upon our population. Patience until the
shall be
ness of these diplomatic mystifications dark-
dissipated—until the conditions of the Proposal
made by the Four Powers shall have been die_
covered—until its arrival at St. Petersburgh shall
have been proved, together with the fact of its
definitive acceptance by the Russian Govern-
ment.

"It 'ud spoil an angel to be a Cabman," said
JENNY TOP'S--ROBERT Tom's, her husband, being
one of the fraternity. We have this assertion on
the authority of DOUGLAS JERROLD (" Man Made
of Money," chap. xxi.)—an authority wise enough,
and therefore credible enough in matters of this
character. And certainly if any one class of the
community has exerted its utmost ingenuity to
spoil the angels amongst us in the shape ofCabmen,
i: has been the small but powerful class of our po-
-1 representative. The Legislature has endea-
,roured, fir:A of all, to effect this object by alio win, the
ITehus of London 'a
prolonged impunity for all kinds
of insolent and extortionate behaviour. It is 110 W
. urpassin.; this fully by one yet more preposterous,
~bat of precipitate and buno-ling measures of im-
. rovemcnt. Take the fora
llowing example, as given
a the form of a laconicocoi
communication ur
munication to one of moroing eontem
,ration : I) I', by way of illus-
the cab question, if
" SIR, —The hasty legislation
each extra
he clause allowing a charge of oni
for
rproduce the
assenger, for any distance, is carriedtlee •
cabs
nornaly of four persons being able 'Ur will
i'or sixpence less than they would be obligede two
teoa
bps?,
and
re; and five persons could hire thre
ave sixpence for any distance under one mile. c
03a:silty go further ? It cannot benefit the eat
,wner, as nobody will take one cab and pay the extra
ores when two cabs can be had and sixpence saved. Is