The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-18 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND THE EASTERN
QUESTION.

ST. NTERSUBRG, November 17.

rho note of Prince Gortschakoff on the subject
of the Treaty of 1856 is universally approved here.
All the papers have strong leading articles on the
subject. The opinion is expressed that the matter
will be peacefully settled; but it is at the same time
indicated that Russia is ready for war, should wai
become necessary.

The Golos calls upon the public to organise a na-
tional subscription for the purpose of building a
Sea fleet.

An Imperial decree, signed yesterday, is published
in the Official Journal to-day, in virtue of which
the Russian army is to be recruited on the PrlPsian

THE ATTITUDE OF PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, November 17.

In official circles here a peaceful solution of the
Black Sea question is looked for. It is freely ad-
mitted that an understanding exists between Prussia
and Russia, and that in the event of war they will
co-operate.
The news from London and Vienna has caused a
panic on the Stock Exchange here.
The Berlin journals are for the most part silent on
the subject of the Russian demands.
The Vienna correspondent of the National Zeitung
says that Austria is determined to go hand in hand
with England on the question.
Turkey is said to have proposed an European
Congress in a note to Austria.
The semi-official Provincial Correspondenz be-
lieves that the great Powers will consent to a modi-
fication of the Treaty.
The Vienna Presse has a conciliatory article, and
relies for a solution, without recourse to arms, on
the peaceful disposition of some members of the Eng-
lish Cabinet, as shown before the Crimean War.
The Neue Preie Presse violently attacks Russia, and
appeals to England, which ought, it says, to consider
the infraction of the Treaty as a casus belli.
BERLIN, November 17 (Evening).

A Vienna correspondent writes regarding the
demand of Russia, that if the Czar had
sought to attain his object by diplomatic means
his proposals might have been entertained ;
but Russia's arrogant self-assertion would neces-
sarily imply not only the infringement of the
rights of nations, but the destruction of the basis
of all the treaties by which the Eastern Question
has been settled, and certainly of the peace of
Austria. All the Powers which subscribed the
Treaty of 1856 are bound firmly to defend these
threatened rights. The deepest interests of Austria
are concerned; but all the Powers should unite for
their common defence against this spirit of aggres-
sion. These are the feelings which prevailed univer-
sally in Vienna.—Telegraph.

AUSTRIA PREPARING.

VIENNA, November 17.

Trustworthy advices have been received here to
the effect that Russia has recently been supplied
with 540 Gatlin guns from America. It is also
stated that she has in the Euxine forty steamers,
ostensibly in the merchant service, but really manned
by the Imperial navy, and capable of being imme-
diately converted into ships of war.
From the War Office here it is reported that
Austria intends, and is preparing, to despatch
300,000 troops to her Eastern frontier.
A collective note will not be sent to Russia, but
Austria has sent a dispatch to St. Petersburg quite
as decisive as that of Earl Granville.

The Porte has made it known that its reply to the
communication will be firm and energetic.

PRINCE GORTSCHAKOFF'S CIRCULAR.
The semi-official North German Gazette, which re-
frains from expressing any opinion on the Russian
Note, states that the violations of the Treaty to which
it refers were the cruise of the Prince of Wales in the
Black Sea in an English man-of-war ; a similar
voyage by the English Ambassador, Sir H.
Bulwer ; the appearance of the Austrian
squadron at Varna during the Emperor's Eastern
trip; and a voyage by the Sultan in a large man-
of-war. The Russian Ambassador formally pro-
tested at the time against this last proceeding, but
without success.

A dispatch from Bouillon, dated the 17th, states
that Mr. Odo Russell, and Captain Percival Robbins
have arrived at Sedan.

[CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.]

MR. GATHORNE HARDY, M.P., ON CHURCH

AND STATE.

Mr. Gathorne Hardy, M.P., speaking at Bradford last
night, in reference to the efforts made in certain quarters
to bring about the disestablishment of the Church of
England, contended that the money possessed by the
Church, though in one sense national property, was in
reality only held by the State for the benefit of the
Church. • It was like a marriage settlement. The
dowry was settled on the wife of the State ;
and if she was to be divorced and sent adrift, it must
be given up to her. It was alleged that the Church
was not the Church of the poor, but he asserted that she
was emphatically the Church of the poor, and had first
developed voluntary offerings by her labours for the edu-
cation of the people. Mr. Hardy depicted the evils that
would result from the state of infidel government that, he
said, would practically follow disestablishment. The
working classes were apathetic on the question of dis-
establishment, because he believed the funds of the
Church could not be better applied than at present.
He counselled that the attacks upon the Church should
be met with boldness. Alluding to the Education
Bill, Mr. Hardy said it was a fairer and a better
measure in its original form. Since, however, it had
become law it behoved the community to make the best
of it ; it afforded scopo for distinct, though not sectarian,
religious teaching in all the rate•aided schools. The
speaker expressed his conviction that if the Church rose
fully to the discharge of her national duties she need not
fear the formidable attacks which atheism in its various
forms was making on religion.