The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-30 00:00:00

must be searched for elsewhere than in the pre-
cincts of the Tuileries.

There may be, however, some mistake as to the
wishes of England. The " Germanic" influences
that have proved so prejudicial to the best in-
terests of this country may have also made them-
selves felt in Paris. There have been opportunities
for that purpose which cannot have been alto-
gether wasted or misapplied. The EMPEROR may
have bean misled, but we are quite certain that
he would not, after the evidences he has already
afforded of the best feeling towards this country,
deliberately take a step in the wrong direction.
He may have been deceived, but we can scarcely
believe that he would wilfully abuse the confidence
entertained in his iaagnanimous integrity.
The "Croakers" point to the desertion of
Kars, aid the wanton sacrifice of its gallant gar-
rison, asserting that when there were so many
French soldiers relieved from service in the
Crimea, a decided effort, at least, might have been
made to relieve its brave defenders. This is cer-
tainly the most plausible argument that can be
adduced, affording, as it does, a prima facie case
against all persons in any degree concerned in
that untoward and calamitous event. But this
matter must be closely and stringently investi-
gated by the British Parliament, and it is by no
means improbable that the actual responsibility
may be found to rest on other shoulders.
We shall, however, be enabled to form a
sounder judgment on all matters relating to the
peace question ere many weeks have elapsed. We
have already stated that France has a perfect
right to the most unqualified assurances, the
most explicit understanding, as to the future con-
duct of Great Britain in certain eventualities
before she makes further sacrifices in the cause.
The hints that have been thrown out respecting a
matrimonial alliance between the Royal families of
England and Prussia have been, to say the least-, very
inopportune, and the visit of the supposed suitor
for the hand of the Princess Royal of England
was certainly ill-timed. The Emperor has a right
to know that the taint of Germanism shall no
longer affect the Councils of England. If he re-
ceive satisfactory assurances on this point, we
have no doubt that his conduct will be all that
we can reasonably demand or require.

Among the many proofs. that Russia is really
"hard up"—that her professions of moderation
in consenting to the five conditions are but an
excusable mask to secure a better bargain, and
that she will concede all in reason that is unflinch-
ingly demanded, is, the new issue of paper money.
It is neither more nor less than direct confiscation
of some sixty per cent. of the property of those
who held the convertible paper money previously.
There have been in Russia two classes of rouble
notes—•one convertible into gold on demand,
therefore in circulation, equal to it in value ; the
other inconvertible, except at the rate of three
for one of the former. • The present opera-
tion means, as we have been informed on
the best authority, that the notes of the
present value of a rouble will be reduced t• the
value of a third of a.rouble. What the amount
of them in circulation is probably no one knows,
but the effect is precisely the same as if our Go-
vernment were not only to issue inconvertible
paper for domestic currency, limited to an amount
which kept its value what it now is, but should,
in addition to that, issue such as amount, con-
vertible on demand into gold, as reduced the
former paper to one-third the value of the latter.
It is, in fact, raising a huge loan at home without
interest, because the loan markets of Europe are
closed to the defeated. power.
Surely our diplomatists are alive to this, and
to the evident symptoms that Russia is intimidated
at the general aspect of Europe, and that she is
in military distress also. Even Prince GORTSCIIA-
KOFF is alarmed, and M. SEEBACII, the old friend
of the EMPEROR, has revealed certain facts to him
which could not reach him through his own offi-
cals. It may be hoped, then, that the cant
about magnanimity to Russia will be dropped,
and that the endeavour will be to compensate for
the inefficiency of our naval and military admini-
stration by our diplomacy. English diplomacy !
ft certainly' almost provokes a smile. Russia, no
doubt, feels confident enough that she can beat
us in that. Her diplomatists will come out boldly
enough, though her ships may skulk under her
batteries.

If the negotiations, however, proceed, Lords
PALMERSTON and CLARENDON have no alter-
native but to surpass our expectations in
Conference, as much as Sir CHARLES WOOD
• has baulked them in the Admiralty. If—seeing
we are already iu the toils of the. Five Points—if
our Government can drive back Russia from
Persia and Turkey in Asia; if it can say resolutely
we will not go on if the east coast of the Black
Sea be net renounced ; if it insists upon making
a Gibraltar of Kinbourn provided Russia will not
destroy the dockyards of Nicola.ieff ; if it does
really neutralise the Black Sea ; if it takes away
the Aland Isles from Russia, and forbids the
erecting more fortifications in the Baltic ; if it
demand for Poland the constitution of the Treaty
of Vienna ; above all, if it insist firmly on the
expulsion of Austrian troops and influence from
the Principalities --if it does these things
only, it will regain much of its cha-
racter, and save England from posi-
tive ignominy. It will be able to turn to
its accusers and say, little as seemed to eff3et,
yet you see how much it was by the concessions
of the enemy.

The discontent of the country is deeper than
its pleasure. Possibly lower prices are looked
upon as a poor compensation for degrading recol-
lections. This generation will be unable to for-
get that the flag of England has gained no credit
in its hands. If it had forts- to breast instead of
broadsides, it will not be forgotten that we had
steam to make us independent of the winds. Give
a NIILSON ships at the mercy of a calm, and the,
enemy's ships also, or offer him ships of any
power moved when, and how, and where he
liked, and forts to fight with, and the Con-
queror at Copenhagen would not have refused
the latter as inferior to the former. Lord CLA-
RENDON must remember, then, that we have naval
and Asiatic ill-success and mismanagement to
atone for at Paris ; and he must remember, too,
that many will require him to make up. for the
delinquencies of the Staff, and the Guards, and
the feather-bed colonel's, and the whole string of
aristocratic blunders in the army.
Russia will now submit to anything for peace.
England is the power which must enforce the
most important demands, and Lord CLARENDON
is the man through whom it must be done. Do
it he must, or he, his. Cabinet, and his order will
be remembered with lasting contempt. We even
believe that if lie insisted as- a matter of course on
pecunia6 indemnity, such is the present "mo-
deration" and "magnanimity " of Russia, that
she would pay it as a matter of course—and that
she would net pay it in old issues of paper roubles.

Should peace be promptly-concluded, the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer win- probably have little
benefit from it. Ira may even find it smoother
work to raise loans and to lay War tae one a

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