The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-18 00:00:00

• LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 18. 1856.

The closing of the Congress has been officially
announced. The last sitting was held on Wed-
nesday, and the Earl of CLARENDON, Count BUOL,
and Baron MANTEUFFEL will forthwith return to
their Ministerial labours in their respective coun-
tries. We gave in our impression of yesterday
the statement of the Moniteur, which also de-
clares that, " after the signing of the Treaty, the
Plenipotentiaries had still to occupy themselves
with different questions, of a nature to consoli-
date and complete the work of peace—that " the
ratifications will be exchanged at the end of the
month --and that "immediately after the pro-
mulgation of the general Treaty, the Protocols
will be published, and will make known the 1
labours of the Congress in their details."
The last is the only important part of the in-
tellipnee. It, was previously known that the
Plenipotentiaries 'had occupied themselves on
various points, the object whereof must have been
in some manner connected with the so-called
" work of peace." For what other purpose could
the sittings have been required, and the animated,
if,not angry, discussions that took place? They
probably related to the appointment of the Com-
missions referred to in our leading columns of
yesterday, and the Italian question, which was
ventilated by Count CAYOIXR, whose views were,
as is generally believed, earnestly supported by
the repzesentatives of France and England. The
ratifications could not, by any possibility, be de-
ferUtd-beY9n4 the end of the month ; inasmuch
as the Treaty
was signed on the 30th March, and
on the following day Lord PALMERSTON an-
nouncqd in the :nßuse of Commons, that " the
limitation of-time for-the purpose (i.e., of ratifica-
tion) was four weeks, but that it was hoped that,
at least, within three weeks the ratifications might
The matter then must
be exchanged at Paris."
be concluded on or before the 2lth inst., and if
the anticipation of the Britiih Premier should be
realised it may be looked for almost every day.
There is, therefore, nothing very importaa in tha
first or second statements of the Moniteur.

The fun publication of the Protocols is, how-
ever, an interesting point. If we have been sad,
and we fear that but little doubt can exist, on
that part of the case, it will be something to

know on whose shoulders the responsibility should
rest, and what were the positions assumed by the
difittrent Plenipotentiaries. We trust that there

may be no c 4 cooking of the accounts," that the
protocols will contain a full and accurate report
of what really took place., without either amplifi-
cation or concealment. It is to- be feared, how-
ever, that some of the questions may be situate,*
over, and that the supposed details will -deli*
that which ma; suit the purposes of the differeht
parties rather than the actual facts.

One thing world. gym, to ,be. but
Leo palpable to adnittordonbEy Piussia has been
permitted to. regain the position whic4 olip. bad
most ivaily frorfeioa. through herxiappiteabfe-anl
awaking policy. She is represented in every com-
pinion, while ,Fiedniont that eozo* paved
ci.Lry 4144, and tcQls part woote4lx

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