The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-09 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

The Abeille du Nord informs us that the Em-
peror thanks the nobility of Esthonia for the 12,000
roubles they have contributed to improve the food
of the troops in that province. In order that you
should the better appreciate the importance of the
publication and the gift, you must bear in mind
that these troops belong in great part to the Im-
perial Guard, which is the best fed corps in the
service. What, then, is the sort of food given to
the troops of the line in garrison 300 leagues from
the capital Y eye-witness mentioned to me
the following fact :—While passing the last sum-
mer at Riga at a person's house in which 10 sol-
diers were billeted, who were employed on the
works of the fortress, we heard ono day one of these
men offering his ration of sweetmeats for sale. The
offer was received with laughter at the idea of such
delicacies being furnished to the soldiers by the
Government. The soldier was desired to show, and
unfolding his military cloak he ezhibited to the eyes
of all a piece of bread as black as tar, and mixed
with ashes and sand, and said, ironically, " Here
are my sweetmeats—the s wee tmeats that are given to
us." The bystanders gave him some kopecks,which
he received, bowing to the earth.
The Emperor having received an address of feli-
citation from the inhabitants of Moscow, replied
as follows to the Governor of that city :

" Count Arsbne Andrecovitch—lt is with sincere sa-
tisfaction that I have received your letter of the 17th of
December. It is a pleasure to me to thank you, as also
the inhabitants of Moscow, for the sentiments of fidelity
which you express to me, and which ray dear parents
have taught me to believe.—Your sincerely affectionate
" ALEXANDER."

COPENHAGEN, Tuesday Evening.—A. royal pro-
clamation just published decrees that the King's
mazriago with tho Countess Danner shall eyer re-
main morganatic, and be so inscribed iu the State
calendar.

COUNT ESTERHAZI AND THE CZAR.
THE PEACE PROPOSALS.

The following article in the Emancipation Bilge
has caused considerable sensation in Paris, and is
treated as authentic by the Patric of Monday
evening
_ _

The friends of peace learn with more grief than sur-
prise of the icy character of the reception accorded by
the Emperor Alexander to Count Esterhazy. On being
introduced, the Count handed the Austrian ultimatum
to his Majesty, adding words of entreaty that he would
agree to the honourable conditions from which the Em-
peror Francis Joseph had resolved never to swerve. The
Czar replied not a word to this respectful but firm com-
munication, and confined himself to inquiring of the
Count the particulars of his journey and the health of
his family. After a second fruitless attempt to bring the
Czar to an exchange of explanations, the Count quitted
the Palace. The result of this interview has produced a
profound sensation at St. Petersburg. The emotion
will not be less in Germany when it is known with
certainty that Count Esterhazy's mission has miscarried.
The Czar's obstinacy is not unanimously approved of
at St. Petersburg, but the intelligence which reaches me
from all quarters convinces me that the war party will
be uppermost.

The Austrian propositions are in the full sense of the
word, an ultimatum. Austria, with the consent of the
Western Powers, presents singly to Russia prepositions
implicitly determining the casus belli, i.e., the Em-
peror Frances Joseph therein declares his approval of
the terms transmitted to St. Petersburg, and adds
that he considers it his duty to support them by all
the means at his disposal, thereby casting upon Rus-
sia the entire responsibility of an unreasonable rejec-
tion. Prussia expresses no opinion upon these proposi-
tions, which, indeed, have not been communicated to her.
She contents herself with inviting the Czar to come to
an understanding with the belligerent powers.
There is no room for doubt concerning the efficient
co-operation which Austria will lend to the Allies. The
departure of her legation from St. Petersburg (fixed for
the 16th inst.) will be the signal for the putting of her
army upon a war footing, and for the issue of a procla-
mation, in which the Emperor will fully set forth the
considerations which compel him to take an active part
in the war. The majority of the German powers will
adopt the same course. The remainder, swayed by
Prussia, will hesitate.

Supposing that the rupture takes place, France will
place at the disposal of Austria and her German confe-
derates an army of a hundred thousand men, who will
assemble upon the Upper Rhine, and pass over that
river as soon as circumstances require it. Belgium will
remain neutral. If she had to defend the integrity of
her territory on the side of the Rhenish provinces she
only would be judge of the kind of succour which she
should accept. Her brave army would doubtless suffice
to preserve her from all affront ; and it is to be pro-
suraed that her eastern frontier would not be violated
more than her southern. Under this arrangement our
country would be, even for France, a bulwark which
that power would be interested in leaving intact. Hol-
land would find herself in an analogous situation.
My previsions reach perhaps somewhat, far into the
future, and I confess that they
will appear premature to
those who, step by step, follow the political progression.
But I hold myself bound to communicate to you my
views, 'and the substance of conversations of the most
serious character, leaving to you the task of properly
appreciating them.

Loss OF THE ENGLISH TRANSPORT THEMIS BY
FIRE.—The Patric publishes a letter from Eupatoria, of
the 24th uit., stating that the night before, the English
transport Themis, chartered by the French Intendance,
had taken fire in the roads. There being no possibility
of saving her, she was removed to some distance from
the other shipping, where she continued to burn until
3 o'clock a.m., when she sank. The Themis had on
board 50,000 projectiles, 3,000,000 of ball cartridges,
and a number of barrels of gunpowder.
THE COUNTY MAGISTRACY AND TURNIP STEALING.—
On Friday last three women were sentenced by the
county magistrates of Stratford-on-Avon to seven days'
imprisonment each for stealing six turnips
THE RUGELEY POISONING CASE.—In the " London
and Provincial Medical Directory," the name of W.
Palmer, Rugeley, appears in the list of these who are
preotising without P qualification.