The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-23 00:00:00

A NEW DANUBIAIV DIFFICULTY.

1 _
It has been already mentioned that great opposi-
tion had been made by the Austrian government to
the concession granted to Captain Magnan by
Prince Ghika before his removal from power, for a
line of French steamers to run on the Pruth and
the Sereth, and that the Porte has since cancelled
the permission given. The following is a letter
addressed on the Bth August by M. Thouvenel, the
French ambassador at Constantinople, to his drago-
man (through whom the communications from the
French embassy to the Porte are made), on his
learning that the Austrian consul at Jassy had, by
order of Count Buol, applied to the new caimacan
of Moldavia to revoke the concession :
" I request you to wait on Fuad Pacha, and in case of
need on the Grand Vizier, and to infirm him of the ob-
servations with which this proceeding has inspired me.
I shall not here examine the value of the contract which
forms the security of Captain Magnan ; all that I have
to say is that very respectable French interests are in-
volved in it, and that I must, until I receive more ample
information, consider the contract as legitimate, since it
emanates not only from the will of Prince Ghika, but
has been again ratified by a council of ministers who
seriously discussed the matter before replying to the com-
munication of the Austrian consul at Jassy. The essen-
tial question is not entirely in the maintenance or annul-
ment of the privilege granted to Capt. Magnan, but more
particularly in the arguments brought forward by the
Cabinet of Vienna and the line of proceeding recommended
to the Porte. If the treaty of the 30th March is to be
understood in this sense, that the free navigation of
the Danube requires that two tributary streams of
that river, which, it is true, have their source out of
Nloldavia, but are only navigable on that territory, are
to be subjected absolutely to the same regime, such a
principle, in order to be admitted, requires the assent of
the majority of the contracting powers ; and France, in
particular, has the more right to be consulted that the
discussion has been raised in connection with a native of
that country. I may add that in presence of the clear
and positive text of Article 23 of the treaty of Paris, the
Porte itself resigns the right of annulling by a finnan or
by an order of any kind an internal administrative mea-
sure adopted at Bucharest or at Jassy, and I could not
have for a moment believed that it would have had an
idea of following the plan of proceeding suggested to it.
The administrative independence of the Principalities
would be nothing more than an empty and senseless
word, if each of the powers which have constituted
themselves the guarantee of the new order of things
could isolatedly claim an intervention on the part of the
suzerain power in the internal affairs of the vassal pro-
vinces. The position in which they are placed does not
doubtless confer upon them the power of setting at nought
the obligations imposed on them as the very condition of
their existence, but the treaty of the 30th of March pro-
tects them from any particular interference. In order
for that interference to be legitimate, the facts which in-
duce'l it should have been examined by all the guaran-
teeing powers, and the majority of them should have de-
clared the caee to be sufficiently serious to necessitate a
direct proceeding on the part of the Sablime Porte.
This right does not belong to one of the powers to the
exclusion of the others. I request you to point out these
considerations to his Excellency Fuad Pacha, to whom I
authorise you to give a copy of your instructions to
Aali Pacha."

NEW RUSSIAN STEAM NAVIGATION

COMPA NIES.

ST. PETERSBURG, SEPT. 13.
The Emperor has just confirmed the organic statutes
of three steam navigation companies, destined to faci-
litate trade and industry in the south of Russia. The
Russian merchant navy is about to be greatly increased
in- the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
The " Russian Company of Navigation and Trade,"
specially created for the south of Russia, is founded on
the plan of the Russo-American Company, under the
protection of his Majc-;:y Alexander IL
This company engages to maintain communications :-
1. Between Odessa, Constantinople, ..thens, Smyrna,
Rhodes, Alexandretta, Beyruth, Jaffa, and Alexandria
(three voyages per month.) Should a, commercial de-
mand arise, the vessels will touch at other places also
along the route.
2. Between Odessa, Yalta, Redout-Kaleb, Kertch and
along the coasts of the Caucasian country (three times
a month.) This line will be hereafter extended to the
ports on the coast of Anatolia, as far 39 Constantinople,
where the boats performing the service will meet other
steamers belonging to a line established between Odessa
and Galatz, there to ply along the coasts of Roumelia
as far as Constantinople.
3. Between Odessa and Galatz, touching at the
Salina, at Ismail, Reni, and other ports in the Danube,
once a week.
4. Between Odessa, Eupatoria, Sebastopol, Yalta,
Tbeodosia, and Kertch, once a week.
5.e Between Odessa, Kinbourn, Otchakoff, and Nico-
laieff, up the river Bong, once a week.
6. Between Odessa, Kinbourn, Otchakoff, and 'Cher-
son. up the Dnieper, once a week.
7. Between Kertch, Marianpol, Berdiansk, Eisk, and
Taganrog, once a week.
8. Between Kertch and Taman, several times a day.
9. Between Ovidiopol and Ackerman, on the liman or
estuary of the Dniester, as often as may be required.
10. Between Odessa, Constantinople, the Piraaus,
Messina, Naples, Leghorn, Genoa, and Marseilles,
about 18 voyages a year. Should it be necessary, the
company's steamers will also touch at other ports situate
bet ween the ports above, mentioned.
11. Between Odessa, Constantinople, Zante, Cepha-
lonia, Corfu, and the towns of Ancona and Trieste, about
18 voyages a year.
All these lines of circulation will be opened as fast as
the steamers are built, but are to be in full operatien
before;the.end of five years.

•
Moreover, this company has the privilege of establish-
ing a system of tugs on therivers Dnieper, Boug, and
Don. The capital of the company is'fixed for the pre-
sent at six million silver roubles, divided into 20,000
shares, but it may be raised to nine millions. The Go-
vernment takes 6,670 shares for 2,000,000 silver roubles,
paying the half of this sum down and the other half
within 12 months.

At the head of this company stands its founders, the
Emperor's aide-de-camp, Captain Nicholas Arkass, and
Collegiate Councillor Nicholas Novossitski. The statutes
are signed by Count Orloff, theGrandDuke Constantine,
Counts Perovski, Lanskoi, General Soukhosanet,Tcheff-
kine, Brok, Baron Wrangel, Nozaff, Gortschakoff,
Gamalie, Illitcheffski, and Count Golenichtcheff, Kou-
tousoff, members of the ministerial committee.
All these name., and the advantages secured to the
company, sufficiently show tbe importance that the
Russian Government attaches to the, success of this en-
terprise, which, precisely at the moment when, by the
Crimean war and the treaty of Paria, our military navy
in the Black Sea has been annihilated, intends construct.
lug a formidable merchant steam-navy, that will keep
not merely our populations of tbe south- constantly
Wined to the maritime service, but in case of certain
events would likewise enable us to transport troops no
matter to what point upon the coast of the Black Sea.

:
The Bank of Leipzig has just raised its rate of dis-
count to 6 per milt: on commercial, bills, and 64 on
owns on securities.
THE SHREWSBIJAY ESTATES.—JOHN SADLEIH.—There
is no foundation for the statement which has appeared
in our morning ccntemporaries, that the Earl of Shrews-
bury, recently deceased, bequeathed his estates to the
di.pos::tion of the late John Sadleir. Previously to
leaintemporaryEngiald, the noble Earl, it is understood,
madev a temporary will, placing his property, in the
event of his .dea h during his continental residence, in
trust for • strictly Roman Catholic charitable and educa-
tional objects, at the disposal of several noblemen and
gentlemen ; among whom were included the present '
Duke of Norfolk, Sir Thomas Redington, formerly
Under-Secretary for Ireland, 'and John Sadleir—tbe
latter of whom, at the time the bequest was made,
occupied a distinguished position in the House of Com-
roon;4_by his leadership of the opposition offered by the
Roman Catholic members to the passing of the Reale-
iitatical Titles

THE DIFFERENCES IN THE SPAIVISIi

CABINET.

The Journal des Debats of yesterday contains the
following letter from Madrid, of the 16th, giving
au account of differences which lately occurred in
the Spanish Cabinet :
" We have just had a Ministerial crisis here, which
nearly led to the dissolution of the Ministry. It was
caused by the question relative to the execution of the
law for the sale of ecclesiastical property. On the 9th
the Council of Ministers assembled as usual, but ae
nothing important was expected to come on, neither
the Queen nor M. Rine Rosas, Minister of the Interior,
was present. The Minister of Finance, M. Cantero,
brought forward the draft of a decree which he proposed
to submit to the Queen, authorising: the opening of a
crcdit of 30,000,000 reels (7,500,0001.) for the repairs of
churo'nee and ecclesiastical edifices ; *MO credit to be
repaid from the proceeds of the sales of e'ccle'siastical and
national property. It is evident that' the .adoption of
this measure would have amounted to a new sanction
of the law of desamortizacion, and would have 10,1 to the
pressing on of the sales of ecclesiastical property
with
new activity. The Minister of Finance therefore Pre'
Posed nothing less than that the Cabinet should deci:*
against those influential persons who wish to see the lase
in question suspended ; in other terms, he recommended
the adoption of a policy in accordance with that of the
Government which was overthrown in July, not with,
that of the present one. Nevertheless, it does not appear
that his proposition led to any objection from his col-
segues. When M. Rios Rosas heard of this he demand.
the convocation of a new Cabinet Council, in order
that the question might be fully examined and set'..
tied. This council was held on the 11th, under the
presidency of the Queen. M. Ring Rosas argued that
the decree of M. Cantero, by giving a new confirmation
of the law, and assuring its prompt executiorr, would
raise obstacles in the negotiations now pendin with
g'
Rome. He also maintained that the law was in contra-
diction with the Concordat concluded in 1851, that- it
was voted by surprise and witheut due reflection, and
Htthat it would be prudent to leave the question of t exe-
cution of it to the future Cortes. The Minister of
nance declared that the projected decree was an indis-
pensable element in his plan of finance, and that he would
not remain Minister if it were not adopted. The Minis-
ter of Marine, M. Bagarri, warmly approved of the mea-
sure. As to the Minister of War, Marshal O'Donnell,
he said that after having fully examined the question,
he was convinced that it was itnpossibe to suspend the
execution of the law of desamortizacion. He said,
too, that the law had been fully discussed in the Cone
stitnent Cortes, and had not been voted by surprise,
nor without due reflection, nor by intimidation ; that
it had been duly sanctioned by the Queen ; that it was
as much law as any other law ; and that the Govern,.
ment could not take on itself to infringe it by suspending
its execution. He added that his conviction on the sub'
ject was so profound that he could not consent to the
least concession, and that if the proposal of the. Minister
of Finance were not approved of, be should beg the
Queen to accept his resignation and that of his colleagues
of the departments of the Marine and Finance. TbiB
declaration of O'Donnell produced a great sensation,
and the Queen was much moved by it. Her Majesty
reminded him of the circumstances under which the law
had been voted by the assembly and sanctioned by her,
and she said that she had more than once felt alartn in
her conscience at her participation in a measure which'
was prejudicial to the Church, was in violation of the
Concordat, and against which the Holy See had pro-
tested. 'I, therefore,' said the Queen, 'supplicate Al.
Cantero to withdraw the proposed decree, which be
will find means to do without. If this be a sacrifice to
him I beg it in the name of his patriotism, and of hie
devotedness to me. I hope that he will not refuse rO7
prayer.' Then turning to O'Donnell, the Queen said
that he had no serious reason to talk of resigning, and
that for her part she was determined not to give up the
services of one of the most distinguished chiefs of tb
army, who every day gave her new proofs of his siffec-
tion and zeal. am anxious,' her Majesty added,
that we shall not become the laughing-stock of Europer
and we should no doubt be so, if after six weeks ein'
ployed in doing great and useful things—things which
are not without grandeur—we were to separate because
we differ on a question which is not even of secondary in-
terest.' The Queen then formally invited M. Canters, to
prepare other means for paying the expense of
repairing churches ; and, said she, M. Canter°
must know, and all my ministers know, hoW
happy I am when we are in accord, and that I feel
great pain when it happens to me not to be of that
opinion.' The Council on this broke up, but shorey
after the Minister of War went to the Queen, and re-
quested her Majesty to sign the decree of M. Cantero,
or to accept the resignation of all the Ministers. The
Queen persisted in her double refusal, and gave such
reasons for it that be consented to retain his post, and
to abandon the decree of M. Cantero. It is to be re-
marked that though all the Ministers appeared to ap-
prove of the decree when first brought forward, yet that
when M. Rios Rosas opposed it he was supported by
M. Coiled°, Minister of Public Works, M. Alvarez,
Minister of Justice and Public Worship, and Pastor
Diez, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The opinion of the
Queen was consequently in conformity with that of the
majority of the Cabinet. The veritable importance of
the incident is the offer of resignation made by O'Don-
nell, and this offer has caused some disquietude in the
capital. On the other hand, it has shown the Royalist-
Liberals and Conservatives of all shades of opinion the
necessity of supporting the Ministry."