The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-13 00:00:00

THE PEACE PROPOSITIONS.

(From the Debate of Yesterday. )
In what sense is article 5 to be understood ? What
is the precise object of it—what is its real and practical
bearing ? In this respect we are, like every one else, re-
duced to conjectures, and we cannot give our personal
appreciations. It is possible, and it is mistral, that that
French and English Governments, in demanding from
Russia general guarantees in the interest of the ha'
lance of power in Europe, considered themselves com-
pelled to stipulate for some particular guarantees in fa-
vour of those Allies who came at the last to give
their moral co-operation to the Western cause. It may
be, for instance, readily conceived that they would
not refuse to Sweden the price of an alliance which un-
der any eventuality must retain in their eyes the cha-
racter and the value of a friendly act. In this order of
ideas, the particular conditions which may be thought
proper to add to the general guarantees will be confined,
as is generally believed, to interdicting Russia front for'
tifying the Aland Islands, and rebuilding the fortifica-
tions of Bomarsund. It appears difficult to imagine that
Russia neither demanded nor received some previous
explanations as to the meaning of article 6 before she de-
cided on accepting without reserve the programme of which
it forms a part. If this very probable supposition be well
founded, the difficulty will be smoothed down, and on the
fifth point as on the four others the preliminary agree-
ment would exist dc facto between the powers. The
work of the plenipotentiaries who are about to assemble
would be thereby simplified and abridged. The affairs
of peace are therefore in a favourable way, and it is n.O-.
thank God, with us that it will meet with any serioss
obstacles. Our only regret is to see that on this point
there is not a perfect unanimity of views and an entente
cordiale between France and her Allies. We do not
wish to exaggerate the dissent--it is not on the ground•
work of things, it is only the shades. In England. We
firmly believe that peace is wished for, only
.that
wish is expressed with more reserve and hesitation
than with us. In France peace is desired, in rag-
land the people resign themselves to it ; it is ac-
cepted from a feeling of humanity rather than from
sentiment, rather than by a warm and OPOnta.
11Q0119 impulse. But after all what does it matter
if England is ready to sign it t France, to her honoar
be it salt, and the whole world will render her this Jo"
tice—Franoe, in ;declaring war against Russia, never
had a desire or an intention of crushing her ; she never
intended to make a war of hatred and extermination
against her. She never in her ideas of triumph calcu-
lated on the pleasure of seeing Cronstadt in ruins or St.
Petersburg in flames. As she never entered on the mar
with those savage wishes, she has net in making pfee
to bear any sad disappointments.

THE REV. DR. OROLY ON THE NEWSPdPia.

The newspaper, the most influential of all hutnall,
works, is the creation of printing. It is the honour 0'
England that in this country it approaches nearest to
excellence, in intellectual vigour, in variety of know'
ledge, in extent of information, and in patriotic prig'
ciple. It has, like all the works of man, occasional Ira'
perfections, and perhaps the most prominent are its too
minute details of offences against public purity. 13,1
there is scarcely a newspaper in this age which "lour
not have' been regarded as a triumph of ability in 0..
last. In fact, the newspaper of England is the grew,'
practical teacher of the people. Its constant en'
universal teaching alone accounts for the superior inter
ligence of the population. Schools, lecture-rooms, 511111
universities, important al they all are, altogether fill
behind it in public effect, or find that, to retain their
influence, they must follow in its steps. Those steps
must now and then turn from the right road, but their
native tendency is forward and upward. This intellee;
tual giant always advances, and carries the country wit
him to a height which no other country, ancient °',
modern, ever attained, or perhaps ever hoped to attaio•
If in an age of foreign convulsion England has wader
gone no catastrophe—if in the fall of monarchies she ,
Preserved her hereditary throne—if in the mingled us
fidelity and superstition of the Continent, which, like tbe
mingled fetters and frenzy of a lunatic hospital, have is
our day exhibited the lowest humiliation of nature, "e
has preserved her freedom and her religion—l attribute
all, under God, to the vigour and intelligence of Publ:ui:
investigation, the incessant urgency of appeal to t'
putlie mind, the living organisation of which, the bort
is the Press of England.

TREFATA Li COLLISION OFF FOLKESTOO
-CENSURE OF BOTH CREWS. • '

The inquiry opened on Tuesday last, before Mr. Ei‘sti
the Folkestone coroner, respecting the death of throe °•
the unfortunate sufferers in the wreck of the Jose
Willis, was resumed yesterday at the Guildhall of as,
borough. Mr. Winkworth and Capt. Neagle attonde6
on behalf of the owners and underwriters. Mr. Towl
for Captain Bourohier ; and Mr. O'Shea fur the Linorie
and London Steam Packet Company.
The evidence was almost the same atigiven rat the
Beal inquiry.
The jury, after more than an hour's deliberation, e
turned the following verdict :—" We come to a t 113691:
molls conclusion that George iuramera and others 03111,
by their deaths in consequence of a collision between Vl'
ship Josephine Willis and the steamer Mangertoe, 061
to an error in judgment on the part of the chief offl°°'
of the ship, mistaking the light of the steamer for D°_,lr
geness Light, and starboarding the helm, We also siiig7„
that if a proper look out had been kept on board of !LI
steamer, the collision might have been avoided, We lee,
it our duty also to state that there appears to have been
h
great want of humanity un the part of the crew of h°,t•
ships, in not sending assistance to the passengers of •
ship whilst they had it in their power to do so ; and vi
believe that, if proper efforts had been made, monYln°rs
lives would have been saved."