The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-11 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, JAN. 9.
There are reports in town to-day that the King
will not confine himself to a mere general advocacy
of peace in St. Petersburg, but will rather seek to
find a middle path between the so-called Austrian
proposals and the scheme proposed in Count Nes-
selrode's circular of the 22d ult. Count Nessel-
rode is understood to have already declared that
the views therein expressed are by no means in-
tended to be unbendingly positive, but that, on the
contrary, Russia would be willing to agree to mo-
difications, provided they did not depart too far
from that basis.

A private letter from Altona mentions that the
Danish Government has now lost all hopes of bring-
ing anything like a conference together on the sub-
ject of the Sound Dues.
The mission of Colonel von Manteuffel to Vienna
is assumed by various parties to have various diffe-
rent objects in addition to the mere formal delivery
of the King's letter. According to some he is to
agree with Austria as to terms of a joint motion
to be made shortly at the Diet on the subject of
an altered position to be assumed by Germany on
the Russian question ; according to others Prussia
being alarmed at • the prospect of widely-extended
operations in the Baltic this summer, is apply-
ing to Austria through him for an assurance
of the same support, in, case she should be attacked
there, as Prussia bad guaranteed to Austria in
case she should be attacked in the Principalities.

THE PRINCIPALITIES.
cc we have spoken," says the Presse d'Orient,
g, of the construction of a road between Rassova
and Kustendje, to facilitate the communications
of the Danube with the Black Sea without passing
by the mouths of the river. The works have been
completed and the road is now practicable. The
engineers who had come to superintend the opera-
tions are about to return to France. This under-
taking has given rise to interesting medical obser-
vations as to climate. The soil of the Dobrudscha,
which has been represented as impregnated with
deleterious miasma, has not been fatal to one of
the 300 workmen who have been employed by the
engineers. This is a fact worthy of remark, parti-
cularly when we bear in mind the effects frequently
produced by works of this kind, in the most fa-
voured countries, when opened for the first time.
It must be mentioned, however, that the men em-
ployed
were Moldavians and Wallachians, all
vigorous, sober, and well inured to fatigue."

•
SCANDINAVIA.
The following is a translation of the circular ad-
dressed by Baron Stierneld, the Swedish Minister
of Foreign Affairs, on the 18th ult., to all Swedish
envoys, respecting the recent treaty with the
Western Powers :---
" S'r,—My last letter bears date of
"The disastrous struggle which still continues between
Rtissia and the Western Powers has been in its origin as
n !Its development the source of the most serious reflec•
io to the Government of the King. The more the
1 t ggle gained in extent the nearer the inconveniences
r
it ar approach our shores, the more had we to con-
,id r the dangers it might bring upon ourselves. From
1 commencement of hostilities the King openly de-
:la ed the line of action he intended to follow, and
lu ing the course of now nearly two years his Majesty
leer deviated therefrom, for he had carefully weighed
,h political circumstances, and recognised that the in-
ter, sts and tranquillity of his kingdoms indicated the line
of conduct which, in concert with his august neighbour
the King of Denmark, he had adopted, and hitherto

P!

1

maintained. But, while observing the regulations of a
strict neutrality, the King could not do othertiise
than consult the lessons of the past, and apply them
with wise foresight to the future interests of his king-
doms, the safety of which is his first duty and the object
of his most ardent wishes.

I " Apprehensions for the future, founded upon rement-
bi ances too well known to need repetition, and entertained
by the obstacles made by Russia to a satisfactory regu-
lation of the border relations in the northern provinces;
were increased still more by the manifestation of ideas •
of encroachment of that Empire in the East. Under
other more favourable circumstances thosi ideas might ,
obtain a development in the north which would be dans-
tore to cause us serious embarrassment. France and
England having proposed to his Majesty a defensive
treaty of alliance, destined to assure the integrity of the
United Kingdoms, the King felt that it was his duty
eagerly to accept a guarantee, the utility of which is. as
patent as it is incontestible. No one can say what
eventual contingencies are not hidden in the womb of
the future, and in such difficult circumstances. as
the present it is the duty of every Sovereign. to
look after the maintenance of the independence andto
assure the welfare of the nations entrusted to his care r
by Providence. It was in this idea that the treaty was
concluded on the 20th of last month at Stockholm be-
tween the united kingdoms on the one hand and France
and England on the other, the text of which you will
find annexed to the present, and which was ratified at
Stockholm on the 30th, at London on the 29th, and at
Paris on the 28th of the same month.
"Desirous that this act should be brought to the
knowledge of the' friendly and allied Governments, the
King has ordered a copy of it to be sent to you to be
communicated by you to the Government to which you
have the honour of being accredited.
" You will observe, sir, that the terms of the treaty
are too precise to admit of any misinterpretation. The
alliance which has just been concluded is a defensive one;
it will depend upon Russia to prevent its application,
as this would not occur unless caused by an aggression
on her part. Let Russia respect our rights—let her
cease to inspire just, cause of alarm for the maintenance
of the balance of power in Europe -and this Treaty will
not be of any prejudice to her. You will also observe,
Sir, that this Treaty does not imply any change in our
actual position—our declaration of neutrality still sub-
sists, and will continue to be adhered to as has hitherto
•
been the case.

" I flatter myself with the hope that the Government
will render justice to the intentions which have ani-
mated the Government of the King, and that it will be
convinced that, far from wishing to add to the actual
complications, the King only thought of anticipating
eventualities which might be the source of future ones.
"This treaty of alliance has also been communicated
to the Cabinet of St. Petersburg.

" STIERNELD."

THE BRAZILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY MORNING.
The Royal Mail Company's steamship Tay, Cap-
tain Revett, with the Brazilian and River Plate f
mails, has arrived.

The Tay's dates are, Buenos Ayres, Dee. 2d ;
Rio de Janeiro, 15th ; Pernambuco, 21st ; Ma-
deira, 3d ; Lisbon, 7th.
She brings 46 passengers, 28,7421. in specie,
some jewellery, and the usual cargo.
At Buenos Ayres arid Montevideo matters were
very unsettled.

Cholera had disappeared at Rio. The coffee
market was active ; prices in sugar had advanced.
Exchange, 28.

At Pernambuco a few cases of cholera had ap-
peared. Exchange, 271 to 28.