The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-21 00:00:00

THE PEACE CONGRESS.

(From Second Edition, of the Morning Post, this day.)
PARIS, Thursday, 6 P.M.—The last meeting of
the Congress, I have reason to believe, was not
concluded without satisfactory results. Probably
those questions which relate to the Black Sea were
discussed, and received the sanction of the Prussian
Plenipotentiaries. The articles of the treaty can
now be elaborated. Supposing the Plenipotentiaries
find no objection to the wording of this document,
which is not very probable, the treaty of peace will
be signed within a week from the present mo-
ment. As soon as the ratification has taken place,
some of the Plenipotentiaries now in Paris will
leave this city. To execute the details of the treaty
will certainly occupy some time. Commissions
have to be appointed for regulating frontier ques-
tions, and their reports cannot be collected it may
be for weeks to come. Certainly Lord Clarendon,
Aali Paella, and M. Cavour cannot be expected to
remain in Paris for so long a period, when their
presence is necessary to their respective Govern-
ments. Lord Clarendon, as I have before in•
formed you, will probably be in London before
the 31st of this month. I presume, therefore, that
the resident Ambassadors will attend to the exe-
cution of such details as are involved in the prac-
tical execution of the treaty. When the articles of
the said treaty have been signed, the representa-
tives of the allies will probably receive extraordi-
nary powers from their home Governments to
execute the contracts entered into. What has taken
place at the Congress will perhaps never be known,
but I have learned enough to assure you that
Lord Clarendon has manfully fulfilled his mis-
sion, and thoroughly represented the views of
Lord Palmerston's Cabinet. The Imperial Minister
for Foreign Affairs has personally waited on the
Emperor after each meeting of the Congress, which
is a safe guarantee that the wisdom and loyalty of
Napoleon 111. have ever presided at the Council
Board. Englishmen will require nothing more ;
and France will be satisfied. A group of grumblers
will be found no doubt on both sides of the Channel,
for political opposition feedson such dishes as whet the
appetite of a discontent in which it desires the rest
of the world to participate. I sincerely believe that
the good sense of the majority will consider the
treaty, now in course of formation, as highly hon-
ourable. The integrity of Turkey has been secured,
and a vast new field of commerce is opened to com-
mercial Europe, and in which Russia will herself
participate. Whether or not the Governments of
France and. England will seize upon the present
occasion to endeavour to ameliorate the condition
of certain countries now suffering from political de-
gradation, I know not. Count Orloff, I understand,
has declared that his master, the Emperor Alexander,
is willing to grant large privileges to Russian Po-
land. The Emperor of the French desires ar-
dently to see the Roman States more prosperous
and contented. But the difficulty of reconcil-
ing the people to the Crown without the risk
of " concessions" wandering into abuses is so
great, that, like most political, and royal, and
imperial hopes and promises, they may never
be practically applied. Nevertheless, if we may
believe assertions, there really seems to be
a desire amongst the Plenipotentiaries to give
Europe the material for permanent repose. To do
so, however, effectually would involve radical
changes, of which stupid despotic Governments
afford us no past examples, excepting under the
influence of revolution. There is a dawn of hope
on the world's political horizon, which may light
the eye of the political watcher, but will scarcely
deceive his reason.

SHIP-LAUNCHING EXTRAORDINARY.

There was a novel and interesting spectacle on the
river yesterday, when two wooden despatch vessels,
named the Vigilant and the Alacrity, each of 670 tons
burden, and three iron mortar-vessels, for her Majesty's
Government, were launched from the extensive ship-
building yard of Messrs. C. J. Mare and Co., of
Blackwall, whose business is now being carried on by
the assignees. These launches were complete and per-
fect, especially the despatch ships. They glided from
the stocks on which they were constructed most grace-
fully, and the scene was most exiiting. The fifth launch
took place within 15 minutes of the first, and loud cheers
burst forth from the assembled multitudes as each ship
reached the bosom of Father Thames. The expedi-
tion displayed in forward►ng these vessels is quite
marvellous, and reflects the highest credit on the
assignees of C. J. Mare and Co., who, notwith-
standing pecuniary difficulties, have carried en the busi-
❑ess of the yard in a most enterprising and successful
manner. Much credit is also due to Messrs. Westwood
and Baillie, the general managers of the estate under the
assignees, more particularly in the rapid construction of
the iron mortar-boats. Seven out of the 20, ordered
by the Admiralty, have been launched from Messrs.
Mare's yard. Six more will be launched on the
sth of April from the same yard, together
with a large iron screw steamer, the Genova,
1,900 tons burthen, for the Genoese Trans-Atlantic
Company ; aleo at the same time an iron paddle-steamer
for the South-Western Railway to ply between South-
ampton and Havre. The Genova is now so far advanced
as to give promise to be a perfect specimen of naval ar-
chitecture, her lines and proportions having been laid by
Mr. Ash, a relative and pupil of the late Thomas Wa-
terman, Esq., and when launched will add to the num-
ber of superb and beautiful vessels for which the estab-,
lishment has been proverbial.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC .R 11;it uRNs.

TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR THE WEEK.