The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-24 00:00:00

?KS 'Um% tolkInoN; TRUIR/SDAY 11171414_1,Ng • 0174. lI.K_A.,R, y vet.; - I

pion out of his own mouth, have defeated
him with weapons provided by himself. We
are, perhaps, wrong in styling him the
" bullionist champion," for many eminent men,
such as Mr. JAMES WILSON, M.P., 'to whose ad-
mirable views in reference to an increased issue
of bank notes, more especially of the smaller de-
nominations, we yesterday directed attention,
insisted on " convertibility " as an indispensable
condition, while they prove, beyond the possibility
of doubt, the perfect security of the operation.
" Mercator " starts with a weighty postulate—
a heavy demand on the national credulity—per-
haps " gullibility" might be the more fitting term.
He declares that " the subject is not intricate or
obscure ; the public will find it to be simple and
intelligible, if they will only believe' it to be so."
This, however, is simply a demand to surrender
their minds into the control of " Mercator"—to
accept all that he lays down as indisputable
truth.

Every argument used is equally applicable to
an exclusively metallic circulation—the scarcely
concealed object of "Meloator." The 22,000,000/.
issued by the Bank of England and the private
banks, without a deposit of bullion, should, ac-
cording to this " high financial authority," be
altogether withdrawn, and, if he could have his
way, not a single pound could be circulated that
I hag. not an equivalent in specie safely deposited
in the Bank coffers. The process which he
advocates is one opposed to the best in-
terests of the nation, wholly inconsistent
with anything approaching to permanent
ease. It is condemned by the nation--and it
cannot be continued to gratify the caprices of any
elderly nobleman —or to enable the sevenfold
millionnaire to ride his hobby, without regard to
the sufferings and privations of myriads of his
fellow-subjects, who should be ground into the
dust that he might make further accumulations
to his already over-grown wealth.

" TUTI QUI PROVIDI."

It is now some fifteen years since we first had

he pleasure of calling public attention to the

institution whose motto stands at the head of this
article the " Provident Clerks' Association."
Since that time the subject of our notice has gra-
dually enlarged its operations, until it may now
fairly claim to be ranked among the most import-
ant and useful societies in the country. Its mana-
gers may justly pride themselves upon the fact,
that in the Life Assurance Department more than
5,000 Policies, assuring somewhere about a :um-
Lios sterling, have been issued, while the pub-
licity given to every item both of receipt and ex-
penditure show how full and how well justified is
their confidence in the financial position of the
association. The accounts, unlike those of many
offices, are open to the world, and as long as this
is the case there is but little fear either of malver-
sation or of extravagance. An attempt was in-
deed made at the meeting on Monday to throw
suspicion upon the position and conduct of the
office, but it was promptly, ably, and suc-
cessfully refuted. Indeed, in the face of such

figures, a refutation is almost superfluous.
It is not as an assuranc3 office alone, however,
that we would speak of the Provident Clerks'
Association. Its Benevolent Fund, the only in-
stitution of the kind belonging exclusively to the
clerks, has been the means of relieving a large
amount of suffering and privation, and this, too,
among a. class who are on many grounds peculiarly
entitled to sympathy. By the vicissitudes of com-
mercial life numbers of clerks are ruined or seri-

ously embarrassed from circumstances over which

they can have no control. Few are so highly
paid that they can, by mere saving, accumulate
a sufficient provision and yet maintain a " re-
spectable appearance," while, at the same time,
from education, habits, and social position, they
constitute a class on whom the pressure of actual
poverty, tells with doubly painful effect.
If this be true of the clerk, even while health
and ability are spared, when the opportunity of
employment is denied him, how much more true
is it of those helpless beings who are too often
left to mourn the loss of him whose labour was
their sole dependence, and who by one stroke are
not only plunged into domestic affliction, but are
reduced from comparative affluence to actual want.
A few weeks since it was our duty to record a
painful case of this nature, and we have reason to
know that, on the matter being brought before the
directors of the Provident Clerks' Association, the
widow was promptly and liberally relieved. That
this is not a single case the annual balance-sheets
of the Association clearly show. We learn from
them that between eight and nine hundred pounds
is paid in annuities to distressed members and
widows—that more than 1,1001. have been given
away to meet cases of urgent necessity, and that
22,000/. have been lent in small sums for the
relief of temporary difficulties. We cannot doubt
that these facts, widely known, as they deserve to
be, will gain for the Association the cordial sup-
port, not only of the clerks, of whom some 4,000
have already joined its ranks, but of that wealthy
and important class to whom the welfare of the
clerks is, or ought to be, an object of real and
heart-felt interest.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday afternoon at
the Foreign-office. The Ministers present were—Vis-
count Palmerston, the Lard Chancellor, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, Earl Granville, the Earl of Harrowby,
Sir George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, Mr. Seorqary
Labouchere, Lord Panusere, the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, Sir Chas. Wood, the Right Hon. R. Vernon
Smith, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Right Hon. M. T.
Baines, and the Duke of/Argyll. The Council at three
hours.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary honoured the performances at
the Haymarket Theatre with their presence last evening.
Their Royal Highnesses occupied the Queen's box.
The Duke of Leeds has left the Clarendon for Hornby
Castle, near Catterick, Yorkshire.

The Duke of Rutland is still receiving company at
Belvoir Castle.

.trUS,IAthS Mori V 4 Pols 40(.:8e2'i.Y0
PEACE.

-4

The Earl of Aberdeen left town on Tuesday, on a
visit to ber Majesty at Windsor Castle.
The Earl and Countess of Mountcharles have arrived
in town from visiting the Duke and Duchess of Bedford,
at Woburn Abbey.

The following is from the Times' (Second Edi-
tion) Paris correspondent's letter dated yester-
day:—" I am aware that it would he wrong to
attach much importance or implicit credit to
telegraphic messages containing mutilated sen-
tences from the newspapers. But if they are,
substantially correct, they would justify a sus-
picion that some attempt at trickery is meant,
though I have no doubt that the French and Eng-
lish Governments are fully prepared for all emer-
gencies, and are carefully oil the watch against
treachery. I have not seen M. de Nesselrode's
circular, but I think it is not • difficult to state,
without its help, the " motives for the moderation
hof Russia." Russia has signified her intention to
accept our conditions of peace because she can-
not help herself. She has been driven to the
verge of ruin by the war, and the f.rct is admitted
by Russians themselves, who literally shed tears
over the humiliation which has fallen on their
country, and which she has no choice but to bear.
Russia accepts peace simply because she cannot
carry on the war, and because she hopes with the
help of her ally (Prussia) to make the best bargain
she can under the circumstances. If the efforts
that are now made to introduce that Power into
the conferences be successful, the shame will be
as great as is the impudence which can advocate
or justify such an intrusion. A good deal of
sentiment will, no doubt, be expended in fivour
of Russia, •and much argument employed on
the cruelty of humiliating so interesting a
Power. But when did Russia ever spare from
humiliation a State on which her grasp was
laid ? For whom or for what, in her long
career of tyranny and crime, has she ever shown
tenderness or mercy ? No weakness has ever dis-
armed her wrath, no innocence her cruelty, no help-
lessness her brute force. We have extracted the
talons from one of the monster's paws ; it is a pity
we cannot do the same by the other. If it be de-
cided that Cronstadt is not to follow the fate of
Sebastopol, at least let us take care that it shall not
be dangerous. We have had some trouble in throw-
ing the monster on the ground ; we have our hand
on his throat, and if we loosen the gripe till he is
powerless for mischief the fault is our own."

The Counte9s Dowager of Morley has arrived in town
'cm Saltram, Devonshire.

Lord Panmure was sufficiently recovered, yesterday,
from his recent attack of gout, to attend the Cabinet
Council held at the Foreign-office.
Lord and Lady Edward Fitzalan Howard have ar-
rived in town from Arundel Castle.
Sir George Grey left town after the Cabinet Council,
yesterday afternoon, for Windsor Castle.
The Right Hon. Sir James Graham, B.►rt., M.P., and
his three sons. are at present staying at the Ullocks
Royal Hotel, Bowness, Windermere.
Sir Alexander Spearman had an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, yesterday, at his official
residence in Downing-street.
A deputation, consisting of Mr. James Harvey, Mr.
H. Potter, and Mr. A. Wilson, had an interview with
the Right Hon. E. P. l3ouverie, yeAterday, at the office
of the Poor lag Board, on the subject of the affairs of
the West London Union.

LATEST NEWS.

BERLIN, JAN. 23.

M. de Budberg has this day received a circu-
lar from Count Nesselrode, by which the Chan-

oellor makes known to the representatives of

Russia in foreign countries the motive for accept-

ing the propositions of Austria, and gives an
exposi of the intentions of the Russian Govern-

meat in reference to the future negotiations.

The circular of the Russian Government de-

Glares that Russia has made concessions with a

view to the re-establishment of peace, out of

deference to the representations of friendly
Powers, but not at all because the interest of

Russia calls for the conclusion of that peace.

The acceptance of the Austrian propositions
has been published officially at St. Petersburg.
The announcement stated that the chief condi-

tion is the neutralisation of the Black Sea, to
be secured by a treaty between Russia and Tur-
key. Russia is ready to discuss the other points,.

THE TURKISH CONTINGENT.
KERTCH, Dec. 29.—We are fairly looked in here
now. A herd of elephants could promenade on
the ice in the bay, and the strongest parts of the
current in the straits are now covered. But here
it forms and breaks up. A large continuance of
frost will enable us to cross. Report has it that
General Wrangel has been reinforced to a consider-
able extent at Arabat ; but whether with the in-
tention of coming on here or crossing the bay is
not known. The Tartars have it that he comes
here with 50,000 men, and his brother awaits the
formation of the ice to cross with 20,090 more.
They will both get a warm reception when they do
come. Powerful batteries have been placed on the
commanding heights and on the seaboard, and the
Turkish soldier has proved that he will not yield
without a severe struggle. A deep fosse has been
dug, and a parapet 12 feet high has been raised all
round the town of Kertch and the defences of St.
Paul's and Yenikale, within which the troops are
all comfortably hutted. Except in the article of
fuel there is a good stock of everything, and, were
the ice to break up at St. Paul's to enable ships to
approach, the force would want for nothing.
The troops have now had their new clothing, issued, and look remarkably well. An amazing im-
provement has taken place in their appearance and
gait. They have become very partial to their new
commanding officers, and, now that so many of
them can communicate with them in their own lan-
guage the become quite domesticated one with the
other. Many officers have already passed in the
language and received the honorary reward for so
doing. Now that the men are all hutted, and the
entrenching works near at an end, parades are con-
stant. The other day two guns were fired and the
alarm sounded. Fancying the enemy were upon
us, I instantly pulled on my boots, buckled on my
sword, and rushed out. I found the troops all
turned out, and the artillerymen at their guns. It
was a false alarm, done possibly to try the troops.
They turned out with admirable alacrity. The
General is everywhere. He looks generally to the
efficiency of his force in all departments. He is
most popular with all, and deals out justice with-
out favour or affection to any one. With our allies
the French he is on the best of terms.

FRANCE.

PARIS, WEDNEdbAY EVENING.
Tire Emperor yesterday received the reply of the
Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar to the letters of cre-
dence of the Viscount des Meloizes-Fresnoy, as
French Minister Plenipotentiary at the Grand
Ducal Court.
We read in the Moniteur :—" The President of
the republic of San Salvador has just charged its
representative at Paris to offer his most cordial
congratulations to the French government on the
taking of Sebastopol, and to state that that great
event had caused a feeling of admiration as well as
au expression of great delight in the state of San
Salvador."
" We are assured," says the Courrier du Havre,
" that an order transmitted from Paris this after-
noon (Tuesday) has directed that the loading of the
vessels intended for the Crimea shall be provision-
ally suspended."
The Debats publishes an article on the question
of the day, which contains extracts from the letters
of its Vienna and Berlin correspondents, with
comments on the same. We select the most re-
markable passages of the article :
" Whilst M. de Seebach laboured at St. Petersburg to
re-establish peace, the King of Prussia despatched to
Vienna Colonel Manteuffel, who, according to our cor-
respondents, was charged with the mission of assuring
himself if Austria woud fulfil the engagements she bad
taken in the Ist article of the treaty of alliance, offen-
sive and defensive, signed with Prussia at Berlin on the
20th April, 1854, by which Austria was to consider
every attack directed against the German or non-
German territ iries of. Prussia as an hostile enter-
prise directed against her owe territory ; if, conse-
quently, Prussia could co.int on the action of Aus-
tria to protect her rights and interests, already
tsuched by the menace of a blockade of her ports.
He was also to demand explanations on the subject of
the memorandum agreed to the 28th December between
the cabinets of Paris, London, and Vienna, which bad
excited just alarm at Berlin, because one of the clauses
excladed Prussia from future negotiations if she hesitated
longer in conforming to the policy of Austria, and sup-
porting formally the last propositions made at St.
Petersburg. This mission of Colonel Manteuffel ex-
cited numerous and difficult questions, and was cal-
culated to cause much embarrassment to the cabinet
of Vienna. The colonel demanded categorical repAes,
which Count Buol did not hasten to afford him. At
last, after reiterated demands, the Prussian envoy
obtained satisfactory explanations. . . Austria was
far more engaged with the Western Powers than
was supposed by the King Frederick William. Not
only had she promised to yecall her minister
on the 18th Jan., if the Cabinet of St. Petersburg had
not accepted purely and simply the propositions she
advanced, but was ready to conclude with France and
England a military convention which would have re-
ceived its execution in April. Thus in the spring Austria
would have given to the Allies the assistance of her
armies, which would have made a useful diversion by
operating on the Gallic= frontier. As soon as the
King of Prussia became 'acquainted with these views,
he perceived that no ground for hesitation existed either
for himself or for Russia. It le said that the King
hastened to acquaint the Czar with the information re-
ceived from Vienna, which confirmed accounts received
from elsewhere, and counselled him with firmness
to accept without restriction the proposals of Aus-
tria, declaring for his part that he could not permit
Prussia to run such terrible chances, and should be
obliged to modify his policy in approaching towards
that of the Western Powers. Two pressing letters
written in this sense to the Czar and to the Grand Duke
Constantine are spoken of. The letters of the King of
Prussia explained the motives, hitherto obscure, which
had animated the conduct of Austria ; and the advice
of M. de Seebach was remembered by M. de Nesseirode
and the Emperor Alexander. All these ulreuxustauctril,
skilfully presented by M. de Nesselrode, struck the
most decided partisans of war, and the most declared
enemies of peace ; and the Emperor, supported by the
Council of State, accepted those very conditions which
had been declared a few Clays before not admissible. It
is believed that the preliminaries of peace will be signed
shortly at Vienna."

The remainder of the Paris journals contain no
articles worthy of particular mention.
BOURSE, Jan. 23.—The following are the last
quotations :

Cash. fr. e. End of Month,
4i per Cents 94 —f. -c.
3 per Cents 6B 25 68 70
New Loan 6B 85
Bank Shares 3250 Roman
Credit Mobilier 1415 Austrian
Belgian Fives. ..... .. 95. Spanish Threes— - • .764
Piedmontese (5) B3 --Home Debt ...... .. °

KAILWAYS—YOR CASH.
Jr. C. c
Orlgans ... ....... ..... 1200 Western 795
N"thern . ..... ..... 900 Strasburg 9ll 25
Lyons
1310 Grand Central 599
••• .... ....... 1180 New Ditto... .......
Lyons Geneva 7OO Taste...... ... .. ..... 620
Cette .. . 7,10 Austrian Coin

A deputation from Datchet, respecting the roads
made by the Government in that parish in pursuance of
the act of 1843, had an interview with the Right Hon.
Sir Benjamin Hall, M.P., yesterday, at the office of
Public Works in Whitehall place. The deputation con-
sisted of the Rev. H. Hall, Vicar of Datchet ; Mr. C.
S. Cantrell (guardian), Mr. W. Statham (churchwarden),
Mr. J. Jaques (surveyor), and Mr. W. H. Dickman
(inhabitant.)
MANsios-nona.—Yesterday the Lord Mayor enter-
tained at dinner the directors of the London and West-
minster Bank and a party of private friends. Among
the guests were, Mr. H. Bosanquet,
the Right Hon.
Sir T. Fremantle, Bart., Sir J. Kirkland, Mr. Alderman
Farncomb, Mr. W. Haigh, Mr. T. Chapman, Mr. H.
Buckle, Mr. B. Cohen, Mr. J. G. Cattley, Major Rey-
nolds, Mr. Hanson, Mr. de Vitro, Mr. Matthew Mar-
shall, Mr. P. Hadow, Mr. J. W. Gilbert, Mr. Ford, Mr.
Roy, Mr. Welbore Ellis, Mr. B Drew, Mr. G. Drew,
Rev. Dr. Mortimer, D.D., Mr. Cookney, Mr. Baddeley,
Mr. Capron, :%Ir. Parnell, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Vile,
Mr. Weldon, Mr. Swings, Mr. Kingsford, &c.