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

THE PEACE PROPOSITIONS.

(From the Debats 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 n; tural, that the
French and English Governments, in demanding from
Russia general guarantees in the interest of the ba-
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 er
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 from 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 5 before she de-
cided on accepting without reserve the programme of which
it forms a part. If tbis very probable supposition be well
founded, the difficnity will be smoothed down, and on the
fifth point as on the four others the preliminary agree
ment would exit de 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 net
thank God, with us that it will meet with any merlons
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 net
wish to exaggerate the dissent--it is not on the ground-
work of things, it is only the shades. In England ire
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 Eng-
land the people resigit themselves to it ; it is ad'
cepted from a feeling of humanity rather than from
sentiment, rather than by a warm and sponta-
neous impulse. But after all what does it matter
if England is ready to sign it France, to her honour
be it sail, and the whole world will render her this jus-
tice—France, in ',declaring war against Russia, never
had a desire or an intention of crushing her ; she peer
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 Crenstadt in ruins or St.
Petersburg in flames. As she never entered on the war
with those savage wishes, she has not in making peace
to bear any Fad disappointments.

THE REV. DR. CROLY ON THE NEWSPAPER.

The newspaper, the most influential of all human,
works, is the creation of printirg. It is the honour 01
England that in thiii country it approaches nearest to
excellence, in intellectual vigour, in variety of know•
ledge, in extent of information, and in patriotic prin-
ciple. It hap, like all the works of man, occasional in"
perfections, and perhaps the most prominent are its too
minute details of offences against public purit B?;
there is scarcely a newspaper in this age whichy. Wow"
not have been regarded as a triumph of ability in the
last. In fact, the newspaper of England is the great
practical teacher of the people. Its constant and
universal teaching alone accounts for the superior Intel.
ligence of the population. Schools, lecture-rooms; and
fall
universities, important as they all are, altogether fa
behind it in public effect, or find that, to retain their
influence, they must follow in its steps. These step!
must now and then turn from the right road, but their
native tendency is forward and upward. This intell!n•
tual giant always advances, and carries the country with
him to a height which no other country, ancient or
modern, ever attained, or perhaps ever hoped to attain.
If in an age of foreign convulsion England has under-
gone no catastrophe—if in the fall of monarchies she has
preserved her hereditary throne—if in the mingled in-
fidelity and superstition of the Continent, which, liked!'
mingled fetters and frenzy of a lunatic hospital, have 111
our day exhibited the lowest humiliation of nature, she
has preserved her freedom and her religion—l attribute
all, under God, to the vigour and intelligence of pnbi 1°
investigation, the incessant urgency of appeal to the
public mind, the living organisation of which,
is the Press of England. the heart,

TIIEFATAt COLLISIONOFF FOLKESTONA
-CENSURE OF BOTH CREWS.