The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-04 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1858.

In our third edition of yesterday we were
enabled, through the kindness of the Managers
of the Submarine and British Telegraph Company,
to publish a document of no ordinary importance.
It was the speech of our august Ally, the Emperor
Lotus NAPOLEON, on the opening of the French
Legislative Assembly. At any time, or under any
circumstances, such an address would be deeply
interesting; but it carries with it additional
weight at the present crisis, when the Emperor
must he fully acquainted with the proceedings at
ea Conferences, and therefore enabled to offer a
shrewd guess at the probable results. We could
scarcely anticipate a warlike speech while the ne-
gotiations were still pending. Every word that
falls from Imperial or Royal lips, under such
circumstances, must be maturely considered.
Perhaps, therefore, wo could not reasonably have
hoped for more than the assurance that France
was ready for any alternative, and the exhorta-
tion " to await the end of the Conferences with
dignity, and equally prepared either again to
draw the sword or to extend the hand to those
she had honourably fought."
For ourselves we confess that we should have
received with satisfaction more decided assur-
ances respecting the terms on whic'a p could
alone be re-established. It would have been truly
gratifying to have heard from the EMPEROR that
nothing less than what had been required
ab initio would now be accepted, and that any
failure or shortcoming would only prolong the
contest for an indefinite period. We could also
have- wished that the compliments to the CZAR
had been omitted. They recal to our memories
the grave errors into whic4 Lord JOHN RUSSELL
suffered himself to be betrayed, and the use
made by the Russian Plenipotentiaries of his un-
fortunate allusions of a similar description at the
Conferences of Vienna. Neither France nor
England consented to the sacrifice of the lives of
myriads of their best and bravest children to sup-
port and sustain the honour of the CZAR. They
did so to check his reckless ambition and
insatiable cupidity, to abate his overween-
ing pride, and, when a great and righteous
act had been achieved at so serious a cast,
although there was no necessity for boasting
or crowing over the foiled aggressor, we cannot
help thinking that all complimentary allusions
were uncalled for and impolitic.
It is true that the present AUTOCRAT was not
the party originally responsible—that he had
"inherited, not created," the untoward position
lu which he was placed. But did he not adopt

all the acts of his predecessor ? Did he not by
his earliest proclamation avow his unflinching ad-
hesion to the policy of PETER, of CATHERINE, of
ALEXANDER, and of NICHOLAS ? If animated by
so sincere a desire to put an end to the causes
which had occasioned the sanguinary conflict, a
glorious opportunity was afforded. Had he in-
structed his representatives to carry out fully and
fairly the propositions unequivocally accepted by
his father, to permit the bona fide development of
the four points, he would have been spared much
of that humiliation which has been most justly and
properly heaped on his head. Sebastopol might
still have remained a standing menace to Con-
stantinople and to Europe, and the army of
Russia, which it had taken so much time and
money to organise, would not have been melted
in that fearful crucible. He cannot therefore
deserve much thanks for the moderation so long
withheld and so tardily displayed. Nor until
the conclusion of the negotiations can we express
any opinion as to the spirit in which he accepted
the propositions transmitted by Austria. For
aught we know this may again be an example of
duplicity and insincerity similar to that which
last year disgusted the world. He may have de-
sired merely to profit by the tetuporary cessation
of strife in order to restore his almost exhausted
resources, and to be enabled to prolong the un-
righteous contest, which he adopted, with all its
incidents, from his father. Until, then, the con-
clusion of the negotiations shall elucidate his
motives and supply evidence of sincerity, all com-
pliments should have been carefully avoided.

reader of history it must appear the in,.n7ura-
ration of an unprecedented and unhoped-for era.
To the roinancist it will be suggestive almost of a
revolution in the regions of ideality and of fact,
involving an exchange of sway, or the absorption
of the latter by the former. To the philanthro-
pist and the religionist it will be the cause of
glowing thankfulness and expeotation. To Dr.
Coxmrxia and other believers in, and prophesiers
of, an early Millennium, it must be a perfect god-
send. The lion may surely be expected speedily
to lie down with the lamb after the enunciation of
such a revolution as the Firman inaugurated.

Not that we would have it understood that it
was unexpected, or has been resolved on without
due consideration. Our frequently-expressed be-
lief in the progression of Turkey, and the an-
nouncements made from time to time in this jour-
nal will have guarded our readers against such an
error as this. But every schoolboy knows how
hard it is to be thoroughly disenchanted, and
through what a haze realities ars viewed after a
feast on the "Arabian Nights." We know it to
be true, and yet feel compelled to ask, can it be
possible that such a revolution is being effected ?
Absolute equality enacted between all the subjects
of the SULTAN ! What, the Giaour and the Jew
—the unclean and unbelieving dogs, whose touch
was profanation, and whose presence offensive to
the bile of the true believer—raised to this level
before the descendant of the Prophet ? Possessed
of equal rights, and entitled to as speedy justice
as a Scheik or a Hacijee ? Has the career of the
Prophet turned out a myth, and the Koran
been superseded ? Is there no special Paradise—no
seventh heaven for the true believer; and must he
hereafter be content to tread the same arch with
the infidel ? Where is the glimmering Crescent, lit
up with the flash of a myriad of scimitars, scatter-
ing desolation and affright over the confines of
Europe ? Is history a lie throughout ? and have
we all been deceived ? Questions like these rise
to our minds in rapid succession, and will not be
stayed.

Another paragraph in the Speech has occasioned
still more painful sensations. It is said of the
CZAlt—" The honour of his arms once satisfied—
he did honour to himself also by complying with
the distinctly-expressed wishes of Europe." What
is this allusion to "the honour of his arms ?"
Does it cast additional light on the fall of Kan,
and the deplorable inactivity that led to that
truly deplorable result? Was a scapegoat necessary
to satisfy the honour of the Russian arms ?
Were WILLIAMS and his gallant comrades the vic-
tims offered at the shrine of the pride and vanity
of the Northern Despot? These are painful questions,
but they force themselves irresistibly on our minds
when perusing the Imperial Speech. We trust
that we may be unduly alarmed—that the exhor-
tation to be prepared io draw the sword may be
equivalent for the Muscovite leanings so clearly
manifested, and that we may still rely on the un-
blemished faith and inflexible firmness of our
august ally, the Emperor Lours NAPOLEON.

This Finnan, nevertheless, is a great fact, and
highly honourable both to the foresight and the
judgment of the Turk. We live in times when
false systems must bow to the march of events, or
be cast utterly aside ; and, thanks to the War,
the crisis has come more speedily in Turkey than
it could possibly have done under other circum-
stances. The Firman but inaugurates a change
that was inevitable, and could not long be delayed
with safety to Turkish sway. Let us hope its
realisation will not be impeded by prejudices
which have already been shaken to their bases.
A utopian dream, so far as the privileges conferred
on the Christian and Jewish populations are con-
cerned, it can by no possibility turn out ; for,
fret Mussulman prejudice as it may, these are
practically secured. The yoke is broken, and
cannot be replaced.

llt cannot be imagined that our Legalßeformers
are, even now, anywhere but at the very com-
mencement of their great laboursof reconstruction,
of remodelling, and of comprehensive reorganisa-
tion. If conclusive testimony of this were re-
quired it would be discoverable, surely, in the
frightful accumulation of crimes during the past
few months—crimes, some of them, of almost un-
paralleled atrocity, whether in regard to their
magnitude, to their pitiless repetition, or to their
little less than absolutely diabolical deliberation.
Enumerate but a few of the more remarkable,
and one can scarcely find credulity for the black
catalogue. Forgeries of an extent and complica-
tion never dreamt of by. a FONTLEROY. Frauds
upon insurance offices beyond even those attempted
by a WAINWRIGHT. Poisonings more cold-blooded
than those of a LAFARGE, more systematic and
wholesale than those of a BRINVILLIERS. Compile:-
ties with knaves and criminals, on the part of the
lofficers of justice and of persons in authority,
such as would have gladdened the heart of a
rogue's friend like the Thief-taker, JONATHAN
WILD the Great. Burglaries that might 'waken
the admiration of the deftest cracksmau that ever
handled a jemmy or a centre-bit. Adroit escapes
from darance vile hardly unworthy of a HACKETT
or even of a SHEPHERD. Atrocious murders,
murders so atrocious in their every detail that
they might furnish a ghastlier appendix than
the most evil imagination could contrive as
a climax for "The Book of Horrors"—that
illustrative companion for the " Newgate
Calendar "—the record of guilt such as that of
SAWNEY BEAN, the amiable Hero of Ogredom.
Among these later crimes, for example, have we
not recently had thrust upon our horrified gaze
deeds of savage butchery such as the world, with
all its heinous sins, has happily but few examples
of ? Recalling to mind—one of them the coal-
cellar in which Mrs. BROWNRIGG destroyed her
apprentice ! Another, the Piazza of Covent.
Garden, in which the unfortunate Miss RAY was
assassinated by the Rev. Mr. HACKMAN, as she
was being handed frem the door of the theatre to
that of her carriage ! Another, the flagstones
upon which the wretched lawyer was struck down
by the bullet of Ryan ! Another, the kitchen in
which Mrs. MANNING roasted the goose within
a few paces from the grave of her victim and
paramour ! It requires but a casual glance
through a file of newspapers for the last two
months of 1855, and for the first two months of
1856, to enable any one in a few minutes to dis-
criminate among the robberies, murders, forgeries,
embezzlements, poisonings, and prison-breakings,
so as to apply correctly enough each and all of
these horrible reminiscences. Wherefore, it surely
stands to reason, that we have here in no way
exaggerated in saying that our Law Reformers are
at this moment still but at the very beginning of
their great and awfully responsible task of recon-
struction. Everything goes to prove more and
more plainly, day after day, that our Criminal
Code requires to be built up afresh from its very
foundations. That it needs not a change
here and a change there, but to be literally and
entirely re-formed. Already, thanks to such
national benefactors as Lord BROUGHAM, " much
has been done "—yet these of all men know that
" more remains to do ;" and that "if 'twere
done then 'twere well 'twere done quickly." Let
us not see the present session frittered away in
idle discussions as to the relative merits of vague
theories built up upon uncertain and crotchety
hypotheses. Practical and instant changes are
required—changes immediate and comprehensh e
The Criminal Code, if reorganised at all, must be
reorganised from the very commencement—our
Legal Reformers descending to the root principles
of Jurisprudence, the principles agitated so pro•
foundly in their days by philosophic thinkers such
as the learned and benevolent BECCARIA. Every
one knows and feels that human justice has other
implements to wield besides the rods and axe of
the lictors and the sword of an avenging and
inexorable NEMESIS—that besides the symbolical
balance to be equipoised there are very matter-of-
fact and impenetrable scales upon the lynx eyes
of
of the law to be removed—that,
as architects
common
prudence,
the social future, we ought, in
to care less for our prisons and more, immea-
surably more, for our Reformatories.

By the provisions of the Firman the Rayah
will be secured from wrong and rapine, and be
entitled to a hearing in courts of justice with the
best. 'The various religious bodies will have their
privileges and immunities enlarged and defined.
The Patriarch, when duly elected, will be named
by diploma for life ; and, having no occasion to
fear removal, will all the more boldly plead be-
fore the SULTAN the rights of the natiou of which
he is the representative head. No longer will the
Rayah have to apprehend the exaction of his bishop.
All contributions levied by the clergy are forbidden.
The prelates will be paid fixed salaries, and have no
temptation to shear their flocks. The celebration
of public worship will be permitted to every
community, and the application of reproachful or
insulting epithets will not be tolerated. The
public service will be thrown open alike to all,
and each community will be at liberty to erect
schools for the arts and sciences, subject to the
inspection of a mixed commission nominated by
the Porte. Causes between persons of different
creeds will be tried before mixed courts, and the
oaths administered will be those recognised by the
respective creeds. The Haratch is abolished, an
equality of taxation for individuals of all creeds
established, and each contributing alike to taxa-
tion will have to share alike in the conscription.
The municipal institutions will have to undergo
reformation, so as to insure the free expression of
opinion and an equitable supervision is promised.
To the foreigner the possession of land will bs
denied no longer than until certain arrangements
have been effected with foreign Powers, involving
of eiience on his part and the payment of l axalon
to the Turkish Government. Taxes of all s)rts
will henceforth be collected by the State ; the
cr,aking of roads, &c., to be effected by local
taxation. Budgets
,will be published annually,
detailing the financial condition of the empire,
and, to crown all, the Porte will use its best en-
deavours to establish a system of credit, and bor-
row the capital necessary for a National Bank.
Sac-a is the outline of this great revolutionary
document, a document over which not only the
subjects of the SULTAN,' but the oppressed
people of Europe will ponder with admiration
and hope, as will their oppressors with dissatis•
faction and dread—the Magna Charta of renovated
Turkey. Let Italy and Germany look out

The Lady Alfred Paget gave birth to a daughter on
Saturlay, in Grosvenor-place, and, with the infant, is
progressing favourably.
Lord Thomas and Lady Sophia Cecil have taken their
departure from Claridge's Hotel.
The Countess de Jarnac, and Mr. and Lady Caroline
Tureor, are among the recent departures from Claridge's

Captain Hamilton, of the Grenadier Guards, who
carried the colours of regiment at the Alma, and was
in the actions of Inkerman and Balaklava, is about to
forth a matrimonial alliance with Miss Palmer, daughter
of ;Major Palmer, of Naziug Park, Essex, who raised
the Essex Yeomanry Cavalry in 1830, and maintained
the regiment at his own cost for five years—from 1838
to 1843.

REPRESENTATION OF RUTLANDSHIRE.— The Hon. Gil-
bert Henry Heathoote, late M.P. for Boston, has an-
nou aced himself a candidate for the representation of
the county of Rutland, in the room of his father, recently
elevated to the peerage, tinder the title of Baron Ave-
land.

BoSTON ELECTION.—Tho nomination of candidates to
fill the vaclncy caused by the retirement of Mr. G. H.
Heathcote will take place on Thursday nest. Toere are
three candidates —Mr. H. Ingram, Mr. Adams, and
Lieut.-Colonel Sleigh.
Mr. J. Otway Cuffe, of Missenden House, Bucking-
hamshire, has left the Church of England for the Church
of Rome, and has been " confirmed" by the Bishop of
Birmingham. This gentleman stood for the county of
Kilkenny at the last general election, on the Conserva-
tive interest. He is the nephew f the Earl of Her-
borough, and closely allied to many noble families both
in England and Ireland.

Tnursday the jury assembled to inquire concern-
ing the death of Hales, age gamekeeper to Sir John
Tyrall, and who lost his life in an encounter with
poachers, returned the following verdict :—" Wilful
murder against James Thorogood, William Thorogond,
Thomas Thorogood, and James • Guiver. The jury
thought that considerable suspicion rested upon James
Thorogood, as being the man who fired the gun."
NEW JOINT-STOCK. BANK.--The prospectus has been
issued of a provincial joint-stock bank, to be called the
Bank of Wales, with a commencing capital of 100,0001.
The head office will be at Wrexham. The number of
shares will be 1,000 of 100/. each, half of which are
stated to have been subscribed by persons in the district.
JOINT STOCK COMPANIES.—A return just printed, on
the motion of Mr. A. Hastie, gives a list of the joint
stock companies formed before the passing of the Limited
Liability Act of last year, or begun but not completed
before toe passing of the act, or of which the formation
was begun after the passing of the act. The entire list
occupies a space of 37 pages, and the names of the direc-
tors are published at length, with other particulars.
LISBON, Feb. 24.—The cholera appears to be mani-
f-sting itself in many districts around Lisbon. H.M.S.
St. George is under sailing orders, but will not leave for
Spithea l until Wednesday next. The Arabian (s.s.) bas
arrived here for coals, and left to-day for the South.
T:.e French steamer Vesta has arrived, and the British
steamer Gulliver his put in for coals. H.M.S. Glatton
(floating-battery), towed by the steam•transport Europa,
hi... 1 left for Spithead.

The Firman of the SULTAN, given i►, extenso in
yesterday's Sun, may fairly be considered as the
most remarkable document of modern times.
Approach it under the influence of what views and
feelings you may, it is impossible to peruse it with-
put increasing admiration and renovated hope. Tu
the politician, however jaded and leaden-eyed, it
offers a lesson which should operate as a perpetual
antidote to despair. To the historian and the

~-

THE SUNS LONDON. TUESDAY EVENING MARCH 4. 1856.

;;L_A -41'L -; •

MARSEILLES, MONDAY.

The Borysthene has arrived with advices from
Constantinople of the 23th, and from the Crimea
of the 23d Feb.

Oa the night of the 221 a fearful tempest oc-
casioned much damage in the Bosphorus and in
the Golden Horn. The Alma and the Doris suf-
fered injuries, and the Sylph ran aground in the
Black Sea.

There have been some severe tempests, with
earthquakes, at Smyrna, in Asia Minor, and Syria.

The Cossacks, commanded by Sadyk Paella,
have been recalled.

The weather continued cold in the Crimea.
Fort Paul had been destroyed effectively ; Fort
Quarantine is mined. The English propose an
expedition ; the point of disembarkation probably
will be Trebizond.

Omer Pacha is at Redout Kale. The projected
concentration at Trebizond is abandoned.
General Smith has resumed the command of
the Bashi-Bazouks at Shumla.

General Williams is to be exchanged fur Gen.

Kokonowitch.

KONIGSI3ERG, MARCH 3.

Intelligence from St. Petersburg states that,
by order of the Grand Admiral, the Minister of
Marine and the Russian. Admiralty had taken
measures to withiltaw all the maritime signals,
such as floating lights, and to discontinue the
use of lighthouses.

f:•.1

BERLIN; MARCH 3.
It is positively known here that the Czar will
throw no impediments in the way of peace.
The want of money and men is becoming more
manifest to the Rwsian Government.
The intention of the Czar to devote himself to
the development of the internal resources of his
empire is openly talked of here in the most
august circles.

ATHENS, FEB. 27.
Rizo Rangabe is appointed Minister for Foreign

onto.
lisati on.

Affairs.

.40 _ • ‘2,

Skalistres will replace M. Potliiin the Ministry
of Justice.

TRANSLATION.

" GBINTLEMEN,—When last I called you together
it was a time of serious sidicitudes. The Allied
Armies were being exhausted by a siege in which
the obstinacy of the defence made success appeal.
deubthil. Europe, under a sense of uncertainty,
seemed to await the end of the struggle before'pro-
nouncing on either side. To sustain the war I
asked a loan, which you voted unanimously,
although it might appear excessive. The high prices
of commodities threatened the labouring classes
with general distress, and a perturbation of the
monetary system gave cause to apprehend a decline
of the transactions of commerce and manufac-
tures.

" But, thanks to your aid, thanks to the ener-
gies displayed in France and England, thanks
especially to the support of Providence, these dan-
gers, if they have not entirely vanished, are for
the most part overcome, A grand feat of arms
has decided in favour of the Allied Armies,
a war whose intensity is without example in his-
tory. Since that event the opinion of Europe
has been more openly pronounced. Everywhere
our alliances have been extended and confirmed.
The third loan has been opened without difficulty.
The country has given me new proofs of its con-
fidence by subscribing a sum five times greater
than that which I had asked. It has supported
with admirable resignation the sufferings inse-
parable from a dearth of provisions—sufferings
which, however, have been mitigated by private
charity, by the zeal of the municipalities, and by
the ten million francs distributed to the depart-
ments. Arrivals of foreign wheats are now pro-
ducing a sensible diminution of prices. The fears
caused by the disappearance of gold are passing
away, and employment has never been more
plentiful nor the public revenues more consider-
able. The adventures of war have re-awakened
the military spirit of the nation. Voluntary en-
rolments were never so numerous, nor was more
ardour ever exhibited by the conscripts drawn by
lot.

The Ministers now selected by King Otho have
the character of being favourable to the Western
Powers.

" To this brief outline of the situation I have
to add facts of a high political signification. The
Queen of Great Britain, wishing to give a proof
of her confilence and her esteem for our country,
and-to render our relations more intimate, has
visited France. The enthusiastic reception which
she found here must have convinced her Al-tjesty
how profound were the sentiments inspired by
her presence, and how well they were calculated
to fortify the alliance of the two peoples. The
King of Piedmont, who, without looking behind
him, had embraced our cause with that vigorous
courage which had formerly distinguished him on
the battle-field, has also visited France to conse-
crate a union that was already cemented by the
bravery of his soldiers.

SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR OF THE
FRENCH.

"These Sovereigns have had opportunities of
seeing a country but lately so agitated and dis-
inherited of its place in the counsels of Europe,
to-day prosperous, peaceable, aed respected,
making war, not with the momentary delirium of
passion, but with the calmness of justice and the
serenity of duty. They have seen France, which
sent two hundred thousand men across seas, con-
voke at the same time, at Paris, all the arts of
peace, as if she had meant to say to Europe, 'For
me, the war that now rages is but an episode ; my
mind and my strength are still engaged in the arts
of peace; let us neglect nothing to understand
each other, and do not compel me to bring all the
resources and all the energies of a great nation to
bear upon the battle-field.'
"This appeal seems to have been heard, and the
winter, by suspending has favoured the
intervention of diplomacy. Austria resolved on a
decisive step, which introduced all the influence of
the Sovereign of a vast empire into the delibera-
tions. Sweden united herself more intimately with
England and France by a treaty which guaran-
teed the wholeness of her territory. Lastly, from
the Cabinets, counsels or prayers arrived at St.
Petersburg.
" The Emperor of Russia, the inheritor of a
situation which he had not created, appeared ani-
mated with a sincere desire to put an end to the
causes which had brought on this sanguinary con-
flict. He accepted with determination the proposi-
tions transmitted by Austria. The honour of his
arms having been satisfied, the Emperor did him-
self honour when he deferred to the clearly ex-
pressed wish of Europe.
" The Plenipotentiaries of the belligerent and
allied Powers are now met at Paris to decide on
the conditions of peace. The spirit of modera-
tion and equity which animates all of them bids
us hope a favourable result. Nevertheless, let
us await with dignity the end of the Conferences,
and be equally ready either to draw the sword, if
we must, or to extend the hand in fellowship to
those who have fairly met us in the field.
Whatever may happen, let us occupy ourselves in
striving by all proper means to increase the
strength and riches of France. Let us draw yet
closer, if that be possible, the alliance formed by
a community of sacrifices, and the reciprocal ad-
vantages of which peace would make yet more ap-
parent. And, finally, in this solemn moment of
the world's destinies, let us put our confidence in
God that He will guide our efforts in the way
most coinformable to the interests of humanity
and civilisation."

Through the courtesy of the Submarine and
British Telegraph Company we were enabled to
publish the speech of the Emperor of the French
in our last edition of yesterday.
Messieurs les Pairs, Messieurs les Senateurs,—
La derniere fois que je vous ai convoquos,
des graves pre-occupations nous dominaient.
Les armee Alliees s'epuisaient a un siege ou
ropiniatree de la defense faisait flouter du succes.
L'Europe incertain semblait attendre la fin de
la lutte avant de se prononcer. Sour soutenir
la guerre je vous deraandai un emprunt
que vous votiez iinanimenaent quoi pen put
paraitre excessif ; relevation du prix des denrees
menacait la classe laborieuse dL'un malaise general,
et une perturbation dans le systeme monetaire
faisait trainer le ralentissement des transactions
et du travail. Eli Bien ! grace a votre concourse
comma a l'energie deployee en, France et en Angle-
terre, grace surtout a l'appui de la Providence ces
dangers, s'ils n'ont pas entierrement disponi, sent
pour la plupart conjures. TY:n grand fait d'armes
est venu decider in favour des armees alliOas
une lutte acharnee sans example dans l'histoire.
L'opinion de l'Europe depuis ce moment s'est plus
ouvertement prononcee. Partout nos alliances se
sent etendues et affermies. Le troisieme em-
prunt a ete ouvert sans diffieultes. Le pays m'a
prouve de nouveau sa confiance en souscrivaat
pour une somme cinq fois plus forte que cello
que je demandais. Il a supporte avec
une admirable resignation les souffrances inseper-
ables do la chert 6 des vivrex, souffrauc'es allegees
neanmoins par la charit6 prive6 par le zele des
municipalites et par les dig millions distribuos aux
departments. Aujourdhui lee arrivages de Bios
etrangers produisent une baisse sensible, les
craintes nees de la disparition de l'or so sont
affaiblies, et jamais les travaux n'ont ete plus ac-
tifs, lee revenue plus considerables. Les hazards
de la guerre ont reveille l'esprit militaire do la
nation. Jamais it n'y
,out autant d' enrolements
voluntaires ni autant d ardenr parmi les conscrits
designes par le sort. A ce court expose
de la situation viennent de joindre des
faits d'une haute signification politique.
Reine de la Grande Bretagne voulant dormer une
preuva de sa confiance et de son estime p cur notre
pays, et rendre nos relations plus intimes, est
venue en France. L'accueil enthousi tate qu'elle
y a recu a du lui prouver combien lee senti-
ments inspires par sa presence etaient profonda
et de nature a fortifier l'alliance des deux
peuples. Le Roi de Piemont qui sans
regarderiere lug avant embrasse notre cause
avec cat elan courageux qu'il avait deja montre
cur le champ de Brasilia est venu aussi en
France consacrer une Union deja cimentee par Ia
bravouro de see soldats. Ces souverains ont pu
voir un pays naguere si agite et des-herite son rang
dans lee conseils de l'Europe aujourdhui prospere
paisible et respecte, faisantLa guerre non pas avec
le delire momentane de Ia passion, insis avec lo
calme de la justice et renergie du devoir. Its ont
vu la France qui envoyait deux cent mille hommes
a travors les mere convoqtter en memo temps a
Paris tour lesarts de la pain, comme si elle est voulu
dire a l'Europe--"La guerre actuclle u'est encore
pour moi qu'un episode," mes ideas et mes forces
sont en partie toujours derigies vers les arts de la
prix, ne negligoons rien pur nous entendre et ne
me forcez pas a jeter sur les champs do bataiile
toutes lee ressources et toute l'energie d'une grande
nation. Cette appel sem ble a v oir ete
entendu et I'hiver en suspendant les
hostilities a favorise rbetervention de la I
diplomatic. L'Autriche se resolut a une de-
marche decisive qui apportait dans les deliberations
toute rinfiuence du souverain d'un vasto empire.
La Suede se lia plus etroitement a l'Angleterre et
a la. France par une traite qui garantissait
l'integrito de son territoire. Enfin do tons lee cabi.
nets arriverent a • St. Peterburg des conseils
ou des prieres, L'Empereur de Ruesie heritier
d'une situation qu'il n'avait-pas faite sembla
anima d'un sincere desire de mettre fiiu aux
nuses qui avaient amerie ce sanglant conflit.
Il accepta avec determination les propositions
transmises par l'Autriche. L'honneur des armes
tine fois satisfait c'etait s'honorer aussi quo de
deforer au voeu nettement formulo de l'Europe.
Aujourdhui lea plenipotentiares des puissances
belligerantes et Alliees sont reunies a Paris pour
decider dos conditions de la pais, l'esprit de mode-
ration et d'equite quo les anima tons doit
nous faire esperer un resultat. Neanmoins atten-
dons avec dignite la fin des conferences et soyons
egalement,prets sil le faut soit a tirer de nouveau
Tepee soit a tendre la main a coux que nous avons
loyalemeut combattns. Quoi quil arrive occupons
nous de toutes moyens propres a augmenter la
force, et la lichesse de la France. Resserons encore
e'il est possible ralliance forme° par tine com-
munaute de gloire et de sacrifices, et dont la pair:
fera encore rniaux ressortir les avantagee reci-
proquos. Mettonsenfin en ce moment soleanel pour
es destinees du • mond notre confiance en Dieu I

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nigher prces tiiey fecc f ci. so 1-1• C
`if re glad if any of their works were pr diibited in Aus-
tria. [The following passage is adducel by the Italian
bishops in defence of their violent measures] :—How-
ever, the circumstances are not the same in all the pro-
vinces-of the empire. It is much easier to keep danger cu
bo )ks out of the Lombardo-Venetian territ,,ry
tha-
,,ut of the German pr )vinces, which are clo,e to so roam.
c-untrit., or out of 11.11,!0.7y Tra•c
V mia, waore the nuinher of non-C%:tholic
so large. Besides, many things which have been
repeated as to excite disgust in Germany are ne.v t
Italy. and therefore the more dangerou,."
"Arts. 10 and 11 explain the limited jurisdiction of tl e
temporal power in cases in which priests are concerned, bii
it is specially mentioned that if the clergy commit crime,
against which drum-head law has been proclaimed, thei
c,oth will not protect them. Art. 12 relates to V,
froo;,ier,-, and is of no iiiter Bt, for foreigner,.
Ar . 13. The temporal power will, if necessary, as-is
the bishops in putting into executi,in the sentenc,-
which they have passed on their clergy ;
,but his Nla
jests exp,cts that any explanations that may he requi!-,d
of the bishops will be given. Art. 14. In future ni
troops will be billeted on the parish priests."
The other six articles are of no importance
whatever.
It is related that the Austrian Government baf-
requested the Pope to direct the Italian bishops tc.
take no steps towards the realization of certain con-
ditions of the Concordat, until the Imperial ordi-
nances which refer to them have been p'ublished
If they obey, it will be a sign that the Pode has
more influence over the Austrian clergy than has
their liege-lord, the Emperor.