The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-15 00:00:00

FRANCE.

s . PARIS, MONDAY EVENING.
There has been a meeting of the Congress to-day,
and on Wednesday the final sitting will take place.
The Patrie and the Constitationnel affirm that
the Congress have determined that the mixed com-
mission appointed to investigate the difficulties
raised relating to the Danubian Principalities, is to
assemble for inquiry at Bucharest and at Jassy, and
not at Constantinople, as was at first believed.
This resolution, however, has been received with
some dissatisfaction by the Ottoman Porte.
The reception of the Duke of Alba, attended by
Gen. Barcaiztegui, aide-de-camp of the King of
Spain, bringing the insignia of the Oder, of the
Golden Fleece for the Prince Imperial, is an-
nounced by the Al oniteur. The collar of the order,
destined for the " infant of France," was presented
to the Empelor.
Prince Jerome Napoleon made a visit yesterday
to the Emperor, Empress, and the Prince, and
subsequently took a carriage airing on the Bois de
Boulogne. _ •

Count Orloff, it is said, contemplates something
grand in the dinner way, sa soon as the Russian
Embassy recovers from the measles.
A grand dinner was given to-day at the Hotel
de Ville to the Plenipotentiaries and varioui other
distinguished personages. It is calculated by those
who are curious in culinary statistics that the ex-
pense of the dinner amounted to 500 f. a-head, or
rather mouth ! The Plenipotentiaries, whatever
else they may have cause to find fault with, have
no reason to complain of French hospitality.

- RUSSIA.
The terms of the peace are generally considered
in St. Petersburg as favourable, and there is no
backwardness on the part of the Russians in ex-
pressing their acknowledgments to France for the
result. They do not fail, at the same time, to in-
dicate it as the payment of a debt of gratitude due
by France to Alexander I. The Invalide frankly
expresses its satisfaction that the series of despatches
published by it is not to extend beyond No. 408
(the number of the last one published). Toe Em-
peror is represented as very well satisfied with his
trip to Finland. The number of judgments pro-
nounced by courts-martial there which he had to
confirm show that his satisfaction was not entirely
unalloyed. A civil officer named Fournier h►s
been dismissed for embezzlement of State moneys.
The following extract from the Northern Bee
will, perhaps, somewhat damp the ardour of our
speculators, who seem so anxious now to make-up
for the two years'. interruption of their trade with
Russia, by launching at once into most liberal pur-
chases from that country ;
" Telegraphic despatches from London mention
that in consequence of the news of peace the prices
of Russian produce had fallen considerably, in the
expectation that Russia has got large quantities
(ot goods) at her disposal, which she will be
ready to part with at half price. This ilea of
the English speculators is, however, perfectly
groundless, since during the whole of the war all
superfluous Russian produce has constantly been
exported, and for the most part to England ; there
are therefore no large stocks to spare to be rec
koned on ; what there is on hand will not be sold
cheap, The last prices of tallow were 139 paper
roubles per berkowitz ; in the interior the prices
have risen from 10-11. to 13-14 paper roubles. In
the same way, also, the prices of hemp, flax, and
other goods have risen at the places whore they are
produc d. People imagine in England that Russia
is in a position to export enormous quantities of
grain, but this is an error ; Russia can only export
such quantities as are now lying at the different
ports or their immediate neighbourhoods—such,
ex. gra., as was sent off from the interior last au-
tumn, and had been detained on the road ; to send
corn now from the interior to the ports in the
north for this year's navigation is impossible,
because, in the absence of railroads, this
must always take place as early as autumn or
the beginning of the winter preceding its export.
In the southern ports, perhaps, a larger sale of
grain may be possible; but from there we have re-
liable information that the greater portion of what
is ou hand is already purchased for French account.
The peace is in so far a blessing for England that
in case of her having an insufficient harvest this
year Russia can supply her next autumn and the
following spring with an ample quantity of corn at
lower prices than she is paying for American grain."
At first sight this appeared a mere commercial
trick to keep up the prices of Russian produce in
London, and consequently in St. Petersburg, with
a side puff of the necessity of rail ways in Russia,
with Englishmen to build them ; but various indi-
cations tend to confirm the statements as ccrroct.

The harbour at Odessa Las been re-opened to
merchant vessels, and on the 6th inst. the first two
entered. From this port, also, commercial ad-
vices state pretty much the same as the above ex-
tract from the Northern Bee. Thus, a letter from
that place, dated about the t nd of March, says :
" The expectations of peace have induced many
merchants to charter vessels for Odessa, on the
condition that, in case of the war not coining to
an end, the charter-party is to be considered in-
valid. As there are very small stocks of export
gocds on hand, and many months will probably
elapse before they can be accumulated in any quau
tity, very few ships will at first be able to find
cargoes. . . . In the ports of the Sea of Awl'
there are, it is true, considerable stocks of corn on
hand ; but the allies have destroyed all the ar-
rangements for landing and• loading, so that the
masters of vessels will for a long time have a num-
ber of unexpected hindrances to struggle with."
The fleet being fitted out at Croustadt for the
conveyance of the Emperor to England and France
turns out to be a flotilla to conduct the Empress-
Mother to Stettin, on her way to visit her family
here. It is believed that she will return to be pre-
sent at the coronation solemnities in Moscow, and
repair again to Palermo, where she will spend the
winter, as she dkl once before. An order has been
sent to Berlin for 18,000 ells of gold lace for the
liveries of the Imperial servants on occasion of the
approaching coronation.
A letter from St. Petersburg states that, accord-
ing to an official return, the prize money to which
the officers of the old Black Sea fleet are entitled
amounts to about 20,000 roubles. This sum arises
from the prizes made at Sinope, and the capture of
two small Turkish steamers.