The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-22 00:00:00

AIVIBASS.

ENVOYS.

Never at any period during the present century
was it more necessary or important to have discreet,
temperate, and passionless men as Ambassadors and
as Envoys than at this moment. Though we live
in an age of civilisation and refinement, and are in
England and France more instructed and enlight-
ened than our neighbours, yet the experience
of the last month or six weeks would serve

to prove that these are questions on which
the most gentle and undemonstrative of men,
whether English or French, may be as susceptible
and impressible as vivacious Andalusians or
haughty Castilians of a century and a-half ago.
Under such circumstances arguments, discussions,
and dissertations are misplaced. The better plan is
to fold one's arms and to remain tranquil ; for there
are between nations as between individuals, as be-

,wean even husband and wife, times and occasions

when wise men will not listen to reason, or discreet

men to the most obvious suggestions of common

sense.

While awaiting the " better time coming" ac-
cording to the words of the song, we may remark,
that, if the diplomatic world has during the last
two or three weeks been somewhat fluttered and
flurried by an exchange of notes, it will be to-day
pleasingly excited by the return of a diplomatic
functionary who unwillingly lett these shores sums
four years ago, and who again returns on the
10th March, 1858, to perform those functions,
the duties of which he so ably fulfilled ante-

cedently to the war with Russia. The Barou
Brunnow (for it is of him we speak) is no
stranger to England. It is now nearly thirty-
eight years ago since he first set foot on the English
soil as Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Lon-
don. He was then a young man, being scat csly
more than twenty-three ye-,rs of age; but the solidity
of his attainments, the gravity of his character, his
judgment and good sense, p Intel him out to his
superiors as a person fitting to be attached to a
first-rase Embassy. He had then but two years'
experience in any Russian Chancery. But the
aptitude he exhibited at the Congt era of Aix-la-
Chapelle secured him she friendship of M. de
Srourdza, a Greek Councillor of State in the Russian
service, and this gentleman pointed him out to
MM. Nesselrode and Capo d'lrtrias as one most
fitting. to be employed in the Russian Foreign-
office. His brat labour there wes on a code for
Bessarabia, and having subsequently attend, d the
Congresses of Troppau and Laybach, he was imme-
diately afterwards appointed Secretary to the Rus-
sian Mission in this great metrepolis. In London
he remained for a year, and although all the lead-
ing English and almost all foreign statesmen of
that epoch are gathered to their fathers, still there
are those living now in high places in this town
who remember the diplomatic debut in our capi-
tsl of the laborious and pains taking young
diplomatist who, ne trly two scores of years
ago, exhibited a German's predilection for our
habits, manners, and system of government.
From London M. Brunnow was despatched to
the Congress of Verona in a subordinate capa-
city, and there he had an opportunity of wit-
nessing the skill and sagacity of Mr. Canning's ple-
nipotentiary, the late Duke of Wellington, and the
rising ability of his secretary, who has since played
an importrnt part at St. Peterburg, and now most
worthily fills, as Sir George Seythour, the place of
Plenipotentiary at the Imperial Court of Vienna.
From Verona Baron Brunnow was again transferred
to St. Petersburg. His laborious habits and admi-
nistrative abilities, sound judgment, and accurate
knowledge of treaty law and history stood in
good stead at a Court where leading diplomatists
were German either by descent or by educa-
tion. It was not until 1827, we believe, that he
was attached to the Count Woronzoff, then Go-
vernor of Odessa, and one of the most influential
of the Russian functionaries. The education of
the Count had been in a great degree English. He
had a mania for everything savouring of our coun-
try, and serving with such a man it was natural
that M. Brunnow's early and favourable ideas con-
cerning England should be extended and fortified.
From the side of M. de Woronz,..ff he proceeded
to Turkey, and in 1828 and 1829, whilst Diebitch
was crossing the Balkan, M. Brunnow was em-
ployed in a civil capacity at the head-quarters of
the army. Tire qualities he exhibited on this
arduous occasion caused his' nomination as a
Russian Councillor of State. At the close of the
war he was transferred to the private cabinet of
Nesselrode, and exercised by the side of that
statesman functions not different from those per-
' formed at Vienna by M. Gentz. The principal
Russian State papers,between 1830 and 1839, were
drawn up by M. 13, unnow, and ,he lucidity and
logical force by which they are distinguished prove
hint to be a dialectician of no mean or d-r. Services
of this nature are speedily rewarded at Imperial
Courts. M. Brunnow was named, in 1839, Russian
Minister to Stuttgardt, and, in 1840, was entrusted
with a special mission to London on the Eastern
question. To him, indeed, is chiefly due the treaty
of tire 15th July, 1840, and the success of this in-
strutnent gained him his permanent position
of the tirsi, class at the Court of St. James's.
He had for eiieht years enjoyed dad position
with credit to himself and wi h advantage to
ids country, when he negotiated with bird Pal-
merston the Commercial Treaty of 1849. From
that epoch, for nearly five years, he conciliated
the esteem of official and commercial men in this
country, and for seven or eight months antecedent
to the war made every effort that an honourable
and honest man coul I make to prevent an open rup-
ture. But the obstinacy and blind and headstrong
wilfulnes of the late Emperor Nicholas were not
to be conquered, and M. Bi unuow, to his regret as a
private iedividusl, and with sincere sorrow, if
nos with some sense of humiliation as a public
man, left these shores, where were spent thir-
teen or fourteen of the happiest years of his not
uneventful life. The esteem of alt good and intel-
ligent men followed him to the small Court in Ger-
many to which, by the displeasure of N.chelas, he
was relegated. Since his departure from Belgravia
four or five eventful seasons have elapsed, great
battles have been lost and woo, a powerful Em-
peror is deal, and a peace, followed by a Co»gress,
has bean chronicled iu all the gazettes of Europe.
" Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds," however,
for Alexander is not Nicholas. The ono was war-
like and aggressive ; the other is peaceful and con-
ciliatory. The new Emperor being in the latter
category, and appreciating M. Brunnow's past ser-
vices and efforts in the cause of peace, sends him
back now to his old Embassy, where ho will be
received kindly and cordially by Court, Cabinet,
and People ; first, because he-represents
an honourable and powerful Prince and
a great empire, with whom we desire to be in rela-
tions of amity and commerce ; and secondly, be-
cause of his own proper merits and virtues. For
English statesmen, politicians, and public men re-
member that the Baron Brunnow did all that in
him lay, as a Russian official in Landon, in 1853
and 1854, to prevent a rupture, and, as a memberof the Congress of Paris, made the most strenuous
efforts speedily to conclude a peace, which every
lover of his species trusts may en' lure for a genera
den beyond our own.—llforning Post.