The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-25 00:00:00

The Pacific Policy of the Empire.

PARIS, May 23.
The following is the text of the Constitutionnel
article published this morning under the above
heading :
As soon as he found himself charged with the
destinies of France Prince Louis Napoleon hastened
upon the same day when he delivered the eagles to
the army to make known to the great Powers his
firm desire of preserving good relations with them
and of maintaining the peace of Europe.
The Emperor Napoleon 111. has remained loyally
attached to the policy he then declared. Nothing
less than the persevering resistance of Russia to all
efforts at conciliation and her enterprises againstthe
repose of Europe were requisite to bring about a
conflict in which France was inevitably called upon
to play a part.

The Crimean war was not only just and neces-
sary. No war was more manifestly undertaken for
the defence of European interests. Thus France
only entered into it with the alliance or the sym-
pathies of all the Powers of Europe. She bore the
weight of it more than any other, and she also
reaped the greater portion of the glory.
Notwithstanding the allurements of such a war, in
which France saw her victories saluted by the
acclamations of Europe, the Emperor Napoleon was
the first to think of putting an end to it and to pro-
pose pea'ce.

The situation was delicate and difficult. It was
necessary at the same time to conciliate the legiti-
mate susceptibilities of the enemy vanquished at the
Alma and at Sebastopol, but who had still consi-
derable forces, and to appease the lively resentment
of an ally who would have desired to inflict more
terrible blows upon Russia.

The Emperor Napoleon met with a double success.
He offered a peace honourable enough for Russia to
accept, and too advantageous to Europe for Eng-
land to be able to refuse. At the Congress of
Europe, where this peace received its definitive form,
he was recognised by all as the arbiter of the diffi-
culties which presented themselves. In the eyes of
foreigners, as in those of France, he had the honour
of the re-establishment of peace. All the testimonies
of public gratitude he had received in Paris, and in
the departments, were repeated in Germany when
le visited that country the following year, to have
an interview with the Emperor Alexander.

A short time afterwards Europe was on the point
of being disturbed by a new collision. Its cause
was insignificant enough, but divers influences were
far from showing themselves disposed to favour an
agreement. _ _

The town of Neufchatel was in insurrection. It
desired to escape from the rule of Prussia, to re-
enter the bosom of the Swiss Confederation, which
prepared to support it.
Russia had seen with displeasure the attitude of
Prussia during the Crimean war. Austria perhaps
desired nothing more ardently than to see her rival
in Germany engaged in a war against Switzerland.
These two Powers urged the Court of Berlin firmly
to support its rights. Other counsellors excited the
Confederation to an obstinate resistance. Troops
were already on the march upon both sides. War
was on the point of breaking out. The Emperor's
Government alone endeavoured to prevent it, and
succeeded in causing the spirit of conciliation to
Switzerland.
All danger of
which was ac-
prevail. It obtained the meeting of a Conference,
at which France, England, Austria, and Russia
prepared
war had disappeared. Entire Europe knew that it
was in especial due to the intervention of the Em-
cepted by a Prussia projectf
and rra
o arrangement,
Em-
peror's Government.
The attitude taken up by Austria in Italy had at-
tracted the most serious attention of Europe. The
announcement of a Congress appeared to have again
removed a new cause of war, when a certain resolu-
tion of Austria precipitated events. Her army
passed the Ticino and marched upon Turin. The
object of Austria was to place her dominion in Italy
upon still larger and stronger bases. The interests
and equilibrium of Europe were thereby threatened.
France hastened to defend them. She gained the
victories of Magenta and Solferino. A vaster career
was offered to her triumphs. But the Emperor
Napeoleon does not wish for the insatiable intoxica-
tion of military glory any more than France. it

' The question of the Elbe Duchies arose. It was
not for France to intervene directly. She only en-
tered into the matter to point out to the different
parties the dangers of pretensions which must lead
fatally to war, and to impress upon both sides the
councils of peace. The official documents published
within the last two years bear testimony to the
activity and zeal of the Emperor's Government to
spare Europe the too lamentable spectacle of a too
unequal war, with its vicissitudes and troubles.
Nevertheless, the cannon roared in the Duchies.
The numerous battalions of Austria and Prussia
gained a victory too easy to be very glorious. Now
we see the two great States divided by that victory,
and drawing Germany with them into an immense
and obstinate war, pregnant with disasters, and
animated by a fury greatly disproportionate to its
first cause. At the same time also Italy enters this
great conflict, bringing to it her passions, her hatred,
and her national aspirations, and casts herself
into it with all her strength. And yet, in view
of this crisis, Imperial France is found such
as she has always shown herself for the
last fifteen years, a friend of peace, soli-
citous for European interests, but calm, sure of
herself, and as far from jealous ambition or unre-
fleeting impetuosity. She has followed events,
without compromising herself. She has given
counsel to all parties without engaging herself to
any. By everywhere recommending a policy of
moderation and disinterestedness she has herself
constantly afforded an example. Finally, when the
Emperor's Government believed that it could unite
its efforts for the maintenance of peace with those
of England and Russia it decidedly assumed the
initiative of a collective step.
The principle of this step is admitted at London
and St. Petersburg as at Paris. Communications
are being exchanged between the three courts, in
order to determine its form and fix the moment
wlaen it may be attempted. This concert of the
three great Powers in favour of peace is, under pre-
sent circumstances, an important fact. France will
not forget that the Emperor's Government has not
ceased, amid the various phases of a war crisis, to
preserve in equal degree her interests and her dig.
nity, to maintain her liberty of action, and, in fact,
to do her utmost in these conditions for the main-
tenance of peace.

TEE RUSSIANS IN BOREARA.

-

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
ST. PETERSBURG, May 20.
Particulars have been received here of the en-
gagement of Major-General Romanovsky with the
troops of the Emir of Bokhara on the sth April.
During the second fortnight in March the Russian
detachment encamped upon the Syr-Daria was con-
stantly kept on the alert by rumours that the Emir
of Bokhara was assembling large masses of troops,
with which he proposed to attack the Russians. The
reconnaissances made from time to time proved,
however, that these rumours were greatly exagge-
rated, or at least discovered nothing that could give
rise to any well-founded conjecture respecting the
real intentions of the Emir. Finally, on the 4th
April information was received that the enemy's
forces had appeared in considerable numbers on
the Syr-Daria, beyond Mourza-Rabat, 25 versts
from the Russian camp. A fresh reconnaissance
was consequently decided upon for the sth April,
and was to be made by two sotnias of Cossacks, a
squadron of cavalry, and five companies of infantry,
with four rifled cannon and two pieces of horse
artillery. The column had not left the camp when
the enemy's cavalry, showing themselves before the
Russian troops, charged a small detachment of
Orenbourg Cossacks. The latter, however, sus-
tained by a company of infantry sent to their as-
sistance, repulsed this attack, and forced the
enemy to draw back with loss. The column ap-
pointed to make the reconnaissance advanced upon
the traces of the retreating enemy, and at 18 versts
from the camp on the Khodjeut-road met with a
considerable force. From the top of a small eleva-
tion, situate near the road-side, large bands of Bok-
harian cavalry, headed by several standards, were
seen in the plain stretching before Mourza-Rabat.
This force consisted of the cavalry of the Beys of
Djuzak, Samarcand, and Oura-Tuba. Numerous
flocks belonging to these chiefs followed the horse-
men, and had been partly assembled on account of
the Mussulman feast of Kourban-bairam, which the
Emir proposed to celebrate this year with great
solemnity among his troops at Oura-Tuba.
Having waited until the Russian column was
properly massed, General Romanovsky advanced
his cavalry under aide-de-camp Colonel Vorontzow-
Daschkow, supporting it by a company of infantry,
and ordered it to charge the enemy's force. At
first the Bokharian cavalry, which nearly doubled
the Russian force, firmly withstood the charge of
the latter, and even made several attempts to re-
gain the offensive. The Cossacks, however, suc-
ceeded in breaking their line, and pursued them,
lance in rest, for more than 20 versts, inflicting
considerable loss and taking 15 prisoners, as well
as the whole of the flocks, numbering 15,000 head.
The Russians, it is added, experienced no loss
whatever.

The Intel national Flower Show and
Botanic Congress.

Yesterday, the third day since the great flower
show in connection with the International Botanic
Congress was opened, demonstrated in a remark-
able manner the extraordinary attractiveness of the
wonderful exhibition which has been brought
together. Even in the forenoon the pleasant walks
under the great tents were crowded, and as the
afternoon went on the concourse thickened, till,
vast as the place is, it was crowded. The roads
far away round the entrance to the show in the
Cromwell-road were filled with long lines of carriages,
pavements thronged with,visitors coming and going,
omnibuses, diverted slightly from their route, set
down their passengers in unaccustomed places near
the ordinarily-quiet piece of ground which has been
so converted and beautified, and the days of 1862
seemed in these respects restored. In some ways
every day improves the aspect of the display. Cer-
tain collections, such as the rhododendrons, have
been undeniably retarded in their luxuriance by the
cold winds of the season. Every hour they remain
under protection and the favouring conditions of
their present position the blooms are expanding, and
attaining that softness and profusion which is cha-
racteristic of this beautiful class of plants in their
summer perfection. The same may be said of many
other of the flowers which make the miniature valleys
brilliant. Some of the lawns thus decorated have
been more completely arranged than was possible
on the first day, and the aspect of finish about the
whole exhibition is, if possible, more complete.
Most of the cut blooms, where they appear to have
flagged, or to have become overblown, have been
renewed, and the beauty of the whole of collec-
tions seems to improve with every fresh inspection.
The greatest deterioration which can be noticed
has taken place among the fragile specimens of
wreaths, bouquets, &c., which, although but an
item iu the present show, are an exhibition in them-
selves, forming a separate department, which is
located in the Royal Horticultural Society's Gar-
dens. But among these the most attractive feature
perhaps, bright and delicate as the flowers appear,
is not affected by the same influences ; the blooms
are neither fading nor growing better, nor expand-
ing till the petals fall, for although they seem
so natural as to deceive almost everybody
at first sight they are of wax. This beau-
tiful collection of flowers, numerous
varied as they are, have been all modelledabnyd
Mrs, Mitchell, of 5, Anglesey-terrace, Battersea.

As a result of delicate manipulation, producing
wonderful accuracy of colour and form, they de-
serve all the admiration they have excited.
Ou Wednesday evening the Conversazione was
held, and proved to be one of the most brilliant and
successful that has ever taken place at the South
Kensington Museum. There was a very full attend-
ance, and soon after 9 o'clock the great central hall
was filled with company. As the evening wore on
the other rooms and galleries were in like manner
occupied. A large number of the nobility were
present, and many of the most distinguished pro-
fessors of art, science, and literature, as well as
most of the leading horticulturists, whether ama-
teur or professional. Every expression of courteous
welcome and consideration was made to the foreign
guests, who formed a noticeable proportion of the
assemblage.

It has been decided that the International Flower
Show shall remain open till Thursday next ; and
the council of the Royal Horticultural Society have
determined that their gardens at South Kensington
shall be, during that time, thrown open to all who
visit the flower show.