The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-21 00:00:00

THE EASTERN WAR.

The first battalion of the Scots Fusileer Guards and the
third battalion of Grenadier Guards were inspected, this
morning, by Prince Albert, at the Wellington Barracks.
After going through their evolutions,. the Prince ex-
pressed his extreme satisfaction with their efficiency.
Both battalions were in heavy marching order, and ap-
peared in high spirits. They leave on Wednesday
morning.

The answer of the Emperor of Russia was brought to
Paris on Sunday night, at ten o'clock. General Castel-
bajac has not yet arrived, and is not expected for a day or
two. It is again 'stated as certain that Prince Napoleon
Jerome will be appointed to the chief command of the
French expeditionary forces, which will consist of 45,000
men. In financial circles at Paris all hopes of amicable
arrangements are finAly abandoned.
There was a rumour that Batoum had been bombarded
by the Russians, but its authenticity was doubtful.
The partial insurrections among the Greek population
are not deemed of much importance at the French Foreign-
office ; and it is expected they will cease when the Anglo-
French expedition appears in Turkey.
It is believed that orders have been sent by the Divan
to Omar Pasha to resume the offensive ; and it is ru-
moured he will make an attempt to cross the Danube at
Turtukai and Oltenitza, and make an advance on Bucha-
rest. Rifaat Pasha, who commands the army of reserve,
has quitted his head-quarters of Sofia for the right bank,
the point which, commands Oltenitza. He was at the
head of 3.5,000 men, composed of picked regiments. It
was supposed from. that movement that an important
operation was contemplated.
The condition of the Ottoman army was excellent. The
General-m-umet naa to repel the
Russians in case they attacked Kalafat ; and the
Turkish Government had also made the most energetic
military preparations against the Russians, in the event
of their attempting to turn the position of the army in
the direction of Servia.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAY, FEB. 20.

Their lordships met at 5 o'clock.

In reply to the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Lord CHAN-
CELLOR said that the bill for the Reform of the Eccle-
siastical Courts did not extend to Ireland ; but the subject
of applying a measure in relation to the Ecclesiastical
Courts there was receiving his attention.
Lord BROUGHAM said there was a necessity for a mea-
sure in reference to Ireland, but it might not be expedient
to make it exactly of the same nature as the one appliable
to England and Wales.
Lord BEAUMONT gave notice that on Friday he should
move resolutions, to the effect that, in the opinion of the
house, the honour and best interests of the country re-
quired effectual means to be taken to repel the unjustifi-
able aggression of Russia upon the Porte; and that the
power and influence of this country should be exerted to
place the relations of Russia and the Porte upon such a
foundation as would secure peace to the Ottoman empire,
and give it the opportunity of developing its resources.
The House adjourned at twenty minutes past five
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-MONDAY, FRB. 20.

The house met at 4 o'clock.
Mr. LA.WRENCR PALE took the oaths and his seat for
South Devon.
A number of private bills were read a second time.
Sir E. DERING gave notice that, on the motion for a
second reading of the bill for amending the representation
of the people, he should move an amendment to the effect
that the state of foreign relations renders the present
moment inopportune for the discussion of the measure
of Parliamentary Reform.
THE -EASTERN WAR.

In reply to Mr. COBDEN, Lord J. RUSSELL said Go-
vernment had not come to any resolution at present re-
lative to a blockade of the commercial ports of Russia.
In answer to Sir J. WhAsH,
.

iVral.itirssELL stated that information relative to
insurrectionary movements in Greece had been received ;
but it was not clear by whom it was fomented, and the
information was not of a specific character.
In reply to Mr. BLIGHT,
Mr. WILSON explained the circumstances under which
the proclamation, published this morning, was issued,
stating that it was directed exclusively to Russia, except
when there was reason to suppose that exportations of
arms, ammunition, &c., were about to be made colourably
to any other port.
On the motion for resuming the adjourned debate on
the Eastern question,
Mr. COBDEN said that, notwithstanding the speech of
Lord J. Russell on Friday evening, he was still in igno-
rance on more than one point, and, therefore, desired
further information. He proceeded to take a retrospect
of all the transactions and negotiations which have
taken place from the beginning of the Russian and
Turkish quarrel, the origin of which he traced to the
demands of the French Ambassador (M. Lavalette),
respecting the Holy Places. He argued that the diffe-
rence as to the interpretation put upon the Vienna
note by the Porte, was not a sufficient ground of quarrel,
and that such interpretation ought not to have been
sanctioned by the allied powers ; also, that the Christian
subjects of the Porte were utterly opposed to the policy
of the Porte. He quoted largely from official documents,
recently published, containing the instructions given to
Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, and the opinion of that
ambassador, respecting the treatment of the Christian
population by Turkey,—it was impossible to put Christians
on a level with the Turks, without an abandonment of
the principles of the Koran. He disputed the assertion
made by Lord Palmerston last session, respecting the
great social progress of Turkey. We were now
asked to form an alliance with a power which,
by the evidence of the ambassador and consuls, was
in a state of internal dissolution. In fighting on
behalf of Turkey, we were fighting against the interest
of the majority of the population of Turkey. On
the question of our trade with Russia, he said much mis -
apprehension prevailed, for, though it was true that our
exports were under £2,000,000, our imports from that
country average £12,000,000 sterling, being three times the
amount of our trade with Turkey. He dwelt on the im-
policy of sending our land forces instead of employing
solely the navy. England, being invulnerable from her
position, ought to refrain from fighting other people's
battles. He was opposed to war with Russia, because the
grounds of the quarrel were not sufficient to justify
hostilities. He would not give six months' purchase for
the popularity of any man who voted for this war.
Lord J. MANNERS disagreed altogether from the views
put forth by Mr. Cobden, and expressed his approval of
the determination of the Government to resist the aggres-
sion of Russia, but warmly criticised the delay in arriving
at this resolution.

Mr. HORSMAN did not complain of the proceedings of
government having been criticised ; but he dissented from
the facts, the arguments, and the conclusions of Mr. Cob-
den's speech—a speech which he regarded as full of fala-
cies. The question was not a mere dispute between two
neighbouring states, but one of European policy. The
point really was, whether the Emperor of Russia should
be Emperor of Turkey also. Government had adopted
the wisest course. He trusted that the conditions of peace
will be that Russia shall indemnify Turkey for the expenses
of the war. _ . _

Mr. mmoND said it did not appear what tho reason
was for going to War, iic believed it would prove a