Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-15
IMPORTANT FROM EUROPE.
WAR DECLARED AGAINST RUSSIA BY GREAT
BRITAIN AND FRANCE.

WAR DECLARED AGAINST RUSSIA BY GREAT
BRITAIN AND FRANCE.
Two Liverpool steamers, bringing late European
news, arrived yesterday-the Hermann, at New
York, and the America, at Halifax The latest
date is to the lst of April.
BY these arrivals we have the important intelli-
gence that war against Russia has been formally
declared by Great Britain and France Under
these declarations however, active hostilities are
not to commence until the 30th of this month. It
is barely possible that this delay may yet afford an
opportunity for pacific settlement of the pending
difficulties, though confess VIC do not expect such
result but, on the contrary, apprehend that Europe
is about to be plunged into protracted and devas-
tating war. To our perception there are no means
by which this dread alternative can now be avoided
We give the substance of the news as communicated
through the Telegraph
The Cabinet courier dispatched by Great Britain
and France to Russia, bearing their ultimatum had
returned with the announcement that no reply would
be made.
The result was communicated by the QUEEN to
the British Parliament on the 9th, in message
which concluded with the declaration that she re-
lied IN this emergency upon the bravery of the army
and navy.
A formal declaration of war was promulgated in
the London Gazette of the 2Sth Of March, follows.
DECLARATION
It is with deep regret that her Majesty the
failure OF her anxious and proracted endeavors to pre-
for her people and for Europe the blessings Of
| peace.
The unprovoked aggression of the Emperor of Russia
against the Sublime Porte has been persisted in with such
disregard to consequences that after the rejection by
Emperor Of Russia Of terms which the Emperor of Aus
ra the Emperor Of the French and the King Of Prus-
sa well her Majesty considered just and equitable
of the Crown to the interests of her people, and
the independence Of the States of Europe come
ward in defence Of ally whose territory invaded and
whose dignity and independence are assailed. !.
Her Majesty, in justification of the she about
pursue refers to the transactonsn which her Majesty
has been engaged. .,,.s> ~.
The Emperor Of Russia had some cause Of complaint
| against the Sultan with reference to the settlement
which his Hghness had sanctioned Of the conflicting
claims Of the Greek and Latin Churches to portion Of
the Holy Places of Jerusalem and its neghborhood To
the complaint of the Emperor of Russia this head JUS
tice done and her Maesty's Ambassador at Con-
stannople had the satisfaction ofpromong arrange
ment to which no exception was ak,n by the Russian
Government. t. TN.
But while the Russian Government repeatedly assured
the Government of her Majesty that the mission of Prince
Aenschiko to Constantinople exclusively directed
to the settlement of the question of the Holy Places at
Jerusalem, Prince Menschko himself pressed upon the
character the nature Of which he in the first instance
endeavored far possible, to conceal from her Ma
lestys Ambassador. And these demands, thus studi-
ousy concealed affected not the privileges of the Greek
Church at Jerusalem but the position of many millions of
Turkish subjects in their relations to their the
Sultan. ..r. s..
These demands rejected by the spontaneous deci
sion Of the Sublime Porte ....,.., ......
Two assurances have been given to her Majesty one
that the mission Of Prince Menschko only regarded the
Holy Places the other that his mission would be of
ciliatory character. IA"
In both respects her Maesys just expectations
disappointed.
Demands were made which, in the opinion of the Sui
tam extended to the substitution Of the Emperor of Rus
sias authority for his large portion Of his
subjects and those demands enforced by threat;
and when her Majesty learned that announcing the
termination of his mission, Prince Menschiko declared
that the refusal Of his demands would impose upon the
Imperial Government the necessity Of seeking guaranty
by its own power her Majesty thought proper that her
fleet should leave Malta and in corporation with that Of
his Majesty the Emperor of the French take up its
! ton in the neighborhood Of the Dardaneles.
SO long the negotation bore asaieaDie cnaractcr
her Majesty reained from any demonstration Of force
But when, In addition to the assembage of large military
forces on the frontier of Turkey the Ambassador Of
Russia intmated that serious consequences would
from the refusal Of the Sultan to comply with
table demands her Majesty deemed it right in conjunc
ton with the Emperor Of the French to give unques
tonabe proof Of her determination to support the soye
reign rights of the Sultan.
The Russian Government has maintained that the de-
termination of the Emperor occupy the Prncpalties
taken consequence of the advance Of the fleets Of
England and France But the Of invasion of the
Turkish territory conveyed in Count Nesselrodes
note to Reschd Pacha, of the 10Th 3lst May and re-
stated in his despatch Baron Brunow of the 10th May
list june, which announced the determination OF the
Emperor Of Russia to order his troops to occupy the
Prncipaes, if the Porte did not within week comply
with the demands of Russia.
The despatch her Maestys Ambassador at Constan-
tnope authorizing him, in certain specified contingen
cies to send for the British feet dated the 3ls Of
May and the order direct from England to her Ma
estys admiral proceed to the neighborhood of the
Dardanelles was dated the I'd Of June.
The determination to occupy the Prncipalities was,
therefore, taken before the orders for the advance OF the
combined squadron were given.
The Sultans Minister was informed that unless he
signed within week. and without the change of word
the proposed to the Porte by Prince Menschiko
the Of his departure from Constantnople the Prn
cpalties of Modava and Wallacha would be occupied
by Russian troops The Sultan could not accede to so
insulting demand but when the actual occupation Of
the Principates took place, the Sultan did not, as he
might have done in the exercise of his undoubted right
declare war; but addressed protest to his allies.
Her Majesty in JUNCTION with the soveregns of Aus
ria France and Prussia has made various attempts to
any just demands Of the Emperor Of Russia without
affecting the dignity and independence of the Sultan
and had it been the sole of Russia to obtain security
for the enjoyment by the Christian subjects of the Porte
of their privileges and mmunities she would have found
it in the offers that have been made by the Sultan. But
that security not offered in the shape OF special
and separate stipulation with Russia it rejected.
Twice has this offer been made by the Sultan and
mended by the Four Powers, by note originally
prepared Vienna, and subsequently modified by the
Porte by the proposal of bases OF negotiations
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