The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-05-17
FOREIGN NEWS.
ARRIVAL OF THE
AFRICA,

New York last Friday morning, with dates
from Liverpool to the 22nd ult., being three
days later than brought by the Pacific.
The news is quite interesting. Both Cot.
ton and Breadstuffs had improved in price,
the former, according to the latest Liverpool
| dispatches, at the rate of one eighth of a
penny on grades above Good Ordinary.
Minister Soule was still urging n settle
ment of the Black Warrior difficulty at the
| Court of Madrid.
BERLIN April, 81.
Yesterday, an offensive and defensive alli-
ance between Austria and Prussia, was
signed by Baron ManteufTu on the one side,
and by Baron Hess and Count Thun on the
other.
PARIS, APRIL 81.
The Journal, of ST. Petersburg, of April
l3, publishes manifesto replying to the
English and French declaration of war.
The manifesto throws the responsibility
of the war upon France and England, and
says that the Cars generous confidence
has been abused. The same Journal, of
18th, say that the secret correspondence re-
Gently published, was brought by the Car,
himsclfto the knowledge of the sovereigns
| of Prussia and Austria, but was not COM
municatcd to Napoleon, because the French
Envoy Mt Constantinoplc was, at that mo-
ment actively employed in supplant;ng Rus
sian influence there.
LONDON, April 81.
No later news from the Baltic. 1t is as.
serted from Copenhagen that the Swedish
Government has positively entered into
secret treaty with Russia, by which an ab-
solutc enactment, forbiddng more than four
ships at once to enter harbor, has been
restored, and the same is extended to Nor.
way. The matter is, however, taken up by
the Swedish Parliament.
CoPESHAGEN, April II.
There is still more ice in the Gulf of Fin
land, but not enough to prevent the frigates
from cruizing.
RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY BETWEEN
FRANCE AND ENGLAND.-Thc Convention
between the French and the English Govern
ments, which was signed few days ago in
London, has been ratified. The object of
this closer alliance of the two Powers is the
re-estabIishment of peace between RUSSIA
and Turkey, on permanent basis, and the
preservation of Europe from the dangers
which have disturbed the general peace
For this purpose, and in order to rescue the
domnions of the Sultan from foreign inva-
sion, the English and French Governments
agree to combine their naval and militam
forces in manner sufficient to accomplish
the result they have in view. They bind
themselves not to accept any proposition for
the cessation Of hostilitcs against Russia,
without having communicated to each other
the nature Of such ovcrtures They distinct
ly disclaim all exclusive advantage to them
selves from the events which may arise, and
they invite the rest of Europe to cooperate
with an alliance destined solely to protect
the public interests of Europe.
This important Convention seems to sup
ply the necessary basis to the operations
in which the English aud French forces are
now engaged.
NEGoTiATIoHs.-It will be remembered
that the last propositions that were made
st. Petersburg amounted to an offer TO cvac
uate the Principalitics if the allies would
Withdraw from the Baltic and Black Sea.
Such position was regarded by France
and Enganl rs altogether inadmiSsrblc,
and was, therefore, refused. Indeed, the
Cars evident object in making the
proposal was to satisfy the most press
ing demand of the German Powers, and so
to detach them from the Quadruple Confer
encc. II is, therefore, important and signif-
cant to note that since the rejection Of these
terms by England and France, the last pro-
tocoI of the conference has, nevertheless
been signed by the representatives of oil
the -Four Powers and we have yet to learn
what the next move of the Russian Cabinet
will be on the receipt of this Intelligence.
THE FLEETs.-From Kiel, 10Th, il was
stated that all the Russian ports in the Bal
tic are under blockade The number of
Russian merchant ships now captured n
mount TO ten. On the 10Th the English
fleet was telegrophed off to Gcthland. On
the 18th, l8 Russian Ships. of. the-line were
lying at Helsingfors. Tpey seemed as if
they intended 10 pass over the ReSei Ad-
miral Plumridgc, had been watching them
with four frigates, and ere this, Napier must
have como up with his squadron, intending
doubles, to attack them.
The DANUBE.-Oficial advices to April
10, and private letters to the 18th, state
that nothing of importance had occurred
Both parties continually reconnoitre, and
consequently skrmishes took place, but
nothing more. From the correspondence
Of various papers, we gather the following
details Of the events that have recently
transpired:
An Austrian paper of the 18th contains the
following despatch "The important from
tier town of the Fokshanl, in Wallachia,
which had Just been fortified, was destroyed