The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-21

and eqclsapie principles; and NICHOLAS desplseo |
the French Emperor too much to trouble bis
head about him. In this view, he will have
been confirmed by the knowledge of the fact
that his old friend Lord Aberdeen, with whose
opinions he was acquainted was at the head of
the government. Accordingly, the converse
tions with Sir Hamilton Seymour, which have
been since published, took place; and in order
to secure the result he desired Prince Menschi-
koti was despatched to Constantinople. During
the last ten year, however, very material
changes had taken place. England, offered on
the one side an alliance with Russia For the
partition Of Turkey, on the other an ALI
ance with France for the resistance of Musco-
vite ambition clearly saw that hHi interests
lay with the latter Acquiescence in the
views of the Gear would inevitably have brought
on war with France, during which Russia
might have disposed Of Turkey as she thought
cit. Victorious or vanquisbed, England had
nothing to gain in such conquest On the
other hand, an alliance with France would pre-
ciptste the obvious contest between Russia
and Great Britain for the key to the Levant
and the road to the East, and would provide
the latter with a powerful ally for the war.
France, already forced into position of an
tagonism against Russia by the mission Of La
valette and the well known personal antipathy
of the Emperors for each other would willingly
consent to fight the Gar, in contest whose
issue could only enure to the benefit Of either
Russia or England. Napoleon would be glad
Of such an opportunity Of diverting the mind
Of the people from their domestic politics, and
his soldiers would willingly assume at least
half the cost of the land war; Reviewing
hese chances, and foreseeing very clearly that
at some day or other she must either resign
her Asiatic possessions or fight Russia the
Aberdeen ministry resolved, after much de-
liberation, to pursue different couSse from
their predecessors, and to reject the overtures
of the Gar. This resolution was not adopted
in haste. For long period of time, the Rus
sian party in the Cabinet seemed to preponder-
ate, and fears respecting the sick mans"
health were daily expressed in the London
Times. Eventually, however, what we shall
call the Palmerston policy triumphed, and
much to the Cars establishment, Great Britain
preferred the alliance of the parpenu French
Emperor to his own.
If such has been the history of the secret ne
gociations of the past few years. the address
displayed by England cannot be too much adj
mired. She is now engaging in a war, from
which she alone can benefit if the allies are
successful and in which the bulk of the loss, if
loss there be, will fall upon France. Extracts
from London papers, given elsewhere, state
that England is still attempting to secure fresh
allies, and that an application has been made to
Spain, but has been rejected by that power.
Hence it is said, an increased willingness on
the part of the English people to consent to our
purchase Of Cuba Time will show what truth
there may be in this, but if England is victo-
rious in this war, we may acquire much addi-
tional territory without counterbalancing the
prestige she will gain.