The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-25

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tits AIRY 70 say that during theee moments
which might have been fatal the Crane Dukes showed
themselves dare repeat here. like true determined
Your Imperial Majesty would overwhelm with JOY al
the army entrusted 10 my command, b. comforting on
their ighpesses the orcer OF military ment which is
decreed them unanimously in the thought of each'of
The order OF ST George Of the sth class for bra
very granted by your Majesty to their Highnesses who
high and nappreciabe favor towards all the troops
AIDED TO me, and who witnessed the courage and ntre
pidty Of The Grasd Dukes in who:s person your mpe
and right to feel pride and gladness.
So fattss ing q testimony, rendered by the Com
uanderin Chief to the soldierly virtues displayed
by his youngest ns in the eyes Of the entire army
Emperor. His Imperial Majesty, conformsbly to
the proposition of General Prince Nenschikoff, has
de,gned to confer on their Imperial HiRhnesses the
Grand Dukes Nicolas Nic0lsi6vitch and Michael
Nicoiaievitch the order Of st. George Of the 4th
claAs.
THE AUSTRIAN TREATY WITH TEE WEST.
ERN POWERS. o8
from the London Times, Dec. 5.
By curious and probably an involuntary csinci-
denCe. the anniversary of the battle Of Austerltz
has witnessed the conclusion Of frosty 1t Vienna,
between France and Austria, against the power Of
RUSSIA and the I'd Of December has another claim to
be ranked among the fortunate days Of the era OF
Napoleon. Indeed, whatever be the exact terms
and provisions of thus treaty, Il Is an event of meal
ouable importance to France to find herself in &C
tual alliance with Austria, % well as with England,
on the great question which agitates the whole ex-
tent OF Europe; and it is not less satisfactory to
ourselves to learn the denitive conclusion of an en-
eagement which identifies our policy, and mites our
military Efforts to those OF two Of the powerful
empires in tie world. The Dr0visiSns OF the con-
yention concluded between England and France, at
the commencement OF the present war, were brief,
ana lot strictly defined. The value Of that instru
ment was NOT 30 much to bind the contracting par
ties TO any particular course Of action % publ y to
record and attest to the world the union of their
policy, the dsnteresedness OF their intentions, and
II spiIlt m which they were about to take up arms
1t was also provided that the treaty should re-
main open for the acceptance of any other Euro.
pean power. Treaties Of offensive and defensive
alliance are, in fact, to be regarded IS public
declaratory engagements, pledging the honor and
good faith Of the contracting parties TO forward
common object, but they are not to be scanned
a. infinitely as the covenants of Q lease or Of q
deed of partnership The alliance is not contained
in the treaty but the treaty is part Of the alliance
No mere verbal compact between Austria and the
Western Powers can eithes compel the Emperor OF
Austria to make war, or compel France and England
to make peace but the fact that three of the great
powers Of Europe have deliberately and freely en-
tered into . reciprocal engagement to procure the
restoration Of peace, by reducing Russia to submit
to the terms which thsy regard as essential to the
safety and tranquility OF Europe, is OF the utmost
importance to our own particular interests and to
the general welfare. The explanations which doubt
less preoed the conclusion Of such arrangement
must have been Of q nature to remove all doubt and
cbecuity as TO the real intentions Of the contracting
parties for it is impossible to conceive that in tho
present momentous conjuncture of aai words can
any longer be allowed to obscure the face Of things
or vague assurances to take the place Of positive
engagements Whatever may be the ultimate con-
dition Of the peace which successful war may ena-
bic the allied Powers to impose ON Russia it will
not be disputed that the four points must at least,
form the basis Of any arraDgemeDt-that Is to say,
that the former treaties existing between Russia and
the Porte must be extinguished, and the pretenson
Of Russia to interfere beyond her own frontier abo
ished; that the free navigation of the Danube be
eecured that the Convention Of the Straits be re-
vised for the purpose Of opening the Black Sea to
the commercial and political agents of au coun-
tries, and OF destroying the maritime ascendency
Of Russia in those waters; and the protectorate OF
the Greek church merged in the common rights se-
cured by the Porte to all its Christian subjects On
these objects to their full extent there can be no
difference of opinion between the allied powers, and
the conclusion Of this treaty proves that they are
agreed, not only on what are called the four points,
but on the most extended Interpretation that can
be given to those essen ial conditions. Upon the
same principle OF united action 1t is indispensable
that the position Of tie Austrian forces n the
Pripcipalities should be clearly Defined and that,
while General Hess engages to protect the from
tier of the Pruth and the Danube nom all attack,
t movements Of the Turkish or Anglo French ar
mics upon that frontier. a. well % on every other
psr Of The theatre OF war, should be entirely free
and urcoustrained and il is also to be desired that
has taken place under convention with the Porte,
and with the full cognizance of the Western Powers
the question OF administration which must arise in
the Prncipalites In their present unsettled condi-
ton should be brought under the kD0 sledge Of the
agents and representatives Of the SultAns allies.
We are not informed whether Austria intends at
this. the eleventh hour, to make another appeal TO
the Emperor Of Russia, and to profer for the last
unconditional acceptance of all that ia required Of
him; but we are ersuaded that neither England
nor France will be any party to the repetition of an
offer previously rejected, and which can only be
may, the period of these dilatory expedents is
almost exhausted, even in the eyes Of the German
courts, and the treaty which Austria has just con.
cluded with the belligerent powers would be no
more than dead letter, if 1t did not provide that,
the expiration of s,me brief term Of delay she is
prepared to join her arms to theirs, and to give full
effect to the offensive as well as defensive conditions
Of the alliance. We have it stated In our CORES
pondence, that this term is not more remote than
the lst of January next, and that the measures
taken by the court of Vienna on the opening Of the
new year. viii at least remove all uncertainty as 70
the sense it attaches to these engagements IL these
the leading conditions Of the treaty Of the I'd of
December--snd we trust tina. no treaty would have
been signed by the British government which did
not include these essential points-that document
marks most important epoch in these transactions
for 1t justifies confident expectation that, unless
peace be secured before the termination Of the pre-
sent year, upon the full terms required by the West
ern Powers, without reservation or abatement, the
war will be carried on with vast increase OF mill
tary power TO which the resources of the Russian
empire will be in vain opposed.
From the London News, Dec. 81
The Austrian treaty is for the moment the great
theme Of politicians and merchants-n clubs and on
Change. As the terms Of the treaty cannot be de-
c0rousiy made public until it has been ratified, q
wide field is left for speculation. Mems conclu
sions, rs usual, take color frcm their tempers and
wishes. The saDeuine are confident that the treaty
viii prove all that can be desired; the Respondent
shake their heads. Cautious dealers, who cherish
aversion to war risks, pI0phesy peace; ardent
friends Of liberty, who cannot get rid of their dis
trust o. Austria anticipate fresn complications and
a PROLONGED struggle. Each man catches at the ru-
NOR of the hour that has the appearance of corro-
borstirg his own views. One reminds his hearers
that the Gar has declared himself wiling to treat
op the basis Of the four points; forthwith another
strikes in and afirms that the Gear hiss retrscted
this consent since he heard that Austria and Prus-
STA have come to an understanding. One tells ex-
ultipely how the Turkish army in Moldavia and the
Dobrucscba is advancing, with the consent of Aus