The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-21

country manifessly and decidedly retrogradng.
manufacture there arc only six that do not par
take Of this downward tendency. Whsteyer
the reasons Of such Q commercial reverse, the
fact itself is evident. So far ~ II ia the result Of
tho war, with which II happens TO coincide, II
win teach the people OF this country that var
is not game to be played by one class at thu cost
Of another. As we have often had occasion to
show, all national disasters, national crimes. and
their effects, involving first one, then another and
soon or late, every branch Of the common veal.
This Is true Of nothing 30 much OF war; and those
interests that seem for time to thrive upon its
fictitious Developments suffer eventually most OF all
II ever has been So "Quicqud ddirant reyes,
piecturv Achici," Is the oldest moral OF ambition
and war.
But i is fair to say that this apparently sudden
check is partly referable to causes mde pendent of
the war; partly TO causes connected with that war,
bnt OF q very temporary character For some time
past commerce has relied, with an almost dizzy
boldnass, on the rapid development Of cur Aus
uallan colonies. A crisis in our trade with
that quarter has been so often predicted,
and Indefinitely deferred, that the warest.
merchants seem to have been thrown off their
guard and the worst has come 1T last, not from
any positive reverse In the condition OF the Colonies
bue simply from the discovery OF gold having settled
into something like uniform resu t. Our people at
home speculated on rapid increase, and are
disappointed by standstill. There is no reason
existekce under our feet should not continue to
flourish, even though the gold fields should be utterly
exhausted; but meanwhile the momentum OF their
increasing prosperity Is checked, and the colonial
trade OF this country Is thrown into Sd confu
sion % railway train when the locomotive that
draws 1t reisxes its speed too suddenly In the
United States, too, trade has experienced relapse
only foreseen too long to be provided against ba.
Following naturally on excessive speculation on both
sides Of the Atlbntic. When we find an insolvsut
firm In this country the recent purchaser OF
ioriyiiye American vessels, paid for in bills
now dhishono.rsd we cannot wonder AZ the
In common distress. So far had speculation with
the United States and Australia exceeded the
bounds Of safety, II not Of prudence, that the
ITSELF with all It's terrible consequences is hailed
% timely check, divertiDg our shipping to other
employ meDts, and preventing the consignment, pos.
bibly, Of many million pounds worth Of goods that
would only have oppressed the market, and might
have proved heavy loss to merchant, manufac,
turer and artisan.
II is indeed, apart from all speculative consider.
atons, the simple fact that whole fleets aud lines Of
steamers and selling vessels-the latter chiefly
those fine fast sailing ships lately introduced
been diverted from the traffic Of peace TO that Of
war. Undoubte lily, half the transports now on the
surface Of the Black Sea- Fastening to and fro on
the long track from England to the Crimea carrying
soldiers, stores cannon shot and all the apparatus Of
war, would have been freighted with calicoes,
and such like vulgar stuff Of peace Arrived At
their several ports. they might have found the
same difficulty In disposng Of their cargoes as our
transports on the coast Of the Cdmea. Innumerable
bales and boxes and crates might have been heaped
in confusion, not in the mud OF some narrow creek,
but In warehouses and stores. There they might
have remained for years, unsold useless, unprefta
bic lumber, simply because 30 much in excess
the result, such is the fact, and the with.
drawal OF some hundred fue vessels, including
the largest packet ships in the world, from
their original passenger and mercantile traffic,
Will 30 far explain the increasing check of our ex
ports. which In November had reached the rate OF
two millions month. 1t will be noticed that
the imports stin continue to increase, with the
exception OF grain. Tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar,
sailed provisions, wines, spirits, tobacco, frnts
and spices, all show a greatly increased consump'
ton, partly attributable In cases TO the demand
FOR the army in the East. The import Of the raw
materials OF manufacture Is also unchecked. These
things, however, must be paid for and IL Ia evident
OF goods an II exports without bringing itself into
difficulties. day of account there must QUE day
come, when commercial credit must sink for while,
and all who have relied too rashly upon It's indef-
mite expansion win fall before the storm. The war
will have its share In that crisis, bu. only It's
share; TOR recent experience has proved how easy
IL ID, In the profoundest peace, to bring upon
selves o greater amount of commercial ruin and
lrvate disaster than even the most numerous and
the most costly war
Non-CommItsal War Policy or Spaln-The
Auxiliaries Not to he Had.
Madrid dec. 27) Correspondence of London Tines
The Espdna has an article touching the much
talked OF enlistment of Spanish legion in English
pay and says that the French amba sssdor broached
the subject to this government and that II was cou.
sideIed In council of ministers the result Of whose
Deliberations was pnfavorable 70 the scheme.
doubt whether the matter has been az vet
officially considered, but am aware Of q non.
official communication having been made by n
personal friend Of the Emperor Of the French to
an eminent member OF the Spanish ministry, who
stated In reply bis individual opinion as being against
the project, which would, however, Of course have
to be referred to the cabinet II presented officially
Although Isabella H. has never been recognized by
the Gar, and although, under present circum-
stances, this country would have nothing TO fear
rom Ruftia II at war with that power, |. Is never
theless possible that Spain may think proper 70
Keep clear OF quarrels that little concern her. and
might refuse, unless some solid advantage were Of.
feied her, either to lend part OF her army to al
low her subjects to be recruited for foreign service
find. too, that the Spanish army will be reduced
SO low At The end Of this year that at least 1000
recruits will be needed. T be government ID desi-
rous 70 get az naDy possible Of these by volunta-
~ enlistment. In order TO diminish tho amount Of
the blood tax, as the CONSUMPTION Ii here called.
There Is talk Of Offering EGO man, either TO be re.
ceiyed by him at short intervals during his six years
period OF service 10 be paid TO him. with interest,"
at its ten mir alton ESQ being the amount paid for
exemption from military service. Enlis ment for a
foreign army would more or less interfere With this
sch. me, u, indeed, any large number OF Spaniards
could be induced TO enlist 10 60 abroad. There was
an attempt made In 1850 70 enlist Spaniar for the
Papa service, and although backed by the priests,
IL was very unsuccessful.
The Position OF Prussia.
THE LAST DESPATCH OF BARON AASTsUFYEL
The following Is translstion OF the text of the
Prussian desl stch Of the 10th December addressed
to the Prussian ENJOYS at Paris and London, OF
wbich summary has already appeared
BkltLLS, Dec. 10 1854.
MONSIEUR liz CoNITr-As have had the honor of In.
forming your Excelleney by telegraph, II was on the
evening OF the 10th instant that the ENJOYS Of France
England and Austria came 10 commu ncats 10 me OH.
cay the treaty which their governments signed the
I'd Of December at Vienna, and 90 express 10 me con
formally 10 art. W. tine desire Of seeing Prussia ad-
here 10 IT, lost no time in submitting that important
m q the kim mr. at II