The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-14
EUROPEAN NEWS-THE EXPECTED Pc ACE

The new steamer Persia. of the Cunard line,
arrived at New York on Saturday, with Lo don
and Liverpool dates to the Goth of Jan airy.
We extract from the Commercial Adrei iSer
the annexed summary of news:
A great number of rumors are in circula ion,
touching the approach of peace. They ale OF
all descriptions, and cannot be systemat zed.
In England, for instance, they say that Pr ssla
will not be admitted as party to the neg ,tia-
tons. AT Berlin, on the other hand, the eat
est confidence is felt that Prussia will be nyi-
ted to participate in the conferences, as cad
ing Power. Sardinia was formally acquainted
with the Austrian propositions, and wiz, of
course, be summoned to take share in Thu re-
gotiations. By many it is believed that, st sing
how many of the Powers are interested, and
the European importance of what relates toe
Prncipaities and to Christians in the Eas' tDe
negotiations will assume the magnitude If a
European Congress. Russia will probably con-
cede the dismantng of Bomarsund, provL ling
she can save Nicolaeff.
Count Nesselrode has addressed the r. pre-
sentatives of Russia in foreign Courts, decls ing
that Russia has made concessions, with tire
view to the re-establishment of peace, OFT Of
Difference to the representations of fre IDLY
Powers, and not because the interests of Rus
STA call for the conclusion of that peace. M.
de Nesserode's circular is backed by an aiiser-
ton in the Russian official journal, to the feet
that, in consideration of the general wish If
Europe, the Government of the Gar has n IT
sought to impede the work of reconciliation by
accessory negotiations, and hopes that due ac-
count will be taken of its moderation. :.
The mere preiminaries of negotiation can
hardly be signed in time for the Queens speech
on January 3lst. Considering the seasol of
the year, it will be well if all parties have Sgn-
ed the united agreement to negotiate by the
I'd or Sd of February No city has yet tteen
decided upon for the place Of meeting Of the
conference.
The Paris Constitutional publishes ttter
from St. Petersburgh, bearing date Janla.y
10th. AS st. Petersburgh letters take eight daas
to reach Paris, and this one is publishei in
seven. it is scarcely likely to be genuine. low
ever, it says that no member of the Rus isn
Imperial family not one of the Ministers, not
even Count Nesselrode, anticipated the Cat s
pacific reply. Alexander appears to have con
suited no one but himself. Having decided On
his course of action, he sent the Under Secrs-
tary for Foreign Affairs with note to the Aus
trian Plenipotentiary, and sent the Grand Duke
Nicholas to inform his brother Constantine of
his decision. The impression produced on the
population of the capital seems to be, amorg
the lower classes incredulity as to its truth, aid
in the higher ranks profound establishment, wish
some expressions of discomfort.
The acceptance of the Austrian propositions
has been published officially at ST. Petersburgn
The announcement states that the chief co.lCi-
ton is the naturalization Of the Black Ser, 20
be secured by treaty between Russia sr.d
Turkey, Russia being ready to discuss the other
points.
1t is stated in diplomatic circles that Austria
considers the wording of the propositions enti-
ties Russia to maintain all existing fortresses
-. the Black Sea. Further, it is rumored that
Jhe Allies intend to maintain an army of occil-
>pation in Turkey till the reforms ih favor Of
the Christians are firmly established. This
proposal is extremely distasteful both to Tur-
key and Russia, and Austria proposes to maid
tain her army in the Danubian Principalitips
so long as the French and English occupy
Turkey.
1t is stated that the French and English Gao
inets have come to perfect agreement as 20
| the mode in which the negotiations are to be
carried on. AT the same time, the beligereht
Powers continue their preparations for an ear
nest continuance of the war, should peace net
result from the present endeavors. 1t was 2tys-
ted, but afterward contradicted, that Marshal
Pelissier, General Codrington, and Omer Pasha,
had, like General Gortschakoff, received Of eys
from their respective Governments to stop'A os
tiities Such orders will not be sent till al, az
mistice be formally concluded. 1t is he ied
that such armistice may be signed on or al )It
| the I'd of February. i
A Geographic despatch from st. Petersbu Oh
says that it was currently reported there thai an
order to suspend hostilities was forwarded to
| Prince Gortschakoff on the 18th utimo. che
| Times Vienna correspondent writes, on the 20dl
instant that the report that the generals of the
| hostile armies had received orders to suspend
hostilties is false; Also that it was crediby rela
ted that neither the British nor French Ministers
lat Vienna had up to that time received powees
to sign the preliminaries. The Frankfort Ga
zette in reference to the armistice, says that
the suspension of hostilities will first be estaj
iished by military convention concluded be-
tween the Allied and Russian commanders, and
that afterwards the armistice will be confines
by the respective Governments of the bellsge-
| rents.
At Vienna, it is stated, that if from the p &C.
lamation of an armistice peace is not concu led
by the time it is practicable to open the c1n-
pagn, the Allied fleets will enter the Baltic, but
during the negotiations will not pass hey Ind
the Island of Cortland. In the Crimea, tue
Tchernaya and defles which lead to the Va ley
| of Baidar will form the line of demarcat on.
| The line of limitation at Kinburn, KertScE,
and Eupatoria, will be fixed by mutual agree
ment between the Allied and Russian command.
ers. -
| Accounts from the Crimea to the 9th of JAM
uary mention no fact of the least importance,
| The cold was intense, and the sea had frozen
along the coast, but particularly in the ports OF
Kazatch and Balaklava, and in the roadstead
of Sebastopol. The ice, however, soon disap-
pears. The men who suffered most were the
porters and laborers recently arrived in the
| Crimea, and not yet Injured to the climate. The
oannonade from the North forts continued an
interruptedly. 1t is remarked that recently Che
Russians have fred large shells into SebAsto
POI, whereas they formerly threw only borcss
hence 1t is inferred they nave received fssh
supplies of material. Their fire on the ity
does not do much damage but was diret ted
with sagacity that showed they had accuxAte
| Information of all the movements in the AIyed
camp. Several spies had been arrested. Ssin-
gent measures were adopted to prevent O. m.
munication with the enemy 1900 permissi ms
| to reside at Baaklavs have been issued. md
without such permission no one will be allowed
to remain, and no persona excepting non-ci IN
missioned officers of the English army will be
allowed to open stores and canteens.
| The Vienna correspondent of the Times stftes
that in that capital the most strenuous efforts
are making to induce England not to insist on
| the disarming of the Russian fortresses on the
eastern shores of the Black Sea.
| Great complaints are made of the inconceiv-
able obstinacy of Sir Hamilton Seymour in this
matter 1t is feared that the British Govern
ment will not consent to sign the preliminaries
of peace until perfectly clear Interpretation
has been given to the fifth proposition.
The Daily NeVs, in a leading article, says:
| awe learn, on authority which renders it