The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-01-12


It's deiycrancc may probably he effected with
little difficulty, and the MIshir will then be
content with preparing for the campaign Of
the coming spring.
THs RUSSIANS X tYFAS.
Prom tlg London T.mss, Dec. II
The letters from Germany respecting the
condition Of Russia continue tondicatc that 1t
is in the southern part OF the empire whore
the effects Of the war are most severely felt,
since IN that region there is no nclghDoring
and friendly State to ueutra,Lc the blockade
and encourage q pr1.On .cl resistance. The
exchange at II. Petersburg is said to have
improved to 3Gl. either from the activity Of
the overland trade or the rumors Of loan
from Prussia.
Politically, there is nothing new.
Admiral Pouaitiue, who had Just rctTrn,d
from the Eastern Seas, had received u high
decoration and a large pension for the sue
cess Of his mission to tho Emperor Of ia.
pan, and the skill with which lie cluded the
British and French cruisers, who had cap
turcd none Of his vessels. II appears that
he was on board the Danish merchant brig
lately seized by the allies, but contrived 10
escape in Il boat hastily constructed under
MS OWN hIttNlblS. III l4llN, u - ullAENI, iA'
was subsequently, during darkness, il close
contact with her majcsty'S ship, Blttern,
and other cruisers, a light having actually
been shown on one occasion TO warn him Of
his proximity. Being sufficiently near to
hear the word of command given on board,
he had his papers ballasted to be sunk, but
ultimately succeeded in escaping, although
several shots were fired at him.
THE LATEST.
Iron the Par. correspondent, NJ the London postse
cnud edition, Dec, II
The best information in my possession at
the present moment, as to the peace ques-
ton, is this Russia has not officially COM
misSionrd, or countenanced, any PROPOSE
tons. Austrian diplomacy has made Sug
gcs,ions, which have been submitted to Pa
rls and London. The Cabinets of France
and England have requested that the said
propositions OF peace should be stated more
clearly, and that they should also be fully
sanctioned by Russia, before any attempt is
made at negotiation. At this stage Of the
affair, Austria is supposed to have commu'
| nicatcd with St. Petersburg, and so the
matter remains.
/ Meanwhile every little German Court is
! busy in talking, and the large ones in writ
| ing. You must expect to hear the move.
mcnts Of German diplomatic gentlemen con.
vertcd into "missionn We are at a period
when the public read with great interest a
romantic ewspapcr-literatur founded on
fiction. Russia is making immense prcpara'
tons for n spring campaign; the Allies are
doing the same. The governments o
France and England arc perfectly agreed
Such is the data on which the public may
really speculate with the probability of ar
irving at correct conclusions) if they care
not to be deceived by the exaggerated i'm
portancc which is given 20 the most shadowy
hopes OF peace.
THE SEw ENGLISH MINISTER FOR AMERICA
From the London Herald, Dec ~
Several of the leading American papers
received by last mail--tEe organs alike o
the party in Office and the opposition--nam,
one or two Englishmen as the probable sue
cessor of Mr. Champion at Washington, il
the event of the enlistment unpleasantnesI
leading to his recall, which appears to b,
regarded MS a matter of course. One o
these is Mr.. Mathews our consul at Phila
dclphia, implicated in the accusation of tn,
Russian agent for such the informer ayows
himself TO be. The other is Sir W. Cor,
Ouscley, X. c. B. Both these gentlemen
are highly esteemed in the States, and th
appointment of either would doubtless b,
received with great satisfaction Throughout
the Union ms "a pledge Of the pacific intcu
tons of the British government. Mr.. Ma
thews, or Governor Mathews, as he is Gale,
in the States. in consequence of his hayin,
! A. Al II.