The Portland daily press., 1878-02-01

peace negotiations will be entered into on the
basis of the preliminaries accepted by the Porte.
There is nothing improbable in this The pre-
liminary questions are SO general and elastic
that they will receive their real Specification by
their definition in the final peace instrument.
They may be made infinitely harder than they
are already, or else softened down so as to leave
Turkey the semblance of existence as an Euro
pean power. He would be bold man who
even now would venture to affirm what will ul-
timately best suit the purposes of Russia,
whether she will aim at a radical solution or
merely prepare the way for it. Much will
doubtless depend on the course of the poaTpa5.
tsrs with individual powers which are now 60
ing on, simultaneously with the negotiations
with Turkey, or whether Russia may think it
more advantageous to crush Turkey or protect
her. An armistice with fixed date would
certainly be more in the way than that sort of
suspension of hostilities which seems for the
moment to exist, but which Russia may put an
end to any moment she likes.
Russia continues to concentrate her troops at
Adrianople. There is appalling suffering in
Constantinople. The city is full of starving
refugees, an1 the Circassians are plundering the
villages about. Austria is said to object to
some of the peace terms There is great excite
ment in England. The British fleet was Or
dered into the straits last week, but Lords
Derby and Carnovan left the cabinet and the
order was revoked. Derby then returned.
The war feeling is on the increase in Greece.
Thessaly is in full revolt.
OTHER FOREIGN NEWS.
American securities are depressed in London
by the probability of the passage of the Bland
bill,
There is rumor that Spain is to assume the
protectorate of San Domingo.
The Pope is said to be failing again.
An appalling famine RACES throughout the
four provinces of Northern China, where 5000.
600 people are reported destitute Children are
daily sold in the markets for food. The foreign
relief committee appeals to America and Eng
land for assistance.
The leaders of the Protestant organizations
of London are much pleased at the Vatican's
supposed abandonment of the Scottish hierarchy
scheme. 1t is said the scheme was abandoned
because of the steps taken to enforce the Scot
fish laws against Papal jurisdiction.
The Austrian ministry has resigned on &C.
count of the opposition of the lower honse on
the question of custom duties.
BRIEF MENTION.
About forty polygamous marriages were
performed at Salt Lake Frlday.--The popu-
lar subscription to the per cent. loan amounts
to $1,000, 0O0.--It is stated that Congress will
not adopt the report of the Fishery Commits
sion awarding $5,OOO,OO0 to Canada.-GoV.
Handro6c IF Tp1i hoo ,,,E q
remonetizing silver.--Rev. DR.. Stephen q.
Tying of New York retires from the ministry on
the first of May. He has been pastor of his
present society thirty three years.--Senator
Don Cameron gave magnificent reception at
the Union Republican Club rooms in Philadel-
pha Saturday night Thirteen of the eight
cen banks composing the Chicago clearing
house protest against the passage of the Bland
bill.--The committee of finance of the Mas
sachusetts Legislature has reported bill de-
claring the whole State debt payable in gold
The cigar-makers' strike in New York has COL
lapsed and 5000 workmen are out of employ
ment-The will of the late Samuel Bowles
bequeathes to his wife $4,000 and to Miss Ala
thea Easton, her companion and housekeeper
for thirty years, $4,000. Mrs. Bowles is also
given the personal property of his late home.
All the remainder of his estate is bequeathed
in trust to his son Samuel Bowles and Charles
Allen of Boston who are to dispose of it as they
see fit and make full or partial distribution Of
1t among the heirs.--Ffank Leslie, the pub
Usher, has been arrested for libel.--The Treas
ury Department has decided that printed mat
ter other than newspapers received from foreign
part scan be delivered to the collector of Gus
toms to collect duty of 35 per cent.