Diplomatic statements totally supersede the interest of the foreign news
this morning. The papers laid before Parliament last night com- prise six letters,-by Count. Nesselrode, Baron Brunnow, and by Lord Clarendon to the Baron and to Sir IIamilton Seymour. Instructed by the Russian Chancellor, Baron Brunnow asks whether, in the oc- cupation of the Black Sea by the combined fleet, the conditions en- forced upon the belligerent powers are to be exactly epal ; whether, if Turkish Vessels may convey reinfoicements to Turkish ports in Asia, Russia is freely to convey reinforcements to Russian ports in Asia ? The eases, replies. Lord Clarendon, are not equal : Turkey is the weaker power, and is assailed ; and her Majesty's Ministers stand upon the basis of upholding the integrity of the Ottoman empire. Count Nesselrode backs his question by a threatening regret that a chance collision might bring on "a general conflagration," and the .Emperor, "disclaims the responsibility of the /irst step which shall hive given the signal for it." Lord Clarendon repels this insinuation. Her Majesty's Government, he says, indulge a hope that peace might yet be negotiated "upon the reasonable terms proposed by the Porte for the acceptance of Russia" ; but, in a letter to Sir Hamilton Se3nioirr, he observes that Russia has forgotten the origin of the quarrel : the Emperor cannot throw. qff the responsibility, who. in time of profound peace first invaded the territory of his unoffending neighbour." Baron Brunnow retreats from diplonnitie intercourse ; and Sir Hamilton Seymour is instructed to do the like.
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