NEWS OF THE WEEK.
WAR against Russia has been formally declared by the Queen in Council, and a Boyd Message to Parliament and the London Ga- zette have notified the fact to the whole world ; the Declaration being followed up with 'Orders in Council and other necessary di- rections to regulate the conduct of the war. Thus, the state of warfare, which we have been accustomed to consider as virtually -subsisting for some time, now exists in form and a new impulse must be given to final action. Amongst the official papers laid before Parliament has been a further supply of the Correspondence on the subject' of the negotiations, bringing it down to the latest point, and we have the story completed from the raission of Count Orloff to the present moment.
At the end - of Sanitary last, Count Orloff conveyed to the Austrian Government those .propositions for the new basis of ne- gotiating peace which the Conference of the Four Powers unani- mously declared to be inadmissible, as being inconsistent with the twice-recorded determinations of the Four Powers and with the sovereign rights of Turkey. These propositions were ac- companied by a special proposal on the part of Russia, that the Emperor of Austria should engage .himself to observe a strict neu- trahty ; and when the Emperor Francis Joseph asked whether the Czar on his part would enter into engagements calculated to limit -the war, the Count replied that his master "could take no engage- ment." The Emperor of Austria was naturally startled at this proposal to bind him, advanced by a Power which declined to be ,Sound; and the proposal having been declined, an immediate in- crease to the Austrian army on the Transylvanian frontier was followed by a suggestion from Count Buol to the Western Powers that a delay for the evacuation of the Principalities should be allowed, with a warning of hostilities at the expiration of that time. Lord Clarendon's requisition to the Emperor Nicholas, therefore, was made on the suggestion of Count Buol, as well as on the urgent advice of M. Drouyn de Lhuys. Ms note to Count Nesselrode was dated on the 27th of February, and the messenger conveying it was instructed to call at Berlin for the purpose of obtaining the adherence of Prussia. After submitting to some delay, however, acting on his discretion, Lord Bloomfield sent the messenger for- ward, without waiting for King Frederick William to make up his mind; a process which ultimately resulted in a promise from Prussia that the King would separately support the claim of the Western Powers. In the absence of an Ambassador, the duty of presenting the note to Count Nesselrode devolved upon the British 'Consul, Mr. Michele; who will be recognized in London as the former manager, of one of our leading Journals, and whose note, with its circumstantial precision and its graphic indications, does credit to his professional training. Chancellor Nesselrode was cour- teous and cordial ; but his Emperor took six days to think over the very brief answer which closed the negotiations between the Western Powers and Russia—" The Emperor does not judge it 'befitting to give any answer to the letter of Lord Clarendon." The despatch from Mr. Michele, dated On the 19th of March, was re- newed on Saturday last. Ou Monday, the Queen sent down to Parliament a message stating that the negotiations with Russia had been terminated, and that her Majesty relied on Parliament and "on the exertions of her brave and loyal subjects, to support her in her determination to employ the power and resources of the nation for protecting the dominions of the Sultan against the encroachments of Russia. A Supplement to Tuesday's Gazette contained the formal declaration of the war ; and a second Supplement contained orders in Council which we have already mentioned. In the composition of these documents, precedent has been studiously observed, in some cases to the very form of words. Yet their tone and purport are distinguished by innovations of a kind to mark the influence of a new order of ideas upon a revived course of action. The declaration of war is given in language exceedingly plain, perfectly intelligible, and so honestly framed that it must com- mand the instant assent of every man in the country. The very frankness and simplicity_ are an innovation. Still more re- markable is the use of such expressions as that in which the Queen appeals to "the sympathies of her people with right against wrong," and where she avows the desire to save Europe from a power which "defies the opinion of the civilized world." The ex- pressions at once imply a nationality of objects and the acknow- ledgment of intellectual responsibilities in the Crown to the people, which attest the power of the people and the broadly- grounded stability of our throne. In the Gazette containing the declaration of war was a de- claration that the property of neutrals at sea will be respected, and that it is not the intention of the Queen to issue letters of marque. The other regulations are conceived in the same spirit of liberality. •Time is allowed for Russian ships to clear out; and a generous feeling is shown in the distribution of prize-money among the different ranks of men engaged. It has been remarked that these concessions to advancing in- formation are imperfect ; that, for example, the Queen only de- clares her "present" intention not to issue letters of marque, while the right of search is maintained in all its old force. But we must remember that it would be impossible, in half a dozen formal documents newly issued on such an occasion, to include all the reforms that can be introduced into international relations during a state of war. Rights as they already exist, and have been interpreted authoritatively, by this country, are marked ; but a spirit of generous reform is already introduced, and as subse- quent occasion offers there is no doubt that the efficiency which England will be able to throw into the conteat will be accompanied and adorned by greatly increased generosity towards friendly powers, neutrals, and commerce.
It is an important guarantee for these reforms, that in one of them America has set the example ; and that in the new regula- tions there is that perfect accord with France which has continued throughout, and which is recognized in the mingled cheers of the soldiery when they meet, not as enemies, but as brothers in arms.
