NEWS OF THE WEEK.
NEGOTIATION appears to be gaining ground towards the settlement of the Russo-Turkish question ; but appearances scarcely less au-
thentic or conclusive than official documents throw considerable doubt upon the honest approach towards a just settlement. M. Drouyn de Lhuys has issued a circular note in answer to the se- cond note of Count Nesselrode; and the new reply is marked by all the clearness, closeness, and force of the pen that com- posed it. The French Minister demolishes the Russian pretence that the previously decided occupation of the Principalities was a set-off against the advance of the French and English fleet to Ilesika Bay ; and while Count Nesselrode's public notes refer to the question of the Holy Places as the one on which Russia is still proceeding, the reply shows that the very same Minister and the Russian Ambassador at Paris had spoken of the question of the
Holy Places as "happily closed." At the same time though M. Drouyn de Lhuys renews the declaration that the general interest of the world precludes the admission uf a dootrine that powerful states can use means of oppression towards weak states which are their
neighbours, he repeats, that the French Government does not abandon the search for a means of reconciling Russia and Turkey. The conciliatory view is pursued in a non-official article in the Pays,
—a paper more elaborately hinting a desire on the part of Louis Napoleon, the supposed author, for making it up with the Emperor Nicholas. This looks as if, while N. Drouyn de Lhuys was main-
taining the sterner dignity of France before the world, M. de is Guerronniere were sent with a private hint to the Russian Em- peror that his dignity would not be hurt by being as conciliatory as he has been before. Reports from St. Petersburg announce the arrival of one of the many propositions made to Russia, with a reception so favourable that the hopes of peace are very strong ; other reports announce the rejection of those proposals, with a counter-proposal; but in fact no authentic) information has arrived. The one thing certain is, that by these further negotiations Russia is gaining time; during which Turkey is feeling the full force of her own internal weaknesses, of which there are only too many signs. A conspiracy, apparently led by certain ecclesiastical students in Constantinople had been discovered. Its object was to dethrone Abd-ul-Medjid and to replace him by Abd-ul-Asis his brother ; who is presumed to be more favourable to the high Mus- sulman party. The conspiracy was strangled with the bowstring, in the persons of the leaders. Shortly after, the Sultan dismissed Redschid Pasha and his col- °agues, and caned to his council as Minister Ali Pasha ; who was again obliged to vacate office for Redschid Pasha in a few hours. There are circumstances besides vacillation which mark the un- fortunate character of this proceeding. Redschid has managed the negotiations on the part of Turkey with very great ability : he is at once the stronghold of the Divan in its diplomatic storms, and a stronghold also against the reactionary bigotries of the M us- sulmans ; and if it was bad to displace Redsohid Pasha, Ali Pasha was the very worst man to select in the whole Turkish dominions, since he had just been recalled from Smyrna for a weakness and vacillation of conduct which had complicated the Turkish Govern- ment with Austria. He had agreed to give up to the Austrian Consul a returned Hungarian refugee, Kossta ; and his delays in doing so appear to have led to the dispute, in the course of which
Kossta was seized by an Austrian sea-captain, the Austrian of- ficer had a serious quarrel with an American officer, and in a riot an Austrian midshipman was killed. It is a detriment to Turkey that All Pasha should have been Minister even for an hour.
