Furrigu anti egilltnal.

,frattrf.—The Council of War sat for the last time at Paris on Mon- day. Each member gave in a report of his views and recommendations. On the same night, the Duke of Cambridge, General La Marmora, Gene- ral Ahty, Sir Harry Jones, Admiral Lyons, and Admiral Dundas, left Paris for England. The Caradoc is in the port of Marseilles awaiting the return of Sir Edmund Lyons.

Lord Cowley, the British Ambasaaclor, on Wednesday evening invested a select number of French naval and military officers with the Order of the Bath. Sir Colin Campbell, Sir A. Woodford, and Colonel Claremont, her Majesty's Military Commissioner, were present on this occasion. The whole party, together with all the Knights of the Bath who hap- pened to be in Paris, were invited to dine afterwards at the Embassy. The following is the list of the French officers who have received this honour.

"Knights Grand Cross.—Pierre Joseph Francois Boaquet, General of Division ; Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely, General of Division. "Knights Conimanders.—E. C. de Martimprey, General of Division ; Adolphe Niel, General of Engineers ; Joseph Dmlac, General of Infantry; J.B. C. Delesme, General of Infantry ; Count Amirel (Navy) ; E. Mellinet, General of Division.

" Companions.—R. C. M. Espinasse, General of Division ; R. Paris de la Bollardiere ; J. J. Gaston Cler, General of Brigade ; C. F. L. de Lorencz, General of Brigade ; Castor de Champeron, General of Brigade ; Yelrin do Belville, General of Brigade ; A. C. F. J. Mameque, General of Brigade"; A. C. V. Reille, Lieutenant-Colonel ; J. E. M. Forgeot, General of Brigade ; Luis Desuleau de Milroy, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Noel Comiguan, Colonel ; Palthes de Bomret, Colonel ; Felix Charles lousy, Colonel ; J. F. Gagneur, Lieutenant-Colonel; L. P. A. Pothuau, Captain of Navy ; G. de Roadie- boat, Colonel of Artillery."

Among the absurd reports circulated in Paris, was one that Marshal Pelissier had been instructed to suspend hostilities.

Errittan4.—A vast amount of speculations, but few facts, have been thrown before the public since Thursdayweek, when the telegraph noti- lied the acceptance of the Austrian proposals by the Russian Govern- ment. Matters have not advanced farm the interim, Nor could they, becanse the post is ribt so swift as the telegraph. Before any steps can be taken, the Cabinet of Vienna will harts to receive its official despatches -from Count Esterliazy, eónuisunicaj, the particulars if the Russian acceptance ; it will then have to ad fhb Cabinets of Paris and Lon- don, informing theni of what has oec d . upon that they will have to deliberate and come to a resolution. The protocol signed by Count Es-

• terhazy and Count Nesselrode, recording the acceptance of the Austrian proposals, was sent from St. Petersburg to Prince Gortsebakoff on the 18th, two days after it was signed. The Conferences, it is said, will not take place at London, Paris, or Vienna, but at Dresden. Prussia, it is said, has put in a claim to be represented at these Conferences ; basing that claim on the pressure she applied at the last moment to the Court of St. Petersburg. When the news arrived at Vienna that the proposals had been accept. ecl, a grand ball was in progress at the Imperial Court. A letter from Vienna states that, "soon after entering the ball-room with the Em- press, the Emperor said to the fashionable assembly, 'We have received

good news ; Russia concedes all.' At these words, the sounds of the orchestra were forgotten, and the Emperor, going up to Baron de Bruck, complimented him in so marked a manner that everybody pressed in the same direction to express to our Necker the sincere joy caused by a denouement which must act most fortunately for his department.' " According to a telegraphic message, the Austrian journals received or- ders to express their confidence that the negotiations will lead to a treaty. The _Donau, for 'expressing doubts of their successful termination, was seized and confiscated.

Among the many rumours afloat, there is one having its origin in Paris, to the effect that had not Russia accepted the propositions, Austria would have signed a military convention with England and France. The writer, after making this statement, sketches the plan of the cam- paign which would have been pursued.

"An independent kingdom of Poland was to be erected ; composed of Posen, (for millet the permission of Prussia would not have been asked,) Gallieia, and all that part of Poland now held by Russia. At the head of this new state an Austrian Archduke was to be placed ; and, in addition to this inducement, Austria was to be indemnified with the annexation of the Danubian Principalities, perhaps with the nominal suzerainty of the Sul- tan. The Italian Duchies were at first to be given to Piedmont, but Lom- bardy was not to be touched. This, however, Austria would not listen to, and she resisted any change whatever in Italy. The campaign, for which England was well prepared, was to comprise the complete destruction of Cronstadt, that of the Russian fleet, and the occupation of the provinces

contiguous. We were to avoid repeating the great mistake of the first Na- peleou ; we should not have penetrated into Russia, and our head-quarters for the next winter would have been Warsaw. If Russia still held out, and refused the conditions which success would have entitled us to expect, St. Petersburg would be taken, Finland restored to Sweden, in recompense for her cooperation, and Russia would be deprived for an incalculable period of the power to intimidate or attack the weakest state."

It is worthy of remark that the Paris correspondent of Le Nord in- forms that journal that Baron Seebach made a similar statement to Count Nesselrode ! Probably both rumours have a common origin, and are both equally trustworthy.

CO 5 1 i ff.—The Journal des Debate of Wednesday published a long account of the share Prussia has had in determining the acceptance of the Austrian conditions. It states that Colonel Manteuffel went to Vienna to demand explanations on several points,—whether Austria would fulfil her offensive and defensive treaty with Prussia in case Prussia were attacked or her ports blockaded ; whether Prussia would be excluded from the negotiations if she did not conform her policy to that of Austria. He was also directed to represent to Austria the rigour of the conditions imposed upon Russia, and to declare that although the King did not wish to accept solidarite, he would not less exert himself with the Emperor Alexander in the sense of the reestablishment of peace. While he was obtaining explanations on these points, it is stated that the King of Prussia learned that Austria would really join the Western Powers in the spring, invade Russia, restore Poland, and dictate peace from Warsaw. Thereu n, so runs the story, the King communicated the intelligence to the •peror of Ru.ssia, and urgently advised him to accept the Austrian proposals without reserve. "At the same time," continues the _Debate, he declared "that for his own part it would be out of his power to allow of Prussia's running such terrible risks, and that he should be obliged to modify his policy by placing it more in harmony with that of the Western Powers. They talk at Berlin of two very pressing letters written by the King in this sense, one to the Emperor Alexander, the other to the Grand Duke Constantine, both of them couched in terms calculated to produce on the Emperor and his brother a salutary impression. They say, too, that the King of Prussia's message arrived at St. Petersburg at the very moment when the non-success was being di- vulged, as contained in Count Nesselrode's reply to Count Esterhazy's com- munication; and the order sent to this Minister to leave St. Petersburg on the 18th with the entire staff of his Embassy, if he should not have received lay then a formal and unconditional acceptance from the Russian Cabinet. The King of Prussia's letters explaining the motives that actuated Austria threw light also on that power's conduct, in so far as it was obscute to Rus- sia's perception. The advice tendered by M. de Seebaeh was recalled to mind by Count Nesselrode and the Emperor Alexander. All these circum- stances skilfully arrayed by Count Nesselrode, struck even the most decided partisans of the war, the most declared antagonists of peace. The Emperor adhered, with the unanimous assent, they say., of the Council of the-Em- pire to those very conditions which they had declared to be unacceptable a few 'days before."

The -Prince Regent of Baden married, last week, the Princess Louisa of Prussia • arid all Berlin was for several days plunged in gayeties— dinners, balls, levees, and a plentiful distribution of ribands and stars.

1155i I.—The Morning Post states that authentic intelligence has been received in London from St. Petersburg, to the effect that on the 18th instant the Emperor Alexander sent an order to the Crimea com- manding the Russian Generals to suspend hostilities; and adds, that "this important public step argues the sincerity of Russia's desire for peace."

Some telegraphic despatches afford all the light we have on the spirit in which Russia, according to her own organs, has accepted the propo- sitions.

" St. Petersburg, .Tan. 21.—The Journal de St. Petersboury says, that out of consideration for the general wish of Europe, the Russian Govern- ment has not sought to impede the work of reconciliation by accessory nego- tiations, in the hope that due account will be taken of its moderation," "Berlin, Jan. 23.—M. de Budberg, has this day received a circular from Count Nessehrode, by which the Chancellor makes known to the representa- tives of Russia in foreign countries the motive for accepting the proposi- tions of Austria, and gives an expose of the intentions of the Russian Go- vernment in reference to the future negotiations. The circular of the Russian Government declares that Russia has made concessions, with a view to the reestablishment of peace, out of deference to the representations of friendly Powers, but not at all because the interest of Russia calls for the conclusion of that peace."

"Berlin, Wednesday.—The acceptance of the Austrian propositions has been published officially at St. Petersburg. The announcement states, that the chief condition is the neutralization of the Black Sea, to be secured by a treaty between Russia and Turkey. Russia is ready to dismiss the other points."

The indipendance Beige gives some details respecting the first inter- view between Baron Seebach and the Emperor Alexander. They may be apocryphal, but if so they are well got up.

On seeing the Baron, the -Emperor exclaimed, 'What grave events have

pawed since we last saw each other !' and then threw himself into his visit- or's arms. His Majesty for some time showed much emotion, and spoke of his father, his childhood, and of the calmer times when he had known M. Seebach. In speaking of his father, tears ran down his cheeks. But, re- covering hirerrelf with a dignity truly imperial, he observed, But we have to speak of more serious matters. Ala! you are not come hoping to weaken me r The Emperor then expressed himself with great clearness upon the reasons which rendered the establishment of peace desirable, but also upon his duties as the sovereign of Russia, and the difficulties and exigencies of the situation. 'My noblesse,' said he, are not prepared to bow the head. I do not deceive myself upon the gravity of the events in the Crimea, nor upon the possible results of an attack in the Baltic ; but, believe me, what- ever may be the situation, and whatever may be likely to arrive, it is much more difficult for me at this moment to make peace than to continue the war. I encounter in deciding for war ten times less resistance amongst my noblesse and my people.'" The disease which has prostrated Prince Paskiewiteh, cancer of the breast, has been pronounced incurable ; and the journals speculate on his successor. Prince Gortschakofc Prince Woronzof, M. Kisselef, and Count Krasinsky, are severally named. Again, it is said that the Arch- duke Constantine will take the government as Viceroy; but many think no viceroyalty will be maintained. Some journals state positively that Prince Gortschakoff has been superseded by General Lfiders, and that he is on his way to Warsaw.

Russia is building six heavy frigates and twenty steam gun-boats, at Archangel.

SO ! S I1.—British steamers are in the Baltic looking out for vessels supposed to be laden with munitions of war and trying to make the Russian ports.

The conferences on the Sound Dues were formally opened at Stock- holm on the 4th. There were present the representatives of twelve different states. The noticeable fact that occurred is, that M. Tengo- borski, the Russian representative, stated that Russia was against the abolition of the dues. The conference adjourned for a month, in order that a statement of the receipts of Denmark from 1840 to 1847 may be produced.

trintra.—The little movement that is recorded in the letters from the seat of war relates to the blowing-up of the docks, the outpost skirmishes, and the military snowballing matches. The process of blow- ing-up the docks is a very slow one but in each of the three docks whose destruction is intrusted to the English, portions have been blown out of their place. The charges were fired by electricity. The simul- taneous explosion of the mines in all the docks was rendered impossible by the entrance of water into the -mines and galleries. The sounds of the various explosions scarcely reached the camp, and those who heard them mistook them for the fire of the Russians from the North side. It is stated that steps will be taken to blow-up the sunken ships ; but how that is to be accomplished under the fire of the Northern forts remains to be seen.

The outpost skirmishes are devoid of importance ; but the Russians, as usual, claim the victory in these petty encounters. Prince Gortscha- koff reports that a portion of the garrison of Eupatoria made a reconnais- sance on the 31st December in the direction of Chobotar. During their retreat a captain of the French staff was captured by the Cossacks. The combats with snowballs were conducted on a large scale. In one battle between two brigades of the Light Division, fourteen officers were captured, and only set at liberty on the payment of half-a-crown each ; and many men, whose ransom was a penny. One combat was so furious that the Brigade-Major was compelled to interfere. Sir William Codrington had issurig an "after order of the day" in- forming the army of the steps taken in England to raise the Nightingale Fund, inviting the whole army to contribute, and promieine forms own part to give a day's pay, on the 6th of January.

The health of the army continues excellent. The Medical Officers of the First Division have established a "Military Medical and Surgical Society," for the purpose of discussing subjects connected with military surgery. The society was to meet and hear papers every Thursday. The chairman of the meeting, Dr. Williams, attributed the failure of the ambulance corps to the fact that the military surgeons and medical officers of the army had not been consulted respecting its details and its supposed improvements.

As it came to the knowledge of Sir William Codrington that -certain hospital huts were not weather-proof, and further, that the commanding- officer was not supplied with the means of making them so, the General addressed a letter to Dr. Hall, in which he made some interesting re- marks on the alleged relation between the medical and the military officers.

" The moment there is a difficulty, an evil to be remedied, plenty of de- mands and representations are made by the medical officers that they want this, and that they cannot get the other ; they come to you, you come to me, &e. I wish the regimental medical officers to consider themselves part of the regiments ; to identify themselies with their commanding-officers; to share the weal and as little of the a-o as they can with their regiments, and not to consider themselves as a separate department of the army. They are essentially part of the regiment ; and I am quite sure that when they make themselves so in feeling, spirit, and practice, they get more advantage for the sick under their charge than by an attempt to separate themselves from it."

Sir William wished it to be known that the Generals of Division are willing to receive suggestions from the medical men and Dr. Hall, in commurticating this view to the surgeons, requests that they will inform him whether they have found "commanding-officers as willing to listen to and anxious to carry out the suggestions of medical officers as Sit William seems to think they are."

Excellent news has been received from Kertch respecting the efficient state of the whole of the troops there. Fuel only was scanty. They were quite prepared for any attack.

The Military Gazette of Vienna, a decided partisan of Russia, insinu- ates that things are not as they should be in the Russian army. "We are inclined to attribute the complaisance of Russia to the energy of our Government, and will therefore not attach too much importance to com- munications received from the Crimea, in which it is hinted that the spirit of the troops is such as to give cause for well-founded alarm. We must suppose that our correspondent lens judged of the feeling of the whole armY from the conduct of a small part of it, as we have the highest -possible opinion of the discipline of the Russian troops." The news from Rinburn is to the effect that the Russians had 30,000 raen in echelon between Petrosska and Oktchakoff, and that in conse- quence fears were entertained of an attack on the fortress of ICinburn. The garrison had been reinforced by troops under the command of Gene- ral Lebreuf. The flotilla was frozen in, but would aid in the defence if the Russians should attempt the place.

ttakni.—A statement has reached the public from Constantinople which may be correct but which certainly requires confirmation. It is this—that General Mouravieff, after destroying the advanced works round Kars, had retired with the bulk of his army to Gumri. At the same time, a French journal states that, leaving a garrison in Kars, and sending the captured material to Gumri, the Russian General had moved upon Erzeroum. At the latter place things were not pleasant. Half-starved and frost- bitten men from Kars continued to drop in. Up to the 24th December, only 800 men had come up from Trebizond. Selim Pasha, neglecting to withdraw a large depr3t of provisions from Obi, they had fallen into the hands of the Russians. The snow was deep, and military movements impracticable. At Trebizond there were 15,000 troops chiefly Egyp- tians from Eupatoria ; but as few preparations had been Lade to receive them, they were suffering greatly, especially those on the march for Kars.

The Invalids Rune states that General Kosloffski has succeeded in keeping in check the Cireassians on the Upper Kouban, and in prevent- ing Schamyl from cooperating with Omar Pasha.

Conferences have been held at Constantinople to adjust the first and fourth points relating to the Principalities. The persona who took part in these conferences were Aali Pasha, Grand Vizier ; Fuad Pasha, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Prince Callimaki, M. Thouvenel, Lord Stratford de Recleliffe, and Baron de Prokesch.

13trola.—The following telegraphic despatch has been published this week.

" Constantinople, Ian. 10.—The rupture of relations between Persia and England is confirmed. The Shah has declined the mediation of France. Immediately after learning the fall of Kara, Mr. Murray, on his part, de- clined to make any concession, and quitted Teheran with the whole of the English Legation. On the 6th December he arrived at Siena, near Mona- soul."

The ostensible cause of the rupture was the ill treatment of a Persian servant of the Embassy. A second telegraphic message from Constantinople, under date Jan- uary 14, gives the following as the text of the ultimatum addressed by Mr. Murray to the Court of Portia—

"1. The Government shall restore to liberty the Princess, wife of Mirza. 2. That it shall acknowledge Mfiza as Consul for the Queen of England. 3. That the Prime Minister of the Shalt shall proceed to the residence of the English Embassy, offer an apology, and withdraw his offensive note."

It is also stated that "Mr. Murray, in spite of some resistance, has left an agent at Teheran and has threatened to support him by an Eng- lish fleet in the Persian Gulf."

±I4.—The struggle between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities in Lombardo-Venetia is carried on with great vigour. The Bishops, it may be remembered, issued orders censuring the press and iumouncmg their intention to enforce with unrelenting rigour the prohibitions of the Con- cordat against literature. The civil authorities seem to have resented this assumption of power; for the Minister of Public Instruction, having fruitlessly invited the Bishops to retract their censures and orders, Marshal R.adotzky has issued a decree declaring them to be null and of no effect. He has also permitted the Milan Gazette to prints remarkable article on the subject, which contains these very decided expressions of the views that it suits the Austrian Government in Lombardy to put for- ward at this moment—

"In the Concordat it was said that the privileges of the Roman Catholic religion should be inviolate, but nothing more. Besides, now-a-days, the Popes could not, if they would, endanger the independence of dates. Let us, however, suppose the worst—let us suppose that the clergy, by means of book and ban, should endeavour to overcome the bayonet and the adminis- trative organization—would the attempt succeed ? We doubt it ; for eccle- siastical authority can eflOct little if justice is not with it and the people be- hind it. The times are past in which a clerical ordinance or the stake could annihilate a book or an idea. The press can produce thousands and thou- sands of copies of a work, and if it is suppressed in one place it is sure to appear in another. As the dungeon and the rack cannot now be weapons in the hands of the Church, thoughts must in future be combated by thoughts, and arguments by arguments.' -

In reference to the anticipated Peace Conferences, the Sardinian Min- ister for Foreign Affairs stated in the Chamber of Deputies, on the 21st instant, that the right of intervention on the part of Sardinia. had been re- cognized by the Western Powers, and also by Austria ; and that the country would be represented by "a man deserving of its unlimited con- fidence, '—which is understood to mean Massimo d'Azeglio. This state- ment was made in the discussion on the estimates for the Foreign Office, in response to a very generally expressed anxiety amongst the Deputies en the subject.