liar* nith

,f r SUM—Since it has been determined, at the request of England and Russia, so says gossip rumour, to hold the peace conference—" con- gress" the French papers call it—at Paris' the eyes of the world will be turned from the Austrian to the French capital. The course of pro- ceeding, as at present indicated, will begin—it may have begun already —with the signature of a protocol by the representatives of France, Eng- land, Austria, Turkey, and Russia, recording the fact of the acceptance of the Austrian proposals by Russia. The protocol will provide for the opening of the conferences and stipulate that they shall commence with- in three weeks from the latest signature of the.protocel. The arrival of the day of meeting depends on the speed with which the special envoy of the Porte travels from Constantinople to Paris. The earliest day mentioned in the journals for the first sitting of the conferences ia the 17th February, but it is thought probable that it will be later. The representatives of the different nations will be Lord Clarendon and Lord Cowley for England ; M. d'Azeglio for Sardinia ; perhaps Count Orloff and Baron Brunow for Russia ; N. de Hubner or Prince Lichtenstein and Count Buol for Austria' Baron de Bourqueney and Count Walewski for France ; Mehemed Djemil Bey and Fuad Effendi for Turkey. It is positively stated by an English Ministerial journal that Prussia will nut be admitted to the conferences ; but the French journals affect to regard the matter as doubtful.

The Parisians high and low, are described as in eestacies at the ap- proach of peace, which they regard as certain. " Embrassons nous et quo ea finisse," says a correspondent, "is the universal mot d'ordre." The trade of Paris has revived under these delightful anticipations. But there is a death's-head at the feast. M. de Sacy, the eminent writer in the Journal des Dards, has published a statement which has drawn much attention and checked some joy. He says that Russia takes a view of the fifth point that will cause considerable difficultiem "At Berlin," he writes, "they consider as accessory questions, those which flow from the principle laid down in the fifth clause of the Austrian memorandum. Russia has accepted this clause like the i others, on the lin' derstanding that, in its quality eta belligerent power, Russia s comprised in the reserve of the right to produce in an European interest some spFcial conditions in addition to the four guarantees.' This right belongs to it, it says, as it belongs to France, England, Turkey, and Sardinia, which are also belligerent powers ; while it cannot be claimed by Austria and Sweden, allied powers which have taken no part in the war, nor by Prussia, a neu- tral power. This at least,' say our correspondents, is how the Cabinet, of St. Petersburg understands the fifth clause. If this interpretation were admitted, what would result but the neutralization of the clause by contrail pretensions ? Suppose that England and Turkey seek to gain an advantete

over Russia, Russia in its turn will not fail to seek to overreach England and Turkey.'"

M. de Larochejaquelin has published a pamphlet called "the Question of the Day," in which he endeavours to demonstrate the necessity for peace, by the following reasons-1. The object of the war, the protec- tion of the Ottoman empire, is attained. 2. The continuation of the war will have no other result than to serve the personal interests of Eng- land. 3. England wishes to achieve the complete destruction of the Russian navy ; but that is not the interest of France, for the latter may one day need the cooperation of the Ruaaian fleet. 4. Russia ought to be allowed to develop her power freely in Asia." M. de Larochejacque- lin is a Senator.

The Paris correspondent of the Daily Yews tells a story to account for the reluctant assent given by the English Government to the Austrian propositions. He tells it with "all due reserve," because it has reached him from a better source than mere common rumour," and because it seems to throw a light on the complicated situation. "It is said, then, that, so long ago as the end of last autumn, Austria was pressing the Allies to consent to a peace upon terms very much the same as those recently accepted at St. Petersburg. A draught of these terms was sent to Paris, and was there so far favourably received that the French Go- vernment undertook to forward. them to London for consideration. The answer from England was a peremptory negative. Lord Palmerston's Go- vernment then thought that these ternis fell far short of what the Allies ought to demand, both as the legitimate result of the success of their arms and with a view to security from future aggressions of Russia. On the receipt of this answer, the Emperor Napoleon's Minister for Foreign Affairs forwarded a despatch which may be shortly translated as 'What next ? and next?' No attempt was made to controvert the English arguments Os to the insufficiency- of the Austrian suggestions. The language used in reply was full of courtesy, friendliness, and even deference. But, it was pointedly observed, if these Austrian propositions be not accepted, ee sera La guerre a l'outrance ; the war will assume proportions not contemplated at first; a new understanding must be come to ; and the original stipulation that neither France nor England was to gain any private advantage as the result of the war must be reconsidered. England, it was either said or in- sinuated, may think the destruction of a rival naval power in the Baltic a sufficient compensation for her sacrifices ; but France has no interest in such a consummation, and indeed many Frenchmen think her interest Res the other way. The sum of this communication, as I hear it described, was that France by no means refused to go on with the war on the scale which would be necessary for the next campaign, but that at this point of the dis- cussion she would be glad to know what she was to get by it, and how far she might calculate upon the support of England in asserting her legitimate claims to consideration whenever peace should be made. The English Cabinet cannot have been very much surprised at this diplomatic sortie on the part of France, because they must have known that the extension of the French frontier to the Rhine has long been the favourite topic of conversa- tion in every barrack in France, and that the French Emperor could not be °gloated to go tewar with Prussia without looking for such a result : without dwelling on the dynastic reasons which may naturally be supposed to impel his thoughts in that direction he would have much ground to insist that he could not sufficiently calculate on the support of his people for a tre- mendous war unless some tangible result were to be obtained by it. It is certain that a war to regain the old boundaries on the Rhine would be popular in France, and equally certain that the people, while pleased at the 'glory' which the army has gained in the Crimea, take very little interest indeed about the particular reason for fighting in that remote region. However, it appears, and it is certainly not to be wondered at, that the English Government, seeing the drift of the French interrogatories, shrunk from taking upon itself the responsibility of entering into an engagement to support France in an encroachment upon Prussian territory. Instead, therefore, of giving any direct answer to the insinuations contained in the French despatch, the answer sent from London was, that upon reflection' the English Government would accept the Austrian propositions."

Ithaa been much noticed, that when the Imperial Guard entered Paris, the youths of the Polytechnic School passed them in unbroken silence. It is said that the Emperor has determined to dissolve the Polytechnic School. The School of St. Cyr will not be dissolved. The boys of St. Cyr saluted the Crimean heroes.

5talq.—The King of Sardinia presided over a Council of Ministers on the 24th January ; when it was arranged that Massimo d'Azeglio should he the representative of Sardinia at the proposed conferences for peace. The appointment was popular. While the journals of Austria proper are certain that peace will be made, the Austrian official journals in Italy express a contrary opinion. The Milan Gazette, while declaring that a great step towards peace has been taken, recommends the public not to imagine that it is already made, and calls to mind that at the commencement of 1855 similar hopes of peace were entertained, but were soon falsified by events. The Veial Gazette of Verona publishes a similar article ; which is the more remarkable as this journal is the special organ of the Austrian military authority, and placed under the direct influence of Marshal Radetsky.

errata IL 4.—It is stated that "the Austrian Government, acting in the interest of Germany, will immediately lay the Esterhazy propositions before the Frankfort Diet, and propose their official recognition as pre- liminaries of peace, with a view to obtain a representation of Germany in the Congress."

Intelligence from Vienna by way of Berlin, informs us "that the Emperor Alexander has addressed a most friendly letter to the Emperor of Austria, relative to the negotiations, and expressing in the most un- equivocal manner his desire for the immediate restoration of peace. It Is added, that the Emperor Alexander at the same time expressed a wish that the contents of his letter should be communicated to the Emperor Napoleon. It is further confidently stated, that the French Emperor in answer wrote a very friendly letter to the Emperor Francis Joseph, the

contents -of which have been communicated to the Court of St. Peters- burg!, It S55 ff.—The text of the announcement mentioned last week as having l'oen issued by the Russian Government in the official Gazette, explain- ing the reasons which induced the Czaeto accept the Austrian proposi- tions, has now been published in-I:main : it is dated St. Petersburg, lanuary 19-

"Public opinion in Europe has been strongly excited by the intelligence that propositions of peace concerted between the Allied Powers and Austria bad been transmitted to St. Petersburg through the intervention of the Cabinet of Vienna. "Already the Imperial Cabinet, upon its side, had made a step in the path of conciliation, by pointing out, in a despatch bearing date the 11th (23d) of - December, published in all the foreign Journals, the sacrifices which it was prepared to make, with a view to the restoration of peace. " This twofold proceeding proved the existence on either aide of a desire to profit by the compulsory cessation imp-sed by the rigour of the season on the military operations, in order to respond to the unanimous wishes which were everywhere manifested in favour of a speedy peace. " In the despatch cited above the Imperial Government had taken for basis the four points of guarantee admitted by the Conferences at Vienna, and had proposed, with regard to the third point,—whieh had alone led to the rupture of the Conferenees,—a solution which differed rather in form than in substance from the one put forward at that epoch by the Allied Powers.

" The propositions transmitted today by the Austrian Government sreak of the game fundamental proposition—that is to say, the neutralization of the Black Sea by a direct treaty between Russia anti the Porte, to regulate . by common agreement the number of ships of war which each of the adja- cent Powers reserves the right of maintaining for the security of its coasts. They only differ appreciably from those contained in the despatch of the 11th (23d) of December by the proposal for rectifying the frontier between Moldavia and Bessarabia, in exchange for the places on the Russian terri- tory in the actual occupation of the enemy. " This is not the place to inquire if these propositions unite the conditions necessary for insuring the repose of the East and the security of Europe, rather than those of the Russian Government. It is sufficient here to es- tablish the point, that at last an agreement has been actually arrived at on many of the fundamental bases for peace. " Due regard being had to this agreement, to the wishes manifested by the whole of Europe, and to the existence of a coalition the tendency of which was every day to assume larger proportions, and considering the sa- crifices which a protraction of the war imposes upon Russia, the Inrperial Government has deemed it its duty not to delay by accessory discussions a work the success of which would respond to its heartfelt wishes.

"It has, in consequence, just given its adhesion to the propositions trans- mitted by the Austrian Government us a project of preliminaries for nego- tiations for peace. "By the energy of its attitude in the face of a formidable coalition, Rus- sia has given a measure of the sacrifices which she is prepared to make to defend her honour and dignity ; by this act of moderation the Imperial Go- vernment gives at the'same tune a new proof of its sincere desire to arrest the effusion of blood, to conclude a struggle so grievous to civilization and humanity, and to restore to Russia and to Europe the blessings of peace.

"It has a right to expect that the opinion of all civilized nations will ap- preciate the act."

A letter from St. Petersburg tells an anecdote, interesting if true.

"On learning the news of the acceptance, from the lips of M. Leon Sen. iavine, Count Valentine Esterhazy paid a visit to Count Nesaelrode. The latter said to him= I ought not to conceal from you' M. le Ministre, that the hope of the definitive conclusion of peace will be fruitless, if the con- ditions of the transactions yet to be concluded—conditions which the note of your Cabinet mentions, but does not describe—surpass the limits which a sense of the dignity of the Crown fixes irrevocably to the resolutions of our Sovereign.'"

The intelligence from Odessa to the 10th January contains this state- ment—" There is such a tremendous accumulation of troops on the Da- nube that no Ittarters can be found for the new arrivals. Ismail, Ben- der, and Chotym, have been placed in a most complete state of defence!'

The official returns of the foreign trade of Russia during the year 1854 have been published. That the result was not very splendid might be expected from the circumstance that both exports and imports took place only by land, or, as the technical phrase has it, over the dry frontier. The exports amounted in all to 65,337,681 silver roubles ; consisting chiefly of grain, to the amount of 15,953,482 silver roubles, timber 2,809,187 silver roubles, flax and hemp, linseed and hempseed. The imports amounted to 70,358,608 silver roubles ; consisting mainly of cotton and cotton goods, Bilk goods, &c., to the amount of 3,275,468 silver roubles; distilled liquors, 6,577,796 silver roubles ; fruits and dye goods.

$Itif if fl.—A telegraphic despatch from Hamburg states, that "a royal decree just issued at Stockholm orders the immediate raising of 550,000 dollars hence for military purposes, on the extraordinary credit voted last year for the defence of the kingdom." Letters from Stockholin speak with suspicion of the sincerity of Russia. They express fears that "the question of the Aland Islands has been entirely overlooked." The acceptance of the Austrian proposals is a "Muscovite stratagem to gain time." "Few in Sweden believe in the good faith or sincerity of Rus- sia—and who knows Russia better than Sweden ? " The preparations for war had not ceased in Sweden, and will not until peace is signed.

h.! C TiMtlf.—The blowing-up of the docks piecemeal, and the mu- tability of the weather, are the prominent topics in the letters from the

camp. Signs of preparation for the spring are not, however, wanting. On the 11th January, a general "after order" appeared, making an important change in the organization of the Land Transport Corps. It consists in the distribution of the corps into regiments, 800 strong ; one of which will be attached to and is directed to consider itself part of a division of the army and under the orders of its general. Each regiment

will be commanded by a field-officer • the non-commissioned officers and men who enter the corps will still reckon their service for pension, and will rejoin their regiments should the corps be dissolved.

"The officers of the anny who volunteer for the Land Transport Corps will not be appointed finally until it is known that the service suits them, and that they suit the service ; they will finally- leave their regiments and be commissioned to the Land Transport Corps The Commander of the Forces trusts that all ranks will carry on this important branch of the service with no other feeling than that of their best assistance to each other ; the object being that the Land Transport regiment shall identify itself with its division, and that a mutual interest in good conduct and effi- ciency shall insure the regularity of supply to their comrades."

Another order gives an equally strong indication of a resolve to be ready for emergencies. It is, that "all officers are desired to complete themselves with pack-saddles and field-equipment with as little delay as possible. General officers will be so good as to see that this order is attended to in their respective divisions."

A telegraphic despatch from Constantinople states, that on the 9th January the Russians advanced over the ice in order to attack Kertch ; but the vigilance of General Vivian disappointed the enemy's project. At Kinburn also, the enemy has kept the garrison on the alert ; as the gulf of the Dnieper was frozen over, and considerable forces had as- sembled near Oczakoff.

nrktg.—An Italian paper publishes the following scheme for the reorganization of the Principalities; which, it affirms, has been recom- mended by Lord Stratford to the Grand Vizier. "1. Both the Principalities to be united, and to constitute one vassal- state of the Sultan. 2. A..prince to be elected by universal suffrage for life- time and his heirs to inherit this dignity. 3. one but a native eligible to be elected. All foreigners consequently to be excluded therefrom, especially so the Phanariotes. 4. An annual tribute to be paid to the Porte ; its amount to be fixed after the prince has been elected. 5. A representative government, with two chambers, to be established. 6. An adequate na- tional army to be formed. 7. The interference of Turkey in the internal affairs of the Country to be entirely abolished."

It is added, that both France and Turkey object to the fifth proposi- tion; as they consider that a representative government with two cham- bers would be prejudicial to the internal tranquillity of the country.

/6 PI 51 a.—The story of Mr. Murray's rupture with the Court of Per- sia has now come out. There was a certain Mirza Hashim, a Persian employe, who, dissatisfied with his salary, applied for an increase. The application was refused, and the Mirza was told that if he did not like his salary he might seek his fortunes elsewhere. When Mr. Murray reached Teheran, the Mirza was under the protection of the British Mission, and an object of intense hatred of the Sadr or Prime Minister. So long as the Mirza remained, the British Minister could not come to a good understanding with the Sadr ; and, to get rid of him and protect him at the same time, Mr. Murray appointed Mirza Hashim British agent at Shiraz. The Sadr instantly claimed the Mirza as a Persian employe, and threatened to seize him if he left the Embassy. Mr. Mur- ray persisted in his appointment. The Sadr, violating the sanctity of the Embassy, caused the wife of the Mirza to be carried off. Mr. Mur- ray demanded her liberation : the Sadr not only refused, but coarsely in- timated that Mr. Murray had a close and personal interest in the Mirza's wife. Upon this Mr. Murray again demanded the liberation of the wo- man and the retraction of the calumny : threatening as an alternative to strike his flag. The Persian still refused, and the British Minister struck his flag. It is obscurely intimated that other influences were brought to bear upon Persia, and accelerated the rupture.

11111i a Ink advices in anticipation of the overland

mail arrived in London on "Wednesday. They come down to the 2d January from Bombay, and the 21st December from Hongkong. Meagre, but important, they are thus summed up by the Bombay Times.

"The Sontal insurrection may be said to be suppressed. Tranquility prevails throughout our dominions, and we have not for some months had a single disturbance even on the Punjab frontier. The kingdom of Oude is about to be sequestrated ; the King to be allowed 100,0001. a year, the army to be reduced from 80,000 to 15,000; the entire administration of affairs to be intrusted to the Resident, General Outrain. The settlement of the Gude- ypore differences, which renders the Political Agent supreme, has dissatis- fied the chiefs. The native Princes, whose administration is admitted to be blameless, are endeavouring to obtain some better security than they have hitherto enjoyed for the retention of their dominions. "The charges of the Indian navy are about to be increased from half to close on a million sterling annually,—one-fourth the revenutoof the Presi- dency, and two-thirds the charges of our army of 60,000 men. " Lord Canning is expected at the Presidency on his way to Calcutta a fortnight hence ; the present Governor-General retires on the 1st of March, after an administration of eight years' duration." The news from China is without interest.

gaitrir Statrs.—The Canada arrived at Liverpool on Sunday, bringing advices from New York to the 15th, and from Halifax to the 19th January.

The House of Representatives had not agreed upon a Speaker. Mr. Banks still kept the lead ; but at the last ballot he was 12 short of the required number. The Senate was thinking of proceeding to business without waiting any longer out of compliment to the Lower House. Mr. Crampton had timed with the President at Washington.

The American journals, confirmed by one of our own Ministerial or- gans, state that the President had resolved to insist upon the recall of Mr. Crampton, and had determined to withdraw the exequaturs from the three Consuls alleged to have been concerned in the recruiting busi- ness. Neither the Central American nor the enlistment question was settled. The Washington correspondents agree in representing the as- pect which the relations between England and the United States had assumed as "threatening." One says—" Many Senators, some of them in the confidence of the Administration, express serious apprehensions of a rupture between the two Governments. It is evident," adds this off- hand gentleman, "that there must be a fight or a back-out on one side on the other."