THE (Russian) WOLF, AND LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (of Austria).

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 159, 21 January 1854, Page 8

THE (Russian) WOLF, AND LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (of Austria).

(From the " Daily News.") " This day week is fixed for the meeting of the elderly Russian Czar and the stripling Austrian Emperor. Olrautz is to be the scene, and of course Turkey the topic, of the conference. For months past we have seen Nicholas playing out the little drama of the "Wolf and the Lamb," between himself and the Sultan. We are now to see him exhibit his powers in another equally popular and telling story. He is still the wolf, whilst Francis is to be the Little Red Hiding Hood of European politics. This day week the wolf is to shew the little Kaiser the way through the tangled wood of European policy. Nicholas is aged, crafty, clever, unscrupulous, accustomed to exercise unrestrained authority, versed in diplomacy, learned in the doings of courts, full of the whole subject he has in hand, and with a mind and a will as strong and sturdy as his huge body. In fine, he is the lusty wolf. The Austrian Emperor, on the contrary, is little more than a lad, not very vigorous in body, and certainly not at all over burthened with mind; destitute of the knowledge, the judgment, and the experience of his dangerous neighbour, and without that facility of securing his own way which arises out of long and clever practice of the habit of command. The Russian Czar has a great game to play out, and he knows both his cards and his man ; the Austrian Emperor has faith in his neighbour's power, and unhappily, faith aso in his own. Only a Metternich would have any chance in such a conference as the boy-Emperor is now about to venture upon, and yet the very youth that makes him weak gives him also that rash confidence which threatens to lead him into a fatal scrape. To that open manner, manly bearing, and handsome form and face which are all the more captivating in proportion to the youth and simplicity of the victim against which they are brought to bear, the Czar adds the further power arising from services—and most important services—formerly done tv his Austrian ally. Francis Joseph owes his throne to Nicholas of Russia. Is a youth likely to forget, or to be permitted to overlook that? How came the stripling now going to Ohnutz to be Emperor of Austria? The Emperor Ferdinand is still alive, though he has ceased to reign. How came the crown, then, upon the head of its present wearer? Because the European struggle for freedom upset the uncle to the great gain of the nephew, whose newly-gained sceptre could not have been upheld, however, but by

Cossack help. By trampling down the Hungarians, the autocrat established a claim on the House of Hapsburg, which he well knows how to make use of. Never, then, were political dicers less equally matched than those about to sit down at Ohnutz, and before the play begins it must be quite clear which way the stakes will go—if the Czar really means to have them outright and openly at once. " Let us imagine the scene. There lies a map of Turkey in Europe. The huge hand of the Autocrat is placed on the mouth of the Danube, on the Balkan, on Constantinople. Still a tempting slice is left uncovered. Is that worth Austria's acceptance? Servia, with broad lands besides along the Adriatic, are things not to be despised. The bargain may be easily made. Like the greenhorn who ponders over the acceptance of his first bill—nothing is more easily arranged. It is 'only just writing his name.' As with the spendthrift, so next week with the Kaiser. His future trembles in the balance, and the future of his house. Will he sign ? If hedoes, he inevitably becomes for ever after the tool of Russia— body, soul, estate. He will have strengthened the ghoul, who, having fed his full upon Turkey, will settle Austria at his leisure some day hereafter. Abjtand Lefebvre years ago described, with what now seems like prophetic foresight, the European position and policy of the House of Hapsburg: ' The vocation 'of Austria —her true and actual vocation, hazardous, indeed, but worthy of her grandeur—is to preserve the central states of the continent in their integrity and independence, to shield them against the ambition of Fiance, and above all things from the ambition of Russia ; to hold these two powers in check and in equipoise, the one by means of the other. Now, in the Oriental question, Russia is the most threatening and dangerous foe. Should she succeed in gaining possession of the Lower Danube, the mountain range of the Balkan, and Constantinople, Austria would be hemmed in by the Russian territories along the whole extent of her eastern frontier; and the Austrian commerce, both in the Euxine and in the Adriatic, would be under Russian control. There is also ground for solicitude in the secret endeavours of Russia to tamper with the loyalty of Austrian subjects professing the Greek faith. No one believes that Russia can be withheld by over-conscientious scruples from meditating covert intrigues of this nature. The conquests of Russia in Turkey place her in a situation to realise all her fondest designs. Austria would be thus fearfully menaced ; her relative strength would be so materially weakened that freedom of movement would be lost. To oppose the advances of the North there would remain to Austria nothing save, an inert resistance like that with which Prussia must content herself. Fallen from her high estate, she would be compelled to act an entirely different part. Instead of being the bulwark of the West against Russia, she would become a tool in the hands of that power for holding the East in subjugation. All the central armaments which ought to guard the West would be paralysed, and the central states themselves threatened with the loss of their independence. Even the possession of Bosnia, Servia, Turkish Dalmatia, Albania, and Macedonia, would then be to the court of Vienna no adequate compensation for the supeiior aggrandisement of Russia. Russia, directly, and with the aid of the Greeks, necessarily at her devotion, would exert so overwhelming an influence in these ostensibly Austrian provinces, that they would prove to their new masters much more a source of weakness and embarrasment than a real increase of strength. ' Thus the policy of the Cabinet of Vienna may be sketched by anticipation. As the ene? my of Russian projects, as the extreme post of Western Europe against Russia, as the natural guardian of Turkey and of all the interests menaced by the jeopardy of the Porte, Austria must risk her last man and her last florin rather than suffer the Czar to extend his dominion beyond the south bank of the Danube.' " But is there nothing but Russia that Francis Joseph may fear ? Will not Nicholas tins day week have something besides gratitude for past services, aggrandisement from future co r operation to think about ? May he not hold up Louis Napoleon as a scarecrow to frighten his young friend with ? Lefebvre has spoken about that also: ' But Russia is not the only antagonist whom Austria fears. France is viewed with still great-

I\. alarm; and from that quarter an attack would ideed be perilous. The French maxims of bvemment might undermine the social condion of the Austrian monarchy, and the French rmies endanger her Italian ascendancy. What onfusion would then ensue in an empire which xtends over Italians, Hungarians, Poles, and rermans, maintaining as many forms of admiistration as there are countries under its sway, rhich, even during peace, is reduced to the vio»nt necessity of employing the force of one-half f its dominions to keep the other half quiet; (■hicli> in f'ne» *s upheld by the antiquated hiixims of a feudal oligarchy quite repugnant 0 the present age. Hence the dread of the ourt of Vienna for the July revolution which hreatened to set Europe in a flame. This read, not yet allayed, impelled Austria to the doption of the Russian system, and explains he acquiescence which for eight years has been ieemed necessary regarding the pretensions of he Czar in Oriental affairs.' 1 ' But would Austria, in a really decisive criis of the East, continue in the attidude of nonfesistance, to which she Las hitherto accustomed ferself ? A very grave question. Let an asserfon be allowed, drawn from the nature of the lase: to France, first of all, the task of the soiition of tliis question will be assigned. The ituation of Austria is simply this; that she is inconstrained in her proceedings against Eusiia only when she can thoroughly depend on be moral and physical aid of France. A. commct with England jiloue would not suffice to jive the requisite energy to the tone and actions pf the Cabinet of Vienna. Neither could Austria wage war against Eussia unless assured of llie unequivocal co-operation of France. If Fiance denies her concurrence, Austria is then lettered by the apprehension that, while she flespatches troops against Kussia, France i may jcvoss the Alps, and suddenly pour down on Lombardy. Austria would much rather accede to the dismemberment of Turkey, than leave ler Italian possessions unguarded. Consequently, she would delay; and make her appearance only when nothing, further remained to 3e done but to accept thankfully her allotted share of the partition. On these grounds we ire convinced that, should a war break out in phe East, the policy of Austria would be deterinined by the resolutions of France.' "The meeting at Olmutz will clearly afford plenty of food for speculation, and its decisions |may bear very strange fruits in the future. The jlorgan of France in London yesterday hinted Ithat the Sultan ought to be civilly forced to do |what he is not likely to do", —and* ought not to |do— accept the Vienna note unmodified. Does |France really mean to make such a refusal an fexcuse for backing out of the business, and {standing by for a chance of helping herself |when the time comes? It would be one strange | result of the Eastern difficulty, if it ended "in ithe reduction of Austria to the condition of a Unere Russian outpost, and the distinct aggrandisement of Louis Napoleon and his roughly ; made Empire of France."

Declaration of War by the Turkish Divan against Russia.—After the above particulars relating1 10 the Eastern question were in type, by the Mahtoree we received Sydney papers to the 30th ult, containing English news up to the 6th October last. From the letter of the " Home Contributor" of the M, M. Herald, we glean •. — "As the Harbinger sails to-morrow, I take the advantage of its departure to give you the .information that news arrived yesterday in London of the Sultan's having declared war against Russia ; the intelligence has not been positively confirmed, but there is every reason to believe ;in its accuracy, for it is known that the Sultan has been formally called upon to proceed to hostilities, by a grand Council of-the Turkish I empire. Conflicting rumours, nevertheless, \ still continue to circulate; and even last night I "was stated that news had been received from | Vienna, leading to the hope of a peaceful soluI tion of the Eastern question." I, r SPeukino,- of the rejection by the Czar of the j liirkish modifications, the writer says : — i.. " le news of this rejection flew to us on the | "gntning wings of the telegraph, and at once I «ie funds began to fall. Day by day, as spe- : culation had time to dilate upon the warlike Probabilities of the future, the panic in the .stock and share markets spread, until it was ; imally consummated by the intelligence that ■: J-uriush population, on hearing of the rejec-

tion of the note by Russia, had risen against the Porte, and called upon him to declare war or abdicate ; in addition to which at the same time we learnt the passage of the Dardanelles by apportion'of the combined fleets. On the receipt of this news Consols fell rapidly to 91 5-B.—lower than they had been for many years, at which, however, they did not remain, rising to 921 on the receipt of more qualifying intelligence. Further intelligence of an adverse nature sent them down lower than they had yet been, and for a day or two they ranged between 90 5-8 and 91 1-8. Advices received up to this morning have tended to give a better tone to all public securities, even though very few place any real confidence in peace probabilities. Our very latest intelligence tells us that Turkish affairs .are once more referred to a conference of the great powers of Europe, and that at the recent meeting of the emperors at Olmutz, Nicholas expressed himself as still most anxious for the preservation of peace. This reads very suspicious by the side of news from the Danubian provinces, which tells us that Eussian troops continue to pour into them, and that forward movements to the banks of the Danube are being daily made, while active preparations are going on for wintering the Eussian army therein. Very like an evacuation, truly !It is just a part of the old game hitherto so successfully played off against the allied powers. Delay is Eussia's strength, but Turkey's ruin. One thing is certain, and that is, that both the " peace" and the " war" party at Constantinople are resolved to yield nothing further to Russian influence, but to adhere firmly to the Porte's amended note. This being the case, with our knowledge of the Emperor's character and intention, I cannot see where we are to look for signs of peace, except in the dreamy brains of t the infatuated or the ignorant." The Times correspondent writes from Paris on the 4th October, as under :—" A -private telegraphic despatch from Constantinople dated the 25th ult. has been received this day by an eminent banking house in Paris. It states that " the Divan has declared war against Eussia." It is thought that a decision in favour of war has been adopted by the Divan, and that the news of the actual declaration of war may be premature. It seems that previous to declaring war the Sultan submits, as a matter of form, to the opinion or sanction of the Sheik-ul-Is-lam, the decision or the Divan, and that this formality requires a delay of some days. In the present instance, however, it appears that the date assigned to the despatch in question is precisely that at which the resolution of the • Divan was to liave been taken. On Saturday it was believed in official quarters in Paris that the Porte would refuse the last propositions of M. de Bruck, and that in such a case a declaration of war was inevitable. Ari intimation has been made, on the part of the Russian Government, that the Emperor Nicholas is not unwilling to diminish the force of the interpretation he had given to the Vienna draught note, but on condition that the Porte previously signed that note. To this proposition a reply was made by the French Government that it was too late, as there could be no doubt that the Porte would repeat its refusal of the note. On the whole, the language of the French Government was decided—more so perhaps than before, and an unwillingness to depart from the attitude it had assumed, no doubt, accounts for the language of two Ministerial papers, the Constitutionnel and the Patrie, with reference to the intelligence I communicated on Sunday on the resumption of the Vienna Conferences. " The receipt of the Constantinople despatch alluded to has been necessarily followed by rumours of all possible kinds, the truth of all of which certainly stands in need of confirmation. In addition to that simple fact, it is said that an engagement had actually taken place between the Eussian and Turkish armies—that a French General has already been appointed to the command of 10,000, some say of 30,000 men, who are to march to Toulon for embarkation, &c. I repeat that the only fact that is not contradicted is that of the telegraphic despatch above-mentioned having been received." " A letter from Olmutz of the 26th of September affirms that Russia, Austria, and Prussia, and several of the German States, have come to a complete agreement as to the course which they ought to pursue on the Eastern question. ' Austria and Prussia have, it says, declared that if the English and French Cannot think fit to change their views relative to

the note of Vienna, they, the other two parties in the Conference, still adhere to the line of policy originally agreed to. The letter adds that both these powers, as well as the German States spoken of, are determined to support Eussia in its views should hostilities break out. "The particular interest in this letter is that the writer, who is in a position to be well informed, includes Prussia, hitherto looked on as anxious to remain neutral, amongst the friends of Eussia. It surely is enough to have one instance of double-facedness,in Austria, without finding Prussia following so vile an example. " Explanations, it appears, have taken place between the Eepresentatives of Eussia and Austria in Paris, and the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, respecting the passage of the Straits by a portion of the united fleets. It is stated that the sum of the explanations amounted to this, that the movement of the maritime powers was intended as much in a political sense as to protect the Sultan from his subjects, and the French and English residents generally ; and that neither France nor England would advise the Porte, to accept the Vienna Note in the sense attributed to it by M. Nesselrode, nor without the modification, already adopted by the Divan, the necessity for which had been fully justified by the documents that have emanated from the Eussian Cabinet. It is said, on the other hand, that M. de Buol is exerting his influence with the Emperor of Eussia to prevail upon him to accept the Vienna Note in the sense in which it was undoubtedly drawn up, which is that of the modifications of the Sultan. It is not expected, however, that M. de Buol will succeed. It seems | that M. Drouyn de Lhyus, at a dinner which he gave a few days ago to Queen Christina, at which the Marquis of Lansdowne and the Marquis of Clanvicarde were present, used language of a decidedly warlike character without the 1 least reserve. In the Bonapartist circles it is I not to be concealed that the prevailing tone is warlike. " Omer Pacha has shewed very great abilities and has done wonders since he took the command. It appears that the Eussian and Turkish ! sentinels now face each other at 12 points on ! the Danube. " The state of Constantinople is represented to be alarming. Its- walls are covered with placards appealing to the passions of the people, a,nd the inhabitants have publicly signed addresses to the Sultan and his ministers, entreating them to march against Eussia, without waiting for the support of England or France. It seems that M. Kossuth had caused the feelings of the Porte to be sounded as to his wish to return to Constantinople, but no encouragement was given to him. A rumour prevailed that a coolness had arisen between the French and English ambassadors, the former having reproached the Jatter with acting injudiciously in not having advised the Porte to summon the combined fleets to Constantinople, which he contended would have at once brought the Czar to reason." The Times of the 6th October says—" To the successive phases of the Turkish question may now be added one of greater singularity than any of those preceding it. The Ottoman Porte has pronounced, by decision of its Supreme Council, for open war, and, although it is not yet known with any certainty that this resolution has been embodied in any formal declaration on the part of the Sultan, there is every reason for supposing that the opinion of a body, constituted like the Supreme Council, will be adopted by the Executive Government. This measure does not appear to have been the result of any new or especial provocation on the part of the Russians. The Czar had committed his several acts of aggression and insult without encountering the reception to be naturally anticipated. He had invaded and occupied the Danubian provinces ; he had demanded unwarrantable concessions as the price of his retirement ; he had rejected the Turkish terms of adjustment; and he bad expressed his several intentions with the utmost arrogance by the mouth of his minister. None of these proceedings, however, elicited such a decision as that now pronounced; and the probability is, not that the Government, or even the chief authorities of the Ottoman nation, are more desirousthan before of bringing the question to the issue of the sword, but that the feelings of the population and the army have become uncontrolable, and that a declaration of war was thought indispensable to tie internal security of the State."

Literary GossiP.-r-Lockhart, the son in law of Sir Walter Scott, and the editor of the Quarterly Review, has retiredthrough ill-health from the'eiiitorsliip of the publication he has for many years conducted ; and the Edinburgh, since the death of its late editor, Einpson, has been under the editorship of Mr. George Cornwall Lewis, the author of two or three works of a quasiphilosophical character. Dickens has brought Bleak House to a close ; and after sojourning all the summer at a chateau near Boulogne, is about to proceed to Italy, in company with the artist Egg, und the novel writer, Wilkie Collins. Thackeray has commenced a new serial, called the " Newcomes;'' and Babington Macaulay has, it is said, placed the third volume of his History of England in the hands of his publishers." Mr. Samuel Warren has also begun the issue of a three-halfpenny edition of his works, beginning with what Douglas Jerrold, in the true spirit of a " brother author," denominated the " Diarrhea of a late Physician." Death has, during- the past week, been more than usually busy amongst those known to fame. Lord Saltoun and Sir F. Adam, two Waterloo heroes, the former of whom was second in command of the brigade of Guards at Hougomont, have both paid the great debt of nature. The sister service has to mourn the loss of a distinguished admiral, Sir George Cockburn. Lady Sale, the widow of the hero of Jellalabad, herself the heroine of the captivity with Akbnr Khan, is also gone, and the country will remember with pleasure that a pension ot £500 a-vear from the Queen enabled this no-ble-hearted woman to pass her last days unpinched by the pressure of poverty. To close the melancholy list, Mr. Bransby Cooper, an eminent member of the medical profession, died suddenly while sitting at the Athenaeum Club.— Guardian, Aug. 24. The Sim states that the gallant Sir Charles Napier expired under the old colours of the 22nd Regiment, for his son-in-law. Major M'Murdo, seized those glorious relics from the corner of his chamber, and fastened them to the head of his open bedstead before breathing ceased : — " That open bedstead is now his bier; his head lies immediately beneath the fine picture of Meeanee, by Jones ; and the glorious colours of the 22nd still wave over him. On each side of the corpse is an Indian spear hnng with Beluoch shields ; and near him are sabres, matchlocks, and other trophies taken in battle. At his feet is the chief Ameer's white marble chair of state, over the back of which are arranged the General's military orders, his grand collar and cross of the Bath. On the seat lie his own sword of service and other accoutrements, worn in fight. Facing the chair is the silver testimonial presented to him by the civil service of Scinde; and at its foot are two swords of honour—one presented by the Earl of Ellenbolough, the other by the officers of the 102 nd Regiment, which he commanded in a littoral expedition against the Americans. Last, and most esteemed of all, is placed, close beside him, a sword of honour, presented by the Beloiich Sirdars, his desperate enemies in war, but, after experiencing his government in peace, his fervent admirers and firm friends ; for. when his power was over, those generous men gave him the sward as a testimony that they regarded him as the pacificator and benefactor of their country ; therefore it lies beside him in death. Thus he rests amidst honours, nut accorded by factious power, but won in war by a prompt genius and strong arm—in peace, by a wise head and gemle heart."— Guardian. A comet visible to the naked eye has been attractinir the attention of stargazers, even turouirh the murky medium of a London atmosphere. Nightly during- the past week may have been seen groups in Regent-street and the open parts of thoroughfares, between eight and ten p.m., with upturned faces, in the direction of the horizon N.W. by N. Mr. J. R. Hind, the astronomer, whilst promising a comet of" far mure imposing aspect between the rears 1851 and 1861, gives the following description of its appearance mi Sunday evening: — " Allowing for the proximity of the comet to the horizon, and the strons-- glcr.v of twilight its nucleus was fully as brisjht as an average st;<rof Ute first magnitude; the tail extended about 3 ilei:s. from the heail. When viewed in the comet-seeker, the nucleus appeared of a bright gold colour, and about bait' the diameter

of the planet Jupiter, which was shining at the time in the southern heavens, and could he readily compared with the comet. The tail proceeds directly from the head in a single stream, and not, as sometimes remarked, in two branches. The distance of this body from the earth, at 8 o'clock last evening, was 80,000,000 miles; and hence it results that the actual diameter of the bright nucleus was 8,000 miles,, or about equal to that of the earth, while the tail had a real length of 4,500,000 miles, and a breadth of 250,000, which is rather over the distance separating the moon from the earth. It is usual to assume that the intensity of a comet's light varies as the reciprocal of the products of the squares of the distances from the earth and sun, but the present one has undergone a far more rapid increase of brilliancy than would result from this hypothesis. The augmentation of light Avill go on till the 3rd of September, and it will be worth while to look for the comet in the daytime about that date. — Giiardian. Earthquake at Cumana.—The report of 4,000 lives being lost by an earthquake on the 15th July, at Cumana, on the Spanish. Main, is corroborated by detailed accounts in the New York papers :—" At a quarter past two, the first shock was felt. This was thought to be but one of the slight tremblings of the earth to which the citizens were accustomed, and to bear which the houses are expressly built; but, in a few seconds after, an awful convulsion was felt, accompanied by frightful noise and deep darkness. The consternation was universal. Not a singlej|family escaped without cause to mourn the loss of some of its members. In the streets, squares, and neighbouring fields, were seen wandering spectres, covered with blood and dust, and filled with terror. Not less than 4,000 were killed, all the public buildings fell, and almost all the .private houses were destroyed, whilst those which were not entirely ruined were so injured as to be unhabitable. The numbers cannot be estimated who. onjhe previous day, were rich and happy, but were now left without home or shelter. The river Manzanares, which flows through the town, rose several feet, and the bridge fell, which connected the town on both sides. Several deep openings were formed, from whence rose boiling water. Besides the loss of life, the destruction of property amounts to millions. Steam Mail Service to Australia via Panama.—We learn from the Morning Ckron. of Oct. 6th, that the mail service to Australia by the Panama route will soon be inaugurated. The mode of carrying out the communication will be as follows: The Royal West India Mail Steam-packet Company will convey passengers and the mails from Southampton to St. Thomas. For this part of the service, in addition to their already large fleet, they have purchased the La Plata, a very fast steamer, and two others of greater tonnage aye preparing for the trade, with an anticipated speed equal to any vessel now afloat. When the ship touches at St. Thomas another vessel will be ready coaled, in order to prevent delay, to proceed on to Chagres direct. The West India Mail Company have built three most beautiful steamers for that portion of the service — the Solvent, Tamar, and Tyne. The first of these left Southampton with the mail on Sunday, aud on her trial trip averaged fourteen knots, or sixteen statute miles. Arrived at Chagres, the mails, etc., will be taken over the isthmus to Panama by rail in about one hoar- The Australasian Pacific Mail Steam Packet Company, who are to operate with the West India Mail Company direct to Chagres, with the British and North American Steam Navigation Company's (Canard's) line, via Liverpool" New York, and Chagres, and who are also in coujunction with the Pacific Company's mail steamers plying from Panama along the coast of South America to P^-u and Chili, have had built or are building, six l,«r<je screw steamers to j.ly across the Pacific Ocean from Panama to Tahiti and Sydney. The first ship of the fleet was launched in* July, and a second was sent off the stock* shortly'after her. These two vessels, the Kangaroo, by the Messrs. Caird, and the Emu. by die Messrs. Napier—are running a close race for sea. It is expected both will he nearly ready together, and may he expected to make a trial "trip in a fortnight, and start for their destination in November. The thirdship, built by Messrs. Miller, RavenhilK and Salkeld, ou the Tyne, named the Menura',

has been sent into her native element, and every expedition will be used to start her off to the Pacific, to take up the service with the other ships of the Company. The other three vessels are progressing simultaneously on the stocks and will not be long before they are launched! Here then is a speedy prospect to the opening up of the route to Australia via Panama. b