English and Foreign.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 393, 13 August 1856, Page 6

English and Foreign.

THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL MANIFESTO. The following is a translation of the imperial manifesto, published, at St. Petersburg, to announce the signing of the treaty of peace:— The obstinate and sanguinary struggle which, for nearly three years, has .subverted Europe, has at last ceased. It was not Russia that commenced it. Even before it broke out, my late august father, of imperishable memory, solemnly declared to his faithful subjects, and to all the foreign Powers, that the sole object; of his desires and of his efforts had been to protect the rights of our co-religionists in the East, and to put an end to persecutions to which they were subjected. A stranger to all interested views, he never expected that his just complaints (reclamations) would have resulted in the . scourge of war; and considering its calamities with a deep feeling of sorrow as a Chris- i tian and as the father of people entrusted by Providence to his care, he did not cease manifesting his inclination in favour of peace. But the negotiations which were opened shortly before his death, on the subject of the conditions of that peace, which was a necessity for us all. remained without success. The Governments which have formed a hostile coalition against us had not discontinued their armaments; pending these negotiations they had even increased them ; the war had to follow its course, and we continued it with a firm hope in the protection of the Most High, and firm confidence in the unshaken devotion of-our welU beloved subjects. Our expectalions were justified. During that period of hard trials, our faithful and brave soldiers, as well as all our people, without distinction of class, proved themselves asalways, worthy of their calling. Along the whole extent of our Empire, from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to the shores of the Baltic and Black Sea, one' single impulse animated all, and made them •spare neither life nor fortune in the defence of their country. Labourers, leaving, their

ploughs and the fields, eagerly took up arms for our holy cause, rivalling in courage and self-denial our veteran soldiers. New and striking deeds of renq.wn have marked this last struggle with powerful adversaries. The enemy has been driven back from the coasts of Siberia and from the White Sea.as well as from the ramparts of Sweaborg. The heroic defence for eleven mouths of the fortifications of the south side of Sebastapol, erected in the face of and under the fire of tbe assailants, will be handed as a record to the remotest posterity. In Asia, after the glorious victories of the preceding campaigns, Ktirs was compelled to surrender with its numerous garrison, forming the whole army of Anatolia, and the ilile of the Turkish troops sent to relieve the place, were compelled to retreat. Nevertheless, by the impenetrable and wise decrees of Providence, a fact was preparing conformable to the wishes of our well-beloved august father, to our own, and to those of all Russia, which realised the objects pof the war. The future condition and the privileges of the Christians in the East are henceforth guaranteed. The Sultan solemnly recognises them, and, consequent upon this act of justice, the Ottoman Empire enters into the family of European slates. Russians! your efforts and your sacrifices have not been in vain. A great worlt has been accomplished, although by other and unforeseen .mean.*, and we may now witha quiet conscience put an end to those efforts and to those sacrifices by,restoring to our dear country the inestimable blessings of peace. To hasten the conclusion of-'the treaty of peace, and to dispel, even for the future, the very idea of ambitious views or projects which might be attributed to us, we have consented to the adoption of .certain precautionary measures destined to prevent a collision of our ships of war with those of Turkey in the Black Sea, and to the establishment of a new frontier line in the southern part of Bessarabia, nearest to the Danube. The concessions are not great when put in comparison with the charges of a long war, and the advantages promised to us by the tranquillity of the empire, the destinies of which it has pleased God to entrust to us. May all those advantages be obtained by our efforts, united to those of all our faithful subjects! May, with the aid of the Almighty, who has always protected Russia, its internal organisation be consolidated and perfected ! May justice and clem >ucy preside over its judgments—may the advancement of civilisation and of all useful activity spread with renewed foree —and may every one enjoy in peace the fruits of his labour under lhe protection of laws equally just and watchful for all ! Finally—and this is the most important and most ardent of our hopes—may the salutary light of faith, by.enlightening the mind and strengthening the heart, maintain and improve more and more that social morality which is the surest pledge of order and happiness. Given at St. Petersburg the 31st March, 1856, and in the second year of our reign. Ai^kxander.