PEACE IN EUROPE.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 7, 31 July 1856, Page 1

PEACE IN EUROPE.

In our last number of the Maori Messenger, we presented our Native readers with a lengthened account of the assault and capture of Sebastopol. With the fall of that stupendous stronghold the war may be said to have closed, no encounter of any moment having since occurred. It appears to have been the final stroke meditated by the allied forces against the Russian fortresses of the Crimea, since, almost immediately upon its capture, the Imperial Guard of France, and the ponderous siege Artillery of England returned to their respective countries. The Russian armies on the one side, and those of France, England, Sardinia, and Turkey on the other never again encountered after the fall of Sebastopol. All that they did was to confront and keep a jealous eye upon eaeh other; and even this was not of long continuance, for Austria being solicitous for the reestablishment of the peace of Europe—Russia feeling the ruinous drain that had been made upon her for men money and the many munitions required in carrying on a war, — which had greatly exhausted her productive powers, and utterly annihilated her trade and shipping-—was Very readily disposed to

"listenand accede to the friendly proposition; and as France, England, and Sardinia had combined ibeir energies not for a warofconquest—not for -the destruction or spoliation of Russia -but for theprotection of Turkey, and in defence and maintenance of the liberty and independence of Europe, the preliminaries of peace were speedily arranged ; and the treaty has since been ratified and exchanged. Early ia March, the plenipotentiaries of Austria, France, England, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey assembled at Paris, and, from day to day, the terms of peace were discussed and considered, until -they were finally concluded on the 30th of that month. By those independence of Turnkey is guaranteed ; and Russia is prohibited from rebuilding Sehastopol, whose dockyards, forts, and arsenals, have beon razed to their foundations. Nieholaief. another strong naval port, is to be dismantled. And no ships of war are to be permitted to be constructed. I The river Danube, one of the greatest ar-1 teries for the agricultural commerce of Europe, over which the Russians had long exercised the mastery, is to be thrown fully open to the ships of all nations. In the Black Sea, instead of fleets of thirty or forty ships, carrying from 80 to 120 tremendous guns each, Russia is only to be permitted to keep ten light cruisers, not for purposes of war, but for the suppression of civil disorder. And, to the the several ports of the Black Sea and Sea of Azoff, the several European Nations are empowered to send Consuls, an official who repre ents the nation by whom be is appointed, and exercises authority in an especial degree in watching over and protecting the rights and interests of his Country's shipping. In the Baltic Sea, Russia has also been restricted from encroaching upon, or overawing her neighbours. The forts upon the Aland Islands which were a perpetual menace to Sweden, and which were taken and destroyed by France and England, are not to be rebuilt. In a word, Peac* has been concluded upon terms, which appear to be satisfactory to all parties. Throughout Russia it has diffused the most lively joy. In Francs, it has been celebrated with the utmost gaiety and splendour; and it has, there derived an additional lustre fromthe birth of a young Prince the son of the Emperor Napoleon the third. In England, the rejoicings have been duty solemnized. And at Melbourne, Sydney, and

the other Colonies there have been the same Joyful demonstrations which we may ere lon# expect to witness in New Zealand. Whatever cause of rejoicing the nations of Europe may have for the restoration of peace, the inhabitants of these Colonies have infinitely greater. Although there were no Russian men of-war to attack our coasts, or capture our merchant ships, still, trade was impeded, and colonisation impaired. This is now at an end. The men required to recruit our armies and fleets, will have their attention diverted to other pursuits. Numerous and splendid ships, employed in the transport of troops and stores, will have to return to the legitimate pursuits of commerce, Emigration will revive; and, with the intelligence that has recently gone forth of the fresh discoveries of rich and extensive gold fields in New South Wales, it is but reasonable to conclude that there will be another great influx of population from Europe, of which New Zealand will, in due time, receive her share, and for whose future supplies of food her native agriculturists would do well and wisely to make timely preparation. Such arc the happy fruits of peace; and in its fortunate and honourable restoration, we heartly congratulate all our readers.