The New York Herald Newspaper, February 12, 1855, Page 2

330 ‘versation waxes very proiane, and we refrain from following it. Songs, oaths, yells and imprecations are so mixed into one demoniac olla podrida, that one is fain to think himself among a crew of incur able lunatics. Turning aside from this for a ‘moment, look at ‘tat neat little cutter drawn by a flyer, and engaged in a desperate race with a lively double team. The excitement of the riders is shared by the horses, ‘They seem to tread the ambient air, and one could imagine their shaggy manes to be wings, so swiftly do they go. That is real trotting. For a while the pair has the best of the bargain; but the little cut- ter is Dot so easily beaten, although a stern chaso is a long chase always. The single team is now lapped with the pair, the driver of which lets out a link, and spurs away a hundred yards in advance—all this time the horses have been kept down; but the race has commenced in earnest. The driver of the horse requests him earnestly to “get along” —aeks him sarcastica\ly if he was bought for a loafer—swears at him worse than any army ever did in Flanders, or avy where else, while the \ady (2) who divides her attention between her segar and the whip, touches the almost exhausted animal with a “bit of the string.” Things in the other vehicle are more quiet, though in none the less en- ergetic state. The distance between them is less- ened—now one blanket would cover the single horse and the off horse of the pair. The lady gives the single horse another touch of the whip— the driver exhausts his vocabulary of oaths fa one final “ cuss,” and makes a great effort to lift his eutter by the pair; now they are neck and neck— @ great stage sleigh is coming down—the driver won’t turn out—the racers won’t pull up—the stage sleigh is remorseless—one second more and the cut- ter would be out of danger—now it is too late; our friend with the single horse is crushed like a fly be- tween two elephants. The big sleighs pass on. Where is the cutter ? ‘There is a emall piece of ashaft,a bell, a bit of a wace, a segar stump, and a bottle of Lubin, in the middle of the road—that’s all that’s visible of the glory of the tate dashing turn-out. The lady is seated in a snow drift, calling*for ‘Charles;” but that individual does not appear. Helf an hour afterwards, an Irishman and a shovel are instrumental in bringing to light a pair of thin legs sticking up in a snow bank in an ad- joining field. Further developements prove these legs to be the property of the missing Charles. The remainder of his body is discovered in due time. But alas for the cutter! it has gone where all fast things must go sooner or latter. The hotels or taverns on the road are very in- teresting places in sleighing times. It is very remarkable to sce the delegations from the #iifferent strata of society meet and mingle in sit a cemocratic way. The first stopping place is genéfaiiy Burnham’s, which is consi- dered one of the best houses on the road, Here you may sce as mapy asa hundred sleighs at orice, of all eorts—stege sleighs, cutters, double sleighs, four- in-hands, mule teams, private and public convey- ancee, al] jumbled together. Inside the house the company is still more mixed. You will find the stove surrounded, if you go into the bar room, and every seat occupied in the parlor. The consump- tion of whiskey is alarming—four men do nothing else bus assimilate fluids and sugar together, inorder to produce that deiicious compound (fur those who Nike it), a “ hot whiskey skin,” regiments of tum” blers are prepared for this purpose, and although the barkeepers are dexterous, they are atill unable to supply the demand. People eeem to think that when they go out sieighing they shouid pour down as much of this hot staf’ as they can get. Itisa mistaken idea, and it gives headaches and catarrhs for the next day. The mixture of socicty at these hotels is 9 delicate tropic. We aro getting more and more French every day,and if the old Puritans or Knickerbockers eould be permitted to take a look at their desvend- ants, they would be shocked beyond measure. Women in men’s clothes—women drinking like Poen-o’-woar's men; and swearlag like troopere, women with ail sorts of characters, and women without any characters at all—these ontlaws now endeavor to forget their shame by the most strenuous efforts at gayety. People who keep public houses canaot shut their doors against any- body, and they are not responsible for the presence of these individuals. Decent people, of coarse, sbut their eyes and cars, but they canuot keep ont the effect, and contamination to the young must, and often does, ensue. The state of public morals in a sleighing excite- ment is bad. Young women are warned against iasinusting fellows and hot whiskey punches; buat the caution is often given too late. In the public sieigha all sorts of people are mixed up together, and so much license is allowed that the moral sense of people who are nct over-scrupulous often times receives a very severe shock. It is very singular how fond ladies are of sleighing; women who are so delicate that they cannot bear the slightest visit of the winter wind under any other circumstances, become hardy Amazons about these days. They are just delicate enough not to be able to walk two blocks, but they are not too deli- eate to ride twenty miles in the face of a cutting north wind. But this is one of those peculiar social contradictions which cannot be accounted for. There is a great deal of fun, no doubt, produced by @ fast horse, good sleighing, plenty of buffalo robes, and a pretty woman. Our Long Island friends find it so, and the rush to “John I’s” nd other popular places on the road, has been enormous lately. They have introdaced a new feature a? eome of the Long Island taverns. They g’ve # contipnons bail. the time. Parties slight—take a dance or two-—get warn--jump into the sieigh, aod have 8 du capa of the same composition at the next tavern, This is epe of the most brilliant ideas @ nineteenth cen- tury. Sleighing is god on the leland, and the people enjoy it, of course. The city sleighing is confined chiefly to Broadway. It don’t amount to much in the Bowery. Quiet people prefer to ride in the cars, rather thap to have their toes trodden upon, their hate smashed, their ribs punched, their eyes pained, and their ears shocked by the promiscuous society of the great sleighs. Broadway is frigntfally reckless just now. Amateur drivers are getting into ali sorts of scrapes—people blow fish horns, and call each other bad names. Persons with limited voval capacities insist npon attempting songs which they cannot sing. That unfortunate canine “ Poor Dog ‘Tray ” has more admirers than ‘over. Not even Lord Byron’s dog was more popular. As the ever faithfat ‘Tray bas gone to that “bone” trom which no dog | ever retorns, we sincerely trust that he canno hear the song about him. “ Wait for the Wagon” (very ‘nappropriate under the circumstances) is also highly popular ; and these musically disposed indi viduals will not pay the olightest regard to ono’s nerves. When Young America goes out for a “quie tarn on the avenue,” he has first great difficulty ia getting a sleigh. The proprictors of these vehine have fiinty hearts. ‘“ How much for this cutter one horse?” “Ten dollars.” “ Good a3, Wh a price!” “How much for a double “Teen ty.” “Won't pay so mach.” ‘Don’t care e—vcent whether you door not; horses {s horses, now-s-days,”’ Bat Young Ameri: must go; he pays (0 prive, and forgets to «ettie his boo: bill. He mekes ap & “ gtag” party, end they are off. How they shoat, how they ¢ing, how they pour down gallons of whis- key punch—how foudiy bey embrace each other— how they resolve not to go home till morning--how they request imaginary landlords to fill metaphori. eal flowing bowls! How sarcastic they are to all the slow teams, and how disgusted they are with she fest ones! All this must be seen in order to @ quiet turn on the avenue in sleighing Young America gets back from the rural dis tricte about four in the morning. His music is ex: The mosic ts kept going ali | NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1855. hausted—ho still atrives to be gay—he attempts to pass a joke with a policeman—it is a failure—he tumbles out of the sleigh into the great snow-bauk in front of his own door. Young America is posi- tively, undeniably drunk—drank “clear throagh,” as he confidentially assures a friend next day. An awful headache—blue pills—an empty pocket —these are the items of Young America’s punish- ment. He repenta; but next year you will fiad him doing the eame thing over again. We have thus striven to take up a few of the sa- ent pointe connected with sleighing in. New York, As a means of epjoyment, the sport is healthfal, in- vigorating and exhilarating, without doubt, but it seems to be a fatality with our fast people that they cannot enjoy a good thing without degenerat- ing into disgraceful excesses. _—_— ADDITIONAL FROM: EUROPE. ANGLO-AMERECAN NEGOCIATIONS .IN CHINA. The Military and PoliticalRelations of France, Prusda aed Austria. do, &0., &o. Our Paxis Correspondence: Pants, Tuesday, January 23, 1855. Reasons for Disbelief im the Probability of a Speedy Peace— Russia tn a Better Position than Ever—War with Her Necessary to the Existence of the Present French Dynasty—Historical Sow venirs—Introduction of Cast Iron Houses wnto Paris--Recovery of Myr. Mason—Anticipated Arrwal of Queen Pomare in Paris—The French Fournisseurs in a Fever of Anxiety, §c., §c. I see nothing in the political horizon of a nature toinduce me to withdraw any of the opinions I have been led to form touching the probabilities of a peaceful termination of the present embroiled as- pect of Europe. On the contrary, the farther I dive into those inner recesses ef society, where the secret spring is thought to oxist whence flows the fountain of political events, the more am I eonfirmed in the views which on this subject I have ventured to en- doree. There are four active belligerenta at present be- fore public opinion, and it is doubtful whether, al- though all are ringing the ‘changes on’ the word “peace,” three of them, at least, would accept it on anyother conditions then that of having their own way; but it is the peppercorn reat which nations are compelled to offer to him who was the Prince of Peace, to speak with Gospel words in their moaths, while they harness themselves to the chariot of the Father of Lies. Bhat poor, wretched Tarkey may have already had enough of it ia quite intelligible, but, like the forlorn maiden betwixt two savage bandits, on which ever pide the victory prevails, she must have some misgiving, by this time, that her fate will bea hard one. But England, though sore- ly vexed and tried, and perfectly confounded that ‘all the talent” should have thus dragged her ar- my into the dirt, and held it up for pity, and perhaps something worse, in the pra- sence of that ally with whom for ages she has contended for the mastery of the world, has not a notionof making peace, except on terms which it is abeard to suppoze the Emperor of Rassa would stultify himself by conceding. That eveatn- ally, avery powerful pease party may not spring up, I do not say; but that is altogether another question—one which France some few years hen:e may have to settle with her after avother fashion than the present—for the momsnt, however, Eag- land is committed to the war, and the sturdy Anglo- Saxon blood will only ferment the more for what is now going on in the Crimea.. As tor Russia, she is wise to talk of it; but why, say the most astute thinkere, should she seriously have it in her thoughts. The Haglish army offers her a spectacle, which, since the days of Walcheren, has n03 been seen; she has nothing to do but let it alone; the elements, call it Providence if you will, are her un- unfailing friends. The actounts which the Bri tieh press daily supplies the Czir’s breakfast table with, must be as comforting and consoling as the breakfast itself, He may well believe from all he reads that the day iy not distant when the alliance against him ehall sesume a new phase. In the meantime by a ta'k of peace—how dves he not fret and bamboozle Austria, who, like the fabled ass, is sorely tried between the bundle of hay and the pail ot water; and already, by this dexterous stroke of diplomacy, he is enabled to dispaich ¢ forcs wo the Crimes, which would otherwise have been destined to occupy Bessarabia and defend the Rassian fron- tier. There only remains France to speak of. I have said before that the policy of the Bonapartist dy- nasty must of necessity be antagonistic. The Em- peror undoubtedly said at Bordeaux the contrary— “Empire c'est la paix”—aud yet both opintons may be true. Tbe great Napoleoa always pleaded that he only fought for peace; in other words, to have all his own way; and this is probably the rea) retation of his descendant’s famous apothegm. , what was the meaning of the féte des aigies whga all France was called upoa to re member thoge imperial glories s9 craelly at pe b the treaties of Vienna, and the Nemesis of whic: now ruled the destinies of her rising auspices; and since thet day, when hundredg of thousands of her | metropolitan population looked on with distrast— when every European representative smiled with scarce concealed contempt, asd the very legions, whore splendid array gave glory to that superb ctacle, defiled before the autaor of it—many of them in moody silence, with averted look—what a change has taken place! Now, Eogland, whose press was then houriy vomiting fortn on his exe- | crated head all the viale of hatred and wrata, is nis | sworn friend and ally—nay, almost leans upon his bosom for protection—is litted out of the mud of Balaklava by his pitying hand, and fed with bis- cuit and wholesome coffee to keep her from utterly perisbing of raw pork and green grain; and that army, then bot bali gaived over, and concsaling in | its Tranwk many whose sympathies were more with the barricades than the baoner they bore, but now | rampant in his praise, and pluming its feathers aad shaking its wings, as if the young eagle or its stan- | dard bade it soar aloft and fly to the uttermost ends of the earto. And the people! whats is their lau- { guage when be asks for £20,000,000 iu this vory wer pol’ey, and they pour into hia jap more thaa quai. | wuple the amount, And is this toe man, and is this | the time for sach @ man to listen to peace, when, | mailed to the tosth, with an enthusiastic arny wonnd % its highest pitch by a rivalry io flank, i to be a rivalry at all, and which overpowers nim by its fa- ‘The Czar and he stand face to face, the pereanification of the East and tue West. As yet, neither party has lost or won. It may be questioned whetuer either is taken by surprise, and bas not long foreseen the hour which shon!d bring | them, like the Achilies and Hector of onr schooldays, to decide by nis individual strength and valor the fate of myriads. | It is the general opiuion that Prussia would not be permitted, even were she so disposed, to take any position which migbt rewove her out of the | hoatite shadow of France. The enmity of that power | is necessary to the present dynastic policy which | seeks to revive the Tims ot the First Empire. Read the following from the Const:tutionnel—that semi- | official journal-—and theu read the contradiction, or | rather comment, of to day's Monitewr, and jadge of ite sincerity: — {ein 1792, when France was agitated at home aad | attacked abroad, Prossia, thinking the position of | France exceedingly tottering, declared war against | her. Three years after, when france seemed on the | point of t iamphing over tae coalesced powers, Pru sia abandoned ber allies aad ed over to tne side of the cov sod wae the first of the great | powers that recogoized the republic. Four years after that period, hyance having experienced the | v) teeitudes of war-—battles having been lost ia [taly and Swrigeriand, and the repablic being menaced | both in the North and South—Prossia again changed | her views and declared against France. But, | some time after, when the Koglish were driven out | of Holland, and the Russians beaten at Zurich, Pras | sia became the ally of France. [a 1805 Ans | tria armed, and Russia having joined her, Prassia signed «treaty, in which she spoke of the “ eternal batred’’ which she bore to France. But the battie or Austerlitz having been gained by French troops, Prussia at once abjured her former e ment and proved faithless to her new alii as she had been previously to France. The year after, Prussia beiog convalsed by the actions of ul- tra-liberal opivions, which she was unable to master or resist, endeavered to find @ resource in hostilities, and declared war on l’rance. Being completely worsted, Pruseia had to ape the treaty of Tusit. Ia 1811, the preparations of Raasia menaced Earope with a new war, and as Prussia, from her geographi- cal position, could not remain an indifferen: spec | | wer oo? bade ty Prussia will probably not feel matters much bya comes to his ge at the expense of himself, and it is Cd tery le that such was preclaely the desire of the Cabinet of the Tulle- ‘The weather has been such as to give the world some idea of the sufferings which exposure to it must occasion the allied army at the seat of war. On Saturday last the thermometer stood at 15 Fah- renheit; on Sunday it was 11.70 F. at 6 inthe morning; and at noon 16.20 F. Tne aspect of the Chi yElysées was exceedingly beautiful, the branches of the trees being most delicately marked out bythe snow which covered them; and the prin- cipal buildings of Paris presented also a highly plo. turesque appearance from the same cause. The sheet of water in the Bois de Boulogne and the basins of the Gardens of the Tuileries and Luxembourg were on Saturday and Sunday thronged with skaters. But on Monday evening a thaw set in, and the rapid melting of the snow renders the city at pre- sent in no sense either picturesque or pleasing. Taere ‘was one circumstance which attracted marked cu- riosity while the frost Isated. An elegant sledge, drawn by two large dogs, made its appearance on the broad avenue of the Champs-Elysées. The dogs had been brought from the Crimea by an officer on sick leave, and have long ears like the Danish dog, anda sharp muzzle. They carry the head high, have large eyes, full of fire, and seem very intelligeat. One of them is a male and the other a female—the former almost entirely white, while the cthor has 6 brown spots. The cutting down of dead trees on the inner and outer boulevards of Paris, and on the roads of the department of the Seine, has of late been going on yong seeively; anda porate soon about to appear, in the shape of a cast iron house, four stories high, on the combined plan of an English and French en- gineer. Two statues, in a sitting posture, have just been placed above the grand entrance of the Palace de }’ludustrie—one ay each side of the colossal statue of France. Workmen, too, are at present empioyed in cleaning and resto: the fine dome of the Church pf the Sarbonne, which was built b order of Cardinal Richelieu, and under which is mausoleum, one of the finest works of the French sculptor, Girardon. Thegovernment has purchased within ibe last few days, the last pre of M. Jaques—Joan of Arc before the high altar at Rbeima. After hat formed one of the attractions in the Universal Exhibition, this picture will take up its final abode in the Luxembourg. Talking of artists, M. Pan) Guerin, a painter of some celebrity, died on Saturday. His chef d’awore—The Curse of Cain-~is in the gallery of the Luxembourg. The new born daughter of the Countess of Trapani was christened on the 9th at Naples, and received the names—they are certainly worthy of being re- corded in the New York Heranp—of Maria The- resa Ferdinanda Immaculate Conception Sabatia Luciana Philomens, the Queen of the Two Sicilies being her sponsor. Mr. Mason, the American Minister, whose state of heslth had occasioned some anxiety to his friends, is, L hear, perfectly convalescent. The Emperor and Empress held, for the first time on Saturday, @ morning reception, for the purpose of having presented them such foreiguers and dis- tinguished French as were anxious for sucn an honor. Nothing could be more simple than the arrangements. The ladies wore their ponnets and the gentlemen were in plain clothes. As soon as the parties were assembled—the English in ove room, the Freneh in another—their Majesties made their appearance inthe Salle des Mareschau. The ladies formed a line on either side, the gentlemen standing immediately behind them, while Lord and Lady Cowley preceded their Majesties to announce the respective names of the parties presented. The Emperor spoke in English—a language, by the way, which seems rapidly jing away from his memory since he has ceased to be so great a travel- jer—and the Empress in French. Her Mejesty ma- naged to find something to say to each of the ladies, asdid the Emperor to eaca of the gentlemen. Of course the burden of the song most generally was pay much the same—“ Ia it long since you came Paris? I hope you like it; do you make any stay? fear Paris will not be so gay this season as usual, the war bas occasioned so many domestic losses; but in England, I suspect, it is much thessme,” &c. Every one reemed surprised at the facility of the Empress in this reapect, though one malicious besuty was heard to say that the phrases were arranged with great precision, and when exhausted went the rouad again, about four persons being generally sufficient toeke them out. Al!lIcan say is,if her Majesty succeeds in finding enough of these courteous sala- tations for as as four of her admirers, I think she bas a perfect Hight to begin de nove. I recollect in the days of my youth doing pretty much the same with each successive partner ina ballroom. Say what we will, the fifth aoe in Euclid is nothing to compulsory “ small “44 It was a source of general pain and regret to remark that the Empress ed pale and delicate in the extreme. The pallor of her countenance did not de- tract from her beauty, the complexion was so clear and free from the slightest tinge of sallowness; but the transparency, the marked developement of the bine veins on her temples, and a certain look of dis- trees about har, in spite of the meek and gracious smile which always accompanies her address, caused many, to make reflections alike sombre and sorrow- Queen Pomare is decidedly to be present at the Grand Exposition, and is to be the guest of ber friend, Admiral Brust. She hashecome a convertia the matter of bead gear, and M. Felix, the cele- brated coiffeur, has her Majesty's permission to dis- play bis science on the roys! head. But as regards those barbariams ’sclept shoes and Poa her Mojesty will none of them; on the contrary, she be- lieves a pretty leg and foot can never be seen to 80 great advantage as when unadorned. Bextie. Panis, Thursday, Jan. 25, 1855. Anziety in Paris Respecting the}Result of the War— Debates in the British Parliament—The Great Question of a General War to be Settled in Ger- many— Austria and the Germanic Confederation —The Result of the Loan a Fresh Stimulus to Louis Napoleon's Energy—Progress of Events in the Crimea—The French Press on English Miltary Blunders—Interesting Anecdote of Louis Napolion—The Empress in the Faubourg St. Antoine—The French Industrial Exhibition Paris Chit Chat, §c. The intense auxiety manifested by all classes here to ascertain the opinion of the membera of the British Parliament, just now returned to transact the business of the nation, arises from a two-fold cause:—First, from a love of Parliamentary discus- sion, which no peeple that has once enjoyed it will ever —be the circumstauces what they will—entirely forget; secondly, from a certain distrust whic) is here commonly entertained that no policy can be counted on between France and England so long as the British Ministry is in danger of an overthrow. Tt is in vain that you assert tre aonibilation of party in England, as understood at she beginning of the present century, when the galf which divided the House of Commons was deep, broad, and not t> be bridged over by any refived system of political en- gineering. It is in vain that you tell Frenchmen that Catholic emancipation, the Reform bill, and the abolition of protection, have so fused Parliamentary representatives and blended hard an@ sharply de- fined opinious, thatthe grand diflculty of the pre- sent day is © cetup a watchword—a cry which shall rally 9 ial, sound, hating opposition; aad that therefore «cy of those sudden changes from a black toa white policy, which occurred heretofore, need never be again anticipated. Frenchmen of all degrees, from the official in the diplomatic ba. reau to the eager agest of the Bourse, smile more or less incredulously. “We believe you personally,” say they, ‘‘to be @ frank and loyal people, but your government, ander cover of its change of ministry, deserves ite universal reputa- tion of being the most perfidious in the world.” Still, at the present time, so many proofs of the national popularity of the existing policy have come before them, that they do not go so fer as te anti- cipate a change or even a serious reconstruction of it ; but Mr. Cobden’s speeches considerably fidget them, and they have difficulty in believing that one who has before now created such an extraordinary revulsion of opinion in England, msy not do the same again. Altogether, from one cause or the other, public interest sits strong just mow across the channel, and points towards the Queen of Eng- land’s Palace at Westminster. Every day those far off murmurs of peace become less and leas distinct, and gradually die away in the distance. The few who were even sanguine on the subject are now grave and silent, and each hour me us nearer to that solution of the question those who take a more comprehensive sarvey _ rit Bo ier we field— A war once once in the angry blood on<e stirred—long buried smlanens ‘but it is not to make p men think of i As eat var wil “4 war nO Even now the Ger. manic Confederation is on the judgment seat Suara ho day alarmed for her fron- ments of the 20th of April last. Prussia sees no dapger of an attack, and slyly limits her baat own Po- to an offer of placing s corps d’armée on lish frontier. Austria , therefore, to the Ger- manic Confederation to arm; and on the answer ehe will receive will depend, in all likelihood, the issue of @ general conflagration in Europe. Tt becomes, consequently, a matter of the most intense interest whether, in this instance, Austiia, backed by Eng- Jand and France, will be sufficient to counterbalance Prussia, aided by the influence of Russia, in pre- sence of the Diet. There is undoubtedly in some of the German States a very strong anti Gallican feel- ing, even though there may be no bona Russian sympathy—a teeling left behind by a Se mpi ot French domination in the reign of the elder Bona- parte; and there are many who are strongly dis- sed to believe that Austria will not succeed in this dividual trial of strength over Prussia. The energy with which the French government continues to put forth its efforts in support of the war policy, has been immensely inc: since ite extract din success in the national loan. It loudly proclaims in ita official , the Moniteur, = Aion of Messnt has a le ene unanimous affirmative response to its policy. “The national loan,” here “has renewed the wonders of the univerzal vote, and it was reserved for him who had saved France, by placing her ina position to manifest her sentiments, to reveal all the riches she contains. It is France thst has quadru- led the leat loan. Who would have it that Zee come pisces fone hundred pileee at the im- m government? Speculation bas no doubt had its part in this universal testimo- ny of confidence ard patriotism; but among those who have considered the loan an advantageous affair, how many are there who have not been influenced by a desire of gain; and we must see in their eager. ness to eu }, @ fresh testimony in favor of erect and policy of France.” e g00) faith of Austria—so dongs snisioct of pres i ised dietrust—is thought to be p! beyond dispute by the sppointment of M. de Bruck to thé Ministry of Finance. It was ho, it is remembered, who for yeas having op, Russian preponder: ance In the Black Sea and the Danube, negotiated in 1853, and concluded the treaty between the Porte and Austriae—it was he, too, who, while Minister of Commerce, proposed a loan of 100,000,000 florins—believing it to be the keyatone of the fivancial edfice—destned to restore the value of paper money by buying it up—and, although that proposition was at time, since that 800,- 000,000 florins have been raised to be devoted in part to this object; and by the cession of Bohemian and Hungarian railways, that financial th hag been thrown open, in which M. de Bruck to conduct the country. Austria, it is thought, thus becoming country producing capital, instead of one consuming fo: loans, will be more firmly kait to that Weetern alliance which hasso long been opening wide its arm to her. The conferences, however, on the pace question, will open at Vienna on the 6th of February. There is nothing from igs) aa except a letter published t5is morning in the Moniteur, dated Jan- uary 2d, which bevins thas:—“The situation and di- recticn of our works, which now extend toroughout the south siveof the place, have given us an oppor- tunity of reeing and studying the townin its points, et the riek of buliets, balls and shells, which the Russians deliver with a profusion unheard of in any previous siege.” The letter, which occupies nearly four columna, goes on to describe the artistic nature of the defence, and ita truly formidable character—that formerly, s!l classes of socisty seered to treat the siege as a matter of indiffer- ence—ladies elegantly attired strolling about and visiting the various works as they proceeded—that now, however, nothing of this was to be seen. The walls of the theatre no longer echoed with the voice of the drema or the notes of music. Women, chil- dren, old men, and persons unoccupied with the de- ferce, bad all departed, and the streets were Lo peopled with sol and sailors. That vast > gigantic batteries, and enormous bastions now de- tended thearsenal, and that, in fact, every street presented an array of defence, which showed that nothing which . untiring industry and indomi- table cor e could effect to render the Lovee eecure, had been left undone. With it ail, however, the letter concludes by an assurance that the allies will ultimately succeed in taking it. The (he canbe of such a document in the Moni- teur is without meaning, and may be intended to soften the shame of failure, if failure ensue; and perbaps the following comparison of the merits of the English and French armies, from the Constitu- tionnel, be intended to show, in case of any miskap, 1e the fault lies : “The frst thing which would strike a spectator arti at Sebastopol. is the great contrast which exists between the oe and French armies. In the former, are to observed the reign of formality, and the strict observance of rank and social position. After the hour of combat there are no longer any relations between the officers and the privates. While French officers, always mingling with their men, constantly occupy themselves with the means of supplying their wants, the English officers remain inactive, if not indifferent. This is the affair of the it. On the other hand, they have the bi ble sense of honor and duty, and will perform the most heroic actions. The English soldiers, too, are somewhat of the same stamp as their officers; they fight admirably, bat they kee 4 watch, and are not very good for work. ey require to have paid hands for this Jast purpose. it is an army splendid in combat, but not made for andergoing sufferings. or ganization is bad, because incomplete, and proper administrative services do not it. Toe French army, on the contrary, is eesentially calculated to support suffering, and consequently war also, pro vided there be constant emotions to keep alive sach excitable imsginations. ‘A familiarity exists be- tween officers and men, and on the part of superior officers a kind sympathy, wi never fails to mapert end encourage. There is, in fact, a epecies of solidarity in all degrees of rank in the French army. But what appears most striking is the ready aptitude of the French efficer, Mary of them, it may be, are deficient in education; but the presence of mind natural to the nation replaces this deficiency, by transforming i+ seif on the spot into a practical instiact, which ren- ders them skilful in drawing the greatest ible advantages from the moet indiffereat elements. It is owingsto this that eo many men are found, who, after two months service, make sub-officers, and in tweive months efficient full officers. ‘The patural vanity of the French aids them in this re- spect. A wish to attract attention is the occasion of acts of valor avd jokes, which cause laughter and tend to support the mind. Each man wishes to outdo his comrades. There is the same rivalry in cooking their food as in firing their musket.” And the Assemblée Nationale adds, on th@ same subject :— OAR to the superiority of the organization of the English army as compared with ours, no one can entertain avy doubt on the subject. Sacha milita- Ty orgavization as ours is not the work of a few Montns. It requires years of care and sacrifices to form such em army and organize all the services connected with it. We have labored at it for thirty pears; we thought of it the day followi the disasters of 1815, and since that time the wor! bas not been for a moment lost sight of. England, on the contrary, since the same p:riod, bas only oc- cupied herself with her fleets, the extension of her commerce, and the reduction of taxes, in order to better the condition of the inhabitants of the great manufacturing districta, She has closed ber ears to the representations of the men who had been the honor cf her armies. The Dake of Wellington, him- self, notwithstanding the authority attached to his bye was not listened to, and things arrived nt Joy where we now sec them.” following agecdote will show the steady and unswerving manner in which Napoleon the Third, in the midst of war and war's alarms, keeps hiseye on the great source of his strength. The upper classes may cavil and Jegitimiste sneer, but ho laughs sho wins, anditis the classe ouvrier that the Emperor on all occasions takes to his heart. Some workmen belonging to one Deocowter, a ma- chine maker, in the rue Stanisisa, proposed to him to work for twelve days, an bour extra, for which they should be paid, until the amount of one day's i ef & E le i FRE ff s 3x i B f ge fea i EFz : ina i; | | 3 E ur Res Py ges? i ! EZ E 5 8 z 5 & ry ef sition is concent Pie ima faceally coe to divereit trees the stirring events cf the war. The scaffolding is soon to be removed from the Palais de |’Indastrie; indeed, very little of it now remains. The difficulty of finding accommodations for all exhibitors is im- menee; at the seme time French organization is car- tied to such a scientific excellence, that no doubt in eepect. if ia no other, the Exposition of 1855 all its predecessors. The Zollverein don’t masse with toa place by i Fiteen hundred shops, ata rent of a id franca each, are to be erected in the Allée d’Antin, for the duplicates of such articles aa may strike ‘the fancy of visiters, ee tm the Exhibition be- te mitted to be sold. Opposite the Palais de Vindustrie a gigantic restaurant is about to be erected for the creature comforts of those who come from. afar to see the wonders of the world’s in- genuity. M. Lamartine is to publish his memoirs in *ix volumes. Prince is expected home daily, but, it is said, from some cause or other, not to bis father’s roof. Somehow ‘her, this part of the Bonsparte family are al sixes and evens. It isonlys few days recon: Ciliation took place between the Princess Mathilde and ber father, and now it is the Impenal General of the Crimea who is out. There isan on dit that Prince Jerome, the father, rather more cleaves to his American progeny—the children of his first love —in bis old age, than they of the second bed approve. Be this as it may, it is certainly an awkward fact for his fature interesta,that Napoleon Bonaparts, the presumptive heir to the Imperial throne, man- ages to get on well with nobody. There has been a magnificent ball at the Hotel de Ville, on a scale of municipal splendor to be witnessed only in France. The Princess Mathilde was there. This is all in the shape of gaiety. Beariz. China. ANGLO-AMERIGAN NEGOTIATIONS. From the Friend of China, Nov. 22.) H.M. 8. Rattler, Captain Mellersh, has returned to Woorung from her expedition to tue Gulf of Pe- cheli, bringing back H.E.Sir John Bowring and suite. We uaderstand she was anchored nearly a month at the mouth of the Peiho (more properly the Tien-tsia-po), in company with the U.S. steam frigate Powhatan (which conveyed H.E. Mr. Mc- Lane, fthe American Commissioner, and his party), and the U. 8. steamer John Hancock. Cemmunications were regularly kept up between the ehips in the bay and the Secretaries of the two Ministers who were established inthe river on board the U. S. echooner Fenimore Cooper aud Lorcha Chusan, which had been towed up by the larger ships as aux!liaries to the expedition. A grand cisplay took en on the 34 November, when, preceded by the fine band of the Powhatan, ond passing through lines of about 200 men, con- sisting of paval officere, marines aod seamen, ac- nate, by the national flags, the plenipoten- viaries of Great Britain and America landed, and, walking arm in arm, were received by an immense crowd of mandarins, who escorted them to tents which bad been prepared for the occasion; at the entrance of which they were met by the Imperial Commissioners deputed by the Emperor to receive hem. When the usual compliments had , the inner tent was cleared of tne multitude of Chinese mandarins and foreign officers who had crowded into it, and the high fuactionaries pro- ceeded witu their negotiations. Atter the inter- view, which lasted several hours, the plenipoten- tiaries remained six days in the bey, which the Rattler left on the 10th instant. Nothing whatever has transpired as to the re- sult of the eonterences which bave taken place, and the oe curiosity will probably remain ungratified until the ive governments see fit to publish the communications of which the ei ceeaee sre bearers. We understand Count Klezkowsk! was introduced by the British and American Ministers, as charged with communications from the French Minieter, who was tnable to proceed in a national ship-of-war to the Peiho, in consequence of the dis- aster which bappened to tne frigate La Jeane d’Arc, at the entrance of the Yang-’tze-kiang.! While the ministere were in their con- ference with the high Mandarins, ae den: of retreshments, tea, &c., were provided for the whole party Delo had accompanied their to iL 'e. Tents had been erected for the accommodation of every body, and many a ludicrous scene took p ace in the process of fraternization between the subjects of “ Western outer nations” and native officers aad attendants, many of whom saw our people forthe first time. A black man from the Rattler was an especial object of curiosity and wonderment. A Canton correspondent of the London News says:--Some crafty Americans have caused consi- derable annoyance by hiring their vessel and them- selves to the belligerent parties, but the United States Minister has interfered, and for the present stopped the movement. In the present crisis it be- hoves foreigners to hold a strict neutrality, for by doing 80 the struggle will terminate most favorably to the interests of foreign trade. ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE IMPERIALISTS AND AME- RICANS. e The North China Herald—publiahed at Shang. hae—of November llth, says:—On Wednesday morning, about half past nine,» pody of imperial- ist soldiers oros#ed on to the race course in order, it would appear, to get over the bridge, fur the pur- oy of entering tne bouses near the north gate. ‘ne American sentinel stopped them, and called out the guard, and the proper signal having been iven, ® company of and marines was ianded the U.8.ship of war Vardalia, which imme- diately’marched up to the ground, and still found tof the im; liste occup: it. > jey bad fired upon the 5 were exchanged. The insurgents on the wall hear- ing the mus! A from it, and tried to take the imperialists in the rear, which quickly caused their retreat from the race course, and return to their own camp; no further distarbance has ensued. Japan. AN EASTERN VIEW OF THB AMERICAN TREATY. (From the North Chiva Herald, Nov. 11.) The opening of Japan to wider intercourse with foreign countries is among the recent events of the recent day. To our American cousins belongs the Eonor of knocking at the door of that exclusive king- dom end compelling her proud rulers to treat the representatives and visitera of nations with courtesy and respect. It has been modore Per- "8 peculiar merit to straight to his object, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left. ‘Taciturn, and calm, courteoua yet firm, he has shown in diplomacy the same determination which \hes marked his professions! career. It was a sight not easily to be from the mind of the beholders, when the warsteamers entered upon the inner wa- ters of Japan and came to an cegeaee e the Bay of Yedo. There was something in t! spectacle which carried the imagination forward upon the wings of time, In that event there was a guarautee and a pledge, not so much of the physical supertori- ty of the West over the nattons or the East; of new elements of mind and the juxta-porition of new and unwonted influences of moral strength, tending to harmonize, cement and assimilate antl; of humanity and the opposite poles of Anglo- and barbaric civilization. Japan enters upon this new phase of her nati existence with many historical dents to guide and to warn her rulers in the new exigency. Turning hereye westward to her neigh- poet ely berg 3 ee oe nev! je lawe ental destiny. om to the necessity ot the time, and seeteaiectioning Wie icy in good faith to the altered circumetances e pew era, she may learn lessons of historical ex- — and escape the evil storm whish now tens with dynastic ruin the country and go- vernment of China. The law of Anglo-Saxon pro- grese may here receive ite modificatjons ard tions; and’the kingdom of J presents in the ture history of international intercourse the bapp’ instance of # rene receiving unmixed Diessings from contact with Weatorn oi oD. his Deservedly will Commodore Perry receive om Le aft sf | elevating influences of « heaven-derived faith, hi moral desert in the furtheet East, Japan, ma: meres and fulll-oo ordinary part im tho history merce an no art 0 the kingdom of Christ. nity The Political and Military Relations a , » Pras ia, ane France. vibes ym the London Times, Jani 23, The diplomatic carrespondence which ee lished yesterday ,and re-publish to day, from the isters of Foreign Affairs in Prassia, France Anstrie, throws consid: rable eo upon the pt relations of the leading continental States, brings down the nerrative of contemporary occu rer ces to the Iatest period, inasmuch as these de itches are all dated within the current month o anusry. With the assistance of these authenti documentt we are enabled to determine with th utmcst precision the attitude of the three from which they biter It was on the 24th of December, when the tern of negotiation assigned by the treatyef the 2d o December was drawing to a close, that the Cabine of Vienna suneunced to that of Berlin that th time was ccme to consider the natare of th military measures to be taken by Pruasia and b: the Germanic Confederation, in virtue of the con vention of the 20th of A) and the addition article of the 26th of November. The Pruasi vernment replied to this summons on the Sth o anuary, having in the meantime learnt that a con} ference of great importance had been held at Vi on the 28th December, from which Prussia had be excluded. The extreme tartnees and ill-humor o the Prussian deepatch is evid great part, to this circamstanc: of the Prussian ministers does not render the: cautious in evading their obligations and parryin the demands of their confederates. The Ki Prussia reverts to his old assurances that Russia never entertained the idea of proceeding ag sively 8; it Germany; that she has shown # sin| cere desire to come to an understanding; and bh unreservedly accepted the Four Points proposed toher, which, at the date of thejdespatch we quoting from, what was not true. use government adds thet, heving nothing to do with the Four Points, or with the blab: which has been given them, it takes stand on th treaty of the 20th of April, and keeps within th circle of those engagements. So that the cabinet o} or ane rang tla uta es the subsequei arrapgemenis of the other Powers, and then, in swer to their demands, pleads a prior conventic concluded under a different state of things, within three weeks after the declaration of It first rejects the form of proceeding to which At tria, Frence, and England have agreed, and th declares that ‘there cannot be any mutual comma action as long #8 Prossia does not share in the terpretation of those points and influence the same.’ Yet the King of Prussia asserts, “with the utmo tenacity, and will watnutain with the wnole for and perscverance of true patriotism,” his right) be considered as one of the great Powers of q —aright of which no one but nimsel? and his pre ent ministers could have deprived him. On tl point the reply of the French government, to whot the Prussian note wae communicated, is so keen rushing, that we extract the passage as it standa ‘The Cabinct of Paris does not pretend to contest Prussia the rank she holds. Nay, moro—during th ast two years it has oftem reminded her of the ob! ‘ions of that high rank of whish she is so justly But it feels it a duty to observe that the quality « great Power is permaneat-—it cannot be cast aif whe: bed onerous duties, and resumed when it only of edvai . : much is certain, that France wiil never allow ths| t which, from its own free will, teox mo part events which are occurring in the world, afterwards maintain a claim to ulate the con quences thereof. The advantages from the w: are only for the belligerent Powers; and the advan' of the present war—which are essentially moral advan tager—consist in the right of participation, for the in terest of Europe, in the regulations of Pryssi has not done anything as yet for that object. She b refused to proclaim her neutrality. That resolution do her . But, in reality, on what side is she? If ho continue, will be with or against the alli This is what no one can tell. With the refusal of Prassia to concur in the mili tary meseures pri 'd by Austria to the Germaniq Confederation we have no right to iaterfere; but retersion of Prussia to throw herself bet asia and the other allied powers deserves to b repelled wito the utmost severity, and it has no often happened that the conduct of oze of the’pri cipal Cabinets of Europe has been exposed to criti: cian 56 pinta. spoken and as searching as that we hat now before us. M. Usedom’s mission to this country; which some hopes were excited of a reaction only @ fresh wat of th de L’Huys might weil ex should have been carried, not to London, but to Petersburg. The Avstrian government has answered th Prnesian de b with less asperity toan Mi Drousn de L’Huys; but Count Buol's note is written with # degree of force and precision which we d not eften find in diplomatic documents, and whic! is wholly wanting in the communication to whol it is addressed. ‘These deciarations of the Austriay Cabinet are of the highest importance, becau they were msde a week after Prince G ff's alleged of the Four Points! rem>ve doubt of the fact tha ‘ocomblne her laa of ait oper aso cD ce with the allied . Count Buol “Obecrved, 11 her promise bas such @ promise fact thet within attack has bee: can! y torts of Austria, or interfere with the engagon entered into by the Germanic States. express words of the Cabinet of Vienna, and on! .d) ground it proceeds to require the Germanic Die: 1 cali out at least one-half the federa: contingents fo active service, unless the opinion should prevail tas the whole federal army ougot to be in (nena for op eration. Tne ot @ tederal Commander-in-Chie. 8 also recommended as imperatively ATC bere epee ave already been made at Frank fort by Sagi Presiding Minister of Austria « be Bun also to the of ail thr G s Tt becomes fore & question o| great interest to ascertain whether the influence o Austria and the policy of the Wi festern Powers this measure in the Diet against the jntr:cur ugeia and the other an Stator deapatch e hich the openly applauds the Mec’ jenburg Princes for their avowed adherence to 5! cause; but such toe ey a are a + tance on: A 38 when they are —So ; aacrt