NEWS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 705, 27 January 1855, Page 3

NEWS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.

(From tht Sydney Empire, Jan. 3.)

Paris, Friday Evening, Oct. 6. The feeling that pervaded, I may say, the entire population of Paris the whole of the afternoon of yesterday was one, not perhaps of consternation, but of the profoundest sorrow. You lawsadneti at the cruel disappointment depicted in evtry man's countenance at finding the glorious tidings, which a&ch auccessive day brought us from all quarters, so abruptly contradicted. The excitement baa been so great, the {Bsnltatioa to general, «o4 among all people the confidence to strong and unbounded in the

truth of the extraordinary intelligence which every post appeared to confirm, that it is no wonder if a sentiment of deepest despondency succeeded that universal joy. The change was observable everywhere; in private society and in public places ; and even in the cafes and theatres, those who endeavoured to forget the bitterness of the disappointment found it impossible Ito do so. This susceptible people is wont to ; rush from one extreme to the other, and for some hours after the posting up of the notice at the Bourse yesterday, the despondency was, I think, as great as if news had reached of the total defeat of the allied troops in the Crimea. A letter, dated Paris, Friday evening, says, " The Emperor of the French had ordered a severe investigation into the recent false news of the fall of Sevastopol. It is rumoured that a well known and hitherto very fortunate speculator on the Paris Bourse is suspected of h%ving had a leading part in this affair. In addition to the complaints made to the Emperor by persons who have suffered by this false news, his Majesty felt great personal irritation, as he had been made a dupe by the despatch sent to him at Boulogne, and which bad led him to announce to the officers at the review that Sebastopol had fallen. I am assured that, on his return to Paris, when the Emperor saw on what slight grounds tbe despatch in question had been sent off, he expressed his anger in strong terms. On Wednesday, another attempt was made to deceive the public. A private despatch arrived from Marseilles announcing that the Caradoc had reached that port from Constantinople with an official confirmation of the news of the fall of Sebastopol. The Emperor having desired that •no more private telegraphic despatches on this subject should be given out until he should have seen them, this despatch was shown to hi.n. The Emperor ordered that a despatch should bo sent to Marseilles to kbow what news the Caradoc had really brought. In a few minutes came back a despatch stating the Caradoc had not arrived." The Presse, of Vienna, of the 30th ultimo, says, " It 18 positively stated in well-informed circles, that the negotiations between tbe Cabinets of Vienna and Berlin, relative to the propositions to be made to the Diet on the subject of the Eastern question, are terminated. The Cabinet of Vienna has declared itself satisfied with the Prussian note. She promises to use all her moral influence to cause the four guarantees to be accepted by Russia, and would consider herself bound to make war against that power iv the event of a fresh invasion of the Principalities or of any attack on the Austrians. It is not known whether tbe Austrian general, Maherhofer, who has been for some time at Berlin, has bad any influence on the resolution of Prussia ; but, under any circumstances, the relations which he has had in that city must have been of high interest, as he yesterday had a long audience of tbe Emperor. It is also said that the Austrian Ambassador, Count de Thun, will shortly proceed to Berlin; and on the other hand, it is said that, in consequence of the understanding come to with Prussia, the Conference of Vienna will soon hold a new sitting. From the 20th to, the 26th ultimo, there were violent tempests in the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland. The new Prussian note, the rejoinder to that of Austria, is comparatively, out of date, except as an evidence to the disingenuousness and bad faith of the Government at Berlin. The note is a tissue of special pleading. Prussia professes to see in the evacuation of the Principalities a satisfaction of the treaty of April ; declares the calling out of the Federal forces unnecessary ; affects to regard with jealousy the "foreign elements" in the Principalities as menacing German interests in the Lower Danube ; and calls for an explanation on that point from Austria. Prussia all but hinted that Austria must prevent any species of hostilities, whether on the part of Russia or the Allies ; that German local interests in the Danube must be weighed against German interests in a general war. It holds that Austria cannot receive a definite assurance on the subject of tbe four points, the present moment being unpropitious for deliberation, as Russia has rejected them, and the Western Powr *s will scarcely deem them sufficient as conditions for peace. If the Federation agree to undertake the negociation, Prussia will " lend her moral influence," for Prussia, it would seem, is still willing to mediate, and is always " moral."

The Penalty of Truth-tblling in Russia. — The following humorous incident, in connection with the famous military colonies founded by Alexander, will show the danger involved in revealing to the eye of an absolute monorch the real state of things by which he is surrounded. Dr. Lee thus narrates the circumstance :— " The military colonies please one at first sight from the order and cleanliness everywhere prevailing in them : but th"eir populeftiqn it said to be wretched in the highest degree. When the Emperor Alexander was here, some years ago, he went round visiting every bouse : and on every table he found a dinner prepared, one of the principal articles of which consisted of a young pig roasted. The prince Volhoniky suspected there was some trick, and cut off the tail of the pig and put it in hit pocket. On entering the next house the pig was presented, bnt without the tail, upon which prince Volhoniky taid to the Emperor, ' I think this is an old friend.' The Emperor demanded cis meaning, when he took out the tail from hi* pocket and applied it to the part from which it bad been removed. The Emperor did not relish the jest, and it was supposed this piece of pleasantry led to his disgrace. A more effectual, though bold and dangerous, method of exposing to the Emperor the deceptions carried on throughout the military under count Araktchcieff could not have adopted than that which prince Volhonsky had recourse to on this occasion. From that time count Artktchelfff became hi* bitter enemy."