20 AUGUST 1853, Page 2

Parliament leaves the state of foreign affairs distinguished by nothing

that calls for lengthened remark; nothing that can vie in interest with the one main subject of Turkey.

The Emperor of France has celebrated the Napoleonic fete of the 15th August under circnmstances of unusual splendour and convenience. Fortified by lengthened occupation and by the English alliance, after a Sunday of immense military display, he sent the soldiers to their covert retreats, and on Monday the Emperor appeared amidst the people almost undefended, quite un- attacked. -But the concourse of military power, the exhibition of increased popularity, nay, the enormous multiplicity of lamps at the night-illuminations, have less importance than the few words of hope for "consolidated peace" which he uttered holding the hand of the English Ambassador.

The official announcement that the war in Biumah is concluded —that both parties stand as they are with a renewal of friendly relations and a future arrangement of boundaries and possession— is agreeable as far as it goes ; but cannot be satisfactory in the case of a people like the Burmese, who can always resort to fair speak- ing for a time, when it suits their purpose. They now confess that they desire a cessation of hostilities, to avoid impediment during the season of active trade.

From Turkey the week furnishes not much that is new, and the little is not altogether encouraging. The manifesto which the Sultan has issued to his people has the air of an address by one whose heartiness is doubted. He seems to be telling the Turks how he stands, in order to moderate impatience and restore con- fidence in himself. The publication of the official Russian cor- respondence respecting the occupation of the Principalities shows, even under the hand of Count Nesselrode, that the occupation," whether for a shorter or a longer date, is full possession ; the tri- bute of the Principalities withheld from the Porte, the rights of the Suzerain systematically excluded. Other circumstances imply pre- paration for a long-continued "residence," and contribute with this correspondence to throw the greatest doubt upon the fulfilment of the Russian promise to withdraw upon obtainmg reasonable satis- faction. A new cause for uneasiness is furnished in the reports of great activity amongst Austrian Consular agents in Servia. -Upon the whole, the state of the Eastern question, at the close of the session, suggests these results—Suppose the affair of "the note" closed, and the Russian troops back to their own side of the Pruth, Turkey, notwithstanding the high alliance by which her" integrity and independence" have been protected, will have sustained great damage, in the burdensome charges of extensive preparation for war, and in the shaken allegiance of the invaded provinces, des- tined for future annexation. The proud Autocrat will carry back with him the rankling sting of temporary defeat ; his "word of honour" will not again pass current on the exchange of diplo- macy; and the whole policy of Russia towards Europe will hence- forth be be suspected and watched.