NEWS OF THE WEEK.
PEACE has been officially announced in this country, though not proclaimed. The treaty is to take effect from the date of its signature, although it is not ratified, nor published, nor indeed completed. It is not published for form's sake; the form in this ease having a substantial validity. Although the under- standing between the contracting . powers appears to be complete, it was of course peremptorily requisite that the text of the treaty should be submitted to each sovereign before its issue .to the world ; -yet the object of a complete pacification was sufficiently pressing to act upon it at once. There is the less haste for the text, since, unless some deception has been used, it does but ful- fil the conditions that had already been developed to the public in the Austrian propositions. The postponement of essential parts of the treaty, to be handled in a species of appendix as it were a peculiar proceeding, also justified probably. by the pecul iiar circumstances. It is, for example, understood, that the -manner of arranging the Moldo-Wallachian Principalities is left to the Conference still sitting after the signature of the treaty ; which has only substituted the collective guarantee of all the Powers for the single protectorate of Russia, and has stipulated that any arrangement shall proceed upon the peremptory basis that in no degree shall the integrity of the Sultan's dominions be infringed.
According to reporti which we have some reason to regard as well-founded, the • chief members of the Conference suc- ceeded in retaining for each state the place which it naturally took on the strength of its antecedents. Prussia was ad- mitted to sign the treaty ; Austria was less an arbiter than a spectator ; the preamble of the treaty recognizes the good offices of the French Emperor as mainly conducing to the agree- ment; the minutes will attest the leading position taken by Lord Clarendon, whose ability in the discussions was acknowledged on all sides, and who was the author of the allusion to the Emperor Napoleon ; Russia is admitted, to have joined in the compact less as a conquered Power than as a voluntary coadjutor, without attaint to her honour and dignity ; the independence of Turkey is maintained liy guarantee ; special invitations assigned a peen- liar prominence to the diplomatic representatives of Sardinia. It needs no comment to point out the political force of these formal facts; or the studied preparation for ulterior events which they indicate.
The reception of the news in France and in England has been appropriate to the national characteristics, and. to the relative positions of the two Governments. Paris illuminated: Napoleon has acquired new guarantees, indorsed by all the Powers, Russia included ; and Paris illuminated, as officially bound. Our illu- mination is deferred to the. time when the formal ratifications shall reach us. the English people have received .the news of peace with a certain expression of thankfulness for the blessing ; but their manner confesses that they would not have regretted if another year of war had enabled us to use our fine armaments, which we are now compelled to lay aside in 'great part unused, leaving the balance of demonstrated achievement to our com- rades the French ; whose official writers, and official ceremonies, make the most of the difference. Notwithstanding the prospect of extended prosperity with returning peace, the self-gratulation of our countrymen is peculiarly sober ; but they gladly listen to any assurances that their public men have done their duty, and that the peace will be safe, honourable, and enduring.
