ARMISTICE, a suspension of hostilities between two armies, or two nations at war, by mutual agreement. It sometimes takes place when both are exhausted, and at other times when an endeavor to form a treaty of peace is being made. A particular example will best illustrate the nature of an A. On the 25th of Feb., 1850, the representatives of England, France, Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Turkey, and Russia, met in congress at Paris, to consider the terms of a treaty of peace which should terminate the war at that time going on between five of the above-named powers. The British nation was very unwilling to suspend hostilities during the sitting of the congress—partly on account of the numerous failures of diplomacy in the preceding year, and partly because Russia was suspected of only wishing to gain time. It was agreed, however, at the first sitting, in conformity with the laws of nations and the usages of war, that an A. should be declared, to be announced by telegraphic message to the commanders in the Crimea, and to last until the 31st of March. During that period of about one calendar month, the hostile armies were to remain strictly at peace, but the fficts of the allies were to continue their blockade of Russian ports. The information reached the generals late
on the 28th of Feb. On the morning of the 20th, a white flag was hoisted in the Rus sian camp outside Sebastopol; several Russian officers assembled around it; and a glit tering cavalcade of British, French, and Sardinian officers proceeded thither. The accredited officers compared notes, found the terms of the A. clear, agreed on a boundary line between the hitherto hostile forces, and formally gave pledges for a cessation of fighting. The courtesy of civilized nations at once succeeded to the horrors of war; the Russian commander gave a magnificent entertainment to the allied commanders, and was entertained in turn; the soldiers " fraternized " by little gifts of tobacco, and ludicrous attempts at conversation, across a small stream which formed part of the boundary-line; and a few British officers were permitted to make excursions into the interior of the Crimea. The A. ended on Mar. 31, not by a renewal of hostilities, but by the signing of a treaty of peace.