A rather - remarkable tribute his.been paid by Austria to the
importance of Sardinia,--an amnesty granted to the Lombard refugees residing beyond the frontier, that is chiefly in Piedmont. They are 'to be alleVedlwelve months to make their election of returning and taking possession of their property, or of remain- ing outside. In the latter case, their property will be sold and the proceeds sent to them, or their heirs will be suffered to take possession. They are, however, required to state " the reasons which justify their residence without the Austrian states " ; and in these conditions Piedmontese politicians detect a clause which will-convert the amnesty into a simple manceuvre, obtaining cre- dit for the time, but pledging- the Austrian Government to - no course of action except to those refugees who may make an abso- lute submission. It must not be forgotten, that many of the re- fugees incurred the displeasure of the Austrian Government by the part which they took during the troubles of 1848-'9, in. which the Piedmontese monarchy shared their action. It Must also not be forgotten, that amongst them were many of the most distinguished of the Lombard citizens, and that they would pro- bably have been satisfied, and more than satisfied, with the draft' of a constitution which' Count Stadion vainly proffered to his Government. That citizenship which they lost in' Lombardy, they have found in Piedmont, whose Government and people have adopted them. The offer, therefore, of liberty to return, involves a species of submission which some of the most honour- able may consider to be beneath them ; and at all events the, proposal is not in terms so explicit or so positive as really to; throw open the gates of Milan to the excluded nobles. In this sense the offer has even occasioned some displeasure in Piedmont, since it is regarded as an offence offered under cover of a tour-: tesy to the Sardinian Government. Allowance must be made for, irritable feelings on the spot. It is not probable that Austria_ would at this moment intend anything offensive or oppressive ; but it is more than probable that an act of liberality is .marred. by the ungracious distrustfulness which attends the concessions of most arbitrary powers.
