27 AUGUST 1859, Page 6

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riturt.—A new pamphlet has appeared in Paris. It is from the pen of a M. Felix Germain, whose pamphlets against a war in Italy were seized some months ago by the polibe. It is entitled Le Congris est-ce la rraie Rai e ? It advocates a Congress as essential to a permanent peace, and warmly champions the alliance with England.

" While turning to account the lesson of the Archbishop of Granada to Gil Bias," says M. Germain, " I would here call to mind that the Anglo- Saxon race represents in the universe political liberty, and that this is a principle sufficiently noble to merit the greatest regard, nay, the greatest homage ; that France can gain much by an intercourse more intimate, more extended, by an understanding more complete, with liberal England. I would go so far even as to affirm that the increase of exchanges could be favoured in a manner advantageous for every one ; and that the multiplicity of international relations, of industrial intercourse', would maintain peace be- tween France and England, as it maintains it between John Bull, so often enraged, and brother Jonathan, so often boorish. It will be admitted that there are very good reasons why England and the other Powers should send to the Congress their ablest Plenipotentiaries, in order that the tranquillity of the Italian Peninsula and the security of our alliances should be pro- tected from Mazzinian manoeuvres, and from retrospective rancour."

Trade in Paris has, it is reported, received a stimulus from the fetes— shopkeepers of all kinds having benefited by the influx of visitors.

Sift 111--It will be remembered that at the beginning of the year the King of Sardinia opened his Parliament with a speech in which occurred a phrase that caused sensation at the time. The King expressed his re- solve to respect treaties, but said, " We are not insensible to the cry of grief which reaches us from every part of Italy." In commemoration of these words a private society of Italian patriots caused a medal to be struck which they presented to King Victor Emmanuel on the 20th, through a deputation headed by Count Mamiani. The King made the following speech in reply to their address:— "I thank you for your beautiful present. Ever since it has been in my power I have consecrated my pfforts to the great national cause. I have it constantly before my mind—I live for it, and am ready to die for it. Diffi- culties and misfortunes arise which must be surmounted, and they certainly will, for I have witnessed the courage and discipline of which the Italians are capable. Under present circumstances it has been impossible to go further, as I might have wished. In the midst of past sorrows I have found great consolation in seeing that the Italians have understood me, and have not entertained a doubt concerning me. The masses, blinded by excessive enthusiasm, are sometimes led astray. I might have pardoned such false steps, but I repeat that I have nothing to reproach them with. It seems in- credible that some countries, which are unfavourable to us, do net or will not believe that there is nothing obscure or insidious in my policy. Frank- ness and straightforwardness are its companions—perhaps it is the going atraight to the object in view that creates displeasure. The Italian ques- tion is very clear, and it is no doubt on that account that they will not un- derstand it. The union, perfect order, and wisdom which the .people of Tuscany, the Duchies, and the Romagna now display are admirable. I certainly did not think that Italy was incapable of acting so, still the spec- tacle of such an attitude affords me great pleasure. Have, therefore, faith

in me, gentlemen, and be assured that now as well as in future I shall do everything in my power to promote the welfare of Italy." A letter from Turin of the 21st, in the Nord of Brussels, says- " The King presided this morning at a Council of Ministers, which re- mained in deliberation for several hours. The question under discussion was, it is said, the vote of annexation come to by the Tuscan Assembly, and it was decided that, before accepting, even provisionally, the provinces which desire to give themselves over to King Victor Emmanuel, it was proper to consult the allied Powers, and particularly France. Count Linati, the new Mayor of Parma, who was sent on a mission to Paris by the muni- cipality of which he is the head, returned yesterday, and was this morning received by the King. The Count has brought with him from Paris the formal assurance that there will be no armed intervention in the duohy for the reestablishment of the sovereignty of the Duchies contrary to the wishes of the people. With respect to the eventual annexation of the Duchy to Piedmont, the Emperor is said to have explained himself with much re- serve, declaring that the same difficulties which had counselled the peace of Villafranca existed with regard to the aggrandisement of Piedmont be- yond the limits necessary for the balance of power in Europe, and that under no circumstances would ho assume the initiative in sanctioning such an event."

We read in a letter from Turin in the Independence :-

"Count Poniatowski is not only the Envoy of the Emperor Napoleon, but also of the Hereditary Grand Duke of Tuscany. Ferdinand IV., im- mediately after his arrival in Paris, acquired in his interview with the Emperor the certainty that his Majesty was ready to take in his favour 'every step which the difficulties of the state of affairs would permit to bring about the restoration of the family of Lorraine to the throne of Tuscany, if the prince would on his side engage to adopt a Government sincerely Italian, and conformable to the wants of the present day.' Ferdinand, touched by the interest expressed by the Emperor, solemnly promised to grant to his people all the Constitutional liberties decreed in 1848 by his father, and to remain faithful to that Constitution. He is said to have also expressed to his Majesty a wish to confide a mission in that sense to Count Poniatowski, and to have requested his Majesty to give a more official character to that envoy. The Emperor is said to have immediately consented, and to have recommended the Grand Duke to await with patience the result of those proceedings."

The correspondent of the Times writes subsequently :

"Prince Poniatowsky, whose arrival in Florence I announced yesterday, has held very strong language to the Government here in the name of the Emperor Napoleon. This latter, strongly bent, as he affects to bee on a re- conciliation between the Tuscans and their Lorrainese rulers, intimates through his Envoy that, although he will abstain himself from all votes de fait, he at the same time will not oppose the armed intervention of Austria, should the Emperor Francis Joseph have a fancy to strike a blow for his Grand Ducal cousins. Rieasoli answered with great firmness that Tuscany is armed, and will abide her fate. The Tuscan Government, however, offers to come to terms with the Lorraine dynasty, upon the sole condition that Austria shall withdraw from all the Venetian territory, and that Venice, together with Lombardy, shall be annexed to Piedmont under the dynasty of Savoy. These rumours concerning Prince Poniatowsky's interview with Baron Ricasoli come from tolerably authentic sources. I hear also that Perusal, the Tuscan Envoy, writes from Paris to the same effect as Prince Poniatowsky talks here."

The following despatches have been received during the week. "Turin, Saturday.—A defensive league has been concluded between the States of Central Italy. Prince Ercolani, the delegate of the Government of the Legations, has signed the act of accession to the league."

"Modena, Saturday.—The National Assembly, after having proclaimed the forfeiture (deche'ance) of the Duke Francis V. to the ducal throne, voted for taking the following motion into consideration, namely, The Assembly decrees the annexation of the Modenese state to the monarchical, constitu- tional, and glorious kingdom of the dynasty of Savoy under the magnani- mous sceptre of King Victor Emmanuel."'

"Modena, Sunday.—Today the National Assembly decreed the annexa- tion of Modena to Piedmont. It further adopted the proposal to confirm the dictatorship of Signor Farini. A loan of 5,000,000 bras has been voted."

We have very interesting news from Florence with regard to the offer made by "the young Pretender," as the Tuscans call the Prince " styled by the Moniteur "Grand Duke Ferdinand. IV. of Tuscany." Tho offer is thus stated in the Times correspondence

If the Tuscans be willing to bend their stiff necks to the yoke, Austria, the would-be Grand Duke assures them, will appoint one of her myriad of Archdukes to govern th. ancient state of the Doge on a completely inde- pendent footing. She will sever Venetia from all political and eveu mili- tary connexion with her empire, so that, with the exception of the Prince, Venice shall be as national and Italian as Piedmont herself, and shall unite her interests wholly and exclusively with those of the Italian Confederacy, of which she will become a bona. fide member."

The writer does not give much hope that the offer will be accepted. He says : "An offer of that nature was conveyed to the Government last Tues- day, and circulated through the Assembly at the very moment that the deeheance of the fugitive dynasty was put to the vote, and carried by a majority of 168 to 0. The coincidence was remarkable, and, as the Austrian offer made no impression on the members about to vote, so it is unlikely it will in any manner affect the disposition of the population at large."

It is stated from Milan that the National Guard of Lombardy is to num- ber 12,000 men.

Letters from Romagna say that Austrian agents are active in awaken- ing discord there, as also in Parma, Modena, and Tuscany. But the Romagnoli maintain their tranquillity and union, and prepare for resist- ance to the Papal troops, which are increased by recruits from whatever quarter they present themselves. The greater number of these are Swiss, or men engaged by those who have been recruiting in the confines of Switzerland. They are, however, few in number, the largest body not amounting to more than sixty, who arrived a few days since at Civita Vecchia. The Provisional Government in Bologna continues to make laws in opposition to the Roman Government, and without paying the slightest attention to it, and is resolved to make common cause with the Duchies.

The Pope, it is said, is collecting an army composed of foreign mere*, naries (discontented Swiss from Naples and the offacouringe of many countries), to reestablish his rule in the Romagna. The state of Venetia is as disquieting as ever to the Austrian au- thorities. There is much irritation and excitement, and several arrests have taken place. The Governor has issued an order warning the people against any insurrection, and stating that he has full information of all their plans—even of the day fixed for a general insurrection. " In fact," says a Milan letter, " a general impression existed, not only in the Venetian provinces, but Aso in Lombardy, where hints to the effect had been thrown out by members of the Venetian emigration and by recently arrived travellers, that on the 16th of this month a popular outbreak would take place in Venice, Mantua, and Verona, in pursuance of a sys- tem duly organised and arranged in concert by the leaders of tho national party in those cities."

One indication of the progress of the Zurich Conference is given in a Berne dispatch, dated August 20. " At the banquet given by the Aus- trian ambassador in honour of the birthday of the Emperor Francis Joseph, Count Colloredo said that the fact of all the Plenipotentiaries being present proves that the work of peace will be crowned with success."

According to intelligence received at Berne on Wednesday, from Zu- rich, the French and Austrian Plenipotentiaries have regulated the settle- ment of the affairs of Lombardy, with the consent of the Sardinian Ple- nipotentiary. The arrangement is expected to be confirmed by the dif- ferent sovereigns. The affairs of the Duchies will be treated of directly between the Courts of Paris and Vienna.

It is stated from Berlin that Prussia not only will assent to a Congress on the affairs of Italy, but urges its Convocation— "The Conferences of Zurich cannot pretend to decide the weighty ques- tions which are now on the tapis. To suffer this would be on the part of the great Powers to acknowledge France and Austria as the arbiters of Europe. So long as the treaty only concerned a boundary between Austria and Sardinia, they and France were competent to decide without the voice of Europe. The neutrals who had been indifferent to the war must be in- different to its results, as far as the position of the belligerents and the ac- tual theatre of the war are concerned. But the remodelling of Italy is a matter in which all the great Powers are alike interested, and the present Prussian Cabinet is as little inclined as the English one to suffer a forcible restoration of Princes whose rule over unwilling subjects would only lead to fresh complications. Either the decision on their future government must be left entirely to the Duchies themselves, or, as in 1815, a Congress must be called to regulate their affairs."

All the Swiss soldiers lately in the service of the King of Naples, have left with the exception of 1000, who are incorporated in a new Foreign Legion.

Instri ff.—Some indication of the expected reforms in the internal Government of Austria is given in an article in the Vienna Gazette of Saturday. The subjects of the discussions in the Imperial Council are stated to be. 1. Regulation of the control of the finances; 2. Free exercise of the Protestant religion ; 3. The regulation of Jewish affairs; 4. The regulation of the municipalities. The representation of the pro- vinces will later come under deliberation. The article concludes thus- " Too great caution in advancing is as much to be avoided as too great haste."

The same paper contains an Imperial decree, making the following changes in the Austrian Ministry :—" Count Rechberg, who retains his post as Minister for Foreign Affairs, is appointed President of the Ca- binet. Baron Hubner is appointed Minister of Police. Count Golu- chowski, Minister of the Interior. Councillor (Geheimerath) Kempen von Fichtenstamm, Chief of the Police, is dismissed with a pension. Baron Bach, formerly Minister of the Interior, has been appointed Am- bassador to Rome. The Ministry of Commerce is entirely dissolved. Its duties are divided between the Ministers of the Interior, the Exterior, and of Finance."

Et num.—The town of Stettin has sent an address to the Prince Regent of Prussia in favour of a German Federal Reform—indicating a new union of all the German states under the leadership of Prussia. A meeting to promote the same cause has been held in Gotha.

The Conference of the Zollvcrein, now sitting in Harzburg for the triennial revision of the tariff, is likely to separate without results. Prussia's demand for the reduction of the duty on iron will be rejected, or accepted only clogged with such conditions as will render it unaccept- able here. At present there is a duty of Is. per hundredweight on pig iron; the proposal is only for its immediate reduction to 9d., with a prospective one to 6d. at the end of three years. Prussia is not only the greatest consumer of iron, being the largest state, but it is also the greatest producer; it is therefore difficult to understand the determined opposition which the measure encounters. In Bavaria, where the Chamber listened so complacently to the denunciations of the proposal, the country does not produce iron enough to shoe its donkeys. In Wur- tcmberg the iron mines are Crown property, it is therefore intelligible that a patriot King does all in his power to maintain his monopoly.— Letter from Berlin in the Times.

kainilltril.—Whilst public opinion is being agitated in Germany to obtain the political reorganization of the Confederation, says the Nord, "a little revolution has taken place in the free town of Hamburg. The government of that town was a veritable oligarchy, a sort of burgess- feudalism, surrounded by institutions respectable from their antiquity, but not in conformity with the spirit of the present times. The privileged families which alone had the right to sit and vote in the Senate, have, after long resistance, abdicated their prerogatives, and a new con- stitution, more liberal and more republican, has just been adopted and sanctioned by the Hamburg Senate."

Sfigiam.—The projet do loi for the fortification of Antwerp was carried in the Belgian Chambers on Saturday by a majority of 57 to 42. The debate was wound up by a speech from M. Rogier, who said :- " I wish to assign to the project of law its true extent. It is not de- signed against any Power, but is purely defensive. Antwerp has been es- tablished as the desirable point by many previous votes of the chamber. And last year all those who opposed the project said, the question has not been sufficiently studied, submit it to a fresh examination, and we will vote the project patriotically. Well, this is what the government has done. The question has been again maturely examined, and the result has been unanimity on the part of professional men as to the principle of the mea- sure."

tit rk f 4.—The following telegram from "Trieste, August 25," com- prises the only news received from the East during the week- " The Austrian Lloyd's steamer, just arrived, brings advicea from Con- stantinople to the 20th instant. "The Sultan has been taken ill.

" Musurus Pacha has been empowered to settle the question of the Da- nubian Principalities. " The Papal Charge d'Affaires was expected there.

"The Prince Vogorides is dead.

"Mohamed Pacha has been appointed Governor-General of Smyrna. "The Sultan has presented the Dragoman to the Russian Ambassador with a country seat."

Seri ll.—The Bombay mail of July 21, arrived early in the week. The whole interest of the news is concentrated on the discharge of the discontented European soldiery.

It is stated—but with a hope that the estimate is exaggerated—that from 8,000 to 10,000 men have claimed their discharge under Lord Canning's proclamation. The Government must bring those men home at Its own expense, and some writers calculate the total loss at very nearly a million, including the cost of transport and the cost of putting new recruits into their places. It is hoped in some quarters that the suppression of the rebellion may enable the Indian Government to suffer this unexpected reduction of their force without any necessity for raising a new force in lieu of the men discharged. There seems to be little doubt in Calcutta that at an early stage of the movement nearly all the men would have been satisfied with a bounty on their transfer to the service of the Crown ; and that even now hundreds will avail themselves of Lord Canning's formal license to retire who would never have indi- vidually demanded their discharge—the temptation of a free passage home being too much for them to withstand.

The disarmament of the population of Oude seems to make satisfactory progress. Upwards of 800,000 arms of all descriptions, besides 700,000 miscellaneous weapons, have been collected in Oude, including 642 can- non of various calibre. At Lucknow, in one week, about 3000 arms were collected, and 3500 in the next week, and in the adjoining districts not less than 7000 more. The people are actually inviting search for them, as they have become terrified at the very stringent orders that have been issued respecting them. An official order has appeared in Calcutta appointing a day of thanks- giving "for the restoration of peace and tranquillity to the Queen's dominions in India."