iforeign anb
FRANCE.—Tho aspect of Paris is still clouded. The determination of the question concerning M. Louis Blanc's prosecution has led to official troubles. It seems that the Law Officers, M. _Portalis and M. Landrin, after an examination of witnesses and documents, resolved to lay the case of M. Louis Blanc before the Minister of Justice, M. Cremieux, with their opinion in favour of the prosecution. M. Cremieux went over the case, first with the lawyers, then with the Executive, who were divided: M. Arago and M. Marie (the latter an eminent lawyer) were for the pro- secution; M. de Lamartine, M. Ledru-Rollin, and M. Gamier-Pages, were against it; but ultimately, it was resolved "that the officers of justice should not be interfered with in their duties." Messieurs Portalis and Landrin were so dissatisfied with this course that they threatened to re- sign if it were acted on. The Executive then resolved that leave to pro- secute M. Louis Blanc should be asked of the Assembly. At one of the last interviews between M. Cremieux and the Law Officers, M. Cremieux said to M. Landrin, "We now understand each other—we act in accord the one with the other." On this the case was brought before the Assem- bly. The Committee was appointed: M. Fevre, a friend of N. Ledru- Rollin, reported in favour of the prosecution. But on the final debate,
M. Cremieux turned round, voted, with all the other Ministers, against it, and by their weight induced a majority of the Assembly to negative the prosecution. Messieurs Portalis and Landrin immediately resigned office.
N. Cremieux, in explanation, had the temerity to say he had not examined the evidence, and had assented to the step he now opposed on the faith of the opinions of M. Portalis. This was flatly contradicted by the latter; and M. Cremieux was reminded that he had been the first speaker for the measure, and had deolared himself scandalized that it had been so long delayed. N. Landrin also gave the lie to the Minister; and M. Jules Fevre exclaimed, in excitement and astonishment, that he blushed at the conduct of his late colleagues.
This affair has loosened the cohesion of the Executive Government. M. Cremieux has resigned; and has, it is said, had hostile meetings with more than one Deputy. He has been succeeded by M. Bethmont; and M. Per- tain is succeeded by the venerable Martin du Strasbourg, as Proeureur- General. Rumours of other changes are rife; especially of the resignation of Lamarrine and Ledru-Rollin, whose names now always occur in unison.
These elements of discord are said to be actively seized by each party of Opponents to the present regime. The Ultras and the Reactionaries are active in organizing and pressing their views. The Prince de Joinville's name was actually put forward for one of the vacancies in the repre- sentation of Paris, and 290 men were bold enough to vote for him. The Minister of War, however, has got 60,000 troops in Paris; and he alone, perhaps, is "master of the situation."
The Assembly has elected a new President. M. Buchez, whose month of service closed on the 5th, received a vote of thanks, and enjoys the re- gard of the Members; but his place is thought better filled by M. Senard, his successor, a man of conduct and decision.
The Assembly is engaged in discussing the Government project of law for putting down tumultuary meetings. It declares armed assemblages, and unarmed ones if threatening to public order, alike illegal. It declares that the presence of several persons bearing arms, apparent or concealed, or the continued presence, with the permission of the meeting, of a single Person bearing apparent arms, shall constitute the meeting an armed as- semblage. It prescribes forms analogous to our readings of the riot act— summonses to be made twice to an armed and thrice to an unarmed assem- blage; after the disregard of which, an assemblage may be dispersed by force. It prescribes penalties, all heavy, and all increasing in gravity in Proportion to the contumacy of the meeting at which they are incurred. The time of night or of day is also an element influencing the quantum of Punishment. Warm contests have arisen on many of the provisions of this law, and some changes have been made; but it is still under discussion. ITALY.—The Austrians assumed the offensive on the 29th May. Ra- detzky had, on the preceding days, concentrated a large mass of troops at Mantua. On the 29th, a simultaneous attack was made on the two ex- tremes of the Tuscan and Neapolitan line, stretching hem a point in ad- vance of Goito on the Minch, to Gozzoldo, some miles on the Piedmontese side of that river. The object was to turn the flank resting on the rivers_ and by crossing the river and ascending its right bank derange the siege operations against Pesehiera. The Austrians brought some 20,000 pen into the field, and succeeded in their first attack. General Bava com- minded against them, and was forced to retreat his left to Goito: but he did so in good order. His right was defeated completely, and nearly dis- organized. Next day, Charles Albert came into the field from Val- legio, with troops that restored the combatants to equality in numbers, and. with an overpowering artillery. The engagement was renewed; and the Austrians, after a whole day's fighting, were dislodged from Goito, (the first houses of which they had entered,) and driven along the right bank of the Mincio to the very gates of Mantua. They received im- mense hurt from the Piedmoutese cavalry at the end of the engagement, through their tenacity in bearing off the dead and wounded. They re- united on the 31st, at Mantua; and the fight is reported to have been re- newed there,—the garrison sallying out to succour,—aud to have been still raging when the last accounts came away. The King of Sardinia and the Duke of Savoy distinguished themselves by great personal bravery. The King was on horseback the whole day, and narrowly escaped death from a cannon-shot, which grazed his ear in passing. The Duke was struck in the thigh by a spent balL As the day was closing on the 30th, news was brought that Peschiera had at last fallen. During an armistice of four hours, on the 26th May, a Piedmentese officer had been received blindfolded on a mission to settle terms: the officer heard most distressing cries of the populace for surrender, but the commander was obdurate. The cannonade was renewed on the 28th, and kept up incessantly till a surrender was forced on the 30th; when the commander learnt, from his towers, the failure of Radetzky's attempt at relief. His artillery had already been silenced; and breach batteries had been opened against him. The garrison were allowed to carry out their arms and lay them down; but were pledged not to serve again under Aus- tria against the Italian League. They will pass to Ancona, receiving back their arms there, and be thence shipped home. The Piedmontese troops entered Peschiera late on the night of the 30th. They found the town in ruins and the populace starving. The garrison had been on diminished rations of horse-flesh for some weeks past.
The position of the fleet off Trieste seems to be unchanged; and last week's rumours of a rising and conflict in that town have not been con- firmed.
There was an outbreak at Milan on the 28th, by the students and Ultra- Republicans; but the National Guard put it down, after three hours' street disturbances. The voteS of 'Milan in favour of incorporation with Pied- mont were overwhelming down to the 31st: about 32,162 to 290.
From Rome the chief news concerns the enthusiastic reception given to Gioberti, who daily preaches union on the part of the people with the Sovereign Pontiff. The Pope was recovering his popularity. He had de- spatched Signor Moriehini to the Emperor of Austria on a mon of peace in behalf of Italy; conjuring the Emperor not to influence the German nation in staking its honour on sanguinary success against Italy: let the Germans retire beyond the Alps, and the Itatians will treat them as brothers.
From Naples the news is uncertain. A letter from Toulon, of the 31st May, says that Calabria is in full revolt. The Sicilians are flocking to their assistance: artillery has been sent them; and the famous Romeo and his two sons have got back to their head.
AusraLL—The Austrian intelligence is of the gravest importance. On the 29th May, Count Leo Than and the other administrative heads at Prague declared their unanimous resolve to create a Provisional Govern- ment independent of Vienna. The measure was approved by the National Committee at Prague; and eight of the meet violent members of the Czechish party were chosen to form the Government. Two of them were sent off to Inspruck, on the errand of obtaining the Emperor's formal con- sent.
At the same sitting, when Count Thun announced the resolve in favour of Bohemian independence, he read a letter from the rebel Jelalic Ban of Croatia, dated Agram, 20th May, announcing that a Diet had been con- vened for the triple kingdom of Dalmatia, Croatia, and Sclavonia, to meet on the 5th of June; and inviting the Austro-Sclavonic countries to send representatives to this " Diet of the Croatish-Sclavonie nation."
At Vienna the barricades were disappearing on the 29th; and the Com- mittee of Public Security resolved, in lieu of them, to station six artillery batteries on the wall bastions, and intrust them to the Civic and National Guards. The Ministry retain their functions, but advise with the Com- mittee of Security on all matters of state. They have declared Count Thun and the Bohemian Provisional Government in rebellion, and ordered the district powers to resist their usurped authority.
Pitussts.—The Berlin students found cause to originate a renewed rising on the 31st. A quantity of arms were in course of removal by boats from the arsenal. Explanations were required of the War Minister; who said that the arms were old and useless. The students burst open a case of them; and they were found to be of the newest and most improved pat- tern: all the cases were landed and burst open, and the arms were distributed among the people. The Prussian journals contain a letter addressed by the Prince of Prus- sia, from Brussels, to the President of the Ministry. The Prince declares that he will assist in developing the Liberal institutions conceded; and that he anticipates the moment when he shall "make that profession to the con- stitution," now under deliberation, "which shall be required of the heir to the throne."