. NEWS. OF THE WEE&
THE Emperor Napoleon his taken his departure from Paris, leaving the Government in charge of his wife, the Empress, as THE Emperor Napoleon his taken his departure from Paris, leaving the Government in charge of his wife, the Empress, as Regent, assisted by the advice of Prince Jerome, his uncle, and 'by the Emperor's Ministers. The Empress is expressly restrained from altering the laws or deviating from the orders and instruo- tions`of the Emperor during his absence. But measures have been taken for the most prompt communication betwen the heads of the Government in Paris and the Emperor himielf, wherever his head-quarters may be.
He has been equally careful -in extending his preparations ; and the time which has elapsed since the first Austrian declara- tion of war has been well employed in strengthening the position of the allies, morally as well as financially and strategically.
The Austrians have not Been idle. Stories have been circu- lated with the intention of showing that Count Gyulai has -.forfeited the conffdenoe of his master ; but the whole, action of ,the Imperial Government at Vienna. is evidence that the Count' retains complete trust, and nothing has yet happened which -shows that he has failed to deserve it. On the contrary, if there has been deliberation, countermarching, and some delay in re- sorting to action, it is well known that the motives of the Count, whether military or political, are appreciated by the Emperor Napoleon; no mean judge of necessities,' nor likely to be an invidious critic, even where an enemy's performances are in question. The fact is, that the Count has to contend with con- stantly increasing difficulties. The political situation of Italy presents one: The Government, at Vienna found itself absolutely .unable entirely to disregrird British and other representations, but time was lost which the French have turned to admirable advantage. The Emperor Napoleon has been resolved to lose no chance of bringing the war to a right conclusion. If it is true -that to promote peace you, must prepare for war, it is doubly true that after war is once commenced, to expedite peace you must make your preparations for every contingency, including a 'vast extension and a long duration of the war. The Emperor Napoleon is not a man who fails from want of foresight.
Politically, however, Austria seems almost in the condition of those whom the Gods have consigned to perdition. Her foragers commit reckless extortion, her soldiery scourge peaceful inhabi- tants with injury and insult. Whole communities are outraged, the highest authorities insulted. Ancona was declared in a state of siege,—a measure which was not only calculated to exasperate the Italians of the province beyond measure, but which com- pelled even the long-suffering Pope to protest. The head of the Holy Roman empire therefore, was here placed in overt collision with the High Pontiff. The step must have been taken without the Pope's sanction ; an act as mad as any that we remember, scarcely retrieved by the retractation of the state of siege. And yet 'the proclamation addressed to the inhabitants of Piacenza appears, in its details, even more insane. The inhabi- - tants are rendered liable to be brought before a Provost Marshal's court ; they are informed that the only punishment of that court . is death, and that they are liable to be punished for various classes of crimes ; the list including not only espionage, seducing of soldiers, or armed resistance, but concealment of arms or amu- nition of any kind, and taking part in assemblages. To be acci- dentally present, therefore, at anything in Piacenza which can be called a meeting, subjects even the lord citizen to a penalty of death under summary conviction by a court-martial ! Count Gyulai is actively adding to the thousands of practical reasons "why the Italians hate Austria."
The military action still seems to halt. So far as appears from the published reports the positions of the parties are, in a general sense, what they were. The French have taken ground to their right as far towards the Po as Voghera, with a force at Bobbio to cover the road leading from Piacenza through that place to Genoa. The remainder of the line is still in its old defensive position. Since the middle of last week the Austrians have ceased their demonstrations on the Po, both on their right and in their centre, but they have held the country lying on its left bank from Pavia to the confluence of the Seale. It is on their right that the Austrians have been in motion. Vercelli has heen entrenched ; Gattinara, a town a few miles to the North, has been occupied, evidently with the view of strengthen- ing the right flank, and supporting the troops pushed to the West as far as Ivrea, Tronzano, San Germano, Saluzzola, and again withdrawn. It has been assumed in Paris, Vienna, and Turin, that the Austrians, by a series of deceptive movements, intended to draw the attention of the allies to some supposed design against their extreme right, namely, that of striking a blow 5Lt their communications With Genoa ; and then, when the Dora Baltea was weakened, to hold the main body of the allies in check by false attacks on the Po, from Casale to Gerola, and =robing swiftly by their right, overwhelm the defenders of the Dora Belies; capture the bridge of Chivasso, and seize Turin ; an ingenious project more easy in conception than in execution. As the armies stood when the Emperor landed at Genoa, the Aus- trians were on the Sesia and .Po, and the Allies in the old posi- tions but Store extended On.the right.
General Gyulai's mode of making war on civilians has not only shocked the whole of Europe, but must have materially and permanently weakened his position. A great General seeks to conciliate, not exasperate the people of the country in which he fights.
