FRANCE AND AUSTRIA.

" Nothing has occurred within the last week that throws any certain light upon the situation of Europe. The same uncertainty prevails with a rather augmented force since the publication of the following article in the Moniteur of Monday.

" A portion of Germany presents, at the present moment, a spectacle which saddens and astonishes us.

" A vague indefinite question, which touches upon the most delicate pro- blems as well as upon the highest interests, suddenly arises in the political world. The French Government sees therein a subject worthy of examina- tion and the duty of being on its guard. It only occupies itself with the alarming situation of Italy, with a view to its solution, in concert with its allies, and in the interest of the peace of Europe. Is it possible to show a more sincere desire to unravel difficulties pacifically, and to anticipate com- plications which always result from a want of foresight and decision ?

" Yet a portion of Germany responds to this most calm attitude by the most inconsiderate symptoms of alarm. On a simple presumption, which nothing justifies and everything rejects, prejudices are aroused, mistrust is propagated, passions are let loose, a sort of crusade against France is preached in the Chambers and in the press of some of the states of the Con- federation. France is accused of entertaining ambitious views, which she has disavowed, of preparing for conquests of which she does not stand in

need; and attempts are made by calumny to frighten Europe by imaginary aggressions, of which not even an idea ever existed.

The men who mislead German patriotism in this manner are out of date. Of them it may truly be said they have forgotten nothing and learnt nothing. They went to sleep in 1813, and they awake after a slumber of half a century with sentiments and passions wrapped up in history, and which are a contradiction to present times; they are visionaries who wish absolutely to defend what no one hint an idea of attacking. " If the French Government was not convinced that its acts, its princi- ples, and the sentiments of the majority of the German people gave u denial to the suspicions which have been attempted to be thrown upon it, it might reasonably feel offended ; it might see therein not only an act of injustice, but an attempt against the independence of its policy. In feet, the whole movement which is attempted to be got up on the Rhine, on a question which does not threaten Germany, but in which France is interested as a European Power, would tend to nothing less than to_ contest her right of exerting her influence in Europe and of defending her own interests, even with the most extreme moderation. This is a pretension which would be insulting if it could be looked upon as serious. The life of a great nation like France is not confined to its own frontiers ; it manifests itself through- out the whole world by the salutary action which it exercises to the advan- tage of its national power, as well as at the same time to the advantage of civilization. When a nation gives up this part it abdicates its rank. " Thus, then, to challenge this legitimate influence, which everywhere protects rod faith, or to confound it with ambitious views, which threaten it, is to disavow at the same time the task which belongs to France and the moderation of which the Emperor has given so many proofs since the French people raised him to the responsibility of the supreme power.

"Ile Emperor, who has known how to overcome all prejudices, might have expected that they would not have been invoked against him. What would have happened if, on ascending the throne, he had taken along with him the narrow views and sore remembrances which are now appealed to to throw suspicion upon him ? Instead of making himself the intimate ally of England, as the interests of civilization led him to do, suppose he had be- come her rival, as the ancient rivalries of the two nations seemed to com- mand him ? Instead of giving a welcome to men of every party, suppose he had rejected with distrust the servants of former dynasties ? Instead of re- assuring and calming Europe, suppose he had shaken it and redeemed, at the price of its safety and independence, the souvenirs of 1814 and 1815 ? " If the Emperor, giving way to such suggestions, had thought fit, with- out a reason, to renew, in a period of peace and civilization, the wars and conquests of the first Empire, he would not have been the man of his time, and would have incurred the severest censure that can fall upon the head of a Government. A man cannot reign with glory if he obeys the impulses of resentment and hatred. There is no true glory for a Sovereign except that which is founded on the generous appreciation of the wants of his country and upon the enlightened guarantee of the interests of society.

" We simply state here a question brought into the foreground by so many decisive acts of the Emperor's policy. Considering this frank mid clearly defined situation, Europe will feel strengthened in her sense of security, and those who endeavour to alarm or deceive her may feel somewhat em- barrassed.

"As regards France, she has not as yet paid any attention to these vague rumours and unjust attacks ; she does not make the whole of Germany re- sponsible for the error or of a few manifestations which must be de- scribed rather as petty resentment than serious alarm. German patriotism, when not blinded by prejudice, knows very well how to distinguish between the dutieli it has to fulfil and the misrepresentations which would lead it as- tray: Germany has nothing to fear from us as regards its independence ; we have a right to expect from it as much justice for our intentions as we entertain sympathy for its nationality, It is by showing its impartiality that it will display its foresight and best servo the case of peace. "Prussia has understood this, and she has joined England in giving good advice at Vienna at the very moment that some agitators were endeavouring to arouse the temper of the German Confederation, and make it form a coali- tion against us. This reserved attitute of the Berlin Cabinet is certainly more advantageous to Germany than the recklessness of those who, by ap- pealing to the resentments and prejudices of 1813, run the risk of irritating the national sentiments of France. The French people are susceptible of their honour at the same time as to moderation in their strength, and, if menaces excite them, conciliation calms them." The Vienna Gazette has commented on a preceding article in the French official organ in a spirit of great bitterness and suspicion, im- plying a very angry feeling at Vienna, and a total distrust of Franco. For instance.

" Who can have forgotten the words with which the speech from the throne flattered last year the hopes of the oppressed nationalities' ? Who can have forgotten the trial and case of Orsim, the publication of that as- saasin's, will and testament ? Who does not still remember the war rumour raised by the Governmental press at Paris last autumn for the Italian cause ? Who does not recollect the contradiction given to those rumours at the very time the French people were parading all their sympathies for the Italian cause ? Who does not still speak about the language used to the Austrian Ambassador at the Tuileries on the first day of this year ? Who does not sum up the injuries inflicted on private and public wealth in every country ? Does not the Moniteur confirm the existence of an alliance between France and Piedmont, an alliance long mentioned by rumour ? The Emperor,' says the Moniker, has promised the King of Sardinia to protect him against aggression from Austria.' Now, every one knows what a wide in- terpretation is given to the word ' aggression' both at Paris and Turin. " We have only to go back to the affair of Montenegro, when the Mani- tear applied the term aggression' to the defensive operations of the Otto-

man troops who drove back the Czernagores to their mountains Did not the first Minister of Piedmont close the debate on the war loan with these words, ' The offensive and the defensive are relative notions?' "

Lord Cowley's mission has been the subject of much speculation. According to a telegram from Munich, Count Buol, in a new circular, has stated that all the pending questions were discussed at Vienna be- tween Count Buol and Lord Cowley, without, however, any proposition having been made. Count Buol flatters himself that Lord Cowley, on leaving Vienna, has taken with him the conviction of the conciliatory sentiments of the Emperor, who is ready to cooperate for the mainte- nance of peace, if the Emperor of the French will reestablish the good relations between the two countries. The .1114intorial Diplomatique says that Lord Cowley is satisfied with the spirit shown at Vienna ; and that Austria will be disposed to modify certain treaties con- cluded with the Italian States for exceptional causes, while, at the same time, maintaining the principle that every independent State is free to conclude alliances with other States. The Corre- spondence Haves says, that "the recision of the old treaties in the petty ci states of Italy was conceded by the Austrian Government, but on express condition that on the slightest revolutionary movement it should have the conclusive right of intervening militarily.' The German Jour- seal of F. ankfort, undertakes to say that a European Conference will be assembled, to devise a pacific solution of the Italian question, and takes upon itself to state, in a very positive manner, that the revision of the Austrian treaties with the Italian States will form the basis of the nego- tiation. It is again reported and denied that Russia has promised a sup- port to the proposals of England and Prussia. The Russian Cabinet, we are told, " admits the necessity of the maintenance of treaties, but ad- vises a revision of the separate treaties of Austria with the small Italian States."

The news from Rome is perplexing. It is stated that "the Pope has announced before the Consistory that he did not claim the fulfilment of the demand for the evacuation of the Papal States. His only intention was to prevent a collision of the two Catholic Empires of his own domin- ions." The reason for begging a delay in the departure of the French troops is said to be "the attitude of the population." In the meantime Austria is reported to have sent 50,000 more men towards Italy. They came from the northern and eastern provinces and passed through Vienna. Some go to Trieste, Venice, and Verona. The Austrian Government continues to send into Gallieia and the other Sla- vonian or German provinces the Italian regiments on whose fidelity it cannot rely. It has also made numerous military promotions, as if on the eve of war. Five Major-Generals have been created Field-Marshal- Lieutenants, with the command of Divisions. Ten Colonels are appoint- ed Major or Brigadier-Generals. The Paris correspondent of the Post sar- I have seen an official report of the position of the army in Lombardy, which looks as much like war as any preparations can possibly anticipate hostilities. The Austrian army is advancing and taking up positions which look very much like the bases of an offensive movement. Piedmont responds as at a game of chess—each move on the one side suggesting another."

At Pogli and at Trieste armaments continue without ceasing. And, having regard to the possibility of a sudden descent upon the coasts of Illyria and of Dalmatia, Austria has ordered 70,000 earthbags, and 1200 block-houses or wooden forts, to be constructed for the defence of the different parts of the shore. Each of these forts will contain fifty sol- diers.

The Bavarian Chambers also voted unanimously, on Tuesday, an ex- traordinary credit for military preparations. It is reported from Stutt- gardt that the army of Wurtemberg is immediately to be placed on a war footing.

As bearing on the question it may here be stated that a Russian de- cree dated March 10, prohibits the exportation of horses from Russia and the kingdom of Poland across the European frontiers; and that the Hano- verian Chamber has voted a million dollars for war preparations.