NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Iw our second edition last week we were enabled to state that " we have the strongest grounds for believing a close and inti- mate understanding on the present juncture, and all that it in- volves, to exist between France and Russia." By Wednesday some of our contemporaries had discovered the fact ; and it was announced, though in terms scarcely so guarded or so accurate as those we had selected. A. distinguished contemporary in- deed affirmed, that " an alliance, offensive and defensive," had been concluded between Russia and France, giving, very spe- cifically, the details of the arrangements by which Russia bad promised to support France, in the first instance, by an army of observation on the Prussian as well as the Austrian frontier, and with further particulars of a similar kind. Still later in the week, this much larger assertion has been corrected. A corre- spondent of our own, replying to the recent assertion that an al- liance offensive and defensive was concluded on Friday last, writes, " I am able to say, that no such treaty exists in writing, though there is little doubt that such an understanding does ex- ist between the two Powers."
At first, we were at some loss to conjecture why information so inaccurate and exaggerated as that circulated during this week, should have been supplied to any of our contemporaries. Why should any one be at the pains to manufacture details so misleading ? But on reviewing the general state of continental affairs, we can discern two or three motives which might dictate such an act, and either one would suffice. In the first place, al- though the affiance between Russia and France is the natural oonsequence of events, interviews, and arrangements, which have from time to time been communicated to our Government, with the utmost frankness, the public had been thinking of other things, and was in a mood to be taken by surprise. Now advantage which would. accrue to a certain class of speculators in the public stooks throughout the whole Bourse of Europe, would be obviously doubled if the first general announcement of the fact could be so couched as to create the maximum of alarm —furnishing one harvest for the speculators—to be followed by a pacific reaction, with a second harvest for the speculators. Again, there are those in the principal countries of Europe, our own included, who on certain solid grounds, are more anxious for the maintenance of peace, than for the maintenance of right ; and they think to serve their purpose by creating prejudice against those Powers who have agreed to support Sardinia when she is exposed to the oppressions and aggressions of Austria. Hence, if Russia and France have agreed upon the general out- line and principles of their cooperation in certain contingencies, these friends of peace think that thoy shall subserve their object by representing France tied tied Russia as agreed in some kind of
secret conspiracy with prelosterous objects, and with the imme- diate intention of annoying neutral Powers as well as the prime aggressor. Such motives may perhaps explain the reason why erroneous and overstrained news was furnished to some of our most respectable contemporaries. Meanwhile we believe the fact
to be very nearly as we at first stalled it : our original words being unaffected either • by the turgid announcement of a " treaty," &o., or by the denial that " any such treaty exists." Amongst the other reports, we now have one of a special alli-
ance between Denmark and France ; but this " has to be con- firmed."
- The event next in importance has been equally the subject of con- fident assertion and as confident denial. It has been stated by very well-informed journals in Paris, that the Austrians crossed the Ticino on Tuesday evening, and that the Austrians have not crossed the Ticino ; that actual hostilities have commenced, and that they have not commenced ; that Austria has refused the mediation of England, and that she has accepted that me- diation ; 'that France has refused the mediation, and has accepted it. In short, every sequel to previous events has been imagined, asserted, and contradicted. Without attempting to anticipate events, we shall state the heads of these principal occurrences which will show the real progress.
We were able to report last week the actual departure of addi- tional troops from Paris en route for Italy : we have every reason to believe that a considerable proportion of these troops has duly made its way ; the arrival of some having been Publicly an- nounced. The military and political effects of these movements we explained last week as caloulated to make Austria pause. Down to Thursday afternoon no official infortnatioy, had been re- ceived that the Austrians had crossed tie Ticino, but it is equally certain that the Austrians, as well as the French, had expedited their preparations for active proceedings.
Events have been moving in Italy with a rapidity which shows that the power restraining war will not long remain to the Powcrs. The Grand Duke of Tuscany has fled from Flo- rence, leaving the Duchy in the hands of a Provisional Govern- ment, the army having to a man declared for Piedmont: In- deed, it is to be understood that the Piedmontese party in Tus- cany had for some time discountenanced individual deser- tions, because this wholesale adherence to the national cause was fully anticipated. Accounts from Italy, scarcely so late, repre- sent the Duke of Modena as only awaiting the signal to fly. We know the feelings in Parma. We equally know the state of feelings in the Legations,—the people there is Italian to the backbone ; and the many arrests in Palermo expose the readiness of Sicily. to move. In the presence of these occurrences the ar- rival of volunteers in Piedmont, even to the number of 3500 be- tween Saturday and Monday, becomes insignificant. Thus, by degrees, Italian territory is becoming consolidated even before the .A.ustrians retire ; and it is easy to see that the whole of Italy, North Orthe Neapolitan frontier, is preparing for consolidation under the national flag borne by King Victor Emmanuel; while South of the Neapolitan frontier the people are awaiting the death of the King to hail the accession of a constitutional King and the re- storation of law.
