The Press. — London, England, 1856-10-25 00:00:00

OCTOBER 25, 1856. the bandits, and receive " buona mano " for their inactivity. Piedmont end Austria are agreed on the sub ject of railroads. The Milan and Novara line has been conceded; as also that of Milan and Geneva, passing by Pavia, without however inter fering with the Lombard-Venetian Company of Milan, to Pavia direct. The Piedmontese line from Cas teggio and Stradella to Piacenza, is in course of con struction. These matters have been arranged be tween the iespective Governments through the instrumentality of the Cavalier Negrelli, Austrian plenipotentiary, to whom much credit is due. Their effect upon Italy will not be doubtful. On the opening of the CivitaVecchia railroad Monsignor Tizzani as sured the crowd collected on the occasion that his Holi ness was devoted to the cause of progress, and that he could not have given a more substantial proof of his anxiety for the welfare of his dear subjects, than in facilitating their pilgrim access, by rail, to the shrines of St. Peter and St. Paul, and to the magni ficent temple where, by " baccio di piede," they might do honour personally to the great saint of Rome. This railroad will, of course, stand high in the market. _ _ Resistance is still the order of the day at Naples, to judge from appearances. It has been said that the communication of the Emperor of Russia may possibly break the obstinacy of the King, and induce a change of Ministry. The names of the Princes of Pe trulla, Ischitella, and Satriano, and of the General Filangieri, might give a respectability which the pre sent Government does not possess. It may be well to give their names in detail. Ferdinando Troia, Presi dent of the Council ; Luigi Carats, Minister of Fore;gu Affairs ; Marco Murena, Minister of Finance ; Gene ral Rafaelle Carascosa, Secretary of State ; Luigi Bianchini, Minister of the Intetior ; M. 3. Cassisi, Secretary of Sicilian Affairs; Colonel Picenna, and General Bracco, Ministers of War and Matine. These, excepting M. Bianchini, are destitute of any pretension to public character, in a good sense, and are supported by Mazza and Campana, the chiefs of the Camarilla. Any one conversant with the present history of Naples will be aware of the futility of expecting good government at these hands. C. A. H. BURGOS, SPAIN, October 19. TIM English papers, often misinformed as regards foreign affairs, and of none more than th )se of Spain, are right, in one point at least, at present, viz., that it matters little who is at the head of affairs here so far either as honesty of purpose personally, or the advancement of civilised in nationally, is concerned. They are wrong, however, in another point. If every thing is to be done by intrigue and trickery, as is the established rule ers la Corte here, it is at least better the same should result in placing able, rather tha i inefficient, men et the head of the State ; and so in a comparative degree it has done on the late occa sion. General Serrano's recal is talked of, but there are two objections to that step—first, he is liked at Paris by the Emperor; next, he is a favorite at Madrid with the Queen, and Narvaez knows better than to let a former tevorite return to Court whilst he rules there. Therefore I think you will find that Serrano will stay where he is. O'Donnell is said to have refused certain proffered honours, stating "he had enough thereof in being able to serve his Queen and country!" Concessions of about 1,280 miles of railway have been made this year, of which about one tenth is completed. The Saragossa• Madrid line, however, was conceded before, so is not included therein. The longest line (Madrid to Albacete) is abodt ninety-seven miles long, and reasonably well worked. A smash took place there the other day, but only peasants and baggage trucks were destroyed. The new telegraph line via Perpignan is to open shortly, which will accelerate the receipt of news, which at present makes long stops to rest at all the Spanish town en route to Madrid on this line ; why, nobody can tell, for nobody seems even to know it after all. The Cortes, we bear, are to be dissolved ere long, and the new elections to be conducted on the most enlightened and anti-corrupt principles, worthy of Lord John's own bills thereon. It is not easy to see why we should be bothered with a Cortes at all, as nothing suits Spanish taste so much as the Rey or Reyna Assoluto. The French, however, were never more mistaken than in fancying they are likely again get footing in Spain • they are just as far from it as they were in 1815 after the Duke had driven them out. The Emperor's influence may, and it is to be hoped will, do much here, but a French soldier's apps arance would raise the whole Peninsula in arms —and tnis I have heard said again and again diode by Spaniards the most tolerant, and most alive to the defects and semi-barbarisms of their country. The Queen Mother's property is already freed from se questration—the first fruit of Narvaez policy. As to Sartorias, hie premiership is a long way off, let THE PRESS. people say what they will. He never was a Court favorite in reality here at any time, and no man who is not has a chance of power. If people would but learn that everything goes as much by intrigue now as in the days of the Duke of Lerma and Gil Blas, it would save them a great deal of absurd conjecture shout this or that able man, and such and such an enlightened statesman. The more able and en lightened the less his chance for promotion. L. fortigit jnittligcnce. FRANCE. THE NEAPOLITAN QUESTION. The expected French note upon the Neapolitan question appeared in the Moniteur of Monday. The following is a full translation of the article : As soon as peace was concluded the first care of the Paris Congress was to insure its duration. With that object in view the plenipotentiaries examined into the elements of discord which still existed in Europe, and es especially turned their attention to the condition of Italy, of Greece, and of Belgium. The observations exchanged on that occasion were everywhere received in a spirit of cordial understanding, because they were inspired by a sincere solicitude for the quiet of Europe, and at the same time evinced the respect which was due to the indepen dence of all sovereign States. Thus, in Belgium the Government, agreeing with the opinion upon the excesses of certain organs of the press, showed itself disposed to put • stop to them by every means iu its power. In Greece the plan of financial organisation submitted to the appreciation of the protecting Courts proves the readiness of the Greek Government to hearken to the counsels of the Congress. Iu Italy the Holy See and the other States admit the expediency of clemency and of internal reforms. The Court of Naples alone haughtily rejected the coun• sels of France and of England, although given under the most amicable form. _ _ The rigorous and compressive measures which for a long time have been turned into means of administration by the Government of the Two Sicilies keep Italy in a state of agitation, and compromise the peace of Europe. Convinced of the dancers arising from such a state of things, France and England had hoped to avert them by wise counsels given at an opportune moment; those coun• sels have been discarded ; the Government of the Two Sicilies, closing its eyes to evidence, has thought fit to per sevete in a fatal course. The ungracious reception given to legitimate observa tions, an unjust suspicion cast up)n the purity of inten tions, an insulting language in leply to wholesome advice, and, finally, an obstinate refusal, no longer per mitted the continuation of friendly relations. Complying with the suggestions of a great power, the Cabinet of Naples endeavoured to extenuate the effect pro duced by its first reply ; but this semblance of condescen sion was only an additional proof of its resolution to take no heed of the solicitude of France and of England tor the general interests of Europe. Hesitation was uo longer warranted; it became necessary to break off diplomatic intercourse with a Court which had itself so deeply altered the character of that intercourse. This suspension of official relations by no means con stitutes an intervention in the internal affairs of Naples, still less an act of hostility. As, however, the safety of the subjects of the two Go vernments might be endangered, to provide for such a contingency they have assembled a combined squadron ; but they have refrained from sending their ships to the waters of Naples, to avoid giving rise to erroneous inter pretations. This simple measure of eventual protection, which in no manner partakes of a menace, cannot either be considered as a support or encouragement offered to those who endeavour to upset the throne of the King of the Two Sicilies. If, moreover, the Neapolitan Government, returning to a just appreciation of the sentiments which actuate the Governments of France and of England, should finally understand its real interests, the Iwo powers would hasten to renew w.th it the relations which previously existed, and will be happy by this reconciliation to give a new guarantee for the peace of Europe. The moderate tone of this note is generally thought indicative of a peaceable, if not satisfactory, terniina tion of the dispute. The Pays draws attention to the Russian note, and insinuates that the interven tion of Russia, it is not improbable, may bring about a solution cf the question. The Assemblhe Nationale waits for the publication of the diplomatic documents exchanged between the Western powers and Naples. The Patric, while stating that it has no new informa tion on the affairs of Naples to give its readers, says it is nevertheless asserted that despatches have been received in Pails stating that the Neapolitan Cabinet asks for a few days' time to consider the last official propositions made by the French Government. The Steele alone sees in the note the germs of a great war. The Siècle observes : —u We have perused this document with the attention it deserves. We cannot do otherwise than approve the policy pursued by the Western powers. We take into account, in examin ing this note, the reserve exacted by diplomatic customs. Without wishing to anticipate events, we recognise in the facts, which are confirmed by the note in the Moniteur, most serious complications— on the one hand, the liberal nations of the West; on the other, the King of Naples and his avowed or 1013 concealed auxiliaries. In this new stage of the European crisis, which commenced on the banks if the Pruth, and appears destined to receive its solu tion in Italy, we shall remain, what we have ever been—faithful and devoted to the permanent policy of France—faithful and devoted to the policy of Italian liberty and independence." The Moniteur of Thursday contained a letter from the Emperor to Marshal Vaillant, Minister of War, eulogising him as "the able and indefatigable Minister who laboured day and night" to supply the army of France during the late war. The official journal also contains the marshal's report on the state of the army, its materiel, and means of transport at successive stages of the war. The report shows that France sent to the East 309,268, and received back 227,135 men. The losses of the army were 69,229 men. The difference—namely, 12,904—is accounted for in a technical manner. The number of horses sent out was 41,974. About 9,000 were brought back. The losses are not returned, but it is said that most of the an►mals remaining at the peace were made over to the Turks. The effective strength of the French army of the East on the day when the peace was signed is stated to have been 146,240. The Emperor with the Empress and Court left Paris for Compeigne on Sunday last. The Court remains at Compeigne for a fortnight in all. Councils of Ministers are held every Wednesday and Satur day. M. Kisselef, the Russian Ambassador at Paris, is hourly expected at his post. M. de Kis selef is said to be the bearer of an autograph letter from the Czar to the Emperor of the French. M. Hubner arrived in Paris last Sunday. The French Mediterranean squadron is still in the roads of Toulon. The Paris papers have renewed their attacks upon Austria for the continued occupation of the Principalities. The Dibats asserts that England supports Austria. AUSTRIA. The occupation of the Principalities has afforded much matter for discussion to the Austrian papers. The Correspondance Autrichienne of the 22nd., defends the occupation of the Principalities against the French journals; it declares the occupation absolutely necessary, until the important question of the Bessarabian frontier is settled. It affirms that England, the Porte, and Austria are all of opinion that the evacuation should be delayed till that object shall be attained. The Ost Deutsche Post of Vienna also contains an article justit'ying the occupation of the Danubian Principalities by Austria. It opposes this occupation to that of Greece by the allies, and asserts that the former is justified by right, whilst the presence of the Western powers in Greece can receive no justi fication whatever. It asserts that the non-settlement of the Bessarabian frontier demands the presence of the Austrian army in the provinces, as it has given rise to the reappearance of the English squadron in the Black Sea. It does not suffice, it says, for the treaty to be signet, it must likewise be carried into execution. RUSSIA. The solemn entry of the Emperor into St. Peters burg was effected on the 14th, with similar ceremony as at Moscow. The weather was fine, and at night the city was brilliantly illuminated. A telegraphic despatch from Hamburg, Wednes day, October, 22nd, announces the arrival at Kiel of four Russian men-of war. This squadron, which is on its way to the Mediterranean, consists of the screw man-of-war Wiborg, the screw frigate Polkan, the Castor fngate, and steam-corvette Philactel. A letter from St. Petersburg, of the 10th, gives the following authentic explanation with respect to the squadron being about to proceed to the Medi terranean :—" There is no question of a squadron, but only of some few vessels which are shout to leave the port of Cronstadt and proceed in different directions. These vessels are the screw frigate Polkas, which is to take up her station, as before the war, at the Pirteus, to be at the disposal of the Russian Minister ; the brig Pkiloctete, which goes to Constantinople for a similar purpose; and the paddle frigate Olaf, which is placed at the disposal of the Empress Dowager during her residence at Nice. You see, therefcre, that this is nothing of a squadron ; and as to the political object which the journals seek to a tech to the affair, I can assure you that there is nothing of the kind." SPAIN. RENEWAL OF RELATIONS WITH RESSLIL. The Madrid Gazette of the 18th contains an ac count of the reception by the Queen of General Count de Benkendorff, aide-de-camp to the Emperor of Russia, " charged," says the official journal, " to present to her Majesty two letters from his sovereign —one containing the formal notification of the ac cession to the throne of the Emperor Alexander IL, the other being a private letter in which H. I. M. _ . makes known to our august I n the friendly frb"