The Press. — London, England, 1856-05-31 00:00:00

MO tions being over, we took our seats at a well.served table. J had the seat of honour between General Wrangel and another general. The table was covered with bottles of wine, but not a drop of water. All the wine came from our dealers at Kamiesch. We were first helped to a hot Russian mite, composed of chopped meat mixed with rice, eggs, caviare, and other condiments, and it was a very savoury affair. After this there was a soup served round in cups. It was strongly seasoned with cinnamon. Then came hot hams, pieces of roast beef of 40lbs. weight, &c. Three•gnarters of an hour's interval elapsed between each dish, which penod was filled up with toasts and libations. Then came sweet dishes is la Francaisr, such as puddings with sauce, &c., and we were in hopes that the repast was at an end; but in this we were deceived, for our plates were removed, and we were served with roast turkey and salad. the latter mixed with vinegar and sugar. We were compelled to do violence to our stomachs, or else appear wanting in politeness to our host. We drank to the health of the Emperor Napoleon, the Emperor of Russia, Marshal Pelissier, and others during five hours, not quitting the table until near six o'clock. We had then ten leagues to ride on our return home, and therefore after smoking some cigars we left, and reached our quarters at ten o'clock. Our horses we found had not fared as well as we had, for not a grain of corn had been given them for the whole day. The Piedmontese Gazette of the 24th inst. an. flounces that General De la Marmora, Commander in Chief of the Sardinian Contingent, had embarked at Constantinople on the 23rd, in the war steamer Governolo, for Piedmont. _ _ Sir William Codrington, in a late general order to the army on the conclusion of peace, quotes an acknowledgment of the gallant services performed by the troops male by Lord Panmure in a recent de spatch to the general commanding. lartign Comsponthut. BRUSSELS, May 28. TYE declamations in defence of the liberty of the press, in the Belgian Chambers, were said to emanate from the honest desire to preserve intact the constitutional freedom cf the country. Im pressed with this idea, the liberal journals of Europe, and of England particularly, spoke of their resist ance to undue dictation with becoming respect. But a free press and free institutions insist also, as a primary necessity, that education shall not be less free from restraint. It is a part and parcel of the liberal edifice. This constitutional integrity, how ever, is menaced in Belgium from within simul taneously with the attack from without. The " parti pr&re "—meaning thereby the Jesuits—after warmly eulogising the Austro-Papal Concordat, and in obedience to the principles from which that Roman edict emanated, are directing their energies against the "perverse" freedom of religious educa tion in Belgium. The qualifying adjective is the express selection of the Archbishop of Malines. It is also broadly asserted that the "action civilisatrice du clerge" cannot reconcile itself to the parliamen tary system, nor with the liberties on which that system is based (ne peut s'accommoder du systeme parlementaire, ni des libertes sur lesquelles ce by stem e repose). Just so. The truth has been somewhat unwisely unveiled. The Belgian Consti• tution has established the equality of religious wor• ship (l'egalite absolue des cultes devant la loi civile), and that education should be in strict con formity with that just maxim of the fundamental compact. Now, if that be a truth and not a fiction, it is difficult to perceive upon what ground Protes tent education is to be suppressed without violating the principles of the Constitution. The "insenses et pervers "—meaning the Protestants—are declared to be a standing obstacle to Jesuit civilisation (un obstacle a l'ceuvre eminemment civilisatrice, enter prise par le clerge Catholique). This work of eminent civilisation of course goes on in the schools and universities, where the minds of youth are in structed in history in order to gather materials for their present guidance. A recent work shall be quoted to show the mode in which the Roman clergy distort and falsify history in furtherance of their "oeuvre eminemment civilisatrice." In the "Manual d'Historie de la Belgique, par M. la Chanonie David, 1856," Philip of Spain is declared to have been a prince, "sincerement et profondement religieux." He is held up as an example, therefore, worthy of imitation, and deserving of genoral praise. This work is published within a stone's-throw of the spot where Counts Egmont and Horn were decapitated! The Primate of Belgium, accepting the glorification of Philip the assassin as a "prince sincerement et profondement religieux," and considering him a laudable example on all accounts, modestly hints that the press should be pl ace d un d er R oman 'Catho lic control, in order, in the words of a Belgian journal, to "exercer sa censure rigoureuse sur toutes lea productions de l'esprit humain at sur toutes les manifestations de la pensee." The Archbishop of Malines is an illogical casuist and an &imprudent partite THE PRESS, The situation of Austria in Germany is not strengthened by the treaty of the 15th of April. Tile house of Hapsburg is losing by degrees every hold upon German sympathies. It is no secret that a project is entertained of further me diatising the petty princes of Germany. To this both Austria and Prussia are inimical, unless the latter be largely compensated. Should Central Germany really be united, which is most unlikely, the secondary States, hitherto hotbeds proper for Prussian, Austrian, and Russian intrigue, would shake off their tributary position, and attempt to assume an independent attitude. Even then it would only be in appearance, for corruption has can kered their very heart's core. The influence of States external to the Confederation would be neces sary to keep together the uneven bundle, and lead, as of yore, to diplomatic chicanery and eventual discord. The law forced upon the Prussian Chambers by a packed majority of the " parti de la Croix," is still the subject of popular discussion. An article, pub lished by authority in the Nouvelle Gazette de Prusse, seeing that the question of the Rhenish provinces has received the royal sanction, forbids as disloyal any further remonstrance. Were this political maxim to be held authentic, there would be no means of rescinding improper measures of legisla tion, except by a process similar to that of cutting the Gordian knot. The Cologne Gazette takes um brage at this dictation of the ouvelle Gazette, perseveres in its criticism of the unpopular act, and prominently sets forth the patriotic conduct of the Prince Royal of Prussia. It states that the Prince was commanded to attend the Council of Ministers, that he there protested against the "dis positions essentielles " to rescind the Rhenish privi leges, and voted for its being again sent back for the consideration of the provincial States. With this open opposition of the Prince the question cannot be shelved nor judged to be beyond the power of reform ; and the Cologne Gazette adds that the Rhenish towns and provinces view with undisguised satisfac tion this open manifestation of the Prince against Ministerial ordinances subversive of the Rhineland liberties. His son, Prinoe Frederick William, now in England, is said to entertain the same political opinions. _ _ _ The Emperor of Russia has arrived at Warsaw. Great rejoicings, public and private, marked his ontrance to the capital of Poland. Whatever may have been the past errors of the house of Romanotf, it would seem that they were capable of being oblite rated by prudence and foresight. It must be remem bered that Polish patriots are divided into two classes, constitutional and republican. With the first a clement rule may have an effect that will necessarily fail with republican austerity. The latter will con tinue to regret summarily any proposition short of their cherished prototype of celestial harmony, for getful always that angelic republicanism led to l'aradise lost. There is no Paradise regained for the future of a republican Poland. A hope exists that a general amnesty may be accorded, with other relaxations of severity, that the universities may be re-established with the permission of lectures in the Polish language, and that there may be raised a Polish guard of 8,000 men. The reception of the foreign ambassadors is expected to be most brilliant. Prince Lichstentein will be the representative of Austria ; the Marquis Alfieri, " clarum et insigne nornen " of Sardinia ; and Monsignor Mantemir is the delegate of Rome. This latter is an agent of " large principles," in the R. sense, in the confi dence of Cardinal Antonelli. Italy continues to be the political embarrassment. It is right to correct the contradiction of the Austrian Gazette in its assertion that there is no augmentation of Austrian troops in the Duchy of Parma. " Corps mobiles" have been traversing the country in every direction, particularly in the vicinity of the Sar dinian frontier; and under the plea of only relieving garrisons, the troops marching from place to place give an increase of fully one-third to the original number. Count Stackelberg has expressed himself well pleased with his reception at Turin, and friendlier relations are on the eve of being formed between the Prussian and Sardinian Governments. A dislike of Austria is the common bond of union. Gene ral Cialdini, a young officer, formerly distinguished in the Austrian campaign, and again in the Crimea, has been made aide-de-camp to the King. The nomination has been very popular. Nothing could be more rertinent than the questions on Italian affairs put by Mr. Disraeli in the House of Com mons. It is necessary to know what are the real in tentions of England ; f o r that portion of the p ress which is under Ministerial control, and other journals that are supporters of the Ministry, have used a language proper to lead to the supposition that a general insurrection in Italy would be re garded with favour. 'lbis has been Ministerially denied, and yet the journals persist in the same course of conduct. The present of Italy is plain— the future is uncertain. Foreign troops, and only foreign troops, can preserve the existing state of mole SATURDAY, things. Let those battalions be withdrawn and revolution follows instantly. Th en come they ques. tions—is the occupation of Italy by French and German auxiliaries to be permanent; and, in the event of their being recalled, what nieasures are t o be taken to prevent a general uprising ? The remonstrance of France and Aust r i a , priv a t e l y but officially communicated to the Roman Govern ment, has been contumaciously received, and the members of the Sacred College threaten to retreat again to Gaeta. Let them go. The difficulty would then be facile of solution. In that case Cardinal Viale Prela, the promoter of the Austrian Concoidat, would come to Rome. Of this Cardinal Antonelli is well assured, and therefore to preserve power opposes the summer trip to Gaeta. Any reform in Italy is incompatible with the existence of the Cardinal as Minister of Rome. Incensed at foreign interference, he threatens, should it be continued, to institute a reform that, after Italy, shall shake France and then Europe to the very centre. He was present at the dinner given to the Grand Duke of Tuscany and Count Frapani in the Quirinal, and his dark counte nance, although sometimes arrayed in smiles, evidenced the inward dissatisfaction at the failure of the Tuscan Concordat. The King of Naples is increasing the number of his Swiss regiments, in order that they may be ready to supply the place of the French regiments when they leave Borne. But the Swiss have uncondition ally refused to quit Naples when that time may arrive. They receive their pay to garrison Naples. They like the climate—approve the "lachrymte Christi"—indulge in the extravagance of a cold salt water bath twice in the year—and decline to change their quarters on the score of bargain, comfort, an d cleanliness. Baron Brenier, the French Minister, is said to have acquired a larger share of influence with the King than formerly, and to have modified his barbarity, but there is no symptom of change in the treatment of Poerio and other political offenders. The moderate republicans have adopted the advice of Manin of Venice, in adhering to the constitutional Government of Sardinia as the pioneer establishment of Italian regeneration. The partisans of Maexini remain intractable. Nothing but blood and commu nism will satiate their passion for liberty. They are the real difficulty of Italy, and constitute the strength of Borne and Austria in the course of tyranny and misgovernment. C. A. H. foreign anb dothnial clnittligtnte. FRANCE. The Emperor, accompanied by the Archduke Maximilian of Austria, and Prince Oscar of Sweden, reviewed on Tuesday in the Champs de 'lifers the troops of the garrison and army of Paris. The Empress attended the review in an open carriage. She was enthusiastically cheered by the people. The Moniteur has officially announced that the Baron de Bazancourt's work has no official charac• ter. "M. de Bazancouit," the statement adds, "has written his book according to his own views, and he alone is responsible for the facts and opinions con tained therein." The trial of Lejolivet, for bribing an employe of the State Printing-office to purloin copies of the Treaty of Peace, is fixed for early in June. Prince Dolgorouki, it is anticipated, will not re ceive the appointment of Russian Ambassador at Paris. The French connections of the Prince by marriage are pure Legitimists. Baron de Bour queney and Count Morny leave Paris very shortly on their respective missions. The Senate, it is ru moured, will one day next week pass a resolution on the subject of the Regency. It is asserted that the " initiative " the senators are instructed to take, is in favour of the Empress and against the hopes of the Palais Royal. 1 AUSTRIA. The Austrian Government has published, in its most official organ, the Vienna Gazette, a statement of the character and objects of the treaty concluded April 15th between Austria, France, and England. The Vienna Gazette justifies the signature and con ditions of the treaty of 15th of April ccncluded be tween France, England, and Austria. The offic ial journal grounds its remarks-Ist, on the fact that Russia would not, either at the time of the Confer• ences of Vienna or afterwards, give any express guarantee in favour of the integrity of Turkey; and 2naly, that Prussia has always declared that she would preuerve her freedom of action. The V ienna Gazette adds that the treaty of the 15th of April does not contain any secret article, in no way attacks the relations now existing between the Germanio Confederation and Prussia, and does not prevent the amicable relations ce Russia with her neighbours. The day after the above appeared a seeond "offi cial " article upon the Italian question was printed in the Oesterreichische Correspondenz. Alluding to the report of the desire of Austria to guarantee her Italian provinces, the article denies that. Prussia wag ever solicited, and states :