The Press. — London, England, 1855-08-25 00:00:00

AUG. 25, 1855. transport service by Sir James Graham. From the first the vessel had been declared incompetent for the conveyance of invalid officers—the cabins were small and ill-ventilated, and the necessaries for the sick on this voyage were singularly deficient, and ungraciously supplied. Raw and offensive food was the nutriment supplied to the wounded hero, with a pestilential box for a dormitory. But, shamefully bad as were the actual deficiencies, the miseries of the voyage were increased by the most brutal ne glect. And these statements from the Hampshire Telegraph and the Times have found their way into the German papers. Such brutality of official con duct in the managers of the vessel, as described by the Times, immediately injures the national charac ter fbr humanity, not less than for official capacity; and when the victim of such misconduct is a person particularly distinguished by his sovereign, what can others of less signal career expect? "Have the English," ask the Germans, "really taken leave of their senses?" J. E. L SIENA, August 18. As everywhere else, the attention of Italy has been turned to the debate on Italian affairs in the House of Commons, on the Bth instant. The attack of Lord Jchn Russell on the Emperor Napoleon for the occupation of Rome by French troops would seem to have been prompted by his friend Mazzini, the present policy of the "Arcades ambo " being to play the game of Russia. "It is not possible," says the ex-Secretary of State, and in intent prospective Premier, " that England can carry on a war at an enormous expense because Russia has occupied part of the territory of her neighbour, and allow of the occupation of Rome by French troops." This is the precise desire of Mazzini, Cicernacchio, and other worthies, that Rome should be abandoned to the action of self-government, of which it furnished such a proof of trustworthiness in 1848. Then Lord John proposes that a constitution should be shaped by England and France—which means a Whig Refnrm Bill for the Eternal City—France having first obeyed the Whig instruction to withdraw her troops. The dictation to France partakes of the modesty and sense of the Whig school. Lord Pal merston makes matters worse. He doubts not that Russia being disposed of, France, England, and Austria will interfere amicably in the affairs of Italy. Why, this Austrian interference has been the source of all the wrongs and evils of Italy. It is the very thing—the blight, the curse—complained of even in the time of Francesco Petrarca. His nineteenth canzone is in the mouth of every Italian in every piazza. The proposition for Austrian intervention in the restoration of Italian liberty and the tran quillity of the famed Peninsula, dear to classical recollection, is the "pons asinorum" of modern liberal policy. Nothing will find favour with Austria except an armed occupation. Tuscany has been made the birthright of the house of Lorraine, and an intrusion into her councils and management will not be permitted, unless insisted on by a force wsajeure. Again, no portion of Italy can be dealt with without affecting the whole ; and the question at issue will be determined betwixt Austria and Sardinia. Either Sardinia must be shaped to suit despotic views— that is, her constitution must be nullified in order to bring her within the scope of the combined absolutism of Austria, Rome, and Naples—or Austria must cede her Lombard possessions, and allow con stitutional Sardinia to be the emancipating medium of Italy. For Lord Palmerston to praise Austria for fidelity to the allies—to extol the priceless benefit of her alliance—and to propose to call upon her to assist in conoocting a liberal government, with a view to Italian reform generally—is a string of absurdi ties suited only to the capacities and to the ignorance of a ten-pound-franchise-elected and superlatively corrupt House of Commons. The Mazzinians alone applaud the designed mischief of Lord John Russell. Not a constitutionalist but is sensible that the inter ference of Austria and Lord Palmerston together will end as of old. And for his tortuous antecedents the Minister has lost the confidence of those who hoped better things. _ . The withdrawal - of a portion of the French troops has been accompanied by an augmentation of the Austrian force in Lombardy, and by the immediate appearance of bands of brigands, the old followers of Garibaldi, in the neighbourhood of Itouiyleoni on the west, and of Velletu on the east, of the Roman terri tory. In the Neapolitan dominions the cassi briganti levy black mail fearlessly, under the safeguard of the cry " Viva Ferdinando—il Re essoluto !" A bandit chief, during the last month, went to the local magistrate, or " commissario" of a "commune," near Ilitetto, in the "terra di Bari," declared that his troop wanted money, and that they would refrain from acts of robbery, pillage, arson, rape, end murder, if a certain sum were given them, tiia Qoutnateuk of fix‘iiptusila Welt r9* THE PRESS. burse, on account of their unflinching loyalty. The magistrate refused, as a matter of course, and the next night two thousand sheep, that were on his hill pasturage, and in which his chief property con sisted, were destroyed. All the brigands throughout Italy are in favour of "it Re assoluto, ed it San tissimo Padre." They are the tried friends of pontifical and royal despotism. In approbation of the bandit principle of extor tion, the King occasionally puts the same in practice for his own benefit. He lately gave permission to one of the most eminent of the Italian exiles to return once more to his country ; but the disburse ment of one hundred thousand crowns, privately, and through courtly channels, was instrumental and necessary to procure the act of royal clemency. How is it possible that a Government lending itself tem porarily, spiritually, and administratively, to every iniquity, and participating itself in delinquencies that should be legally treated with condign punishment, can remain long permanent in a period of boasted civilisation? If, as Lord Palmerston said, Russia be a standing menace to Germany, the state of Central and Southern Italy is a standing denial of the political enlightenment of the age. M. T. A. Court aull jastion. HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO FRANCE. THE memorable visit paid by Queen Victoria to the capital of her great ally commenced, according to ap pointment, this day week, and every day since the " Court Circular" has been dated from St. Cloud, for the first time since that ingenious mode of promul gating doings and movements of British royalty was invented. The proceedings of the royal party in Paris have followed pretty accurately the programme which we published last week. The following is the daily chronicle of events as recorded by the French journals, or reported by the industrious correspon dents of our London contemporaries : SATURDAY. Her Majesty, with Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the Pnncess Royal, went on board the Victoria and Albert, in Osborne Bay, at seven in the evening of Friday. The royal party dined on board, and retired to rest at an early hour. At half-past four on Saturday morning the royal yacht weighed anchor, and proceeded on her voyage. The Victoria and Albert was accompanied by her tenderthe Fairy, and also by the Irene and Vivid, two of the Trinity house steam - vessels, celebrated for their speed. The morning was superb, the sky serene and bright, the sea unruffled, and so rapid was the motion of the yacht, that it was soon seen by those who had the direction of her that, unless ber way was stopped, the squadron would arrive at Boulogne before the preparations were completed ; or, what was of more immediate consequence, before there was sufficient water in the harbour to allow the entrance of a vessel of such size and tonnage as the Victoria and Albert. At half-past eight the royal convoy was off Beachy Head, and at ten off Dungeness. Here the rate of speed was diminished, and the squadron slowly steamed along, bearing towards the French shore. At two o'clock precisely the Victoria and Albert arrived in the harbour of Boulogne amid the most deafening peals of artillery and of musketry from the soldiers stationed along tke front of the cliffs. AL an early hour of the morning the moat complete pre brations were made for the landing of the royal party. The myeror arrived at six o'clock the evening before from Paris. Although he proceeded in the moat unostentatious Manner, his piesence was soon recognised by an expectant people, who 'cheered him vociferously from the railway station to the Pavilion Hotel, where apartments had been engaged for him and his suite. It was expected that the Empress would have accompanied him, but it appears that she was prevented in consequence of a temporary delicacy of health. On the previous evening twenty-eight of the imperial horses and three carriages arrived at the Hotel du Nord. One of these carriages was particularly remarkable for its beauty and magnificent appointments. It was built espe cially for the Queen's use during her sojourn in France. It is a most unique vehicle, of peculiar elegance and light ness, lined with white satin and with hangings of gold. The harness belonging to it is profusely ornamented with appendages of the same precious metal. The expense of this carriage amounted, it is said, to 40,000 francs. At an early hour the Emperor reviewed the troops stationed at the camp of Honvault; after which he proceeded to the rail way-station, with a view of hastening the completion of the arrangements for the reception of her Majesty. The quay and every part of the route to the railway-sta tion presented the most picturesque and animated appear ance. The temporary pavilion, erected for the reception of her Majesty on her landing, was truly magnificent in its decorations. The Doaane, or custom house, was thickly hung with the flags of both countries, ranged with exquisite taste, and studded with numerous devices. The hotels and other houses had also flags and other decorations, and were ornamented with laurel and evergreens. The entrance to the railwaystation was of most gigantic pro portions, and the gates gilt in the most superb style. The gigantic figure surmounting it, holding a scroll above the bead, with the word " Civilisation" inscribed upon it, gave to the whole a most dazzling and classical appearance. A peat number of temporary benches were erected in front of the houses on the quay, for the benefit of those who were willing to pay from seven to twenty-five francs a seat, according to the elevation. Every available space, from 4t* ocawani *144 to t APReviNS Fiore. 4 l o 11011,3181 80k had its occupant. The royal route was lined on each aitie by regiments of lancers and dragoons, backed by the sol diers of tlte line standing arm to arm. In the immediate neighbOurhood of the pavilion were the Mayor and other municipal authorities, together with a brilliant stall of officers. Upon pillars erected at certain distances were in• scribed eternately the letters "N." and "V.," in gold. Some of them erected near the Dousne and the station• house had the initials " N. V. A. and lc." inscribed in gold upon their sides. By all accounts there were 00,000 soldiers on duty this day, and their presence upon each side of the port and all along the overhanging cliffs for miles in extent formed a scene of surpassing interest and brilliancy. By a few minutes after two o'clock the Victoria and Albert was moored at the . appointed landing - place, and at the same moment the different beaus that were stationed at various places struck up our national anthem—" God save the Queen," and continued playing during the progress of the royal party to the railway-station. His Imperial Majesty immediately stepped on board, and, having fi rs t bowed. kissed the hand d the Queen. Her Majesty then kissed the Emperor on both his cheeks. The Emperor then conducted the Queen on shore. This event of the landing of her Majesty on the shores of France was cele brated by a brilliant feu de joie along the heights, and the cordial and enthusiastic cheers from the spectators. The men uncovered their heads and the ladies waved flags and pocket handkerchiefs. The Roman Catholic priests of the different churches in Boulogne had special invitations from the authorities to attend the ceremony, and they occupied prominent places near the pavilion. The royal and imperial party were delayed for a few minutes in the pavilion in consequence of the presentation to her Majesty of an address, agreed upon at a meeting of the English residents and visitors in and near Boulogne, at the Hotel du Nord, on Wednesday la-t. The address was presented through Mr. Hamilton, her Majesty's Con. sul at Boulogne, and was read to the queen by the Earl of Clarendon. Baron James Rothschild, the chairman of the Northern of France Railway, being in attendance with the other directors, presented to her Majesty a magnificent bouquet of flowers, which the Queen smilingly accepted. Her Majesty was then banded by the Emperor into the carriage he had placed at her service. His Majesty having then mounted his horse rode upon the right of tLe carriage. The imperial and royal cortege then moved off, and arrived at the railway-statiou at about twenty minutes past two o'clock. Having stopped for a few moments to partake of the refreshments there prepared, the illustrious party entered the carriages in waiting, and proceeded by the railw•a) at a rapid rate on their route to Paris. The transit to the capital was accomplished with great celerity, the train dashing through one station after another at express speed. Most of these stations were decorated and crowded with spectators, who tried to catch a glimpse of the royal visitors in passing. At Amiens there were vast preparations made, as the royal party stopped there for a few minutes for refreshment. The journey was then resumed, at even higher speed than before, as it was found that the day was wearing ont, and the entrance to Paris would have to be almost accomplished in the dark. Notwithstanding the best efforts of the engineers, this result very nearly occurred. The sun was setting a 5 the convoy reached the terminus of the Strasbourg Railway, and the myriads who had waited pa►iently for some hours on the route to St. Cloud were much disappointed at finding scarcely light enough left to give fhem a fair view of the distin guished visitors whose arrival they had prepared to welcome. The preparations and adornments made along the whole distance were on the most magnifi cent scale : The interior of the Strasbourg station presented a most gorgeous appearance as the illustrious visitors entered. Upon one side was an elegant estrade of the choicest and richest flowers, and the whole of the distance on the right of the station along which her Majesty passed was one mass of flowers. At the end of the station there was a large square space, covered with a magnificent carpet of enormous dimensions, around the sides of which ranged a number of banquettes, covered with velvet and embroidery, for the ladies who were honoured with invitations to wit ness the reception. The sides of the station, up to the first floor, were hung with crimson velvet embroidered with bees and stars. There were the Imperial arms of Englc.nd and France richly guilt, emblazoned shields bear ing the arms of the towns of France, garlands of &meta suspended from the roof, and eagles with extended wings, healing on them the monogram of her Majesty, and trophies and banners were profusely distributed over the whole of the splendid hall The exterior of the station was ornamented with the arms of the empire, trophies, medallions with the royal and imperial cyphers, and flags and banners withdnt number. Descending the steps of the station, her Majesty, the Emperor, Prince Albert, rnd the I'rince of Wales, entered the first carriage, an elegant open barouche drawn by four horses, and preceded by outriders and an escort of Guides. The second carriage was occupied by the Prince Napoleon, the Princess Royal, Earl of Clarendon, and the Marquis of lireidelbano. A third was filled by the Marchioness of Ely, Eady Churchill, Bon. Miss Bulteel, and the Marquis of Abercorn. Lord Alfred I'sget, General Grey, Colonel Phipps, Colonel liiddulph, Sir James Clark, and the other officers of the royal suite, followed in open carriages. Pre vious to leaving the station, General la Wcestine, in the name of the 91h battalion of the Garde Nationale, presented a magnificent bouquet to her Blr i je s ty , which presented a niagniticebt bouquet to her Msjesty, which er Majesty gracetu ll a accepted. On leaving tha • . .