The Press.
London, England, 1857-12-26 00:00:00

DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.

A correspondent of the Paris Constitutionnel,
writing from Brunswick, having given a version of
the note addressed by the Russian Government as
a part of the protocol of London to the Court of
Denmark, the Frankfort correspondent of the Nerd
disputes its authenticity, and gives the following as
a correct epitome of the despatch :
The Cabinet of St. Petersburg commences by express.
ing its opinion that the question of the Duchies of Hob
steM and Lauenbourg has entered a phase of which it is
impossible to exaggerate the importance; that in effect
the Germanic Diet has, on the one part, admitted the
petition of the States of Lauenbourg; and, on the other,
Austria and Prussia have taken up the affair of Holstein,
in rendering to it an account of their unfruitful efforts to
regulate, by direct negotiations with Denmark, the diffe-
rence arisen between it and the Holstein States. The
Diet of Frankfort finds itself thus prevented from pro-
nouncing its opinion, as the article 31st of the Acte finale
of Vienna acknowledges its right to do.
The Imperial Cabinet thinks that, in exercising this
right, the Diet is strictly within the limits of the forms
prescribed by the federal institution. H.M. the King of
Denmark, in his quality of Duke of Holstein and Lauen-
bourg, has then the opportunity of explaining his co•etals
upon the points which make the subject of this regretable
difference, and upon the intentions which guide him in the
execution of his engagements contracted with the con-
federation in 1M :I The Russian Government thinks that
upon these explanations will depend the issue of the
affair upon which the attention of Germany is fixed, and
which holds Denmark itself in suspense.
The Imperial Cabinet here repeats that Russia has ab-
stained, as she ought, from interfering in these questions,
which, according to her opinions, appertain exclusively to
the public law of Germany, but it cannot see with indif-
ference a state of affairs prolonged compromising the tran-
quillity of the north of Europe, which can in no case
benefit the true interests of Denmark.

The despatch concludes by the conviction that these
considerations will not escape the wisdom of the King and
his Council, to the attention of whom the Imperial Cabinet
recommends particularly that, in giving their explanations
to the Germanic Diet, they will not close the way to au
amicable arrangement.
Admiral Van Dockam is named Danish Minister
at the Court of St. James.

A letter from Copenhagen states that the bill au-
thorising the Minister of the Interior to contract a
loan for Danmark of 300,0001. wai adopted on the
third reading by a majority of 66 to 7.

ITALY.
EARTHQUAKE AT NAPLES.
The following private telegram has been
received :

:klAnsErr.T.r.s, Dec. '2•2. •

Accounts from Naples state that on the night of the
17th a terrific earthquake ravaged a part of the kingdom,
particularly the towns of Salerno, Potenza, and Pols. The
buildings at Salerne are seriously damaged. In the pro-
vince of Basilicata, and in the southern principalities, half
the villages are destroyed, and the number of victims is
(refloated at several thousands. The authorities have
erected wooden buildings to receive the inhabitants. Three
violent shocks were felt at Naples, and the population en-
camped an entire day outside the walls. There was no
accident to deplore there. The northern part of the king-
dom of Naples has not been affected by the catastrophe.

1248

With respect to the English engineers, the Act of
Accusation against the prisoners detained for the
Cagliari affair includes the two English engineers,
who will be tried under the same circumstances as
the other prisoners. The trial is not expected to
come on before the middle of January.

The commercial crisis had reached Milan,
and caused the most tremendous convulsion.
The following letter, dated Milan, December 15,
gives an authentic version of the true state of
affairs there

The difficulties of the present time are very, very great ;
failures are occurring on a frightful scale, and after those
of Palleari, of Ballabio and Co., of Cighera, of Redaelli, of
Wechler and Mazzola, after the contrecoup of foreign
cities, after the suspension of payments by the best houses
of Verona, Venice, tidino, and Bergamo, our strongest
firms also begin to waver, and to make up their accounts.
And the accounts are very sad. Let it suffice to remark
that among our great silk houses there is not one that has
in warehouse a less quantity than 50,000 lbs. of silk, whence
it is easy to calculate that at present prices every one of
them must lose from half a million to two millions of
francs—the stock of some of them exceeding 150,000 lbs.
The firm of Brambilla, Brothers, was supported by a loan
of one million and a half of francs ; Battista Gavazzi is
liquidating, and others are doing the same. Every man
asks himself what we have to look forward to ; so many
fortunes vanished, so many reduced by one half; so many
families, lately in easy circumstances, now at their last
shift ; so many workmen without work or bread, or means
subsistence of any kind.
A letter from Rome of the 16th gives some
account of the ordination of Prince Lucien Bona-
parte to priest's orders, as already announced :

The Pope himself officiated in his private apartments,
and all the members of the Bonaparte family now in Rome
were present at the ceremony. The young Prince, who is
remarkable for his piety, was greatly affected. After the
ceremony the Pope entertained all the Bonaparte family
at breakfast, Cardinal Antonelli, Secretary of State, being
present. This day Monsignor Bonaparte said his first
mass, the church he selected being that of Santa Maria,
in the Via Leta, in which his mother, the Princess Zenaide,
is interred. The church was crowded. A grand breakfast
was afterwards given in the Palace Gabrielli, in which the
I'rince resides, and it was attended by several personages
of distinction, and among them Cardinals Santucci, Grande,
Gazzoli, and Barnabo.