The Express.
London, England, 1859-02-01 00:00:00

THE lONIAN ISLANDS.

TRIESTE, MONDAY, Sur. $1

Advioes of yesterday from dorfa state that the
address of the Deputies in reply to Mr. Gladstone's
speech at the opening of the lonian Parliament a:-
premed a decided desire for union with Greece.
The Empress of Austria, and her sister, the Duchess
of Calabria, have arrived here.

ITALY.

PIEDMONT.

(PION OUN OWN ammurompEro

NICE, JAN. 23.
The eagerness with which the Sardinian govern-
ment is preparing for the war, which seems inevit-
able to all who are acquainted with the aspirations
of the court and parliament, has been revealed in a
striking manner. Sardinia was appointed by the
s.cuect treaty of Paris guardian of the petty princi-
pality of Monaco, and ever since 11313 she has main-
tained in that principality a garrison composed of
infantry and artallea7. The protests of the Prince,
who, after 1848 (when Menton and Raquebrunne
shook off his anthorify,.chietly, through the intrigues
of the Sardinian superior officers), begged to be re-
lieved from all protection, were rejected by the Turin
government, which cherished the right of maintain-
ing a garrison as one of the most probable paths to
tho high-road of territorial absorption. That Sar-
dinia should covet the possession of the little sove-
reign state of Monaco is most pardonable. Would
England tolerate without feelings of annoyance
the existence of an independent principality
of the Isle of Tbanet on its Kentish coast ? Sardinia
has occupied the town and forts of Monaco without
interruption for some forty years, and nothing led to
the supposition that any political event or crisis
would induce the cabinet of Turin to withdraw the
small force which represented there its protectorite
and its political hopes.
On Tuesday last, however, a steam vessel, which
proved to be the Sardinian despatch boat Malfatano,
entered the port of Monaco, to the intense surprise of
the natives. A few learned politicians declared that
it was a Russian steamer laden with gold for the
purchase of the prinsipality, an event so repeatedly
announced by the Paris press. The proprietors of
the gambling tables were convulsed with joy, by the
idea that a body of fanatical gamblers had chartered
a vessel in Nice and had vowed to break the bank
or fall like men. If these were disappointed, what
were the sensations of the comfortable garrison'
which thus at a moment's warning was ordered to
prepare kits, and embark on a treacherous ele-
ment. Not a word of the intended project had
been communicated to the Prince, nor even to the

Sardinian military authorities.
Prince Charles IIL was at first offended at what
he considered a slight, but being a sovereign of some
common sense, and of decidedly small offensive
means, he bowed to fate and perhaps formed in his
imagination some brilliant little scheme by which
he might, in the universal confusion which appears
at band, recover possession of Menton and Roque-
bruise'. The soldiers and officers, of course, grum-
bled at being hurried off at so short a notice, but off
they went. The Sardinian steamer then made way
for the port of Menton, where a slight disturbance
had occurred a fortnight before, on account of the
attempt made by the municipal council to im-
pee a tax on wine. The people gained the
day, but fears stole over the hearts of the victors
when a war vessel laden with troops thus steamed
abruptly towards their native town. These fears
were, however, entirely removed by an order given
for the Sardinian garrison of Mouton to pack up
and proceed on board the suspected steamer. When
these troops had been safely embarked, the Malta-
tano steamed rapidly for Genoa. The garrison of
the principality of Monaco is now confined to half-a-
dozen artillerymen and three staff officers.
The importance of coming events is often betrayed
by incidents apparently insignificant. I maintain
that Prince Mentchikors worn-out paletot and
round hat threw a greater light on the fixed in-
bunions of the Czar than all the pompous inter-
, changes a evierances and demand. ',lnch followed.
When the Sardinian government withdraws, against
its manifest interest, a few score soldiers from points
which it holds as dear ea Austria does Ancona or
Piacenza, there must be some grave motives in the
background. The above troops, who are ordered to
Novi, will not add much to the numerical strength
of the Piedmontese army ; but at least their departure
proves that every musket in the Sardinian kingdom
is being thrown towards the probable scene of war.
The organisation of the staff of the active army is
nearly oomplete, and comprises the following com-
mands. The head of the staff will be General Della
Rocca, an able officer, with good training. He is
said to have introduced himself, in the last Lombard
campaign, into the Austrian fortresses of Mantua
and Verona, and to have escaped safely with cor-
rect plans of the said strongholds. His subaltern will
be General Giustiniani, as 'mad Chef d'Etat Major.
The frontier's corps will be placed in the hands of
General Fanti. la the event of a general rise to
arms of the Milanese, and of subjects of other
Italian states more or lass submitted to the influence
of Ausiris, the organisation of the popular corps
would be entrusted to General Cialdini, a Modenese
by birth. It is unlikely that any idea has been en-
tertained of empowering General Garibaldi to raise
and command a free corps. The connexion with
Fiance would alone have forbidden the Turin
cabinet from putting forward the name of a man
who drove back the French eagles in their first
assault on Rome. The first army corps will be
commanded by General La Marmora, the second,
comprising the Savoy brigade, by General de Sooner.
The supreme command will be nominally exercised
by King Victor Emmanuel himself.

The Allgemeiste Zeilung of Jan. 27 contains a
letter from its Turin correspondent, which must be
read with dos allowance for its Austrian bias. We
give extracts from the letter :
It has now hero escertaiesd that the marriage betting
the Prism Napoleoa and Printer Clotilda wee negotiated
with the Romeo, Napoleon at Pleanbares by Count Cavour,
when the Later went them last year; and the chief
condition of the agreement was that, In case of a
rupture between Piedmont and Austria, Prance should
support the loaner with all its available resources.

But„ from that moment a misunderstanding sprang up
between Nee.leon and the Count, for whilst France
only intended to support Piedmont in case this king-
dom bad a just cause of war against Austria, the Sardinian
minister harboured the ides of conjuring up war, no matter
by what appliances. Hence the constant correspondence be-
tweenNamdeonand theSes dials' cabinet, in which the former
desired to see the marriage hastened, whilst, on the con-
trary, the latter endeavoured to force the Emperor into
prompter action and espousal of the Italian question. During
these pros and cons, the first day of the new year came on,
and with it those words which the Emperor addressed to the
Baron von Hubner. The Sardinian cabinet regarded them
as • formal devil cation of war, and hastened on its side to
have the marriage celebrated without further daily. Here-
upon the Emperor decided upon seeding his cousin to Tuns.
The Sardinian cabinet, thioking it had attached the Em-
peror definitively to its interests, spoke out in the spesoh
from the throne in the challenging way recorded, for the per-
pods of exciting a general revolt against Austria. But the
unfavourable impression this speech produced, not only in
Piedmont, but also in France, induced the Emperor to
swerve a little from Its previous intention, and as l'einos
Napoleon had already started on his journey, he sent two
telegraphic messages in cypher to Turin, so as
to warn the prince, then just on the point of w-
rit/tog at Nice, before he should reach Turin.
The consequence of this was a slight cooling down
between the two cabinet., and for some days the marriage
project was very problematical. But things had already gone
too far to permit a continuance of this ambiguous poetpoettios ;
',wend very lengthy interviews took place between the
French sinbamedor and Count Cavour, at which the latter is
said to have intimated to the French ambassador that, if the
Emperor Napoleon had no other reason for his hesitation
beyond having no legitimate cause for war, he (the count)
promised to find one speedily.
The clauses in the marriage contract are nearly as follows :
—The Princess receives a marriage portion of 5(10,000 lire
and 100,000 lire in jewels. France, on her part, promisee to
the imperial pair an appanage of 200,000 franca a year,
besides 100,000 franca to the Princess es pin money
Commis, the rumours of war, I have nothing new to
nownivakeht of importance, =tied It be the appointment of
different general., who in case of hostilities will assume com-
mand. The King will reserve the onmsnand-in-chef, but
General L. Maroc the the Minister of War, will assume the
Advil leadembip of the army, with the tide of commander of
the general stall. The Generals &note and Durendo will
probably be pl.ced over two army corps. The Generale
Fiat{ Cishlial, )191szd, Catgut, and Janet will an Bashi

twelve &visional commando. Several Important promotions
hays remstly beau made, among which those of Colonel
Giustlaissi, the King's side-de-map, sad Colossi Alberti to
the leak d general, on particularly to be noticed. The
movemest of the troops towards Alessandria sad the Po has
anis cosmassced, attar haring been stationary for some
alls•

THE CHANNEL FLEET.

The following letter appears in the Daily News:

Sin,—There have been of late so many interest.
ing articles on the State of the Navy in your pa r,
and it is a question of such importance to the safety
of the country, and one in which all classes of
Englishmen have taken so deep an interest, that I
cannot resist sending you what I think may strike
yon as practical views on the subject, and some that
have not been touched on by your previous writers.
It appears very clear that the strength of the
English fleet in screw line-of-battle ships, fit to take
their place in action, is very little superior to that of
the French. Estimate., therefore, must be granted
for the purpose of proceeding rapidly with the ships
now building and laying down others, so as to put
the country in a position not only to command the
I Channel, but to protect our numerous colonial from
a sudden dash, which the introduction of steam will
now facilitate ; and we must not lose sight of the
probability of a combination between France and
Russia, which would throw the odds fearfully
against England. But there is an important draw-
back which those who argue on the vast superiority
of this country in wealth and capability over other
nations hare not considered—namely, that there are
only a certain number of slips on which large ships
can be built in the royal
.yards, and that seasoned
timber of the proper size and growth is indispen-
sable. lam perfectly aware that there are many
able officers whose, opinions are well worthy
of attention, who are fully persuaded that
large ships are • useless and expensive
encumbrance; but as long as other nations continue
to build them we must do likewise, if we wish to
maintain our superiority afloat; and whatever we
bring forward in the shape of heavy armed frigates,
iron-sided ships, gunboats, or even vaiueauz beliers,
must be only as aids to the main line of battle; or
u experiments to be carried out at any expense,
with a hope that even in these novelties in naval
warfare we may maintain our superiority.
Bat the most important fact in this interesting
subject does not lie so much in the number or force
of our ships—lor, who that has read of the glories of
the English navy, as set forth in the deeds of Nelson
and St. Vincent, with their companions, does not feel
that it was no such advantages which gave them the
victory over their numerous enemies?—but the prac-
tised skill of the officers and men, and the corre-
sponding deficiency in such particulars of their op-
ponents. The English ships were always at sea,
and their crews in constant combat with the ele-
ments for years together, until nothing could happen
to which they had not become inured; whilst, on the
other band, the enemies' ships were shut up in ports.
This is the secret of our successes during the war of
the revolution. The case has now nearly become
reversed. The French government ever since 1843
have devoted talent, time, energy, and money, to
the raising of a most formidable navy, not only. in
the number and construction of ships, but in training
both officers and men in every part of their duty.
Look at their system for the enrolment of their
naval population ; and bow many of them are forced
to have served in the national navy; but it
is principally in the practice and experience
which they have given to their admirals and
captains, that they have gained so much on
England. A French officer, boxyrf malgre, is kept
constantly employed; their admiral' are selected
from the most efficient captains; while by yearly
squadrons of evolution experience is gained, and
opportunity given of selection for promotion. On
the other hand, many of the most promising officers
of the British navy, after 20 years constant sea ser-
vice previous to obtaining post rank, have never
interest sufficient to obtain a ship, and so become
lost to the service. Very little, indeed, can the most
fortunate of naval officers show of time passed in
command of ships, or of experience gained in fleets.
The admirals are gone whose services can date back
to the great war, and what opportunities have the
successive governments given to train up others to
fill their place ? With the exception of an occasional
squadron in the Mediterranean of half a dozen line-
of-battle ships collected together during the summer,
and squadrons of evolution or experiment no sooner
collected than dispersed—actually nothing; and last
year when our neighbours might have brought 20
sail of the line to the opening of Cherbourg, we were
enabled to collect three newly commissioned ships
which, with the Royal Albert, just returned from the
Mediterranean, and the Brunswick from the West
Indies, represented the force of England in the
Channel ; and in a similar state we at present
remain.

Nothing but ignorance can attempt to undervalue
the importance of accustoming captains to act in
fleets, for whether under sail or in steam, practice
alone can give the nerve and eye that can keep ships
in olose order, or teach commanders to perform the
commonest evolutions during fine weather and in
daylight.
That the French have attained to a wonderful
proficiency in this respect there cannot be a doubt,
for there were far too many witnesses when they
were co-operating with the English ships, during
the late war, for the fact to be even questioned.
England must follow the example of France, and by
a permanent fleet in the Channel give her officers
the experience which can only be obtained by prac-
tice. There is no doubt that such a service is most
unpopular withseamen. There is too mach emula-
tion among the captains and officers of any indi-
vidual ship to allow her to be beaten in evolutions of
any sort for them not to endeavour to work up to
the standard, and this occasions extra exercise; but
all such zeal would be tempered by the orders and
example of a judicious chief. The ships should
cruise in warmer latitudes than the Channel during
winter; for constant exposure to cold and wet
without a sufficiently exciting cause (such as war
affords), can hardly be the choice of any clews of men ;
and even in the summer, the home ports should be
avoided as much as possible, as tending in every way
to demoralize the men. Seamen themselves com-
plain of the expense they are subjected to in these
home squadrons. If such is the case an equivalent
should be given in some shape, and everything done
to render the service popular that is compatible with
good discipline; for the necessity of such a fleet is
imperative.
All naval men are now waiting anxiously for the
report of the manning committee, and much is ex-
pected from them, although the gallant President
has informed us that nothing remains for England in
the event of a war but to resort to the press gang.
This is simply impossible, as neither the seamen
nor their countrymen would countenance it. But
Lord Hardwicke's speech directs attention to the
great difficulty of the question, which is, how you
are on a declaration of war to lay hands upon
20,000 or 30,000 additional seamen. There will not
be, indeed seldom has been, any serious difficulty in
finding men to meet a regular demand made year
by year for manning the required number of ships
voted in the Estimates; the supply in a short time
accommodating itself accordingly—favourite classes
of ships, stations, and captains always obtaining the
preference. But to meet an emergency you must
fall back on the merchant service ; and whether re-
course is had to ballot, bounty, or embargo, your
navy will be filled by people who, whatever their
qualities as seamen (and many possess the highest),
are still new to the duties of a mar,of-war ; and with
this fact before our eyes, those who are so loud in
their demands for a standing navy would do well to
consider that by stopping the ebb of men-of-war's
men into the merchant service you entirely preclude
all chance of picking up many hundreds of seamen
at your hour of need, who have been trained to guns
and to every exercise which constitutes a man-of-
war's man. Indeed the most experienced opinions
lean towards the Royal Navy being a nursery for the
merchant service, rather than the contrary.
Much has been written on the defenceless state of
Englant, and hundreds of remedies proposed—
block-ships, gun boats, forts on accessible points,
&c. There can be no doubt that in the present
week state of our Channel fleet there is much
cause for apprehenbion, and that to meet a sudden
coup de main, armed hulks ready to be towed out of
harbour and moored in positions that would coat-

mend the channels to our principal arsenals, every
gun-boat being afloat with the guns on board, and
engines in working order, would be the readiest
means of available defence. clot and powder
should be stored on the coast, ready at any point
where an enemy could land, whilst a coast road
should be made for the passage of the heaviest ertil.
lery.

Such an emergency might never arise, but do not
let it be lost eight of that even the appearance of a
foreign fleet in the Channel superior to our own
would occasion a shock which would equally lower
our prestige and our funds.

I might enter into the question whether sailing
ships are yet entirely to be banished from our fleets,
bat will only say that we certainly cannot afford to
send our ships to sea without masts, as has been
proposed, whilst we may have to follow an enemy
across the Atlantic or to the East Indies, when to
husband fuel would be of the utmost importance.--
I am, Bc., A NAVAL OFFICER.

THE NAVY ESTIMATES.—We have already stated
that there would be a considerable increase in the Navy Esti-
mates for the yea 1849-60, and we have now to state that,
although it had beta generally believed there would be no
increase in the number of liftmen voted for, we have good
foundation for stating that there will be an increase of 3,000
nam.

1

Mrs. Smote, of Crimean celebrity, visited several
of the military and naval heroes doing duty at Sheerness on
Frid►y and Saturday last. She received a hearty and kind
welcome from the garrison officers whose quartets she made
her home during her stay. She purposes in a few days
paying a visit to the officers of the navy, many of whom
now in port partook of her creature comforts while in the
Crimea. Prevkas to her arrival at Sheerness she visited
Chatham Barracks and Melville Hospital, at which place
she was received with the beet feelings by the officers and
men. Many of the heroes of the Crimea surrounded her,
and cheered her most enthuaiaathally. _

Last evening his fellow-members of the Union
Club, Jlancheshw, entertained Mr. J. A. Turner, M.P., at
dinner, which wee given in the Club-rooms' Moseley-
arrest. About 40 gentlemen set down, under the
presidency of Mr. Oliver Heywood ; the vice-chairs
being occupied by Messrs. W. Cuadra Brooks and
Malcolm Room. Among the gentlemen present, besides the
guest of the evening, ware Mr. R. N. Philips, M.P. ; Mr.
Deigns!), M.P.; Messes. Heron, Wrigley (Bury), Fereday
Smith, W. R. Wood, Harter, T. Cooke, &c.

It is said that the article published in the Cuesti-
tuhennel on Sunday, cm the military form of France, and in
reply to the Daily Newt was sent to that paper direct from
the Tuileries, without the seam formality of paining either
through the War-ofike or Foreign Affairs.

It appears that, according to the rules of the
Roman catholic church, to enable the marriage of Prince
Napoleon and the Princess Clotilde to be celebrated on a Son-
day a dispensation from Rome waa neceasary. The Pope
not only granted it at once, but aocompanied it with his con-
gratulations to the illustrious couple.

A Paris letter in the Nord says :—"Dinners con-
tinue to ha given at the Tuileries, and at the instance of their
lbjestise dancing takes place every evening. The wives
and daughters of the high functionaries of the state are
Invited, but ills rather a drawback that the youthful element
is wanting amongst the mum. The few who are there have
coneequently to do extra duty."

A telegram from Marseilles states that the active
division, commanded by General Reused, has been recalled
from Algeria, and is to be added immediately to the army of
Lyon&
M. Montelambert has had two silver statmettes
made, representing Demosthenes and Cicero, Intending to
present than to the two counsel who conducted his defence
in the late trial.

From a discussion in the Spanish Cortes, it seems
that the Spanish government complied with the request
of the King of Naples, that MM. Panto, Agostinlr
Settembrini, and the other exiles, should not be allowed to
land at Cadiz, and that they ware accordingly transferred
from a Neapolitan vessel to a merchant ship which conveyed
them to America. The Dibats remarks that the conduct of
the Neapolitan authorities is inexplicable, for once upon
American territory, there is nothing to prevent the tint.
innate men from rwembarking sad coming to Newland or to
Prance,

- -----
The Opinionc of Turin mentions the arrival at
Milan on the night of the 26th ult., of 200 penons arrested
by the Austrian authorities at Lubiana. The lame journal
estimates the number of pinions now under arrest in the
Lombardo-Vtnetian territory at more than 2,000.
An affair connected with the succession to a large
fortune by claimants of the name of Reinhardt, which was
some time ego referred to in the Erpn 4, is told to have
latterly much increased in intmest, and the great sum in
I question, according to the opinions which have been given
by eminent conned both in London and in Strsabourg, will, it
believed, fall to be divided among thirteen families, all of
whom reside in the Tyrol. This new turn in the matter ia
supposed to have been chiedy owing to the personal exertions
of a poor peasant, who discovered he had an Interest in it,
and who, in his successful search for evidenoe, hes travelled
over Italy, Germany, Belgium, and France, making also two
journeys to London.
The Offic;al Vesiee Otnette of the 26th ult.
announces that, in consequence of orders to that elect, the
University of Pedant; to be immediately re-opened. Students
wishing to be re-admitted must apply for permission to the
provincial delegation of Padua.
. .

The following extraordinary war demonstration in
stated by the Opinions to have occurred at Milan on January
17 :—Yesterday the pupils of the St. Alexander Lyoeum re-
fused to attend the German lecture. The professor made
them a speech in which he said it was quite time that fu....ish
. .

denronatrar dons of the sort should beat:motioned. Winding
up a fervent discourse, he exclaimed with energy, Let all
good lads remain with me, and ell the bad may go." To his
utter astonishment the entire class took him at his word, and
rushed off as fast u their legs could carry them.

" Vesuvius," says a Naples letter of Tuesday lag,
"eontiauee to devastate the lauds and threaten the sur-
rounding village!. It has now been in eruption foe several
months, and has tut through, at four points, the route lead.
log to the Ob.ervatory. The lava still teems from the foot
of the cone, and with a slowness which nineties the curious,
but with a parsietency which frightens the tyrant."

An of of the Emperor of Morocco lately arrived
in the mountains of the Riff, and summoned the rebel chief
Beniaidel to deliver up Lieutenant Alvarez and other Spanish
wiener,. The chief of the tribe formally refused to obey the
Emperor until the Spaniards bad delivered up the cannot,
which they had taken from him. It now remains to be seem
whether the Emperor of Morocco will be strong enough to
enforce obedience.

A Constantinople letter, of the 19th January, in
the Gazette do Midi, says ;—" Very stormy whether bas
lately prevailed in the Black Sea and in the Archipelago, and
several manakin among shipping have taken place. The
Eugenio, a Neapolitan vowel, bee been wrecked near Cana.
The captain and crew were saved with greet difficulty, but
the vessel and oargo ere totally lost. Three other Teasels—
two Eaglish, the General Havelock and the Elixabath Anne,
and a Norsegian, the Nork•Not-Vtige, went ashore near
Odessa. The Dnieper, belonging to the Humans Steam
Navigation Company, which went ashore in the Dardanelles
on her way from England to Constantinople, has been
totally wrecked. The money on board was saved, but the
cargo lost."

- -
THE LATE MR. HARVEY COMBE.—On Saturday
the sums of mosey bequeathed by the late Mr. Harvey
Combs to the workmen and other persons employed at the
brewery, Castle-street, Long-acre, were pail by the extort-
tors, at the brewhoesee. The bequests to the clerks varied
from 601. to 1001.; messengers, porter., and watchmen, front
201. to 401.; coopers, draymen, and other subordinates, who
have been tat years in the service of the firm, received 101.
and those whose servitude wee two years end above, but
under ten years, received It. for every year. After the pay-
ment bad been made burinese was suspended for the re-
mainder of the day, in order to give the fortunate legatees
an opportunity of investing or making purchseee with their
beeriate.
't*RFUIT OF THE MURDERER OF MR. ELY.—The
Climate' Chronicle of Saturday eays:—" intelligence has
reached Clonmel that the constabulary of the police-statiens
between De:rad and Cappoquin have just bees engaged
in a hot pursuit, through the broken country near Clash-
mare, after Delany, who has just turned up in that district.
The fugitive, It appears, Is armed to the teeth and we
fftrei to state that his extraordinary actitily enabled him
this once to outrun hie pursuers. He evcoped into the woods
of Ballintaylor, but so exciting was the chase, that, in his
postage through that thick plantation, be kit behind him his
shoes. As the police are now so rim, upon his trail, his
arrest may soon be looted for."
CRYSTAL PALACE..-- ONE SEM-LINO DAlf..
MONDAY, JAN. on payment, 794; ditto,
by ~a ad" 361; total, 1.168.