The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-10 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE WAR.

Whilst the Emperor Napoleon is endeavouring
to bring about an armistice, whilst both the King
of Prussia and the King of Italy express their
readiness to accept it on certain conditions, and
whilst the Emperor of Austria, in a proclamation ad-
dressed this day to his people, professes his desire to
see peace restored on fair and honourable conditions,
we find that the Italian army, 160,000 strong, has
crossed the Po, at Ostiglia, without resistance, and
is marching into the Quadrilateral, between Leg-
nano and Mantua. We find it stated at the same
time that a portion of the Austrian troops in
Venetia has already been withdrawn in the
direction of Vienna, and that General Bene-
dek has been replaced as commander of the
army of the North by General John, head of the
staff in the Austrian army of Italy. The first re-
port of Count Mensdorff, who was sent to inves-
tigate into the position and condition of the army
of the north has been received, and it represents
the state of matters as by no means so bad
as had been supposed. Three corps d'arm6e
are intact, and already in position to the number
of 100,000, near Obuutz, whilst the debris of the
other corps are being united and re-organised, and
present an imposing force, and notwithstanding
thegreat loss of guns the number still in the hands of
the Austrians is put down at 800. A
loss is admitted on the Austrian side
of 40,000 men in killed, wounded, and prisoners,
but the correspondence from Vienna shows that
every exertion is being made there to fill up the
gaps which have been made in the Austrian ranks.
It remains to be seen whether the Austrians will
abandon the Venetian territory altogether, or
whether they will confine themselves exclu-
sively within their fortresses, or whether
they will endeavour to make head against
the Italians with a diminished force, but the re-
sources of the empire are evidently being organised
at present with the view of mainly strengthening
the army of the north. The feeling at Vienna and
throughout the empire generally, is tenfold
more intense against Prussia than against
Italy. The following is an estimate of the
force which the abandonment of the Quad-
rilateral would give Austria in men and stores :
Mantua would render 20,000 men disposable and
150 guns; Verona,4o,ooo and 300 ; Peschiera, 10,000
and 50 ; and Legnago, 25,000 and 50. Theentrenched
camps, forts, and block-houses ; the garrisons of Mal-
ghera,Alberoni, Saint-Andre, Saint-Pierre, Albano,
and Monteline, w ith the towns of Vicenza,Trev ise , and
Robigo, would also furnish enormous quantities of
men and guns. Lastly, the Quadrilateral would
furnish its army in the field—infantry, cavalry,
waggon-train, military stores, guns, etc. ; in all,
150,000 men. All those living and material forces
would proceed towards Olmutz.
At Olmutz, it will be recollected, was made that
convention between Austria and Prussia, which the
statesmen of the latter have ever regarded as slower-
ing of and au insult to the nation. The Prussian
press has often boasted that they would efface that
dishonour at the spot where it betel them, and it
may be that the second of the great battles between
the Houses of Hapsburg and Hohenzollern will take
place before the ancient capital of Moravia.

MEETING OF THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA
AND THE KING OF SAXONY.

On the afternoon of the 4th the King of
Saxony arrived at Vienna by the Northern
Railway. He was met at the station by
the Emperor and all the imperial family.
The two sovereigns were deeply moved
when they embraced. Late events appear to have
greatly aged King John. The Emperor looked
pale, and shrinking into the corner of his carriage
as if overwhelmed with grief. His first occupation
each day since the commencement of this terrible
war is to visit the hospitals.