The Express.
London, England, 1860-11-19 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, NOV. 19.

Timm was it strange rumour the other day in Ger-
many that the Emperor of .iteeraia meditated abdica-
tion. The departure of the Basra for Madeira,
and his Imperial .Mainerr's unsettled mood of
mind, which only finds relief in the excitement of
shooting and hunting, have countenanced a rumour
not entirely destitute of credibility. It is impos-
sible, indeed, that FRANCIS Josue should not
hare at length felt the conviction, which has
long been that of his subjects, of his being the
most impolitic of monarchs; well meaning, perhaps,
but displaying such an utter want of sagacity in
planning and of consistency in executing, that
failure is the almost necessary result of all that
he undertakes. During the last months the EMIR-
aoa was menaced in 'Venetia by the Italians. It is
perhaps too much to expectthathe should have given
up a province without territorial or pecuniary com-
pensation. For its defence he had two modes plainly
indicated. One was, to throw himself on the
people, both of his own empire and of Germany,
and by the promulgation of liberal institutions and
the adoption of a progressive policy, appease the
discontent of Hungary and Bohemia, as well as
satisfy the expectation of the Germans. Had he
done this, he might have counted on the support
of Prussia, which could hardly have refused its
alliance. And he might have remained 'efficiently
independent of the alliance of Russia not to have
troubled himself with what the Court of St. Peters-
burg thought or felt in the matter.
If, on the other hand, the Austrian Court de-
termined on making not a defensive war against
Italian attack, but a reactionary and offensive war
against Italian freedom, the natural ally which
presented itself was certainly Russia. Were it
decided to adopt this course and win this ally, the
necessary condition was, not to make constitutional
concessions to Hungary or other parts of the
Empire, but to be prepared to render Austrian
policy subservient to that of Russia upon the
Danube.

What the Emperor natters Jesse& ought to'
have done, say these statesmen who acknowledge
no principle save expediency, was to have made
his choke of these policies and alliances, and
grasped either the one or the other. The wisest
choice, all admit, would have been to have allied
with Germany, satisfied his provinces by large
concession,,, and remained content with the mili-
tary defence of Venetia if attacked. FRANCIS
Jenne, however, pursued neither one course nor
the other, but niade as intermixture and jumble
of both. Instead of limiting his efforts to a defence
of Venetia, ho launched into most exorbitant
expenditure with the view to nothing less
than the invasion of Lombardy and the reoccupa-
tion of all North Italy. In such a crusade neither
Prussia nor ti.Jrniany was likely to embark, whilst
most certainly Loth France and England would be
ranged against hi:.i. tau what ally then did the
Austrian Earacoa count I Upon Russia incon-
testably, for there was no other. But instead of
doing all that was requisite is such a case to con-
ciliate Russia, the Austrian Cabinet promulgates
a constitution for Hungary, for Gallic* and for
Bohemia, measures all of them distasteful to the
Cabinet of St. Petersburg.
Under these circumstances, having lavished an
the money and credit he could procure upon pre-
parations for war, the Emperor Famine Januar
demands an interview with the Sovereigns of the
North, and proceeds to Warsaw to meet them,
feeling, it is asserted, perfectly convinced and easy
in his mind that they would approve of his invasion
of Italy, and form at least a defensive alliance to
protect his douunions from attack. He reckoned,
not without his host indeed, but against the
plainest dictates of probability. Prussia could not
grant what he caked : Russia was totally unpre-
pared to break with France and England, even to
save the Austriau empire ; and the Emperor
Faiisicis Josue, completely self-deceived, returned
to Vienna to feel the utter uselessness of his ex-
travagant war expenditure, and the impomibility
of realising his military dream.
It is here to be observed that the result of the
Warsaw Conference is what every liberal mind
must have desired. It is a manifestation that
Russia is either unable or unwilling to come for-
ward, as in past years, to form the nucleus
or mainstay of a reactionary alliance. Austria
has no longer soy such support to fall back upon,
and, therefore, it must move forward in
the other sense--in the policy of liberal
concessions at home and of standing on its
defence abroad. For this there can be no doubt
the Archduke MA XIX ILI A N is fitter than his bro-
ther the Kerrmia, • conviction which may have
created the rumour, if not the idea of abdication.
Flamm loser% can, however, adopt the polity of
his brother without ceding place to him. He may
follow up his late edict by altering those parts of
his constitution which have awakened jealousy
instead of giving satisfaction, and by flinging him-
self upon his people, trust to them for the defence
of the empire, and thus reduce the exorbitant
military expensei, which cannot be continued
without leading to bankruptcy and revolution.
It is but fair to say that there are some
points in the recent conduct of the Emperor
of AtrTM• calculated to conciliate favour.
There is first the grant of a constitution, whatever
its defects, in the very teeth of Russian wishes.
The policy of St. Petersburg is to emancipate the
serfs by ordinance, so as to make the condition
of the Rumildi peasants not so strongly in contrast
with the populati..n of Austria and the
Principalities, where revolution hail emancipated