Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-07 00:00:00

WAR'S ALARM,

IT is not quite certain that the alarm has alto-
gether subsided, notwithstanding an apparent
compliance with suggestions for more pacific
preliminaries than have lately been prevalent, on
the part of the greatest threatener of war.. It was

known a day or two since, that in consequence of
a communication addressed by Cardinal ANTO-
NELLI to the French Ambassador at Rome, not
only had the French Emperor ordered the imme-
diate evacuation by his troops of the Pontifical
City, but that they had actually been forthwith
withdrawn to Civita Vecchia, there to await the
transport vessels to convey them back to France.
We had intelligence also of Lord CowLEY'S inter-
views with the Austrian Ministers at Vienna, and
at the same time of hints having been thrown out,
on their part, that there might perhaps be no
objection to renounce the separate treaties con-
cluded between Austria and the minor Italian
States, but only on condition of guarantees for the
preservation of peace being given,—than which
nothing could be more reasonable. More than
this, we have had information of assurances that
such guarantees might be afforded, • that, at any
rate, there was no indisposition on the part of the
French Emperor to do so. But still there is not

only no open manifestation of any undoing of
what has been done with the view to an immediate
campaign, but, on the contrary, the work of pre-
paration appears to be proceeded with as though
no change whatever had taken place in the coun-
cils of the Empire on the subject.

The warlike activity of the Emperor had got
everything in a state of preparation, as we have
before pointed out, for immediate hostilities; and
it appears that, within the last few days, a portion
of the army at Lyons received orders to hold itself
in readiness, and that a telegraphic despatch from
Paris was all that was required to send it at a
couple of hours' notice to Toulon and Marseilles,
where transports were in readiness to receive it.
Further than this, it was announced that the for-
mation of an army of the Alps had been resolved
upon, the command to be given to General
McMArroN. And whatever may have been the
issue, in his Majesty's councils, of Lord POWLEY'
communications, and whatever the object of so
prompt a compliance with the request of the Pope
to withdraw the French troops from Rome, there
is no certain assurance, as yet, that things thus
fully prepared for a deadly conflict with Austria
do not remain virtually in statu quo.

The funeral at Milan, of one who acted a con-
spicuous part in the revolution of 1848, and more
especially the siege of Rome,—Emmio DANDOLO,
—has been made the occasion of an outburst of
political feeling which only shows of what inflam-
mable materials the popular mind of some parts of
Italy is composed, and how fearful a flame might
be kindled were a spark but to come effectually in
contact with it of that belligerent fire which the
rulers of France and Sardinia have been so eagerly
endeavouring to stir up. "The Corso," says the
account, " was one thick mass of human beings,
and when, towards midday, the mourners, bearing
each a lighted taper, issued forth in slow proces-
sion from the church doors, preceded by the coffin,
on which lay a wreath of camellias, displaying the
national colours of Italy—red, white, and green—
the pent-up enthusiasm of the assembled multi-
tude burst forth, and a prolonged and deafening
',lout filled the air, the cry, Evviva l'ltalia ' being
inly distinguishable. It is said that many also
`touted, Evviva la Francia.' " All this excite-

owing to the deceased having been &Voted to the
"Independence of Italy," the establishffient of
which is one of the ostensible pleas for war with
Austria. And in connection with this, the cry of
" Evviva l'ltalitt" conjointly with that of " Ev-
viva la Francia," wag it most ominous demon-
stration of popular feeling, in the very direction
in which, at such a conjuncture, it would be
most dangerous to the peace of Europe.
The effect of this still prevalent alarm of war
continues, we find, to be most injurious to the
interests of trade throughout France, and more
particularly in Paris. " Commerce," says a recent
communication from the French capital, " still
continues to labour under the weight of the
uncertainty which prevails in political matters,
and no one dares to venture on any operations of
importance while the present state of things exists.
The manufacturers are finishing off the orders
which they had previously on hand, but they
receive very few new ones. In the retail shops
business appears at a complete standstill, and the
few purchases made are of articles of the first
necessity .and of every-day consumption." The
Paris Bourse has, very naturally, remained in
a gloomy state ; and but for the confidence there
is at home, that England will be kept clear of the
threatened war, our own Funds would no doubt
have been seriously depressed likewise ; if not also
our own commerce ruinously stagnant, as that of
France is. There is apparently, through the
friendly intervention of our Government, a hope
that the alarm may now subside, and trade on the
Continent be revived. But so long as Louis
NAPOLEON is in the ascendant, with his ambitious
ends to work out, there can be no great reliance,
it is to be feared, on any assurance of permanent
tranquillity.