Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-06 00:00:00

THE DAY'S NEWS

Our columns this morning contain the first official
announcement of the commencement of the war.
A telegram, received last night, from Turin, dated
Thursday, conveys an official Sardinian bulletin,
reporting that the attempt of the Austrians to effect
the passage of the Po, at Frassivetto, commenced on
Tuesday, the cannonading lasting fifteen hours was
re-commenced on Wednesday afternoon, and lasted
for the remainder of the day. The Piedmontese had
only a few men wounded, whilst the loss of the
Austrians is represented as having been severe. The
same despatch announces that 4,000 Austrians were
at Castel Nova, Servia, on Wednesday. The cor-
respondent of the Daily News asserts, ye
tively, that France is about to mobilise, between
700,000 and 800,000 men, and that the French army
on the Rhine will amount to 500,000 men, as the
Emperor does not believe that Germany will remain
quiet. The same correspondent further asserts, that
on the day the Emperor leaves Paris, he will address
a solemn manifesto to Europe, espousing the cause
of nationalities

pose.

A letter from Marseilles says that almost all th°
steam navigation companies have supplied the
government with ships for the transport of troops.
The same letter states that two regiments of
light cavalry, destined for Italy, had arrived with-
out their horses, and would be compelled to
remain some time until horses arrived from Algeria.
At the request of the Sardinian Government, the
Russian Consul at Venice has undertaken the pro-
tection of Sardinian subjects. The Emperor Napoleon
gave a farewell reception at the Tuileries, on Tuesday
evening, to a party of about 650. The other tele-
grams received earlier in the day, included one from
Turin, of Wednesday's date, which reported that, on
Tuesday, the enemy commenced a cannonade from
the direction of Valenza, but without effect. From
Cambio the enemy advanced towards Sala, on the
left bank of the Po. Another advance was also
made towards Ticino. An ineffectual attempt was
made by the Austrian's to cross the Po below Frassi-
netto. On our side twenty men were killed and
wounded. A decree of the King of Sardinia declares
the Chasseurs of the Alps, and the other corps of
volunteers now forming, to be part of the army.

The Paris correspondent of the Herald says : "It is
reported that Prince Napoleon is' to command a
corps of 25,000 men to be employed by the shores of
the Adriatic. A considerable portion of the French
artillery has not been able to cross the Alps,
owing to the passes being still blocked up with snow."
The 21oniteur of yesterday announces, that the
Emperor has decided that Austrian subjects may
continue their residence in France, and the French
colonies, as long as their conduct shall not furnish
reason for complaint. The admission of Austrian
subjects into French territory, is to be allowed only
on special authorisation. Austrian vessels now lying
in French ports, or which may enter any French
port in ignorance of war having broken out, are to
be granted a delay of six weeks to quit those ports
for their destination, or to neutral ports.
The steamer Indian, from Portland, arrived here
yesterday, with 67 passengers, but her advices from
New York have been anticipated by the City of
Baltimore. The Brazil mails arrived at Southamp-
ton yesterday.

It will be seen by the returns in our columns, that
the contest for South Lancashire was decided yester-
day, by a majority in favour of Messrs. Egerton and
Legla, the Conservative candidates. The precise
numbers cannot as yet be ascertained, but the
difference between the returns on either side is not
very considerable. The defeat of the Liberal party
is ascribed to various causes—to the want of the
protection of the ballot, and in some degree to the
fact that, the influence of the leading Roman
Catholic families of territorial influence in the
county, was thrown into the scale in favour of the
Conservative candidates. Distrust of, and hostility
to, the Whig party, are assigned to the causes of this
movement on the part of the influential Roman
Catholics. Last evening Mr. J. B. Lloyd, and Mr.
Bold, addressed a large crowd in front of the Queen's
Hotel, a few words of exultation over the victory.
Ardent admirers of Mr. Egerton's abilities and
promise, speak already of the chances of his being
called upon to move, or at least second, the address
to the Queen in the Commons on the opening of the
new parliament,

At the Dock Board, yesterday, Mr. Charles
M'lver complained of the expense and trouble
involved to owners, consignees, &c, by the regula-
tions of the board requiring returns as to the amount
and description of cargoes, and even the measure-
ments of packages, in order to check the amount of
dock dues paid. The chairman explained that some
such arrangement was necessary to prevent fraud,
which, before its adoption, had occurred to a con-
siderable extent. He did not, however, see the
propriety of requiring the measurements spoken of.
Finally, the chairman promised that the finance
committee would consider the subject.
From the report of the medical officers of health,
read at the board, yesterday, it appears that the
public health is in a very satisfactory state, the
deaths being lower than in any corresponding week
for the last ten years, although the temperature
was lower than for the last fifteen years, at the same
period of the year.

OUR PEACE POLICY-ACTING ABOVE-

BOARD

IT cannot but be a source of great satisfaction to
the country---and we believe it will be found an
occasion of safety also---that as respects its position
with regard to the war that has broken out on the
Continent of Europe, and with all the parties to
which the country is on terms of friendly relation,
there is no mystification, and that her Majesty's
Government show no desire that there should be
any ; on the contrary, that they appear most
anxious that the people should be fully informed
of all the circumstances of the case, and that
they should be afforded every opportunity of know-
ing what their Government are doing, and what
they intend to do, at so critical conjuncture. There
has not only been no concealment on their part, but
ever since they have felt at liberty to open their
mouths on the subject at all, they have evinced a
laudable anxiety to put the country in possession of
all the facts of the case, and to communicate fully
and unreservedly the policy they had made up their
minds to pursue. "It is always the fashion for public
men," was the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER'S
declaration on the hustings this week,
." and more
especially for those who occupy any public position,
such as that which I have at present the honour to
fill—to affect or to assume upon questions connected
with our foreign politics a great reserve. But I
shall not speak with any reserve, because I believe
that if ever there was a moment this is one when
those who are responsible for the conduct of affairs
should address the people without holding back any
part of the truth, and that it is of the utmost

importance that the people of this country
should comprehend what may be the eventual
results of the present condition of things." This,
then, is a mode of proceeding which ought, at any
rate, to be taken as an indication that Ministers are
pursuing a straightforward course—that they are

acting above-board—that they have no occasion to
hide their purpose behind any diplomatic reserva-
tions ; but that, having a great cause in hand—that
of the promotion of the country's peace, and the
maintenance of its honour, and seeking to accomplish
their object by fair and open and upright means—
they court observation rather than shun it, and are
not afraid that all the world should know their posi-
tion and their prospects.
The history of the whole case was very plainly,
but fairly, stated on the same occasion ; and it is im-
portant that it should be remembered by us all, if
we would wish to be able to understand the issues
that will arise. Sardinia, in its political progress,
and the aspirations and ambitions which such
progress naturally produces, has been brought into
rivalry with Austria. Their relative positions were
such, that it was no doubt difficult to avoid it.
Sardinia was developing a system of free institu-
tions ; whilst she was surrounded by petty States,
under the virtual dominion of Austria, in which
an approach towards such institutions would at
once be crushed down by a system of absolutism.
That rivalries and jealousies, and animosities should
arise, amid such a state of things, was, ' we
repeat, only natural, however deplorable it
may be. But, as well as this, it is to be feared that
the King of Sardinia yearned not only to be the
instrument of displacing Austrian rule in the

contiguous States of Italy, but to be the Power
that should supply its place. Single-handed, how-
ever, he could do nothing. His military resources
were so small, in comparison with Austria's, that he
had no chance of resistance to her absolute will,
no hope of success in his liberal designs, without
assistance. "As it was impossible for. Sardinia
really to compete with the military force of one of
the greatest Powers of Europe, she looked to the
countenance and support of an ally who rivals in the
strength of her army, and the valour and skill of her
troops, anything that Austria could produce ; and
thus, from the rivalries and jealousies of France and
Austria, a very dangerous condition of affairs has
been brought about." It was a temptation to
one so ambitious as the Emperor of the
French, which was but too readily yielded
to. Both of them had, no doubt, very excit-
ing dreams of Italian acquisition ; and now the
opportunity has presented itself for their being
realised. One cannot but wish that the liberation
of Italy might be achieved; but there cannot be
much hope of this, when he whose legions are called
forth for the invasion of the Italian States has not
yet effected, but, on the contrary, has resisted, the
liberation of his own empire. And this is a circum-
stance, were there nothing else, which might well
make England pause, ere she extended her counte-
nance, let alone her aid, to such an enterprise, in such
hands. But the fact is, that there can be no occasion
whatever for our having anything to do' with it.
And it is fortunate that we have a Government
who have so considered it all along ; and who are now
I prepared, therefore, to maintain a strict neutrality.

And how much better able will the Government be
to preserve this country's neutral position, and at the
same time be ready for any course of defence that,
in the contingencies of the conflict, it may be neces •
sary to adopt, from their having acted openly and
above-board. " We have striven earnestly and
diligently," said Lord DERBY, "to avert the calami-
ties of war. We hal• e been unsuccessful. War has
broken out; and how it may close, no human
prescience can pretend to tell. But of this I am
quite sure, that whatever our other differences may
be, there is a perfect and entire unanimity among
all classes of this great community as to the course
—the dignified course which this country ought to
pursue in the present crisis of foreign affairs." This
has been testified to on every hustings in the United
Kingdom, throughout the General Election. And
fortunately, we say, it is the course which the Gov-
ernment has happily put the country in a position
to pursue, and to sustain. But it will be a difficult
course to carry out successfully. And we cannot
but feel very deeply the force of the Premier's
appeal, when he declares, at so critical a moment,—
" I am quite sure that never had men charged with
the public affairs of this country greater need of being
supported by the confidence, the sympathy, and the
good-will of their fellow-countrymen, than have
those who are now entrusted with the anxious and
heavy task of conducting the Government of this
country." • .