Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-23 00:00:00

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, May 18.—The departure of the Emperor
of Austria for the seat of war has been postponed,
and he is not likely to quit this city before Monday
or Tuesday next. Military arrangements of extreme
importance have been made sauce Lieutenant-
General von Willisen has been here, and it is not
improbable that powerful armies will very soon be
placed on the Rhine. Prussia will do what is requisite
on the Lower Rhine, and the second-rate German
States will take charge of the upper part of the
river. Austria is about to send some 20 regiments
of cavalry to Germany, but the infantry
regiments which were to have marched to
the Rhine have received another destination.
The boasting of Louis Napoleon amuses the Austrians,
who firmly believe that their troops are equal to the
French. As has already been remarked, the French
are more impetuous and agile than their adversaries,
but the Austrian troops are both brave and steady,
and the use of the bayonet will assuredly prove
disagreeable to their foes. If the Emperor Napo-
leon intends to win laurels in Italy he has
no time to lose, for there will be between 300,000
and 400,000 German soldiers standing on the upper
part of the western frontier of France before the
world is many weeks older. The reserves in Prussian
Silesia have already joined their respective regi-
ments, but the Landwehr will not be called in until
the very last moment. At Coblentz, the outworks
of the fortress are being furnished with pallisades,
and the necessary supplies for six months are
already laid in. The horses which were required
for the artillery and train of the army have been
purchased. The garrison of Luxemburg is also on
a war footing, and supplies for six months have
been sent into the fortress. The fortress of Mayence
has received its full complement of 27,000 men, and
Rastatt literally teems with troops. Bavaria has
very nearly 100,000 men a-foot. The Swiss Federal
Council has expressed its determination not to permit
any French troops to cross the Simplon, and it is
likely to remain firm. Louis Napoleon has disturbed
a nest of hornets, and he will be a fortunate man if
he is not stung to death.

Among the passengers by the India and Australian
packet Pera, was Captain Burton, the famous Arabian and
African traveller, who has made some wonderful discoveries
in the interior of Africa, and who is the only European who
ever visited Mecca, the sacred city of the Mahomedans,
without disguising his religious faith, and escaped with his
life. All other European travellers have lost their lives
for their presumption, or have saved themselves by pro-
fessing Mahomedanism.

THE FORTIFICATIONS OF MALTA.—We find the following
in the Malta Times of the 10th instant :—" We learn from
England that 100 heavy guns, and 100,000 shot and shell,
are coming out for the further armament of this island.
Great changes in the works are expected to be made by the
Commissioners, Colonel Owen, Royal Engineers, and Colonel
Lefroy, Royal Artillery, who are at present here examining
the fortifications. We understand that whatever improve-
ments they. suggest are to be carried out immediately, with-
out reference to home. Floriana is already being armed
with heavy guns, with the exception of the Crown and Horn
works, which are both considered as entirely useless, being
commanded by the surrounding heiqlits. The report,which
has found circulation and publication here, regarding the
projected arming of Civita Vecchia with ordnance, is
unfounded. But we believe there is some truth in the
rumour that it is in contemplation to send a regiment there,
owing to the want of accommodation in Valetta and its
-neighbourhood for the four regiments on their way here. It
is said that a regiment is likely to be sent to Gozo."

--- o .
PARLIAMENTARY EXPENSES OF RAILWAY COMPANIES.—
On Friday was issued a return of all the Parliamentary
expenses incurred by railway companies from the period of
their incorporation to the end of the session of 1857. The
return embraces 193 companies. Seventy companies had
not forwarded any information at the time the return was
ordered to be issued. We give the figures returned by the
principal companies. Caledonian, £315,618 is Bd, or
£3 13s 7d per cent. of the total loan and share capital,
£8,574,420 8s 3d; East Lancashire, £154,161 5s 11d, equal
to £3 12s 9d per cent. of the capital of £4,237,831; Eastern
Counties, £268,201 2s 3d, or 2.3 per cent. upon £11,611,085,
the capital; Great Northern, £334,219, or 2.92 per cent.
upon £11,444,404 ; Great Western, £760,270 6s id. or 2.77
upon £27,430,716 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, £461,722
19s 3d, or 3.40 upon £13,593,608; London and North-
Western, £869,771 Os 9d, or 2.55up0n £34,041,013; London
and South-Western,. £313,702, or £3 6s upon £9,506,225
4s 2d. ; London, Brighton, and South Coastt £43,690 9s sd,
04 .59 up0n£7,799,257 12s 7d; Midlands, £397,733 lOs 10d,
ro illlthrtans t earl'
,to4lcsa,p7iota7lii Ss
32d0:701r2:19.6861934101:,,L1n10ti4v5e9n2;
1 The return contains similar information as to gas and
1 water companies, and turnpike trusts, for the last ton years.'