Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-09 00:00:00

-IVOM'IttRN DAILY TIMES.

COMPLICATIONS IN THE FRANCO-ENG:.

LISH ARRANGEMENTS;

The . Paris correspondent of the Morning
Herald, writing on Monday evening, says :
" lam informed that Count Walewski protests
against the version given in Parliament by Lord
John Russell of the communications between
Lord. Cowley and himself relative to the annexa-
tion of Savoy' and Nice. The Count (as I am.
' informed) states that he never told our ambas-
sador here that the French Government had nu
intention ,of appropriating those provinoes, but,
on the contrary, distinctly stated that in the
event of certain contingencies, such as for instance
the formation of a large and powerful state in
Northern Italy, France would consider the pos-
session of Nice and Savoy as absolutely indis-
pensable for the security of her territory.
I will not undertake to pronounce an opinion
as to the credibility to be attached to the official
assurances of the ex-Foreign Secretary in France,
and to the Rresent Foreign Secretary in England.
Non nobis inter vos tanias eoiponere lites. I
will merely Temark that Count '
Walewski's state-
ment is rather strengthened by the 'refusal of
Lord John.to lay the papers before Parliament.
I may add that itis' looked upon as beyond
doubt that .a secret treaty was signed between
France and Piedmont previous to the Ist
of January, 1859, the' bases 'of which were
agreed on between the Emperor and Cavour
at Plombieres, by which the cession of Savoy
—not 'Nice—was stipulated 'in exchange for
Lombardo-Venetia. The Cabinet of Turin, how-
ever, now hold the contract to have been annulled
by the peace of Villafranca, and the subsequent
negotiations. at Zurich, by which Piedmont
had to pay so heavily for Lombardy, which the
Piedmontese forces were so instrumental in con-
quering. .- All this will come out in course of
time. In the meanwhile, 'I expect it will be
vigorously denied in official quarters both here
and in London.
From infallible sources I can also assure
you that the French troops will not be
withdrawn from Italy, whatever assurances
to that . effect you may hear in Parlia-
ment, or read in the Moniteur. You may
remember that in the month of April last it was
pOsitively announced that the evacuation of Rome
by the French would take place within a. week.
It turned out to be an April-fooling after all. In
military circles here, the notion of the French
troops being. withdrawn is treated with supreme
ridicule ; and were I at liberty to disclose all the
preparations. that are making to pour reinforce-
ments into Italy, both north and south, you would
at once see what foundation there is for this re-
port, which the French Government find it to
their interest to keep up year after year.
The knot of the question is, however, the
annexation of Savoy. I have reason to believe
that the Sardinian Government has been called
upon (finis en denieure) to state whether they will
or not perform their engagements relative to the
cession of that province and of Nice, and that they
have requested time to consider the question. It
is absurd to
_suppose that her Majesty's Ministers
are not aware, of ivhat is taking place. Indeed, I
have reason to know that the article in the Con-
stitutionnel yesterday was written and published
solely in consequence of a despatch from M. de
Persigny, to the effect that his Majesty's
obedient servants, i. e., the Russell-Palmerston
Cabinet, were in a very ticklish position regard-
ing this Savoy question, and that it would be
advisable for the French Government to draw in
their horns for the present. The article was well
meant, no doubt, but will hardly answer the
purpose. In old legends of devilry we always
find that those who make a compact with the
Evil One are- deserted in their hour of need, and
though the Emperor is thoroughly convinced of
the importance, for the success of his own designs,
that. the present Ministry should remain in office,
yet having involved England to a certain extent•
in the tangles of his policy, it is not to be sup-
posed
that he will destroy his ingenious andcom;
pleated fabric, merely for 'les beaux yeux of his
friend in Downing-street.
According to a telegram it seems that the in-
telligence I sent you on Sunday is correct. c''The
British Government, after all their professions in ,
favour of the principle of non-intervention, pro-
pose to insult the Italians by having the question
of annexation once more referred to a vote.
France refuses to assent unless the vote be on the
terms I have already mentioned, and the Italians
will not hear of it at any price. But what is this
suggestion about voting but interference of the
most offensive kind, and what necessity is there
for it if, as Lord J. Russell assures us, matters
wear such a satisfactory appearance. The Pays
to-night, alluding to the semi-official announce-
ment from London, assures us that there is not a
word of truth in the statement as regards the
approaching withdrawal of the troops from Italy.
I have reason to believe that dispatches from
St. Petersburgh have been received, opposing, in
no measured terms, the foreign policy of France,
and especially as regards the annexation of Savoy.
An extraordinary paragraph appears in leaded
type in the Pays this evening. Is it intended to
turn round once more? Is the eldest son bt.the
Church about to repent of the error of his ways,
and become a good boy ? It is very hard to say.
But at-the same time I cannot help thinking, that
after all' that has'taken place • since " Li Pape et
le Congres," it will be hard to stop, even if so dis-
posed. The Pays says :
" Some papers have ,published an episcopal letter
dated 1810, the reproduction of which, without the
necessary reserves, has given rise to apprehensions
which, though we don't think them founded, we respect.
"It is solely in the language of the Government
itself and its acts that its intentions should be looked for.

" The firm will which the Emperor has ever mani-
fested, of respecting the temporal power of the Pope,
eannot be doUbtful for any one.
" To raise up), doubt on the subject would be kgreat
mistake..
"Moreover, questions of so serious and delicate a
nature must not be touched upon by the press.
" We Will revert to the subject, and persist more than
ever in the opinion we have expressed."

• :Tlie-iittei -its pompons
tone, and its flattering estimate of the press, are
as certain an indication of its Government origin
as the typographical honours` awarded it, I eon-:
eider it, however, as mere boSh, a clumsy trap to
deceive fools as to the intentions of the Govern-
ment. Why, taking the advice of the Pays,
what-conclusion can be arrived at but•that •the •
GOVernnient_mcans to rid his Holiness of earthly
nenibr es-,--for• whose benefit that is another
gousticii. a
What was the meaning of the Emperor's
enc
letter, and what was the meaning of the suppres-
sion of the Univers?
The Siècle this mccning indignantly denounces
the conduct Of the Archbishop of Paris, who read
the Pope's encyclical letter . from his pulpit at
Notre Dame. IloW is it the Siecle is ignorant of
the fact that the right--reverend prelate obtained
leave from the Tuileries before doing so I may
. state that his Eminence read it in Latin, which
was, no doubt, the reason of its producing no
effect on the congregation.
Figaro of to-day fires off a very obvious joke
against the Vatican---" Following the example of-
the greAt powers, his Holiness is about to raver
(rifle) the canons' of the church." Bayer, in
French, stands for " erase," as well as," rifle.'!
Sir John. Bowring had an interview to-day at
the Tuileries, with the Emperor, and bombarded
him for a couple of hours about China and free
trade."' A' friend of the learned doctor assures me
that on coming out of the interview he expressed
' himself convinced that his Majesty had not the
; slightest intention of disturbing the peace of
• Eurppe, he (Sir John) having effectually
" pumped" our august ally.
The Bourse continues to take a gloomy view of
•

affairs. Despite all the "satisfactory symptoms"
discovered by Lord J. Russell, Rentes went down
20c. A canard hovered about of a screw being
loose in the precious commercial treaty. -
A.Paris letter in the Nord says :—lt is England
which has taken in these latter times the initia-
tive of new propositions for the arrangement of
the-affairs of Italy. An understanding between
the two Cabinets appears to have been established
as •regards the annexation of the duchies and
Romagna to Piedmont, the retention by Austria
of . Venetia, subject to the grant of liberal re-
forms, and also on . the principle of non-inter-
vention. The English, propolitions stipulate
that the evacuation of- Lombardy and the
Roman States by the French troops shall take
place. - On this point the Cabinet of the Tuileries
is represented to have stated that it would
not leave Lombardy, except on a formal demand
of Piedmont, nor the Roman, States, except when
circumstances should appear to it to be opportune.
As regards the question of Savoy and Nice, the
understanding does riot appear to be so complete
between the two cabinets, because probably that
question has not been so long pending. In a note
on the matter, Lord John Russell is represented
to have stated officially that annexation might
present the danger of not being recognised by
England and the other Powers of Europe, &c.
The production, of documents on this question ,
would, iii my opinion, be but of little importance.
They would, however, throw more light on the
attitude assumed at the beginning of the affair by
the Palmerston-Russell Ministry. ft appears. in-
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that Count Walewski declared
andseveraltimes
conversationCountthatif in despatches
England
employed
her influence to establish a great kingdom of Italy,
France would be obliged, for her own safety, to de- ;
mand Savoy and the county of Nice; and everybody
in Europe, be assured, will admit' the justice of
this observation. As to Sardinia, the reply of the
Opinione to the article in the Patric shows that
the Cabinet of Turin is resigned to the cession of
Savoy, provided the populations wish for it, and
provided Austria abandons Venetia. The Em-
peror of the French, whilst accepting in principle
the last propositions of England, under the
reserves indicated, is said to have declared
that he would communicate them to the Cabinet
of Vienna, and come to an understanding with
it. A despatch on the subject was accord-
ingly sent by M. Thouvenel, on the 31st
ultimo, to the Marquis de Moustier, ,who
presented a copy of it to Count de Rechberg.
This despatch contains the propositions of Eng-
land, as above stated, and requests the Court of
Austria to take them into serious consideration.
The Emperor of the French, it says, has ex-
hausted all means of causing the populations of
Central Italy to accept the stipulations of Villa-
franca and of the treaty of Zurich ; but all his
efforts have failed in consequence of the firm
resolution of the populations to unite them-
selves to Piedmont. Is it for the interest of
Europe, the despatch asks, to allow to be pro-
longed in.ltalv an uncertain and provisional state
of things which is only favourable to parties
whose object is disorder ? The Emperor of the
French, it says, does not think so, and he hopes
that the Cabinet of Vienna, after serious reflection,
will -be of the same opinion. If, however,
Austria should not think right to adhere to the
propositions of England, the Emperor, says the
despatch, counts so much on the prudence,
of the Emperor Francis Joseph as to hope
that he -will at all events not create any I
obstacle to the sole means of solving existing
difficulties in a way calculated to promote
the happiness of Italy and the repose of Europe.
Such is the spirit, if I am well informed, of this
important despatch. Copies of it have been sent
to the Duke de Montebello.and to the French
charge d'affaires at Berlin, to be communicated
to the courts of Russia and Prussia. The English'
propositions and the despatch are then an entirely
new programme, on which the great Powers will
have to deliberate for the arrangement of Italian
affairs.

RECAPTURE OF ESCAPED CONVICTS.—Two Convicts,
who bad escaped on Saturday anornin k from a train on the
Great Western Railway, near Maidenhead, were recap-
tured in the evening. Shortly before seven o'clock in
the evening Inspector Townsend, of the Reading borough
police, while on duty at the station, received nforma-
tion that two suspicious-looking characters had just
proceeded- down the market place. lie immediately
followed in that direction, and when near the Upper
Ship Hotel, he observed the two men. 'Various circum-
stances satisfied him that they were the "gentlemen"
in request, and he at once seized hold of them. Inspector 1
Hardin= was near the spot, and hastened to the assist-
ance of his brother officer. A desperate struggle. ensued,
and Inspector Townsend received a severe blow on the
face, • but eventually. the men Were recaptured. They
were both lodged in the county gaol.
IRISH AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.—A report OR the
agricultural statistics of Ireland for 1858, just published,
gives the following particulars :—The land under crops
was 5,882,052 acres; under grass, 9,354,117 acres ;
fallow, 42,551; woods, &c., 313,271; and bog or waste,
4,667,331 acres. In some counties_ the area under tillage
continues to increase; in thirteen of them it has diminished.
The total increase last year on 1857 was 22,935, acres.
The principal crops grown in Ireland are oats, potatoes,
and hay, which in 1858 occupied seventy-eight acres in
every 100 of the entire extent under cultivation. In that
year the proportionate area under oats was thirty-four,
potatoes twenty-four and hay twenty-four acres in every
100. Wheat covered only nine, turnips six, and flax
not quite two acres per cent. of the whole area under
crops. The area under crops in 1858 is thus divided :
Wheat, 546,964 acres; oats, 1,981,241; barley,
196,768 ; rye, 11,470 ; and beans, 11,038 ; potatoes,
1,169,707 ; turnips, 338,202; mangold-wurtzel, 26,547 ;
flax, 91,646; rape, 14,067; and meadow and clover,
1,424,495 acres. The grass lands of Ireland cover
nearly one-half of the entire surface of the island.
These tracts do not include the land under meadow and
clover (or the hay-producing lands), but merely those re-
turned to the enumerators as used for pasture at the time
of the collection of the statistics. The turf-bog is a very
valuable portion of the land, the turf being used for fuel,
and till coal becomes cheap enough to supersede it, the re-
clamation of bog will be but slow in many parts of the
island. There were 599,178 holdings in Ireland in 1858— 1
viz., 38,198 of 1 acre (not exceeding) ; 83,219 of 1 to
5 acres; -181,267 of sto 15 acres ; 139,618 of 15 to 30
acres ; 71,791 of 30 to 50 acres ; 53,544 of 50 to 100
acres ; 21,666 of 100 to 200 acres ; 8,383 of 200 to 500
acres; and 1,692 of 'above 600 acres. The holdings
have increased by 4,786. Of the entire 20,259,322 acres
forming. the area of Ireland, nearly one-half is in the
possession of farmers holding from 15 to 100 acres, of
which 1,475,433 acres, or 14.9 in every 100 is waste or
unproductive ; about one-third is under farms of 100 to
500 acres, of which 1,741,956 acres, or 28.5 per cent. is
bog or waste, and one-tenth--of which more than
1,260,535 acres, or nearly one-half, are unprofit-
able for tillage—is occupied by, farms of above
600 acres ; • the - remainder, which • includes only
189,407 acres of the waste lands, is in the hands
of farmers holding under 15 acres. The following
is the return of live stock for 1858, viz. t-630,611
horses and mules, 163,323 asses, 3,667,304 cattle,
3,494,993 sheep, 1,409,883 pigs, 228,351 goats, and
9,563,185 poultry. The value is computed at £34,977,244.
The'weed nuisance is still bitterly complained of by the
Irish Registrar-General, who urges the passing of a bill
to compel the destruction- of weeds with winged seeds
before they are allowed to ripen. Besides the blue-book
from which the above figures are copied, two small
papers have been printed, giving briefly the statistics
for 1859. Last year, then, it appears that 465,497
acres were under wheat, 1,981,197 under oats, 1,200,144
under potatoes, 322,266 under turnips, 136329 under
flax, and 1,436,680 under meadow and clover. The
gross total area under crops was 5,861,666 acres against
5,882,052 in 1858. There was a decrease in cereal and
an; increase in green crops. The net total decrease was
20,386 acres. Weeds are again complained of. The
live stock in 1859 included 628,916 horses, 3,810,136
horned cattle, 3,588,356 sheep, and 1,262,873 pigs..