Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-11 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES, WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1859

the circumstances were adduced of the forced
inundations of the plains of the Ticino and the Po;
and the immoderite rains which have aggravated
these floods, and contributed to render the comtly,
in the route of the invading army, utterly impassa-
ble. Another explanation was, that the Austrians
were waiting' for the troops that were in their rear
to come up. Alessandria appeared at one time to be
the point that was aimed at for a first attack ; and
as both French and Sardinian troops were marching,
from the opposite side, to that point also, it was
thought highly probable that, before this time, a
battle would be fought there. But, it is said,
" before this can take place, it seems evident that the
Austrians must receive Considerable reinforcements ;
and in point of fact orders, as we learn, were
despatched' from Vienna to advance into the
Sardinian territory another corps of 50,000 men,
then concentrated round Pavia; while 100,000
additional troops were to reinforce the Italian army
from other provinces of the empire." All
this was rendered the more probable; by the
fact of the French, as well as the, Sardinians, being
within no great distance of them. "In Parma too,"
it was•added, " where, as if by counter-revolution,
the Duchess is again installed, a very considerable
force of Austrians is at Piacenza, whence they
threaten the right flank of the French line of opera-
tions from Genoa to Alessandria. It is at the latter
place, and along the southward bend of the Po at
Vallenza, that the immediate interest Of these
military operations is centred. Part of the
Sardinian army, to which the French forces from the
north are joined, occupies a- line, from Chiavazzo
along the Dora Baltea northwards. It'covers Turin,
but is not menaced." Such was believed to be the

position Of the belligerents at the beginning of this
week. A large French force was then gthering,
and a battle was naturally expected, it might be,
within but a few hours, so near were they getting to
the main body of the AUstrian army.

But there was not improbably another motive:
England has, it seems, been renewing her efforts to
prevent after all, if possible--even at the eleventh
hour—the flow of bloOd which, once the fight in
earnest begins, must stain the fair fields of Italy, or
of Sardinia:- English agents, it is certain, have been
on the spot, and their arrival was observed to have
the .effect _of staying the progress of the invaders.'
Simultaneously with this, the,French Emperor had
deferred, from day to day, his intended departure
from Paris, to take the command of his 'army. And
whilst he was doing' so, Lord COWLEY suddenly
quitted the French capital for London, where,
immediately
,on his arrival, he sought interviews
with the Ministers. There has been good reason;
no doubt, for the secrecy that appears to have been
observed, both. in England and France, in the
negociations that have been going on, whatever may
have been their object.

We write _ very much in the dark as to the
actual operations of the'contending armies. It may
be that they have been purposely suspended,—or, it
may be that the Austrians were naturally reluctant
to have a formal encounter until they were better
prepared for decisive action. But if they have pro-
ceeded to press upon each other's path, the intelli-
gence of a sanguinary, though not yet a decisive
engagement, may be expected at any moment.

Thu AUSTRALIAN MAlL.—Although tidings have not
come to hand respecting the Australian mail steamer Emeu,
which was due at Suez on the 25th April, no apprehension
is felt at Lloyds' for her safety, nor has any extra premium
of insurance been given on her•