The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-04-07 00:00:00

ITALY.

BERLIN, APRIL 4.
Now that the affair of the Sound Dues has been
so satisfactorily settled, the only two staple subjects
of interest that remain rife in these parts are the
Dano-German conflict and the Neufchatel ques.
tion. With respect to the former, I mentioned
in my last letter that the two German Powers
have by verbal communications to the Danish
Ministers accredited to Vienna and Berlin
appointed Denmark a limited and fixed term in
which to make some satisfactory overtures, at the
expiration of which (without satisfaction) they will
bring the matter before the German Confederation.
It is probable also that they will avail themselves of
the interval to make representations to the other
Courts of Europe, in reply to those lately put forward
by Danmark, in which they will show that in the
remonstrances they have address() i to Denmark,
not the integrity of that country is attacked, but
rather the integ) ity of the German Federal territory
is attempted to be defended. & The only thing
new in this matter since I last wrote is a motion
introduced yesterday to the House of Notables
here, to the effect that the House should resolve
to call upon his Majesty's Government, in union
with their German allies, to continue with all
energy and emphasis to strive for the realisation of
the guarantees contained in German Federal
Law, for the rights of the country and
people of every Federal State with reference
to those lands appertaining to the German
Confederation), but subject to the Crown of Den-
mark, viz.: Holstein and Lauenburg. The pro.
moters of the motion vindicate the propriety of the
Houses adopting this resolution,—first by the
exclusively German nature of the matter at issue
and secondly, from the circumstance that its
predecessor, the late First Chamber, had on a
former occasion given the weight of its vote in
favour of the reinstall ment of the rightful authority
(the Duke of Holstein) in those territories, and
consequently it becomes the House on this
occasion to strive for the assurance of the rights of
the country itself.
As regards the matter of Neufchatel, the circum-
stance of several sittings of the Conference having
just lately taken place at Paris at short intervals
has led some sanguine spirits to expect that the
matter will soon be set at rest ; the total absence
of anything like authentic information on the
nature of the Prussian stipulations in a certain sense
favours this impression. I have hitherto refrained
from giving you any statement of what these stipu-
lations are supposed to be ; I venture, however, to
mention the following, as being very probably very
nearly correct The King expresses his willing
ness in the interest of Europe to cede his
sovereignty of Neufchatel on the following condi-
tions :-1. The Kings of Prussia shall retain for
ever thetitle of Prince of Neufchatel and Valangin.
2. Switzerland bears all the expenses that have been
caused by the events of September last, but more
particularly by the occupation of Neufchatel. 3. The
Canton of Neufchatel is to share in these expenses
only according to the number of its population ;
no corporation, no family, and no individual in
the canton is to be specially assesed to them in
addition. 4. No Neufehatelois shall be brought
before any criminal court on account of any partici-
pation in the events of last September, or be
proceeded against for damages in any civil court.
5. Switzerland pays the King of Prussia an
indemnification of ,000,000 f. The Canton of
Neufchatel is to contribute to this amount only
according to its fair proportion, and no class of
the population is to be specially assessed to
6. The church property that was confiscated
by the State in 1848 is to be restored, and
in future the reformed Church shall have
a due share in the administration of this property.
7. The State shall be debarred from in future taking
possession of the property of the charitable in-
stitutions, the hospitals, and other benevolent
establishments of a like public nature. Th
bourgeoisie of Neufchatel shall more particularly
retain for ever, according to the will of the testator,
the management of the legacy left by the Baron de
Pury 8. A general amnesty shall be issued, in
which more particularly those militiamen shall be
included, who, by leaving their homes, evaded
being coerced into bearing arms against their
Prince. This amnesty shall be extended to all
political offences and those committed against
the Press Laws previous to September 3, 1856.
9. A revision of the constitution of Neufchatel
shall not take place for six or twelve months. and
only natives of Neufchatel shall take part in this
revision.
This sum of 2,000,000 f demanded of Switzerland,
is represented on the one hand as the capitalisation
at 20 years' purchase of the 100,000 f secured to the
Prince by way of civil lists, and on the other hand
as the arrears of the produce of the domains; the
object of this latter representation being to show
the continuity of the King of Prussia's rights from
1848 up to the present time.
Our Government has ratified the treaty for the
Reder:votion of the Sound Dues and the ratification
was exchanged in Copenhagen prior to the Ist inst.
This last quarter day here in Berlin has
exhibited a greater number of persons destitute
of all further house accommodation than any
former quarter day. With each successive year
the state gf things in this respect becomes

A letter from Florence, of the 29th of March,
informs us that the small financial world in Tuscany
is in movement, in consequence of the principal
merchants in Florence and Leghorn having
announced their intention to establish a Tuscan
bank, having branches in the principal towns,
issuing notes, discounting commercial bills,
lending money on a deposit of public securities,
and opening accounts current. The mana-
gers propose to lend four million livres
to the government, who, on their part, engage
to receive the notes of the bank in all the public
offices. The shares are to be issued at par—a
certain number to be reserved for the founders of
the bank. The writer of the letter observes that
there are at present in existence two respectable
banks—one at Florence and the other Leghorn,
which discount commercial bills, and whose notes
are not negociable at par, except in the town where
they are issued. The charter of these two banks
will expire in the year 1858. There are, moreover,
banks at Pisa, Sienna, Lucca, and A zegno, but their
operations are perfectly local, and their notes are
hardly seen outside of the town in which the bank
is established. The government approves of the
plan of a bank, and is determined to convert it to
its own profit by carrying it oa with government
officers and selling the shares at a premium.
MM. Testini, Attorney General at the Court of
Accounts, and Mantellina, an advocate are ap-
pointed to prepare a plan. The railway from Flor-
ence to the Roman frontier, by Arezzo which
was conceded to a French company is not
making much progress. The extension of the
railway from Sienna to the Roman frontier is
conducted with great activity. Robberies are
being multiplied in Tuscany without any
interruption from the police, -.vho never arrest any
of the malefactors. A robbery committed a short

time since at the country house of Count Alexander
at Petrojo, had created a great sensation. Petrojo
is situate in a very populous district. A band of
30 robbers, divided into several detachments,
attacked the house at 9 in the afternoon. They
found 6,000 f. in cash, with which they decamped,

and illtreated in their progress some peasants
who attempted to stop them. They were well
armed and appeared to be fully determined to
defend themselves.
A. letter from Genoa of the 31st ult. announces
the arrival of the Prince de joinville in that city.
A letter from Rome of the 27th March announces
that Signor Trasmondi, Governor of the Castle of
Paliano, in which seven political prisoners had been
shot dead, when attempting to escape, had been
named Che,valier„of the Order of Piano. Capt. Aga-
nesi had been decorated with the order Gregariano,
and other officers with that of San Silvestro, the
same order which was given to the Roman officers
who distinguished themselves at Vicenza, in 1848
during the war of independence. The soldiers have
received double pay, and the non commissioned
officers are promised rapid promotion. The Jesuits
have definitively gained the day over the brothers
of the Christian doctrine. The college under the
direction of the brothers is to be closed. Such is
the order of Cardinal Antonelli. Count de Rayneval,
the French Ambassador, had interfered in favour
of the brothers, but without success. General
Goyon, the commander of the French troops, was
more energetic in his remonstrances, but with as
little success as the diplomatist. The Jesuits for
for the moment are all-powerful. at Rome. They
have completely monopolised the education of the
youth in the Roman States. They are fully aware
of the immense power they derive from this source,
and they are determined not to ipermit any other
body to divide it with them. The Government
on its side appears to be desirous to demonstrate
that all progress is impossible in that unfortunate
country. R.? 4,1

ACTION AGAINST CARDINAL WISEMAN AT
GLOUCESTER. _ .

The plaintiff, the Abbe Roux, was a French priest, xt ho
alleged that the defendant had received a document,
signed by the Princess Letitia Bonaparte, which he had
either lost or disposed of. The document was an acknow•
ledgement on the part of the lady that she owed Roux
25,000 francs, which she desired her children would pay
as a sacred debt. Cardinal Wiseman, who was examined,
slid he was satisfied the document was not left with him
at all. If it ever did go through his hands it was a mere
handing over to Mr. Wyse. The jury found a verdict for
the plaintiff of .e5OO. The defendant's counsel prayed
that execution might be stayed till Mr. Wyse could be
communicated with. Mr. Justice Crowder consented to:a
fortnight's delay.

REMARK ABLE QUICK PASSAGE.—The Sarah Palmer,
Captain Reed, from Sand heads (Calcutta) made the
passage in the short space of eighty four and a half days.
This is believed to be the shortest passage ever made by
any sliling ship. She is the property of the firm of Janes
Paltn.!r & Co., and is an iron ship, and was built at
Warrington.
IMPORTANT TO WRITER4.—Among the many inventions
which have lately been brought into use for the purpose of
rendering the task of writing easy, there is none that can
Eclipse the penholder brought out by Mr. E. T. Hall. He
has been celebrated for his Californian pen, but they who
would desire to have a complete luxury should use his anti-
blotting holder.

Messrs. Christie and Manson have work before them :
Alton Towers is to supply a thirty•one days' sale. The
effects include the celebrated gallery of pictures by old
masters, seven hundred in number, many of them in high
quality ; fine modern Italian sculpture, china, carvings,
and works of mediaeval art; the collection of armour and
arms ; the service of silver and silver gilt plate • the whole
of the ancient Tudor furniture ; and the sculpture and
ornaments in the garden.
RATS.—Such alarming foresight and cunning was attributed
to the rats in a brilliant essay on them, published in the last
Quarterly Review, that it needs but a slight stretch of our
credulity to attach political significance to the best known
events in the career of the race. Thus, when Hamlet stabs
the arras covered Polonius, crying " a rat ! a rat !" it is open
to conjecture that one of the species brought about the
betrayal to serve his own ends—possibly, the candle ends at
the funeral. We may thus be led to believe that the arrival
of the famous brown rat with the Hanoverian dynasty was a
matter of political arrangement ; and possibly even to impute
the very serious mischance which recently threatened the
new President of the United States to malice prepense on the
part of the rats. Mr Buchanan whilst residing at an hotel
in Washington during the early part of February, was seized
with severe illness, which also attacked several other residents
in the house, one of whom has since died. It is only by
assiduous care that the President has at length been restored
to health. On investigating the cause of the attack, it was
found that the drinking water had been aupplied by a tank at
the top of the house, in which were found the bodies of a
large number of rats. To free the hotel from these intruders
arsenic had been placed in their best known places of resort.
The thirst produced by the action of the poison led them to
the cistern, . and their eagerness to drink, combined with the
deadly Wien of the arsenic, had caused them to topple over
into the cistern. thus doubly poisoning its contents. As this
' mode of getting rid of this vermin is rather common in this
country, and is made the most ordinary excuse for obtaining
the poison from di uggists, we record the above instance to
show the great danger that is incurred by the practice.—The
Lancet,