Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-20 00:00:00

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1859

---

THE DAY'S NEWS,

A very feverish anxiety now prevails about the
War, and the telegrams are watched with a degree
of interest quite remarkable. In Paris the
anxiety is intense, and every moment is expected
to report some terrible and decisive blow. As
yet, however, nothing has been done, but
the Paris correspondent of the Morning Post,
writing on Wednesday night, says that, "from
one moment to the other serious events are expected.
At many points, the armies are within cannon shot
of each other." The Globe's correspondent says
that, " This week will not pass without a decisive
action ;" whilst the Times correspondent, at the head
quarters of the Austrian army, seems to think that
it will be some days yet before any decided
action takes place. Writing on the 13th he says,
" a strong force was out that day to reconnoitre
beyond th Sesia, and that the Austrians left had
been reinforced to watch the French on that side,
but a general movement was not then likely, as the
writer considered that the allies would scarcely yet
be prepared for an advance in force." The Moniteur
of yesterday, publishes a communication from
Alessandria which says :--- " The organisation of
the army is going on actively. The repair of the
damage done by the enemy to the bridges, roads, and
railways is approaching completion. The Austrians
continue their exactions. The population of Vercelli
are filled with consternation, and quite out of
condition to satisfy such demands. During the night
of the 1 ith a body of Austrians, 100 strong, escaladed
the bridge of Valenza through a breach, and made a
fruitless attempt to take a position guarded by a
small detachment of eight men. This morning the
enemy opened a somewhat vigorous cannonade, which
lasted from three to six o'clock, on the right bank
of the Po, near the railway from Alessandria to
Mortara. Our side made no response to the can-
nonade, the result of which proved to be insignifi-
cant." At Paris, on Wednesday, it was generally the
opinion that the Austrians have decided to accept
battle in the positions they occupy, but not to attack
the allies. A telegram from Trieste, received
yesterday, states that a merchant vessel from
Bremen, laden with cargo, has arrived off
Venice, but was prevented by the French squadron
from entering the town, being now in a state of
blockade. The captain of the vessel was told that
he might go to Trieste, or to one of the ports in
Istria, which are not blockaded. The merchant-
man subsequently cast anchor at Pirano. The
question of what is contraband of war is just
now exciting very close inquiry, and is one ap-
parently kvolved in considerable doubt. The Ship-
owner's Society of London have addressed the Board
of Trade, requiring to be informed whether the
shipment of provision, corn, and coal, for account of I
the French Government, is legal under her Majesty's
proclamation of neutrality ; and Lord Donoughmore,
in reply, says the question has been referred to the
Privy Council. Messrs. Nicol and 'Co., of George-
-yard; having written to the Foreign Office to ascer-
tain more particularly whether her Majesty's pro-
clamation contemplates coal as contraband of war,
Lord Malnaesbury says, in reply,. that the passages in
the proclamation referring to contraband are not
intended to prohibit the exportation of coal, or any
other article, but to warn her Majesty's subjects
that if they do carry, for the use of one belligerent,
articles which are contraband of war, and their pro-
perty be captured by another belligerent, her
Majesty's Government will not undertake to interfere
in their favour against such capture. The Shipping
Gazette suggests that the Government should call
upon the belligerent powers to specify by proclama-
tion those articles which they are resolved
henceforth will constitute contraband of war.
We had 'written thus far when we received a
telegram .annonnciug that General GY ulai has sent
word to his government at Vienna, that his demands
upon the Sardinians for contribution for the troops
are unattended to, and that he cannot hold his
present position more than fifteen days longer for
the want of provisions. The telegram announces
the establishment of a blockdde at Vienna by
a French squadron ; and all the direct and

England might, with some consistency, at any
rate, have undertaken such an achievement—had she
ition to do so. But England's

1 been under any oblig

And the invasion

of the people