The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-26 00:00:00

ITALY.

TUMN, FEB, 21.
According to a letter received to day from Milan,
from a person usually very well informed, it is con-
fidently eXpected that the decree nominating the
Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Governor Gene-
ral of the Italian Provinces will be promulgated
either this evening or to morrow. As far as has
been gathered by those without the precincts of the
Council Chamber there seems little reason to hope
that the intended order or things will in any way
differ very materially from the existing establish-
ments, or make such positive 'Changes in the
administration as would be likely to allay the
discontent of the people. The moderate party in
Lombardy, indeed, have always maintained that it
is impossible for Austria ever to give such institu-
tions to their country as would suffice to content the
population, for three reasons : in the first place.
because of the national antipathy of the Italians to
German domination ; in the second, because of the
free Government established in Piedmont ; and in
the third place, because the Austrian Governinent
cannot grant liberties to the Italians greater than it
is prepared to do to the other states of the empire.
For these reasons no confidence is felt at Milan in
any permanent good being effected by the forth-
coming decree, which, it is said, will announce the
new arrangements under the high sounding title
of a Constiiution. Alterations of forth and terms,
it is asserted, may be made ; men and offices
may be changed, but the system will remain
effectively the same; the Italian provinces will
continue to be governed from Vienna, and the
new Viceroy will soon find himself aS impotent for
good as his predecessors. These gloomy forebodings
are further strengthened by a too well substantiated
report that so far from a diminution of the taxes be-
ing contemplated by the Government, one or more
new ones are likely to be added to the present
imposts. A tax on moveable property is spoken
of, and an increase of the land tai; and added to
this, the levy for the armY'llaS been Considerably
augmented this year, and UP to the present time
payments for substitutes have been refused.
As to the actual arrangements provided for the
future government of the Lombardo Veneto, our
intelligence is, however, of course, chiefly specula-
tive, and therefore all discussion on
,its probable
effects had better be postpOned until it appears
officially; but in the meanwhile there is a sub•
jeet in a certain sort connected with the
journey of the Emperor of Austria to Italy,
which ought to occupy the attention of
all Europeen , governments without further
loss of tithe, I allude to the growing estrange-
ment between the Austrian and Sardinian Govern-
ments. I believe there is no doubt that the bitter
articles which lately appear-6cl in the offici.l papero
of both these Governments have produced the
natural results of people saying disagreeable
things to each other ; and, though Count Paar,
the Austrian Charge d'Affaires here, has re-
turned to his post from Milan. it is very uncertain
how long he may remain. In the reply of the
Piedmontese Gazette to the attacks of the Gctzzetta
de Milano, the Sardinian Government declared that
it would give but one short answer in that manner
to the calumnies of the Austrian official paper, as
it would not make diplothaoy enter the arena
of journalism, and therefore it is perfectly
intelligible why the public has not been in-
dulged yet with the consequences of that
very pretty passage of arms, but it is all the
more probable on that account that in the shades
of diplomacy some equally sharp skirmishing
has been taking place, which if not stopped by the
interference of mutual friends, may end in an open
rupture before long, Count Buol has left Milan to
return to Vienna, but it was thought he would pay
a flying visit to Parma en route, in the hopes
of persuading the Duchess and her Govern-
ment to enter into a commercial treaty with Aus-
tria, in case they should be firm in refusing to
renew the Customs League. As the Govern-
ment of Parma in establishing a new code of
tariffs (should it secede from the Austrian
Customs League); will naturally seek to adapt
itself to one or other of the States possessing the
seaports on either side of it, it is easy to under-
stand why the Austrian Government makes such
efforts to maintain its influence over the Duchy ;
but if the Parmesan Government is left in any
degree free in its action, it can have no difficulty
(considering the position of the country, and the
nature of its commerce), in electing between the
free trade principles of Piedmont and the high
duties of Austria.

The Sardinian Chamber of Deputies, which
has been occupied for the last week on a bill for
the suppression of patent places, and has only
as yet got as far as the 17th clause, adjourned
to day until Wednesday next. The Senate met
for a short time to day to receive some projects
of laws sent up from the Lower House. For the
next three days—the last of the Carnival—it is
expected that Turin will present a most unusual
scene of gaiety. The cause of this is, that the
tradesmen of Turin finding the ordinary amuse-
ments of the Carnival season were not sufficient to
give that encouragement to the retail trade which
they considered desirable, have organised a com•
mittee and raised subscriptions for the purpose of
stimulating a more general expenditure by public
pageants, processions, balls, &c., and already I am
told the success of the device has been proved to
the satisfaction of the innkeepers ; for the railway
companies having entered into the scheme and
issued return tickets, the hotels of Turin are said
to be incapable of providing accommodation for
the number of people arrived from the provinces.