The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-18 00:00:00

Spirit of the Public Journals•

(From the Morning herald of this day.)
It will be necessary for the people of England
to keep a sharp look-out on Austrian ust now, un
less, indeed, they think that the psent British
Ministry is to be implicitly trusted. We believe
that manoeuvres are now carrying on, which, if
not promptly arrested, will involve Europe in one
general convulsion.
Austria, as we have already often repeated, finds
it exceedingly perilous to take either side in the
present quarrel. To offend Russia would be to
expose herself to the vengeance of a powerful
neighbour, one who could, whenever other affairs
were disposed of, direct 200,000 men on Vienna
without the least difficulty. On the other hand,
Austria fears to come to a quarrel with France or
England, knowing that there are millions in Hun-
gary and Italy who are only waiting for such an
opportunity.
Thus drawn in different directions, and so ne-a-
tralised, Austria has confined herself, hitherto, to
efforts at negotiation ; but, at heart, she is politi-
cally one with Russia, and religiously one with
Rome. Her real feelings towards the Emperor of
the French were exhibited, when she interfered,
three years, since, to prevent his marriage. Her
real feelings towards England and Sardinia may
be known by the fact tha, England and Sardinia
aro both under the ban of Lie Pope.
While Austria, then, will still profess to be
friendly to France, friendly to Russia, and friendly
to England, she has recently discovered a way in
which she can at once serve both Russia and the
Pope, and that is, by picking a quarrel with Sar-
dinia.
This scheme, which is precisely one to delight a
Jesuit, has already proceeded some way. A very
pretty little quarrel has already been got up on
paper, and language has already been used by Austria
towards Sardinia of • the most offensive and insult-
ing kind. It is plain that the powers at Vienna
regard Sardinia as at their mercy. The flower of
. her army is in the Crimea ; her Sovereign, whether
by poison or not, has latterly been a sufferer from
, illness ; and while in this predicament Austriadoes
not hesitate to use terms in her communications
which, if employed to such a power as France,
would bring on a war in eight-and-forty hours.
The duty devolving on France and England
under these circumstances ii very plain. If they
would not stand by and see Russia tyrannise over
Turkey, still less can they allow a nearer neighbour
to be punished for allying herself with them. For
the alliance of Sardinia with France and England
is the real offence which she has committed. Of
that there can be no doubt. We have no fear that
the Emperor of the French will play any mean or
paltry part in this great emergency. Were he to
allow his friend and neighbour of Sardinia to be
bullied by her " big brother," the conclusion drawn
by all Europe, and by Austria herself, would be
that he was afraid to protect Sardinia. But he will

occupy no such humiliating position.
As to our own Cabinet we cannot speak with
the like confidence. The question, we know, is
before it ; but Austria has secret friends about the
British court, and the present Government at this
moment hesitates. Let the people iook to it. If
Sardinia i either intimidated, or crushed—Eng
land and France standing by—the moral effect of
such a triumph for Austria and for Russia will far
more than counterbalance the loss of Sebastopol.

( From the Morning Advertiser of this day.)
A new and grave complication in the position of
European affairs has lately occurred, and will be
brought into the broad light of day before a fort-
night has elapsed, It is worthy of remark, that
not only is the country wholly ignorant of the cir-
cumstances to which we refer, but, we believe, there
are several members of the Government who either
are entirely unacquainted with those circumstances,
or but very imperfectly informed regarding them.
We allude to the recent conduct of Austria to-
wards Sardinia. An important correspondence has
just taken place—and is not yet concluded—be-
tween Austria and Sardinia, respecting the Liberal
attitude which the latter Power has recently as-
sumed, not only in relation to the part which she
is taking in favour of Turkey, in conjunction with
the Western Powers, but with regard to the adop-
tion of constitutional principles in the administra-
tion of her domestic affairs. To say that Austria
is indignant at the conduct of Sardinia, on the
latter account, -would be saying nothing. She is
perfectly furious. Nor can she conceal—or, at
least, she does not—the rage she is in.
Count Buol has, within the last few weeks, ad-
dressed some of the most insolent despatches to the
rdin ian government complaining of its Liberalism,
which ever were indited by diplomatic pen. We
speak advi-edly on this point. Not only do
we know the character of these papers from
the pen of the Austrian Minister for Foreign
Affairs, but we could indicate the very phraseology
employed. On that point, however, we must act
on the principle of reserve. We must not be too
Suffice it to say, that our Governmeut
has not only displayed a highly discreditable pus:l-
-lanimity, but has been guilty of betraying Sardinia
in not having before now denounced the conduct
of Count Buol, and telling him in plain terms that
unless he retracts the insulting expressions he has
employed, and altogether alters his tone in future,
Austria must be prepared for the consequences.
France and England are bound, in terms of the
triple alliance, not only to protect Sardinia from
the revengeful spirit of the Court of Vienna, so far
as regards material consequences, but also from
the insolence of the " perjured ouse of Haps-
burg."
And we feel it right to say that it is a reflection on
the spirit and sense of right on the part of the Wes
tern Powers that they have not before now brought
Austria to her knees, and made her offer an abject
apology to Sardinia. The real secret of the matter
is, that we have in the very centre of our Court
strenuous friends and artful partisans of the Court
of Vienna ; and, therefore, England presents the
humiliating spectacle of systematically truckling to
Austria. Just pow the latter Power, in the insult
she offers to Sardinia, and the threats she holds out
of abetting the hostile purposes of the Pope, is
emboldened by her knowledge of the fact, that
Sardinia is not in a condition to come into colli-
sion with her, because nearly the whole of the Pied-
montese army is in the Crimea. This is just an
additional reason why this country should at once,
aryl in a manner about whieh there can be no mis-
take, throw the shield of its protection over Sar-
dinia.
Matters cannot remain much longer as they an,.
Either Austria must draw in her Corns, and apolo-
gise, for the insolent and menacing ]aneuage she 11:13
employed towards Sardinia, or the We-s.teru Powers
must at once interpose, with the view of bringing
the Court of Vienna to its senses. A collision - bo°-
tween Austria and Sardinia, followed by the in- •
terference of Gaither or both of the Western Powers,
.on behalf of the latter country, would be the pro-
I tide to new European complications, which would
inevitably result in the rising of Hungary, and the
restoration of her independence. The re-constitu-
tion of other nationalities would follow as a mat-
In the meantime, by- quarrelling
ter of course.
with and seekiug to injure Sardinia,
the Austria is no-
toriously playinggame of Russia, and is thus
fulfilling her mission as the friend and vassal of the
Czar.

ExPLOSION OF SULPHUR IN A COAL-
PIT NRAR-RIESTON.

An explosion of character occurred nn
Monday morning last, at No. 2 pit, in the Bilston
Colliery, situate between Bilston and Witlenball, which
is the property of Philip Williams, Esq., iron and coal
master. It seems that the whimsey by which No. 1 hit
is worked, is also used to work two other pits, one of
which is fortunately connected by a subterranean pas*
sage widi the pit in which the explosion took place. On
the morning in question, the whole of the men employed
in both pits, numbering 40 in each, were, as usual, at
work, and about 10 of them were engaged near the
spot where the fire damp ignited, which is called a
" sump ;" and about 10 o'clock it is said that a boy,
whether accidentally or not is unknown, dropped a
lighted candle through the boarding which covered the
•• sump," and that a fearful explosion was the coase
quence. Had it not been for the existence of the
underground passage above referred to, it is probable
that the loss of and injury to human life would
have been still more serious. As soon as the
men employed at a distance from the " sump "
were aware, of the fire, they escaped into the work.
jags of the pit with which number one is connected.
The poor
fellows. however, who were employed at the
•
sump, ten inescape. FIAIS.ati ce
number, were unable to A • t-
and,„when it was found that one unfortu-
nate man, named Japes Stanley, has lost kris lift
a second, named Bailey, had suffered injuries of such a
nature as to render .?7, impossible for him to survive ;
and that the remaining eight were alive, but their bodies
were much' burned. Tho extent of the injuries they have
received renders them incapable, we believe, of giving
any account of the disastrous occurrence. The sufferers
were rpeedili rescued from the scene of the explosion by
means of the shaft connected with the adjoining it,
the surgeon to the colliery, Mr. Best, attended them,
and administered what was necessary to alleviate, as far
as possible, their indescribable sufferings. The man
Bailey etilllingere. we are infornaed, but the other men
are going on quits as well as might be expected. The
presence of sulphur in the
pit cannot be accounted for;
sugh has never previously
found to exist therein.—
Woiverhampton. Chronicle.

UOMMITTAL OF A POAC HER. - la Tuegday John Moody, -
a Poacher, wal;brought up on remand be tore the Lanca,
sHre magistrates, charged with tretpassin Croxteth-
g_in park m put tl;,-; of game, and being
'The of five others
Who'rnade a'savage attack on tho g,amekHepere in the
-
service of thecEarl of Sefton. The
Paghtrates Ooth
raided the prisoner for trial at the asisigilui- rl tua-.