The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-24 00:00:00

SWITZERLAND.

The Paris Constitutionnel has the following :
" A letter from Berne of the 18th instant informs us
that the Federal Council has just issued a decree of a
nature to put an end to the uneasiness felt at the resi-
dence of French refugees in places too near the frontier.
They have been hitherto restricted to a distance of eight
leagues, but this regulation was frequently eluded from
the facilities of travelling in Switzerland, and the re-
fugees visited Geneva, and even Lausanne and Vevey.
To put an end to this abuse they aro now interdicted by
the Federal Council from residing in the cantons
of Geneva, Vaud, Fribourg, Valais, Neufelia:el,
and the Bernese Jura. It is also interdicted to
the above-named cantons and to those of the
Grisons and Tessin() to give an asylum to Italian
refugees, and measures have been taken to enforce the
execution of this prohibition. The above-named cantons
will be allowed is receive German refugees. The num-
ber of refugees of sill nations who now find an asylum i❑
Switzerland is net so great as to be any real cause for
alarm to the neighbouring states, since it has been re-
duced to less than 500, in consequence of the numerous
expulsions, and the large sums which the Federal trea-
sury had expended in sending them to England end to
the United States. These 500 refugees are distributed in
the cantons according to their population, and. are
subjected to the surveillance of the authorities.
The chiefs of the German insurrections have
long since beea expelled ; one only, named
Barbo, a Baden lawyer, had succeeded in remaining in
the canton of Bile-campagne under a false name; he
has however just been discovered and arrested. Another,
named d'E,ter, had, from different motives, obtained de-
lays, but they have both now quitted Switzerland. All
that has been said about military organization of the
refugees, their recruiting and deeeits of arms, is pure
invention. It is pretended that Muzzini, who was last
year expelled from Switzerland, has since returned there;
all the search made after him had been hitherto without
result. Switzerland has, since 1847, enjoyed the most
perfect tranquillity, under the happy influence of her
now constitution, and people abroad are too apt to forget
her dignified and calm attitude when all was in a flame
around her."

The rumours of an armed intervention on the part
of Austria still continue. The IVeser Zeitung says—

" There seems to be no doubt that an armed inter-
vention is premeditated in Switzerland. The question is
publicly spoken of in Ministerial and political circles in
a manner not usual in Austria on questions of foreign
policy. M. Steiger, the Swiss representative here, has
received hints on the subject which cannot be mistaken.
" The Ministerial, journals pourtray that little
country, which every impartial observer must allow
is the happiest frte republic of Europe, as a nest of
revolutionists which threatens destruction to the
rest of the worht. Submission on the part of the
Swiss Contederistien is not desired. True to the
Warsaw stipulatitts, and obedient to instructions
from St. Petersburgh, Prince Schwarz nberg endeavours
to drive matters toes bad a crisis as possible. It is the
Czar's will that svtry head of the revolutionary Hydra
—and he regards t witzerland as one—shall be trampled
down under the heels of the military. Prince Schwar-
zenberg is a soldier—and, like a lucky gamester, is em-
boldened by the success that has attended his exploits.
Nor must it be forgotten that Francis Joseph is nut
twenty years of age, is warlike inclined, and thirsts
for glory; that his young blood keeps time better
with the bold plans of a military Premier, than
with the cautious movements of an old diplo-
matist like Metternich or Fiequelmont, and be will
not be deterred by the possibility of a rupture with
France and England. Austria has taken Prussia
in tow. Russia stands as a terrible reserve, and covers
the rear. The minor States of Germany must dance to
the Austrian drum;twhether they like it or not. It feels
so confident in its',strength, that not only has it lost
all fear of the detion of revolution, but endeavours to
conjure it up to measure its strength with it. Switzer•
land is a rt ady pretext. IL is annoyed that Switzerland
took such prompt advantage of the European voice of
1848 and 1849, to change its old constitution for a
better one, with which the great majority of the Swiss
are satisfied. By getting up a quarrel wish the Con-
federacy, it hopes to reinstate the old constitution and
the old Governments of the Sonderbund Cantons. A
threat is issued at the came time against Piedmont, and
a humiliation for France contrived. These are the ob-
jects towards el hich the Austro-Russian projects tend."