The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-12 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 12, 1856.

The Note presented by the Sardinian Plenipo-
tentiaries to the Governments of France and
England, dated the 16th April, 1856, was read
to the Chamber of Deputies at Turin by Count
CAVOUR on Wednesday last. It will be found in
extenso in another part of this day's impression.
' It is indeed an important document, worthy of
serious consideration, and we trust that it will re-
ceive the attention it so eminently merits from the
parties to whom it was addressed. The decided
refusal of Austria to discuss a matter of such
grave European interest—to she-ire on a point of
form, everything relating to the deplorable state of
Italy, rendered this solemn protest indispensable.
Sardinia, the only constitutional Government of
Italy, the State which alone offers a barrier to
revolution, is of course chiefly affected. She is
stationed in the vanguard, and, as the im-
mediate champion of Italian freedom, must
bear the brunt of the first encounter. But
Franca and England must necessarily be in-
volved in any difficulty that may arise. We are
bound, by ties which cannot easily be broken, to
an alliance, offensive and defensive, with Pied-
mont ; and, even were there no express stipula-
tions, she could not now be deserted without a
total abandonment of the national honour, which
has already been too seriously impaired to bear
further tampering. In such a case the boldest
and most straightforward course is also the safest.
The naive assertion of Sir BOYLE ROCHE, that
"the best way to avoid danger was to meet it
plump," contained a wholesome truth, which should
never be lost sight of by these who have the control
of our foreign policy. Had Lord ABERDEEN remem-
bered and acted on the precept, we should not have
" drifted into a war," that cost England the
lives of seventy-five thousand of her best and
bravest children, and ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS OF
MONEY. Had we assumed a firm and unbending
attitude in the first instance—had the hints re-
specting the division of " The Sick Man's" assets
been clearly and unequivocally answered, the
Russian troops would never have crossed the
Pruth, nor would a cases belli have arisen were
it certain that it would be immediately acted on.
Let us profit by our dearly-bought experience.
Austria is now the aggressor. Her attempt to
bring the entire of Italy under her yoke is just as
unconscientious, and as greatly fraught with peril
to the tranquillity of Europe, as that of Russia
against Turkey. If convinced that her insidious
attempts will be steadfastly and energetically
resisted she will no longer persist therein. She
has not the brute courage that sustained
Russia in her piratical career. But still she
may commit herself so far as to render her
extrication impossible until the mischief has been
effected.

Hitherto the suffering Italians have had hope
to sustain them. Seeing that one of their
national Princes was united with the Western
Powers—that Piedmont had achieved a high and
enviable reputation—they rested in the belief
that their condition would attract the attention
of all parties, and that no peace would be con-
cluded that did not carry with it a considerable
amelioration of their lot. That anticipation has.
now vanished. They see themselves abandoned
and betrayed by all but the magnanimous Go-
vernment of Turin, and it is impossible to see
to what lengths they may be carried in
their just and natural indignation. They are now
satisfied that they have nothing to expect from
diplomacy—that they must trust to their ova
right arms for liberation from the fearful bon lage
in which they have been placed. Revolutionary
passions have been and will be excited whichcannot
easily be controlled. How can any patriot behold
his country overrun with foreign troops, the con-

stitutional law suspended and military de4potism
substituted, without feeling an earnest determina-
tion that so deplorable a state of things shall
be terminated at any cost or any danger ? Aus-
tria has put herself prominently forward as the
supporter of these untoward proceedings. Her
troops occupy almost all the quasi independent
States, and she charges heavily for the occupation.
The petty despots are encouraged to disregard the
voice of public opinion by the certainty of her
support. She has thus so far made herself

the absolute mistress of almost the whole of Italy
as to completely overthrow the equilibrium esta-
blished by the Treaty of Vienna, and to render
her position formidable to the other great Powers
of Europe. The only obstacle to her designs is
presented by Sardinia. It is, as justly re-

presented by Count CAVOUR, " the coun-
terpoise to her invading influence," and, at
the same time, " the impassable barrier to
the revolutionary spirit." VICTOR EMANUEL is
the true champion of order, and if his power
were lessened, the results may prove far more

serious than the conspiring Courts imagine.

While the Germanism that fawned on
Austria still prevails in Downing-street, we

oannot expeot much from the English Govern-

ment. But the question may be ventilated in

Parliament. Truth must be benefitted by dis-
cussion. As we have already. pointed out,
there is a systematic effort, or rather series of
effort; to deprive the representative branch of
the Legislature of its constitutional functions.
We trust, however, that even a few men may be
found to protest against the insidious attempt,and to assert their own independence. The Sar-
dinian protest offers an admirable opportunity for
so doing—au opportunity which, we trust, will
not be neglected when Parliament
shall again meet
for the despatch of business.

The boon of music in the public Parks of the me-
tropolis on Sunday afternoons is eagerly welcomed
by all classes, and promises if continued to be of the
greatest service in the promotion of the moral and
social as well as the physical well-being of the
population. Gratifying as the spectacle presented
in Kensington Gardens has always been, the spec-
tacles witnessed in the Regent's Park and Victoria
Park yesterday were still more so. From crowded