The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-19 00:00:00

THE WEATHER—SUN OFFICE, SEPTEMBER 19.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHA.D.E.
52—highest since noon yesterday.
50 —lowest this morning snd during the night.
60—this day nt noon.
PARW7TFR, 29'90—falling.
WIND, N.W.—Light, with cloudy weather.

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LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1!56,

The Austrian Charge d'Affaires recently applied
to the French Government to prevent the collec-
tion of subscriptions for the purchase of guns for
the protection and armament of the fortress of
Alessandria. Sinee that time the Russian Envoy
has visited and minutely inspected the works, and
has doubtless communicated a full description
thereof to his Government. This intense anxiety
respecting a fortification purely of a defensive
character, and which has already rendered good
serviee to Piedmont, affords a significant hint as
to the intentions of two Emperors, and the promp-
titude with which the assurance was given by a
third that steps had already been taken in antici-
pation of the Austrian demand, discloses the
animus of the other wielder of an Imperial
sceptre.

The fact is that as a Constitutional Government,
one of the few still remaining in Europe, Sardinia
is peculiarly distasteful to Despots. It is only
less obnoxious than Great Britain, and, from its
position, attempts may be more easily made
a,cfaiust its integrity and independence. It is
particularly the bete noir of the Red Emperor.
As the recognised champion of Italian freedom it
disturbs his rest, and, like HAMAN of old, ho in-
dulges his spleen so far that he can never be
happy so long as VICTOR EMMANUEL, the modern
MORDEV&I, retains his position amongst the poten-
tates of Europe:

We have thus FRANCIS JOSEPH to bully ;
ALEXANDER, the recently-annointed Czar and
Pope, to spy ; and Lours NAPOLEON to play their
game so far as his authority can extend. They
are indeed par mobile fratrum, each doing his best,
or rather his worst, within his own sphere to
crush constitutionalism in any territory where it ,
can be discovered. Their feelings are mani-
fested by their conduct, respecting Alessan-
dria. But, fortunately, Englishmen are not
bound to respect their wishes. They can
still "do as they like with their own ;" and neither
Prince, Emperor, Czar, nor Kaiser can control
their determination. Why, then, should not the
subscription, checked if not prohibited in France,
be carried out in England, so as to achieve its
object, to render Alessandria, if not impregnable,
at least so strong as to delay for a considerable
time the progress of any invader. 'VICTOR Exr-
MANITEL now leads the vanguard of those arrayed
under the banner of freedom. Any reverse which
he might sustain would be fatal to the cause every
Englishman mist have at heart, and Great Britain
would probably be selected as the next victim.
VICTOR EMMANUEL possesses irresistible claims on
our gratitude. When Austria was basely tem-
porising, and Prussia professing a despicable neu-
trality, he came nobly forward, and with heroic
confidence flung himself into the breach. Look-
ing- merely to the past, ho would be entitled to
any assistance which he could require. But be-
yond the mere matter of good feeling, we should
for our own sakes render it freely and liberally ;
for although ho may have to bear the
brunt of the encounter, we may rest assured
that, should he fall, our day of trial cannot long
be deferred. With a Government strongly in-
fluenced by the :spirit of Germanism, no national
pecuniary assistance can be anticipated. But there
is nothing to prevent individual efforts, which
should be the more energetic in consequence of
the apathy and indifference of the Cabinet.

The continued drain of the precious metals, to
which we yesterday adverted, is indeed a matter
of serious importance to the industrial interests
of the country. Unless adequate measures be