The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-02 00:00:00

AUSTRIA.

A letter just received from Vienna, dated Dec.
30, says :—Prince Metternich, a few days ago, re-
quested Count Walewskl publicly to disavow all
keowledge of the pamphlet entitled " Le Pape et le
Congres," but he must have declined to do so, as a
very unfriendly feeling towards the French Go-
vernment now prevails here. The word " dis-
loyalty" is freely used, and the conviction expressed
that the Emperor of the French will have cause to
rue the day on which he ordered a pamphlet to be
written, " which must necessarily give offence to
every Roman Catholic." During the last few days
I have had many opportunities of hearing the
opinions of devout Catholics in regard to M. de
Laguerroniere's work, and almost all of them have
spoken favourably of it, it being well known here
that no country in Europe is worse governed than
the Papal States. Very many Catholics in this
city think that the spiritual power of the Pope
would be greater if his temporal power were less,
but the Jesuits are almost beside themselves if such
an opinion is expressed in their presence. A violent
Ultramontanist of my acquaintance declares that
the Pope will be little more than a Christain
1 Lama if M. de Laguerroniere's "infamous plans'
are carried out. The Volksfreund, the Univers of
Austria, thus speaks on the subject :

" As we well knew what kind of sympathy was
felt for his Holiness in French Government circles,
and what projects were likely to be brought forward
in Congress, it is not so much the object proposed
which shucks us as the way in which it is to be
effected. The pamphlet is the expression of the
most bitter scorn for the mission of the Church and
for the position of its head, and it is evident that
this mighty, this richly endowed mind (Louis
Napoleon's) has, after due consideration, resolved to
risk a conflict with Rome."

The Austrian Government professes to be opposed
to Napoleon's plans in respect to Rome " because
the principle on which they are based is so exceed-
ingly dangerous ;" but the truth of the matter is
that the Imperial Court sees with dismay that it is
in imminent danger of losing the whole of its in-
fluence in the Italian peninsula. The object
of Austria in concluding a concordat with Rome
was to secure the support of the Church, and she
now discovers that the pillar on which she ex-
pected to be able to lean is so much decayed that
it is nodding to its fall. It is generally believed
that Count Rechberg will not attend the Con-
gress unless the French Government disavows the
new pamphlet, but Austria has no choice but to do
as she is bid by France.
A letter dated Vienna, Dec. 28, says :
"An Italian, who has just arrived from Venice,
states that things are going on badly in Venetia
but he denies that his fellow-countrymen are ill-
treated by the military authorities. It appears that
the taxes are not heavier in Venetia than they are
in the other provinces, but the people are greatly
impoverished, and consequently unable to pay them.
" The agents of Government try to persuade the
independent organs of the Austrian press to speak
unfavourably of M. de Laguerroniere's pamphlet ;
but they one and all respectfully decline to do so.
The Imperial Cabinet is exceedingly displeased
that such a work as Le Pape et le Congres ' has
been permitted to appear at such a critical moment,
but the public is delighted that such a heavy blow
has been dealt to the Ultramontanists. Two batta-
lions, of 750 men each, have already been raised in
Austria for the Papal Government, and a third
battalion will soon be complete. All the men en-
gaged are soldiers who have served their full time
(10 years) in the Imperial army."