The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-12 00:00:00

ITALY AND T.H. neENCII PRESS.

The Presse publishes an article, headed " La
France et I'Autriche," in which it inquires what
would be the conduct of England in the eventuality
of a war between those two Powers. It commences
by expressing its belief that should such a disaster
unfortunately take place the war would not be a
European one, but simply a contest confined Within
certain limits determined on beforehand. The
object in view would not be to tear in pieces the
treaties of 1815, and to throw into entire confusion
the public right of Europe, but simply to revise a
single chapter of them, and to pronounce a divorce
between Austria and Italy—a course rendered impe-
ratively necessary by their incompatibility of temper.
After stating that already a similar case of altera-
tion was witnessed in 1830, when Belgium sepa-
rated herself from Holland, the writer proceeds to
consider what England would do in case of hosti-
lities :

" In Italy, what has she to fear from the aid of France ?
What matters it to her that Lombardy and Venetia belong
to Austria, belong to Piedmont, or belong to themselves?
What injury can she sustain if the treaties of 1815, torn by
Austria at Cracow, be violated against Austria at Milan ?
The interests of England would have nothing to dread from
such a change; her liberal sympathies, on the contrary, would
cause her to greet it with joy. Can it be believed, that Eng-
land, who is so jealous of her liberty, who, in 1847, applauded
in advance the reawakening of Italian liberty, could now
make heavy sacrifices, burden her budget, endanger her
commerce and internal tranquillity, and—who knows?—
perhaps her domination in India—all for the sterile pleasure
of preventing constitutional liberty from being established
at Milan and developed at Turin, of preventing the Romans
and Neapolitans from obtaining the advantages of a more
humane and more enlightened government ? But that
would be insensate ; and, in point of fact, if no other interest
should lurk behind the Italian question, there would not be
hisses enough in England for the Cabinet which should
seriously propose to the British nation to expose itself to such
dangers for the glory of a Government which the people of
England hooted so outrageously a few years ago in the per-
son of Haynau, the executioner of Hungary, whilst the
'Cabinet of Lord Palmerston would not consent to give even
the appearance of reparation."
' The writer then adverts to the fact that England
always desires to have, one intimate ally on the
Continent of Europe, and that Austria has long
been in that position, having even borne with her
all the weight of the wars of the First Empire.
The writer then proceeds in these terms :
"That England has need of an alliance on the Continent
is certain, and that her natur‘l ally was Austria was true,
but it is true no longer. Since 1830, Englandhashad on the
Continent an alliance more serious and more efficacious—it is
that of France, and in spite of some reciprocal misunder-
standings, some inopportune exigencies, that is the only
one on which she can count on great occasions. Experience
has proved this. When in 1853 it was found that it was
necessary to check Russia in her march on Constantinople,
whom did England find ready to act ? Was it Austria, or
was it France ? Did not France send to a distance of 600
leagues 20 vessels and 100,000 men before Austria had de-

spatched even a diplomatic note? And whilst France was
shedding her blood under the walls of Sebastopol, Austria
was labouring underhand to appropriate to herself the prin-
cipalities, and only struggled against the influence of Rus-
sia in order to substitute ,her own. If England had need
of the co-operation of a continental ally, what reliance
could she place wt Austria ? Does she not know what
the position of Austria is ? Menaced in Italy, me-
naced in Hungary, odious to the Poles, the Roumans, and
the Croats, who saved her and whom she deceived, all that
Austria can do is to live, to keep herself together. How
can she lend help ? What interest can England have to
lean on such a rotten proß? Prance, on the contrary, is
always active and free in her movements ; she is a sure
friend and a redoubtable enemy :—allied to England, she is
irresistible ; allied to any other great power, she would be a
formidable adversary. Between England and her there are
different interests, but no opposing ones."

The article concludes in these words :
" We have not even need of the confirmations which every
day are broitght to us in the language of the English jour-
nals to believe that if France, in case of a conflict, should
circumscribe her action to the limits of the Italian ques-
tion, without complicating it with any foreign element,
there would be in England only one voice to demand neu-
trality, and to impose it on the Government."

The Patric replies in the following manner to
the opinion expressed by the Siecle, that in case of
an insurrection in Italy, France must, in order to be
consistent, strike in and take part for the Italians :

" We think that on this point our contemporary labours
under great misapprehension as to the mission of the French
policy. Its mission is essentially liberal, but not revolu-
tionary. If a revolution were to burst oat to-day at Milan, it
would be a great misfortune; and we do not pretend to fore-
tell the issue of the complications that would arise from such
an event. But we may be allowed to say that the true
friends of Italy are not those who would counsel or promote
so dangerous a step. A revolution in Italy, we have already
said, and now repeat, would have no other result than to
alarm all the Conservative interests in Europe, to excite
apprehensions in the various Cabinets, and cause dis-
quietude in religious consciences. Austria would then be
what she has always been, the gendarme of order. The
case will be very different if the question, already put
forward in the Congress of Paris, retains its poli-
tical character, like the Turkish question in 1854.
Then the moral intervention of Europe will no doubt suc-
ceed in bringing about a pacific solution, and so prevent
the struggle which all Europe is interested in preventing.
But what, it is asked, would the French Government do in
case of the armed intervention of Piedmont in favour of the
Italians ? The question is straightforward, but we are not
called upon to answer it. Yet there is a very simple reply
—Piedmont is the ally of France and England ; she also
enjoys the friendship of Russia. Piedmont was repre-
sented at the Congress of Paris. She has too much at
stake to do anything rashly or recklessly. Before inter-
fering, all may be certain that she will be sure of the sanc-
tion and support of her allies."

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, TUESDAY.

THE ARRESTS.

A secret investigation of the case of Dennis
Shea, described as a respectable farmer, was held
before the Cork magistrates on Saturday, and the
result was a remand for eight days for the purpose
of obtaining further evidence. The frieze-coated
Phoenician is said to be a man of considerable
means, and was in treaty for the purchase of a
large farm in his neighbourhood, at which (says
the Reporter) he would doubtless have been un-
willing to have been visited by a gang of American
Filibusters. Apropos of filibustering the Govern-
ment morning papers publishes prominently an
extract from a letter written home by a Mayo
emigrant, in which the writer speaks valiantly of
the landing in Ireland of some seven shipfuls of
armed men from the United States.
THE IRISH JUDICIAL BENCH.

Baron Pennefather has sent in his formal resig-
nation to the Government, consequently the vener-
able Judge did not take his seat at the opening of
term to-day. There appears to be no doubt that
Mr. Hayes, the Solicitor-General, will be the new
Baron. In the Court of Queen's Bench to-day Mr.
Justice Crampton, in his charge to the grand jury,
told them that he would not have many more
opportunities of addressing them in his judicial
capacity. It is said that in the event of another
vacancy on the bench, the Attorney-General means
to hold his present office, and that the judgeship
will be offered either to Mr. Brewster or Mr.
Francis Fitzgerald, the undoubted leaders of the
Chancery Bar.

GALWAY, TUESDAY.
THE MITRDER OF MR. ELY.

Great excitement was caused among the pas-
sengers on bord the Circassian, previous to her de-
parture, by the arrest of a young man, about 25
years of age, on suspicion, it is said, of being con-
cerned in the murder of Mr. Ely. Three pistols
(two of which were loaded) and a bowie-knife were
found on the prisoner.
MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

From a Supplement to the London Gazette of

last Evening.)

BY THE QUEEN.—A PROCLAMATION.
Victoria, R. Whereas our Parliament stands
prorogued .to Thursday, the thirteenth day
of this instant January; We, with the advice of
Our Privy Council,•do hereby publish and declare,
that the said Parliament shall be further pro-
rogued, on the said thirteenth day of January in-
stant, to Thursday, the third day of Feb. next ;
and We have given orders to Our Chancellor of that
part of our United Kingdom called. Great Britain
to prepare a Commission for proroguing the same
accordingly; and we do hereby, with the advice
aforesaid, declare our royal will and pleasure, that
the said Parliament shall, on the said Thursday,
the third day of February next, assemble and
be holden for the dispatch of divers urgent and
important affairs : and the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and the Knights, Citizens, and Bur-
gesses, and the Commissioners for Shires and
Burghs of the House of Commons, are hereby
required and commanded to give their attend-
ance accordingly, at Westminster, on the said
Thursday the third day of February next.
Given at Our Court, at Windsor, this eleventh
day of January, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, and in the
twenty-second year of our reign.
GOD SAYE lIIE QUEEN I