The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-24 00:00:00

THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, MAY 24.

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
6.s—highest since noon yesterday.
s.s—lowest this morning and during the night.
15—this day at noon.
BAROMETER--29.98, falling.
WIND, North-Easterly; light, with very fine weather.

The battle of Montebello is the first move in a
war which it may take years to settle. Austria
has but little cause to rejoice in her tardy move-
ment. It is true that there were but a compara-
tively small number of troops engaged on either
side : about 15,000 Austrians, and, probably, an
equal number of French and Sardinians. The fight
was, however, a severe one—lasting some five or
six hours—arid served to test the valour and
endurance of the troops engaged on both sides. If
" the first blow be half the battle," the Franco-
Sardinian army have ample cause to rejoice at a
♦ictory which must inspirit their own men, while
it will depress their opponents, and deprive them
of the prestige which they had hoped to obtain.

The Austrians have been compelled to retreat
with the loss, as we are told by their opponents,
of two thousand men killed and wounded, while
that of the adversary was but a fourth of that
number. The former, however, announce that
their loss was probably about the same as the
French. Credat ludceus. They left two hundred
prisoners in the hands of the victorious party, and
it is seldom that a retreating army escapes with so
little bloodshed as the triumphaxt one. Besides,
they have only given their statement on guess-
work. The word "probably " proves that they
had no certainty, or, indeed, reasonable grounds,
for forming an opinion. The statement was
merely to encourage their own men, who would
otherwise be depressed at the extent of their loss
so far exceeding that of the enemy.
The effect of the first conflict in Italy will be
very considerable. The disaffected States will no
longer be deterred from expressing their opinions
from the fear of Austrian interference. The German
Potentate will have quite enough to do to take care
of his own dominions. It is, therefore, more than
probable that Parma and Modena will follow the
example of Tuscany, and fraternise with those
whom they believe to be associated for the libera-
tion of Italy. Indeed, should it be otherwise, we
can scarcely believe, notwithstanding the official
note just published in the Honiteur, that their neu
frailty would be very strictly observed if any
strategetical advantages were to be obtained by
its violation. It is clear that such would be
the case ; and if the Austrians have already
retreated from the Piedmentese territory, the
temptation of turning their flank would be too
great for any general who fancied that the mantle
of NAPOLEON I. had been transferred to his own
shoulders.

The death of King FERDINAND of Naples may
also exercise considerable effect on Italian affairs.
Bad as he was it is more than suspected that
there will be but little improvement under their
new SOVEREIGN, and the opportunity of a change
of succession may be taken advantage of by the
malcontents, and their " name is legion." Indeed,
it could hardly be otherwise, considering the trials
and misery,the violated oaths and broken promises to
which they have been subjected for a series of years.
The French, too, are masters of the sea—so long, at
least, as England maintains her neutrality—and
can easily excite the Neapolitans to a revolution.
Induced that could easily have been effected years
ago; when the outrageous insults of the deceased
Sovereign
compelled the suspension of diplomatic
relations by France and England. It was only the
belief that Austria woulitsend her bayonets to the
rescue, in overwhelming force, that Prevented a
patriotic x icing at the time. But now that she has
quite enc,ugh to do on her own account, and
can no loi !ger afford to render undue assistance to
maintain despotic systems, the day if retri-
bution 'may arrive sooner than has
been ant icipated. Indeed, it may be looked
for at any time ; and although Naples, like
Tuscan: f, is beyond the pale where the allies could
carry c ,n the war with advantage to themselves,

the moral effects of such revolutions must produce
great changes in all the Italian States, including
those under the Papal domination.

But the Austrians, although decisively defeated
in their two first contests, are by no means con-
quered. They occupy very strong positions, and
have powerful fortresses which would be dangerous
to pass while they remained in their hands, and their
reduction would be a -work of time and difficulty
which Loris NAPOLEON would scarcely wish to
encounter. The French, therefore, having the sea
at their command, may feel disposed to carry the
war into the enemy's country by means of ship-
ping, or possibly to enter Lombardy on the west,
provided they continue to respect the neutrality of
the minor Duchies, which we certainly do not
believe will long be the case.

There is already a French corps at Leghorn, and
that under the command of a Prince of the blood,
which seems to indicate a movement by sea. When,
however, the interests of Austria are so closely
engaged in the maintenance of the neutrality of
Central Italy, it is scarcely probable that the allies
will long continue to respect that neutrality,
or avoid a movement which would give

them great strategical advantages, so long as
petty States only were concerned. The only thing
that could suspend their movements would be the
interference of Prussia and the German Confedera-

tion, and that will scarcely occur so long as the
war is restricted to Italy. Indeed, such an event
would be an excuse for Russia, who could thus
avenge her quarrel with Austria, and that in the
most decisive manner.

Without affecting the gift of prophecy, Louis
liosstau, seven months ago, uttered a distinct pre-
diction. Speaking at Glasgow, on the 19th of
November, 1858, he said—" In any war in which
France will stand on one side and Austria on the
other, France has but to advance to the frontiers of
any of the nationalities oppressed by Austria and
say, Here lam to help you, rise and throw off the
yoke of Austria,' wad they will hail the invitation
with enthusiasm." A little more -than half a year
has elapsed—and, lo ! the ex-Governor of Hungary,
speaking in the City of London, on the 21st of this
present month of May, 1859, can point to the fulfil-
ment of his prediction ! He can remind us that
we have but just now seen realised, in Italy,' the
incident marked out in that bold anticipation. "As
the Frence advance," he cries out exultingly, "you
may see in them new Deucalions, raising up an
armed foe to Austria from every stone." It is not,
however, in her southern heel alone that Austria is
vulnerable. Scanning the whole of the proportions
of that giant Despotism, KOSSUTH—turning his
keen glance towards the eastern frontier, which
has the repute of being the European buckler of
defence against Muscovite encroachment—observes
"Now, imagine Russia [not France this time,
but Russia] desiring to strike an ambitious
blow anywhere. Will Austria be a barrier to her ?
Was she ever a barrier at any single moment of the
past ? Why, Russia need only to say, as the Czar
ALEXANDER instructed Admiral TSITSAKOFF to say
if he found Austria playing fast and loose, Ye
seventeen millions, rise against the oppressor
of your nationality—here I am to help you ;'
and they will rise, and where will Austria
be ?" Russia, indeed, has but to give th
signal for revolt to Gallicia and Transyl
vania, as France has recently sounded the war note
of preparation for Lombardy and Venice, and the
movement of insurrection will spread from the Bug
to the Adriatic, from the western borders of Podolia
to the eastern boundaries of Switzerland. "Is that
a barrier 9" asks the ex-Governor of Hungary deri •
sively—adding, " Why, it is a high road inviting
ambition to an easy march." Thanks to the out-
spoken voice of this great Tribune of the Hunga-
rians, we are again hearing some wholesome truths
about Austria, about the treaties of 1815, about the
Holy, or, as it ought more accurately to be termed,
the Unholy Alliance, in which those disgraceful,
but by this time for the most part utterly exploded
and contemned treaties, originated. "It is woful
to remember," said KOSSUTII, with an indignation
in the justice of which BYRON himself would have
entirely concurred, " it is woful to remember that the
sovereigns who, on pretence of asserting the liber-
ties of Europe, enticed the nations to shed their
blood in streams for nearly a full quarter of a cen-
tury, and to waste away the prosperity of genera-
tions for the preservation of dynasties, at last
requited the deluded nations, at the Congress of
Vienna, by selling and bartering them like cattle,
and by treating Europe like an allodial farm."
Yet these are the treaties by right of which Austria
claims her ill-gotten dominion upon the plea of
their inviolability ! "In violable treaties, indeed !"
exclaims KOSSUTH. " Why, my lord, the forty-four
years that have since passed have cribbled those
treaties like a sieve. The Bourbons, whom they
restored to the throne of France, have vanished,
and the Bonapartes, whom they proscribed, are
restored. Two changes—the transformation of
Switzerland from a confederation of States into a
confederated State, and the independence of Bel-
gium—have been accomplished in spite of those
treaties, to the profit of liberty ; but for the rest,
the distinctive feature of the cribbling process
through which those treaties have passed is this,
that every poor plant of freedom which they had
spared has been uprooted by the unsparing hand of
depotism. From the Republic of Cracow, poor rem-
nant of Poland, swallowed by Austria, down to the
freedom of the press, guaranteed to Germany, but
reduced to such a condition that in the native land
of Guttenburg not one poor square yard of soil is
left to set a free press upon—everything that was
not of evil in those inviolable treaties has been
trampled down
of
to the profit of despotism." And
those v
the inviolable treaties were
accomplished," the orator reminds the people of this
country " wurrou'r ENGLAND ONCE SHAKING HER.
MIGHTY TRIDENT TO FORBID IT!"

And now having thus, during the lapse of those
forty-four years past, connived at the extinction of
the last fragment of Poland, the Republic of Cra-
cow, at the change into a confederated state of the
confederated States of Switzerland, at the disinte,,ra-
tion of Belgium from Holland, at the substitution
upon the throne of France of the Imperial Bona-
partes in lieu of the Royal Bourbons—now, after
having complacently agreed thus, without one
murmur of objection, to these world-famous and his-
torical violations of those so-called inviolable
treaties—shall England now, forsooth, at the be-
hest of Austria, draw the sword under any emer-
gency, for the maintenance of the sanctity of those
rotten parchments, torn and blotted, with their
seals rased or broken, with their characters blurred
or obliterated—washed over with the blood of
buried thousands, and blackened with the smoke of
forgotten cannonades 9
England, however, has happily decided already
for once and for all, the course to be followed out
by her undeviatingly, while France and Sardinia
arc striving upon the plains of Lombardy to w in
the great battle of Italian Independence. That
course has been marked out during the late elec-
tions unmistakeably by the various constituencies.
That course will be maintained to the last by the
patriotic unanimity of the British House of Com-
mons. It is the simple and straightforward course
indicated by the policy of honest neutrality and
strict non-intervention—leaving the belligerents,

to themselves to fight it out
as they are now, entireiT
to the close uninterruptedly. KOSSUTH avows
frankly that he looks to the result with
implicit confidence. And for arriving at
this satisfactory conclusion as to the future
he certainly gives reasons sufficiently cogent and
numerous. Beginning at tile beginning of the
source of any doubt at all in the matter, he ob-
serves—" It is said that the EmTeror of the French
cannot be actuated by any other than ambitious
views ; that he means conquest," and so forth.
Whereupon observes KOSSUTH, emphatically, de-
liberately—" What May be the special motives
which induced the present ruler of France to
engage in this war I do not pretend to know, but
I know what cannot be his interest, and therefore
cannot be in his intentions. It cannot be in his
interest to enter on the career of a conqueror, be-
cause that would be positive ruin to him, as it was
the ruin of NAPOLEON I. It was the irreverent
disregard of the sentiment of nationality which
sent NAPOLEON I. to die a fettered eagle on the
scorching rocks of St. Helena ; it is the same
irreverent disregard of the sentiment of na-
tionality that will shatter to atoms the tottering
throne of perfidious Austria. And verily it does
strike me that NAPOLEON 111. is not the man to
repeat the fault by which NAPOLEON I. fell. By
doing good to the oppressed nationalities," added
KOSSUTH, " he may win great moral advantage ;
by
doing them harm he could not earn anything but
ruin for himself." Immediately afterwards, ima-
sgining to himself, for the sake of argument, a most
hopeful conjecture—" Suppose," said KOSSUTH—
" I give it you as a supposition—suppose that the
logical development of the present war should offer
to my own nation, not an incitement to hazardous
desultory riots—these I should sternly advise hsr
to avoid—but should offer her such a chance as
would, with reasonable prospects, place her inde-
pendence within the reach of her own determina-
tion, would you advise her to reject the chance be.
cause, under the mysterious dispensation of PRO-
VIDENCE, it would have come to her from a BONA-
PARTE Why," he replied, " she would be a fool to
reject it !" Hungary, once emancipated thus through
French intervention, the Hungarians, he added,
would be at once too strong in themselves, and too
remote from France, ever to allow their native land
to degenerate into a French department. As to
any danger in this way to Italy and the Italians,
KOSSUTH observes in regard to the latter that,
" thanks to the assistance of France," they can
now organise and arm their nation, and break
asunder at last the iron rod of Austria—adding
" Let them be wise enough to take
' advantage of the occasion ; and, having
had assistance in getting delivered from
the foe, if they should not know how to secure
their future independence from the friend, they would
not deserve to be free." The words thus uttered
by the great Hungarian leader are thrilling at once
with the trumpet tones of Warning and Encourage-
ment. May they resound through the ranks of the
Italian patriots now in arms under the banners of
France and Sardinia for the vindication of their
independence ! May they in the fulness of time
find an echo at last at the hearths—in the hearts—
of ten million expectant Hungarians.

As the partizan champion, organ, and advocate
of whatever coalition Cabinet may in the chapter of
accidents emerge from the Opposition, the Times, as
a matter of course, has hitherto made out the result
of the recent Appeal to the Country, as entirely
adverse to the existing Government. It has done
this, we say, as a matter of course: It predicted,
before the general election commenced, that the
verdict of the constituencies would be condemna-
tory of the Administration. Its credit as a prophet
was consequently at stake. Its interest in
every way was to prove, if possible, that it
had been in every respect justified in its predic-
tions. Therefore it has, until to-day, made the
very worst. of the returns so far as they concern
the Government. Therefore, on the other hand, it
has made the very best of the returns so far as
they affect the Opposition.
Altogether these returns number 655, instead of
654, representatives, from England, Ireland, Scot-
land, Wales, and Berwick-upon-Tweed. But the
discrepancy caused by the additional number is
seen at a glance to result from the circumstance of
there being a double return for the borough of
Aylesbury. Dividing these 655 members into two
Parties—a very bold thing, indeed, to attempt
under existing circumstances—the Times, even the
Times, is compelled to award no more than
353 to the (so-called—for the nonce) Libe-
rals, and actually no less than 302 to the
side of the Conservatives. This balance shows, says
the Times, a clear majority for the former of fifty-
one ! Fifty-one be it, then : but now comes the
question immediately thereupon—While the 302
Conservatives are marshalled distinctly under the
banner of the present Leader of the House of
Commons, the Chancellor of her MAJESTY'S Ex-
chequer—under whose banner, think you, can be
led forward compactly or loosely, or in any way what-
ever together, the 353 Liberal representatives con-
fronting them on the side of the Opposition ? Under
the standard of Lord PALMERSTON ? Hardly—the
noble viscount's late Secretary for Ireland would
scarcely march now under that standard, to say
nothing of independent spirits like the hon.
,and learned gentleman the member for Sheffield !
`Under the standard of Lord JOHN RUSSELL ?
Hardly under that standard either—if there be any
truth, as there is undoubtedly, in Lord JOHN'S own
philosophic remark, " It is the habit of Party in
England to ask the alliance of a man of genius,
but to follow the guidance of a man of cha-
racter." For of.. late years, as a leader of
party, the political character of the noble lord the
member for the City has, during the last few years,
been deplorably damaged. Was not his nearly six
years tenure of power reprobated by his former
colleague, the ex-Chancellor BROUGHAM, as a
period during which the affairs of the nation were
administered with—what ? "with feebleness, inca-
pacity, vacillation, and imbecility !" A Cabinet
in which " measures were feebly proposed, tremu-
lously supported, and weakly abandoned !" The
country wants no revival of that lamentable and
effete administration. It desires not to see installed
once more in Downing-street a mere Cabinet of
Cousins—GßEYS, ELLIOTS, and RUSSELLS. It has
not quite- forgotten yet how Lord JOHN'S political
character as a leader of party has been grievously
affected by such incidents as those of his diplomatic
mission to Vienna, followed soon afterwards by his
au i rthp a
et
nbi
dasntdooin
the
enat of the
ies of responsibilities
thec of office
in contiffic i
cte.
Hence—from the consequent decline in his influence
as a leader of party—Lord JOHN has found himself
for some time past'doomed to a seat below the gang-
way on the side of the Opposition. To whom, then,
will those 353 Liberals look as to their commander-
in-chief—if neither to Lord Join ltusslit,r, nor to
Lord PALMERSTON ? Certainly they might as
well look for guidance to Mr. BRIGHT, or to Mr.
IIoRsmAN, as to either of those noble lords, under
existing circumstances. It is simply preposterous,
therefore, to talk of a clear majority of 51 to an Op-
position thus disunited by internal dissensions and by
the rivalry existing between its principal leaders.
If those 353 could be marched together in a com-

pact body uthler.anS- leader at all—Lord PALMER-
STON, Lord JOHN RUSSELL, or any one else—then
indeed it might be said with reason that the clear
majority was a majority of fifty-one. But certainly
not otherwise. Certainly not while there are several
distinct parties and several distinct chiefs—while
there is but one party, but one supreme chief on the
side of the reigning Government, namely, Mr.
DISRAELI and the 302 Conservatives.
Besides—it is simply an extravagance to assert

that there can be this clear majority against
Ministers of 51 in 655—when it is undeniable that
there was merely a clear majority of 39 in 626 in
the last Parliament, while at the same time it is
admitted distinctly by the Times that in the new
Parliament there is a clear gain, as compared to
the former House, of 26 seats to the Derbyites,
amounting to 52 upon a division ! How there
could possibly be a majority (as admitted
by the Times) of 52 for Ministers in the
new House of 655—at the same time that there
was a majority 39 for the Opposition in the last
house of 626—and yet, according to the Times,
there is still, in spite of that gain of 26 seats (or 52
upon a division) for Ministers, with a clear gain in
all for the Opposition of 51 in the new Parliament
of 655, passes all reasonable comprehension. It is
simply an outrage to common sense. It is a dis-
tinct and glaring defiance of the simplest rules of
arithmetic. COCKER proves beyond a doubt that the
deduction of the Times is simply an impossibility.
The wish is father to the thought, and therefore
the thought is boldly asserted. But the next divi-
sion will be sufficient to show that 39 is less than
52—supposing any one still to remain incredulous.

THE LONDON GLEE AND MADRIGAL

UNION:

The fifth and last concert of the present series was given
by this union, at the Hanover-square Rooms, yesterday,
with great success. Many old glees and madrigals were
revived on this occasion, and several that had been especial
favourites at the former concerts were repeated. Dr. Call-
cott's beautiful glee, " With sighs, sweet rose," was
admirably sung by four members of the union, and
Luca Marengio's madrigal, " Lady, see," was ren-
dered with great effect. The music expresses the meaning
of the words with singular power. A four-part song, by
R. S. Pearsall, " Why with toil thy life consuming," was
graceful and flowing. One of the curiosities of the concert
was the introduction of an ancient round, the composer of
which is unknown. It belongs to the thirteenth century,
and begins, " Summer is icmncn in, loudly sings mem ;"
but it is more to be regarded as a musical curiosity than
from any intrinsic merit. Sir Henry Bishop's glee, "The
Fisherman's good night," was so well sung that an unani-
mous encore greeted its conclusion. Another favourite
was Hatton's spirited part song for male voices,
" The hunt is up." Mr. Oliphant, the honorary secretary,
who prefaced each performance with a few remarks, in-
formed the audience that it was not many years since this
accomplished composer found it necessary to disguise his
plain English surname under a Polish appellation. Sir
henry Bishop's concerted piece, " Though he be now a
grey, grey friar," though not at all easy for concert per-
formances of this character, was very well sung. Several
other glees and madrigals, mostly from old composers,
concluded the performances. Mr. T. Oliphant interspersed
the performances with notices and references to the compo-
sitions of the great madrigalian writers, and entertained
the audience by his humorous remarks. In conclusion,
he rendered a well-deserved tribute to the labours of the
London Glee and Madrigal Union, and expressed a hope,
which was no doubt shared by the audience, that it might
not be the last occasion on which they met for this pur-
pose.

LORDS-LIEUTENANT OF CO UNTIES.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE SLTN.

SIR,—In these warlike times, when such a serious
responsibility devolves on the Lords• Lieutenant of
counties, the question I would ask is, whether the
Crown is worthily represented in that department
of the State or not ?

Nov, according to the improved regulations with
regard to civil and military appointments, no person
is allowed to enter either of those services whose
character will not bear the strictest investigation ;
but if the nation is to derive the full benefit to be
derived from these wise and good arrangements,
they must b© carried out with the greatest regard
to impartiality, and even Lords-Lieutenant should
not form an exception to the general rule. But,
that they do so, I can vouch for at least in one
instance, being unfortunately acquainted with a
Lord-Lieutenant who is my debtor to the amount
of £30,000, under circumstances of a nature any-
thing but creditable. This is no glaring tale. My
trustees have held for some years a judgment for
the above debt, and I have on several occasions been
obliged to sue the aforesaid NOBLE delinquent on
dishonoured bills. Yet the patronage of a county
is vested in this man, whose actions would disqualify
him from holding a commission in the army, or a
clerkship in a Government office. I would again
ask, is this Lord-Lieutenant, who, shielding himself
by his rank, sets the judgment of a Court of Law
at defiance, a fit and proper person to represent our
much beloved Sovereign, and be called upon in a
time of emergency, as he now is, to nominate
officers to the militia and volunteer regiments about
to be enrolled ? Doubtless the proper authorities
(whoever they arc) and the public in general may
not be cognisant of the facts here stated ; but,
feeling it to be my duty to call their earnest atten-
tion to the anomalous existing evil, I hope you will
be good enough to insert this letter in your paper,
which will much oblige, sir, your most obedient
servant, C. C. B.

Exaer, May, 1859.

SIR CHARLES JAMBS NA PIER ON
VOLUNTEER RIFLR CORPS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Perhaps you may find room in your columns
for the enclosed extract from a country paper, being
the opinion of the late General Sir Charles James
Napier on Volunteer Rifle Corps.
London, May 21. IV. B. P.
" With regard to your volunteer corps, I think each
should consist of from one to four companies, each company
consisting of 100 men, with a captain and two lieutenants ;
and I advise you to let each man carry two small cartridge
boxes, made to slide on a girdle round the waist, so that
one may be carried before and one behind, each holding
30 rounds of ammunition ; thus the weight would be di-
vided, and, consequently, more easily carried.
" Get sonic old soldier for your adjutant, to teach you,
not a long course of drill, but just seven things, viz.:—
" 1. To face right and left by word of command.

"2. To march in lino and in column.
"3. To • extend and close files as light infantry, with
supports.'
-To'exchange front in extended and in close order.
".5. To relieve the skirmishers.
"6. To form solid squares and 'rallying squares.'
" 7. To form an advanced guard.
"These seven things are all that you require; do not let
any one persuade you to learn more.
" Let your practice at a target be constant. Also habi-
tuate your corps to take long marches of from 15 to 20 miles,
with arms and ammunition on; and alsoin running, or what
is called 'double -quick time.' These must be arrived at by
gradually increasing from small distances. No single man,
much less a body of men, can make these exertions with-
out training. • Also subscribe for premiums to those who
are the best shots. Do not be exclusive in forming your
corps; take your gamekeepers as ysur comrades, and any
of your labourers that will enrol themselves. A gentleman
will find no braver or better comrades than among his own
immediate neighbours and tenants. Should you require to
throw up a breastwork, they will be more handy with the
spades and pickays than yourselves."
." May the wisdom and genius of Charles Napier
preside over all our preparations, and may his
heroic spirit animate: all hearts ! and then—to use
his own glowing words—' f the occasion should
arise, the second edition of Waterloo will, if pos-
sible, be greater than the first.'"

The Duchess of Norfolk and family have left the
Queen's llotel, Upper Norwood, for town.
The Earl and Countess of Westmoreland and
Lady Rose nue have arrived in Cavendish-square from
Apthorp Park for the season.
The Earl and Countess of Abergavenny are ex-
pected in town to-day from Tunbridge-wells for the season.
The Earl and Countess of Erroll have left town
for Slaines Castle, Aberdeenshire, for the funeral of their
infant daughter. The noble earl and countess will not re-
turn to London this season.

Lord and Lady Rivers arrived in town yesterday
from their seat in Doi etshire for the season. _ _

The first positive news that Venice was blockaded
was received from Captain Kresting, of the Norwegian brig
Alma, which waysnot permttted to run into the Lido. The
French, after hiving examined the vessel's papers, sent
her to 'Neste.
It is rumoured at Trieste that six English ships of
the line have entered the Adriatic,

LATEST NEWS.

THE WAR. IN ITALY.
The following telegrt ans have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :

PARIS, MAY 24.
The Moniteur of this n corning publishes the fol-

lowing telegram :

ALESSANDRIA, May 23, .evening.—Yesterday the
Emperor attended mass in the Cathedral. His
Majesty everywhere reci;ives testimonies of the
public sympathy. llis Majesty enjoys perfect
health.

General Forey's report approximately estimates
the number of French killed and wounded at from
COO to 700, and the force of the enemy at from
15,000 to 18,000 men ; but if the account of some
of the prisoners is to be b elieved, the Austrians
Teally greatly exceeded that It-umber.

LEGHORN, MAY 21.

Prince Napoleon has arrived here, and was re-
ceived with enthusiastic acclamations. The town
Will be illuminated this evening.

TURIN, MAY 23.

Yesterday the enemy appeared in great force at
Palestro with the object of obstructing the march
of a reconnoitring party, which had taken the
direction of the Sesia by order of the King of
Sardinia. The enemy's artillery was, however,
silenced in every part.
The Austrians have shot an entire family of eight
persons in whose house Austrian guns had been
found. The French have occupied Casteggio, where
they are fortifying themselves. Yesterday Prince
Napoleon took his departure for Leghorn. The
official Piedniontese Gazette states that the Emperor
had left this morning for Voghera. The same
journal also announces the death of the King of
' Naples, which happened yesterday at 1.30. Naples
is quiet.

VIENNA, MAY 23.

At noon on the 21st inst. about 15,000 of the
Franco-Sardinian army attacked our troops, num-
bering .3,000, at Vercelli. Our men retreated, fight-
ing, to Orfengo. At this place two other Austrian
brigades hurried to the rescue and threatened the
enemy's flank, which retired across the Sesia to the
western side of the river. (Official Bulletin.)

PARIS, MAY 23.

The Paine says that at the battle of Montebello,
the troops engaged on the side of the allies con-
sisted of 5,000 French only and one Sardinian
cavalry regiment. The Austrian force was com-
posed of picked men of the infantry regiments, the
Croat regiments, and the Tyrolese Chasseurs. A
private letter says that among the Austrian pri-
soners are one wounded colonel and 20 wounded
privates.

BERNE, MAY 23.
Messages from Coire state that 30,000 Austrians
are about to be concentrated in the Vorarlberg.
A message from Mogadino, published by the
Bund, states that Garibaldi's corps has arrived at
Sesto Calende from Arona.

A Paris letter, in the Independance of Brussels,
publishes some general prescriptions agreed to by
the Emperor of the French and the King of Sar-
dinia, and which are to have the effect of general
orders :—" Every evening, at nightfall, the King
and the commandants of the different corps d'armee
are to send to the Emperor a succinct account, con-
taining the number of men under arms in each
army, the important facts which have taken place
during the day, and every intelligence that has
been received of the movements of the enemy.
Every day, half an hour before sunrise, the troops
will get under arms as though they were about to
be attacked, and after daylight, when it shall be
certain that the enemy is not making any offen-
sive movement, the troops will return to their
bivouacs. At that hour the King and the comman-
dants of corps d'armee are to state to the Emperor
what they may know of the position of the enemy.
The commandants of corps d'arnzee are to pay the
strictest attention that the officers have not with
them any useless baggage. it is forbidden to any
one to have a large tent. The officers are always
to seek accommodation in the houses near their
troops. If the troops have to encamp for several
days at a distance from any habitation, tents will
be supplied to them frrom their head-quarters.
Every officer must himself carry his cloak across
his shoulders, and a case in which he can have one
day's provisions. The Emperor has decided that
during the continuance of operations the infantry
shall only carry with them the kepi, great coat,
jacket, and trousers, two pairs of shoe, one on and
the other in the knapsack, and the small tent. The
other clothing of the men is to be packed up and
sent immediately to the depot of the corps, which
is to be established at Genoa. It will be the same
with the half blanket, except for the Zouaves and
the Algerian Tirailleurs, who will retain it as well
as the small cloak. The hat is suppressed and re-
placed by the kepi, during the whole campaign,
even for general officers. The prescriptions for the
infantry are not applicable to the Imperial Guard
as far as regards the shako and the hair cap. The
half blankets are also to be retained until further
orders, in consequence of the bad weather."

A letter from Casale of the 19th, in the Debats,
says :—" I will not speak to you of the movements
of troops on the railway ; they are incessant. The
locomotives go as slowly as street cabs hired by the
hour. I passed one train of 48 carriages crammed
full of soldiers. The Sardinian army is concentrating
on the left, and is massing its divisions; the French
army occupies the centre and the right. The
supreme direction of the operations belongs to the
Emperor Napoleon. The railway from Alessandria
to Casale, which passes by the side of San Salvador,
touches the theatre of the war. The Po is not far
off—here and there a line of poplars indicates it.
At intervals views of the villages on the left bank
occupied by the enemy can be obtained. If we did
not know the Austrians were there, we should
divine it by the aspect of the country. The rifles
of the Tyrolean riflemen of the Austrian army carry
far, and the men aim well. Our chasseurs de Vin-
cinnes reply to them, and God knows that they
are impatient to come to close quarters with the
white coats. Valenza is on the right, on the bank
of the Po. Some firing goes on between ORC side
of the river and the other, but at a great distance.
A first experiment with the rifled cannon has been
made, and has been terrible ; a battery of four guns
fired from a distance of 2,700 metres against a house
occupied by the Tyroleans, and at the thirtieth shot
the house fell down. By means of a glass the
Austrians could be seen flying across the country.
Cannon are about to be directed against a high
belfry of a church which the Austrians use as an
observatory of our advanced posts—the unlucky
belfry will not be standing long. As we approach
Casale the spectacle becomes heartrending. The
country is everywhere beautiful, but there is no
one to get in the c:ops ; there are neither farmers,
nor peasants, nor shepherds, not a living soul in
the plain in which the vine is spreading its green
branches, and in which the wheat is waving,
Farms are abandoned—villas deserted; goats no
longer graze in lanes or cows in meadows. From
the empty houses the furniture and even the doors
and windows have been carried away ; rows of
large mulberry trees have been cut down at two
or three feet from the soil, and are lying on the '
round ; and the trunks and branches serve as
..
chevaux de frise. The scene is one of desolation
in the midst of all the fertility and all the smiles
of spring ! Three divisions of the Sardinian army
with cavalry and artillery occupy Casale—in the
streets there are more soldiers than civilians. At
three steps from the railway station is a bastion on

which are cannon pointed towards the country ;
and the casements are near the garden of a café.
On leaving the station there is an immense square
surrounded with trees which reaches to the entrance
of the town. This square was entirely occupied
with artillery caissons and waggons ranged in
admirable order before batteries of campaigning
pieces. Under sheds near at hand were horses
feeding, and hundreds of two-wheel carts were
being filled with loaves of bread taken from the
waiting rooms of the station, which have been
transformed into storehouses. How many loaves
there were in those rooms! They were piled up as
high as the ceiling. In a corner of the square
were pontoon men, in linen jackets, exercising
themselves in constructing temporary bridges ;
light dragoons were to be seen bringing in forage ;
and entire companies were sleeping on straw. I
visited the cathedral, which is very old and
decrepid, but ofiwhich one corner has been repaired;
it was occupied by a battalion of bersaglieri.
Straw was spread on the floor ; havresacks and
cartridge boxes were suspended to the pillars ; and
fires were lighted outside. Three other churches
were transformed into barracks, and in one of
them were 200 horses. Another church, quite new,
and not of a good style of architecture, was free.
But unfortunately the beadle was at breakfast, and
I had to abandon the pleasure of seeing it. I
visited the library of the town. It is a long room
paved in mosaic, with the ceiling ornamented with
frescoes. It contains high book-shelves filled with
folios. The contrast between the silence it pre-
sented, and the hubbub which has preyailed for
the last week was very striking. In a corner, at
a table covered with large volumes, an old man
was seated ; he was bald, of placid features, and
appeared absorbed in taking notes from a book
open before him. I glanced at the work and read
at the top of the page, 'Epistolm Adriani Episcopi."
Happy man! wbo could occupy himself with the
letters of Adrian at three leagues from the Croats !
How profound the solitude near so many cannons !
I hare an astonishing fact to relate—it has not
rained to-day ! Another fact still more astonishing
—there has been sunshine ! Does the sky mean
this to be the signal of an offensive movement ?
Be certain that when this movement may be com-
menced it will be vigorously carried on. Yesterday
Prince Napoleon went on to Alessandria, to see the
Emperor, and it is rumoured that he is about to go
to Florence. The Emperor has visited Valenza and
Tortona. The King Victor Emmanuel accompanied
by four officers paid a visit to his Imperial Majesty
this morning."

A letter from Alessandria of the 19th says :
"The Emperor in his excursions is accompanied
by very few persons. He goes on horseback in the
undress of a general, and nothing escapes his notice
on the road. His Majesty everywhere meets with
the warmest welcome from the people of the coun-
try. In the small villages through which he
passes the people run out of their houses and salute
him with loud acclamations. His escort, which
has been hitherto furnished by the gendarmerie,
is now composed of the Cent-gardes, a detachment
of that force having arrived by land from France."

Another letter from Valenza of the 18th, in the
Salut Public of Lyons, says :—" I was yesterday
at a café with the officers of the 30th at the gate of
the 'Albergo, when a loud cry of Vice l'Empereur!'
arose. It was the Emperor, who had arrived unex-
pectedly on horseback, in a general's uniform, with
a kepi, and escorted by only a few officers. In a
few minutes the whole population was on foot, the
streets were decked with flags, and drums were
beaten to collect the troops. His Majesty proceeded
slowly by the street which leads to an eminence
from which the naked eye can see the vast plains
of the Po and the Lomellina. The position being
within reach of cannon was not without danger. I
had the honour cf approaching the Emperor, who,
bending down on his horse's neck, asked me if I
were French. I replied that I was a journalist
who had ventured to the advanced posts. He
smiled and questioned me on the positions of the
Austrians. I showed him detachments of their
troops on the banks of the river, the village Frescha-
rolo, and in the horizon Mortara, their headquarters.
His Majesty, by means of his glass, could see an
Austrian soldier on the watch in the belfry of the
church of Frescharolo, and even distinguish the
hour by the clock. On the left is the railway
bridge, of which the enemy has blown up two
arches, and which he guards with 200 or 300
men. The schakos of sentinels on the banks of
the river could be distinguished here and there.
The Emperor then conversed with some of the
Italians. His Majesty speaks pure Tuscan, and
with a facility which surprised his hearers. After
an inspection, which lasted about 20 minutes, the
Emperor turned to leave. As he did so, the troops
who were drawn up in line waved their shakos on
their bayonets, and cried out a thousand times,
Vive l'Empereur !' An old Italian patriot, who had
been in exile since 1849, approached and cried out,
with tears streaming down his face, Viva Napo-
leone, it Salvatore della Italia!' The Emperor
seemed affected, and saluted him kindly. At that
moment the Emperor's eye met mine, and in the
emotion of the moment I ventured to hold out my
hand. His Majesty deigned with a smile to grasp
it. This is an incident which I shall never forget as
long as I live. The Emperor then left by the gate
of Alessandria."

A letter from Serra vale of the 18th, in the Pays,
from a person accompanying the French troops on
the road :from Genoa to Alessandria, says :
" During three days we have been wading in mud,
and I have been wet through by rain. To-day,
however, on leaving the mountain the rain ceased,
and immediately joy overspread our faces ; and
when the sun shone out joyous songs were sung.
In truth, there is nothing more ,melancholy than
the route over the mountain—no air, no perspect-
tive, no horizon—on the right, on the left, under-
foot and overhead, everywhere rock—always rock.
Our first evening, passed at Bolzanesto, was very
gay. Some of our Zouaves were lodged in a barn
which the inhabitants had converted into a
theatre for a strolling company ; and there still
remained a stage, a curtain, scenery, and footlights.
Nothing was wanting but the actors; but our men
considered the opportunity too favourable not to
give the inhabitants a specimen of their talents.
Immediately splendid bills were stuck up in the
village, announcing a performance for the benefit
of the poor ; and the same was likewise made
known by beat of drum in the village, accompanied
by the customary declaration that it was to be by
permission of the mayor.' In the evening the
theatre was crowded, and the performances were
charmingly varied—namely, a vaudeville, a pan-
tomime, a ballet, and singing. From the manner
in which the inhabitants of Bolzanesto applauded,
they must have been delighted. For my own part,
I laughed until tears fell from my oyes at the ballet,
which was executed by a dozen Zouaves, who were
attired like the dancing girls of the opera. In the
course of the ballet were a gavotte and a pas com-
posed by the dancing-master of the regiment, and
the finale was so grotesque as to be impossible to
describe."

A letter frOm Marseilles, of the 20th, states :
" Superior officers belonging to the old army of
Hungary are daily passing through this place on
their way to Italy. I may especially mention
General Kiss, who left this evening in the steamer
Capitole. General Kiss had a Sardinian passport.
General Klapka, who had a Swiss passport, went
some days before, as did also General Pertzel and
Colonel Betklen, with French passports. Colonel
Jhasy has just arrived, and will leave by the first
boat for the same destination. From Monday next
the boats of the Messageries Imperiales Will leave
for Genoa daily."

The Piedmontese Gazette publishes the 40th and
41st bulletins. The former has been anticipated by
telegraph, and from the latter we learn the follow-
ing further particulars concerning the action at
Montebello. The Austrians commenced operations
at 11 a.m. of the 20th by attacking Casteggio and
Montebello, occupied by Piedmontese cavalry.
Marshal Baraguay d'Hilliers immediately caused
General Foy to advance with his division, and after
a hand-to-hand fight of six hours, the Austrians were
repulsed, and Montebello re-occupied by the allies,

whence it would seem that the Austrians were com-
pletely foiled in their attack upon Casteggio, while
they succeeded for a while in driving the Pied-
montee out of Montebello. Colonel Morelli, who
commanded the Piedmontese light cavalry, was
mortally wounded. The bulletin concludes with
stating that on the same day, at 4 a.m., the Em-
peror of the French had gone to Casale, and having
returned to Alessandria at 8, had proceeded to pay
a second visit to the field of Marengo, his first visit
having been completely marred by the heavy rain
which fell all day.

A letter from Vienna of the 17th,
in the
Independence of Brussels, says:—"ln speaking
of the inactivity of the Austrian army, your
Paris correspondent speaks of three plans
of campaign which are said to have been
discussed here—one drawn out by the Emperor in
person, the second by Baron de Hess, and the third
by Marshal Giulay. That of Baron de Hess is de-
clared to have been rejected, and that of Marshal
Giulay adopted. Allow me to correct this statement.
Whatever part the Emperor may have taken in
matters connected with the war, I have reason to
doubt that his Majesty has, in the midst of the other
numerous affairs which he has had to attend to,
occupied himself with a plan of campaign. The
Emperor presided at a council of war at which were
present, among others, Generals de Hess, Grunne,
and Schlitter, and a plan of campaign was discussed,
when Baron de Hess mentioned that Colonel Baron
Khun knew the whole country perfectly, having
been engaged constantly in the campaigns of 1848
and 1849 under Marshal Radetsky. Baron Khun
was immediately sent for, and the summons which
he received was so pressing that he had not even
time to put himself in full uniform. Scarcely had
he entered the room where the council was sitting,
when the Emperor asked him his opinion of the
plan under discussion. After having examined it,
Col. Khun requested permission to submit to his
Majesty a plan which he had himself drawn up
during his leisure moments, and the Emperor having
consented, the colonel went to fetch it, and, after
having been discussed by the council, it was adopted.
It is therefore on this plan, and not on that of Mar-
shal Giulay, that the campaign, the operations of
which have been impeded by the weather was opened.
On leaving the:council, Baron Khun started for Italy
as head of the, staff of the Austrian army. Count
Schlik, the commander-in-chief of the 4th army,
quartered in Gallicia, arrived here the day before
yesterday, and had an audience of the Emperor,
to whom he made a very satisfactory report as to
the state of things in that country and in Poland,
particularly as regards the rumours of the move-
ments of Russian troops towards the frontiers of
Gallicia. The Archduke Francis Charles leaves
to•morrow for Prague to visit the Emperor Ferdi-
nand and the Empress Maria Anna. Prince de
Metternich received the day before yesterday a
visit from the Grand Duke of Tuscany."

The Military Gazette of Vienna publishes an
article on the probabie movements of the Austrian
troops, which is curious, as showing how their
intentions have been already modified by events.
It says :—" The Austrian troops established at
Santhia have by order of Marshal Giulay made
reconnaisances on Biella and Ivrea, *ithout meeting
with any resistance. As soon as the object of these
movements had been attained the detachments
returned to Santhia. Another and stronger body
marched by Desana on Trino, and after pushing
patrols as far as Crescentino and Cassana, joined
the army at Santhia. Vercelli is being put in a
state of defence, and the position of the Austrian
army is such that it commands the most fertile
country on the left bank of the Po—can make re-
quisitions for everything of which it stands in need
—and has the power of threatening such points of
the Po as are the least protected by the enemy.
In the state in which things now are, it appears
that they have an intention of maintaining them-
selves in that well-chosen position, and to there
resist to the last extremity. According to letters
which havebeen intercepted, the enemy has strongly
occupied Valenza, and concentrated his principal
forces in the triangle formed by Casale, Alessandria,
and Tortona. Valenza is in all cases the most
important point, and it will be doubtless defended
with the same obstinacy that the Austrians will
show in defending Vercelli and the line of the Sesia.
The first battle cannot be decisive, whether the
Austrians be conquerors or be obliged to retire
behind the Ticino and even further. A decisive
battle for the Austrians can only be a victory in the
plains of Alessandria, which would have for conse-
quence the siege of that place ; while for our enemies
it would be the gaining a grand battle on the
Mincio, and driving us back into Mantua. Ales-
sandria would decide the possession of the upper
basin of the Po, Mantua that of the lower one ; this
is what the history of the war has proved. Things
will go on more slowly than has been imagined,
Germany has plenty of time to choose the moment
when she will interfere."

A letter in the Augsburg Gazette, from the
" head-quarters" of Marshal Giulay, at Mortara,
also written some days back, is also curious for
the same reason as that given above :—" The
French army has taken up a position between
Alessandria and Casale, in which it cannot be at-
tacked. The manoeuvres to draw it from that position
have not succeeded, because it has a double base--
the two fortresses. To attack the French in that
position would have caused heavy loss and not have
produced any decisive result. We must, therefore,
wait until the allied army advances and
en let ofaves its
strong position. The offensive the
thatAus htriaatntle troopswas offered,toTorthounta provedtheyrefused the to the enemy
Austrian
and m
army,
itself inthe
richest remain
r
i
strongovince position,of the enemy. The Austrian army
chal-
lenge.ni
eiiitess t
p Ther
does not think of abandoning that province, as the
entrenchments and the tetes de pont which it has
made clearly prove. The numerical force of .the
armies is about equal, and the Austrians will not
commit the fault of the Russians—waste their
forces in one or two engagements. War will be
differently conducted, and the last reserves will
have the last word. The Austrian army in pall
estimatedni
Venice,
12,000 to
200,000 men, distributed in
the4is
moo fweing manner
t: -0
IAS :10c0o0n; L
a , 7,oooegn a; g
OF, Ferrara'
Mantua, 4,000 ; Verona, 6,000 ; Peschiera, 2,000;
Piacenza, 5,000; Brescia, Milan, Bermage, Cre-
mona, and other places of that district, 20,000 to
25,000. Besides these, within the last few der
20,000 men have been concentrated round Piacenza,
and about 5,000 at Pavia. The sick and non'
effective amount to 20,000."

A battalion of Hungarian volunteers, 200
strong, arrived at Vienna on the 19th, and were
received with the most enthusiastic cheers by the
people.
The Piedmontese Gazette of the 21st contains
.14
declaration announcing that the principles of Mari
time law agreed upon at the Congress of Paris on
the 16th of April, 1856, are recognised by Sardi▪
nia
during the present war, and that " although the
acts of violence and rapine of every
kind exercis▪ ed
by the Austrian army on the Piedmontese territory
might give Sardinia the right of exercising reprisals
and retaliation," the frigate Novara shall be re-
spected ; Austrian subjects living in Piedmont tag
continue to stay there so long as their conduct does
not give rise to complaint; and lastly, Austrian sub-
jects may enter Piedmont on obtaining special per-
mission from the King's Government.
M. Tccchio, Royal Commissioner Extraordieari
for the provinces of Vercelli and Novara, has
issued a notice, dated the 20th inst., ordering all
Royal functionaries who had abandoned Vercelli
on account of the invasion. to return to their posts ;
it concludes with stating that the railway and tele-
graphic wires frGm Turin to Vercelli have been
completely repaired, and are in full operation.
The Modena Messenger contains the following:
—" Our Government lately applied to that of Sar-
dinia, requesting to be informed whether or not
Sardinia accepted the responsibility of the invasion
and usurpation of the territories of Este, Massa,
Carrara, and Montignoso, effected by Sardinian
and troops. On receiving an affirmative
sod
answer, our august Sovereign immediately addres

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THE .UN.
TUESDAY, MAY 24,. 1859.

--`~~~.