The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-28 00:00:00

THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, MfrY 28.

THERMO3fETER, IN THE SHADE.
70—highest since noon yesterday.
54—Lowest this morning and during the night.
75—this day at noon.

BAROMETER-29.50.
WIND, S.E. ; light, with dull weather. Heavy rain in
the morning.

While the Austrians act strictly on the defensive
LOUIS NAPOLEON will find it a task of no ordinary
difficulty to dislodge them from the strong positions
which they have occupied, and on which thug may
speedily fall back.' GAILIBALDT, who appears to
have obtained some success over the Austrians, and
to have tiken two pieces of cannon, is a hard man
to deal with. He seems thoroughly to understand
the art of war, and the no less important
one of exciting the discontented populations
in any locality where he may for the time being
be situated. In the vicinity of Varese he has
peculiar advantages. The people are ready to wear
the tricolour at any moment. They only desire to
have sufficient support to warrant them in shaking
off the Austrian yoke, and the victory that has been
obtained, or has been said to have been obtained
by the leader of the volunteers, may supply the
requisite stimulant to produce the necessary excite-
ment and create the intended insurrection.

The movement was decidedly a bold one. It was
carrying the war into the enemy's country, and that
without either cavalry or artillery. GARIBALDI
was obliged to trust entirely to the musket and
bayonet, and although he had a majority of troops,
the other advantages on the part of the Austrians
were quite sufficient to counterbalance the nume-
rical odds against them. He probably expected to
have received additional volunteers from Switzer-
land, but the course adopted to ensure the perfect
neutrality of the Cantons has prevented the rea-
lisation of his wishes. There would probably
be several thousands willing to take up arms,
if only enabled to do so by the permission of
the authorities where they are located. This per-
mission has, however, been withheld, and the strong
forces posted on the frontiers will effectually
prevent the participation of the anticipated auxi-
liaries at the seat of war.

It is true that the allies have possession of
Tuscany ; that Florence and Leghorn are in their
hands, and that the Grand Duke and his family
have taken refuge in flight. But the operations of
the war can scarcely be carried on either from Tus-
cany or Naples, supposing even that the latter fall
into their hands. It is Parma and Modena that
they require. With these Duchies in their posses-
sion they could greatly annoy the Austrians, and
would unquestionably do so. It would, as we have
already stated, enable them to turn the flank of
the Germans, and to conduct their strategetical
affairs with the greatest possible efficiency. Whether
they will violate the neutrality of the coveted
duchies, or produce a similar result by exciting
insurrection, remains to be seen. That they will
take the course most to their advantage seems
certain. Louis NAPOLEON will not allow minor
difficulties to stand in his way in enabling him to
carry out the line of policy which he has
willfully and deliberately resolved on pursuing.
If he desires to emulate his uncle he
will not stick at trifles or let any trifling impedi.
ment remain. But by so doing he may bring
down the whole force of the German Confederation
in opposition to his designs ; and although in such
case Russia may interfere on his behalf, it is not
certain that she would do so, and the war would
be prolonged for an indefinite period, which would
exhaust the pecuniary resources of France as well
83 of 'Austria. The latter Power has, indeed,
already adoy
Led the great panacea—the issue of an
inconvertible paper currency ; but she has also
Committed the grave mistake of disregard-
ing the important points which would ren-
der it universally acceptable throughout,
the whole of the dominions subject to Aus-
trian taxes •and duties. It cannot be received
in payment of either, and must therefore go to a
heavy disco ant, in order that the taxpayers may
provide for their responsibilities.
Should the ,re not be the hoped-for revolutions,
NAPOLEON • 111. will find it difficult to proceed
in the face of the powerful entrenchments and for.
tifications under the Austrian control. It must be
remember( Al that they have troops nearly equal in
point of ambers to the combined forces of the

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THE SU,N.
SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1859.