The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-17 00:00:00

2'USCANI.

FLORENCE, MAY
The Provisional GoTernment has this morning
resigned its authority to the Sardinian Minister, C.
Boncompagni. The address which they have
issued to Tuscany appears to me worthy of being
reproduced in extenso. It is as follows
" Tuscans,—The Provisional Government has at

WY .0
length accomplished its duty, and to-day transmits
its power to the Commissioner of King 'Victor Em-
manuel. Let Tuscany be the judge wether it has
satisfactozily discharged the difficult task which
the country committed to it in one of those solemn
moments in which, after vain supplication, the peo-
ple raise aloud their voice and command. The
Provisional Government, the necessary result of the
events of the 27th of April, obedient to the cry of
a national war, which had moved all hearts on that
memorable day, was bound above all to procure
arms and closely connect itself with the magnani-
mous King who had raised up the bulwark of the
independence of Italy. If he were unable to ac-
cept the dictatorship on the terms under which it.,
was offered, Tuscany can nevertheless feel confident.'
in the thought that her arms, united to the army of
Italy, will follow as supreme chief the King who
unsheathes the sword for their common country,
while the State, under his protection, and directed
by a Commissioner named by him, will maintain its
existence, that it may preserve itself intact for
whatever destinies may fall to its lot in the future
organization of Italy. Tuscans ! pre-eminently
arduous was the charge of the Provisional
Government in a country like our own, without in-
stitutions and without any authority that could
command respect ; where everything fell with the
supreme power, whose only object was to suffice for
all; and it is owing to your unanimous and spon-
taneous concurrence if success has crowned our
common efforts.

" Thanks to the people, who in the greatest com-
motions kept themselves unstained by a single act
of violence, and who, ere their legitimate wishes
were obtained, returned to their daily habits of
labour. Thanks to our armed force, who the
moment it found itself beneath the national banner
returned to itnanks, and showed to all the senti-
ment which moved it in its protest against auy
separation from the people, of whom it felt itself
the strongest arm.
"Tuscans, the Provisional Government takes
leave of you in its belief that you will continue to
preserve the character you have hither displayed.
The fat? of Italy is brinedecided en the banks of
the Ticino and theo; there let your looks be
turned, there let your vows and hopes be directed.
He is a traitor to his country who in so marvellous
a concord of will and act should utter a word of
division or endeavour to stifle with the spirit of
party this sacred enthusiasm. The 27th of April,
on the breaking out of the national war, you openly
declared for Italy and Independence.' Do not
falsify these solemn promises, made in the sight of
Italy and Europe, and this will be a satisfaction to
the Provisional Government that is now giving way
to a more stable regime, that it has opened a path
in which you can advance with courageous virtue,
—fulfilling your duty as citizens, and acting up to
your dignity as freemen.
" CAV. ÜBALDINO PERUZZI.
" Avv. VINCENZO MALENCIIINI.
" MAGG. ALESSANDRO DANZINI."
" Florence, May 11, 1839."
Side by side with this is posted up the following
address of the Sardinian Minister :

" Tuscans, after the disasters which our country
suffered in common in 1849, your hopes turned to Vic-
tor Emmanuel, who alone upheld the Italian banner.
When the Prince who reigned in Tuscany, sooner
than adopt the wishes of his nation, had abandoned
the State, the Provisional Government in your name
invited the King Victor Emmanuel to assume, dur-
ing the war, the dictatorship of this beautiful part
of Italy. The King, seconding-in substance your
desires, preferred the adoption of a more modest
form, and, assumed, with the supreme command of
the army, the protectorate of Tuscany, with the in-
tention of maintaining intact all its rights, and with
the sole object of providing for the emergencies of
war, defending public order, and carrying out all
those public acts which are required by the urgent
necessities of the State. He has thought_ fit; o
commit to me the task of representing him among
you. This lofty task I assume with a mind that
trembles at the difficulties of the charge, but secure
in the consciousness that I am fulfilling an obliga-
tion to our common country, and in the firm desire
of assisting that Tuscany, so dear to all Italians,
from the part she has taken in the history of our
civilisation—dearer still to me from the goodwill
you have been pleased to show me. The meritorious
citizens who have discharged the duties of a Pro-
visional Government have rendered easy the accom-
plishment of my task by those acts which have
repaired the gravest consequences of the reaction
which has taken place in your country. A stranger
to the parties which have risen in Tuscany, I shall
refrain from meddling with qlestions of political
order, which will find a more opportune place at
the moment when Tuscany shall possess those
liberties of _which she has been unjustly deprived,
and of which she has shown herself still more
worthy from the wonderful demeanour she has
displayed in these last events. My administration,
then, shall have one aim, that of facilitating the
conduct of the present war, and with this object
the maintenance of order in the State, which at the
termination of the war shall be restored to you as
a sacred deposit by his Majesty . King Victor
Emmanuel, whose oyal conduct is the object
of the admiration of Italy and the world.
Tuscans, ye have nobly contributed to prove
that Italy is worthy of that independ-
ence for which the King of Sardinia is in
arms, aided by his august ally the French Empe-
ror. Continue to give proofs of this discipline, of
this moderation, of this obedience to the laws and
to the magistrates, which must secure this supreme
blessing to Italy and to Tuscany, for ever freed
from foreign influence. I on my part assure you
that I have nothing so much at heart as to carry
out t‘h,ec.inpteonNticoonxispostGNthie, KcoimngmiasnsidontoermeErxittryaoourr_
confidencedinianres
for
rpeKraing
co-operating
vfiocrttohregmoomdaonfutel hisdnoble
portion of Italy.
the War of Independence.

" Florence, May 11."
The names of the Ministry appointed by the
Commissioner Extraordinary are as follows :—II
Barone Bettino Ricasoli, Minister of the Interior ;
Il Marchese Cosimo Ridolfi, Minister of Public
Instruction ; Enrico Poggi, Minister of Justice ;
Raffaello Busacca, Minister of Finance ; Avv.
Vincenzo Malenchini, Minister of War. The
Marchese Cosimo Ridolfi is to act, provisionally as
Minister of Foreign Affairs ; as Minister of Eccle-
siastical Affairs, Enrico Poggi, also provisionally.
All public acts and decrees of the tribunals are to
be published in the name of the Tuscan Govern-
ment. The standard of the army and navy is to be
the Italian tricolours arranged in vertical stripes.
The Government, " considering it impossible
during the war of independence to call together a
council of national representatives, but convinced
of the urgent necessity of consulting on the in-
terests of the country many of those who have
proved themselves to be its legitimate interpreters,"

The debate which took place in the Prussian
Chamber of Representatives on the 12th instant,
when a bill was presented for extraordinary sup-
plies to provide for placing the army on a war
footing, and for the eventualities of war, throws
considerable light upon the state of feelinr, in
Germany
" M. de Schleinitz, the Minister of Foreign Af-
fairs in proposing the adoption of the bill, expressed
the hope that no orator would endeavour to throw
obstacles in the way of the Government at so seri
ous a juncture. It was not, however, his wish to
impede free discussion, especially at a moment when
it was desirable to ascertain the real sentiments of
the country.
" M. de Vincke said he should have liked to have
seen a little more energy and patriotic spirit in the
Government report. He would speak with that sin-
cerity which was due to the nation. No Prussian
heart could' conceive the idea of Prussia joining the
Emperor Napoleon against Austria. (Loud cheers.)
Prussians should never forget that Austria formed
a German nucleus, and that they were bound to
Austria by the sacred bonds of the Confederation.
(Cheers.) He had no enmity towards France. Tra-
ditional hatred had passed away. Behold the
Anglo-French alliance ! Frenchmen have qualities
which we might envy, but try are superficial ones.
We have qualities which they do not possess—a,
fear of God, a love of truth, of justice, and consis-
tency. The French are always craving for what
they call their' national frontier.' Another danger
exists in the system actually in force in France—a
system developed in 1839 in the Idees Napo-
leoniennes, according to which the war in Italy is
but the first act of the drama. The others will be
played upon the Rhine, then in England, then in
Russia. lie coud not blame the Austrian ultimatum
as it had been blamed by the Government. If Aus-
tria has commenced the war, she was driven to it.
After alluding to the Emperor's words to Baron Hub.
ner on New Year's Day, to the Sardinian marriage,
the alliance with Piedmont, and the armaments of
France, Made Vincke alluded to Lord Derby's very
unparliamentary' expression—(loud applause)—
the aggression of Austria'—which was only ex-
cusable on electioneering grounds. The Congress
was nothing more than a subterfuge to give France
time to complete her armaments. As in all pro-
bability Prussia would have shortly to stand side
by side with Austria on the field of battle, the
sooner the disapproval of the Government of the
policy of Austria was dropped the better. (Great
sensation.) He did not think the moment had
arrived for Germany to send an army to Italy. The
resolutions of the Diet were not binding upon
Prussia, because the Diet was reinstalled in 1851
despite the representations of the country. The
domination of Austria in Italy had no sympathies
in Germany. He severely censured the despotic
acts of Austria in Italy and her secret treaties.
Moreover, Austria would never forgive Pussia for
her influence in Germany, her Protestantism, her
freedom of public instruction, and liberty of the
press. But it was very important to Prussia (though
of no direct interest to Germany) that the power of
Austria in Italy should not be weakened to the
advantage of France and Sardinia. If it was true
that France had concluded an alliance with Russia, ,

then it was Prussia's duty to ' arm to the teeth.' It
would then be requisite not only to mobilise the
army, but to rouse the spirit of 1813. He believed
that Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland would
stand by Prussia ; that England would remember
she was a great European Power, and that it was
her interest not to tolerate the existence of a mili-
tary Power that threatened her naval pre-eminence.
The ghost of Chatham would rise to warn her. She
was Prussia's ally in the seven years' war, but even
should she fail us we have another ally (said M. de
Vincke, pointing to heaven), who will not abandon
us. We will go to war with the old motto of
country r
ia,.'forwara. with God l• , fil our King-studn
M. de Vincke sat down amid loud cheering, and
for a few minutes the debate was stopped.
" M. de Schleinitz' Minister of Foreign Affairs,
said that Prussia did not wish to dispute Austria's
right to send an ultimatum to Sardinia ; but the
Prussian Government felt it its duty to disapprove
an act which it thought was impolitic, which it had
energetically discounselled, and which put an end
to the hopes of peace.
" M. Henri d'Arnini (ex-Minister of Foreign
Affairs, and ex-Ambassador at Paris and Brussels)
was of the opinion that the whole of Germany ought
to give its adhesion to the vote which the Chamber

would shortly give. Gentlemen (he said), accord-
ing to the 46th article of the final act of Vienna,
the present war in Italy does not concern the Ger-
man Confederation. But according to public
opinion here, as well as in the rest of Germany, the
war touches us nearly. The final act of Vienna
has the value of a fundamental law for Germany.
But the great public voice of German nationality
is a fundamental law of her national existence in a
much more elevated sense, and this war, though
only as yet touching the non-German provinces of
a confederate State, may become a danger for the
Confederation and for Germany. (Applause.) Does
that mean to imply that we should enter Italy to
assist Austria in preserving her Italian provinces,
her influence over the rest of Italy, and, peilaps
in stifling the constitutional life of Italy ? No
assuredly not ! But Prussia ought to be prepared
for every eventuality. Her calling is to defend the
interests of Germany.

" M. Simson (ex:Presi2ent of the National As-
sembly at Frankfort) declared that he had no sym-
pathy whatever for the present system of Govern-
ment in France. ' The man who has broken faith
cannot restore it.' The end cannot justify the means.
Since Sardinia had thought fit to join the revolution
and call in foreigners into Italy she had lost all
claim to respect. Prussia and Austria were at
variance on many points. But Austia counted
8,000,000 Germans among her subjects; there was
therefore a German interest to support Austria.
But the time had not yet come. Prussia should
never allow herself to be actuated by a vote of the

majority at Frankfort. When the time comes
Prussia will draw the sword and place her trust in
the God of Battles. (Applause.)
"M. Burger (the reporter of the committee)
stated that the policy of Prussia was not neu-
trality,' but, for the present, an armed mediation.
She was keeping guard over the maintenance of
the balance of power in Europe, and reserved it to
herself to take part in the war if her conditions
were not accepted."

The Chamber then proceeded to vote. The first
proposal for a loan of 40,000,000 dollars was voted,
without discussion, amid great applause ; and the
other proposals for levying certain taxes, &c., were
also carried unanimously.

STATE OF TRADE.-MANCHESTER, May 13.—
There is some little business in cloth, but the orders are
mostly small ones. The chief business in the earlier part
of the week was for fabrics suited to the India trade, but
there is less demand for these goods to-day, and the market
is dull, though prices are less depressed in cloths than in
yarns. For mule and water twist there is exceedingly little
doing, especially for the Continent. The Germans are ab-
staining to an extent rarely known for many years past,
and some of the best informed among buyers in this trade
say that if sellers could only realise the state of things de-
scribed in their advices they would not be canvassed for
orders. There is but little doing for India, and most of the
offers made have been at lower rates. Yarns for manufac-
tures are in some request, but buyers only endeavour to
supply their more pressing wants. The cotton market has
yielded id. per lb. on late prices to-day, and this has
tended to help the general depression observable in this
market.

IMPROVEMENTS AT DOVER CASTLE.—Various im-
portant works are in progress at Dover Castle, particularly
quarters for married soldiers. This is a Gothic building,
with Bath stone dressing, and Kent rag rubble masonry, to
contain 54 families, each to have a separate room, 14 feet by
12 feet and 11 feet high, every room fitted with a dwarf
cupboard, shelves, and pin-rail, and small cottage ra.nge
with oven, and ventilated by means of Tennings'spate n'
air -flue. The landings and stairs are of stone. Water is
laid on to each passage, so that every
plied with water without going out of ()ors._
sfitted with enamelled
d In tne rear of the
and landings are to be lighted with gas. washing e
building there is to be a roomy laundry and _ .
wastung-troughs,
blishment, fitted with boiling coppers,l.,...ingin6 machines,
with hot and cold water laid on, riono ,
sierwill contain a Baker' s
and drying closet. The ironingire.
The whole of these fit-
patent mangle, ironing stove,
akes 'of Great Russell-street,
tangs are to be supplied by: J a ,9
witn this establishment, and
Bloomsbury. In connection
hew kitchen is in
the barracks in the keep-Yard, a . . course of
Capt. Grants cooking apparatus, fe
erection, fitted with
600 men. Now baths and w ash-ho have been r Rash-houses erected
occupant mgl33estsiaiipr;
keep-yard,or 'applying each with
hot and cold water. Moreover, the ventilation of the whole
of the barracks has been improved, and gas is shortly to be
laid on, externally and internally, to the Whole of the Castle
and barracks. All this sounds very well, and we shall hope
to find the impression confirmed when we have the oppor-
rnocevitsoiotnheismade
tunity to see for ourselves,--The Builder,
ia.rtonthbeanthorts haenndtrap

A young man named Charles Peeke"t*
of a trading vessel called the Anne,
Guernsey, was yesterday brought before:' .
Dyke and a full bench of magistrates, at the
Court-house, Dartford, upon the charge of felo-
niously stabbing a young man named Charles
May, with intent to do him grievous bodily
harm. Mr. Russell, a solicitor, of Dartford, con-
ducted the prosecution, and Mr. Gibson, another
professional gentleman of Dartford, appeared
for the prisoner. The case, from the circumstances
connected with it, appeared to create a good deal of
interest, and the court was crowded by inhabitants
of Dartford and the neighbourhood during the
inquiry. The transaction that was the subject of
investgation occurred on Good Friday last, and the
prisoner has been in custody since then, the prose-
cutor having been too seriously injured to appear
and give evidence until the present occasion. The
act appeared to have been committed under the fol-
lowing circumstances :—The prisoner, who, it
appears, is very respectably connected, his father
being a shipowner at Guernsey, one of his vesssels
being under the -pi isoner's command, was in the
habit, when his vessel came to London, of stopping
at an inn at Greenhithe, kept by a person named
Minter. He had two daughters, and it would seam
that the prisoner paid great attention to one of
them, and there appears to be no doubt that he was
much attached to her. The prisoner's vessel being
at Greenhithe on Good Friday, he spent the day
at Mr. Minter's, and invited the prosecutor, who is
a young man belonging to Dartford, and a friend of
his named Webb, to accompany him and the two
young women on board his vessel ; and it seemed
that during the day the prisoner was very much
annoyed at the prosecutor paying attention to his
sweetheart. Upon their return to Greenhithe in
the evening a quarrel took place between the two
young men, and the prisoner challenged May to
come out and fight, but he declined to do so. About
half-past nine o'clock at night the prisoner left_ the
Hull Trader, which is the sign of the house kept by
Mr. Minter, to go on board his vessel. The prose-
cutor, it appeared followed him, something havinbir
shortly before been said about fighting, and
some blows were exchanged between him and the
prisoner, and the litter was seen to suddenly thrust
his hand forward in the direction of the prosecutor's
breast, when he immediately exclaimed, " I am
stabbed," and fell to the ground. The prisoner
then made the best of his way on board his vessel,
where he was taken into custody on the following
morning by Mr. Brandon, a superintendent of the
county constabulary, and a very useful and active
officer, who has the charge of this district, and a
seaman's knife, the blade of which was covered
with blood, and with which the injury had no doubt
been inflicted, was found concealec in his berth.
Dr. Sercomb, a surgeon at Greenhithe, who attended
upon the prosecutor, found that he had received a
very serious injury, and for some time it was
thought the knife had penetrated the right lung,
in which case the injury would, in all probability,
have proved mortal. This, however, fortunately
turned out not to be the case, and the prosecutor
was now sufficiently recovered to be able to attend
and give evidence, although still in a very weak
condition. He was sworn, and deposed to most of
the above facts, and in cross-examination he denied
having paid any attention to Miss Minter with a
view to annoy the prisoner, but he admitted that
they were all joking together during the afternoon.
The other young man, Webb, was also examined,
and he corroborated the prosecutor in his statement
as to the circumstances under which the injury was
inflicted, and said that until the prosecutor called
out " I am stabbed," he had no idea that the pri-
soner had any weapon. The whole of the deposi-
tions having been taken, the Chairman ,said the
bench felt it to be their duty to commit the pri-
soner to Maidstcne Gaol for trial at the ensuing
summer assizes.

THE SUN.

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1869.

France and Austria are still "looking at" each
other. The former has the best of the watching
game ; she is bringing up her troops, -while her
adversary is retiring and acting solely on the de-
fensive. Louis NAPOLEON iS " starring" at Ales-
sandria, and the French people are proud of the
military fame to which their Emperor aspires,
although it has not as yet been achieved ! The
Sardinians, too, are eager for the fray. They have
old grievances td'avenge, and would joyously meet
their opponents on something like equal terms.
The memory of Novara still rankles in their
minds. CHARLES ALBERT has not yet been
forgotten, and his fate still calls for retribution on
those who broke his great heart. But still they
require assistance. They could not cope with
Austria single-handed. The French auxiliaries
may enable them to accomplish their wishes,
although possibly it may be at a heavy cost, and
afford a new illustration of the old.fable of the man,
the horse, and the ass. France will not be
• quite so easily shaken off as the Sardinians
may imagine. The locality would be convenient .
and although temporary compensation may be
given, it will speedily be retaken, and Piedmont, as
well as the rest of Italy, be placed under the rule
of a member of the BONAPARTE family !

Prussia, however, is determined to defend Ger-
many from any invasion. The Prince Regent has
spoken out plainly and unequivocally. It is
not probable that there will be any interference
so long as hostilities are only waged in Italy, but for
our own sake, and recalling her ancient experience,
she will resist any further advance of French troops
or any serious demonstration on the part of Russia.
In this line of policy she will be supported by the
whole " Confederation." They now look to Berlin
rather than Vienna for instructions, and every
petty ruler who can furnish a fife and drum, and a
hundred men, is as anxious to achieve military
distinction as Louis NAPOLEON himself.
There is, however, no lack of enthusiasm. All the
money required to place matters on a war footing
has been unanimously granted, and the speakers
have earnestly condemned the French policy.
There will, in all probability, however, be further
complications ; but our hope is that Great Britain
may keep clear of the scrape, so long as she
can do so with due regard to her own honour and
security. "

The time may, however, arrive at any moment
when it will become indispensable for her to take
part in the quarrel ; and the preparations which
have been so actively and effectually made afford
the best evidence that we shall not be found want-
ing in the hour of trial. The Government proclama-
tions respecting British neutrality, and also
for adding to the strength of our navy,
show that, while adopting the wiser course, and
endeavouring to act as peace-makers, they will be
in such a position as to render their counsels effec-
tive, and none will be found willing to assail a nation
so fully prepared to act on the offensive or defensive.
Germany proper, with all its potentates, great
and small, from the Regent of Prussia to
the Serene Highness whose dominions
are not as large as the estate of
an English country gentleman, must take care of
itself. There will be no English soldiers, or, what
perhaps may be considered no less important,
English subsidies, sent over. Lord DERBY and
Lord MALMESBURY have taken a correct view of
the question, and they will be supported by every
disinterested and unprejudiced person in her
MAJEsTy's dominions.
But although we hear such earnest declamation
and such determined professions, we scarcely be-
lieve that Germany will interfere in the quarrel.
The people are slow and tardy in their movements,
and although in cases of emergency they might act
with great bravery, they are still sluggish and
undecided in their proceedings. They un
questionably speak very energetically, and
seem quite willing to encounter any ex_
pense or danger on, behalf of the integrity
of "Fatherland," but "sayings and doings"

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