The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-29 00:00:00

CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.

Per Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company.) _

The Panther, with the mails from Calcutta and
China, arrived at Marseilles at noon this day
(Friday). The mails left for London at two p.m.
The Ceylon, with the heavy portion of the above
mails, left Malta for Southampton on the evening
of the 25th inst.

BOMBAY MAIL.
The Jedda, with the next incoming Bombay
mail, left Aden at midnight on the 19th inst.

FRANCE.

PARIS, FRIDAY.
The Times' Paris correspondent says :—" I have
received the following important document from
a friend in Italy. It is. a letter addressed by the
Emperor of the French, on the 20th inst. to the
King of Sardinia, and the perfect authenticity of
which I have no hesitation in guaranteeing :
" Monsieur mon Frere,—l write to-day to your Majesty
in order to set forth to you the present situation of affairs,
to remind you of the past; and to settle with you the course
which ought to be followed for the future. The circum-
stances are grave ; it is requisite to lay aside illusions and
sterile regrets, and to examine carefully the real state of
affairs. Thus, the question is not now whether I have
done well or ill in making peace at Villafranca, but rather
to obtain from the treaty results the most favourable for
the pacification of Italy and for the repose of Europe.
" Before entering on the discussion of this question, I am
anxious to recall once more to your Majesty the obstacles
which rendered every definitive negotiation and every defi-
nitive treaty so difficult.
" In point of fact, war has often fewer complications
than peace. In the former two interests only are in pre-
sence of each other—the attack and the defence ; in the
latter, on the contrary, the point is to reconcile a multitude
of interests—often of an opposite character. This is what
actually occurred at the moment of the peace. It was ne-
cessary to conclude a treaty which should secure in the best
manner possible the independence of Italy, which should
satisfy Piedmont and the wishes of the population, and yet
which should notwound the Catholic sentiment or the rights
of the Sovereigns in whom Europe felt an interest.
" I believed then that, if the Emperor of Austria wished
to come to a frank understanding with me, with the view
of bringing about this important result, the causes of anta-
gonism which for centuries had divided those two empires
would disappear, and that the regeneration of Italy would
be effected by common accord, and without further blood-
shed.
" I now state what are, in my opinion, the essential con-
ditions of that regeneration:—
" Italy to be composed of several independent States,
united by a federal bond.
"Each of these States to adopt a particular representa-
tive system and salutary reforms.
" The Confederation to then ratify the principle of Italian
nationality ; to have but one flag, but one system of Cus-
toms, and one currency.
"The directing centre to be at Rome, which should be
composed of representatives named by the Sovereigns from
a list prepared by the Chambers, in order that, in this
species of Diet, the influence of the reigning families sus-
pected of a leaning towards Austria should be counter-
balanced by the element resulting from election.
"_By granting to the Holy Father the honorary Presi-
dency of the Confederation the religious sentiment of Catho-
lic Europe would be satisfied, the moral influence of the
Pope would be increased throughout Italy, and would
enable him to make concessions in conformity with the
legitimate wishes of the populations. Now, the plan which
I had formed at the moment of making peace may still be
carried out if your Majesty will employ your influence in
promoting it. Besides, a considerable advance has been
already made in that direction.
" The cession of Lombardy, with a limited debt, is an
accomplished fact.
.‘ Austria bas given up her right to keep garrisons in tho
strong places of Piacenza, Ferrara, and Commachio.
"The rights of the Sovereins hive, it is true, been re-
served, but the independence of Central Italy has also been
guaranteed, inasmuch as all idea of foreign intervention has
been formally set aside; and, lastly, Venetia is to become
a province purely Italian. It is the real interest of your
Majesty, as of the Peninsula, to second me in the develop-
ment of this plan, in order to obtain from it the best re-
sults, for your Majesty cannot forget that I am bound by
the treaty; and I cannot, in the Congress which is about
to open, withdraw myself from my engagements. The part
of France is traced beforehand.
" We demand that Parma and Piacenza shall be united
to Piedmont, because this territory is, in a stragetical point
of view, indispensable to her.
" We demand that the Duchess of Parma shall bs called
to Modena ;
r'ri Thattry ,
shall b Tuscany,e
territory, restored to the Grand Duke Ferdinand ;
" That a system of moderate (sage) liberty shall be adopted
in all the States of Italy ;
"That Austria shall frankly disengage her elf from an
incessant cause of embarrassment for the future, and that
she shall consent to complete the nationality of Venetia by
creating not only a separate representation and administra-
tion, but also an Italian army.
" We demand that the fortresses of Mantua and Pes-
chiera shall be recognised as federal fortresses ;
" And, lastly, that a Confederation based on the real
wants, as well as on the traditions of the Peninsula, to the
exclusion of every foreign influence shall consolidate the
fabric of the independence of Italy.
" I shall neglect nothing for the attainment of this great
result. Let your Majesty be convinced of it, my sentiments
will not vary, and so far as the interests of France are not
opposed to it, I shall always be happy to serve the cause for
which we have combated together.
" Palace of St. Cloud, 20th of October, 1859."
In the foregoing will be found the substance of
the programme which is to be laid before the Con-
gress. The King of Sardinia has had time by this
to reflect upon it. What may be the opinion of
his advisers I cannot, of course, determine, but on
the first view it appears to merit the serious consi-
deration of every moderate and impartial man.
Whatever may have been the aspirations of the
Italian people, elevated by the success of the war,
it is certain that the changes referred to in the
Emperor's letter are such as a year ago would have
amply satisfied the ~,rishes of the Italians.
I may observe that the participation of England
in the coming Congress, though not improbable, is
not yet definitively settled. The Emperor is most
desirous that England should associate herself in
the work, and it'remains for our Government to
decide whether the " regeneration of Italy," as
shadowerl forth in the preceding document, is
worthy of their co-operation.
Prince Napoleon arrived„yesterday morning at
the Palais Royal on his return from England. He
appears to be much satisfied with the attentions he
received from all classes of persons with whom he
came in contact.
The Constitutionnel contains to-day a conspicuous
article on the affairs of Italy, evidently from an
official source. It represents the views of the Em-
peror, who still calls upon the great Powers to
assist France in considering what are the best
means of consolidating the peace of Europe.
The Constitutionnel observes :—" In 1815 the
Powers of Europe took their revenge on France,
and yielding to the dictates of a long pent-up
resentment, assigned to France a less dis-
tinguished position than she merited. That
course was a grave fault, for if we were to be
punished we ought not to have been humiliated."
The article is liberal, and reminds the world that
France will respect the will of the people of
Europe. This is a salutary change from a policy
too prominently set forth of late in the Pays and
other Government journals. The Constitutionne/
says :

In order to fulfil the mission which the Emperor's Go-
vernment proposed to itself, two roads were open before
it. Either it should have renewed the gigantic struggles
of the beginning of the present century, raise the whole of
France, fall on Europe, and once snore exhaust both ; or,
what was more difficult, but more noble, it had to change
this mandate of vengeance into one of devotedness ; might
defend the independence even of those who had conspired
against that of the country, and no longer separate the
grandeur of France from that of Europe. It is well known
on which of those two alternatives the Emperor's Govern-
ment decided. What did it go to the East to effect ?
Re-establish the balance of power in Europe. which was
compromised by the illegitimate preponderance of Russia.
What did France go to Italy to carry out Without
doubt, to take in hand the cause of an allied nation, but
abovo all to save that equilibrium of the political world