The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-23 00:00:00

THE INDEPENDENCE OF NATIONALITIES.

We have little doubt that Ministers, at least, are
well pleased with the numerous demonstrations in
favour of neutrality which they see on every side.
Our present Cabinet is not a war Cabinet, and
would regret much more than one of which Lord
PALMERSTON, Or Mr. ROEBUCK himself, could he
be Foreign Secretary, was a member, the necessity
of engaging again in war. The Chancellor of the
Exchequer, also, is decidedly opposed to that war
tax—the income tax--and honestly desires that he
may not be called on to propose its renewal in
1860, much as the Manchester school desire to
substitute a direct income tax to any amount for
the self-adjusting income tax of a well-regulated
Custom-house. We are free to confess, however,
that the language held by the leaders of the Cabi-
net, until the dinner at the Mansion-house, did
justify the apprehensions of the friends of neutrality,
and the haters of Hapsburg oppressions ; but we are
both bound and inclined to take Lord DERBY'S
declarations that day as literal truth, and that we
and others had misinterpreted their real sentiments.
We strongly suspect, however, that the leaders of
the two Houses were really endeavouring to per-
form the impossible task of serving two masters.
From their position they felt disposed, on the one
hand, to say the best they could for Austria ; they
knew it would be a welcome offering in nearly the
highest quarters—the servants of the QUEEN must
speak courteously of those in whom the QUEEN'S
Consort takes a deep interest. On the other hand,
their own sentiments wore the sentiments of the
great mass of Englishmen, Conservative or Liberal;
they abhor, as all of us do, Austrian rule in Italy,
and, though they cannot officially say so, would be
as glad as the rest of us to know that the issue of
the present contest was the retreat for ever of
Austria to the north of the Alps, and the retreat at
the same time of the French and French influence
from the Peninsula. If we interpret aright the
real sentiments of our Cabinet, they would shrink
from spending a single English sovereign or a drop
of English blood to fight the battles of Austria or

even of Germany. No European country, or
Government we should say, that we have yet saved,
has rewarded us with anything but insolvency in
our debt, and insulting us for it, as Naples has
lately done, and as Spain does to this hour, after
having taken our money to extinguish the slave
trade.

We can hardly doubt, therefore, that the two
meetings on the same day, held in the City of
London, both presided over by its Chief Magis-
trate; the former that:of, certainly, after all, the first
municipal body in the kingdom, the second that of
the general public bf the Metropolitan City, were
both of them meetings welcome to the Govern-
ment.

They will need all the support which
meetings like these can give them to sustain the
wishes of the nation in the face of a Germanised
Court. Relatives and connections of English
Royalty are, we believe, in Austrian service, and
Prussia seems to be, or affects to be, in a panic lest
the French should again, having beaten Austria,
cross the Rhine. To resist writing a single line,
or uttering a single expression, which might be
construed into willingness on our part to fight the
battle of either Austria or Germany, is the really
difficult task of the Ministry of the day. It is
clear that nothing can aid them so much in per-
forming it as meetings like those of Friday. To
them they can point the ambassadors of German
powers, and those who may desire to oblige them,
and tell them, " You see we cannot do it." We
believe our Ministers would, indeed, do their duty
to their country at the hazard of offending where
they should be on pleasantest terms ; but it is well
for the country to save them this necessity. The
occasion, too, is one on which it tells well on
foreign countries to see that the English people,
though they have representatives, though they
have a Government, though they have a Sovereign
to whom they are devotedly loyal, are yet their
own masters ; that their liberty of meeting is not a
mere paper fiction, and that on the most important
occasions they can assume the Dictatorship and in-
struct all, through whom they act, on the course
they must take.
The address of the Corporation to the QUEEN
was carried by such an overwhelming majority as
to be, practically, a unanimous vote ; both Mr.
WHITE and Mr. REED, the mover and the seconder,
spoke with great good sense. They showed how
little reason could arise for England to interfere,
unless she should be attacked, here or in her pos-
sessions ; and, at the same time, how powerful she
must become to defend herself, if she continued :n-
-creasing her own strength while the Powers abroad
were madly exhausting theirs. They showed,
also, that the Royal proclamation was rather a
reason for sending up an address than the con-
trary, as it would intimate that the country were
prepared to support her MAJESTY in the policy
which it indicated.

The meeting at the London Tavern brought out
an illustrious exile, who had a right, if any one
has, to be listened to on Austrian proceedings.
None of us can be so deeply versed as he in all the
bearings of Austro-Italian and Austro-German
affairs. He speaks, of course, with but one desire
—the liberation and the welfare of nationalities ;
he must have a not very distant thought for his
beloved native land, yet even he asks but one thing
—" Let England keep out of the quarrel." He does
not implore our aid for Italy, and then for Hun-
gary—nothing of the kind ; he only asks that we
shall not observe a one-sided neutrality—a neu-
trality, of which the secret understanding shall be,
that if Austria gets the worst of it we shall help her
while we should not be equally ready to help the
other side. His speech was indeed an eloquent one,

and will well repay perusal. Justly did he observe,

that either the Austrians must be driven out of
Italy, or the Italian question would recur again
and again ; justly did he scout such pleas as her
unity in blood with our race as absurd, since
she was but an agglomeration of nationalities, of
which the last census gave Germany 7,000,000
out of a population of thirty-seven millions ; and
that, if these nationalities were free and self-
developing, they would be a better bulwark for
Europe than in their present discontented union.
Justly did he characterise her as our old pensioner
rather than our old ally, and advise us to waste for
her no more of our blood or treasure. England
will cordially say "Aye" to the advice of one of
the noblest exiles who ever graced her shores.

ARRIVAL OF THE COURT AT OSBORNE.

PORTSMOUTH, MAY 21.

The Queen and the Prince Consort, accompanied
by the Princess Alice, Prince Arthur, Prince
Leopold, Princess Helena, Princess Louisa, and
Princess Beatrice, and attended by the ladies and
gentlemen of the Court, arrived at the Royal
Clarence•yard, Gosport, at half-past 12 o'clock this
afternoon. Her Majesty was received by the
Commander-in-Chief of the port, Admiral William
Bowles, C. 8., Rear-Admiral the Hon. Geo. Grey,
superintendent of the dockyard; Rear-Admiral 6.
R. Mundy, appointed second in command of the
Mediterranean fleet; Major-General Sir James
Yorke Scarlett, commanding the south-western
district, with their respective staffs ; Captain Geo.
Fowler Hastings, C. 8., superintendent of the
Clarence-yard and Haslar, and a guard of honour
of militia artillery.
Her Majesty embarked on board the Royal screw
yacht Fairy, Commander the Prince Leiningen,
under Royal salutes from the Victory, flagship, and.
Excellent, the ships in harbour being gaily deco-
rated with parti-coloured bunting. On leaving the
harbour the royal standard was saluted from the
King's Bastion, and also by the Hannibal and
Doris at Spithead, as the vessel approached in that
direction. Her INlajesty landed as usual at Cowes,
and arrived at Osborne at about 20 minutes past
two o'clock.

ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCESS AIEDERICK WILLIAM

OF PRUSSIA.
Scarcely had the Fairy passed through Spithead
when her Majesty's yacht, the Victoria and Albert,
Captain the Hon. Joseph Denman, hove in sight,
having on board the 'Princess Frederick William
of Prussia, whom she embarked at Antwerp, and
has conveyed hither on a visit to the Queen.
Owing to the hazy state of the weather, the royal
yacht was abreast of the ships lying at Spithead
before she was observed from the shore, the Vivid
steam vessel being in attendance. Her Royal
Highness brings no large retinue of servants with
her, but is attended, we understand, only by the
Count and Countess de Perponcher. Her infant
child remains at Berlin. The Prince Frederick
William will, we hear, arrive in the course of eight
or nine days, being at present on his summer drill.

LATEST NEWti.

THE V TAR IN ITALY.

FIRST BATTLE IN PIEDMONT.
(FRENCH ACCOUNT.)
The Ilioniteur of Sunday contains the foil IOW-

ing :

ALESSANDRIA, MAY 21.

The Austrians lave attacked with 15,000 n len
the advanced pos is of Marshal Baraguay
They were repulsed by General Forey's divisiion,
which behaved al hairably, and, carried the vill age
of Montebello, already so famous, after a E,an-
guinary contest of four hours. The Piedmon,:tese
cavalry, commanded by General de Sonnaz, 'dis-
played extraordi nary energy. We have made :200
prisoners, of whoan one is a colonel. We have from
500 to 600 killed and wounded.

The Brigadier-General of Infantry, Beuret, and
Commandant Du.;thet, have been killed. Colonels
Guyot de Lespart, De Bellefonds, Conseil Thrtnes-
nil, and the Commandants Lacretelle and De Fe-
russac, are woun fled. •

This affair reffects great honour on General
Forey, who displayed great intelligence and
bravery. The Austrians are in full retreat since
yesterday evening..
The loss of the enemy amounts to more than
2,000 men.

The Emperor set out to-day for Voghera. He
has visited the IPcispital, where the wounded Aus-
trians are received along with the French, and
attended with the same care.

PARIS, MAY 21.
The following despatch from the Emperor to the
Empress has been posted on the Bourse :

ALESSANDRIA, May 21.—A body of Austrians,
about 15,000 strong, attacked the advanced posts
of the corps under Marshal Baraguay d'Hilliers,
but were repulsed by General Forey's division,
which behaved admirably, and cleared the village
of Montebello of the enemy after an obstinate
fight of four hours.
The Piedmontese cavalry, commanded by Gen.
Sonnaz, fought with extraordinary energy.
Two hundred prisoners were taken, including
one colonel.
The loss on the French side amounts to 500
killed and wounded.

The Austrians have been retreating since yes-
terday evening.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :
AUSTRIAN ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE.
VIENNA, MAY 22.

The official Austrian Correspondance of yesterday
evening contains the following authentic communi-
cation respecting the battle at Montebello :—" On
the 20th inst. General Stadion sent out a recon-
noitring party to learn the strength and position of
the enemy's right wing. The Austrians advanced
towards Teglio and Montebello, where they met
the enemy in superior force. After a very severe
conflict General Stadion drew back his troops in
perfect order to the left bank of the Po, after hav-
ing, however, forced the enemy to employ his
whole strength.

BERNE, MAY 21.

According to telegrams from Magadino, Gari-
baldi is reported to have been yesterday at Romag-
nano with 400 men, and to have entered Arona this
evening, preparatory to act;ng against Laveno.

TURIN, MAY 21.

To-day the extreme left of our:army under Gene-
ral Cialdini, forced a passage over the Sesia, near
Vercelli, in an admirable manner. The enemy was
put to flight, leaving officers and privates as pri-
soners, together with arm, waggons, and horses, in
our hands.—(Official Bulletin.)

TURIN, MAY 22.

General Cialdini wishing to take possesion of the
end of the bridge of Vercelli, which adjoined the
left bank of the river, in order by that means to
protect the construction of another bridge over the
Sesia, moved forward two columns, which, after
having passed the river, joined at the same point.

PARIS, MAY 23.

The Moniteur of to-day contains the following
message, dated Alessandria, May 22 :—The wea-
ther continues to improve. The Emperor is in
good health.
The Moniteur also says :—A note of the French
Government has been sent on the 3d of May to the
Foreign Governments, announcing that orders had
been given to respect the territories and the com-
merce of neutral States, and to observe the prin-
ciples consecrated by the Paris Congrees.

The column which crossed near Sesia, on the side
next Albano, was attacked by the Austrians in
great force, and sustained a fierce confict at a place
called Villata. The enemy was, however, routed,
and our troops established themselves in Borgo
Vercelli. The other column crossed the Sesia, near
Cappucini Vecchi, and after having surprised two
companies of the enemy, remained at that place.
Our loss is insignificant, but that of the Austrians
is considerable. The Modenese, after having
spiked their cannon, evacuated Aulla last night
and retired to Froizzano.—(Official Bulletin.)

VIENNA, MAY 22.

Garibaldi arrived on the 21st at Arona with
4,000 men. The Swiss Federal Council has de-
spatched two companies of sharpshooters, one
company of chasseurs, and a battalion of infantry
to the Canton Tessin. The general staff of the
seventh corps d'armee, from Geneva, will follow.
Novara is still occupied by the Austrians. Gari-
baldi is to operate from Arona against Laveno.
The Austrians have retired in perfect order to
Pavia and Piacenza.

TURIN, MAY 21.

Yesterday 15,000 Austrians assailed Casteggio
and occupied Montebella. The Sardinian cavalry
and the corps d'armee of Marshal Baraguay
d'Hilliers advanced, followed by General Forey's
division, and after a fight of six hours repulsed the
Austrians. The allied forces then retook posses-
sion of Montebello. Two hundred Austrians and
an Austrian colonel have been made prisoners. The
enemy is in full retreat.
Forey's division and the Sardinian cavalry, under
General Sonnaz, behaved admirably.
The loss of the allies was 500 killed and wounded.
The loss of the enemy was very great. Yesterday
the Emperor visited the camp at Marengo.—
(Official Bulletin).

VIENNA, MAY 22.

On the 20th inst. General Stadion pushed for-
ward a reconnaissance by a forced march towards
TegHo and Montebello, but after a hot fight with a
French force of superior strength, retreated behind
the Po.—(Official Bulletin).

TRIESTE, MAY 21.
News from the iieetd-quarters contradict the

statement that demands for contributions have been
imposed upon Vercelli, and allege that, on the
contrary, not the smallest requisition has been
made.

BERNE, MAY 22.

In consequence of the news received from the
seat of war, the Federal Council, in an extraordi-
nary sitting, has decreed the sending of one batta-
lion and two companies of Car bineers from Geneva
to the Canton Tessin, under the command of the
Staff-Major of the 7th division.

TRIESTE, MAY 21.

According to a communication made by the
French Commander to some Papal craft which had
been prevented from entering the port of Venice,
only the Venetian coast is blockaded by the
French.

BERNE, MAY 21.

It is reported from Tessin that all the Austrian,
detachments on the Lago Maggiore have withdrawn
and that the Emperor of Austria and General Hess
have arrived at Pavia.

DEATH OF THE KING OF .
NAPLES.
(BY SUBMARINE AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.)
ROME, SUNDAY EVENING.
The King of Naples died at half-past one o'clock
this afternoon.