The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-21 00:00:00

MURDER AND _ROBBERY.

LEDBURY, FRIDAY.
The Sun of. yesterday contained a few hastily-
gathered particulars of a most atrocious murder and
robbery which had been discovered on the previous
day. The victim was a respectable widow, named
Harriet Baker, whose husband died only a few
weeks ago, and who since his death has for most of
the time been the sole eccupant of a house, part of
which is used as offices by Mr. Masefield, solicitor,
in this town. It would be difficult for the human
mind. to imagine anything more fearfully atro-
cious than the details of this crime.
On Tuesday night a female friend visited Mrs.
Baker and left her a few minutes before 10 o'clock,
when she was preparing to retire for the night.
She had fastened the doors as usual, and hung a
bell on the inside of each door to create an alarm if
anyone should gain entrance to the house. This
friend remarked that the widow seemed less absorbed
in grief than she had been since the death of her
husband.

About eight o'clock on Wednesday morning the
neighbours, who appear to have displayed great and
uniform kindness towards the bereaved woman,
observed that she was not stirring at the usual
time, and threw stones and peas at the window of
her sleeping room, which was in the upper part of
the house. Failing to arouse her by these and
similar means, they became alarmed, and were about
to force a way into the house, when one of Mr. Mase-
field's clerks, named Jones, who lodged next door,
produced the key of the back-door, which he said
he had just picked up under the office window, hav-
ing found it lying on the gravel path. Jones was
the first to enter the house, and was followed by
several other persons. In the sitting-room occupied
by Mrs. Baker was a round table on which
was a white cloth, a jug with water, a knife,
two empty glasses (which appeared from the smell
to have contained spirits and water), a candlestick,
with candle nearly whole, and some other articles.
None of these things were about when the de-
ceased's friend (Miss Jackson) left, and when the
widow expressed her intention of at once going to
bed. A silver watch still hung on its accustomed
nail over the mantelpiece, and a widow's cap was
on the carpet, which was much disturbed, as though
there had been a scuffle upon it.
On proceeding through the house Jones discovered
that the upstairs offices (Mr. Masefield's private
room and that of his head clerk) were open, though
they had been locked at closing time on the pre-
vious evening, and the keys taken, as usual, to Mr.
Masefield's house. On pushing open the door of
the private room Jones saw the body of Mrs. Baker
lying on the floor, straight on her back, with•
her feet about a yard from the door. The room
was about half filled with a heavy smoke, which
did not ascend, but hung in a body together.
Some more people came in on hearing the
alarm, and a closer inspection showed that
a most foul murder had been committed.
There Was a .contused wound on the forehead, from
which no blood escaped. Tne marks of strangula-
tion were plainly observable round the neck, and
there was a deeper and broader mark under the
right ear, as though caused by a knot. A cord
with a running noose and slipknot was found RI--
tially under the body. The dark brown hair of
the victim was thrown back in wild dishevelment
her face was of livid purple, and her eyeballs pro-
truding, but both eyes and lips were closed. The
whole of the middle part of the body was charred
by fire. The arms were dreadfully burnt, and
only the extremities of the feet remained uninjured
by fire. The body had been set on fire after it
was laid on the floor, and a piece of news-
paper found in the room corresponded with
another piece found in the clerk's office down-
stairs. The office floor was covered with
cocoa-nut fibre matting, and this and the,boards
were burnt through in two large places.
The fire was still smouldering when the dis-
covery was made, and creating a horrible stench.
From the appearance of the body and its position,
which was one in which it could not have fallen
naturally, it is presumed that the poor woman was
first murdered, then carried into Mr. Masefield's
office and set fire to, in the hope that a conflagra-
tion would destroy the evidence of guilt. The mur-
derer, whoever he may be, was evidently intimately
acquainted with the house and all its internal ar-
rangements, and chose the night after Mr. Masefield
had gone to London for carrying out his hellish
design. He must have been concealed in the house
before it was finally closed for the night, for no
violence was done to either of the outer doors, and
from the back door, by which the escape was made,
the warning bell was removed and placed in the
lower office.

It was ascertained that robbery as well as
murder had been committed. A drawer in Mr.
Masefield's room had been forced, and a desk
in the adjoining room. These were the places
where money was generally kept. The money
stolen amounted to about £47 in all. There was a
cheque for £ll 145., drawn by Mr. W. Maile on the
National Provincial Bank ; a cheque for £l5, drawn
by Mr. C. Smith on Webb and Co., Ledbury ; two
Bank of England £5 notes, and £6 or £7 in gold
and silver. The secrecy and quietude with which
the whole plan was consummated may be imagined
from the 'fact that the people in the next house
heard not the slightest noise, and a little girl eight
years old, who had been put to bed by Mrs. Baker
in her own room about 8 o'clock, slept on unconscious
of the horrid business going on but a few yards be-
neath her. The deceased woman had not been to
bed at all that night. She was wholly dressed, and
her side of the bed had not been occupied. A post
mortem examination was made on Thursday previ-
ous to the opening of the inquest. No tangible clue
has yet been obtained to the perpetrator of the
crime, but from the turn taken at the inquest it
would seem that one person is suspected.
The coroner's inquest was commenced on Thurs-
day afternoon at Mr. Masefield's office, before Mr.
Henry Underwood, coroner for Herefordshire, but
after a jury had been sworn, and had viewed the
body and the premises, the inquiry was adjourned
to the Feathers Hotel.

John Jones, the first witness, was examined at
great length, 'and deposed to having found the body,
as detailed above, after finding the key four or fire
yards from the back door. It was a few minutes
after 9 when the discovery was made.

By the Foreman—l left the office about 7 o'clock
on the previous evening, and went for a walk. I
returned home about 10 o'clock. There was then no
light in deceased's house. I had known her three
years and a half, ever since I had been at Mr.

hlasefield's.
B 7 the Coroner—Mrs. Baker was in the habit of
receiving visits from friends, chiefly of her own

sex.
Elizabeth Paine, the little girl who slept with
Mrs. Baker in the houge, was questioned by the
coroner, and said Mrs. Baker put her to bed about
8 o'clock on Tuesday night, but did not come to
bed herself that night. She heard nothing, and saw
no man in the house.
It was agreed not to put the child on her oath.
Charlotte Jackson proved that she parted with
deceased a few miuutes before 10 on Tuesday night,
when she fastened up the doors and said she was
going to bed. There was no cloth on the table
when she left, and no glasses or jug. The deceased
was not in the habit of drinking spirits at night.
The witness Jones, recalled by the Foreman—l
did not open any chest with drawers in Mrs.
Baker's parlour on Wednesday morning.
By the Coroner—l do not know if anybody saw
me go to bed on Tuesday night. I have a latchkey
to the back door, and 'I bolt it when I go in after
10 o'clock.
The Coroner—l should like •to subject Bowkett
and the other lodger to a strict examination as to
what they saw and heard of Jones that night.
Jones continued—l did not go out on Wednesday
morning before I had my breakfast unless it was
into the shoe room. The back yard is common to
both houses. _ _

By the Foreman—l often took gin home at night
in a bottle. I had
.a glass of gin at Mrs. Baker's
house about a fortmght ago. She gave it to me. I
think I went into the office that night for change.
That was the only time I had gin there.
Thomas Bowkett, shoemaker, at whose house
Jones lodges, and whose premises adjoin those of
Mr. Masefield, gave a similar account of the dis-
covery of the murder. He went to bed shortly
after 10 and heard no noise, though there is only a
partition between his bedroom and Mr. Masefield, s
office. He did not hear Jones go to bed that night,
but heard him getting up between 7 and
.8 next
morning. When describing the finding of tne body
the witness, who is a garrulous old man, burst into
tears, and exclaimed, " it was the cruellest sight
that ever anybody saw."
The medical gentlemen who made the post

motitem examination, Mr. Griffin and Mr. Wood,
gaVe their evidence at considerable length.
They found the features much swollen and con-
gested, the tongue swollen and protruding between
the teeth. There was ecchymosis under the skull
wound and under a bruise at the back of the head:
The stomach was healthy, and contained a small-
, quantity of food, without any peculiar smell. The
cerebral membranes' and muscles were greatly
' ecchymosed. The lungs were much congested, and
the 'heart contained a small quantity of fluid blood.
Strangulation was the cause of death. The blow on
the forehead might have produced insensibility, but
not death. The food had probably been in the stomach
three or four hours. Both blows were probably
received beforedeath, but might have been delivered
afterwards. There were no marks of the body
having been violated. The rope found had a slip-
knot, and unless there was more than one person
engaged in the commission of the crime the rope
could probably not have been put over the woman's
head until she had become partially insensible. It
was difficult to say whether a wound was inflicted
before or immediately after death.
It being now 9 o'clock p.m., the inquiry was
adjourned for a week. In the meantime a large
staff of police are making diligent inquiry. There
is a general hope that the murderer will be brought
to justice, as the crime is one ofalmost unparalleled
atrocity. _

TANTIA TOPEE.

(Fiona the Times.)

A short shrift and a public execution have at
last relieved the Indian Government of an enemy
more troublesome than any political pretender pro-
duced by the war. On the Bth of April Tantia
Topee, after 23 months of active rebellion, was cap-
tured by his pursuers, on the 15th he was brought
to a court-Martial, and on the 18th, ctceording to
the sentence of that tribunal, he was hanged. So
ends the career of this celebrated marauder, but so
striking is his history and so thoroughly Asiatic
was the course thus consummated that some closing
notice of its incidents has been fairly earned.
It has been found impossible to ascertain with
any precision the extraction, quality, or even name
of a man who, for nearly two years, has been suc-
cessful either in defying our arms or eluding our
pursuit. Tantia Topee was undoubtedly a Brahmin,
but beyond this distinction of caste his position was
attended by no advantages. He is said to have
been born somewhere in the Mahratta country, and
to have been at some period of his life in the ser-
vice of the British Government ; but his history is
altogether obscure until, at the outbreak of the
mutiny, he appears, probably as a retainer of Nana
Sahib, at Cawnpore. From this moment his rise
commenced. He left Cawnpore for Calpee, where
lie acquired a considerable command in the
Gwalior Contingent, and was conspicuous among
the leaders of that famous. force at the
battle of the Jumna, when General Wynd-
ham was so hardly pressed. After-the defeat of the
Contingent, he succeeded, by one of the boldest
strokes of the war, in turning repulse into victory,
for he made his way to Gwalior, and by dint of
corruption and intrigue turned Scindiah's own
troops against him, and obtained actual possession
of his capital city. Dislodged from this marvellous
elevation by the vigorous proceedings of Sir Hugh
nose, he took to the open country, and for nearly
a year defied our utmost power. He raised armies
as fast. as we could disperse them, took up one posi-
tion after another to our infinite annoyance, and
led us a chace which; despite of unexampled efforts
on the part of our soldiers, seemed to be really
endless. Our troops pursued him without inter-
mission, contrived more than once to surprise him,
repeatedly captured his artillery and scattered his
troops, but could never deprive him entirely of fol-
lowers or guns. He seemed to summon forces from
the earth as if by magic. As the pursuit grew
hotter and hotter he mounted his men on ponies
and camels, and marched, it is said, at the average
rate of 60 miles a day. Wherever we found him
he had always cavalry and guns, and these lie posted
with remarkable skill. It is alleged, as a climax of
these almost incredible exploits, that .this military
genius and popular hero was deficient in the com-
monest of all qualities—that of personal bravery,
nor is the assertion disproved by the intrepidity
with which he met his end. It is a known trait of
Hindoo character, that men whom no persuasions
could induce to face a battery or conduct a charge
will await inevitable death with fortitude and com-
posure.

To those who have brought the aids of experi-
ence or knowledge to the study of this great rebel-
lion the career of Tantia Topee will present a
spectacle of peculiar interest. It is literally the
only incident of the war which resembles the
incidents of times gone b.f.. Tantia Topee is the
one military adventurer brought to light by the
convulsions of 1857. The fact deserves most serious
reflection, for it bears immediately and forcibly
upon our own position in India. Be it remembered
for half a century we had been training soldiers,
and that in Bengal alone there were 150,000 natives
under arms when this revolt broke out. Now, in
all this enormous host there was not a single man
who, when the bonds of allegiance and discipline
were abruptly removed, displayed the intuitive
capacities of a military commander. Not at Delhi,
nor Bareilly, nor Lucknow, did there appear a man
who by force of genius or ambition could mould
those around bim to his purpose. The two years
of the revolt, with all their opportunities, never
produced one native General. The Sepoys had
learnt artillery and rifle practice and the routine of
professional discipline. They retained to the last
their regimental organization and continued their
duties so mechanically that " 'God save the Queen"
was performed at nightfall in the rebel garrisons,
but beyond this level they never rose. One man
alone reproduced the old Indian character, and that
' man was Tantia Topee—an obscure' civilian, with-
lout place or power. He, by the light of nature
alone, discerned the strong points of the rebels' posi-
tion and our own weak points. By the exercise of that
faculty with which heroes are gifted he could always,
even in his most desperate straits, draw followers to
his standard. He discovered intuitively that his best
chances lay in harassing us by incessant attacks
and exhausting us by fruitless expeditions. He
had great military aptitude, for his positions were
always well chosen and his retreat always secured.
It is even said that his political foresight was con-
siderable, and that his designs included an irrup-
tion into the Deccan, on the speculation of being
joined by the Mabratta population, if not by some
battalions of the Bombay army. In this hope,
however, he was disappointed, for though he long
eluded our pursuit he could never quite baffle our
flying columns, and they kept the passes even when
they could do no more. It tells well, indeed, for
the enterprise of our commanders and their troops
that so active a marauder as Tantia should have
been so long prevented from doing his worst, and
have been caught at last. He was repeatedly
headed, constantly turned back from the objects of
his march, and at length fairly overtaken.
Nothing could more forcibly illustrate the repu-
tation which this man had acquired than the fact
that his fate has been attended with some regret.
The absolute justice of his sentence it is, of course,
impossible to doubt. Rebellion is in itself a capi-
tal crime, and though, when the crisis was passed,
forgivenness was freely placed within the reach of
all, the claims of Tantia. Topee to this indulgence
were exceedingly slight, and, indeed, had never
been preferred. He not only fought against us in re-
peated engagements, but after all hope was past
he took to the field and carried on the war, after
a fashion of his own, for 10 months longer. His
ambition or his inveteracy cost us hundreds of
lives. If clemency has any limits Tantia must
have gone far beyond them ; besides which, it is
gravely suspected that he shared in that deed of
blood for which there is no forgivenness or oblivion.
He was certainly at Cawnpore on the day of the
massacre ; he was probably in the service of the
Nana, and it cannot but be surmised that his par-
ticipation in that dreadful butchery may have
taken some active form. He himself affirmed his
innocence, but he affirmed that of his master also ;
so that one part at least of his tale was untrue;
and if lie had ;indeed, this sin upon his soul, it would
go far to account for his persistent outstanding and
flight.
In India, however, these suspicions were over-
powered by the overt admiration entertained for
his professional skill. He alone had turned out a
marauder of the true old stamp. He was like the
adventurers pursued by Wellesley and Hastings,
and if he had not met his match in those oppo
to him he might have founded a dynasty. Hyder
Ali was no better than he. He brought against us
at one time the largest army we encountered in the
field, and at another period he had actual posses-
sion of one of the strongest cities in India, with
thousands of troops and millions in treasure. If he
could'but have got across the Nerbudda he might
have kept the war alive for months,—perhaps for
years, and, though that contingency is not pleasant
to contemplate, the hero of so strange a story ob-
tains no little credit on the scene itself. The sen-
tence, however, was evidently just, as Tantia him-
self acknowledged. He knew that he had earned

E
CAUSS.
(Before the Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Baron Martin,
and the Judge Ordinary.)
MARCIIAIONT V. lIIAP.CIIMONT.
In this case, in which the petitioner, the wife of
the Rev. Henry Marchmont, a Baptist minister,
had obtained a judicial separation on the ground of
cruelty,
Mr. Macaulay, Q.C., asked the court to appoint
a day on which to •hear the respondent's appeal
against the decree of the Judge Ordinary.
Lord Campbell—What are the grounds of appeal?
Mr. Maucaulay—They are set forth in the
instrument before your lordship.
Lord Campbell (having read the document)—All
these grounds were brought before the full court
when you moved for a new trial.
Mr. Macaulay—My lord, I am aware that there
is a difficulty—
Lord Campbell—The difficulty is insuperable.
We are of opinion that there remains no ground for
disturbing the decree which the court has already
pronounced in this case.
EVANS V. EVANS AND ROBINSON.

In this case a decree of kdissolution of marriage
had been pronounced, and the corespondent hal
been condemned in all the costs. Before the trial
Mr. Evans had been required to pay into court the
sum of £750 to satisfy the claims of his wife's
proctor ; and
Dr. Deane, Q.C., now moved that the proctor be
paid his costs accordingly.
Mr. Huddleston, Q.C., said that the petitioner's
costs had been taxed at £1,250; which the petitioner
had endeavoured without success to obtain ; for
Mr. Robertson was not to be found. Under these
circumstances he ventured to submit that the proc-
tor for the respondent ought not to have his costs
until he had satisfied the court that he had not been
in collusion with Mr. Robinson.
Lord Campbell said the court must presume that
the taxation had been properly done ; and the proc-
tor must therefore have his costs, including the
costs of the present application.
RATCLIFF T. RATCLIFF ANil ANDERSON.
The petitioner, Mr. Thomas Anson Ratcliff, a-
half-pay officer, proceeded against his wife, Mrs.
Frances Harvey Ratcliff, for a dissolution of mar-
riage, on account of various acts of adultery com-
mitted by her with Colonel David Anderson. The
respondent denied the adultery, and also pleaded
cruelty, connivance, condonation, and the unneces-
sary delay in bringing the suit. Colonel Ander-
son pleaded that the petitioner bad entered into an
agreement with him not to put him to any expense
in respect of any legal proceedings that might be
necessary to obtain a divorce, provided that he
(Calonel Anderson) would maintain the respondent,
and to pay the expense of her passage to England,
which agreement he (Colonel Anderson) had on his
part faithfully performed. The petitioner denied
in his replication all these averments.
Dr. Deane, Q.C., Dr. Spinks, and Mr. Prentice
appeared for the petitioner; Dr. Swabey for the
respondent ; Dr. Phillimore, Q.C., and Mr. Addams
for the ea respondent.
The petitioner had been lieutenant and pay-
master of the 22d Regiment of Foot, and on the
22d of November, 1844, he married the respondent
at Poonah. She was then a Miss Pitts, the daugh-
ter of an officer in the Bengal military establish-
ment. The parties cohabited in various places in
India till July, 1850, and had issue, of which only
one child was surviving-. The co-respondent joined
the regiment as a captain in the previous October,
and he had since 'become its colonel. It was proved
that on the 18th of July, 1850, Captain Anderson
had gone with Mrs. Ratcliff to Kussowlie, where
he lived with her as man and wife for about two
months.

On behalf of Colonel Anderson, Dr. Phillimore
read a correspondence, from which it appeared that
Mrs. Ratcliff rushed one evening into his tent at
Dugshai, where the regiment was stationed, and.
demanded his protection against the abuse of her
husband. The petitioner followed. her, and solkeited
his good offices with a view to a reconciliation. By
his means peace was at last restored between the
parties, and they left the tent together ; but on the
following evening she came to him by herself, and
spent the night in his tent. He then went with
her to Kussowlie. This led, of course, to some
scandal ; but through the mediation of the military
authorities an arrangement was come to of the nature
indicated in the pleadings. The correspondence
concluded with a characteristic letter from the late
Sir C. Napier. Captain Anderson had undertaken
to leave the corps ; but after in vain attempting to
exchange into 10 other regiments, he had witten to
inform the colonel (Lieut-Colonel Boileau) of his
want of success. Colonel Boileau, under these cir-
cumstances, submitted the case to Sir C. Napier,
and received his answer in the following terms :
" 24th October, 1850.
" My dear Boileau,--Where all parties have be-
haved so unseemly, it is hard to decide what is best,
and what is not. Bad is the best. Anderson has
been weak, Ratcliff has acted, in my opinion, as
you describe (i.e., ' decidedly culpably.') Bid
husbands make bad wives,' is a very generally re-
ceived maxim. The exceptions are few. This may
be one ; but neither your account nor what I have
heard from others lead me to think that it is one.
It seems clear that Anderson did not seduce Mrs.
R. That Mr. Ratcliff did not consider that he had,
is evident by his consulting Anderson ; and I con-
sider appearancts so much against this gentleman
(Ratcliff), that I think, if either, it behoves him
rather than Anderson to quit the corps ; but I think
it is a matter so entirely between these two, that I
do not see why you should not absolve Anderson
from his promise. His only fault was not being a
Joseph. (Laughter.) It was a great fault, but still
I do not think that Ratcliff has a claim to demand

chose to invade his tent uninvited. I think Ander..
profession, because Ratcliff
Anderson's loss of
son is to be pitied, not punished, beyond paying as
he has done. And if Rateliff chooses to stay, Ido
not see why you or I should have anything to say
to the matter. In short, the case is simply this—
is a good officer to leave the regiment because
another officer cannot rule his wife, who without
seduction on the part of the good officer, chooses to
go to bed with him ? I really think it is a question
for the parties themselves to settle.
" Anderson has paid dearly for his weakness,
and I see no justice in forcing him to lose his pro-
fession. I would give him back his promise. Had
Captain Anderson seduced Mrs. Ratcliff, or if he
had kept her with him, he must have left the_ re-
giment certainly. You know best how this matter
stands, and what is the general feeling of the
officers. All of you are conversant in the details—
-

i am not ; and I cannot interfere beyond the
answer to your question, that is to say, were I in
possession of Anderson's promise he should have it
back.—Yours, &c. " C. NAPIER.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Boileau."

Dr. Phillimore subinitted that under the circum-
stances disclosed in the correspondence it was
doubtful whether the case was one in which he
oaght to interfere; but it was clearly not one in
which the co-respondent, who was at this moment
paying £lOO a year for the respondent's mainte-
nance, and who had never seen her since she left
India, ought to be condemned in the costs.
Dr. Swabey then addressed the court on behalf
of the wife.
Dr. Deane, in reply, pointed out that the result
of Colonel Anderson's not fulfilling the third part
of his promise had been to compel him to quit the
service himself.
, The court took time to consider.
HAWRYARD V. HAWKYARD AND FOSTER.
This was a petition for a dissolution of, marriage,
promoted by Wm. Hawkyard against Mary Ann,
his
unknown, wife,
foran
d withadultery t
he oem mc
co
-trted espownidteh a
nt, person
James

Foster.
The marriedat the
1843, parishaa hc c
ad hurch,
ch,
Leeds, on
three children. Evidence was given to the effect
that she was in the habit of receiving visits from a
parties
the
person, which were followed by results that caused
were
7 t h o f August,
her husband to send her home. After this it was
proved that she had openly cohabited with the co.
resPD
re.e n
Sdepintks appeared for the husband. The other
parties were undefended.
The court decreed the dissolution as prayed.
Th

_le continental papers announce the _failure of
the banking-house of Frommel and Co. at Augsburg. The
Bank of Thuringia has also suspended, owing, it is said,
to the flight of the manager.
A national Rifle Club Association is stat ed to be
in course of formation, with a proposed capital o f £50,000,
to facilitate the arrangements of the various L 3cal clubs
with regard to the purchase of arms, &c.
Mr. Bentley will shortly publish a clramati°
work of general interest, which has been long in prepara-
tion, entitled " The Life and Theatrical Times of Charles
Kean," embracing a summary of the English eta ge for th:
last half century, containing much original corm TandeAer.
and authentic information. The work is writ tei Winsny
John William Cole, associated most intirnatel ft, .1
years with Mr. Charles Kean in his private and vr
introduced.
character, as also with many of the other lea drag pi ,sons

THE WEATHER.—SVN OFFICE, MAT 21.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
61—highest since noon yesterday.
54—lowest this morning and during the night.
58—this day at noon.
BAnomETER-29.96, rising.
WIND, Easterly; fresh, with dull weather.

Both French and Austrians are clearly preparing
themselves for a fierce encounter. The former will
unquestionably be the assailants ; the latter being
apparently contented with maintaining the position
they have assumed, and levying the heaviest possi-
ble contributions on the surrounding country.
Their posts have been very skilfully selected, and

will not be abandoned until they are driven there.

from after a sanguinary conflict. LOUIS NAPOLEON
already is beginning to learn that the realities of
and practical operations of war are different

from the theories that the meditations in a

French fortress, as a state prisoner, may have
produced.. He cannot, however, afford to remain
long in a. state of inaction: Reviewing. his own
troops is very different from meeting a powerful
opponent on a field of stricken fight, and very
unfavouiable comparisons may be framed between
the first and third of the name should he remain
idle while an enemy was occupying the country he
had undertaken to defend.
The Austrians appear to have placed every ob-
stacle and impediment in the way of the advance
of the allies. They have mined bridges to be

prepared to insure their retreat at any time,
but they will still obstinately dispute every
inch of ground, and not retire until the
last moment. They make considerable demon-
strations, but they are only demonstrations, with-
out any purpose beyond that of plunder and ma-
rauding. In these respects they are, unquestion-
ably, adepts, and should they succeed in the field of
battle, as in the obtainment of booty, the allies will
not obtain quite so easy a triumph as they seem to
anticipate, more especially if united Germany
should join in the contest, and brillg her myriads
of troops to protect Austria from the consequences
of her own maladministration in Italy, Hungary,
and. Gallicia, and preserve what they will be in-
clined to term the integrity of the " Fatherland."
We have already alluded to the attitude of
" armed mediation " assumed by Prussia, but the
minor States are still more pugnacious. Every
petty potentate, who has a fifer, a drummer, and
fifty, or a hundred soldiers in-his pay, is burning to
make them "food for gunpowder," and thus get rid
of the burden at the cheapest rate. They may
speedily have the opportunity of so doing, for
Loris NAPOLEON will not be contented with the
liberation of Italy (!) but will go further, and carry
the war into Germany itself. Notwithstanding
the denials that have been so strenuously offered,
there can be but little doubt that there is a com-
plete understanding with the Czar, and that,
whenever the fitting time arrives, Russia will be
found coming forward as the ally of France, in
order to carry out their mutual designs. Turkey
will be one of the earliest victims. She will
be unable to resist the Muscovite aggressions when
deprived of English, French, or Sardinian
auxiliaries. The former will now, we hope and
believe, observe a strict neutrality, while the others
will have abundant work in dislodging the Aus-
trians from the position which they have assumed,
and transferring the conduct of the war into their
own dominions.

England must under any circumstances maintain
her neutrality. This is the great fact which we
have endeavoured to impress on the Government,
the Parlian,Rut, and People, and although we have
repeated it , " risque ad nauseam," it cannot be too
often stated. Austria has no claim on our assist-
ance. It was the grievous mistake committed in
in 1814, and the misgovernment of the
important dominions of the kingdoms then
delivered over to: her tender morellos that has
produced I she present war. We certainly cannot
aid her w ith men money, or what has been pro-
perly tel nned " the contraband of war." Any
assistant 2,e rendered under existing circumstances
would be a- a outrage against the cause of liberty in
all parts of 'the world.

Nor has France or Sardinia a stronger claim

The former will certainly not do anything to
improve the condition of the people. " Physician,
heal thyself," is a timehonoured apopthegm, and
when we see freedom of speech and of journalism
in France, we may possibly believe that they
would bestow similar blessings on the oppressed
Italians. But so long as they support the Papal
Government, with all its errors, can we hope that
he peoples would benefit by a change ?
Piedmont is hilt a tool in the hands of the greater
-- .. To gratify its own feelings of ani-
mosity it, has joined in playing the French game.
She has already had better cause to regret her mis-
takes, and very probably will have still more. The
complete triumph of her " faithful ally"
might be the most unfortunate result, so
Ifar as she was concerned. She has obtained
rench aid, to avert the possibility of Austrian
aggression ; but those called in, seeing the conve-
niences and advantages of tbe territory, may not
be disposed to abandon it when the necessity for
their services has passed away, and Sardinia can
hold its own ground without help from any quarter.

Power.

There are several rather curious revelations in the
Farewell Address of the Right Hon. J. STUART
WORTLEY expressive of his thanks to the Conser-
vative electors of the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Conspicuous if not paramount among the miscalcu-
lations for which he frankly avows himself to be
responsible was one, he writes, in the very midst of
this address—" founded on his unwillingness to
the last to believe that the great Whig party in the
Riding, the traditional successors and political de-
scendants of the great men who made the Settlement
of the Constitution in Church and State in 1688,
would consent to be bound by the compact of a
few leaders, and sacrifice their own principles to the
interest of a party coalition." This sounds of
course in its way sufficiently vague to mean
nothing, or—anything. But the next paragraph
is certainly as explicit as well could be. In this the
Right Hon. J. STUART WORTLEY says, namely,
" In this (unwillingness to believe, &c.) I was dis-
appointed for in the ranks of my opponents, I found
ranged side by side not only the old Whigs and
the modern Radicals and Chartists, but even the
Socialists and, Cora munists, by whom, during the
canvass, I was asked to consent, not only to the
subversion of the Church as an establishment, but
even to to the general division of land and pro-
perty." Certainly a very startling glimpse of the
discord underlying all this apparent unanimity
among the supporters of Sir J. RAMSDEN and Mr.
F. CROSSLEY! Together with the old Whigs,
Radicals, Chartists, Socialists, Communists ! Mis-
, fortune, they may well say, introduces us to strange
bed-fellows—instance those brought together in
that great political Bed of Ware in the West
Riding of Yorkshire. Imagine the cordial sym-
pathy existing between those heterogeneous co-
operators—the old Whigs, the Radicals, the Char-
tists, the Socialists, the Communists of the West
Riding ! The intimate understanding between the
chiefs of the old Whig houses at Woburn an d Bowood
—and the leaders of those amiable revolutionists in
Yorkshire who would fain "go in" for a " general divi-
sion of land and 'property !" COBBETT'S wet sponge
was nothing to this clean sweep of the rake in the
hands of that grand political croupier, your true
Communist ! And Communism, apparently, has its
outspoken champions nowadays in the largest of
our great county constituencies. There are dis-
ciples, it seems, of the philosophy of M. PB,OUDHON
down yonder in those wide manufacturing districts
dotted over with capitals of industry like Leeds
and Bradford and Sheffield—believers in the wis
dom of the sublime axiom, " La propriete c'est le
vole !" Dreamers of dreams of affected humanity,
but of real rascality that actually amounts just
simply to this--43roperty has at length got to be so
unequally distributed—you having everything, we
having nothing—that it has at length, become
desirable (to us) that all property should be once
more massed together, and then redistributed in
equal proportions ! Let us begin all over again—
say these breakers of a very grand commandment
against very mean and despicable sins—those of
envy and covetousness. Yet these are the kind of
men who have co-operated with the (hitherto) fas-
tidious Old Whigs and the bluff, honest Radicals of
Yorkshire, to the end that the Right Hon. J.
STUART WORTLEY should not be allowed to enter
Parliament as the representative (for the West
Riding) of the cause and of the interests of
the Liberal Conservatives ! A change has cer•
tainly come over " the spirit of the dream's
of .the West Riding during the eighteen years
which have now elapsed since that general election
of 1841, when the two Conservative candidates, the
Hon. J. STUART WORTLEY (now Lord WHARN-
CLIFFE) and Mr. EDMUND BECKETT DENISON,
triumphed over the two Liberal candidates,
Viscounts MILTON and MORPETIE! Yet then, it
musl be remembered that the triumphant candi-
date at the top of the poll actually polled less than
his relative, the unsuccessful candidate down at the
bottom of the poll at this last general election of
1859. The Hon. JOHN STUART WORTLEY polling
in 1841-13,165; while the Right Hon. JAMES
STUART WORTLEY polled in 1859-13,538. Justi-
fying to the full the Right Hen. Gentleman's de-
claration, now, at the close of the contest, that
throughout it he has been in no way deceived by
his supporters in the West Riding—his defeat being
alone attributable to the circumstance of the extra-
ordinary and unprecedented number of electors who
went to the poll upon the late occasion—deter-
mined, by means of this Unholy Alliance between
Whigs and Radicals and Communists, to carry into
the House, at all hazards, Sir J. RAMSDEN and Mr.
F. CROSSLEY ! The compact entered into tacitly
of late upon the side of the Opposition is certainly
suggestive of a passing remembrance of that ano-
malous combination which, also in the name of Re-
form, brought together for a brief interval such an
astounding variety of political characters. " The
composition of the Cabinet of 1831"—observes a
political commentator of considerable ability (Mr.
D. 0. MADDYN, in his " Chiefs of Parties," vol 1.,
p. 257)—" is a subject to which sufficient attention
has never been given- It was in reality a sort of
Coalition Ministry, and it is the nature of such
Governments to break up with violence from their
own internal elements of discord. The GREY Cabi-
net was more nominally than really Whig. It con-
tained old Whigs and new Whigs, High Church
and High Price-of-Corn-Politician, Canningites like
Lords GODERICH and PALMERSTON, an anti-
Catholic like the Duke of RIDIDIOND, an extreme
Radical like Lord DURHAM. In the dissimilarity
and uncongenial disposition of its individual mem-
bers there were repugnant materials, and after the
first crisis of Reform was passed there was constant
discord, and unpleasant feelings at work amongst
the Ministers, although they were carefully con-
cealed from the eyes and ears of the public." In_
all this there is something surely suggestive, in
the way of timely warning, to this no less dis •
tracted, conflicting, and heterogenous Opposition.

The source of the Ticino, about which we now
read so much, is in Switzerland, near Mount St. Gothard.
The river is about 112 miles in length, but it is navigable
for only 70 miles. It was on the borders of the Ticino
hat Hannibal, descending from the Alps, defeated Publius
L Cornelius Scipio.--Bulletin.

LATEST NEWS.

THE WAR IN ITALY.

The following telegrams have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office :

PARIS, MAY 21.
The Moniteur of this morning publishes the fol-

lowing :

ALESSANDRIA, Friday evening, May 20.—The
Emperor went this morning to Casale, where the
King of Sardina was awaiting him. The two
Sovereigns then inspected together the fortifications
and the position of the vanguard. The Emperor
then returned to Alessandria, and then went this
afternoon to visit the battlefield of Marengo. His
Majesty enjoys good health, and the sanitary con-
dition of the army is all that can be desired.

LEGHORN, MAY 20.

The Sasel has arrived here this morning with
350 men of the Brigade cofinieres and of the sth
Corps d'armee on board. The General with his
troops disembarked amid thousands of plaudits
expressive of the sympathy of the populace. The
whole town was hung with flags. Other vessels
with troops are expected. The troops who have
disembarked are quartered in the barracks of the
fort Porta Murala (?)

Prince Napoleon will arrive here on Sundaynext.

DRESDEN, MAY 20.

The Dresden Journal of to•day states the report
of a separate treaty, concluded between Bavaria
and Austria, to be incorrect.

TURIN, MAY 20.

The official bulletin published to-day says :
" Twelve thousand Austrians advanced to-day
from Stradella towards Castelreggio, where the
streets had been barricaded since Wednesday, and
three unimportant attacks had been repulsed. Two
strong columns of our troops marched to-day to
meet the Austrians. Austrian prisoners have
been already brought to Voghera, but all details of
a fight are as yet wanting.
"It is asserted that the Emperor of Austria
arrived yesterday at Milan, and that he departed
directly for Pavia, accompanied by General Hess."

DRESDEN, MAY 20.

A fortnightly transport of Austrian troops to the
Federal fortressess begins on Sunday next with
the first despatch of 31,000 infantry, 4 regiments of
cavalry, 3,900 horses, and 80 pieces of cannon.

BERNE, MAY 20.

The Federal Diet has resolved on prohibiting
the exportation of arms to, and the collecting of
arms by the inhabitants at, those places, in the
immediate vicinity of the Italian frontier, and also
the purchase of arms from deserters. Fugitives,
old men, women, and sick excepted, and deserters
able to bear arms, are to be forbidden to pass from
the territories of one belligerent Power into the
territories of another.

The number of fugitives in the Canton Tessin is

increasing.

A letter from Turin of the 17th, in the Siecle,
says :—" At Stradella, where the Austrians have
concentrated a part of their force, they have not
confined themselves to making overwhelming re-
quisitions, but they have taken possession of the
houses of Count Araaboldi, M. Carlo, M. 4tioraschi,
and M. Ghislanz oni, the richest landowners of
that part of the country, have transformed them into
barracks, and have pillaged all the provisions and
money; they have besides exacted a large quan-
tity of wine daily, during the whole of their stay,
and have sent to Pavia' an enormous quantity of
wheat and flour. The Austrians have fortified the
position which they occupy between Stradella and
Broni, on the Po. They are there concentrating
and massing troops to resist an attack. The route
to Piacenza is free, and protected by the troops of
San Giovanni. At Voghera, a short time back, an
Austrian patrol ventured into the interior of the
town to make a requisition. News of this having
reached the Piedmontese camp, 200 Sardinian
cavalry rode immediately to the place, and whilst
some of them were stationed round the town, others
entered. The Austrians being suddenly attacked
endeavoured to fly, but the troops outside prevented
them, and all were captured, except a few who
in the midst of the confusion managed to
I get away in safety. Venice is said to be not
without disquietude. The inhabitants, as Italians,
are even afraid tnat the Sardinian army is in
danger. This is owing to the Austrians having
spread absurd rumours in Venetia to influence
public opinion and prevent a national rising. Fin.
example, they have told the people not only that
the Austrian army has invaded Piedmont, but that
it has gone to Turin ; that the Piedmontese army
is in such a dreadful position that the King has had
to abdicate and retire to Sardinia; that the Ans.
trians are at Susa, where they stop the French
communications by Mont Cenis ; and, lastly, that
at Novi :they command Genoa, so as to prevent
relief from reaching the Piedmontese. Such mis-
representations will, however, be soon disproved.
At Novara a thousand carts brought from Lom-
bardy have been collected to carry away the booty
which the Austrians hope to obtain, and other
carts taken in Piedmont have been employed in
conveying booty into the Lomellina, beyond the
Mincio."

_
A letter from Turin of the 16th in the Indepen-
dance of Brussels says :—" The Austrian generals
act as if the provinces which they occupy were con-
quered ones. At Vercelli they deliver passports for
the interior and for abroad ; persons who are going
into Lombardy are obliged to have passports of the
first class, and thepe who come to Turin, second
class ones. At the head of these documents is
Empire of Austria) province of La Sesia.' During
the short stay which the Austrians made at Tor-
tone, they effaced the arms of the Cross of Savoy,
which in the Sardinian States is placed outside
every shop where tobacco is sold. Prince Napoleon
has established the head-quarters of the fifth corps
d'arinee at San Martino, near Genoa. On the 14th
several regiments of this corps began an offensive
movement. Last night they were at Ottone, three
marches from Bobbio. The Prince is daily expect-
ing the arrival of several other regiments to com-
plete the effective of his corps."
The 211ilan Gazette publishes a letter from Mor-
tara of the 14th with a view to give its readers a
correct insight into the strategical operations going
on in Piedmont. It says that the plan of the Pied-
montese is to induce the Austrians to attack them,
while the latter on the contrary refuse to sacrifice
the time and men it would require to force the
Genoa and Alessandria line. "But," says the
so
writer, " the Piedmontese cannot long maintain
aa
this expectant attitude ; the number of French that
haverie s
arrivedf
causesand
d renders
ris e
thein t hwea pr rmi
more
rs e offa
talla nl
toectehse-
acountry. 'We might easily take the line of the
Dora Baltea abandoned by the Piedmontese, but it
would be of no use ; it is much
better for us to keep
the enemy in respect on both sides of the Po, in
those plains which have so often been fatal to
France."

The. Post Ampt Gazette of Frankfort says :-
4' According to all that has transpired relative to
the mission of General \Villiscn, he was charged to
make known to the Cabinet of Vienna, but with
much precaution, that it must not rely on the
support of Prussia. For the moment, Austria has
only been requested not to urge the Germanic Diet
to adopt any resolution as to the attitude to be
assumed with regard to the war, and to endeavour
to prevent Bavaria and Hanover from insisting on
the formation of a corps d'armee on the Rhine.
Prussia also declares that it must be left to her own

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THE SUN.
SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1859.