The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 8, 1859.

HOUSEHOLD WORDS.—The result of an
application made this day to the Master of the Rolls,
on behalf of Messrs. BRADBURY and Evans, having been an
undertaking on the part of Mr. CHARLES DICKENS to alter
the statement put forth by himself in reference to " House-
hold Words," Messrs. BRADBURY and EVANS have to an-
nounce that it is only Mr. DicKtlkra's editorial connection
with that work that is about to cease.
March 26, 1859.

WHAT are the Wild Waves saying? Keep
up your Channel Fleet, and buy your eas of the
.East India Tea Company, where sound Tea, Black, Green, or
Mixed, can be bought, in 61b bags, at 2s. per lb., and Coffee, in
the Berry, at 10d.—Warehouse, 9, Great St. elen's-church
yard, Bishopsgate.

European law. Placed on this ground it will not
confine itself to pointing out .the 'illegal acts of
Austria ; it will in its turn invoke European en-
gagements violated •by Austria, and will demand
the execution of the measures necessary to remedy
the evils which have been the consequence of that
violation. This is its right and its duty.
" The Treaty of Vienna made over. to Austria a
large part of Italy, nearly quadrupling the.number
of her former subjects. In adding to the Duchy of
Milan—which belonged to her before the revolu-
tion—the Valtelline, the possessions of the Pope
situated on the • left bank of the Po, and all the
States of the Republic of Venice, it has destroyed
the equilibrium which existed in the last century.
Piedmont, notwithstanding the annexation of
Genoa, has no longer bren Pri a state, as formerly,
to form a counterpoise to the empire which eom•
mands the Po, the Adige, and• the principal rivers
of Northern Italy.
" Piedmont has thus found herself in presence of
a Power reckoning more subjects in Italy than
herself, and disposing of forces infinitely more con-
siderably than hers.
" If, however, Austria had kept herself within
the limits assigned by treaties, the rest of Italy
would have been able to have shared in the progress
which has been realised in Europe since the termi-
nation of the wars of the empire, and to have
formed, with Piedmont; an effectual barrier against
foreign influence in the peninSula.
" But Austria has endeavoured from the first year
after the restoration, by every means. in her power,
to acquire a preponderating influence over the
whole of the peninsula.
" By setting herself up as the declared .defender
of all the Italian Governments, however bad they
might be, and interfering with irresistible forces
whenever the people sought to obtain ameliorations
and reforms from their own Government, she has
succeeded in extending her moral domination far
beyond her frontiers. We do not refer to the his-
tory of the last forty years, for it is too well known,
we confine ourselves to pointing out the present
' state of things, caused by the persevering action of
Austrian policy in Italy generally.
" The Duchies of Parma, Modena, and . Tuicany
have become real fiefs of the Austrian. empire.
" The domination of Austria over the first two is
proved by the Convention of December 24, 1847.*
That
.Convention, by givinr, her the right to occupy
them by her troops not only when the interests of
Parma and Modena might call for it, but whenever
it might be useful to her own military operations,
renders Austria absolute master of all the eastern
frontier of Sardinia from the Alps to the Mediter-
ranean. And let it hot be said that .this is a vain
menace and an imaginary danger; for only three
years ago, when the Congress of Paris was still
echoing with the protestations put forth by Pied-
mont, arid supported by England, against foreign
intervention in Italy, the Austrian troops were seen
on a most futile pretext to occupy not only Parma,
but the most distant parts of the duchy, and to
encamp on the summit of the Appenines, whence
they commanded the shore of the sea belonging to
Sardinia.
" Austria considers herself so much at liberty to
do as she. pleases in the States of Parma, that .in
contempt of the treaties which only gave her the
right to keep a garrison in the citadel of Placentia,
she has had constructed and is arming at this
moment detached forts outside the enclosure of the
city, destined to transform Placentia into a vast
entrenched camp, capable of giving shelter to a
formidable army.
" The bond which attaches Tuscany to Austria,
although less apparent, is neither less real nor less
strong. It is not known whether a secret treaty
exists between the two States; hut what is certain
is, that on the one side the Tuscan Government
knows that it may at all times and under all cir-
cumstances rely on the armed support of Austria to
keep down her people ; and that, on the other,
Austria is certain of-bring able to. occupy Tuscany if
by chance a strategical interest should counsel her
to do so,
" As to the Roman States, the mode of proceed-
ing adopted by Austria has, been more simple. She
has occupied them whenever political disturbances
have furnished her with a 'pretext for so doing.
Since 1831 she has crossed the Po three times, and
placed garrisons in the towns of the Romagna. The
last occupation has been more complete than the
preceding ones, seeing that it extends as far as An-
cona, and has lasted for 10 years. Although at this
moment the Pontifical Government has demanded
the withdrawal of the foreign troops, we d • not
think that this measure couldchange the abnormal
condition of the States of the Holy Sec. The depar-
ture of these troops, if not preceded by radical
reform in all the branchesof the administration, will
leave the field open for revolution. Anarchy
.would
be substituted for foreign occupation, to again, and
necessarily, have recourse to foreign occupation.
"Thus the intervention of Austria in this country
has been of so -permanent a character that one is
authorised in saying that these prbvinces which
should have belonged to an independent Sovereign
are really under the Austrian domination.
" So great an extension of Austrian power in
Italy, besides the stipulations of treaties, is a serious
danger for Piedmont, and. against which its Go-
vernment has a right to protest. Austria,absolute
mistress of the Po from Pavia ,to the Adriatic,
creating on our frontiers a stronghold of the first
order, free to occupy when it pleases her the moun-
tains which shouldserve as ramparts, and menacin g
us on all sides, obliges us to maintain our forces on
a ruinous footing, and far out of proportion with
our financial resources.

"It will perhaps be observed that the presence.
of the French troops'at Rome neutralises the strength
of Austria and diminishes the dangers of Piedmont.
Far from it. 'ln a political point of view the occu-
pation of Rape by France may be of great import-
ance. In a military point of view it is none, par-
ticularly with regard to Sardinia.
"If in case of an aggression we were to appeal
to France for support. the troops which that power
has in Provence and at the foot of the Alps would
afford us more effectual succour than those which,
isolated in Rome, could only act in our behalf by
embarking at Civita Vecchia.
"We therefore think that the presence of tho
French at Rome, which, indeed, we earnestly wish
to see put at end to, does not at all diminish the
force of the remonstrances which Sardinia raises
against the ever-invading policy of Austria.
"If Austria, acknowledging these just remon-
strances, would recognise the absolute independence
of the other States of the peninsula, the condition
of Central Italy would soon be considerably im-
proved. The government of these states being no
longer sustained by the Austrian armies, would.
necessarily be brought to give satisfaction to the
legitimate wishes of the people. But in the interest
of order and of the principle of authority, and that
these inevitable concessions may not be forced from
them by disorders and popular movements, it is
necessary that the principle of non-intervention by
Austria should be proclaimed, and that the Sove•
reigns of Central Italy should greatly modify the
political system that they have pursued for such a
length of time under the protection of foreign
bayonets.
" The Cabinet of Turin is convinced that all
danger of ;revolution would be avoided in the
Duchies of Parma and Modena if they possessed
institutions similar to those which Piedmont has
enjoyed for the last 11 years.
" The experience of this country shows that a
system, wisely liberal, applied with good faith,
may work in Italy in the most satisfactory manner,
securing at the same time public tranquillity
and the regular development of the civilisation
of our age. As to Tuscany, all classes consider
necessary the re-establishment of the constitution
of 1848, which the Grand Duke swore to, and
which was revoked at the very moment when,
basing itself on the institutions which it consecrated
the Grand Duke was restored to the throne which
had been overthrown by a revolutionary movement.
" With regard to the Papal States, the Cabinet
of Turin cannot but see that the. question presents
far greater difficulties. The twofold quality pos-
sessed by the Pope—that of head of the Roman
Catholic Church and that of Temporal Prince—
renders almost impossible (in his States) the esta-
blishment of a constitutional system. He could
not consent to it without running the risk of often
finding himself in contradiction with himself, and
of being constrained to choose between his duties
as Pontiff and those of a Constitutional Sovereign.
" Nevertheless, whilst acknowledging that the
idep, of securing the tranquillity of the Papal States
by means of constitutional institutions must be
given up, the Cabinet of Turin thinks that the

same object might be attained by adopting the pro-
ject which the Plenipotentiaries of his Majesty the
King of Sardinia at the Congress of Paris had
developed in the note of the 27th of March ,1856,
addressed to the Ministers of France and England.
This project, which received the full approbation of
Lord Clarendon, reposes on the complete adminis-
trative separation of the provinces of the Roman
States situated between the Adriatic, the Po, and
the Appenines, and the development in those pro-

vinees of the provincial and municipal institutions
which 'have been established, if not put in practice,
by
she Pope himself on his return from Gaeta.
Thi project should now be completed by establish-
ing at Rome a Consulta, nominated by the provincial
councils, to which should be submitted the clues-.
tions relating to the general interests of the State:
'4 The ideas which have just been put forth form
a clear and precise answer to the interpellation
which the Government of her Britannic Majesty
has addressed to the Cabinet of Turin.

" By summing them up, it appears that, in our
opinion, the danger of a war or • revolution would
be warded off, and the Italian question, at least
temporarily, solved by the following changes :
"By obtaining from Austria—not in virtue of
treaties, but in the name of the principles of huma-
nity and of eternal justice—a national and separate
government for Lombardy and Venetia.
"By requiring, in conformity with the letter and
spirit of the Treaty of Vienna, that the domination
of Austria beer the States of Central Italy should
cease, and, consequently, that the detached forts
constructed outside the walls of Placentia should
be destroyed; that the Convention of the 24th of
December, 1847, should be annulled ; that the occu-
pation of 'the Romagna should cease ' • and that the
principle of non-intervention should be proclaimedl
and respected.
"By inviting the Dukes of Modena and Parma
to give to their people institutions similar to those
existing in Piedmont, and that the Grand Duke of
Tuscany should. re-establish the constitution to
whiCh he had freely consented in 1848._

"By obtaining from the Sovereign Pontiff the
administrative separation of the provinces beyond
the Appenines, in conformity with the propositions
communicated in 1856 to the Cabinets of London
and Paris. _ _

" May England obtain the realisation of these
conditions! Italy, relieved and pacified, will bless
her; and. Sardinia, who has so often invoked her
co-operation and assistance in favour of her-unfor-
tunate fellow-countrymen, will vow to her an im-
perishable gratitude."

THE NAVY.

The Severn, 50-gun sailing frigate, which has
been taken into dock at Chatham for the purpose of
being converted into a screw steamer, is ordered to
be cut asunder and lengthened 50 feet amidships,
18 feet aft, and 23 feet forward. As soon as the
alterations ordered have been made to this vessel
she will be one of the finest frigates belonging to
the British navy.
The screw steamer Amphion, 30, has been taken
into No. 2 dock at Chatham for the purpose of
havini, her defects made good, when she will be
attached to the steam reserve.

The screw corvette Cadmus, 21, having com-
pleted her fitments at Chatham dockyard, has been
floated out of the second dock and towed to Sheer-
ness by the African and Adder steamers, and will
be attached to the steam reserve at that port.

Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam-sloop Ardent,
Commander John H. Cave, commissioned Nov. 12,
1857, for service on the west coast of Africa, having
sustained considerable damage, has been docked at
Woolwich for repairs, and was yesterday paid off,
and the officers and crew released from duty.

The following ships were yesterday engaged by
the War Department for the conveyance of , stores
from Woolwich—namely, the Royal Rose, for
Colombo ; the Sea Park, for Simon's Town ; the
Malabar, for Demerara; and the Hannah Codner,
for St. Helena.

The Ur,rent screw steam troop-ship, Commander
E. W. Hire, arrived at Spithead yesterday, after
having conveyed the depot of the 77th Foot from
Jersey, and disembarked them at Cowes. It is ex-
pected she will next proceed to Devonport to load
provisions for the fleet in Bantry Bay.
The Shannon, 21, screw steam fri(rate at Ports-
mouth, was yesterday moved out of No. 7 dock, at
that port, to the steam basin. The Melpomene, 51,
screw steam frigate, was afterwards placed in the
same dock for the purpose of having a Kingston
valve for the supply of her auxiliary fire engine.
The Grasshopper, '2, screw steam gunboat, at
Portsmouth, yesterday steamed out of the harbour
to try her machinery after her late overhaul and
repair, prior to her being placed in the steam reserve.
The Bullfinch, 2, screw steam gunboat (tender to
the Illustrious), Lieut. J. W. James, was yesterday
taken into the steam basin at Portsmouth to have
her boilers taken out for examination and repair.

The new steam crane on the east wall of the steam
basin in Portsmouth Dockyard will undergo its
testing trial in the course of a few days. Steam
was got up yesterday for the first time. Messrs.
Fairbairn, of Manchester, are the contractors.

The steam storcship . Rhadamanthiis, withima-
chinery from Woolwich, arrived at Devonport on
Monday. She takes jurymasts and gear to Pem-
broke for the Revenge, appointed to be launched
to-morrow.
The gunboat Hind, with stores saved from the
wreck of the Czar, arrived at Plymouth on Friday,
andaeturned to Falmouth on Monday.
The steam tender Avon, Second Master J. Pal-
mer, from Scilly and Penzance; arrived at Plymouth
on Wednesday with boys for the service.
The steam tender Advice, from Queenstown, ar-
rived at Plymouth on Wednesday.
The gunboat Forward made a trial trip outside
Plymouth sound on Wednesday. ,
The screw steamship Nile, Captain A. P. E.
Wilmot, was taken out of the basin at Keyham,
•
Plymouth, on Wednesday.
Yt
.been found necessary to take out the
boilers of the screw steamship James Watt, 91,.
Captain E. Codd, under repair at Keyham.
The screw steam frigate Topaz, at Devonport,
was taken to the new north jetty on Tuesday, to
give place to the screw steamship Algiers, 91, Capt.
D. O'Callaghan, which is to be docked on arrival.
The new screw steam frigate Forte, 51 guns, of
400 horse power (nominal), left Sheerness on Tues-
day on a final trial of her engines. In six tithes
running the measured mile in the Swin she ave-
raged 111 knots; she made from 58 to 60 revolu-
tions, with a vacuum of 251 b. and 201 b. steam pres-
sure. After running for a trial of speed she pro-
ceeded towards Harwich, and returned to her moor-
ings at 530 p.m. The authorities, on the part of
the Admiralty and Engineer Department, ex-
pressed themselves highly satisfied with the work-
ing of the engines.
A letter received at Plymouth, written from the
screw steamship Casar. 90, Captain C. Frederick,
dated off Greytown, March 3, states that all on
board were healthy. For nearly three months they
had not started " tack or sheet," and there were no
signs of moving from the place. Some of the officers
had not been over the ship's side for several weeks.
In consequence of the increasing shallowness of the
harbour, which prevents the Omar from entering,
it has been suggested that vessels of lighter draught
such as gunboats, might be employed more advan-
tageously on this duty.
Letters received at Plymouth, written from the
screw steamship Orion, 91, Capt. W. Houston, dated
Gibraltar, March 27, state that they, with the screw
steamship Victor Emmanuel, 9, Capt. J. Wilcox,
were awaiting orders. They do not expect to be
sent further up the Mediterranean.
It is reported among naval officers at Plymouth
that the Diadem and Caesar will be ordered home
from the West Indies, and the Orion and Victor
Emmanuel from the Mediterranean, for the purpose
of attending the approaching naval review at Spit-
head. •
Lieutenant A. G. E. Murray has been appointed
to the Jackal, and Lieutenant S. F. Studdart to the
Excellent.