Star.
London, England, 1821-03-28 00:00:00

THE EVENING STAR.

LONDON.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1821.

The Catholic Disabilities Removal Bill again
became the subject of discussion in the ,House of
Commons lastpight. Mr. Pat moved that aoman
Catholics shouitle excluded from seats in the Privy
Council, and also from the Judicial Bench. The
motion was opposed by Sir J. NEWPORT, and sup-
ported by Sir J. N►csot and others; and, after a
discussion of some length, the Committee divided,
when the Amendment was rejected by a majority of
19, the numbers being, in favour of it, 169—against
it, 188. An Amendment, proposed by Mr. Gout.-
BURN, to render Catholics ineligible to hold the office

of Governor of a Colony, shared the same fate. It
was rejected on a division, the numbers. being, for
exclusion, 120—against it 163. The Committee will
sit again this day.

We have received the Paris Papers of Sunday,
and also some interesting articles of private cones-
pondence from the French capital, from Geneva,
from Milan, arid from Florence. If we may give
credence to the latter, the Austrians have suffered a
defeat from the Neapolitans, at a point where it Was
least expected. While Genesal Fastitowr was drawn
into a wild goose chase through the hills which form
the right of the Abruzzi, it would seem, that the
Neapolitans, advancing through the mountains on
the left, had descended, in great force, on the rear,
of the Austrian Army, when a general engagement
was brought tin, which ended in the overthrow of
the enemy with great loss. No less than three
hundred • waggons are stated to have been seen
returning northward, :with the wounded of the
Austrian Army; and at Rome General FRIMONT
was beginning to experience the common fate of all
discomfited Commanders, in loss of credit and scanty
resources.

The Vice-Regal Court of Austrian Lombardy
quitted Milan on the 13th or 14th instant, and has
retired, as to a place:of greater safety, within the
walls of Mantua. The expectation appears to be gene-
ral in the South of Europe, that the Florentines and
Milanese will follow the example of the Piedmontese,
in declaring for their independence. Indeed one ac-
count from Genoa goes so far as to state that the
Spanish Constitution had been actually proclaimed
at Florence. The flight of the Court is certainly not
calculated to throw any discredit on the report.
It is reported that the Emperor of RUSSIA has made
a friendly notification to the French Government of
his intention of marching an army of 100,000 men
to die North of Italy, to the relief of the Austrians.
Those, however, who are acquainted with the present
state of the Russian finances, are not much alarmed
at this intelligence. The Russian frontier is, as all
the world knows, far, very far removed from Italy,
and the army having to pass through friendly coun-
tries, would be obliged to pay for everything it re-
quired. The Russians could not expect to live at free
quarter till they reached their destination; and this
would not suit very well with the Treasury of the Head
of the Holy Alliance. If the Exchange is at present so
much against Russia, that the rouble is as low as 9d.
what would it be after an expensive movement like
this? In fact the Russians, however powerful at home,
have never been able, without subsidies, to march a
large force to any distance from their own territories.
At this present time, too, the Nobles of Russia
are by no means satisfied with the conduct of ALEX-
ANDER, and the attempt to embark so deeply in a
cause foreign to Russian interests might be attended
with the most serious consequences. When discon-
tent prevails in Russia, it generally displays itself in
a very energetic manner, as ALEXANDER, from the
example of his father and grandfather, very well
knows. He can hardly, we should think, fail to sus-
pect that he has more to fear from his own Nobles,
than from the spread of revolutionary doctrines in
civilised Europe. We are therefore, under all circum-
stances, disposed to think that the people of the North
of Italy have little to apprehend from the advance of
a Russian army through Germany.