The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-04-25 00:00:00

SWITZERLAND.

The forest on Mount Calnada, in the canton of the
Grisons, has been almost entirely destroyed by fire. The
conflagration presented a magnificent spectacle, and was
seen at a considerable distance. Large trees, having been
burnt through near the roots, rolled down the mountain
with great violence. The damage done was very consi-
derable. The accident was, it is said, caused by the im-
prudence of a goatherd in lighting a fire. Nine hundred
inhabitants of the canton have departed for Bremen,
intending to embark for New York.

PRUSSIA.
A Berlin despatch says that on Thursday an offensive
and defensive alliance between Austria and Prussia was
signed by Baron Manteuffel on the one side, and Baron
Hess and Count Thun on the other.
ITALY.

According to advices from Turin of the 15th inst., the
Sardinian government has issued an order prohibiting any
privateers under the Russian flag from being armed, pro-
visioned, or harboured, with their prizes, in Sardinian ports.
Letters from Naples represent King Ferdinand as de-
cidedly Russian in feelings. He is strengthening himself
both on land and sea, but is said to feel the scarcity of
money as well as other people. M. de la Cour had not
been very graciously received,. and Sir William Temple
(who, by the by, is still absent), is known to have been
long out of favour with his Majestly, but of course from
that quarter Austria can have no fear of revolutionary
movements.

The Duchess of Parma intends to publish a general
amnesty in favour of political offenders, and has appointed
a commission to inquire into the resources of the country,
and to devise means of reducing the taxes.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
By the screw-steamer Hydaspes, arrived at Plymouth,
we have intelligence from the Cape to the 25th of Feb.
The election of representatives in the upper house of
Parliament at the Cape was nearly complete. Almost
every seat had been contested.
The abandonment of the Orange River Sovereignty,
where it is alleged that gold has been discovered, gives
great dissatisfaction to the colonists.
The subject of the discovery of gold is attracting great
attention at the Cape. Some samples came home by the
Hydaspes for the government.
The Port Elizabeth Mercury of the 18th of February
says :—" Information was received from the neighbourhood
of Burghersdorp, by several persons in the town, that
gold had been discovered in the neighbourhood of Smith-
field, and that several grains of gold had been obtained,
varying in size from small particles up to nuggets of 20,
23, and 64 grains a-piece. A gentleman who arrived yes-
terday from Burghersdorp, and on whose judgment re-
liance can be placed, states that he has seen, handled, and
tested in every possible way, several specimens of the ore,
and that there is not the slightest doubt left on his mind
that it is veritable gold, and that it can be obtained from
theneighbourhood of Smithfield in considerable quantities."
The following is a list of the troops at the Cape of Good
Hope :—The 2nd (Queen's), numbering about 500 ; the
12th Foot, 400; the 46th, 600 ; the 60th Rifles, 600 ; the
73rd, 600 ; the 91st 400 ; and the Cape Corps, 1,000.
The 12th and 91st received orders in January to prepare
for returning home. They were to be relieved by the 21st
and 63rd, since ordered to the East.
The Meander, 44, Commander Talbot, was at Simon's
Bay, and the Dee, Commander Smith, was at Struys Bay.
The Hydra and the Dart were expected at the Mo-
zambique.
The Penguin had sailed for Algoa Bay, and was expected
at the Cape in the beginning of March en route to England.
The squadron was all well.