The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-05

Lord John Russell aud Lord Palmerston are
again friends, the former having made overtures
of reconciliation through friends II Is said that
Lord John Russell Is TO have the aid of Sir j. Ora
ham in the Leadership Of the liberal party in the
House OF Commons.
The Mining Journal intimates that the Prussian
government contemplate making great reduction
In the present duties on British iron, steel, and
machinery OF every description, which at present
are nearly prohibited by the high tariff.
The Liverpool Chronicle says: Many OF our
skilled engineers have gone to America, and are
now working in the large shOps in New York,
New Orleans, Cincinnati, and elsewhere. Num-
bers have also gone to France and Belgium. France
knows the value OF the men, and takes the best
and Belgium, which has no mean pretensions 10
engineering enterprise, comes and makes her sc.
lection at this convenient opportunity. Nor will
the countries alone which largely Interested IN
the construction Of machinery act upon this plan.
but smaller interests will step in and do likewise"
new Swiss question engages public attention:
II appears that the people OF Bale, in their carnival
frolcs, exhibited still more shocking irreverence
for the Prince President OF the French republic
than the burghers OF Client have done. A monkey,
dressed up in generals uniform, with a large
nose and black mustachios. was paradcd through
the streets to represent Louis Napoleon, escorted
by an immense concourse of people ornamented
with nsses ears. These followers were supposed to
be French citizens. The crowd sang republican
songs, into which couplets turning the President
into ridicule introduced for the OCCASION
Some officers OF the cavalry in garrison at HUI
ningue proposed to get horsewhips to chastise the
insoence Of the jewellers, but they were advised
that it would not be prudent. and they RETAINED.
affair was known and arranged week beforehand,
and the police of Bale carefully abstained from in
terfering. Satisfaction has been demanded by the
French government
A letter from Rome Of the 10th says: "Amongst
the various projects which the Prince President has
at present in view there is which, If carried out,
would seriously affect the commercial interests OF
all Europe, and especially those of this coun
try, being nothing less than plan to enter into q
customs league with the greater part OF Italy, and
balance the commercial as well as political DOM
inaton of Austria by the establishment of sort OF
rival French xoll-verein. The proposition, however,
although backed by promises Of compensation in
the shape of French protection does not appear to
have met with all the success which the President
desired, as Austria has too much influence both
here and in Tuscany to allow its being accepted
by the Papa or Grand Ducal governments, even
il they were disposed SO to do; nor s 1t likely that
Naples will prove more compantln point 30 In
portant and 30 hostile to that great German league
which it is no doubt the aim Of the imperial gov
ernment to extend, if possible, over the whole OF
the Italian pcninsula."
The London Morning Adrertisrr publishes a doc
umcnt Of importance to the commercial communi-
ty, supplied by its German correspondent 1t ia a
transcript IN srtenso. OF the project OF junction,
on the part Of Austria, with the German Customs
Union. The document which has been drawn up
and agreed by the Congress at present sitting In
Vienna, provides that, "From the Let of January,
1859, the two customs groups (the Austrian empire
and the German Zoll-verein) named in the customs
treaty, shall form, in the position which they shall
have attained at that time, customs territory,
surrounded by a common line Of customs. Be.
tween both customs groups free and reciprocal
commercial intercourse shall exist, and mutually
binding laws shall be agreed to respecting import,
export, and transit duties well nc those on the
inland fabrication Of beet root sugar; and also laws
regarding the share, in common, OF the produce oil
those dutics.' Eleven other articlcs follow, refer
ring to various mutual privileges and concessions,
which il carried out, cannot fail to act preudcial-
ly for English commerce; according to all appear
ances, however, Prussia will zealously struggle
against the realization Of the plan.