Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-04-18
BY THE STEAMER AMERICA.
Correspondence efthe N. Y. Commercial Advertiser

L
LONDON, April 1, 1858.
The chief thing to be noticed in European af-
fairs at the present moment, is the evidence
which constantly protrudes itself in all quarters,
of the agitation going on under the superficial
crust upon which the various governments stand.
At Berlin the discovery ola conspiracy has Just
taken place, which has led to eighty-six persons,
of yarions ranks in life, being thrown into prison.
on charge of high treason. Stores of congreve
rockets, shells, weapons and missiles of all kinds
have been found at some of their houses, with
Revolutionary pamphlets and letters in abun-
dance.
At Palermo in Sicily, also, an insurrectionary
movement has broken out and been suppressed
three hundred persons having been arrested and
FIVE already sentenced to death. In Lombardy,
notwithstanding the recent failure at the capital,
similar plots are alleged to be every where rife,
and at the town of Somura forty people have Just
been seized and sent to the fortress of Milan.
Concurrently with all these circumstances,
there is degree of agitation in Switzerland.
aggravated by Austrian intrigues, such as may
at any moment cause the first signal of general
explosion; while with regard to Turkey there
seems to be still vast deal of dir lomatc intrigue
going on, which although it is likely to end 10 the
pretensions OF the various powers being smother
ed for little time in some nsincere compromi-
ses, sufficiently denotes the existence of an ulcer
that may at any period assume form of despe-
rate virulence.
The of the respective pors or connections
aiBefln and Palmero have yet been received nor
Ia the latter INSTANCE details whatever likely TO
trauspire. In both ctses all that really be relied
upon IS that the mprsonmen's and will be
carried TO an extent that will give enfold force TO the
terrible state OF affairs.
The re-assembling OF Parliament is looked forward 10
with considerable interest, chiefly onnexion wlh
Lord John RussePs ant cpied measure of national cd
ucaton, and the budget of the Cnahcelor of the Ex
chequer
On former 1t mentioned that the as
pect of affairs IN Switzerland, although it attracted com.
paraivey slight aten inn in reality far more Sc
subject conternpla ion than all the diplomatic
fuss about Turkey and the Holy Shrnes, ami tn in
PRESTON seems to be gaining ground, The expulsion
OF the SWISS settlers from Lombardy has been forced
by Austria, with an animus which shows that she
woull II she dared proceed tar greater extrenitie
The number of these poor people is varously stated
between 5000 and 10000 and they driven forth in
a manner which involved the part of many of them
the prospect of starvation Not the slightest proof ha
been given of their having participated in any plots
They in fact among the most valuable inhabitants
of Lonbardy and the they have received ri
walls in the expulsion of the English VOL
people from France after the revo ution OF 1s4s. Not
content however with this measure Austria maintains
rigorous blockade of the Swiss frontier and meets all
exp0stulatons with wild and thus far wholly unsupport-
ed charges against the authorities of the oTeine
for sympathising with the Italians
To such au extent has the arrogance of tone the
part of Austria been carried that must if had been
directed toward state equally powerful with herself,
already have led to the prospect of Whether she
will stop short OF the last stag of provocation remans
be seen-but her enemies would wish nothing more
strongly than that she should make Switzerland the first
ground OF the new strugs that later
be inevitable. The immediate policy attributed to her
to infiict hardshps the Ticnese which shall cause
them for the sake of their trade and general means of
subsistence to turn against their present moderate gov
eminent and to install that shall be wholly subserv
ent to all that the Cabinet of Vienna may demand.
The English tuuds have been very steady At the
last date the 3per cent :onsos at 100 and they
nave closed this afternoon at that price, after having
touched 1904.
The report ofthe Liverpool cotton market for the
week shows great animation unusually large bust
ness having been transacted at ali advance OF Id per
pound.
The grain market has been firm at former rates
Gprn