The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-01-22
Laier nom Europe.

| The Lon don correspondent of the New
York 7ribdas thus writes.
10 spite the tHsesteniBg inspect of the
Neufchutel question, the political state of
Europe appears more pacific than ever
England, as well as Ffanee, seeks 10 pFess
vent any collision between the King Of Prus-
sia aud Switzerland. King Frederick Wn.
liam, however, seems 10 be very obstinate,
and prepares for on invasion Of Basic aud
IScaffhsusen; and though during, the late r
Russian hs never ceased to lament the
shedding Of human blood in the Crimea, he
has now no objection against a wholesale
slaughter Of Germans in order TO maintain
his barren title to a small bit OF land dc.
tached from his possessions, aud not Yield
ing any income either to himself or TO Pus-
sia. The Swiss, on the other hand, suspect
that Austria and all the Gefndh Pfiices
have q secret understanding with Prussia for
overthrowing the federal institutions of the
Republic introduced in lS47, and for restor-
ing the uumanageable constitution Of 1915,
which completely paralyzed Switzerland, by
acknowledging the complete sovereignty OF
each Of the twenty two Csntons, even az re.
gards coinage, postal regulations and CON.
mercial legislation. This is the reason whv
all the Swiss-are now enthusiastically pre-.
pairing for defence-arming themselves. and
endeavoring by speedy mobilization of one
hundred and twenty thousand riilemen, to
irishten the surrounding powers, and to en-
force desirable compromise without recur.
ring to arms. Public opinion, and still more,
the financial authorities OF Europe, are 90
strongly set against war that an arrange.
ment is expected within the next few days.
The question Of Herat, in Asia, is byl far
more threatening, though the English public
is most decidedly uverse to Persian war
Lord Redcliffe, aware OF this opposition,
tried to arrange the difficulty with the Per-
sian Ambassador, Ferouk Khan, who chanc.
ed to be at Constantinople; the propose ed
terms being, OF course, the restitution OF He.
rat and the dismissal Of the Grand Vizier,
who bears the title of Sadri Azem. Should
the Shah refuse to go this length, then the
war will seriously be carried on, without re-.
garding the opinions of England. Lord Pal.
merston endeavors, however, to enlist the
sympathies of the public, and with this view
an uble article, which we may call official.
explaining the situation, has appeared in the
last number Of the Economist ,.A
There has been fearful explosion at Ma.
pies. 1t is hinted the act was criminal. A
letter from Naples, dated December 18th,
says:
Yesterday, about mid day, the entire city
was alarmed by Riost awful conclusion
and report. 1t resembledthe united noise of
fifty cannon. The alarm created was uni.
versal, and people fed in all directions, for
ii was believed to be The signal of another
revolution. On inquiring into the matter,
it was ascertained that it arose from the ex.
Plosion of the powder magazine at the end
OF the Dew Mole, at the extremity OF tho ar.
senal. 1t was sand that eighty cantoro, "a
cantoro is equal to one hundred rotoIi, the
rotoli being thirty three ounces) were depos.
tied there. 1t appears that the Sannta,
government vessel, brought up more powder
yesterday from Messina, which was to have
been consigned there Immediately. How.
ever, on the officer putting the key into the
lock OF the door of the magazine, the horri.
BILE explosion took place. A great part 6f
the new Notifications in that direction have
been completely destroyed; two govern.
ment steamers have been damaged, one or
two custom house vessels have disappeared;
people walking in the neghborhood were,
thrown down by the shock, or by the Debris.
which fell like shower at great distance.
In this way some were killed, or had their
limbs broken. The loss Of life it is sdifficult
to estimate at present, some putting It down
at from fifteen to twenty. The damage thst
has been done to the government works is,
estimated at 100000 ducats, while an archi.
tect we'll acquainted with the city, calculates
the number of windows broken at s;xty
thousand. Every house has suffered; in
many places, as in the royal palace, entire,
windows being blown in, and the ground
was literally powdered with ashes. |5s't