Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-06-08

The Portuguese government has proposed to
Spain treaty of alliance, offensive and defen-
sive, but Spain refused on account of Portu-
gals alliance with England. which might
compromise that liberty of action which Spain
intends to pursue.
The Italian Committee daily sends off from
England numerous volunteers to be enrolled
in the Legion about to be formed at Turin
The Roman Duke Philip Suuta Montefel-
tro, General in the service of the Venetian
Republic. who in 1S49 saved Venice by hol-
ding the Austrians under Nugent in check at
Treviso, is to place himself at the service of
Count Cavour He will either have the
command of the above named Italian legion,
or proceed to Tuscany to command the Ro-
man volunteers, now being enrolled in that
| country.
The London Times of the 21st ult states
that the neutrality proclamation had caused
much excitement in tne city from the uncer-
tainty felt as to the articles over which it ex-
tends. The ship-owners. through the Secre-
tary of their Society, have consequently
addressed the Government for information.
The articles with regard to which there ap-
pears the greatest anxiety, are corn, coal. and
provisions. Some large contracts for the sup
ply OF barley to the French Government have
been negotiated, while the engagements for
/ SnlpplDS coal are also heavy.
| The Mauritius steamer, lying at South
amptoh, was chartered, it is said to carry
coal for the French service, under penalty of
! e10, 600 for non-completion of the contract,
but is now unable to proceed 1t seems per-
fectly reasonable that both grain and coal
should be deemed contraband of war, but in
the present case the result will be simply to
cause freight of that description to be trans
ferred to French or American ships.
The London Times correspondent in the
Austrian camp is characterized by the Liver
pool J0urRat as partisan rather than an OBJ
! server, seeing nothing in the Austrian camp
! or the conduct of the Austrirn soldiers, but
1 what he admires. In Piedmont, according to
his estimation, everything is wrong. The
King is an inbccie used by Count Cavour as
Royal ruppet. The peasantry are oppres-
sed by taxes and desire change. and the
Austr;ans wherever they appear were well
coned by the people.
The English elections and their results
are freely discussed, especially with regard 70
the Irish parties
The Queeu's birthday was celebrated in
London and Liverpool with unusual eclut.-
The American Minister and Consul were
present a. the banquet in London.
The Aus rian Aotilla has received orders to
take refuge at Trieste, where the French ma
Wy will not attack it, as that port belongs to
the Federal territory, but that measure had
not been completely executed when Admiral
Gravierve entered the AdIiatic. so that his
division may Intercept the Austrian division,
which would then take shelter under the guns
of Venice, and be open to attack
The French feet before Venice has already
taken twenty four vessels
French owners will be aware that there is
no prospect of capture, and the Americans
are free to act at pleasure, since the United
States Government have had no time to issue
a prohibition, and are perhaps not likely to do
so under any circumstances So long back
as the reign OF Charles l., corn. grain. and
victuals were never declared contraband The
question, with respect to coal, is almost new !;
but naval stores have always been incu-
ded, coal seems necessarily to fall into that
category, now that steam is principal agent
in all naval operations.
Each Sovereign, moreover, has the prerog-
ative to make new declarations of contract
and when articles come into use as impe
! meuts of war which were before innocent, OF
had in fact. existence during former wars
and it was upon this principle that the Brit
ish Government acted in 1854 when they
issued instructions to prevent the importation
: of steam machinery.