The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-01

Lopez Cuba expedition. Mr.. Barringer declined
it, for he saw too plainly that this post is little
more than political death for any public man.
Such is the history of ten years in the Mexican
and Central American missions from this country.
1t will continue to be repeated in the future as
long as the present pernicious system of appoint
ment prevails-of finding places to suit men, in
stead of men to suit the places.
The Peace OF villafranca-The Conference Mt
Zurich.
The steamship Kangaroo, which arrived at st.
Johns on Saturday, brought one days later news
from Europe, which was Published in the HERALD
ofyesterday. The only really important item
of intelligence she brought was the confirmation
of the rumor that peace conference was to
meet at Zurich in ten days to settle the future
affairs Of Italy.
1t is somewhat strange, however, that in COM
municating this fact no mention is made of the
participation of Sardinia in the Congress We
are informed that Count Colloredo is to repre-
ent Austria, and Baron de Bourqueney France;
but the representation of Sardinia is not named.
And who are the parties representing France and
| Austria?
The diplomat selected to represent Austria in
the approaching conference, Count colloredo, is
member of one branch of the ancient and infu-
entail family of Princes of the Empire. The pro-
| genitors of the Colloredo- Mansfield branch were
eminent soldiers, and served with great eclat al
Lutzen, Culm and Leipsic, while the branch to
which the present envoy belongs were more
famous in the science of diplomacy.
| Baron de Bouqueney is an able diplomat, and
has been employed in the service of the French
government for over thirty years. Imay be in
terestiDg to know that he made lis debut in
diplomacy in this country, as Secretary of the
French Legation at Washington, and was ubse-
quently Secretary to Chateaubriand during his
embassy to London. Subsequently he was made
Minister to Constantinople, but since 1863 he has
represented the French Emperor at the Court OF
Vienna, where he was accredited at the time the
war broke out. He is thus well versed in the
affairs of Austria His relations with Baron
Hubner, the Austrian Minister at Paris, were said
to BIO of such close and friendly character that
an alliance with the Baron's daughter was at one
time spoken Of. At the Paris Conference of 1856
Baron de Bourqueney acted as the. colleague of
| Count Walewski, his extensive knowledge of
| Turkish affairs being his best recommendation
fer that post. In politics the Baron is an Orean-
| list, and was al able contributor to the Journal
dos De6ats, chiefly on subjects relating to foreign
politics.
This news would seem to imply that Sardinia,
who was g principal in the war, is to have no
voice in the terms Of the peace which follows,
as it was reported by the Europas news. she
would have; and If it be so, such an arrange
ment nust prove eminently distasteful to Italy.
The Italians will doubtless view the question in
this light. They will say that Victor Emanuel
entered upon the war to drive the Austrians out
of Italy, and with this intention obtained the aid
of his powerful ally tho Emperor of the French
By the terms of the peace, they willcontend,
Austrian dominion in Italy is not abolished,
and though Victor Emanuel has obtained DOS
session Of Lombardy it may be questioned
whether he should have accepted 1t, consider
ing that it was not surrendered to him by the
Emperor Of Austria, who did not seem dis
posed to recognise him at all, but to Louis
Napoleon, by whom it was magnanimously
transferred to Sardinia.
Whatever may be the result of the Zurich Con-
ference, it is probable that it will be submitted,
according to the usual practice, to the other
leading Powers Of Europe for their acquiescence.
It may be that they will not approve of the
terms agreed upon with regard to the cession of
Lombardy to Sardinia, as violation of the
treaties Of 1915; but it is not unlikely that they
will offer no objection to the arrangement, be-
cause the increase of territory does not make
Sardinia predominant Power in Italy. Even
with the addition Of Lombardy to Piedmont, the
kingdom Of Naples still retains the advantage
over her in point of population among the Italian
States, while the retention by Austria of the
fortified frontier of Lombardy still further re
duces the influence Of Sardinia in the peninsula
Assuming that the terms agreed upon by the
diplomatic representatives of the two empires
should be demurred to by other leading Powers,
it will be curious to observe the conflicting inte-
rests which may enter into the future settlement
Of the italian question, and the complications
which seem destined to grow out of it. That a
secret understanding exists between France and
Russia Is hardly doubted in the best informed
quarters; that the contamination of peace was
the result of what may perhaps be called collu-
sion between Louis Napoleon and Francis 10.
sepb, under the pressure 2! circumstances high