, 1866-07-30
A TEN DAYS Wharf.-The CESSION
OF VENETIA TO FRANCE.
From the London Times, July g.

his WOElu vi OUTS ldo uG-llSO AiohJ
wonders, but it has never before seen a
Ten Days War. Quick work it is true,
was done in Belgium in 1915; but Wa
terloo came at the fag end Of a twenty
years fray. Old Radetzky, it may also
be said, ''came, saw and conquered' on
the Ticino in 1912; but Novara was only
the finishing stroke to an army which
eight months previous decentralization had
untitled for the field. Between the 23rd
Of last month, however, and the 3rd of
this, one of the mightiest military mon
arches in the world has been struck
down in the ~fullness of it's vigor; the So
vereign who was said to be at the head OF
900, 900 combatants has had to sue for
peace; a contest to which it WouM hardly
haze been ertraUagGnt TO assign q pera0d Of
ten gears duration has been brought TO an
issue almost in less time than at ac0uM haze
taken uears ago TO convey neCs Of the decld-
ration of hostiRtieS.
We hardly know whether we should
marvel more at the war or the peace.
No other transaction in the worlds history
has given rise to a more rapid and breath
less succession of surprises. Not only has
every step in the epic progress OF the
Prussian arms been attended by results
contrary TO the general expectation, but
even the collapse, we will not say of the
power, but of the hitherto indomitable
pride and forlitude of the Austrian Mon
archy has something in it that transcends
the limits of belief. The Emperor of Aus
tria "cedes Venetia to Napoleon Ill, and
accepts"-or, in other words, soIlclts-
''his mediation for the conclusion OF peace
between the belligerents." OF the At
~lantean task The French Emperor takes
upon his shoulders we will say nothing
for the present. The p%aciication of the
two great German Powers, and the re-
constitution of the Imperial or Federal
compact, are matters involving such a
mass of national and international diff
cuIties that hardly any hope Of q salts
factory result could be entertained were
not all the address Of such a Monarch as
Napoleon, and all the aScendency of such
a Power as France, brought to bear upon
it. But of one thing at least we are
sure (; on one point all parties are agreed.
Venice ceases to belong to Austria, and
Italy is free to the Adriatic. y
It will be we'll for the Italians if they
understand and accept the mission
which Providence henceforth aIlots them.
"L'It0he c'ed la paiz." The moment
Italy finds herself at home in Venice, she
has not only no cause for hatred, but
all possible reasons for gratitude to
her neighbours-to France, who fought
Italy's battles "for an idea )" to Prussia,
who made common cause with her in her
sorest need finally, to Austria herself,
who now gives up the struggle with so
good o grace, and spares Italy a trial the
issue Of which might not be doubtful,
but the prolongalion of which could not
fail at any rate to bear Italy down TO the
utmost depth of exhaustion. Like Swift
zerland, Italy will be so placed by her
peculiar position as to have the right
and the means to keep aloof from all
European controversies. She need not
lay aside the sword /; she need not cease
to be a warlike nation, though she may
well enounce the onerous glory of being
. military one. She may dismiss her army,
though she can make a soldier of every
one Of her citizens. The physical and