Year: 1859

Europe expects that he will either leave the Aus
trlan Pollock in quiet possession of his bird or
that he will succeed in setting the poor bird free in
the name of the great principle which in the face
Heaven and earth, he has sworn to yindcate, and
not content himself with the cheap satisfaction of
restoring the bird to com Portable cage after
moments taste Of freedom, or letting it fly as well
as II can between four walls with mutilated wings.


LOMBARDY.


RELIGIOUS FREEDOM


The Ptedmontese Gazette contains a decree by the
Governor-General of Lombardy aboishing the old
(Austrian) laws, which made difference between
the inhabitants because OF their religious opinions
Those laws, it is observed are contrary to the
equality of citizens in the eye of the law which pre-
walls IN other parts of the monarchy, and are in
compatible with the principles of modern civiIiza
tlon. 1t is therefore decreed:


"That in the Lombard provinces all the citizens
whatever the religion they profess equal before
the law and shall equally enjoy all civil and polit
cal rights as in the elder provinces of the monar-
chy All ord rs and yulations of contrary effect
are abrogated."


From the london Ne,os, july 121


The Governor of Milan, recently appointed by
Victor Emanuel. has issued decree, declaring
that the same liberty of conscience and of religious
teaching which has for many years prevailed in
Piedmont is henceforth assured to the people of
Lombardy. Under the free institutions that exist
in the hereditary States of the Sandman King
men have grown accustomed to think speak and
print whatsoever opinions they believe to be true
in speculative and political science; what is far
more precious in the sight of good men, far more
permanently valuable even means of national
advancement and civilization in the sight of deep
thinking men, freedom of worship and of educa-
ton has been established in all the territories of
the House of Savoy west of the Ticno. And now
that the dividing stream has been crossed by the
army of liberation, and that Lombardy, of its own
spontaneous will, as in 1s4s has pronounced for
union with Piedmont, it is wise and Just that tho
newly-organized government of the provinces thus
united should afford the earliest proofs in its power
M fha nirfF arbf
obligations nobler evidence of steadfastness
and soundness of purpose it could not give than
this There is no sectarian object to be gained
IN Lombardy by the enactments of guarantees
OF soul liberty" There are no disatfected Hugue-
nots to be won over by concessions to the recent
ly established order of things. No powerful sec
ton or class is to be proptiated in other coun-
tries, by the proclamation of the principles of
ligious freedom.


The population is professedy Catholic, as in Pied
mont but hitherto the rights ofthe laty to INQUIRE
discuss, or teach in matters of faith or morals have
been no more than rare and exceptional inSulgenccs
from the priesthood and police; for in regions ruled
under the terms offs Concordat the bidding ofpriest-
craft and the baton of the gendarme are to each
other as the body to the soul of daily oppression.
No religious book could be printed or published in
Milan, without the previous inspection of the au-
thorities and the authorities were bound by solemn
treaty with the Vatican not to suffer anv doubt to
be disseminated Of the maxims of Hildebrand and
the ethics of Loyoa. The Sacred Scriptures them
selves were at the head of the list of contraband
articles prohibited at the frontiers; and no book
seller would have ventured to embark in the perilous
speculation of printing for secret sale an edition of
the Word of God.


An English gentleman, not long ago happened,
on his way to Italy, to have bought at Frankfort a
cheap English edition of Shelley's works. On his
arrival at Domo 0ssola, his baggage was as usual
searched, and it proved to contain only two books
"a small Bible and the volume above named Shell
ly was an unknown and forgotten name to the
douaners, they seized the inspired repertorv of
truth that tend to ''make men free indeed" and
suffered the winged words of the unbeleving poet
to pass without notice. But in the dull routine of
OF obscurantism, the unhappy Lombards seldom
found their religious and political oppressors undis
corning. The love Of inquiry they could not indeed
eradicate but they succeeded wonderfully in sitting
Its avowal and preventing its exercise. A Lombard
might be classic scholar, mathematician or an
artist, if he pleased, but knowledge Of the founda-
tions of morals, of creeds of governments other
than that taught by the Jesuts, he could not OBJ
tain, save by expatriation or by stealth For the
majority of even what is called the better classes
neither OF these was practically possible and with
few exceptions, consequently the community re-
mained profoundly ignorant of those diversites of
opinion in the collision Of which the moral thews
and snews OF modern civilization have confessedly
grown strong.


Here, then, We see, in form that every man
among us can understand the difference between
the two systems that are struggling in the ascen-
dancy in Italy. 1t is not Professionalism against



of ritual or discipline: it is far more-it is the re
volt Of the latY against sacerdotaism; the uprising
of free thought against unparalleled priestcraft;
the renewed assertion of the eternal and nalenabe
right of private judgment in all things, whether
civil or religious, against the most relentless tyran
ny over the minds of men ever undertaken by the
coniont ingenuity of Church and State. 1t NAV
suit trading politicians in high places In this coun-
try to describe the mighty conflict going on in Italy
as a selfish scufle between two despotisms, and
nothing more.


But, wherever this decree of NJ. Vigliani is read,
men whose hearts are right within them will thank
God that the courtler and craven version of the
matter Is mere miserable mendacity, unbelieved
when spoken, unbelievable when heard How soon
all Italy NAV hope to be admitted to equal rights of
conscience and of expression with Piedmont and
Lombardy, we dare not venture to predict. The
people go to Turin, press in secret to their paptat
ing bOs ms the historic mementoes of that freedom
which, even in what were called dark ages, they to
great extent enjoyed, aud anxiously they count
the hours until the berating trumpet shall be heard
without their gates, even as it has been heard at
Milan. Are there in Senate or our press-in
the Parliament in the pulpits of Engand-any
so base so timescrving, or so slavish, to depre
cate the speedy ful6lment of the captives prayer2


HUNGARY.


The following is an extract from private letter,
dated Lay bach, July 3:


"Tbe unfortunate result of the conflict at Solfe-
rino has raised to the highest pitch the feeling you
witnessed, both among the army and the people in
your late journey from Venice. In the former in
deed, it has attained height which cannot be con
templated without anxiety, if not alarm, so exas-
perated have all classes Of the sodery become both
officers and men, at the repeated disasters they
have sustained, and the ignorance, ncapacity, and
(as some declare) actual cOwardice, which caused
them. 1t is great mistake to suppose the Aus
trians, even here, either cowed disprited; on
the contrary, the feeling of evaporation and deter
mined resolution We witnessed has, if possible, in
creased; but it is Joined to a sulenness of de-
meanor and openly expressed contempt for their
leaders, the depth of which those only thoroughly
acquainted with the nature of the Austrian army
will completely understand or the sinister and omi
nous anticipations it is likely to create.


In regard to Kossuth, his influence has altogether
ceased in Hungary, though do not mean to assert
it might not be revived were an explosion to take
place there. So little, however, is thought of him
now, and so completely that gallant people
reused against the French, that were the Emperor
Francis Joseph only to dismiss Grune, Bach, and
Thun from his councils, and faithfully promise some
notifications in the present obnoxious system,
based upon their former constitution, am firmly
cOnvnced-and the opinion is universal-that the
whole nation would rise, and such scene be wit
messed as has not occurred since the time of Maria
Theresa.-Cor. Of the London Times.


AN EPISODE OF THE WAR-THE RISE AND


PROGRESS OF PANIC.


Mr.. Raymond of the New York Times gives an
interesting description of the rise and progress of
panic which occurred among the French troops on
the day after the battle of Solferino:


The field as far as the eve could reach was strewn
with dead though only the horses could be distinct
ly seen, as the field had been covered with wheat,
of which, in spite of the terrible tramplng it
had received still standing, and concealed the
bodies of many of the men. Leaving the carriage
on the road to meet me further on, turned into
the field intending to cross it, but had not gone
more than twenty rods when tremendous outcry,
such as only excited Italian can raise, from my
driver attracted my attention and called me back.
found everybody in cOmmotion. The Chasseurs
dAtriqUe had left tt road and were drawn up in
the adjacent field; every body seemed preparing for
drawn out of the road, and presently train of ar
tillery wagons, fifteen or twenty in number, came
rushing up from the direction of Volta, the horses
being lashed by their riders into full gallop, and
the officers in command dashing ahead at full speed
to clear the way.


As soon as | could emerge from the dense cloud
of dust in which their sweeping rush had enveoped
us, l inquired of chasseur who stood near me the
meaning of the movement. He said he presumed
the Austrians had made stand ahead, and were
about to renew the fight, and that these artillery
wagons had been dispatched back in all haste for
fresh supplies of ammunition. The explanation
seemed satisfactory enough, and as the Austrians
were believed to be eight or ten miles away, and as
the heights of SOlferino and Cavriana in plain
sight, crowded with French troops, no special
reason was apparent for any alarm. | started,
therefore, again across the field but my driver in
sisted upon instantly returning to Montechiaro,
he was perfectly convinced the Austrians were at
hand. Finding that could not control him in the
least, and that my only choice to go with him
or be left afoot dnder burning sun some six miles
from Castgione, l made the best of bad case and
hack Is far a that Olace and then DISCHARGED