AUSTRIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 74, 16 October 1852, Page 4

AUSTRIA.

The death of Prince Schvvarzenberg resulted from a stroke of apoplexy. Prince Schwarzenberg found the Austrian Empire in ruins, and he leaves it entire, lie found the authority of the Imperial Court at its lowest ebb — attacked in Italy, rejected in Hungary, derided in Vienna, and effaced at Frankfort — insomuch that the Tyrol seemed the only possession which the House of Hapsburg could call its own. He left that authority absolute throughout the dominions of the Crown, and as influential,, as it has ever been in the councils of Europe. To have achieved that work in three years and a half was the part of no ordinary man. The " Atlas" remarks there was no casualty that could have happened among the ' sommites' of other countries -which would have excited so much interest in England as has followed the sudden death of the Prince. As the restorer of vigour and prestige to the old Austrian despotism ; as the successful opponent and cruel conqueror of the Hungarian patriots ; above all, as the Minister who, among the whole corps of foreign diplomatists, has distinguished himself by a constant antagonism to the policy and discourtesy to the natives of England, the la,te Prime Minister of Austria was the object of comment and remark with the English press and public. In this country he was little respected, and will be still less regretted. His loss may be felt for a time by his master the Emperor, who will probably find some difficulty in replacing so bold and unscrupulous a servant. But no change is likely to follow in the j system of Austrian policy through the death of . its chief. Military despotism bus become the ideal of Viennese administration. Schwarzenbcrg himself did but follow in the steps of a routine established by Metternich : and his successor, whoever he may be, can hardly depart from tracks so deeply worn.