FOUR DAYS LATER ENGLISH NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 401, 6 August 1859, Page 3

FOUR DAYS LATER ENGLISH NEWS.

By the courtesy of Captain Robertson of the " Pirate," who has furnished us with the latest Melbourne papers, we are enabled to give the following items of European intelligence to the 22nd May i — The "Royal Charter" arrived at the Heads during Thursday night, July 21, from Liverpool, with English dates to the 22nd May. We have received the following items of intelligence respecting the European war.

Alessandria, May 19.— The Emperor inspected to-day the positions of the Ist and 3rd Corps d'Armee at Tortone and Ponte Curone. Yesterday the Austrians endeavoured to fortify and blockup the windows of a house on the left bank of the Po, and by entrenching themselves within it to dispute the passing of the river at Valenza. A few discharges, however, of French cannon from a distance of 2,600 metres sufficed to dislodge them from their sheltered position, which they have since abandoned.

Turijc, May 19.— Yesterday evening several detachments of the Austrians advanced to Capriasco, near San Germane, driving off cattle and firing at the peasants. Our troops desiring to fight, awaited the enemy at San Germano, but they withdrew to Vercilli, which they this morning evacuated, after blowing up two arches of the bridge over the Sesia. Our troops occupied Vercilli »t 4.30 this afternoon. The Austrians, with their artillery, are still on the left bank of the river.

Turin, May 20.-12,000 Austrians advanced to-day from Stradello towards t'asteggio, where the streets had been barricaded since Wednesday, and three unimportant attacks were repulsed. Two strong columns of our troops marched to meet the Austrians. The prisoners have been already brought to Voghera, but all details of the fight are as yet want/ng. It is asserted that the Emperor of Austria arrived yesterday at Milan, and that he left directly for Pavia, accompanied by General Hess. Twenty Austrian vessels have been captured by the French.

Dresden, May 20.— A fortnightly transport of Austrian troops to the Federal fortresses begins on Sunday next, with the first despatch of 31,000 infantry, 4 regiments of cavalry, 3,900 horses, and 80 pieces of cannon. The Dresden Journal states that a report of a separate treaty between Bavaria and Austria is incorrect.

Leghorn, May 20.— The " Pasel/' hajTarrived with 350 men of the brigade Confiniers and of the fifth corps d'armee on board. The troops disembarked amid enthusiastic plaudits expressive of the sympathy of the populace. The whole town was hung with flags. Other vessels with troops are expected. Prince Napoleon will arrive here on Sunday next.

Mayence, May 20.— The Mayence Journal states that, according to authentic information, 25,000 Bavarians are next week to enter the Rhine Palatinate, to protect the frontiers. Alessandria, May 2().— The Emperor went this morning to Casale, where the King of Sardinia was awaiting him. They inspected the fartifications and the position of the vanguard. The Emperor returned to Alessandria, and this afternoon visited the battle-field of Marengo. His Majesty enjoys good health, and the sanitary condition of the army is all that can be desired.

The Marseille! correspondent of the Times says the siege fleet is fitting out at Toulon with great expedition. Independent of screw liners and frigates, it is to consist of 10 screw gunboats, suitable for the shallow shores of the Adriatic. The naval equipments are so urgent that^merchant vessels are left without crews. In some cases English seamen have been taken on board the French ships of war.

Berne, May 19. — According to reports from Vienna, General Gyulai has sent word to his Government that his demands of contributions from the Sardinians for the support of his troops are unattended with further result; that provisions are beginning to fall short in Piedmont ; and that he will not be able to hold his present position more than fifteen days longer.

Turkey. — A Constantinople letter asserts positively that a general insurrectionary movement is being organised throughout all the slave provinces in the Turkish empire. It is supposed to be favoured by foreign influence. The Turkish Governmeat it doing all in its power to prevent the danger.

The Emperor of Russia is s<tid to have written an autograph letter to the Sultan, filled with expressions of friendship, disavowing all ideas of aggression, and assuring him that be will take care that the events passing in Europe shall in no way affect his interests.

Money Market, May 20.— The English Funds opened this morning without any recovery from the decline of J per cent., which took place yesterday, and the market was heavy throughout the day, the final bargains being at a further reduction off. There was no news, and the prevailing dullness seemed to be chiefly owing to the almost total absence of business. Consols were 4 first quoted at 913 to i, and after having touched^ 9U, they left ofFat9lJto2 J

It is understood that Government will almost immediately put forward a public notification inviting tenders for the conveyance of the Australian mails v'n Panama, in addition to the contract now in course of performance via Suez, by the Peniu • sular and Oriental Company. Attached, 1 1<£ the "conditions" of the tender for the latter contract, which was adjudicated last October, was the following nota bene .— " It is to be observed that as soon as arrangements are completed, it is the intention of the Government to call for tenders for a monthly steam commimication with Australia via Panama, in addition to the service via Suez." The delay that has occurred is, we believe, in no small degree attributable to the absence of a definite understanding with the Government of New Granada respecting the sum to be paid for the transmission of the mails across the isthmus. The affair has now, however, arrived at so advanced a stage that the " conditions " are framed. It is said that three companies propose to tender:—!, the Royal Mail Steam Company ; 2, an English company, organised some time ago, in which Messrs. Peto, Brassev, & Co. are said to be concerned ; aud 3, a New York association. The sooner the negotiation is concluded, and the new service actually commenced, the better for all interests connected with the colonies. Should the two contracts be efficiently performed, a fortnightly service may practically be secured.— Express, May 20.

The Court of General Sessions, say 3 the New York Tribune, opens with a bloody calendar. Eleven persons to be tried for rsuider and four for manslaughter.

Comparative Numbers op the Rival Armies —With respect to the strength of the armies, a point of much interest, it is not easy to obtain accurate information, as the numbers vary from day to day. If we state the Piedmontese at 80 000 effective men, it is a very liberal estimate ; and in these are included the volunteers, about 10 000 or 12,000, who enlisted in the regular army It very probably would also include Garribaldi's corps, which is 3600 on paper, or about 3000 effective There is another corps in progress of formation which was to have been TJlloa"s, and which will probably be about 3000 more. As regards the French all that I can tell you as positive, derired from ofli' cial sources, is, that up to and on the 6th. ihst 64,000 had landed at Genoa.J t The date is rather re'i mote, and there have been many arrivals since than to say nothing of those troops that came over mount Cenie, and whose numbers it is scarcely possible to estimate even approximately. The general belief seems to be that there are now 130,000 French in the Sardinian States, There may be more but Ido not think there can be many less. They are still deficient in cavalry, artillery, and camp equipage. At Lyons, a tremendous siege-train is prepariug, * destined, of course,' for the' Lombard fortresses. With respect to' the Auatrians, information on which I place reliance, and which is up to the most recent date, states their whole force in Italy at about 220,000 men, distributed as follows : —At Ancona, /000; Ferrara, 4000; Venice, 12,000 to 15,000; Legnago, 1000; Mantua, 4000 ;' Verona, 6000; Peschiera,2ooo; Piacenza, 5000 ; Brescia, Milan, Ber-., famo, Cremona, and other places in that district, 0,000 to 25,000. . Besides these, within the last day or two, about 20,000 men have been concentrated about Piacenza. Non-combatants and sick are setdown at 20,000. .Including the 20,000 meji that have just been drawn from it and assembled. 1 r'ountl Piacenea, and 4000 to 6000 that areinPavia, the < effective strength of the Austrian army in Piedmont J8 about 180,000 "taen. JL have strong reasons for believing the above 1 figures to be Substantially correct.— Correspondent of the Times, May 2lst.