EUROPEAN NEWS TO 26th APRIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 199, 12 July 1860, Page 2

EUROPEAN NEWS TO 26th APRIL.

GREAT BRITAIN.

The debate on the second reading of the Reform bill has been adjourned.

A motion in favour of the Ballot has been negatived. Lord John Russell characterised the proceedings of France in reference to Savoy as dangerous to the prescriptive rights of European governments, and said that it would necesitate England to cultivate other alliances. A bill is to be introduced to abolish the necessity of a resolution of the House before a Jewish member takes the oath.

The income tax bill has received the royal assent.

A commission has been appointed by the Post Office to investigate its deficiences. A conference of the ambassadors of the Ten European powers, on the affairs of '’Switzerland and Savoy, was expected to be held immediately in Paris. 7’lie combined English and French forces are expected to commence operations against China in July or August. Lord Elgin was to leave for China about the 14th April. The answer of - the Chinese Emperor to the British and French governments was received Bth May. It is a positive rejection of demands.

The chief cashier of the Union Bank of London has committed frauds in the establishment to the amount of <£263,000.

Captain John Vine Hall, formerly of the Croesus, is appointed to command the Great Eastern. The .£IOO,OOO new capital is now subscribed, and the vessel will proceed, it is expected, to America in June; Captain Frederick B. P. Seymour, of the Pelorus, 21 screw corvette; has been appointed commodore of the Australian station iu room of Commodore Loring. The freedom of the city of London.has been conferred on Mr. Cobden.

The great pugilistic contest between Heenan, the Benicia Z?oy, and Tom Sayers, resulted in a drawn fight after about 40 rounds. The next colonial wool sales are fixed for the 3rd May. A decline may be . expected of Id to 2d per lb. There are to hand 42,557 bales.

FRANCE. The government has under consideration the maritime treaty with Great Britain. The frigates Sybille and Iris had left Brest for New Caledonia, and the frigate Bayonne-was fitting out at Cherbourg for the Pacific Ocean. The Emperor and Empress are shortly to make a tour of Nice and Savoy.

SARDINIA. V The annexation of Nice and Savoy has been the principal topic of discussion during the month. Sardinia has granted the Emperor’s request agreeably to the agreement entered into before the war commenced and has withdrawn her troops from the territory. The Emperor has proceeded in form and according to his determination long since formed and frankly but firmly declared in his speech at the opening -of the Legislative Chambers, when he said—-

“ Looking at this transformation of .Northern Italy, which gives to a powerful State all the passes of the Alps, tit was the duty, for the security of our frontiers, to claim the French slopes of the mountains. This reassertion of a claim to a territory of small extent has nothing in it of a nature to alarm Europe and give a denial to the policy of disinterestedness which I have proclaimed more than once, for : France does not* wish to proceed to this aggrandisement, however small it may be; either by military occupation or by provoked insurrection, "or by underhand manoeuvres, but by frankly explaining the question to the Great Powers. They will doubtless understand in their equity, as France would certainly understand it for each of them under similar circumstances, that the important territorial rearrangement which is about to take place gives us: a right to a guarantee indicated by nature herself.” It is by the free votes of ( the people that the territory is to be transferred to France — free. nominally but influenced no doubt by the swarms of French? agents that have been endeavouring for some time to bias the popular feeling. In order to anticipate the-protests to be expected from Garibaldi & the deputies of Nice in the Sardinian Parliament the voting was hastened inJNice arid took place on the 15th and I6thApril, and the result was 6810,against 16,: On the 22nd "April, the ‘day ftked for determining; the * fate of Savoy, there was an immense ‘majority * in favour ‘of annexation. to. France. 71iat -France should covet the possession of the country is riot to be wondered at. It gives her an almost impregnable frontier towards Italy, while it lays

' that: country in ~a great measure open to in- <■ cursions from France. In the higher parts of • this province, are valuable mines of lead, copper; zinc, &c., and on the coast the har- . hour of Villafranca affords an admirable situation for a great naval station. It is protected : from almost every wind, has an entrance which is easy, but so narrow, that very slight fortifications would prevent the entrance of a. hostile fleet unless extremely powerful. It has a depth of water in some places sufficient for the largest war vessels and space for the largest fleets—all advantages, which to the sagacious ruler of France must, form a pleasing contrast to the natural difficulties in the formation of the great northern war port of Cherbourg. It is hot likely that any opposition will be raised sufficiently strong successfully to oppose this annexation. A general congress is talked of to meet at Brussels or Paris and come to some arrangement on the matter, but .Russia • and Austria hang back. Switzerland . has protested against the annexation and can raise 200,000 troops to make her protest effective, but she cahnofc do much with her troops out of her own • country, and though she could is no match unassisted for France. Sir Robert Peel indeed is in Geneva, promising English sympathy and support, but we are afraid he is reckoning without his host. The popular feeling indeed in England is against the annexation, and subscriptions may be made to keep the -Swiss army on foot; but there are cogent reasons for the Government not interfering further than their moral influence will go to' prevent the transfer. That transfer will be made only with the con sent both of the people themselves and their King. Sir Robert Peel indeed said in Parliament,, “ Here you . ; are ’ handing over the liberties of thousands of people as if they were so many slaves to the will of the Em- ■ peror, and against the popular sentiment of . the cbuntries themselves.” But this statement requires to be proved. The presumption as -far as circumstances will allow of a judgment, is ,on the other 6ide; and the French Emperor has said with greater or . less insinccerity that if the people are against it he will not insist; again after the late cession of the Italian provinces to Sardinia what argument can be brought against the annexation of Savoy ? Lord Normanby and some other? represent that these transfers were made against the will of the people, and although thik assertion is against all credible evidence, the 'change was certainly made contrary to the treaties entered into by the European powers. It has been said in Parliament ‘fSavoy. is solemnly guaranteed to Sardinia by the, faith of, treaties.’’ So was Lombardy to Austria, the Romagna to the Pope, and , the, three . Duchies to their several rulers. But if the British government made no protest against treaties being broken in the one case—surely it cannot consistently do more than protest (as it has already done more than once) against their violation in this instance. The Romagna, Tuscany, and the Duchies have been formally annexed to the kingdom of Sardinia. The parliament met on the 2nd . of April, and after spending about 10 days in verifying -the elections of the Representatives was prorogued till May. The representatives of Nice and Savoy endeavoured to prevent the annexation of their respective territories, but Count Cavour was determined on the measure, and by his firmness has made himself unpopular, it being supposed that he is under the influence of France. The Pope’s excommunication has been launched, but as it is very general, being directed against all persons who have taken part “ in the rebellion and usurpation in our Romagna,” it will only damage its author. . > The king is visiting his new dominions, and is received everywhere'with the greatest enthusiasm. Protests have been made to the powers of . Europe against the annexation of Central Italy to Sardinia by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Duchess of Parma, Austria, and the Pope. . ; . 7 •

HOME.

The departure of the French troops is again delayed.. Le Morciere, with the sanction of the French Emperor (which has excited universal surprise), has taken command of the Papal troops, and is organising them as if for immediate action. , NAPLES. Some popular demonstrations have been made in favour of Victor Emmanuel, and great excitement prevails; ;

A formidable rising,took place on the 4th April in Sicily. Therehave been severe and sanguinary contests at Messina, Palermo, and other-places. / Thousands of insurgents fled to the mountains, and were pursued by flying columns! The insurrection is said to be sup-

pressed, but troops and guns were being sent from Naples in great haste. On the-9th April the Austrian, consul quitted Messina, and the bombardment of the city was expected in the course of the day. : .Spain.;.

The war with Morocco has terminated, and a treaty has been concluded. Its terras are not approved of in Spain, and in consequence the ministry have resigned. An attempt at a Carlist revolution had been made, but it signally. failed. General Ortega, governor of

the Balearic islands* was at the head of the movement'; but his troops haying refused to join him, he was taken prisoner, and was to be immediately executed. Most of his accomplices have been taken; but the Carlist pretender, his brother, and the cousins of the queen, have, been allowed to escape, to prevent embarrassment on the part of the government. It is Eaitl that several members of the Em-

press Eugenie’s family are among the conspirators. The Comte. de Montemolin lias been pardoned. Under the peace treaty Morocco, cedes to Spain the whole of the territory from the sea to the hollow road of Anghera, and also a certain portion of territory at Santa Cruz. An indemnity of 20 million piastres is to be paid to Spain. A favourable treaty.of commerce is to concluded, and a representative of Spain and a missionary establishment are to be permitted at Fez.'

-AUSTRIA,

The Cabinet is divided in their views as to whether the popular feeling in Hungary should be appeased by concessions or repressed by force. An attempt is being made to negotiate a loan of 20,000,000 sterling. An imperial ordinance convokes the . assembly of imperial councillors for the month of May, in order to examine the budget for 1861, for which purpose, and for the active .preparation of the establishment of the provincial diets, the emperor will call competent men from all the Provinces., With, respect to Venetia, a letter from Verona says,— “ Austria is preparing for war, and colossal proportions of her preparations lead to the belief that she expects a formidable contest. For more than a week past steamers have arrived at Venice with enormous cargoes of munition, which has been immediately sent on to Padua, which, it appears, will be the basis of the strategic operations. AH along the line of rail from Dolo to Padua are to be seen rifled cannon of recent fabrication. There are enough of them it .is said to mount about twenty batteries. They are field pieces, but some few are heavy ordnance for breaching ; both were cast in the arsenals of Vienna, where the works are carried on night and day. Here we are still digging and repairing the moats around the old fortifications. They have just placed the new rifled bronze guns, and removed the iron seige guns. They are building a fort at Paron, and strengthening those recently finished at Montorson, and near the church of the Madonna di Campagna. At Peschiera they are working in all haste on the construction of'batteries on the Malusina side, on that of San Vergilio and of Cisano. Provisions are being stored up in the forts;, they-have even gone to Milan and purchased corn and forage for the Austrian army. We believe that the agents of some important houses in our city have been to Milan for no. other reason. Our towns are deserts; you must, know that better than ourselves. Arrests and perquisitions continue.” ~ The excitement continues iir Hungary. The students of Pesth haive attempted a demonstration,, which was stopped by the Austrian troops, and several persons were killed.

RUSSIA.

The government is preparing a system of Tariff reforms. It continues on. good' terms with France; and it is said that these two powers have agreed on a common scheme for their aggrandisement in the east. Prince Gortschakoffi' the minister for foreign affairs, is about to retire in consequence of illness. A conspiracy lias been discovered at St. Petersburg; having for its object to obtain a constitution similar to. those of other European states.

TURKEY.

Omer Pacha lias been recalled from exile, and restored to his former position.

UNITED STATES.

Mr. Cobb lias withdrawn his name as Candidate for the Presidential chair. Mr. Seward is a candidate in the republican or anti-slavery interest.