CONTINENTAL NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 681, 18 May 1859, Page 3

CONTINENTAL NEWS.

The correspondent of a London daily paper furnishes us with the following latest intelligence from. the.Continent.—

Paeis, Jantjaby 26. _ A Cabinet Council, at which the Emperor pre« sided, was held, this day at the Tuileries. Something like a hundred years ago, the Ambassador of Venice at Versailles wrote to his Government :—" It was asserted at the Palace this morning, that the King of England was dead, while afc the British Embassy I was assured that his Majesty was in good health; as for myself, lam too well aware of the reserve which my duty necessitates, and don't believe either of these statements." Mutatis mutandis, the diplomatic caution of the astute Venetian is quite applicable in Paris, and should specially be kept in mind with reference to the report:which has gained ground to-day, thafc v! Austria has made overtures for a conference, and. that the difficulties now pending will be amicably adjusted. Austria has, in fact, a foible for conferences, and; there is nothing improbable in the announcement of one of these diplomatic tournaments. ' • ■ .

Nevertheless in France, Piedmont and Austria the Governments are carrying on preparations which can only he. accounted for by their expectation that hostilities may arise. The greater part of the garrisons of the forts round Paris have been, taken away from - their practice of drill and the goose steps, and are employed making cartridges. The day before yesterday a number of ouvriers d'administration left Vincennes for Toulon, near which town they are about to prepare the ground, for a camp. Moreover a detachment of military bakers has been sent to Toulon from the Manutention dcs Vivres in Paris. These facts are derived from unimpeachable authority, and their correctness can be vouched for.

From Italy the news is still more warlike. The King, in reply to the addresses from the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, used very significant language. To the Senate he said "that he considered the alliance with Prince Napoleon a pledge of prosperity for future contingencies." To the Chamber of Deputies he dwelt on the auspicious commencement of the year, and hinted that its close might be still more fortunate. Batazzi, President of the Chamber, expressed a hope that the alliance might be propitious to the King, Piedmont and Italy. . . . Three men-of?war have been ordered from Cherbourg to Marseilles in all haste—merely to salute the young Princess, ■ say the peace party. But why bring them all the way from Cherbourg, when Toulon is; so close at hand P reply their opponents, who will have it that it means something.

The ' Presse' to-night publishes a very violent article againt the Bourse, and asserts that no greater mistake can be committed than to take the interested views of stockjobbers as a thermometer of public opinion. The 'Corriere Mercantile' and the 'Staffelta' notice a report of the British Government having sent a note to that of Piedmont, reproving the political conduct of Count Cayour. The 'Corriere' cannot make up its mind about the note, but thinks it probably a " mere scarecrow to throw cold water on our enthusiasm in the interest of English cotton!"

In the lobbies of the Chamber of Deputies of Turin on Saturday a report was current that the the youths of that city had resolved to form themselves into a regiment of mounted volunteers, and intended to apply to the King to be permitted to act as a body-guard, and accompany his Majesty to the field in case of a war.

'II Tempo' asserts that at Milan last Saturday the gallows {la forca) was drawn through the streets, by way "of hinting to the people what they had to expect in case of an insurrection. Instead of striking them with awe, this exhibition wasthe cause of much " chaffing" among the mob, who followed the cart, rubbing their hands and crying, " January, February, and March." It is asserted by the piedmontese papers that the arrival of the Emperor of Austria at Milan was shortly expected. His coming is considered to be solely intended as a stimulant to the courage and enthusiasm of the troops in, the forthcoming struggle. It is remarked that considerable skill has "been displayed in the quartering of the troops in Lombardy. The few Italian regiments which still remain there are garrisoned in towns where there is an overpowering, force of German troops. At Milan,'on Saturday, 60 persons were arrested; and in the course of a round of domiciliary visits a great number of stilettos were confiscated. The agitation iv the city, however, has greatly subsided. January 27.

The opinion is now almost universal in Paris that a crisis has arrived in the affairs of Europe more momentous than any which has arisen since the wars of the Empire. A small party, belonging chiefly to the monied interest, still fondly cling to the belief that war may be averted, and that the warning voice of Lord Derby's Cabinet will succeed in persuading the three powers now preparing for the fight to abandon the dangerous course they are now pursuing. It is not doubted that her Majesty's Government have availed themselves of their influence in European councils to endeavour to prevent the imminent disturbance of peace, but it is very much doubted whether their friendly efforts will be fcrowned with success. A report has been started by the peace party here that England will not allow war to break out, but will interfere actively, rush between the combatants, and beat down their swords. The existence of this report argues a degree of ignorance of the state of affairs in England which would be surprising anywhere but in Prance. It should be mentioned, however, that it meets but very little credit, save among_ the circle in which it first originated. All right-minded politicians feel that England will preserve the strictest neutrality, and confine herself to putting her forces, naval and military, in such a state of efficiency as will secure her from being drawn into the contest which seems likely to convulse the Continent within the next few months.

A Paris correspondent of the ' Independance Beige' professes to know what steps' have been taken by her Majesty's Government, and asserts that the Cabinet of St. James's have sent a note to Tirana, urging Austria to realise the offers made in 1848 to the then British Cabinet, and that that proposition hasreceived the support of France and of Russia. This statement ha 9 produced a certain sensation here to-day; but supposing it to be correct, which is strongly questioned, it is not considered probable that Austria would.entertain the proposition. The belief in the meeting of Congress to setlla the difficulty has dwindled into nothingness, and, the general opinion now seems to be, that tha apparent determination of the three powers to " fight it out," will render nugatory the interference of diplomacy. Among the,lower classes the war feeling stimulated ; by the 'SuScle' and the 'Press,' the two papers .which are to be found in every wine-shop in the Faubourgs, is growing daily more intense, and the alarm which arises from tlie present uncertainty of war or peace, by depressing trade, and consequently the labour market, still further promotes the feeling.

Meanwhile, sixty-two transports, are ordered to be in readiness at Marseilles and Toulon by the Ist of March, .immense quantities of lint have been sent southward, and all the military surgeons on :leave have been ordored to join their corps. "The ' Espero' publishes the following proclamation, Avhreh has been distributed by thousands among the Florentine troops :— " Soldati Toscani, — The times are momentous. King Victor 'Emmanuel aridthe gallant Tiedmontese arrnysxe about to ascend to the fields of Lombardy,1 to fight the generous battles of independence and liberty. Your duty as citizens, the hallowed love of your native soil, summon ye too, 0 Tuscan soldiers, to those fields where, by avenging your fallen brethren, ye may acquire immortal fame. Tour perjured Prince, and your' General, a renegade Italian, who has not blushed to become, through ambition, an instrument, a spy, and a slave of Austria, will order you to join the ranks of our abhorred oppressors? No! " The heirs of the glory achieved by the martyrs of Curtatone and Montanara cannot incur so foul a blot of infamy."

The Tuscan Government have taken the precaution to export all the firelocks in their arsenals. The VPiccolo Corriere dTtalia' states that 10.000 muskets have been sold- to an English firm at the rate of 3f.a piece, and shipped from Leghorn. It is added that the English firm have re-sold the guns to the Piedmontese Government at lOf. a piece, thus realising more than £2000 by the transaction.

"The 'Constitutionnel' publishes a letter from Milan, in which the writer denies all that the' Italian papers and letters have been asserting for the last month. There is no agitation ; there aye no military preparations; there is no mounting of guns in the various forts—in a word, all that has been stated on the subject is false. There has been a genei'al conspiracy among the journalistic world to get up a panic, and the correspondent- of the ' Constitutionnel' is alone worthy of credit; c'est.possible, but, unfortunately, the Parisians place as little confidence in the correspondences pf your contemporary as in its leading articles, and it must be said that there is nothing in the letter in question which would lead one to make an exception in its favour.