FRANCE.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 166, 24 May 1859, Page 3

FRANCE.

The question of peace or war, in connection with the relations between France and Austria, has passed through several phases since our last publication. It appears, however, to be as far removed as everfrom a definite settlement. On the one hand we have a number of official deprecations of hostilities ; but on the other the fact is patent that both sides are making vast preparations for war. * : In the first place, official announcements ofthe pacific intentions of the Emperor appeared in the Constitutional and Patrie; Both journals said that his majesty had ordered the withdrawal of the French forces from the Roman States, and that the steamers which would embark them at. Civita. Veechia were already on their way to that port. Instantly the funds rose on every Bourse on the continent. The next day the Moniteur stated that these announcements were premature ;- and the Only consolation vouchsafed to the victims of delusion was that " the administration exercises no preventive action upon the press (!)": —■ " Public opinion in foreign countries does not clearly understand the present regime of the press in France. The belief appears to prevail too generally that the journals are subjected to a previous censorship, and thus an importance is ascribed to them which is unfounded. The administration, it ought to be known, has no preventive action as regards the press. The public should, therefore, he on its guard against the inductions founded on the language of the journals. Whenever a grave question presents itself, or an important act is accomplished, the government addresses itself directly to the nation .-through..the official journal. That iVa duty which it has always imposed on itself, and which it will accomplish more scrupulously under present circumstances, as public opinion is now more than ever taken unawares and misled," ITALY. The Opinione of Turin, in a leading article on the announcement that Cardinal Antonelli had requested both the Austrian and French Governments to withdraw their troops from the Papal States, considers this step as resulting from a secret arrangement between the Pope and the Cabinet of Vienna, in order to lead to the departure of the French troops from Rome. Should any disturbance occur, it says, after the evacuation, the Austrian troops might be marched to Rome at the' shortest notice, while tlie Pope would at the same time decline the assistance of France. ' '- GERMANY. Bavaria, of all the German States the most eager in her friendship for Austria, is about to raise a loan of between six and seven hundred thousand sterling, for putting the defences of the country into a better state. The Vienna journals have assumed a more warlike tone than ever. The Ost-Deutsche Post plainly declares that Austria cannot renounce'the particular conventions which she has concluded with the Italian States. Those States, it says, are not strong enough to defend themselves, either abroad or at home, and they must be left free to choose that protection which is best suited to them. If Austria1 abandoned them, it would be to make them fall into the power of their enemies. AMERICA. •:-.■•••■ A FATAL AFFRAY. - A terrible tragedy was enacted at Washington on Sunday, the 27th February. It is thus telegraphed to the. New York journals:— The community was thrown into an intense ex-citement-to-day by the killing of Philip Barton Key, United States"• district attorney for the district of Columbia, at the hands of Daniel E. Sicklea. Mr. Sickles, becoming convinced of the truth of certain scandalous rumours involving his Wife, resolved to redress his wrongs. At about 2 o'clock this afternoon, proceeding from hia residence, near the President's house., to the south-east , corner of Layfayc-tte-square, in the same neighborhood, where Mr. Key was engaged in conversation I with Mr. Butterworth, of New York, he charged Mr! Key. with having dishonored him, and destroyed his domestic peace, and shot him with a revolver. r One of tho balls entered the left side of the body, and passed through to the corresponding point on the other side, lodging under the skin. Another shot took effect in the righ thigh, near the main artery, when Mr. Key fell, imploring Mr. Sickles nofc'to kill him. The third shot was in the right side, but glanced from the body, inflicting only a bruise. Death ensued in a few moments. The liody was taken into the National Club-house, where a jury of inquest was held, who, after an examination into the circumstances of some hours length, returned a verdict, merely stating that the death of Mt. Key was from the effects of pistol shots, as above stated, fired by Mr. Sickles; The premises of the Club-house were crowded with people, anxiously inquiring into all the circumstances of the event. -