The New York Herald Newspaper, May 28, 1859, Page 2

2 THE WAR IN EUROPE. t And surely ye'll be yor And surely-I’li be mine, And we'll tak? a cup 0” kindness yet, For auld bang #y ue, For euld lang syne, &c. * Daisies. + Paddled in the brook. Companion. ; a denught with right good-will SONG—The Mission of the Song The music composed bY.....+- «0. Goldgohanidt, Go jortn, my gong! im simple gard and lowly, To gentle Amaranth repair: Fina in her heart a refuge boly, For ob! thy home, thy home is there! Teil her, that lke a star from Heay’o, Arranging the Forces before the Great Battles. | All Sorts of Interesting Intelligence Con- nected with the War. Whe Hifforts of England to Man) Ber Navy. That Heav’n sho first revealed to me, Hooseatlhoen ‘Thou’st wauteret hither, fondly driven, To ask if sui she Uainks of me, Financial Condition of Austria, France Go forth, my rong! to her thy mieaion bearing; nd Sardinia, And if the (ale thou bast 0 teil a J Win one bright wie, then back repairing, Bid this fond heart with rapture swe! &o., &o., ko. But if thou comest back in gadners, AS moans the wind on some bleak shore, a This heart no more shal! bound with gladness; OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENCE. Her love once lost, my gong is o'er, Lonpos, May 18, 1859, S0NG—Bong of Spring.” Bfovwemenis on ‘Change and Nervous Feeling of the Opera | The music composed by.......¥. Mendelssohn Bartholdy. tors—Great Hopes of Napoleon in Italy—The Austrian | ‘Toe epring in wratd commences ‘ i ; With stormy wind and rain, Defeat Prophesied—England’s Naval Activily—Dickens | He breaks thro’ winter's fences, and his Old and New Associations—Signor Mario as a | And greep comes o'er the plain; Practical and Amateur Sardinian Soldier—The Gye and | Then wake, Oh, map! thy vigils keep, Smith Law Suit—The Late Building Catastrophe—Jenny | And let not spring find thee asleep! Lind Again in Song—Elegant Reunion and the Pro- gramme, dc , ec, A sort of self defence stagnation has yesterday and to- | day prevailed at the Stock Exchange, and any member stirring it up for a rise or for a fall, however limited the kame, is looked upon with suspicion and supposed to pos- Bees ‘certain’ information, Louis Napoleon bas hitherto found it a difficult matter Yo get o “great” (save his patrimonial nomenclature) mame, and now evidently intends to do and dare towards his desire. graphic flash in the oiflce of an Italian diploumt, from Turin, which propbesies the immediate defeat of the Austrians, the freedom of Italy, followed by the graceful evacuation of the French troops, The Austrians may possibly be beaten, but Italy’s freedom would thea be subject to the rule of @ Murat at Naples, and the young “‘Napling”’ as King of Rome. Since the marine proclamation, as a proof that we are not asleep, ten line-of-battle-ehips bave been fitted out ‘nd manned. We are toli that they are to be reviewed at Spithead on the 24th, In a week 2,500 seamen yolunteered from the port of London. Men are coming in fast from all sen quarters. Forty thousand new suits of eoldiers’ clothing have been order- 4, which looks as if forty new battalions, &>., (80 i rumored) were to be added to.as many of our line regi mente. Five of the Queen’s regiments haye been com manded bome, over land, from India, to be kept in the Mediterravean to strevgthcn ous fortified islands there. Household Words, it is said, is not to die a natural death, Uhough the great Dickens has transferred his services to the new publication, 41! Kound the Year, which may not poesibly reach its journey’s end. Leech, we are told, is to introduce his illustratizns into Ho amopget its contributors are mentioned Kingly (Westward, Ho!), Tom Teylor, Shirley Brookes, and the unknowa author of ‘Adam Bede,”* with Lucas as editor. Signor Mario, the tenor (originally a soldier, and , “afeared,”’ for, (oa want of pluck is the lyric stage indebted for the possession of bim), is most enthusiastic about the war. He isa Sardinian; so goes in strong for “ la belle alll- ance.” In his stady, at his and Grisi’s guburban retreat at Folbam, be has pested a map of Italy ona table, and re- Presented the litigants by pins, the heads of wuich are marked with yellow sealing wax to denote Austrians, red en, and blue or green Sardiniaas. The fortresses ypified with corks, bristling with pins, and then the numerous and well-bearded hangers-on of the great tenor and the grand prima donna are hourly shown each move of the combatants between the intervals of retresh- ments—for the ducal warblers keep open house. You will find by the law reports that Mr. Gye has gained ‘hig actior—that is, obtained an injunction agaivat Messrs. E. T. Smith aud Graziani, No doubt Mr. Gye will now wue Mr. Smith for damages for having induced an employé to quit his service, and, visd vis, to Mr. Graziani for having broken his engagement. Fearfal £ such proceedinge, we are told that the “It Balen Bari- fone” allowed distance to lend enchantment to the view by starting for the Con.inent last evening. In court, dur pg the case, the factions of the plaintiff and defendant mustered in force, and Mr. E. T. Smith, finding the cause ‘was going against him, egsayed to edge amongt his friends, a8 he interrupted one after the other, with pencil and bet- tang book in hand, “Weill, how do you thiok it wil! go?” If the reply were tothe probability of his success, Mr. Smith offered to lay £5, £10 or £20 to the contrary, and thus, it ie said, made up a considerabie eet off to thir coats out of which he will be malet Both the Italian opera houses sre doing bul sadly; indeod, ali the theatres, ths Princess’ excepted, show @ nightly accouat of ompiy boxes. The West End tradespeople are ‘au divepoir,”’ and whould we get embroiled in the war, look forward to no. mination—on the wrong site of the Gazette. A fearfa! accident has just 4: ed at the bu'ldiag of the great hotel (Limited Liability Company), Westmia- ster, by the overioading of the scaffoid with bricks on the previous evening, 89 23 to forward the business opera Uons. The whole gave way en masse as the men asc ed t begin work. From tweive to fifwen killed, the neighboring hospital of St. George’s full of wounded Jenny Lind sang for a charity yesterday, in a room in ‘the Haymarket—quite a private affair. The receipts will vealize a profit of quite £250. It was neither billed nor ad Vertiged. She ia in full bealth,and sang her best. It was a reunion of the gelect of the aristocracy. The following is a copy of the programme and music: ~ SOCIETY OF FEMALE ARTISTS, PRIVATE CONCERT. Tuvrspay, May, 12, 18: To commence at three 0’ PROGRAMME. —Parr 1. Andante con Variazioui,{rom the Sonata, for piano and violin, Op. eee . L. von Beethoven. MM oldechmidt and Joaghim. Aria, “Qui la voce Sh (I Paritani) Bellini, Madame (Jenny Lind) Goldschmidt. Romance, ‘Per la gioria d’adorarvi” (Griselda) G. Buononcini. Aria con violin obligato,...., (Il re Pastore) W. A Mozart. Madame (Jenny Lond) Goldschmidt and Herr Joachim. Sonata, violin soio + Tartini, Largheito- Kk. ¢ cist Herr Jouchim.* Pane Tt, Doet on Styrisn melodies... seeeceeesed. Banedict, Madame (Jenny Lind) Goldschmidt ani Sig. Bote, (a) Etude, 0. Goldschmidt, Piano solo, { (U) Fantaisic—Caprice. F. Chopin. Mr. Goldevumiat. ( (q) “the Land 0° the Leal. Scotch ronge. { f ) “Auld Lang Syne.” Madame (Jenny Lind) Goldechmidt. BOMrO.. ccc sree eee seeeeeeesG. Maras, ig. Belietti. Songs, { (2) {<The Mission of the Song....0. Goldschmidt, "{ (0). “Spring time’’....... -Mendelagoha, Madame (Jenny Lind) Goldschmidt. SCOTCH SONG—The Land o’ the Leal I'm wearin’ awa’, Joho, Like snaw wreaths in thaw, John; I'm wearin’ awa’ To the land o” the leal. ‘There's nae gorrow there, John: ‘There's neither cauld nop care, John; The day is aye fair In the land 0? the leal. Ye've been lealt and true, John; Your task is ended now, Jobn; Aud I'l) welcome you. To the land 0’ the leal; Our bonnie bairn js there, Jobn She was baith guid and fair, Joun And we grudged ber sair ’ To the land 0” the leal. Sorrow’s tel wears pastt, John And joy is comin’ fast, John; Joy that’s aye to last In the }and o° the leal. Then dry that tearfu’ ee, Jobn; My soul iangs to be free, Joon And angele wait on me To the land o’ the teal, A» our friends are gane, John; We've lang been Jeft alane, John; We'll a’ meet again In the 0’ the leal. Now fare ye weel, my ain Jobn; Tais world’s care is vain, John; We'll meet and aye be fain§ In the land o’ the leal. *The land of rest. +Falthfal, Sorrow itself is paseing away, (Happy. SCOTCH SONG—“Auld Lang Syne.”” Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days 0 auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my d For avid eae anne. band We'll tak’ a cup o” kindness yet, For auld lang syne. We twa ha’e run about the braes, And pu’d the gowans? fine; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot Sin’ auld lang syne, ia For auld lang syne, ko. ‘We twa ha’e paidelt in the bornt Frae morning suo t nb But cceas between us Sin’ auld lang eyne. For auld lung tyne, Ac. @ band, my trusty fere.¢ hand o’ thine; a richt guide willie waught For auld leog syn For auld lang syne, &e. d ha’e roared, Ibaye this morning seen the copy of atele- | , Cook on his first voyage round the world, Forget thy winter sorrow,” With joy receive thy guest; He flies ike dawning morrow, Nor stays he long to rest. Toe bud it awells, the flower blows, ‘The moments haste and spriagtime tows, O therefore wake, thy vigils kee}, ‘And Jet not spring flad thee asieep! Cast, son of earth, behind thee The bonds which round thee clive, Break, break the chains thes bind thee, ‘And look towards the spring! The ice witl melt, the streams will flow; Thy troubles o'er, thy joys will grow! ‘Then ag the lark, upr's 0g, Pours forth bis joy aloud, Let be thy heart’s rejoicing Among the mirthful crowd! Thou art not lone, art not bereft Whale yet there's sopg and sunshine | OUR BERLIN CORRESPONDENCE. Beaux, May 7, 1859, Death of Alexander Von Humboldt—Review of his Career— His Influence Over His Contemporaries His Partiatity to the United States—-liz Fidelity to Liberal Ideas—His Last Vote in Favor of ProgressHosislity of the Conserva- tives to Him, ce. Alexander Humbo'dt, the Nestor of science, the con- temporary of Washington and of Frederick the Great, the friend of Jefferson and Madison, the man who linked the Old and New World in a common feeling of reverence for his person and admiration of his varied attaiamenta, is no more. He expired yesterday at half past two in the afternoon, or rather he fell asleep quietly and without a struggle, paseing imperceptibly from time to eternity. Hie physical strength, enfeevled by the weight of years, tates and their wind aiplomatiste, whore diseuasion® »-¢ Mlhpg the world sith the clang of arws,and hurling na- How against na’son in the fierce madness of bat have been ong forgotten, Or only rememberes to bo execrated. ‘s . The Great Gun of France in the Italian Campaign. Superiority of the Rifle Over the Musket—its’ Use in Bautle on a Large Scale First Taught by Americans—The French the First Imiu- tors—The English Followed—W hy the First Napoleon Rejected the Rifle—Can Rifling be Successfally Appied to Cannont=The Question Answered by Louts Napoleon—e~ ser)ption of His Gun. The new cannon of France viewed in connection with the war which has just legun, is creating great interest both in Eurepe aud ip the United States, and various speculations are ailort as to the pro- bable effect of the weapon in devidipe the fate of bat- tle. An account of it, therefore, will be acceptable to the readers of the Hexato. It is a rifled gun ofa eoperior description, The superiority of the musket rifle, usvally called the Minie rifle, over the smooth-bored wea- pon, is Low univergally acksowledged, It was that supe. riority which decided the fate of the Crimean war, “fhe queen of weapons,” said the London Times, ‘ saved the fight.” Abose 150 yards the ordinary musket bas very hitte effect on a body of troops, and at 300 is useless. At 6(0 yardsthe modern rifle, if properly bed, can hit a man in the heart or head every shot—even at 1,000 yards ‘t is more effective than the common musket at 100. To give the reader aa idea of the difference, we may state that the coldier with the old musket, at a distance of 600 yarée, was told to aim 130 feet above the man—just as if be could measure at that distance 130 feet above a maa’s bead in the air, At 1,000 yards, or at any distanco at Which @ man can be discerned by the paked eye or with the glass which is attached to the rifle for long dist.ncee, the rifleman brings the eight directly on the object, and the more steadily be does go the more surely will he bit it. By the contrivance of an elevated eight at the breech, graduated according to the distance, the muzzie of te ‘The charge of powder is only 600 grammer, and sends the | dali four kilometres, Ametro is about 30 inches, and a kilometre is 1,000 metres. A gramme is about 23 grains, and @ kilogrammo ie 1,000 grammes, From avother English authority we learn that the Na poleon gun weighs 2,600 pounds, and can at 2,000 yards put twenty musket balle in a target six feet square. The Lovdon Mechanics’ Magazine saye this gun will not ap- ach the Armetrong piece in meritof any kind, Taat, however, remains to be seen. The Freneb gun is an ac- complished fact, and distributed to the army, while the Bri ig yet to be mace, ‘Ap eminent Enghen authority of great ecientitic attain. ments, says, in bie preface to a work on gunnery, pablish- eda (ew moutha ago:— The gun end its projectile wil! decide the victory in future Sights, Indeed, we are even now waging war wih our peighbore—not om the battle field or the oceem wave, but in the foundry—enginvers being our genert 4 founders our admirals. The present eble ruler of France ia actively at work while we wut looking on; be ig casting cannon the like of which bave never been teen, while we are epending thousands ia ex- perimentig on cast iron and founderies; and by the time our officials have discovered the beat cast irva for heavy Kung, the French batteries, on sea and land, will be brit ing with rifled steel cannon of tremendous range and end: less endurance. Woe betide this country if, a! the com- mencement of & war, we should find ourselves just where weare. The Emperor Napoleon, as is well known, ia wel! versed, theoretically and practically, in every thiag relat- jug to gunnery. Keenly alive to the minutest points of progress, he receives, investigates, and immediately adopts all innovations of value—having the ability to per- core, the exgacity to appreciate, and tne hberality vo re- ward merit wherever it is shown. the Londen Times comments on the Napoleon gun as follows: — Our correspondence from Paris descrives, #0 far as they sre known, the wonderful reaults attamed by the pew'y invented gun which hag been so carefuiiy tried at Vincennes; and biuts are pot wanting that whea the Frepeh Emperor bas provided himself with a eulllcieatiy numerous artillery on the new model be will step forte: from bis own dominions and lay Europe under contribu top. We are not frightened at the suggestion, supposing that we on our side, and the omer natious of Europe, use ordioary precaution and foresight im the matter. [t is | | | gun is held exactly at the right height, and the marksman | shoote as if he were firing point blank at 40 yards with | an ordinary gun. If he can only ascertain the distance, he must eucceed—the epiral or spinning motion of the ball produced by the grooves ef the gun, causing it to fly straight as an arrow; whereas a bullet from a smooib- bored gun proceeds with a rolling motion aud deyiates in the direction of its heaviest end, for ao bullet can bemae perfectly round and of uniform density. By the common muaket i taid it requires a man’s weight in lead to kill him in battle. And military authoritics dispute whether it requires 300 or 1,000 balls to make one hit. Tho | think of the tr: French admit to have fired away 25,000,000 of cartridges | in the Crimea, and certainly they did not hit 25,000 men, or half that number, by mueketry. 1: is no wonder, had been completely prostrated by his last {llaese, though therefore, that veteran troops boldly advance against each | ja itself it was not of a serious character, and he died not so much from the effects of disease as of an utter ex- haustion of nature. The career of the venerable deceased is 80 well known that it is scarcely neceesary to remind your readers of its most prominent phases. Frederick Henry Alexander Baron Von Humboldt was born in this city, September 14, 1769. When only ten years of age he lost his father, the representative of one of the oldest and other, knowing that not one shot in 1,000 hits. It was the American people who firat established the superiority | of the rifle in battle, both in their two wars with Eogland and in the Mexican war. The French in Algiers were the firet European nation to-foliow the American example, and in that war the rifle was decisive of the issue. The first Napoleon made little use of the rifle—indeed | he abolished it altogether, for it did not suit bis gys- tem on account of the difficulty of loading. noblest families of the country, who had seryed with | *cret of his system was rapid and unexpected concentra- distinction in the Pruesian army during the Seven Years Ww but bis mother, a lady of French extraction, gave him and his elder brother William, afterwards the cele- brated statesman and linguist, an excelleut education, which be completed at the universities of Frankfort and Gottingen. An excursion to the Hartz Mountains and the banke of the Rbine afforded him the materia!s for his frat ecientidc work, “Essay on the Basaltes of tho Rhine, with Observations on the Syenite and Basonite of the Ancients,”” which as published in 1790, and gave early indications of scientife tact and patient reeearch. In the same year © vised France and England, where he became acquainted with Sir Joseph Banks, the companion of and whose viril cescriptions of tropical scenery first awekened in the ardent mind of Humboldt the enthusiasm of a traveller and @ naturalist. After having been employed for some years as a Prussian government tunetionary in the Department o! Mines, he tarew up this oflice in the spring of 1797, to devote himself eatirely to those pursuits by which he was destined to gain immor- talrenown. A journey to Italy was undertaken, chielly for the purpoge of studying the phenomena of volcanoes, previous to bis explorig the geological structure of the great mountain chains of South America, and on fhe 5th of June, 1799, he embarked, with his friend Boopland, at Corunna, on board the Spanish frigate Pizarro, for the shores of the New World. Oa the voyage to Teueritfe they were chased by a British cruiser, from which they eecaped with difficuity, and on the 19th Aambolds landed at Santa Cruz, when he ascenced the peak, and ina few cays collected a great number of new and valuable data relative to the natural history of the island. Ou the 1éth of July he drst eet foot on American soil, at Cumana, and employed eighteen months ip examining the territory Which now forms the republic of Venezuela, In February, 1800, he reached Caraccas, and, crossing the extensive prairies of Calavozo, embarked in canoes on the Orinoco, and proceeded to the extreme Spanian port of San Carlos, on the Rie Negro, from whence he returned to Cumura, after traversing 1,800 miles of wilderncas, An excursion to the Havana afforded him an opportunity ‘of examining the interior of tho island of Caba, and re- turning to the Continent, he set out in September, 1801, for the Cordilieras, reaching Quito on January 6, 1802. Six months were spent in explormg the beaatiful plateaa of Quito and climbing the giaut Chimboraz», where he attained the height of 18,096 feet, a greater elevation than had been ascensed by any previous traveller, Passin through Lower Pera to Lima and Callao, Humboldt ar- rived avAcapulco on the 234 March, 1803, vigited Mexico, Guanajuato and Valiodond, ascended’ and measured the volcano of Toluca and the Cope de Perote, and then proceeded by way of Cuba to Pi ladelphia, where he arrived in May, 1804. Hig stay in the United States was only of brief duration but he resided where long enough to become intimate with the most \ilustrious statesmen and sayante of that period— with Jefferson, Macison, Gallatin, Marshall, and many | otbers. It was with reluctance that he quiued the virgia | scientific research, and which occupied him, we may | almost eay, to the Jast hour of his mortal existence. | much to popolarize science, to diffuse knowiedge, and to | they oid not dare to assail him opealy. He will be long shores of the Western Hemisphere, aud flaally retarced to Europe, where he arrived on the dd of Augvat, 1804, bringing with bim more interesting collections and ovser. ‘yations ou the various branches of natural science, and on geography, statistics and ethnology, than had enricned the great storc house of human knowledge since the days of Columbus. & Humboidt now took up his residence in Paris,as the point most suitaole for the arrangement and elaboration of his ecieniitic and Uterary treasures. In 1807 he com- mexced publishing the reeulta of bis investigrtions in the French langusge, which graanally extended to tweaty-nine folio volumes without exbausting the enormous maierials he had amagsed. fhe peronal narrative of his travela appeared under the titie of “Voyage aux Régions Equi- noxicales da Nouveau Continent,” in three yolumes, and has been translated into all the languages of the civilized world. After accompanying the late King of Prussia to London and Italy, be returned to his ative country in 1827, and two yeais later, at the particular request of the Russian Emperor Nicholas, he uodertook a second great expedition to the Poral ani Centra! Asia, which hag added almost as much to our knowledge of thoze regions as his former travels did to that of the New World. He then again spent ceveral years in aris, where he published hig * Aeie Centrale,” and his “ Examen Critique de 1a Geographie du Nouveau Continent,’’ and at length settled permanently at Berlin, the honored friend and constant guest of Frederick William IV. Here he began tne pubii- cation of his ‘Cuemos,”’ which was to be the crown- ing labor and the epitome of hig long life of Altogether, the works of Humboldt, in their number and variety, and in the mass of facts contributed by them to every department of acience, have scarcely a parallel in literary history. He may’bave been surpassed by other philosophers in the special branches o/ study to which they devoted themee!yes; bot, taking him all ia all, it may be truly eaid that po other man has done s0 pevetrate into the hidden mysteries of orginic nature, ag has beem accomplished by the great deceased. 1 have frequently bad Occasion to atlude to the partiality shown by Humboldt to the United States and their citi- zene. He neglected no opportunity of manifesting this feeling, and the numerous Americans who paid their re- | ‘Specte to bim during their stey in this capital were inva- Tiably received with the utmost kindness and cordiality. Among perbaps the last communications written by hin ‘Was & letter to the ‘ican Minister, Mr Wright, with whom he had contracted a sincere friendahip, acknowledg- ing the receipt of a copy of the transactions of your States’ Agricultural Society for the year 1857, containing the eloquent addrees of that distinguished orator, Edward hiverett. Doubtless the society will receive this letter from your minister, and will prize it ag one of the richest Jewels of the association. It ja but a few weeks since we heard the voice of the vencrable patriarch at the Amer!- can embassy, under the flag of the beloved Union, on the 22d February , speaking with touching earncstnsse of bis visit to the United States, and of his high hopes in the future of the great republic, in the progreas of humanity and the advancement of free institutions. Notwithstand- ing his life-long connection with kings and courts, he al- ways remained faithful to those liberal ideas which he bad imbibed im his youth, and reaction, obscurantism, political and spiritual despotism had in him a constant and unflinching adversaty. At the Inst Prussian elections, in October, be was one of the Orat at the polia, and on some one presenting him a ticket with the name of the reas- | tionary candidate, he thanked him with his usual polite- neee, and told bim that he was already provided, at the @ Lime putting his hand jn big pocket and produciog the liberal ticket. These tendencics were go wel! known that they often rendered him the object of covert attacks on the part of the high tory faction, though his reputa- tion was so high, and he was #o generally beloved, that remembered, to ters for his kindly virtues and the sterling merits of bis character than for his rare geninz and pro- found scientific acquirements; and the name of Humboldt tion of large masees on @ given point, combined with great celerity of movement and rapidity and quantity of fre. slowly killing @ givea number of men. Buthad Napoleon lived in this age, when by modern improvements the rifle can be loaded as fast as the musket, he would not The | Thege produced moral effects far greater than by | have a single musket in his army, and that wili soon be | the case in all the great armies of Europe. Now, the question is, can this improsement in small arms which hes such an effect on modern warfare, neutralizing | ton great extent the cilect of artillery, by cutting down the gunnere—can it be applied effectively to cannon? If €0, then the Paixhan emooth-bored gun, in its moet im- | proved form, even Dahlgren’s modification of it, is netbing compared with the newer arm. Bat there are difficuiies in the way, which many in- yentors haye attempted to overcome, but hitherto with indifferent success. The last of these tried in war- fare was the British invention known ag the Lancaster gun, Which failed go completely in the Crimea. Ag in the cage of the Minie rifle, the French got the start of the English, and are eaid to have completely overcome the obstacles in the way. Jn fact, rifled cannon bad be- come a regulation weapon in the Fren®h navy before any | one in England appeared to be aware of the nature of the | gun; and a writer in the London Datly News thus cut up the government near the end of February Inst:— Onur government bad for once failed in discovering and pilfering the inventions of our neighbors. roundabout attempts to obtain the advantages of a rifled gun, by repudiating 18 principles, have since failed ia the moet shomeful manuer, and they have at length adoptod a course which they might and onght to bave followed long ago, by ordering some of Armstrong’s guns. Arm- strong’e gun, so far from being the recent improvement of the last {ew month, has been at the disposal of govern- ment for years One of the experiments with It was made at Shochtryness in the winter of 1855, as I am awaro from having seen it. Krom that time, although the size of the gun has been increaged no material improvement bas been made in it, and none atall in ite principle. In @ work published by Mr. Dahlgren, in 1856, after the truth was known about the Lancaster gun, he says :— “TI may say, however, that the failure of these projectiles, or of the Lancaster gun, is not to be considered az finally determinirg the interesting question of imparting the rifle mevement to the shot or shells of heavy ordnance. Other efforts have been made, which, though not go well known, Promice to afford better results.” Among these be men® tions experiments: in france witha shell gun, the pro- Jectile of which is of a cylindroconis form, weighing fifty-four and a half pounds. The gun is rifled with two Spiral g:coves, and on the surface of the shell are two pro- tuberances, or nipples, which enter these grooves and give the shell the epiral motion. It is understood, says Mr. Dablgren, that an order for forty of them was then | given. It is said‘that ranges of 5,400 yards have been obtained with this ordnance, the elevation being Afteen de- ercer, and the charge seven and three quarter pounds, This cannon wes tested in Belgium, and proved satisfac- tory. But we come to later improvements in France—tho new Napoleon gun, manufactured at Vincennes, which has been distributed to the French army, and is now per- hape mowing down the Austrians, Some of the Eoglisa Journals and magazines depreciate this Javention, Buttho corrcepondent of the London Times speake of it as fol- lows — The new syetem of artillery which has been under ex- amination for more than two years past te, | am assured, completed, and the iast experiments have decided {te adeption. The various calibres that before existed are, according to this plan, reduced to two—twelve-pounders or siege guns, and four-pounders or field guns. The pieces are riled; the projectiles are hollow, and produce a double eflect—that of oiid shot and of shell. Their form is coni- cal, and leaden atlettes (little wings) give to the ball a pre- cision never obtained before. My informant saya:— In order to give an ides of the terrible effects of these new pieces it suflices to say that a 12-pounder (new model) willy, ‘with one bait the number of shot the old pieces of pro- duce the ssme effect; ana ths new pattern 12-pounder produces at 70 metres the same regnit as the old 24 at $6 metres, and re- quires no more than one-sixth ef the charge. ‘Ihe projectiles penetrate into a biock of stone of the hardes cement to am ex: tent of £0 centimetres (31 inches), and an enormous breach 18 made by the explosion The naivantagea of the 4 pounder are more remarkable. It requires but 600 grammes of pow- der to throw a ball a distance of one kilometrical le Pte ai precision is 7ards or nearly two mi ack, ard at that distanc infantry. All the pleces conatra lonced ai the muzzle, the loading at the Dew system are being given up. ‘a8 many experiments have shown it to bs inconvenient, ard on breech even'dangerons, #0 much to #8 to connterbalance the ad teges Scientific men affirm that these improvements have rained the art of destruction by artillery ta all but perfection. It fe not loaded at the breach, but at the muzzle—Louis Napoleon being far too practical to use doubtful inven- tions. The French jouraals are very chary in their ac- counts of this gun, giving only vaguegdescriptions of it— nothing precige or scientific. We suppote the Emperor Would not permit his secret to go out, or if there beno secret that he intends the weapon should appear as mysterious as possible till ite effects are felt on the field of battle. The following is the only account we have seen of the new cannon in the French papers:— ‘They are internally grooved, as in the rifles or carbines ‘(de pricision.”” The calibres are reduced. to two dimen- sions oply—12-pounders for siege guns, and 4 pounders for field batteries. .For the navy the calibreg remain unal- tered. The tofid ball is done away with, the projectile being one which strikes like a full sbot, and then burats like a shell, thus haying fitted with waddings of grooves of the gun, and to the ‘This new pic double effect. It is lead, which enter into the give the requisite precision 6 is equivalent to one of 24 of the old system, which is the size ordinarily need for open- ing a brench. — Against a massive butt of masonry a bat- tery of ancient 24-pounders was poiated, some weoks ago, at a distance of 85 metres, (38 yards,) viz: that a’ which fire is genera)ly opened ogainet a rampart, A second mass Of tasenry, sirnilar to the first, was breashed by a battery of 12-pounder new guns, but ata distance of 70 metres, (76 yards.) The experiments proved that fewer roundi trom the rifled gun were required to open the breach than from the old 24, and at doube the distance, The 4 poan field pieco is ro small that it may be well termed the er- Will dercend to future ages, and be a honsehold word Smong Our children’s children, when the mighty poten- tillery rifle, weighing lese than 209 kilogrammes. Six guepers can Carry it op thelr spovlderg witout difficn i Their own | peobapie enoveh that in Fiance they are just now casting capnon in large numbers. It i# certain that these wil! bo construeted with all the latest improvements; but that they wili be go far guperior to our own as to imply dange to us we do not believe, The only real danger lies in our own supineness. We may de caught unawares, and we ought not to forget, even when all due allowance nas been mace for the valor of our army and navy, that toe Minw rifle in our bands, when we were opposed during the Russian end Indian ware wo av enemy less per fectly armed, counted for much in the decision of tore two events. Our government may be more keenly alive to the danger than we sappose; althougb, if they bave rapidly and quietly takeu menguresto place the country in a étate of detence, as far as this can be done by the use of (he new improvements in ordnance, we & pronounce them to be the best which have ever held office in these dayg. One bears every row and then a iittie talk of mysteries, and Shoepuryness; but when one comes to itions of Wootwich, and the deficient state of our ordnance just before tke Russian war, we are no} quite eo sanguine as to the wisdom of our rulers. It is idle im euch a matter to talk of secrets, The supposed gecret of the Armetiong gun is no more a gecret, for 4}! persone «bo care to know anything about the matter, than ig the hour on the Horse Guard’s clock to a passer by, It is Bald the French Emperor's secret is we'l kept. In the fet place, ig there a secret, or merely a mysterious use of methods known clgewhere? If there be a secret, money anvet have lost its value or spies their adroitness, or it would not be a secret long after fifty or even twenty guns had been cast, Let us, however, take the alternative thet there ig a secret, and that we cannot Ond it ont; still more, then, does it behoove us to do all we can as vigorously as lies in our power to provide ourselves with au equally efleckve Weapon. THE GUN FOUNDRY AT WOOLWICH. IMMENSE RESOURCES FOR THE SUPPLY OF oRD- NANOF—EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS FROM THE AKM- STRONG GUN. [#rom the London News, May 10.) At a time bke the present, when some of the most powerful States of Europe are lauacned into perhaps long and ganguinary war, aud into the vortex of which no one knows ncw soon this country may be drawn, the interest of the public is naturally awakened to the consideration of the efficiency of the various. departments employed in the manufacture and preparation of war materials, The occaeion is therefore a favorable one again to advert to a subject which occupied our columns some months back, namely, the royal factories recently esiablished at Wool- wich for the menufacture of ordnance and warlike stores. It is not the «bject of this notice to enter into the question whether or no these works are cetablished on a legitimate basis, or whether they are likely to prove a saving of the public money, but merely to show the vast quantitios of ordnance, shot, ebell, aud other warlike stores, which, in the event of war, could be produced from the royal arsenal alone. Since the commencement of he present year the greatest activity has prevailed throughout the Ordnance Department of the Areenal, and though for the past few Weeks the operations in the iron gun foundry have beer suspended during the repair of the four old furnaces and | the construction of two new ones, tne preparation, prov- fi and shipment of the contract guns have proceeded with the greatest activity; the average number of heayy guns despatched from the gun wharf per week being no lees than one hundred. This great demaod has been created by the armung of the numerous vessels-of-war lately put into commission, and the changing at the various coast and ether defences of the old unserviceable 24 pounders for long 82 and 68-pounders. Notwithstanding this un- neual ebipment the contracts for the supply of guns for the present year are emalier than those of last year, while but 800 pieces ot heavy or¢nance have beea ordered from the new foundry during the present finaucial year. The store of cannon of all calibres now in the Areezal is sofficient to supply all demands for years to come,there being between 15,000 and 20,000 Pieces of serviceable ordnance ou the various wharves which could be prepared and despatched to any part of the world at the rate of 200 per week. With the eix furnaces which | will shortly be in workivg operation ia the gun foundry it will be capabl: cf turning out ten 68-pounders per week. When the whole of the ten furnaces are erected, the foundry will be capeble of producing twealy new guns per weck,a number which, wituout taking luto account the contract entras‘ed to the Gospel Oak and Low Moor works, would be sufficient to supply all ordinary peace demands for cannon. A very large scries of workshops is Low in course of erection close to the new foundry for the manvfacture of the Armstrong guns. The works will take in the old Lencaster shell factory, which contains thirteen furnaces and ning steam hammers, £0 that with- out going to any very great outlay for pians, Mr. Armetrong, who willauperintend the factory, will, aa soon as the worke are compieted, be in a positon to supply his Guns as fast ag they are likely to be required. Agreat deal of mystery has been thrown round this Most destructive weapon, and government have certainly done all in their power to prevent the secret of its nature ond construction from Sranerig. The jealous care with which the drawings and modelg have been guarded laa, ag might bave been expected, proved ineffectual for thiz ‘pose, the gun having been publicly manufactered in Newcastle-on-Tyve and openly used for practice in Wool- wich. It is a waste of time totry to prevent those who are interested in obtaining the information from becom- ing acquaintea with every particular connected with its construction, Much bag been said about the daozer to which Engiand would be exposed if any adverse Power were epabled to construct these weapous; but it should be yemembered at the same time that the knowledge of the principles upon which the guy is made wili not of itself enable foreign governments to construct it. The detailed description of our machinery, our engines and our small arm rifles hag never been kept concealed from the world, and yet the mechanical skill necegeary for their manu facture has never been found in foreign countries. The Armstrong gun is a plece of mechanism which would tax the ekill of Fogiish artisans, even when directed by the inventor. How Jittle then need we fear that foreign nationg would be able to manufacture it, even if supplied with deccriptive plave and drawings. The principles upon which the advantages possessed by the weapon depend are not noyel,eten ae applied to gunuery. Ia external appearance the gun differs very little from the crdpance commonly in use, except in being a littie more than baif the diameter in proportion to the we'ght of shot carried, and not quite half the weight. It may be fami- Marly described as a holiow tube, the bore extending from the muzzle out at the breech. The upper portion of the bore, from the chamber to the muzzle, along which the projectile pases. ig rifled by about 30 grooves, 1-16th of an inch wide ‘and 1-10th of an inch deep, which ‘have a spiral pitch of one complete turn in 16 feet. The other portion of the bore, from the chamber to the extremity of the breech, through which the charge is introduced, is smooth; and rather wider than the rifled part. Immediately be- hind the chamber in which the charge is exploded, and about a foot or so from tue breech, there is a square slot, yme four or five inches across, which extends from the upper surface of the gun, and cuts right acrogs the bore. m the charge hes been ingerted through the breech a solid piece of iron is dropped into the slot, and by a screw Rees in the breech is firmly forced against the conical ace of the chamber, forming an effectual break, which is capable of resisting the explosion. To the projectile, how- ever, is owing in @ great measure the efficiency the [a It is formed of iron, elongated in shape, like the inie bullet. Two grooves are cut at different places along its length, into which are cagt belts of lead which ject about one quarter of an inch beyond the diameter of the shot. The projectile and the charge of Ted ka are, as we have said before, introduced rough the’ breech. The plug which ‘fits into the slot ie then dropped and screwed into its place, so as effectually to prévent any lateral escape of the ee When the cbarge is ignited the conical spot is driven forward into the rifled portion of the bore, which being rather narrower than the diameter of the shot, the leaden belts are firmly forced into the ves, and the whole bore so effectually wedged up during the pas- sage of the shot that there is abgolutely no “windage,”’ or escape of the explosion, until the shot bas left the muzvie. Thus the whole of the propulsive power of a given charge of ts utilized, and an enormous range oblained. The construction of the body of the gun itself is ingenious, though not perhaps quite novel. It is entirely of wrought fron. In the originai plan proposed by Mr, Armstrong the bore was intended to be of stee), strengthened outetde by maeeive cylinders of wrought {ron welded on while at a bigh temperatvre, and firmly fixed to the steel core by the contraction consequent upon cooling, This plan has been altered, and the cores are now either made of wrought or cast iron. The wrought iron cylinders are made like the twisted steel barrels of a fowling piece, by winding red hot bars of wrought iron spirally round a polished metal drum of the required diameter. These successive epirals are then pressed and welded together, forming a tube whore greatest tensile strength is in a di- rection transveree to ite length. tubes, in lengths of one or two feet, are welded on to the core in a state of incundescence, and are contracted firmly to tholr places on cooling. Ontside this a eecond covering of the same deseription of wrought fron cylinders is welded, which completes the gun. This peculiar combination of iren cyliuders, the tensile fibres of which ran in different di- reotions, bas the cfieet of preventing the expansion of the bore during firing. Itetops the vibration ao destructive to the etrength of jron, and it renders the plece coneider- ably etronger than the cast iron gun of the same calibre, | shoeb NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1859—TRIPLE SHEET. ee nnnInEIINEEInIEIINnIRIRemremeeemrtieripe oY (hough oply one-half the weight of metal is used. Of tho effects produced by this wonderful weapon the public have eiready been partially made acquainted; but it may not ‘be out of place here to advert to them a The iron ninety-two pounder, Ape 8 gun, tried at ees, Was found capaile of throwing its projectile, accuracy of aim, adistance of five miles with with per) | five pounds of powder, one half the charge of am ordinary thuty- (wo pounder, which carries but one and three fourths mile. At a distance of 3,000 yards (theextreme range of long thirty two pounder), of twenty-five shots fired at a target ton feet square byan ordinary gunner, every one struck the mark. Jing at the gun as a piece of mechanism, it is a perfect weapon. Yet notwithsfanding the severe testa to which it hag been eubjected, there are many who think what the deli ite construction will materially impair ite effectivenet actual warfare, This is a queation which canoot be decided anil the gun has been tried ip the fisld, but looking at the simplicity and strength of its construction it does not ap- pear at ali more likely to get out of order or to ba in- jored (hau the ordinary artillery now im use, An order bas already been iegued ior the supply of these guns during tho pregent year, but ir advaviages become more genera!ly appreciated, and the artillerymen: more accustomed to their ure, they will doubtless in a great measure snpersede the ordinary artillery. Ibis but a few years ago that the government were entirely de- pendent for the supply of shot and sbell upon private con- tractors; but it haveg been suggested that the govern- mint, by taking the manufacture into their own hands, could produce at the rete of £6 per ton that class of shot for which they were paying £13 por ton, a small experi- mental factory was erected, which, being considered suc- ceseful, was enlarged. At the present lime the laboratory department are productng from 26,000 to 28,000 shot and shell. per week, or between seventy and eighty tons per day. Working doy and night it would be posible, in cate of an mergency, to produce at the rate of 30,000 per week. AS ract pumbers of production give Do idea of the quantities of materials expended fn actual warfare, ii may be mention- ed tbat during the siege of Sebastopol, which must be considered one of the most etupendous sieges of modern times, the English never bad more than 209 pleces of artiliery employed at once throvghout the whole siege, extending over twelve mouths. The shot and gheil ex- pended Was not more than could be now turned out by Woolwich in six or seven weeks. Thug with the present stock of guns in etore, and the various foundries in full operation, Woolwich atone could supply war material sufi- clent for carrying on perpetually two such es as that of the great Russion stronghold. In the small arm depart- ment the supply is on an equal scalo; the present ma. chives, if kept constantly at work, will produce 2,000,000 Minie Dullets per week. Notwithstanding that a juc- tion of hot and ebell ig carried on atthe rate of eighty tons per day, £0 great has the demand been lately for arm: jog the navy and storing the magazines of our various fortrceses and defence that the shipments from the whar? bave exceeded the protuction, and grea’ inroads have been made ip the appareatly inexhaustible piles with which the various quadrangles of the Arsenal are covered. THE WAR IN ITALY. TACTICS OF THE AUSTRIAN GENERALS IN ITALY, (From the Loudon Globe, May 11.) The movements of the Austrian army grow every day more pozzling, The extension of their right in force to Trenzano, Santbia, Biclia, San Germano, with powerful supports at Vercelli and Gattinara, coupled w.th the feints at Frassinetto, Voghera and Tortona. seemed to indicate a combined movement upon tir lines of the Dora Baltea, and thence to Turin. But on Sunday, as we bear from the official reportg publisbed fn the Pledmontese capital, the Austrians bad actually retired from all their positions op the right bapk of the Sesia, including even Vercelli, an¢ had retired jn such haste that they left forced contri- butione of forage behind thtm. Again, on Monday, a etrong column ocsupied Stroppiano on the road to Trino, but hastily withdrew yesterday morning. All this looks like vaciliation, indecision, want of plan; but no one who is at all acquainted with the endless stra. tegems of war will hastily adopt that view. If the Aug- triane, a8 is believed ip Paris, have endeavoured to out- man wuvre their opponente, it is most probable they would have adopted the very course they bave pursued, A well informed correspondent says that “this crossing the Po wae a feint to attract attention,” while the Austrians pre- pared to weep from their right upoa Tarip. It may be remembered that their operations favor this view. Their show of force upon the right was weak at first. Gradual- ly it took larger proportions and covered a greater extent of Fnac Then it was pushed forward to Trino and wi withdrawn. Light columps marched to Tronzano, even to Ivrea, and then fell back. All this time the show of rtrength was on the Po at Frassinetto, Valenza and Cam- bia. Then Sala was occupied for a moment, and the bricyes on the Scrivia broken down or blown up. The ef- fect of there operations bag undoubtedly been to draw the French to their right, seeing thet they were naturally apxicus to cover the approaches to Noyi and the great ine of communication with Genoa. The latest Austrian movements, sithough movements to the rear, are quite onsiatent with the assumption that they have serious nB OD the jine Dora Baltea, for they may be only part of a geries of deceptions. We cannot ery that we see any strong grovn’ for believing that if the Austrians have entertained such & design they will succeed, Stil the only mode whereby they can hope to reach Turin seems to be that inticated, namely, to hold their left strongly at Piacenza and Pi and the angle between the Po and Tieivo, while, haying induced their foes to gather in that quarter, they suddenly strike hard upon the Dora Baltea. [From the Liverpool Post, May 13.] “Twelve o'clock et Kilmurry fair and no row yet,” was the regretful exclamation of an man in the days of faction Sights in the sieter conntry; and, putting aside the Tegreig, we may adopt the’ astonishment, and say—for days the hestiie armies in Piedmont have been drawn up im battle array, and up to this hour there has been no con- fet one the name. The most we are allowed to know js, that in the basin of the Po the Austrians remain still upon the defensive, and withdraw towards Pavia their basis of operations at this moment. Upon the Upper Sesia, on the contrary, they meditate probably an attack. Te appes certain that the Emperor Francis Joseph has ordered a blow to be struck against Turis, no thatter at what cost. They tortity themseives consequently upon the Sesia, near the bridge of Vercelli, and compel the in- habitants to work at the defences, urging them on with blows! At the same time, the troops which were at Vercelli have ect out for Gattinara,and have been re- placed by other soldiers. These movements may have two significations; either the Austrians fear an irruption of the Piedmontese into Lombardy, or they themselves wish to turn the Dora Baltea and descend by Biella, Aglia and Ivrea upon Turin. The Piedmontese think the latter hypothesis is correct; eo that troops, unter the orders of Genera’s Cialdini and Garibaldi, have pushed a reson- naigsance towards Verceili; and other troops irom Ales- sandria, witb eome detachments of French, are gathering near the Dora Baltea, for the purpose of covering Tarin. But the intentions of the Austrians on the {nian territory are stilla puzzie. The Turin correspondent of the Telegraph sta’es, on anthority, that the Austrians have not more than 130,000 men under arms, and that the allies have 200,000, with additional French soldiers ar- riving every day; and adds that ‘“‘the King is terribly vexed to see his subjects a prey to the occupation of the Austrian, and he is, according to all accounts, most eager to meet the enemy in fight.” But, as the real headquar- ters of the two armies are at Vienna and Paris, and, aa there ig not g man on either side of the stamp of Peles- sier or Hadetzky, to cut the telegrapbic wires, and send those who work thom to the right about, his’ Majesty is obliged to let the campaign proceed as at present. There will soon, however, be an end of ex} tion, and the ar- rival of Louis Napoleon at Alessandria will change the sepect of affairs for good or evil. His Imperial Majesty arrived at Genoa shortly after two o'clock yesterday af- ternoon, There are not wanting people who prophecy that the inaction of the Austrians means a desire for new negotia- tions for peace; others interpret their strategic move- ments into a feint to draw the Picdmontese and French towards them upon the banks of the Ticino, where they think they will be in a better position to accept battle. The London Times gives another reading, and does not think a battie imminent, on the ground that, putting aside congiderations of the weather, the French are probably unprepared to do more than defend their positions; that the Austrians may perbape retire from the fever- breeding districts they now hold; and that, the invasion of Piedmont may end with hardly a blow being struck on either side. But our contemporary argues against his own position by showing that, even if the Piedmontese affair were thus abruptly terminated, there has been a blaze kindled in Europe net easy of extinguishment. RUSSIAN OPINION OF THE AUSTRIAN TAC- TICS IN PIEDMONT. {From the Inyalide So, aad Organ of the Czar) Austria evidently ex; that the French could not arrive bel te A to the assistance of the Picdmontese army, and that General Gyulai would haye had suilicient time to disperse them; but the calculation of the Austrian general was erroneous. The greater part of the Pied- montese army shut itself up in the fortress of Alessandria, and the Austrians did nothing to capture that fortress Previous to the arrival of the French at Turin and Genoa, We are inclined to believe that the other calculations made by the Austrians will not ke more successful. alone can disclose to us the diplomatic secrets which pr the present invasion of Piedmont by Austria, and the audacious resolution of the famous ultimatum, At present it would be idle to endea- Vor to diecover the real motive of the infatuation and pre- sumption of the Vienna Cabinet, which rushed head fore. most into such a rash undertaking without having secured . the alliance of some Power, or of at least one great Power. Let us admit that Austria possesses the sympathies of Bavaria, Wurtemberg, Hesse, Hanover, at he other second rate States of Germany; we ask ‘what support they can afford Austria without the assent of Prussia? We may add that the opinion of the German nation sympathizes So little with the cause of Austria in Italy that the people everywhere the horses which the respective go- vernments require to place their armies on a war footing, and it becomes necessary to take thom force. On the other band, we can certify that up to fatal moment of presenting the famous ultimatum Austria might have Preserved the posession of her Lombardo: Venetian ape vinces by making some Rene’ trifling concessions. Now, peg anes in cast, eg Cabinet in doubts 1¢ defe Austria, who for $0 @ period been tenth to the malediction of all Pathe eS ‘are the con- cunning policy, which the Emperoi Sequences of an ovel a Nicholas, of imperishable memory, designated the Policy of subterfuge. THE OPPOSING ARMIES. MILITARY FORCES OF THB AUSTRIAN EMPIRE, OF THE GERMAN CONFEDERATION, AND OF PIED- MONT. {Translated for the New York Hmratp from a Spanish per: The condition of the totven oe France, published by the utilutionnel, has created great emotion inGermany, and Pcnaigey 4 in Austria, and, above all, has provoked among militaryamen comparisons and statistice relative to the forces which in the eventuality of the rupture of peace. ful relations could be brought into the field by Austria and Germany, on the supposition that this latter would sup. port the firet German Power against a French army hich, in anion with Piedmont, should invade Lombardy. This subject bar come to be ‘an incxhaustible object of calculations and investigations, as it ia the invariable theme of conversation among al! military men. According to the opinion of an offiver belon, the armies of the north of Germany, ing to one of Who takes tach in terest in grerything that hag relation to the art of war, and who is well ini concerning the organization ‘and military resources of all countries of Kurope, are the following data given, which, besides the interest imparted to them by existing civcumttances, appear to us lo pog- eees the merit’of being very correct, ‘The French army ig magnificent, full of vigor, of en- thusiasm, and of bravery. The First Empire never had an organized force #0 well {ostr uted, #o full of confidence in iteelf, 80 capable of hero'o and continuous effort. Itis | conceived that Fracce, in the presence of such magniti- cept reriments defliing before her eyes, and whose power is alluded to by the Constitutionne!, can regard all war ag an incident which will cause heavy expenges, but which §n compensation will bring an increase of military glory, - which the national spirit of the ancient Gauls is a0 estrous, m to France is the position which this state of things has produced in Europe, It is evident that a French army of 670,000 men, excited by the former remembrances, the emblems, and even the language of the First Empire, and conducted by captains of recognized ability, would be very formidable wo any pation with whom it might enter into a struggle; thus all the governments of the great Europeap States opted, inacertain sense instinctively, a peaceful policy, full of prudence, but at the same time pre paraiory. On one side they have wished to prove to France that they do not entertain towards hor avy feelings of hostility, and that they consider that she {8 free to dispoee of ber destinica nt her own choice, and at no tims have £0 many princes been seen hasteoing ip ave the chief of that great country such testimonies of good under- standing and neighborly intentions. But notwithstavding they are well disposed to cofftinue as allies and friends of France, the other Powers pave replied to the always ipcreasivg augmentation of its mili- tary forces by similar dispositions, with the view of being Prepared for every eventuality; and for some years past all the European armies have been reorganized upon more solid and wider bases. Thus, the German Powers, by themeelyes, have at their dis) 1,500,000 soldiers and 2,600 pieces of artillery; besides, the territory of the Con- federation is covered with formidable fortifications, per- fectly armed and provisioned, which for the greater part did not exist in the days of the wars of the First Empire. Now, here are some details concerning the resources of Austria and the state of the forces of which she can dis- pore, details which will prove that a war on the part of France, even with the aid of Piedmont, against the Lom- bardo Venetian possessions, is a military operation of the very first order. In 1796, 1797 and 1800 Austria and ber army were not what they are at this day, Then, at the same moment that ebe sustained the war in Italy, two hundred thousand French troops threatened or invaded her pos- sessions in Germang, end Daly itself was a frontier of fecond order; she bothing but mercenary armies, heavy, badly organized and badly generalled, to be o| to nf p- tional who carried intothe fleld of battle wm of tactics,and who were directed by the arrior and organizer of modern times. Tho involved, and, with the exception of Mantua, then situated out of the line of their operations, the im- perial generals only possessed one great field of war which could serve as ,the arena for their moyemems and opera tiops. To-day, if a general war should break out, Austria has no fear for her German posteesious, covered by the for. tresees of Rastadt, Ulm, Ingolstadt, and the fortided and | entrenched camp of Linz; and, besides this, she can carry all ber forces into upper Italy, which she has known wel) how to convert into one vast field of arms, whose key she has in her power. ‘The base of operations of the Austrians in upper Italy— the stropgest that exists in the world—is that of the Adige, whish, denuded of fortifications, nevertheless secured the immortal operations of General Bonaparte, abd at this day, if the men te whom its defence ia en’ trusted discharge their high mission to the fullest extent, | it will be found littie less than impregnable. The Adige is the ouly tributary of the Po which ie never fordable to horses; qver this’ river, and in jeaviag the throats of the Tyrol, is erected the famous camp of Verona, which commands tho whole of the affluences of the left branch of the Po end of the Po itself. Since 1850. this position, then already fearful, has been str. ned by new and strong fortresses; the two last, clovated ove the beights of Santa Lucia (*), were constructed only a ear Ago. The only Passage of the river to the south, that of Legnano, is also fortified, Before coming to the Adige there 5 r line, that of Mincio, protected by two fortreeses of the first order, Peschiera and Mantua, This formidable position is aided on its right by the mountains of the Tyrol, whose entrance is also protected by Breacia and Roca d’Anfo, and on its left by the Po, whose shores, in cage of necessity, can be covered by immense inunda- bol the approaches of which guard the citadel of ‘errara. In short, Bresceilo, the citadel of Piacenza and Pizzi- gbetione, —— Operations on both sides of the Po and of the Adda. But that which gives to Austria a decided advantage in all military operations in Upper Italy—that which during ten centuries bas subjected those regions to the wide do- minion of the German armies, while France hag en- deavored in vain, and at the cost of her purest blood, to establish her supremacy there—is the Tyro}. The Tyrol itself, from the time of the wars of the First Empire, bag come to be one immense fortified garrison, of which it Would be difficutto dispoesees Austria; over tts southern and northern slopes it 1s protected by two groups of for- tresees; upon the northern slope are Salzbourg, Kufatein and the pass of Lueg; on the routhern slope are Bor) ~ the pass of Eister-dluntz and Francene-Veste (#rai fort); and in the rear guara Venice shelters the mili Aivisions by means of fortifications which protect, margin of the sea, and by a citadel which commands city. It now we take a glance at the army destined to de thege positions, we shail find another object for gre consideration, The Austrian army is one of the best organized, perbapg, at this day, the most moveable body in the world. ig divided into four great armies and te concentrated bodies (corpe) always ready to mar bas this advantage over the Prussian army—that » equadrons are permanent; the Landwebr has been pressed and replaced by bodies of reserve, which temporal licenses in their houses, € In instruction, and im a goldierly spirit of union ¢ du corps) the Austrian army gives place to none. regu'ations of its artillery service and its general Deuvres are perfect and wortby of being imitated. ' no longer exists the celebrated Aulic War Council + enchained the genius of its generals; and the most principles of the military art are now taught in exe and numerons schools, The infantry is composed of sixty-two regiments line, of four war battalions, besides one of grenadi four companies, and one of depot and instructic fourteen regiments of the military frontiers, of tw battalions and one of reserve; of one battalion Tittler frontier; of the regiment of chasseurs of the of seven war battalions, and of one deposit of twen battalions of carbineers; and lastly, of three bat of troops of military heaith. A batialion of chass attached to each brigade of infantry, and beside company of infantry of the line has sixteen mari called “sharp shooters,” armed with carbines, The cavalry consists of eight regiments of culr and eight of dragoons, of six squadrons. each; then regiments of lancers and twelve of huzzars, of #quadrops each. Each regiment has ite equadron of deposit, and t footing of the regiments of the line is 900, and that light troops 1,200 horges. The artillery comprises twelve regiments of fic) lery, one regiment of coast artillery, of fifteen com and one regiment cf artificers, who serve twenty ries of congreve rockets. Each regiment of the field artillery numbers four ed batteries of six guns, three batteries of twely. one battery of mortars ard six batteries of thoge c Austria horee artillery; tots), 168 batteries of eight mounting about 1,844 cannons and mortars. Thi besides nineteen regiments of gendarmerie. A battery of artillery is attached to each bri manwuvres with it always, and follows it constan each division of infantry two or four squadrons o men are attached. Each body of the army also cor oe ‘® reserve of cavalry, a park of artillery an park. The general reserve of the army, independent) four great divisions and of the twelve regimental comprises the reserve of cavalry, or ri ala of cavalry, now quartered in Hungary, and com by the Prince de Liechtenstein; a great’ body of formed by the union of the sixty-two battalions ¢ diers, of the sixty two regiments of infantry of (this body of infantry is only formed in time ofw Juatly, a Jarge park of artillery. ‘The total number of these arms or institutes, a corps of engineers, trains, », is nearly 600, According to the statistics’ of official sources, pud! the Headquarters of the Army (which correspon Minister of War in Spain), for the year 1855, the on arms:— ntry—371 battalions and 823¢ companies. Cavalry—265 34 equadrons. ie ps Fass tle 148 yp of cannon, fe trains an equi for bridj &e, ing a total force of 652,008 men aud 77,000 horse It is to be observed tha: in 1856 the Austrian a ‘Lot on a war footing, and if, following the examp Constitutionnel, there is comprised in the estimet total of the forces of the Austrian army the fii ik 1859 (the annual contingent in time of C00 men, which in time of war can be raised t men), we shall come to the conclusion that, coun the ordinary “fifth” of 1859, Austria—if she igs ing in the three conditions w! her celebrate Montecuculi demanded in order to make war form in the front of battle against the 672,000 m. be pgr ste - who mally, Sgbeniag (hae com fons of a nat ys same and animatet by map ame force of 686 spirit—a In every aspect of the question it is casily see & purely military point of view, and an abatrac from the causes which, apart from tho organizat) army and of her means of defence, can tend { her, Austria is not an adversary which can be A wor with this Power will always be a very se and must demand great efforts of valor and of talent on the part of the army that would go tor in the hee few bana the field of battle whic many long years, she has prepared for art of bet vat frontiers, P Pare’ fOr @ strug Germany in general has trembled tosee tho for war made fy its powerful and glorious eight where is the wonder that the Germans, evokin; turn the memories of the First Empire and the the age, ehould reflect upon all Mig fide contings a to cle and he their forces ? lere, then, according to the Augsburg Gaz minimum of the forces of the cernean Federal Cording to the federal registry — Jet, 2d and 84 corps tb, 5th and 6ub «+ i} “ (Austrians)... 8th % 9th sw 1th « Division of Reserve, Theee ‘igures, neverti wishes *X town in whore vicinity Rade! aive battle, Iu 1818, sin papel | +The celebrated General Moatecuoull, the adver renne, and called by bia enemies Cedtumocy Inga Were necessary for making War] money,