Napoleon III. has again sounded in the ear of Europe,
with ar- tistic flourish of the trumpet, his spirit-stirring call to arms, " L'Empire c'est la paix-H If we were to read his speech wording to the letter, the despotism which he has established by the "free suffrage" of the French people is an absolute success. France is flourishing—notwithstanding the equivocal system of finance ,• and is happy—notwithstanding the snppression of her feelings. She is bent upon nothing but commerce and peace—notwithstanding he court intrigues, and the accumulating munitions df war. Once more the Emperor parades a few of those figures which he keeps on hand to prove, as figures always can that he is "reducing the ar- my"; though it is notorious that it has never been so effective as it is at the present moment—a force of picked men, admirably dril- led, with a great reserve at home on leave but available at a.,.sig- naL He boasts that he is recognized by all the world : he might have added as well, that he is thoroughly understood.
Radetzky proclaims the result of the tumult at Milan • the rebels are punished, the city is mulcted, and will perhaps be mulcted farther. The outbreak is only one more amongst the innumerable evidenoes that Austria holds her position in Italy by main force, and that her utmost tyrannies cannot repress the impatience of the Italian people to shake off the yoke. One feature in Radetzky's proclamation, though not novel, is remarkable, and it will be ap- preciated in this country: it is the announcement that those who are favourable to the Government are to be excepted from the con- tributions; a direct bonus in money to the adherents of an alien party amongst the Italians. The position of affairs in Montenegro is not less singular. Aus- tria, who some time back refused to recognize the independence of Montenegro, as even that pigmy state under Russian patronage might become troublesome if independent, has now succeeded in arresting Turkey when she attempted to enforce the dependence of the province. Austria will not permit either its dependence or its independence to be absolutely established, but enforces a great negative to both propositions ; the hundredth illustration of the entanglement of influences in that interesting region.
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