character of the Hungarian war? Is a true disciple of Lord Westmorland, an avowed admirer of the Austrian Government, and one who believes that England ought to court the alliance of the despotic powers, proper exponent at the present crisis of the views entertained by the people and ministry of England? From the Examiner, 10 Nov. A SWEDISH ALLIANCE. THOUGH Ostensibly the mission of General Canrobert to the Court of Sweden is only to decorate the King with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor in exchange for the Swedish order which Admiral Virgin recently brought to the Court of the Tuileries, it may reasonably be hoped that the employment, at this season of the year, of so distinguished a person as the late commander of the French army, has some deeper aim and more practical object than a mere exchange of decorations, significant as the latter is on the part of a sovereign in the position of King Oscar. largely exceed that of either the campaign of 1854 or 1855. We press this consideration on public attention, because if we are to secure a Swedish alliance and co-operation, as appears to be so greatly desired, we must be content to pay for it. But, on the other hand, in the proportion that we receive assistance for money paid to Sweden, we diminish outlay on our own armaments. Sweden has an army which by the spring could be raised to something like 60,000 effective men: and she has now afloat and under cover, in her ports and on her lakes, about 200 gun-boats of all sizes and armaments. Her army is brave, well disciplined, hardy, and it is believed by no means disinclined to act against Russia; and her flotilla of small craft could quickly be manned by seamen even abler and more competent than her soldiers. Here is just what the Allies want, therefore, at the very doors of Russia all ready prepared for active use next spring. Hence arise the questions-Ought we to purchase this co-operation? if we ought, can Two comparatively fruitless campaigns in we do so? and if we can, what price is worth the Baltic, at a cost of probably not less than paying for it? In a contest like the present, ten or twelve millions sterling to England governments must leave refinements and and France, must by this time have con- speculations to the philosophers, and be convinced both governments that, to achieve im- tent to act on those principles and practices portant and permanent results on that side of which have always prevailed in war. If we Russia, a considerable land force, such as are engaged (and the present war has no neither country is likely to be able to spare, other justification) in a struggle for the indeand a much larger number of gun-boats pendence of Europe, then clearly we are well than it is possible to see ready by May next, entitled to call on other nations to join us; are indispensable. Unless, then, the Allies and just in proportion as the danger threatare content again to incur, in 1856, an ex- ens them, are we justified in expecting that penditure in the Baltic of which the enor- they will join us. The marvellous insensibilmous disproportion to the smallness of the ity of our German friends is quite an excepinjury done by it is an outrage on English tional case. If Sweden sees that next to and French taxpayers, some steps must at Turkey it has most to apprehend from Rusonce be taken to secure from other quarters sian ambition, and regards the Anglo-French that army to operate on Finland, and that alliance as the most effective protection from flotilla of small craft, which the governments such danger, it has ample cause, without any of the two countries either cannot or will not such immediate provocation from Russia as provide for themselves. To persist in carry- that country is sure at this crisis of history ing on war next year in that sea as we have to carefully abstain from giving, for seeking done for two years past, will not only be a permanent safety where it thinks it can best scandalous waste of money and of power, be found. Otherwise Sweden would be debut involve a loss of reputation such as Eng-nuded of one of the rights and attributes of land at least cannot afford. That which self-protection, and be condemned to wait thirty gun-boats, in addition to the fleets, patiently until Russia was ready to swallow would have accomplished in 1854 at Swea- it up, and the rest of Europe incapable of borg and Cronstadt, nearly that entire num- averting its destination. ber failed to achieve at Sweaborg in 1855; and judging by the past, it will require three or four times thirty, acting in concert with an army, to reduce Sweaborg and get at Helsingfors in 1856. Wherever, then, the means of successfully carrying on the next campaign in the Baltic are to be acquired, his appears certain- that its cost will But then comes the question of the terms on which Sweden might be found willing to join the Western Alliance. To begin with, -Sweden and Norway would require a permanent guarantee from England and France against Russia, and on the restoration of peace an immediate settlement of all boundary disputes. Also, most assuredly, Sweden 員 may be expected to inform the Allies, that, or implied, seems to be the natural and logithough possessed of armaments such as they cal basis of an alliance which Sweden will want, the Swedish finances are in no condi- enter into on the ground of danger from the tion to bear the expense of active service; ambition of her neighbors; and as, on the and that though it can furnish men, vessels, restoration of a general peace, England and guns, and munitions of war, these must be France must in some form or other take semaintained and paid for by the Allies. It is curities against an extension of the Russian moreover very possible that Sweden may de- empire, by any engagement of that kind sire to engage the Alliance to the restoration Russia will give her adherence to such a of Finland. guarantee, and so diminish, if not remove, its exclusive character. In accepting the services of Sweden the Allies will accept also the duty and responsibility of rendering Russia in future a safe neighbor to her. Taking the last point first, the only question fairly to be raised upon it would be, whether the restoration of Finland to Swe den is likely to give strength to the Swedish monarchy. We must remember, in discuss- On the whole, then, it would appear that ing the question, that if Sweden lost Fin- the motives are strong for a Swedish alliance; land in 1808, it was recompensed by the ad- that the objections are weak; that terms are dition of Norway in 1815; and that if the easy, if moderation prevail on the part of Fins themselves have reason to apprehend Sweden; and that with Swedish co-operation any diminution of their trade and wealth by we may safely trust that the campaign of restoration to Sweden, Russia would be assist- 1856 in the Baltic, whether the commander ed, not weakened, by such a proposal. We be a Dundas or a Napier, will be as disasdo not now express an opinion on this point; trous for Russia as the campaign of 1855 in but supposing such a condition proposed and the Black Sea. refused, the desire to avoid the introduction of new difficulties and dangers into Sweden itself it must dictate the refusal, rather than any desire to avoid inflicting the utmost possible amount of humiliation and degradation upon Russia. MANAGEMENT OF THE TIDES. MRS. MARTHA PARTINGTON, the same whose unsuccessful tussle with the Atlantic ocean has been recorded by the Rev. Sydney Smith, having taken to heart her discomfiture on that occasion, and misliking the scene of her defeat, removed to a cottage, by name Threadneedle, inland on the banks of the river Dee, where she takes in washing on a large scale. Like a prudent, careful person, which she truly is, Mrs. Partington considered how she should conduct her business, which requires the consumption of a good deal of water, so as to guard against draining the river dry. And the method she has adopted with the most complete success is as follows: That Sweden would require money to repay the cost of the military assistance she would render the common cause is most certain; and probably the Swedish government would be more exacting than the Sardinian government proved. In the case of Sardinia, pecuniary aid assumed the form of a loan; but we can hardly hope that Sweden, with no very bright prospects of future wealth before it, will undertake the repayment of such sums as may be required to move its forces. Piedmont can afford to look hopefully forward to acquiring the neighboring When the river is rising Mrs. Partington duchies, if not the Milanese; and, rich al-plies her buckets freely at the bank, so that ready by anticipation, consents to mortgage there may be no overflow, laying the low-lyits great expectations. Unlike Piedmont, ing lands under water, and so injuring or Sweden lives not on the future, but on the destroying property. But when she observes past. It has no such speculative investments to indulge in; at most it can only hope to retain what is left; and it will therefore reasonably require to be protected against expense for the co-operation it gives. The Allies, on the other hand, can afford no such enormous subsidies as Sweden got from England towards the close of the last war; and if Sweden will be content with the cost of its forces, and place those forces both by sea and land at the entire disposal of the Western Powers and their general, then probably Swedish co-operation would be cheaply pur chased. A guarantee of the present territories of Sweden and Norway, be it either expressed that the river is falling, she holds her hand, suspends the work of the laundry, and turns her customers away; for she has then to take care that the river be not drained dry, and to compass bringing back the ebbing stream. These are Mrs. Partington's two systems of action on the currents of the Dee, and so well are they adjusted, so complete is their success, that perseverance in them for six hours, or a little more, never fails to correct and reverse the tendency to excess either way. For example, if at noon she finds the river swelling, she fills her pails freely, and by six or thereabouts the effect is seen in the subsiding of the waters, and the turn of the current the other way. Thus is avoided | ders it extremely probable that a blow is on any overflow, any waste, any destructive in- the point of being struck which will for undation. But at six, when the waters be- years incapacitate the Czar both for playing gin to sink, and set out, it is time to refrain the aggressor himself and for aiding the agfrom drawing on the diminishing current, gressions of others, Francis Joseph proceeds and then Mrs. Partington shuts up shop, as to offer two distinct hostile insults to Sarit were, and hangs up her buckets to dry. dinia, so gratuitous and undisguised that If a customer comes to her door at this sea- Sardinia cannot avoid noticing them with son she raises her prices for washing, so as resentment, and so arrogant and indefensible to check all transactions in that line; and so that England and France cannot avoid supprevents the use of water, which would in- porting Sardinia in her resistance. crease the ebbing of the stream, and perhaps dry it up altogether. By perseverance in this system for six hours or more, the current is acted on; the reflux gives place to a flow, the tide turns, the channels are gradually refilled, and water is abundant. It is not wonderful that Austria should hate Piedmont: it would be wonderful were it otherwise. She hates her from the double motives of jealousy and fear. Piedmont is a standing reproach to every other Government in Italy, and to that of Lombardy most of Such is Mrs. Partington's prudent man- all. It is the only State in that Peninsula agement of, the tides. The miller who lives where the people and the rulers are in harin the neighborhood, and who has got a mony. It has proved to Europe the capacity name of caring for nobody and for nothing, of Italians to conduct their own affairs, and presumes to scoff, indeed, at Mrs. Parting- the rapid prosperity which is the result of ton's precautions; and pretends that the their self-government. It is a perpetual, river would ebb and flow all the same whether though silent and inactive, stimulant to the she filled or emptied her tubs, and that she oppressed classes of all the other provinces had better mind her business, and do her to strive for a condition of similar well-being. washing always at fair prices, without It is a proclamation to the wretched citizens troubling herself about the Dee, and its cur- of Milan, Venice, Naples, Tuscany, and rents up and down. But this idle talk is Rome, of what they might become were the confuted by the undeniable fact that the incubus of Austrian tyranny once shaken off. rising or falling of the stream is sure to fol- It is a strong, hourly, unmistakable warning. low Mrs. Partington's measures for restrict- that German misgovernment in Italy cannot ing or stimulating the supply of water. last much longer-that Austria must either That she has thus acted on the currents, and alter her system or withdraw herself. Hence regulated the changes, is undeniable; and it is impossible that Piedmont should not be not less certain it is that the action has been an object of intensest dread and wrath to most advantageous in preventing a drain on Austria; -but it is surprising that that the one hand, or an overflow on the other. Power, which is not usually deficient in Post hoc, ergo propter hoc, is an accepted prudence or in craft, should have selected conclusion. Examiner, 10 November. for the manifestation of these passions precisely the moment when the Western Powers are strongest, when Russia is weakest, and when Sardinia has deserved so well of the allies that they must stand by her, and are, it is conceived, thinking how they can reward her. From The Economist, 27 Oct. "THE DEVIL IS AN ASS." SUCH is the title of one of the plays of the second of our old English dramatists; and the adage seems to be verified by the conduct which Austria is pursuing in Italy. The facts of the case are not yet very completely or officially before the public, and therefore we must argue upon them with some slight reserve; but it would appear that Austria has, with strange infatuation, seized the moment when the allies-wearied out with her disloyal conduct and her mischievous vacillations have resolved to leave her out of their councils for the future, to force a quarrel on her Italian rival whose proceedings have contrasted so favorably with her own. While the fall of Sebastopol has proved the superiority of the Western Powers in their deadly struggle with the Great Bear, and while the perilous position of the Russian army ren Moreover, it would appear as if the grounds of dispute with Sardinia have not arisen, but have been carefully and artificially created. The bare facts, as far as they have yet transpired, are briefly these:- we do not vouch for the perfect accuracy of the statement, but give it as far as it is known through the usual public channels of information. The Sardinian convents recently suppressed or reduced by the Government of that country, some of them held property in Lombardy. This property the Austrian Government has confiscated; and in answer to a protest against the shameless robbery, is understood to have replied― (such, at least, is the cool defence set up by the Oesterreichische Zeitung)—" that the convents having been sup pressed, their property had no longer any necessary and damaging ostentation. But owner, and therefore reverted to the State in her behavior to us has not the less cooled whose territories it was situated"! This is and alienated our friendly feelings, while her aggression the first. Again, Austria has in- conduct and that of her satraps to their own stigated the Grand Duke of Tuscany to de- subjects has disgusted the nation to a degree mand the recall of an attaché to the Sardinian to which it is not easy to give adequate embassy at Florence-which attaché had expression. She may rest assured that if been previously accepted and received; and she forces a quarrel on our gallant ally we this not as a courteous request, but in a shall stand by him with unhesitating resolurude and insulting manner. Diplomatic in- tion; and though we seek no fresh work, tercourse, therefore, naturally and necessa-yet if she forces a quarrel on us, we shall be rily ceased between the two Courts; and the slower to lay it down than to take it up. matter might have rested there and no great Our tendencies and wishes are pacific; our mischief or disturbance have ensued. But policy is that of non-interference: our dethere is more behind. Not content with testation of oppression and cruelty does not having caused a quarrel between two friendly go the length of volunteering a crusade States, the Austrian Government proceeds to against it; but if she deludes herself for one thrust itself into the dispute as a principal; instant with the hope that we shall permit her and Count Buol, it is said, has intimated to to bully or assail Piedmont any more than we the Sardinian Minister at Vienna, that as permitted Russia to bully and assail the SulTuscany has acted by Imperial direction, his tan, most certainly she never hugged a more Imperial Majesty regards the matter as one groundless or fatal fancy. If she is bent personal to himself, and if the dispute be upon hastening that war of principles and not adjusted within a specified time, "will nationalities which it has been our most sedtake measures accordingly." If this com- ulous effort to avoid and to postpone, she munication really took place, we can only may do so to-morrow, -a few more instansay that anything so unwarrantable in sub-ces of interference and arrogance will comstance and so insolent in form has rarely disgraced the diplomatic intercourse of civilized States. The language of Prince Menzichoff at Constantinople, so sternly avenged, offers the nearest parallel in recent times. plete the work; - but with her will rest all the responsibility, as on her will fall all the ruin and nearly all the loss. We warn her to pause and draw back while it is yet possible to do so. A few months more, and Russia may probably be at the mercy of the Allies, and what will Austria, isolated, bankrupt, and abhorred, do then? We deprecate with all earnestness the extension of the war at the moment when a satisfactory peace seems neither improbable nor distant; We cannot for a moment doubt that the French and British Governments will act with becoming promptitude and vigor in this affair, and will intimate to the Court of Vienna without loss of time that the King of Sardinia is our close, loyal, and cordial ally, and that the alliance shall not be for him a but of this much we are certain: that the source of danger, but a shield of protection English Government will meet with the ut and a sword of strength. Whatever may most determination any attempt of Austria have been the feelings of the English people to wreak her spite upon Sardinia, and that or the language of the English press, the if it were possible the Government should be conduct of the English Government towards slack in doing so, the people would speak Austria throughout the last difficult years their sentiments in a mode which would has been faithful and enduring in the ex- leave Ministers no option in the matter;treme. They have borne much and forborne and moreover, that if the war of freedom and long. Far from seeking cause of quarrel, nationality against despotism and oppression they have avoided such with a long-suffering should be forced upon us, the British nation care which has cost them much popularity. will rush into it with a zeal, an enthusiasm, Not only have they religiously abstained and an unanimous resolve which will amaze from using the advantage which encour- both their rulers and their foes, and which agement to the discontented nations under all the probable prudence and the possible Austrian sway might have yielded them, but lukewarmness of the governing classes will they have discouraged any popular move- be utterly powerless to restrain. ment in those countries with perhaps un ALUMINIUM. To the Editors of the Evening Post. unaffected by water or acids, with the oxccption of the chlorhydric. Its solvents, the last-named of soda and potash, which decompose it by setacids excepted, are the concentrated solutions ting free the hydrogen. It surpasses all metals as well as by reason of its durability it will become as a conductor of electricity, and on this account invaluable for telegraphic purposes. It melts at a heat between that required to fuse zinc and copper, and is easily cast and run in moulds. The alloy with copper, which M. Deville succeeded in making while engaged in some experiments immediately after his first discovery, is extremely hard and brittle; it scratches glass, and can be fractured by a blow of a hammer, like steel. Scientific men, and all who are occupied in the practical development of the useful arts, are at At first it was supposed that it would be imthis moment deeply interested in the discovery possible to alloy aluminium with any other of the new metal, extracted from clay and termed metal; but the recent experiments of Messrs. aluminium. This metal was known as far back Tissier prove that it forms alloys with silver, as 1827; though most of the attempts to pro- zinc, and tin. These alloys are fusible in a duce it date from 1845; but the process of ex-greater or less degree; but all melt at a lower traction was so imperfectly known, that the few temperature than the aluminium. specimens in the laboratories were regarded simply as curiosities, of no practical value. At length the problem has been solved by M. Henri Sainte Claire Deville, a young French chemist, assisted by two young chemists, Messrs. Tissier. The process of extraction has been perfected by The high price of aluminium at present entihim to such a degree that the new metal has al- tles it to be ranked among the precious metals. ready passed from the domain of Science to that Nevertheless, it has been employed in the useful of Industry. We need only visit the galleries of arts for many purposes of a highly interesting the " Exposition Universalle" to see a beau- character. Its unalterableness, its tenacity, and tiful chronometer and various other articles of its lightness have made it indispensable in the aluminium manufactured in the establishment of manufacture of instruments of precision and exM. Christofle. The metal of which they are actness, in which the skill of the artisan and the composed was produced by the Messrs. Tissier. value of the time and labor employed are of Aluminium is more fusible than silver, and more importance than the material used. We almost as white. It is unaffected by the air at instance, for example, delicate balances for miwhatever temperature; and unattackable by all nute weights, watch movements, and surveying. acids, except the chlorhydric. When melted and astronomical instruments. Being unoxydaand increased in density by hammering or pass-ble, and therefore incapable of affecting injuriing it under the roller, it acquires a bluish tint ously the animal economy, it will undoubtedly like that of platinum. Ductile and malleable as be used extensively in the manufacture of sursilver, it is capable, like that of metal, of being gical instruments. Although it may not equal drawn out into wire, or beaten into leaves of ex-silver in brilliancy, it possesses the advantage treme tenuity. Its surprising lightness, however, is the property which constitutes its great value in the useful arts. Zinc, until now, has been the lightest of the metals in ordinary use; its specific gravity, taking water as a standard But the above are by no means the only uses as 1, being 7.21; while that of aluminium, to which aluminium can be applied. As soon as compared in the same manner, is only 2.56. the improved processes of its manufacture, by Thus aluminium, whose extreme lightness, judg-increasing its production, proportionately lower ing from all previous analogies, would seem to its cost, it will enter into competition with copindicate it as highly oxydable, ranks, on the per, and be universally preferred to it. On the other hand, in this respect, with silver and pla- one hand, there will be a metal, oxydable, nau tinum; for, in common with these metals, it seous to the taste and smell, all whose comloses nothing of its substance when exposed to the pounds are deleterious and poisonous; on the most intense heat, and surpasses, moreover, sil- other hand, a metal, unchangeable, three times ver in respect to its property of not being black-as light, tasteless, inodorous, and utterly harmened or tarnished by the fumes of sulphur. It differs from copper and tin in being tasteless The advantages of the new metal are positive and inodorous; and all its alloys are perfectly innocuous. over silver of never tarnishing by exposure to the atmosphere; and this property alone will make it a formidable rival in the various departments of watch-making and jewelry. less to the animal economy. and incontestible. Even at present, supposing that aluminium costs four times as much as silAs if in contradiction of all previous experi- ver, it is not in fact dearer; for a pound of alence, aluminium, in spite of its extreme light- uminium contains four times the bulk of a pound ness, has been found to be highly sonorous. Its of silver, and four times as many articles can tone is pure, and its vibrations are of extraor-be made out of it. If the anticipated facilities dinary duration. It is as hard and tenacious as iron-especially after undergoing the process of hammering. As we have already remarked, aluminium is of production be realized, sooner or later, even no farther than to bring down the cost of aluminium to three times that of copper, pound for pound, it would really be no dearer than copper, |