CONTINENTAL AFFAIRS.

West Coast Times, Issue 677, 25 November 1867, Page 4

CONTINENTAL AFFAIRS.

(fhom the age correspondent.) The world was startled yesterday morning by the announcement that Garibaldi had been arrested by order of the Italian Grorernnient and thrown into the fortress of Alessandria. At the moment of the arrest, Garibaldi had got as far as Sinalunga, near Sienna, and was on the point of crossing the frontier of the Papal States. He had instructed the revolutionary committee in Some to prepare the people for insurrection, and promised to bring 100,000 ardent young warriors to their aid. Bands of volunteers were gathering from all parts of Italy to the rendezvous, and at the last stage, before actual mischief was done, the Government decisively stept in. I quote the following as a . brief but complete summary of the points of the position : — " The Italian Government, under the pressure, it is understood of France, have taken a decided step to arrest the movement on Home. On Monday evening Garibaldi was seized by order of the ItaUan Government at Sinalunga, near Sienna, Thence he had been taken to Florence, and thence to Alessandria. The news that Garibaldi was a prisoner caused great excitement in Florenee.Alarge crowd paraded the city last evening, shouting, ' Release Garibaldi.' The troops were called out, and tranquillity was restored, apparently without any difficulty. Other arrests have also been made in Florence, and several chests containing 300 rifles, directed to Perugia, were seized at the railway station. Italian troops have been ordered 1 up to the Papal frontier, in case an invasion should be attempted by the Garibaldians, notwithstanding the captivity of their chief. That an immediate movement against Rome had been determined upon is beyond question. The National Roman Junta, in a letter to Garibaldi, dated 7th September, but just published in the Florence papers, declared that the time had come for putting into operation the vast organisation they had i>repared for a lonian insurrection, without embarrassing the Italian Government, without rasliness and witbonfc previous fracas, and appealing for aid to all who sympathised with the cause of freedom. They pointed to the fact that the friends of despotism in all countries sent their contributions to Rome, and -that a great conspiracy had there been formed against liberty and civilisation ; and asked whether Rome alone, in the miserable political and economical condition to which she has been reduced, could struggle against all the forces thus brought to bear upon her by the religious and political fanaticism of the world ? To this the General replied in a brief letter that their appeal to their brethren in Italy would meet with a ready and generous response, and | urged the Romans to break their chains on the cowls of their oppressors. That Garibaldi was fully warned of the consequences which must arise if he persisted in tlie attempt, is evident froma report in the Italian papers of an interview which took place a few days since 'between Ratazzi and Garibaldi. The latter told the Minister that as the Italian Government was fettered by the September Convention, the Roman question must be settled by volunteers. The Minister declared to the General that the Government were resolved to prevent the passage of the frontier at any cost; when Garibald replied with warmth that any compromise with Rome was worse than absurd, tint the expedition of which he was the representative had no object against the flag saluted by the whole of Italy, and that all that was desired was to plant that flag in the Capitol. In truth, there was more danger in the way than at first sight seemed. The invasion of Rome must have beaten back the French legions, and the war would have been between Italy and France. It is believed in Italy that Garibaldi obtained his funds from Berlin. There is method" in this. At a crisis when the war fever in France and Prussia has risen almost to delirium, and when the two nations can with difficulty [ be prevented from flying at each other's throats, it is not improbable that Prusssia would be willing to repeat the tactics that compelled Austria to play off a FrancoItalian war against the Prusso-French war. THE SAXZBUKG MEETING. The suspicions aroused by the meeting of the Emperors of France and Austria at Salzburg was not allayed by the circular of M. de Moustier, published at beginning of this month. Ihis, and the repeated speeches of the Emperor, on his return to France, threw Europe into the stale of doubt expressed by Hamlet's mother, in the play-scene, wnen she exclaims '' The lady protests too much, methinks," and there was nobody in the case to reply " Oh, but she'll keep her word." While Europe doubted, Bismarck sneered. In a circular addressed to Prussia's diplomatic ngents abroad, he commented on M. de Moustier's circular thus , — " The domestic affairs of Germany, then, have not been the object of political conversation at Salzburg, at least not in the way the first news led to suppose. "We rejoice the more at this, inasmuch as the reception given to that news and those suppositions in all Germany has again demonstrated the fact that German national sentiment cannot endure the idea that the affairs of the nation should be placed under the superintendence of foreign intruders, or conducted so as to suit other interests than our own." The passions of Germany and France are alike fairly inflamed, and the rumor that a meeting has been arranged between Emg William and Napoleon at Berlin, does not seem to promise any restoration to tranquility. POBTENTJS. Garibaldi's enthusiasm rose to a height during the recent "Peace Congress" held at Geneva, which devoted itself to advocacy of republicanism, as the one only possible condition of universal peace, and then, after alarming Geneva with its violent theories and wild demonstrations, broke up in confusion. Garibaldi's last act at Geneva was to rush across the floor of the Congress hall, and clasp to

his breast a delegate who had just pronounced an eloquent eulogium upon revolution, and next day he had gone " no one knew whither." There is little wonder that his next appearance should have been at Singalunga, and his next in the fortress of Allesandria. Some fear has been expressed that the arrest may arouse a stronger anti-Roman spirit in Italy than even the invasion could have done ; and already disturbances have arisen, and caused some bloodshed in Florence. But Eatazzi is' not likely to have counted the odds both ways. Without imity of opinion in Italy, any attempt to liberate Eome must have failed, though Garibaldi might have drawn the kingdom into a dangerous if not fatal position. If, however, Italy should be induced in its chagrin to declare loudly for war, then the Eiing and his Ministers will not lack support from abroad. A.t present public opinion throughout Europe commends the action of the Italian Government, and regrets that Garibaldi's rashness should again have brought him into conflict with the King, and reduced so brave a man to so galling a strait.