NEWS BY THE MAIL.

West Coast Times, Issue 705, 27 December 1867, Page 2

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

HBOM THE HOME .NEWS.

Oct. 29. The detention of the mail enables us to forward news of the very important events which have succeeded a comparative calm in European affairs — a calm which, had itself succeeded to a period of disturbance. We shall first condense, into a few lines, the state of things at the moment at which we write, adding that it is probable that the telegraph will supply even more interesting\ detail from Italy. The Garibaldian insurrection has again broken out around Rome, Garibaldi, having again escaped, is in command, it is said, of 4000 men, he has defeated the Papal forces either in or near Monte Rotondo, which is some nine or ten miles north of Rome, and is supposed to be marching on the capital. France has interfered, and on Saturday French troops left Toulon for Civita Vecchia, where they were to remain unless needed for the safety of Rome. We aow ask what the King of Italy; is going to do. The question will, we imagine, be answered in time for the latest intelligence in another page. Previously to these events Europe had"* been watching Italy with the utmost interest, and it will tend to a better understanding of the present crisis if we state the situaton as it was before the news of French intervention came. That interference had been menaced, and in the most unmistakeable way, but it was' supposed that the course of the King of Italy had removed the necessity for Napoleonic aotion. On its being made clear that the '•red shirts" were again in inoticn, and

under tlie direction of Garibaldi, who had not yet reappeared upon the scene, the Emperor oi the French ordered armaments to be prepared at Toulon and Marseilles. Troops were put on board, the fires were lighted, and all was ready for departure. We had made up our minds for instant war. The French press was urging the Emperor on, some of the journals in good faith, others in order to force him into the pitfall. But wiser counsels prevailed for the time. It was said that the Empress, who is devotion itself, and who would do anything in reason and almost out of reason for the head of the Church, had seen with a mother's eye that her son's prospects of reigning would be imperilled, if not destroyed, should his father invade Italy, and crush the liberties which he erected amid the applause of the world. There was no "glory" to be gained, or the word, fatal to Frenchmen, might have been too strong, even for the Empress. Isut what glory could France, inarching in her tremendous strength upon weak Italy, think to gain ? Finally, the King's government, taking the only wise course announced that if France landed a soldier the royal troops would cross the frontier. Then came a momentary pause, and communications ensued. France alleged that all she desired was the execution of the Convention which guaranteed the Popedorn, and the King undertook to see that Convention carried out. The unlucky Batazzi resigned, and Cialdini, the best soldier of Italy, was called to the Ministry, and though there were doubts whether lie could form one — doubts which have since been shown to be just, he was to tako the army and defend the Pope. Much reliance was placed on him, from his military talent, and his known dislike to the Garibaldians. There would have ended the story, had the mail departed on tho usual day. But on Saturday came the news which wehave above summarised and now wo are all in suspense again. Of the issue of the situation, if the King of Italy does nothing (and wo know only that Cialdini being unable to form a government, tho work has devolved on Menabrea) the French troops will speedily dispose of the revolt, should tho Papal forces, which have fought well, be unable to do so. Garibaldi will probably be slain, or captured. But if the King dares take another course, put himself at the head of tho people, and defy Franco, a short and fierce war will follow, in which France's tremendous strength will give her the victory, but no glory, and Napoleon will have trampled out the Italy he did so much to create. There are rumors of the King's abdication, but these wore certain at such a time. Some eyes turn to j Prussia, whoso interference if not at this moment, but at an early one, would change the whole course of events. Upon Italy and France all eyes have been, naturally, turned, but little has been lost hy inattention to other matters. In no other part of Europe has aught occurred that needs record here,if we except an escaped disaster. The Empress of the French and her son were yachting off Biarritz, when the weather became roagh, they had to run for another port, and to land in a small boat, into which the waves broke, and the pilot, losing his head, ran her on a rock, and was thrown out and drowned before the eyes of the Empress. The royal pair were landed with difficulty, and all rejoice that a terrible casualty has been averted.

Our Queen is still in Scotland, and has lately inaugurated another statute to the late admirable Prince Consort, who will certainly stand as good a chance of being known to posterity as any Prince who was neither ruler, soldier, writer, nor evildoer. A semi-official announcement has gone forth to the effect that her Majesty resolved to resume the active duties of royalty, and to make the next season a brilliant one. The leading journal, reproducing this statement, prefixes the words "High Time." The Prince and Princess of Wales have returned to England,and it is gratifying to be able to say that her HoyaL Highness has made great advances towards a cure of the afflicted limb. The Princess walked from the boat to the carriage. Her general health is admirable. The Prince has been at Newmarket, and saw Lozenge win the Cambridgeshire, after a dead heat. Of the Duke of Edinburgh we have just heard that he has shot an elephant, the first time such a feat has been performed by a prince of his house, but those who read these lines will know more about the Duke than we do, Much and sincere pleasure is felt in England at reading tho evidence that Australia intends to give him an affectionate reception, and the details when they arrive will be read with much interest. We arc glad to say that people at home are getting to know agood deal about the Colonies 'than they Used to do, and we may adduce in proof that journalists who have to deal with the education question here, are making large use of the precedents which are afforded in Australia. It is nothing to boast of that Englishmen should endeavor to understand the affairs of England's glorious colonies — it is a matter of shame that it takesLso long to interest the true Briton in ea/Jthing outside the island, but as tho fact ra as we have stated it, we may as well say so.

ParliameNt meets towards tho end of November for a short session, in order that the Abyssinian question may be dis- I cussed, or rather that supplies may be granted. We do not hear, of course, how Mr Disraeli proposes to raise the money, but if he asks for a loan he may be sure of Mr Gladstone's " implacable hostility." As we know that the pioneers of the war, tinder Colonel Mereweather, have long since landed on the Abyssinian coast, the country is committed to the undertaking, and, we may add, is by no means averse to it. A member of tho Government here has taken much pains to insist upon the feet that the expedition has been left entirely in the hands of the Indian authorities, and that the Horse Guards have accepted a subordinate position in the business, another of the curious arrangements of the present Administration which might be known as All the Irresponsibles. We heard of complaints in the Presidencies as to the share which each is or is not to have in the war, Madras having been especially displeased, but we may venture to hope that all is adjusted. As to what Theodre means to do we have not the slightest information, but as the general but silent fear is that he will vent his wrath on the captives, and as few things things happpen as is expected, we mny hear that he has hurried them off to Colonel Mereweather, with an expression of regret that his sister of 1 England should so far have misunderstood him.

Mr Disraeli is to be entertained at a banquet at Edinburgh in a few days, but his chief has been beforehand with him, and has been feasted (in the Free Trade JHaJI) by the Conservative notables of Manchester. Here Lord Derby delivered an able speech, as they call it, that is to S y ; JJ e vn bold ' graffiti, and eloquent. But if ability means the power of working conviction, we are unable to discover that element m the Premier's clever address

He fearlessly claimed credit to his party for the Reform Act, which they had passed, though the Liberals could not ; but what was the use of supposing that anybody could forget how the Act was passed P The Conservatives had hindered the Liberals from passing Reform, the Liberals had helped the Conservatives. The latter had carried a very largo measure by deliberately disavowing all the principles which they professed during the previous campaign. If Lord Derby's audience could forget this, nobody else can. But there was anothor discrepancy. The earl spoke confidently of the merits of the working class, and was sure that their virtues and independence would vindicate the wisdom oi those who had made the transfer of power, Ho almost immediately went on to lecture that very class. They put themselves under unworthy leaders, and they submitted to a shameful tyranny under which they groaned. Lord Derby has had the advantage of speaking before his Chancellor of the Exchequer ; but the latter will be more of an artist, and avoid such blunders as these. We may speak of the whole business merely as a question of art, for Lord Derby "himself has saved us the trouble of discussing it on higher grounds, by his frank admission that he brought in a large bill because he was resolved that his party should not be turned out of office.

Nothing that the enemies of the Conservative Government can say against it equals in bitterness what is said by the Conservative organ. The "Quarterly Review" has come out with an article called " the Surrender," in which the last rag of hypocrisy is torn mercilessly away from the Government, and it is told ihat by deceiving its adherents it has handed over the omnipotence of Parliament to those whose only property is the labour of their hands. There is no emphuism here — the Ministerial leaders are made out to be traitors. The Review is a ponderous volume, and will not penetrate into many places where this page will go ; we are inclined, therefore, to insert a very brief illustration of the way in which the real Conservatives are now regarding the authors of the Reform Act : —

We have heard much lately of a case in which some merchants practised, upon the general public reticence of this particular nature. [The Overend and Q-urney case] They invited the public to become shareholders in a concern which they represented as likely to be lucrative, though they knew it to be insolvent ; they did not say it was solvent, only they were reticent on the subject, 'and' allowed their silence to lead others into risk and ruin. But there was this difference between them and the politicians who subsequently imitated them — that while the politicians gained the object of many years' ambition by the delusion into which they had lured their allies, the merchants lost all they had. Lord Cranworth, delivering judgment in the House of Lords, reprobated the reticence of.the ruined merchants in language stronger than we care to reprint ; in what terms will the calm judgment of posterity estimate the manoeuvres of the successful politicians ?