The foreign intelligence is neither copious nor in some ea -
ses I. certain ; but such as it is, it is not favourable to settled pow.
Instead of having an authenticated report that the paltry Isle of Serpents encroachment has been abandoned, we have rumours that Russia never, meant any harm, accompanied by assertions that she has raised new difficulties.
A Prussian paper publishes a precis of the Neapolitan reply to the Western Powers, which is manifestly no transcript, and yet is generally accepted as a very probable account of the note. If so, the King of Naples is out of his wits : he points to wild doctrines of Republican revolutionists, as a proof that his own mild subjects need rigour to keep them in check ; to the tran- quillity of his subjects, as a proof that the system is not baneful nor unsuccessful ; twits England with misgovernment in Ireland and India, Imperial France with having reason to dread revolt ; refuses to forfeit his independence by submitting to dictation ; and threatens, if advice grow into oompulsion, to throw himself on "his brave army and his faithful subjects." The publication of this note has been succeeded by rumours of a more insolent note addressed by Naples to Austria, and an ultimatum addressed by the Western Powers to King Ferdinand,—improbable tales. On what ground could the Western Powers rest an ultimatum ? If it were repelled, what would they do ? They may be exas- perated enough ; the perversity of a fool who refuses to be saved must derange all their calculations ; and we can imagine any amount of rage in consequence. Their false position is the result of a blunder at starting : they calculated on the practicability of reducing a Bourbon to reason.
From across the Atlantic comes Mr. Marcy's protest against the maritime declaration of Paris so far as it would prohibit privateering ; which the Great Republic, with its small navy and its large mercantile marine, is not willing to forego. The paper is moderate in tone ; the arguments are cogent, though not final ; jealousy of the English marine is almost avowedly the immediate ground of the American dissent.
The Federal Government has resolved not to interfere in San Francisco ; the local Government not yet having had recourse to the obvious and proper step of calling together the territorial Legislature. It is a local contest in which the sapreine local authority has not yet been invited to interpose ; and the ultra- constitutional usurpers, it must be remembered, have not in any way crossed either the authority or the views of the central Government.
