The Italian Government is in rather a serious scrape. Signor
Zanardelli has entirely failed in his effort to form a Ministry, he shrinking from the strong measures, especially in the way of taxation and "purification," which statesmen see to be in- dispensable. It is therefore necessary, according to the highly informed correspondent of the Times, to summon either Signor Crispi or Signor Serrano, who has the confidence of the Chamber, and the King is supposed to be reluctant to take either step. His Majesty is therefore for the moment un- popular in Rome, where the seriousness of the crisis is severely felt. King Humbert can hardly have any personal dislike to Signor Crisp!, with whom he has worked for years ; and it is more probable that he dreads the almost revolutionary Vigour required to put the finances straight, and would rather keep his Army at its present level. The changes must how- ever be made, if Italy is to be solvent, and the King will doubtless speedily give way. He is not a spendthrift like his father, but a thrifty financier like a Hohenzollern. There is no way out of the difficulty, except the reduction of the Army by two corps d'armde, the dismissal of all superfluous officials, and the imposition of some new tax which will yield two millions.
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