NEWS OF THE WEEK.
ITALY trembles with the coming eruption. Before our paper goes to press, the telegraph may bring such intelligence as will go far to surpersede the interest of the summary that we can now
give of affairs ; but at all events, the facts which we string to- gether here will prepare the reader for the event, happen when
it may, and explain it if it should happen at once. Every hope of arrangement between Piedmont and Naples seems to have been cast aside. The Neapolitan Plenipotentiary has left Turin, and Naples must be regarded as having retired upon its original position. Meanwhile, Garibaldi's preparations had given rise to various reports as to his having actually crossed the Straits of Messina. While we are writing, all these rumours have proved to be premature. What we do know is, that Garibaldi had en- gaged. about 160 boats, and was prepared to throw over the Strait a force of 8000 men. It might be supposed that King Francis was conscious of being strong enough to resist any such invasion, and we shall see presently upon what he reckoned. At home, he appears to have been far weaker than ever. Mem- bers of a military council had reported to him that if Garibaldi were to land alone at Reggio' he would not find half-a-dozen men to resist him. Probably this is an hyperbole ; but it ex- presses the nature of the military calculation. The fact that such calculation should be made, is, in itself, evidence that the loyalty of officers as well as men was not only shaken in its Military confidence, but was shaken in its implicit obedience to the Crown ; otherwise the General officers would have been able to report that, happen what might to the population at large, the Army at least would rally to the support of the throne. The condition of the Navy was far worse ; and as a prmishment for the state into which it had fallen, the King, it is stated on good authority, had ordered Admiral Garofalo into prison. On the appeal of their colleague, the other Ministers interfered, and re- sisted the step as " unconstituthonal." We thus find that the Council of State share the mistrust, and indeed the adverse feel- ing, which was so conspicuously shown in the Army and Navy. A very considerable change had come over those classes of the population which had been regarded as faithful to the"Bourbon dynasty ; and it is mentioned by reporters of 'every journal in Europe, that the very beggars in the streets asked alms in the name of Garibaldi, as though he were the tutelary deity of Naples. To pass to the opposite extreme, it was currently re- ported in Naples, with an unquestionable foundation, that the Count of Syracuse was about to publish a letter to Victor Em- manuel, declaring himself "the first subject of the King of Italy." - We must look, then, somewhere else for the support upon which the King of Naples relied against the threatened invasion. It is supposed, and we believe with truth, that immediate suc- cours were to be afforded by the Roman Government, and that General Lamoricere would advance to the defence of the Nea- politan Crown and territory.
But evidently the Neapolitan Court was sustained by other hopes, and rumours point to an intervention on the part of Austria. The telegraph has scattered various reports all to the effect that at the recent interview of TOplitz, the Emperor of Austria and the Prince Regent came to an-agreement respect- ing probable events in Italy. It is said that the Emperor of Austria waived any guarantee of Venetia—an important eon- cession, if that was made. But it also reported, though without any sufficient attestation, that Garibaldi is about to sail up the Adriatic and to land at Fiume. Whatever may ultimately be presented as the cams belli, other facts which have come to our knowledge render it more than likely that Austria not only feels strong enough to engage an enemy in the South, but is rather desirous of precipitating hostilities. The diplomatic representatives of Austria speak of war as probable and. immi- nent. The Austrian Government is known to have been very active in its military preparations ; at Turin, these preparations are described as being ostentatious. The striking fall in Lom- bardo-Venetian railways is a proof that the statesmanship of the City see some crisis detrimental to Austrian securities ; and the position of Naples and of Rome points to the spot at which the crisis is likely first to take effect.
