If the present aspect of affairs can be trusted, the
political pro- gress of Italy has made immense strides within the last week or two. The King of Naples has yielded to the wish of the Sicilians, and granted to them the constitution which they specially de- manded. The King of Sardinia, declining to be behind the once retrograde King of Naples, has granted a handsome constitution to his subjects of Piedmont and Genoa. And Austria, swayed by the manifestoes of Lord Palmerston in favour of Italian advance- ment, has transmitted very satisfactory assurances respecting her future demeanour.
For this last fact we rely on the authority of Lord Palmerston. The despatches and speeches of his utterance, published this week, present him in a more favourable light, we think, than any in which be has ever appeared. The diplomatic correspondence is very interesting. It originated with Prince Metternich, who asked the concurrence of the British Ministers in his views of Italian affairs ; those views being, that "Italy is a geographical expression " without political entity, that the present movement is the "Utopian" project of revolutionary anarchists, and that the status quo ought to be maintained. Lord Palmerston replies with heartiness and firmness, that the states of Italy are inde- pendent states, and have the right to remodel their internal insti- tutions; that Great Britain cordially approves of the reforms in progress; and that she could not witness intervention "with in- difference." There the published correspondence closes; but Lord Palmerston states that he has received from Vienna "very satis- factory assurances" that Austria "will not Inteifere with the events which are taking place beyond the Po."
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