At last the French fleet has quitted Gaeta. The Emperor,
in the Moniteur, has explained -that he sent the fleet there to give , "a mark of sympathy" for the King, and to preserve for him a line of .retreat. But his friendly purpose has been perverted practically into an act of intervention, which he did not intend ; and he; therefore, withdraws from a situation which compro- mised 'him in the eyes of Europe, and made him seem to violate the principle of non-intervention. A very pretty explanation, which we may accept as we please, thankful that the obstructive war-ships are far away, and that King Francis is left to his own resources. It is stated, that Admiral Persano will at once ap- pear before the fortress, and that on Monday the siege will be actively, renewed.
It is too soon to speculate on the operations of the spring, but not too soon to say that Count Cavour will do his utmost to pre- vent any hasty action by Garibaldi. General Tiirr has gone to Cakera to urge the views of the Cabinet on his late chief.
King William of Prussia has made his first King's speech to his first Parliament. It is as mild and feeble a document as if it had been filtered through a responsible Ministry, and does not raise any high hopes of the new feign. But it is something to have common sense, although it be strait-laced, at the head of the Prussian Government.
