Not so easy is it to prognosticate a favourable passing
of the political storm of Continental Europe. The gale rises again; dis- cord revives ; and a new resort to arms appears to be imminent.
In France, the contradictory results of the Seine elections point to nothing but troubles and danger, from the wavering state of public opinion. The Ministerial head of the state shakes with the quickening of the political breeze, and signs of instability appear in opposite quarters. They are visible as well in feints of resignation, deprecated and prevented by officious friends on the very steps of the half-ascended tribune of the Assembly, as in the reports, vouched and believed by the well-informed, of the ruling party's intention to cement its power and secure the Republic by a sleight—by electing General Cavaignac to a pre- liminary but not provisional Presidency. The Central Government of Germany is contending with a new revolutionary movement, consequent on the absence of sufficient authoritative power either at Frankfort or Berlin, and the conflict of opinion between parties whose relative strength is undecided. The General Assembly has negatived, by a narrow majority, a proposal to reject the Schleswig-Holstein armistice and continue the war ; the minority has appealed to the mob in the streets ; and while the Government is not fortified by any positive sanction, the question so maladroitly brought before the Chamber is transferred to the arena of revolution. The Anti- Danish spirit has aroused an Anti-Regal spirit ; Democracy gains strength in the tumult, and the dispute of the treaty may end in a war of Republicanism and Monarchy of which none cot foresee the end.
The Ministerial crisis at Berlin continues, with no appearance of a probable solution ; and the application of revolutionary principlea—the principles of political disorganization—to the management of the army, has produced an effect that might have been expected, in the relaxation of discipline. The efficiency of the army is enfeebled by the Berlin Democrats ; while the Frankfort Democrats are doing all they can to make the effi- ciency of that army an object of necessity, by hurrying Ger- many into war. Vienna is another scene of crisis. A section of the Diet is struggling to extort from Ministers a distinct explanation of the course pursued in Italy. A reactionary movement is understood to be at work in the Imperial Court : the Austrian Liberals, perceiving probably how much their interests are identified with those of Italy, feel a new sympathy with the Italian*, and hint at a disavowal of the old " Metternich treaties." In the mean time,
popular tumults have arisen out of casual circumstances, which have grown political and revolutionary, and weakened the tGo- Vernment, even while it succeeded in suppressing.thatn.
War rages in Sicily ; it threatens to revive in Lombardy. Messina, bombarded by the Neapolitans, has capitulated. Stories have come that the city was converted into a trap by the citizens, and was blown up by its retreating defenders ; and that the Mes- sinese went back to massacre the Neapolitans. Should this be true only in part, it will probably abolish every trace of that jea- lousy which the Sicilians feel generally for Messina as a privi- leged city directly attached to Naples. Sicily has not yet achieved her independence, but it seems impossible that she should again submit to the rule of the Neapolitan Bourbons. The Anglo-Gallic mediation has had no additional light thrown upon it. Suspicions are entertained as to the intentions of Aus- tria, whose Court betrays such evident signs of reactionary in- trigues. Meanwhile, King Charles Albert is refitting his army, and issuing brave-sounding proclamations.
