Many circumstances contribute to the apprehension that the Absolutist party
in Italy is making active preparations for a final contest ; and if so, the peninsula will be again deluged in blood ; though, under present circumstances, there can be little doubt as to the result. The Pope has formally delivered his refusal to accept the mediation of the Emperor Napoleon and his proposed compromise—a refusal which was anticipated by previous an- nouncements. At the same time the Pontifical Government is evidently bestirring itself to strengthen its position against at-
tack. The Papal army is about to be inoreased, some say to 50,000 men,—with a Neapolitan, or a Swiss, or an Irish contin- gent; and an Austrian officer has been in Rome, actively een- Bulling with the Government. There has been a Ministerial crisis in Naples, caused by the determination of Filangieri not to sanction the advance of troops to the Roman frontier ; a measure upon which the King is said to be bent. That the Austrian Government is active in its precautions has appeared from several incidents. Not of course because regiments in the Austrian Army are given to the two dispossessed Grand Dukes, though that fact shows how far the Imperial Government proclaims itself an un- qualified champion of Legitimist rights in Central Italy. The reports that the Austrian forces have been strengthened on the Italian frontier are corroborated by the announcement that Verona had been declared in a state of siege, the Vienna jour- nals only contradicting the report by saying that it was " pre- mature." On the East and South, therefore, we have the evi- dences of some understanding, if not of a military alliance, be- tween Austria, Naples, and Rome.
Meanwhile, Lord Normauby is not the only person engaged in attempting to create an appearance of sympathy with Austria. In Central Italy some followers of the two-beaked eagle, probably members of the Grand Duke's late body-guard, have attempted to destroy three Tuscan statesmen by means of explosive shells,— Ricasoli, Prime Minister, Salvagnoli, one of his colleagues, and Peruzzi, not long since a member of the Government. The conduct of the populace at Parma in hunting down the detected Anviti, who was most likely in league with conspirators of this kind, was employed as a pretext for traducing the Provisional Government of Parma and Modena ; but that outbreak, espe- cially considering the personal indignities and cruelties ascribed to that Austrian Colonel Kirk, had little of the predetermined malignity which marked the late attempt.
Whatever may be the plans of the tiltramontane allies in the South and East, the National party in Italy seems to be equally prepared for any eventualities, and it continues thus unceasingly to develop that new regime de facto which has been thus far re- cognized by the Western Powers, and is about to be recognized in a very remarkable manner by a German Power. One of Count Cavour's first acts on resuming the ministry in Turin is to expe- dite a general election, in which of course the newly-annexed province of Lombardy will participate. There are many reasons fosesupposing that if the Four Provinces of Central Italy should elect Deputies, admission to the Parliament in Turin will not be denied to those Deputies. The secondary posts in the Piedmontese Cabinet have, like the higher posts, been so distributed that the occupants represent the several provinces of Italy. The Govern- ment therefore has become, literally as well as in spirit, a repre- sentative of Italy at large. It is well known that some 50,000 men or more are ready for the summons of Garibaldi; there are about 60,000 French troops in Italy ; the whole population is with the National Government in the North. Should the Ultra- montane allies attempt any military movement, it is certain that there will be important revolutionary diversions in Rome, Sicily, Naples, Venetia, Hungary, and perhaps Bohemia, where discon- tent is neither silent nor inactive.
Our readers have perhaps thought us too confident in reckon- ing upon the course that Prussia would take. The latest in- formation is, that the Sardinian Government is making the final arrangements of a commercial treaty with Prussia, the benefits of which will be extended to the Four Provinces of Central Italy.
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