NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE progress of the arms of Victor Emmanuel in the Papal States and of Garibaldi in Naples has not been so marked as it was last week, while towards a solution of the Italian question there has been no progress at all. It is true the Piedmontese troops have closed in upon Ancona by capturing some of the outwork; and that practically, with the exception of Anoona, the Papal States are no longer anything but a geographical ex- pression. But Garibaldi has received a hint on the Volturno that his peculiar function is not at an end. King Francis, holding on to Gaeta and Capua, deems that he is imitating Radetzki in Ve- rona, and tiring out the enthusiasm of the Garibaldian levies. In reality he is furnishing to Garibaldi a means whereby he can teach his soldiers and his officers how to.make war and how to endure. The repulse before Capua was the effect of a military blunder, for one cannot believe that General Tiirr ever expected that a fortress like Capua could, be taken by six companies of infantry and .two twelve-pounders. The defeat of Colonel Ros- teff is a lesson to all, the regimental commanders, and a still keener lesson to Garibaldi, for he must see that he has an enemy to deal with who at last is acting upon some of the prin- ciples of warfare. But if he find Capua, defended by Neapoli- tans, so hard a nut to crack, what would. he make of the Quad- rilateral with his undisciplined soldiers and inexperienced officers ?
The .political position is far less simple than the' military. situation. Garibaldi has never yet shone as a political organizer, and his proceedings at Naples form no' exception to the rule. That he should treat with the republican sect is a natural con- sequence of receiving help from them. That: he. shmikl-delay annexation is accounted for by the fact that he has not y_et Con- quered the country. But it is not so easy to understand why he talks about marching on Rome and Veniee' and quarrels with Victor Emmanuel and Count Cavour. Have his reebnt successes turned his head? We should lie sorry to think so. Yet if it be true that his demands on the Xing include warfare with- the French in Rome and the Austrians in Venetia, it were hard to arrive at any other conclusion. The actual nature of the nezo7 tiations between the King and the Dictator have been kept a profound secret, but communications have been so frequent be- tween Naples and Turin, such eminent men have been employed to run to and fro, Garibaldi has made so little a secret of his hostility to Count Cavour, that it is manifestithe negotiations must have pertained to most weighty projects. All we know is, that great confusion reigns in the late kingdom of Naples, that Garibaldi is stopped by the troops of King Francis on;thel yeir, turn; and, that some serious debate is in progrege `between, the Dictator and the monarch in whose name he has acted. -Austria, at all events, has put her construction on the aspect of affairs by keeping together a strong•force on the Po, showingrgrea-t.aatiNity- and great vigilance on the shores of the Adriatic still under 'her control, extinguishing the lighthouses of 'Venetia, and shutting up the University of Pesth.
The situation of the unhappy Pope is not altered. Surrounded by a large body of French troops, 'he has taken care to tell them
that they are there to preserve and defend his tebporal sove- reignty only, and the comment on that is the siege of 'Ancona, defended by two French officers, and the appearance of Sardinian piequets :within a few miles of the Cauipagnii:, The question of his flight IS still eagerly canvassed by those who have put a large interpretation on, an enigmatical remark, said to hive been made by Pio None to 'General Goyon--" The world is wide ! " One French journalist has told us that a " near future" will shOw whether those who counsel the Pope's flight will.triumph. 'No doubt the position he occupies is almost intolerable, especially since St. Januarius-has declared against King Francis.. It must be irritating, even to a mild old gentleman like the Pope, to see the Piediuontese striding over his territory, slaying and captur- ing his troops, and besieging his eastern fortress. But it is very doubtful whether he will step forth from under the protection of French bayonets into " the avide,:wide world." - .So.the'question stands. The Pope, having lest L-nibria 'acid the Marches, debates whether he shall go or stay—whether half a temporal loaf is better than no bread. CiaMiniis battering and storming at Ancona. Garibaldi, forced to halt on the Vol- turno, is making some impracticable demands upon the Cabinet of Turin., Austria is looking on ; and France, having increased
her army of occupation at Rome, is active, but silenL- -
