The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-12 00:00:00

THE DAY'S NEWS.

The little measure of Reform introduced by
Lord John Russell is no longer an obstruction to
the progress of Parliamentary business, its author
at length having the decency' to withdraw it, on
the assembling of the House yesterday afternoon.
In doing so, his lordship made the best apology
available under the circumstances. He referred
to the fact that 250 members had voted for the
postponement of the measure over the session ;
and he and his colleagues had therefore come to
the conclusion that it would be unfair and unjust
to waste more time over it, in the presence of such
strong opposition—more especially as there were
other important questions awaiting the decision of
Parliament. The Chinese war would necessitate
modifications—that, of course, means increase—
of the army and navy estimates; and there were
various other questions which would not bear post-
ponement. His lordship—assuming, of course,
continued retention of power—gave warning that,
at the very earliest opportunity next session,-
he should introduce another bill with the same
object. Several members afterwards, spoke some
lamenting the determination of the Government;
but the House generally appeared to feel a
sensible relief. Several bills were advanced a

stage.
In the House of Lords, amongst other business,
the Mersey Docks and Harbour Bill was read a
second time. The Wine License and Refreshment-
house Bill was read a third time and passed.
Since the fact of the capitulation was confirmed
we have nothing later from Sicily. The state-
ment that' the forces of the British admiral would
hold the citadel till the evacuation had been com-
pleted, was contradicted this morning. The
Pattie of last night, in a despatch from Turin, is
a little more circumstantial. This states that
according to the terms of the capitulation, the
English were temporarily to occupy the forts of
Palermo, but that, from reasons unknown, this
condition had not been put into execution. Perhaps
this will soothe the ill-concealed jealousy which
the original statement appears to have provoked
in some of the French papers.
In respect to Italian affairs, particular sections
of the population of this country are affording
proof of the extraordinary diversity of sentiment
which prevails. Thus, in England and Scotland
sympathy and money are freely given to promote
the aims of the Italians ; in Ireland, men as well
as money and sympathy, are forthcoming for the
Pope. We are thus guilty, in a national sense,
of the grossest inconsistency. The success which
has attended the daring dash of Garibaldi has
tended to place in abeyance the grave questions
of international law which would otherwise have
arisen ; and, so unpopular have the successive
Sovereigns of Naples rendered themselves by
cruelty to their subjects, and the insolence with
which they have rejected the advice of other
governments, that there can be no doubt that
the general sympathy of the people of this
country is with the insurgents. The Times,
which perhaps may, in this instance, be taken
as a fair exponent of the general feeling, is
.quite jubilant over the capitulation-of the Royal
troops at Palermo, and exultingly exclaims :--
The long night of Italy has been followed by the
dawn of a glorious day. The light has broken in
with-almost tropical suddenness—no long twilight
has preceded the full splendour of the sun of
liberty. Fourteen months ago, the Austrians were
on. the Ticino threatening Turin, keeping- down
the Papal subjects in the Legations, and awing
the malcontents of the Three Duchies at Piacenza.
Now, beyond the narrow limits of Venetia, per-
haps before long to be wrested from the Empire,
Austria dare not hint a wish or a dislike, Her
despised antagonist has now acquired a territory
which makes him almost a first-class Sovereign,
and an influence which is ever increasing, and
may add province after province to his kingdom.
But a few months have elapsed since Tuscany
and the Romagna were incorpOrated, and now
another considerable portion of Italy, the finest
island in the Mediterranean, possessing the greatest
resources, and in a commanding geographical
position, is about to elect him its ruler," .Is not
the writer, however, top hasty in his estimate
of the ultimate result ? It is scarcely likely, with
the jealousy which prevails amongst Ake different
European Powers, that Piedmont would quietly
be
,permitted, in transatlantic fashion, to annex,
as the result of a domestic revolution, one of the
finest provinces of a neighbouring state. Indeed
it is impossible to repress the fear that more serious
complications will arise from Garibaldi's success
than if he had met with failure. Here is a
suggestive little item Of mischief from another
quarteir. The Paris correspondent of the Times
writes :—" The cougnissioners appointed to trao6
the boundaries between a; newly-annexed"
provinces of Savoy and Nice and Piedmont are
said to have suspended their sittings, from which
it is inferred that, should icily Ile annexed to '
Piedmont, which is more than probable? 40.!
,