The Press.
London, England, 1857-02-21 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 21, 1857.

if the present system of our internal administration be
continued; and it goes on to recommend changes eaten.
fated to lead us to a new course of internal administration,
which, in its opinion, wo►►ld contribute to put an end to
any disaffection capable of distutbing the tranquillity of the
kingdom and the peace of Europe.
It is very evident that the British Government widely
departs from the application of the principle put forth by
it, of not interfering in the internal affairs of another.
The idea of wishing to justify the most open interference
in the administration of these dominions by the allegation
of alarm at symptoms of discontent and elements of dis.
order produced by the system of government, and which,
moreover, are very tar from existing, and at the asserted
threatening aspect of Sicily, where it is wished to make
eve►y little incident be thought capable of lousing into
activity the ilbrepressed feelings of the people, goes he.
yond the limits of friendly advice, as you will observe ;
and it is equivalent to calling upon an independent Go.
vernrnent to measure the extent and direction of the spirit
of its own people, in order to induce the belief in an alarm
which does not exist, but which a foreign Government can
never believe itself authorised to allay.
The English Government must be convinced that the
Government of the Two Sicilies, scrupulous in respecting
the independence of others, does not admit in any other a
right of interference in the internal administration of the
Royal States, and still less that of censuring the acts and
the system of justice.

Another note, more modified in tone, was de-
spatched on August 20th. On the 10th of October
Lord Clarendon writes to the Admiralty, requesting
a squadron to he held in readiness at Malta for the
protection of British interests at Naples, but the
commander thereof, without. special instructions,
was " not" to appear with the liners off the coast of
Naples. The same day a despatch is forwarded to
Mr. Metre, at Naples. Alluding to his previous
despatch of the 10th of May, Lord Clarendon
writes:—

The reply of the Neapolitan Government was neither
courteous nor satisfactory. and proved that the motives and
intentions of her Majesty's Government had been coin-
pletely misunderstood; but, as the painful impression
which it created was not unknown to the Neapolitan Go-
vernment, we had hoped that our abstinence from again
pressing our advice upon the Neapolitan Government
might have induced that Government, spontrneously, to
adopt measures in accordance with the principles upon
which the communication of her Majesty's Government
had been founded. Her Majesty's Government would
have greatly preferred that such a course of proceed•ng
should have been pursued, for they have no wish needless!)
to interfere in the affairs of Naples, and a sense of dui)
alone impelled them to suggest certain changes and ini•
provements in the interns' policy of that Gurernment
They accordingly waited in silence for several weeks, in
the hope that mere prudent counsels might have prevailed
at Naples; but their expectations have been disappointed.
A tardy apology for the first reply of the Neapolitan Go
vernment has, indeed, been received, not apparently env,
geated by a sense of propriety on the part of the Neapoli•
tan Government, but called forth by reports received Irom
Vienna and Parts. This apology, however, is just as 1111•
satisfactory as to the main objects in view as was the
despatch of M. Carafe to Prince Carini of the 30th of
June, and her Majesty's Government, therefore, in con•
junction with the Government of the Emperor of the
French, are of opinion that diplomatic relations can no
longer be maintained with a Government which rejects all
friendly warning, and is determined to persevere in a
course which is condemned by all civilised nations.

You will, therefore, upon the receipt of this despatch,
prepare to quit Naples with the members of the legation,
leaving the archives in the care of her Majesty's Consul.
No further despatches of any moment after this
date are given.