The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-18 00:00:00

THE ROMAN QUESTION.

Another pamphlet has appeared on the " Roman ques-
tion," it is called "La Capital de Phalle ;" the author is
M. Francois Potier. M. Potier is of opinion
that " all
the efforts of diplomatists for a compromise are chime-
rical so long as Italy maintains in its programme
Rome for its capital. The Papacy could make no con-
cession on this point without abdicating its Sovereignty."
He is also convinced that "if the promoters of
the
Italian idea frankly give up placing at Rome the seat
of Government, and if they admit the principle of the
Pontifical Sovereignty, they would no longer find the
Papacy resisting the patriotic part of their aspirations. The
Papacy would even co-operate with them by. resuming its
historic part of moderator among Christian Princes and
protector of the independence of Italy." He denies the
necessity of Italy fixing the seat of its Government at Rome,
and contends that, far from securing the freedom and unity of
Italy, it would endanger both. He suggests Ravenna as the
proper capital. " Italy ought to be a modern idea, a Chris-
tian nation, like France and Spain, and not a poor imitation
of the classical period, Christian Italy has ever had a capi-
tal ; it was Ravenna on which the duchy of Rome depended
—Ravenna, which for two centuries was the seat of the Go-
vernment of the Exarchs, or Viceroys of Italy. The Ita-
lians who wish to he archaeologists, but Christian archseolo-
gists, should take Ravenna for their capital." If they do not
desire this, he suggests that the Italian Parliament should
choose by lot the name of the new capital. He admits there
is no precedent for such a mode of proceeding, but this is
noargumentagainst it. " It would,be a noble and touching
spectacle to see the representatives of all the glorious cities
of Italy laying their respective claims and their ancient
rivalries on the altar of their country, closing all disputes,
find calling upon a Royal child, the presumptive heir to all
the Crowns, to draw from the ballot box the name of the
future capital." M. Potier would prefer Naples, but for
Naples, were it not on military grounds,
greater claims than any other to the suffragea
of all. Napes has double the population of Rome, three
timesow noeu reason a st
have
e:
o f
Turin, four times that of Florence, and, so far
as population is worth anything, has that advantage. It ia
equally distant from the two extremities of Italy, from the
northern frontier and the point of Sicily. Naples
would be a splendid capital. But its magnificent posi-
tion on the sea makes it weak. A few English or
French vessels could at any moment reduce it to ashes.
Now, unless the Italians aim at being soon masters of the
sea, they ought not to desire for their capital a city without
defence, constantly exposed to the insults of a squadron.
Their national independence requires a sanctuary better
protected against the foreigner. They are expected to
choose the site ; it is their business to make it impregnable."
The only solution of the problem is to build a new city
and make it the capital of Italy; and be quotes precedents
in support of this view When Constantine beoame a
Christian, he at once understood that the destinies of
the empire were changed, and that at Rome there
wits a majesty greater than his. But, not wishing to be
second in Rome, he founded at Byzantium the seat of
his empire. It is the fashion to speak with disdain of -the
empire of Constantine; yet a work which has lasted 11
centuries, and which may again acquire new life, has a
right to respect from history. When Peter the Great, on
his return from his travels in the countries of the West, re -
solved to make of Russia a modern European nation, he
despaired of accomplishing his work by reason of the traditions
associated with the old Asiatic city of Moscow, 111 e founded
St. Petersburg, and his doing so was on of the most re-
markable traits of his genius. When, after the victory
which secured their independence, and which had been
aided by French arms, the United States of America
became a nation, the Congress did not choose for a capital
Boston or Philadelphia, New York or Charleston. It
founded a city to be the seat of Government, and gave it
the glorious name of Washington. Alas ! where is the
Italian Washington worthy of giving his name to the capi-
tal of Italy P" But, whatever be said of a new capital, M.
Potier is decidedly of opinion that it must not be Rome.
" The same majesty which at Rome drove away the first
Christian Caesar drives away the first King of Italy. Rome.
is still the centre of the world, not that of a nation, Who-.
ever wishes to found an Italy should leave Rome to the
Pontiff, and leek a capital elsewhere."

CURIOUS CASE OP BIGAMY.—At the Salford
police-court, on Tuesday, John Pearson, joiner, Partington-
street, was charged with intermarrying with Mary Aim
Thomson, his first wife being-at that time alive. The pri-
goner in defence handed in a document, of which the follow-
ing is a copy:—" Monday, November 18, 1861. This is to
certify that I, Emma Pearson, from this time henceforth
and for ever renounce all claim to John Pearson as my
husband; and also to certify that I do not now, nor ever
shall, from this time forward, consider that any tie exists
between us as man and wife, and every of us two are at

liberty from each other to do as our better judgment may
direct. As witness our hand. This is my mark, EMMA PEAS,_
sox." Believing this to be a legal acquittal from his first wife,
he married Mary Ann Thompson, at St. Bartholomew's, Sal-
ford on the 9th of December. The prisoner's first wife said
a young man came to her in the mill and asked her to sign
the paper which had been read, and being angry at the
time she put her mark to it. The prisoner was remanded
until Monday next.

MURDEROUS ATTACK ON A YOUNG GENTLEMAN
IN FRA.NCE —A lad, lo years of age, son of M. Dubrulle,
judge of the tribunal of Douai (Nord), went three days ago
to the ditch which surrounds the fortifications to amuse
himself with fishing. At a few yards from him was a sol-
dier following the same amusement, and with whom he en-
tered into conversation. After a time young Dubrulle,
thinking it time to return home, took out his watch to see
what time it was. The sight of the watch excited the cu-
pidity of the soldier, and when the lad left he followed him.
On reaching a secluded spot the soldier, after asking his
name, laid hold of him by the throat, and saying—“ 'you
shall never see your father again," pressed his throat so
hard as to nearly strangle him, after which he beat Lim
about the head with a brick, and left him for dead, carry-
ing off the watch wi.h him, In about two hours the young
Dubrulle recovered his senses, and managed to drag hiln-
tunately, some one chanced to pass, and he was
self a short distance from the spot, where he fainted. 1.. °, -
conveyed home, where, after medical assistance a
ha
enb
procured, he recovered sufficiently to be able teo givel
which, it is hoped, may lead to the arrest indications
ultiTateeetuy
ac-
count of what had taken. place, and_atost some
assailant.
but hopes are
The lad remains in a very dangerous.sta ,
entertained that his life will be savrvedas too
small for him.
COUNT CAVOUR.—Nothing
the wishes, and habits
Re took an interest in the persona,ceread in. the countenance the
of others. His plereing and, without being indiscreet,
thoughts of his interlocutor,
his questions showed
fully that he penetrated to the in ner-
mon interrogated. It happened some-
times that, after
most depths of the person
g been occupied for four or five hours
together, with affairs of marine, finance, or administration,
study, and would jump, and talk, and run
entered my fresh from his he en
boy
about like a.
he gave his
mind for a short time. In such moments
the
scope; jokes about his opponents, about
spirits free
bombes
tic speakers of the Left and the extreme Right,
his rave nge
to take
; ed in such profusion that he seemed
ram
for the reserve to which he had gradually
accustomed
cut jokes
him-
self in his parliamentary speeches. H,e often„„ear in grand
about himself, especially when be had 'no appear
occasions where
uniform at official festivities.
Except
thnia decorations, and
it was indispensable, he never
wore
eho liked to deck them-
sympathised very little with those w
When somebody advised
selves with crosses and ribbons.
causes of inequality, while an
p nsation for those which
i had been suppressed on the
him to found an order,
inenPemnixeisula, he replied, " Don't
ofour times is opposed to such
you see that the
spirit
vi
things ? Why create new
all classes to equality ? I bet
irresistible power an
do
r
Euope fifty years hence," 1
there will be no order in ,
will be fulfilled •but al
whether this prophecy
es
e
not know
words, of a man decorated with nearly all the existing
man decora
orders f Europe, seem to me to be worth recording. I
once urged°hi casually how his arms came to contain a
Getman motto, "Gott will Redd." " They say," he re'
131'1
~ed ' "that my family came from Saxony, and that a
pilgrim called Benz had come to Piedmont in 1080; hence
tho
cockles and the device. Do you believe in it r—
allo.'
—" ugh till
1 Nor I either 1" and he burst into a ringing Laugh
the whole room resounded with it.—Artees Avonn
of Count amour.

UPON PHILIP
COMMUTATION OF THE SENTENCE ,- •
Lora _Lieutenant
MICHAEL FOLEY.—_His Excellency
sentence
of death passel
has been pleased to commute the He?'
on Philip Michael Foley at last Tilillorglin, in April last).
(for the murder
his cousin Philip James Fele7Pea....
,Dublin Evening 4314;4
ex
one of penal servitude for