The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-20 00:00:00

one of his earliest essays, of the contrast between
the faith of the medieval Italians, and of the nations
remote from the seat of the Papacy, may, to a cer-
tain extent, find its present counterpart in the tone
of the national assemblies of Central Italy, as op-
posed to that of the pro-Papal demonstrations in the
sister isle. Those who have an opportunity of look-
ing behind the scenes, who see the working of the
ropes and pulleys, who observe the manufacture of
scenic thunder and the display of scenic tears and
curses, at which the player himself laughs the mo-
ment he has left the stage—those estimate at their
true value the terrors of the clerical melodrama, at
which little children scream, and nervous women
fall into hysterics. Brittany an d Cork may shudder
and sympathise ; but Romagna has been too long
behind the scenes.
Though the remark may appear somewhat harsh
and cynical, we do not hesitate to affirm that con-
sidering the course which events have taken, the
Italian nation owes even more to the peace of Villa-
franca than to the victories of Magenta, and Solfe-
rino. We are therefore disposed most cordially to
echo the language held by Mr. Monckton Milnes,
a few days ago, though for reasons not exactly
coinciding with those which he has given. But for
the peace of Villafranca and the subsequent develop-
ment of the Papal opposition Italy would neither
have known her real weakness nor developed her
real strength. Many thoughtful and educated
Italians would have acknowledged theoretically the
antagonism between the Church of Rome and the
national cause itself, including all the elements of
national power and progress. In acknowledging
all that antagonism they were merely giving their
assent to the doctrines enounced by a long sneces-
sion of Italian patriots and statesmen, from Dante
to Gioberti. But from this speculative censure, or
even from the well-grounded contempt, founded on
personal observation, of the Court of Rome, to
which we have already referred, there is a wide
interval before we reach the conviction which the
Vatican seems resolved to drive into twenty-six
millions of Italians; that its spiritual and temporal
despotism go hand in hand ; that the first masks the
second; that the second invokes and rests upon the
first ; that they form but two branches of the same
upas trunk; and that their pestiferous influences
will never be removed until the tree be cut down
root and branch and levelled with the ground. But
for the peace of Villafranca Italy would not have
learned so soon that she has worse enemies than
the Croats ; nor would Europe have been worried
and startled by the spectacle of a Power which, to
prop up its own tottering dominion, seeks to excite
confusion and discontent in all other States, and
employs the dread mysteries of eternal life to rivet
more strongly the fetters of an oppressed and suf-
fering people; and the position of the Emperor of
the French, united with England for the protec-
tion of Italian independence, and opening up to
his own subjects an unexpected vista of commer-
cial liberty, affords, perhaps, better guarantees for
the effectual liberation of the Peninsula and the
permanent peace of Europe than would have been
given by his triumphant return to his capital after
the last Austrian soldier had recrossed the Isonzo
or quitted Venice. In the attitude of unyielding
obstinacy now assumed by the Papacy Italy re-
quires all the aid and counsel of her ablest and most
energetic sons. It is, therefore, with a feeling of
unmingled satisfaction that the return of Count
Cavour to office will be hailed by every friend of
Sardinian progress and Italian freedom, and that the
best wishes of the friends of Italy in all other coun-
tries will attend his efforts to construct a popular
and patriotic Cabinet. The Government and people
of this country, true to the principles which have
animated them from the commencement of the pre-
sent contest, will lend their unhesitatinglsupport:to
those measures for the extension and security of
the Sardinian State, which, in the common interests
of Italy, Count Cavour may endeavour to carry out.
Austria, we believe, possesses- neither the will nor
the power to prevent their execution. France, we
knew, has declared her firm intention to sanction
no arrangements at variance with the national will.
The efforts of Rome are clearly directed to paralyse
that will, by introducing the elements of social,
civil, and religious, strife amongst the Italian popu-
lations. There is therefore the greater necessity
that the chief direction of affairs be restored to the
statesman who has already combated so long and
so ably all the arts of Rome, and to whom all parties
can look up as their leader in a moral campaign not
less important than the diplomatic one which he
carried on so successfully in the first months of the
past year.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

THE BELT AGAIN.—FORTUNITE ESCAPE.—LioneI
Lockwood, a private in the second battalion of the Cold-
stream Guards, Tower, was. charged with assaulting Mr.
William M'Donald, of the Scotch stores, licensed victualler,
Oxford-street, with. his belt.

Mr. M'Donald said that about nine o'clock the previous
night the prisoner, accompanied by a cabman, came into
his house. The cabman called for some gin and the soldier
put down a shilling to pay for it. Seeing that the prisoner
who was intoxicated was about to drink some of it, it was
taken away from him and his money returned. The pri-
soner then became very abusive, and he (Mr. M'Donald)
was sent for. He told the prisoner to leave the house,
when he made use of the most disgusting language he ever
heard, and threatened to strike him. Finding he was be-
coming very violent he sent for a constable, and before one
arrived the prisoner took off his belt, and aimed a most
fearful blow with the buckle at his head, but which, for-
tinately, he warded off with his hand, receiving a severe
bruise, probably thus saving his life. He then closed with
the prisoner and threw him, and several gentlemen coming
to his assistance, the prisoner was held down, all the while
swearing and kicking violently, till the arrival of a con-
stable. He had never seen a more violent man in his life..

Mr. Bingham asked the prisoner if ho wished to say any-
thing, and the prisoner replied that he was sorry for it.
Mr. Bingham asked what sort of character the prisoner
bore, and was informed it was very good.
__ _ _

Mr. Bingham said he was sorry aman who bore such a
character should put himself in such a position, but it was
absolutely necessary that peaceable citizens should be pro-
tected from such dangerous weapons as he considered the
belt to be, and with a view to putting a stop to it he should
fine him £5, or commit him to prison for two months.

2111 S DAY'S MARKETS.