The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-03 00:00:00

ITALY.

The following is the text of the letter addressed
to the King of Naples by the Count of Syracuse :
" Sire,—If my voice was ono day raised and not listened
to, to conjure the dangers which menace our house, may it
now, while it predicts greater misfortunes, find its way to
your heart, and not be repelled by imprudent and more
fatal advice

" The change that has taken place in the condition of
Italy, and the feeling of national unity, which has grown
into a giant during the few months which followed the fall
of Palermo, have deprived your Majesty's Government of
the vigour necessary to rule a State, and rendered a league
with Piedmont impossible. The people of Upper Italy,
horrified at the intelligence of the cruelties committed in
Sicily, repelled in their hearts the Ambassadors from
Naples, and we have therefore been abandoned to the
chances of war alone, without alliance, and exposed to the
resentment of the multitude which has risen from all parts
of Italy to the cry of extermination hurled against our
House, which has become the mark for universal reproba-
tion. Meanwhile, civil war, which is already spreading
over the provinces of the Continent, will carry away the
dynasty into that ultimate ruin which the iniquitous arts
of perverse advisers have long been preparing for the de-
scendants of Charles 111. of Bourbon; the blood of the ci-
tizens, uselessly spilt, will again flood the thousand towns
of the kingdom, and you, once the hopo and love of the
people, will be regarded with horror as the sole cause of a
fratricidal war.

" Sire, while it is yet time, save our House from the
curses of all Italy I Follow the noble example of our Royal
kinswoman of Parma, who, on the breaking out of civil war,
released her subjects from their allegiance, and left them to
be arbiters of their own destinies. Europe and your subjects
will take your sublime sacrifice into account, and you, Sire,
will be able to raise your brew in confidence up to God, who
will reward the magnanimous act of your Majesty. Your
heart, tempered by adversity, will become accessible to the
noble aspirations of patriotism, and will bless the day when
you generously sacrificed yourself for the greatness of
Italy.
" With these words, Sire, I fulfil the sacred duty which
my experience imposes upon me, and I pray to God that He
may enlighten you, and render you deserving of His bles-
sings. " Your Majesty's affectionate uncle,
" LEOPOLD, Count of Syracuse.
" Naples, Aug. 24."

THE PARLIAMENT OF EUROPE.

(From the Examiner.)

But now let us ask if it is not a narrow view of
the office of Parliament to judge it by the additions
to the statute-book, or by the fulfilment or failure
of Ministerial pleadings or hopes. The Parliament
-of Great Britain is a great deal more than a legis-
lature. With respect to ourselves and our domes-
tic affairs, the legislative functions occupy, no
doubt, the first place ; but it is by the performance of
other duties, that it exerts its authority abroad, and
influences the opinions and affairs of the world.
When the nations of Europe wait for its opening
with anxiety, and watch its proceedings with so
profound an interest, it is not to observe how many
new laws it makes, but to collect from its debates
the opinion and feeling of England. The repre-
sentatives of the English people are lawgivers in
this sense to every country on the face of the
earth which either admires our freedom or stands
in wholesome awe of it. In tines of general
repose or stagnation this great function is com-
paratively dormant, but its exercise was never more
important than during the late session ; nor was it,
we are satisfied, ever more worthily exerted. With-
out undervaluing any domestic reform which has
miscarried, or extenuating the blame of any party
or any individuals responsible for the legislative
failures, we contend that a parliament has not been
inefficient which in the present state of the conti-
nent has done so much for liberty, when her cause
had hardly any other support. Where else had
Italy a firm and disinterested friend but in our Go•
vernment and House of Commons? From whence
would one honest cheer have reached her struggling
patriots had the Parliament of England been silent ?
Or by whom would the mask have been torn from
the crooked and selfish policy of the French Em-
pire ? Let us not underrate services like these. If
we estimate the session just closed by the uncom-
pleted programme of reforms with which Ministers
too confidently opened it, the short- comings are great
indeed ; but the writer who relates for posterity the
European history of the day, the march of Italy to
union and independence, the thorough awaken-
ing of Germany to a sense of her dangers, and
the salutary check which has been given to the
aggressions of France by sounding in time the note
of warning to every state threatened by her ambi-
tion, will acknowledge that English statesmanship,
speaking through its great organ, the English Par-
liament, never made itself more beneficially felt ;
never did more for freedom, or more for peace. If
we have to regret a Reform Bill, if we have to
mourn over a Bankruptcy Bill, at least we have not
to blush for a Parliament with Sir George Bowyer's
affection for tyrants, or Mr. Bright's preference of
money and cotton to all other human interests.
The House of Commons might have talked much
less with immense advantage, even upon foreign
questions, prominent as they were, and inviting of
discussion, but upon the whole the speaking was in
the right strain, cordial and fearless ; it expressed
generous feelings, proclaimed sound principles, vin-
dicated great names from foul aspersion ; it as-
sured Garibaldi that the English heart was with
him ; it spoke both to Naples and Austria in the
proper tone ; it told Louis Napoleon that we are the
self-same people who refused to be his uncle's dupes
or victims.

If it be said that all this is properly the praise of
Government, we answer that it is only with the
earnest and cordial support of Parliament that the
best Government can sustain English principles
and English honour in our foreign transactions.
All that was practicable to official ability, enlight-
ened by vast experience, and warmed with the zeal
of a character all fire in defence of freedom and
humanity, was done by the noble lord at the head
of our foreign department, but it was not the less
important.that he should have a senate at his back
impressed with the same principles and devoted to
the same cause. With a House of Commons less
deeply moved by what was passing on the continent,
even the speeches and despatches of Lord John
Russell, though monuments of wisdom, eloquence,
and industry, would have accomplished little.
Perhaps the House of Commons has not often, in
any session, taken so active a part in the affairs of
Europe ; this duty at least it performed efficiently,
and let it be honoured for it.

The appeal from the adjudication of bankruptcy
against the Mitre Life Assurance and Anuuity Society has
been dismissed by the Lord Cl ancellor. The company
consequently appear in the ✓Gazette.
It is reported that the Duke cl'e Gramont has
announced to the Pope the Emperor Napoleon's determi-
nation to defend Civita Vecchia and Roane. This report is
in some degree confirmed by an order given to the colonels
of the 57th and 62d Regiments of Infantry to prepare t)
proceed to Rome. The 102 d of the Line has already set
out. A relief of the present garrison is alleged, but an in-
crease of its strength is believed in.