The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-02 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, NO V. 2, 1867.

The state of Italy gives constant ground for
anxiety, and as day after day seems but to add
fresh intelligence of a conflicting character to the
already complicated case, one feels alike impatient
and irritated at the delays that take place, and dis-
appointed that a country which seemed on the eve
of consolidating its advantages should have thrown
away its opportunities, and rendered itself a prey
to discord and strife, perhaps to serious eventual
lossts, and even to the partial ruin of its hopes. It
would be idle to say that there is nothing to appre-
hend when two armies are in Italy ready for action,
and the leaders of both apt to take offence. Added
to this there will be a natural inclination on the
part of the troops of King VICTOR EMMANUEL to
feel jealousy of foreign interference, and besides
some of them will sympathise with the volunteers.
So that altogether the condition of affairs is any-
thing but satisfactory, and we must look with doubt
and anxiety to what the morrow may bring forth
in the way of tidings. The manner in which the
news of the advance of the four Italian divi-
sions upon the Papal territory has been received by
the Parisians is enough to give rise to grave appre-
hensions. We do not think that it is for a moment
the wish of the French or the Italian Government
to go to war, but at the same time they are playing
with edged tools, and the accident of a moment,
the caprice of a faction, the unforeseen turn of cir-
cumstances may cause the evil so much dreaded to
occur, and plunge the two countries into war. So
far as argument is concerned, the Italian Govern-
ment can easily make out their case, and that they
are clearly justified in the course which they have
taken by the terms of the treaty As the Official
Gazette states in explaining the cause of King
VICTOR EMMANUEL, " The September Convention
imposes the same duties on both the contract-
ing parties in the same degree." No doubt the
French EMPEROR is perfectly aware of this fact,
and will not need this reminder to bring him to
reason. His task to persuade his friends at home
of the truth of it may however be an awkward one,
and therefore he may not object to have part of
the work taken out of his hands by the agency of
the Italians.
It is true that the French have not been well
received in Rome, but that was not to be expected
under the circumstances of the case, and in all
probability they were not surprised themselves at
their unwelcome reception. On the other hand, it
is said that no "hostile demonstration" has been
met with by the French, and this must content
them, sorry comfort though it may be. Perhaps
the most satisfactory gleam of intelligence may be
found in the declaration that GARIBALDI has re-
turned to Monte Rotondo. This is no trifling news,
for it seems to indicate that he has, at least,
thought better of things, and is induced to take
the wiser course, if it be at the same time the
tamer ani inure ignoble solution of the problem.
The ostensible reason for which GARIBALDI has
come to Monte Rotondo is that be may confer with
the representative of the Italian Government, who
has been sent there to him. Besides this, it is said
that the General will be met by several of his
friends, who arc eager to dissuade him from con-
tinuing his enterprise, and coming into collision
with the French troops. A proclamation has been
issued by the French General, which declares that
the Emperor NAPOLEON has scut an " expeditionary
corps " to protect the Holy Father and the
Pontifical Throne against the attacks of revolu-
tionists. It is added that the French will
respect the persons, customs, and laws of the Ro-
mans.

If we are to trust to the opinion of the Official
Gazette of Florence, we may infer that the advance
of the Italian troops upon the Papal territory will
be of great service to the cause of order. "We
have confidence," it adds, " that this resolution on
the part of the KING'S Government will persuade
General GARIBALDI not to persist in increasing the
present serious difficulties, but to aid in the pacifi-
cation of the country and in the settlement of the
Roman question." Tile Patrie of Pais has made