The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-27 00:00:00

STATE OF ITALY.

A correspondent, writing from Genoa, the 21s

" Matters in Italy appear somewhat brightenin cr.
A report was circulated yesterday that Gaeta hadts
surrendered : this is not confirmed, but it is gene-
rally understood that the terms of surrender are
the subject of negotiation, and this portion of the
question is in train of satisfactory settlement.
Messina will not hold out after the cession of Gaeta.
The Italian papers are republishing at full length
the Parisian pamphlet of which M. Pereire has all
I the credit, and there seems a general accordance in
the suggestion that peace and Venice should be
secured by a pecuniary sacrifice—and a large one
—which Italy is now disposed to make. Any long
continued obstinacy on the part of Austria might,
however, wholly frustrate so desirable an at range_
men t. No solution of the Papal difficulty, in which
his Holiness is likely to concur, has hitherto been
discovered, Pio Nono has again and again re-
peated that he will not abandon the territorial
rights and temporal sovereignty he inherits from
his predecessors, and which he deems himself bound
to hand down to those who follow him ; but he has
had abundant opportunity of learning that neces-
sity has no law, and that he may be compelled, like
many another monarch, to
Provare come sa di sale
Lo pane altrui.'
Salt and bitter is indeed the bread of which princes
and potentates have frequently had to taste in these
latter days. Antonelli's influence is not shaken ; he
is indeed but the representative of the general feel-
ing of the cardinals. There is, notwithstanding,
among sober Catholics a growing conviction that it
would be a happiness and a security for the Pope
to be relieved from the financial difficulties and po-
litical complications, which belong to civil autho-
rity. The time of Victor Emmanuel's return to
Turin is not yet decided on. The Parliament will
hardly assemble till February, and. everybody an-
ticipates fierce discussions between the Unitarian
centralisers and those who desire to uphold the
separate nationalities, and to obtain a recognition
of the demands for local government. Garibaldi
remains in his island solitude, but will appear
hereafter in the field to settle with the sword mat-
ters which diplomacy may fail to accomplish with
the pen—but better things are hoped for. Squibs,
and caricatures, and pasquinadcs abound—placards
cover the walls in unbridled and often most intem-
perate expression—and in them the passionate ex-
citements of the hour find vent; but on the whole
the nation, l'ltalica nazioni, is gay and joyous, and
dwells on the hope that a work so well begun will
terminate felicitously. It is said that Sir John
Bowring's visit to Turin is connected with some
proposed tariff reforme."
The Gaeta Gazette publishes the following order
of the day addressed by King Francis to his troops
in the Pontifical States :

"Gaeta, Nov. 26.

"Soldiers !—Separated from you by the force of events,
my affection always remains with you. The remembrance
of the fatigues ycu have endured during the last eight
months, and of the glorious exploits you have valiantly
executed, will never be effaced from my mind. I am ob-
liged to dissolve provisionally the corps to which you be-
long. I have the firm confidence that in a short time you
will be united, perhaps to combat again and to augment
the glory of the Neapolitan troops. You bear on your
breasts medals which testify to your bravery, and which
will recall all the combats in which you have given striking
proofs of courage. You will return for the present to your
homes, where you will find your companions, who, by
fighting valiantly in 1848 and 1849, gained the medals of
fidelity and those of Sicily and Rome. Unite with them,
and you will be like them, respected and honoured by all
good and honest citizens. A day will certainly come when
you will again take up the arms you now carry for the de-
fence of your country, your families, and your property.
"FRANCIS.,