The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-08 00:00:00

heir engagements, and in consequence they found

themselves in difficulties which they could not cope
with. It may fairly be said, however, that those
old things have passed away, and that we stand
now upon new ground in the matter of this Roman
question. In all this recent imbroglio there is no one
more to be pitied than VICTOR EMMANUEL. He is
in a most responsible position, and whatever he does
is sharply criticised. It is very certain, how-
ever, that the Italians are going against their own
most important interests in the opposition they
make to their KING. They should remember that
if he was driven from power or worried into ab-
dicating they would be in a very much worse posi-
tion than they are now. The French EMPEROR
would then haie it all his own way in Italy, and
could easily make out that the internal dissensions
of the country rendered it necessary for him to
take the lead of affairs, and carry out things with
a strong hand. For the sake of the progress and
prosperity of Italy, we earnestly trust that the
good sense and patriotism of the Italians will
triumph over the jealous fears and angry feelings
of their momenta of excitement. They had better
all consent to let bygones be bygones, and proceed
to the consideration of their actual position. The
Emperor NAPOLEON has acted better than might
have been supposed in the last transaction. The
French have given up the prisoners taken at Mon-
tana to the Italian authorities ; and we learn fur-
ther that in consequence of intelligence received
from the seat of war that the departure of another
French division from Toulon to Civita Vecchia
has been postponed. So far good, at any rate ; and,
what is more, this modification of extreme measures
affords hope for the future, as well as encourage-
ment for the present. The next thing to look for-
ward to is, that the French troops now in Rome
may withdraw to CivitaVecchia without delay ; and,
if this 'desideratum be accomplished, we have no fear
for the result of the subsequent negotiation that
will take place. There is no cause whatever to be-
lieve that the Emperor NAPOLEON is not the friend
of Italy; on the contrary, he has always been its sincere
well-wisher, and often rendered it invaluable assist-
ance. Why, then, should he now be styled an in-
sidious foe, and an unworthy ally? He is placed
in an awkward position with regard to his engage-
ment with the POPE, and no one has a right to
blame him for fulfilling his promises, even if in so
doing he injures his own popularity, and perhaps
does not act altogether in accordance with what he
considers the most suitable policy for the exigencies
of the present age. It may be said, then, that
the Italians in a great measure held their
fate in their own hands. Let them not rush head-
long to the goal of their fancies without regard or
scruple for the consequences, but let them learn
wisdom from the adversity that has come upon
them, and firmly resolve to follow the wisest and
the most praiseworthy course. The truest friend
to his country is he who ranks her interests above
his own particular inclinations, and prefers general
good to partial triumph. That Italy may emerge
from this cloud is the earnest wish of all indepen-
dent minds in every country of Europe.

All large public improvements, it may be as-
sumed as a rule, press heavily for a time upon some
branches of honest industry. The rebuilding of
thoroughfares, the destruction of rookeries, the
construction of subterranean railways, and nume-
rous other instances abundantly prove this painful
truth. The raising of the Holborn Valley is a bene-
ficial change which London has needed for years,
and which the vast increase of metropolitan traffic
has rendered well nigh indispensable, but the un-
fortunate denizens of the numerous courts and
alleys which fringed Holborn Hill have any-
thing but reason to be thankful for it. In
the same way the new Metropolitan Traffic
Act, which undoubtedly contains many
useful provisions, is likely to press very hardly
on a largo and industrious class of humble bread-
winners. It is a question whether the legislators
who passed the Act have accurately appreciated the
sufferings which its somewhat sweeping clauses will
occasion, and we think some of them might with
great advantage be mitigated. The costermongers
of Whitechapel, numbering, about 2,000 persons,