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

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Whether the retirement of the Italian army W 29
spontaneous or in obedience to French threats, it is clear
that all parties in Italy recommended it. The Diritto, the
organ of the Left, agreed with the Nazione and tIA,
Opinione that it was the best thing to be done.

Whit course the French Government intend to taketeems
to be unknown at Paris. At the Italian capital opinions
are divided. According to one party all is lost, and with-)
out even Francis the First's reservation, " except honour.'
A large party, however, take a different view. They say'
"We have lost nothing." The situation cannot remain a'
it is; France will be driven to accept the advice of t 3,:
other Powers, and Italy will not suffer by a reference to
their arbitration. The first party counsel to give
Baron Villestreux his passports, recall the Atnbas.
sador from Paris, and wait the hour. One of the
sukgested solutions of the Roman 'question, given by the
Florence correspondent of the Temps, is to guarantee the
Pope, as the head of the Roman Catholic religion, abso-
lute personal independence. Not to wound the suscepti- -
bilities of the Church, the Great Powers should guarantee.
that his Holiness shall be the subject of no temporal
power. He would then possess what is called an exteriorite
diplomatique.

The Paris correspondent of the Indlpendance has grounds
for believing that Louis Napoleon will not entirely with.
draw his troops from the Papal territory. The Emperor
fancies that he will have made sufficient concession to Italy
and to Europe in limiting the occupation to Civita Vecchia
Another correspondent says the presence of the French
troops at Civita Vecchia is fifty miles less exasperating
to Italy than their doing duty in Rome itself.

In the receptions which the great French • autocrat
accords to foreign Ministers his manner is often as signifi.
cant as his words. The Times correspondent relates how
La Marmora was received. The audience did not last a
quarter of an hour. When introduced, lie found the
Emperor standing. Instead of advancing a few steps, as
is his wont, end shaking by the hand perJons with whom
be has been already more or less intimate, he remained in
the same spot, and very slightly bowed in return to the
General's salutatkns. The Emperor asked what he wished
to say to him. The General, who was not prepared for
this icy reception, appeared to lose a little of his self.
possession at the that moment; but he soon recovered
himself, and said all he could think of to justify or
explain the conduct of the Government. The Emperor
uttered .not a word until he had done. He then asked
if he had any more observations to make; the General
answered that he bad not ; and the Emperor, bowing in
the came formal, stiff manner, said that he might retire.
Reminded, perhaps, that a haughty spirit goes before a
fall, the Emperor seems to have thought that he had over-
done his part. He therefore sent a messenger after La
Marmora., to explain that his cold reception meant no per.
sonal disrespect, but indicated only the Emperor's disap.
proval of the acts of the Florence Cabinet. Rather an
awkward way of shewing it, nevertheless.

The Italian Government has done its best to keep the
public in ignorance of the actual state of affairs during the
late crisis. When it became known that the French troops
bad reentered Rome the excitement became dangerous.
In expectation of an outbreak at Florence, the authorities
took measures to protect the French Embassy. A body
of infantry was stationed in an adjacent theatre. Hatred
of the French keeps pace throughout the peninsula with
contempt for the vacillating King. Wherever Napoleon
may cast about for future alliances, he need never again
look across the Alps.

With reference to the insurrection at Milan, thel
Etendard says that although details are wanting, it ill
known that blood was shed. The military appear to have
been loyal, and the insurrectionary movement was ener-
getically suppressed. Florence, Turin, and Naples were
reported quiet.

Amid the confusion that reigns supreme throughout the
Peninsula, it is satisfactory to learn that Italian finance
wears a brighter aspect. The Florence correspondent of
the Daily News says the sale of the ecclesiastical property
has extended to about two millions of francs, and has
brought in nearly double the amount estimated. At the
Same rate the computed forty millions will produce above
sixty.