The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-25 00:00:00

TIIE SIEGE OF GAETA.

(From the Correspondent of the Times.)
TURIN, JAN. 22 (Evening.)
Agreeably to the latest information received from
the head-quarters of General Cialdini, General
Menabrea had, in consequence of instructions for-
warded by Count Cavour, been sent as a parlernen-
taire into the besieged place at the moment of the
expiration of the armistice, on the 19th. Offers
were made to Francis 11. of Bourbon that he should
leave the fortress with all the honours of war, both
for himself and all his troops ; that, as the French
fleet had already left the waters of Gaeta, two of
the Royal frigates, under the orders of Admiral
Persano, at the Bourbon's own choice, should
be ready to convey him, his family, and
all such people as he chose for his suite,
to any place he might wish to betake himself;
that all the native Neapolitan troops within the
fortress, men and officers, should be received in the
service of the Italian kingdom, each in his own
rank and standing, and with three months' pay by
way of indemnity; that Bavarian and other foreign
troops should be conveyed at the expense of the
Italian Government to the frontiers of their respec-
tive countries, where they would aldo'reeeive three
months' pay. General Menabrea was further
instructed to receive and accept any counter propo-
sition which the ex-King might make, with the
only reservation of the sovereign rights of his
King, Victor Emmanuel, as established by the Ple-
oiscite of the people of the Two Sicilies.

The ex-King, yielding to suggestions from the
foreign diplomatists still abiding with him, refused
to listen to these terms, or, indeed, even to receive
the messenger; whereupon Admiral Persano pro-
claimed the blockade of Gaeta, and the Spanish
fleet raised anchor, and left the bay.
General Cialdini has sent no further despatches,
probably because he waits till he can give the final
results of the bombardment, which had already
commenced.

THE FRENCH OCCUPATION OP 22011 E.

(From tke Siecle.)

Our fleet has left Gaeta, and French policy has re-entercli
on the path it had too long abandoned through a feeling of
humanity and respect for royal misfortunes. At the pre-
sent hour hostilities are renewed with vigour. The issue
of this fratricidal straggle is not doubtful, but the respon-
sibility for the blood shed will recoil entirely on that unfor-
tunate young man—on that King, 20 years of age, who
has been appropriately called a bourgeois Charles IX. It
will recoil also on those partisans who, under pretext of
defending pretended rights, stimulate the worst passions,
and urge to the most fatal resistance.

It is quite necessary that it should be known that King
Francis 11. is defending behind the walls of Gaeta his per-
sonal interests only; he has no right, absolutely none • ho
was the trustee of a people ; he has himself abandoned his
trust: he is nothing more than a prince without a throne,
possessing all the rights that misfortune merits, and no
more. No royalist or clerical sophisms can prevail against
this truth, which is as clear as daylight. Let us wait for
events.

Andnow that the French Government, afterhaving amply
accomplished the duties of humanity enjoined upon it, now
that it pays such striking homage to the policyof non-inter..
vention, which is its own, and which it has imposed on all,
what is it going to decide as to our occupation of Rome and
the territory of St. Peter There also, for eleven years, it
has been performing a duty of humanity, giving proof of
respectful sympathy for the spiritual head of the Catholic
religion. But will not the same motive that has led to the
abandonment of the waters of Gaeta by our fleet operate in
favour of the withdrawal of the division which we main-
tain in the Roman States. Logic has after all more power
than is commonly supposed. If the prolonged stay of our
fleet before Gaeta assumed in the eyes of Europe the cha-
racter of an intervention, is not the prolonged stay of our
troops around the Vatican awkwardly analogous ?

The protection which we have given to Francis 11., by
preventing all attack on Gaeta by sea, has resulted in dis-
turbing men's minds, throwing doubt on the intentions; of
France, encouraging resistance, and causing insurrection.
In presence of these disorders the Government has calcu-
lated the extent of the evils of which it was the involuntary
cause, and has taken the wise part of leaving the Italians to
settle their own internal affairs. The protection we accord
to the temporal power of the Papacy has consequences still
more mischievous. We are positively intervening at Rome ;
we are maintaining against the wish of the people that
justly detested power of the cardinals; we are depriving-
Italy of its centre of action and unity—of its natural capital

—we are raising an obstacle to a work which we ourselves
have commenced, for which we have shed rivers of generous
blood. We aro at Rome in contradiction to ourselves. Our
soldiers there are doing the business of Cardinal Antonelli
and the congregations—in short of Austria. Is this what
the French Government wished, and still wishes ? Cer-
tainly not.

It wished to give a pledge of devotion and respect to the
Holy See ; it has done all that was humanly possible to
preserve that dying power; it has spared neither sag•
counsel nor filial remonstrance. All has been useless. The
service rendered by France to the Government of the car-
dinals is only equalled by the monstrous ingratitude of the
latter. For 12 years we have sustained, sword in hand,
this decrepid temporal monarchy; for 12 years we have
suppressed all manifestations of the public spirit ; and yet
France is more attacked at this day by the councillors of
the Papacy than it was at any period of its history !
It is time to put an end to such a false and dangerous
position. Since France, as the Ultramontanes say, repre-
sents the genius of evil—since she is the focus whence all
revolutions radiate, let the Holy See renounce her accursed
succour. Since Cardiaal Antonelli so boldly asserts that
the people of the Roman States is passionately attached to
the clerical Government, we may withdraw our troops
without fear of the consequences. Let us first do our duty.
What is it ? We have promised not to intervene in Italy.
We have declared that we would oppose all intervention.
It is in obedience to this promise that our fleet has quitted
Gaeta. The same duty is incumbent on us in the case of
Rome ; the same line of conduct is clearly traced out for us.
France has behaved towards Rome since 1849 as the most
respectful and obedient son should behave to a mother.
But France is now called on to fulfil an earlier and a
hi

gher duty, viz., to sacrifice private affection, even the
dearest, to the general welfare. What does the general
welfare dictate ? That Italy should be at peace. On what
condition will she be at peace ? On condition that the ele-
ments of division and discord be removed, on condition that
Italians are free to accomplish their own unity. Was this
condition observed while we were protecting Francis 11. at
Gaeta, and, without intending it, fostering
in-
trigues and revolts ? Most decidedly not. Is this condition.
observed as long as we are at Rome, as long as wo encourage
taly of its natural
Would probablybe the signal for
clerical factions, as long as we deprive I
capital ?No Humanity, sound policy': goal
sel
intervention
me.
Tli°
us, then, not to prolong our
withdrawal of our troops
matent a the cardinals. So much
the departure of the gore
have made itself
the worse for it. It ought to loved; why
has it made itself hated? But religion, what will become of
eis doprived of his temporal power ? Oh, be
her, if the FOP
religion lived in power and honour for ten cen-
• easy;
turies without royalty, without crown, army, or gendarmes;
she will not only survive, she will be more respected and
more loved than ever. sense,R 033 u

The greatest embarrassment of the present situation will
disappear on the day when this duty shall be accom-
plished, and our troops shall embark at Civita Vecchia for
France. France will then re-enter on her full freedom of
action, and on her true policy ; she v, ill inspire no more
unjust suspicions; she will no longer be exposed to covert
attacks, because she will be self-consistent. We trust the
French Government will without delay give public opinion
the satisfaction it so ardently desires, and the peace of
Europe an essential guarantee, by firmly establishing the
unity of Italy around its centre and capital, Rome.

JERSEY AND GUERNSEY.—The contractors for
the mail packets between Southampton and Jersey and
Guernsey having given notice of their intention to confine
the service, after the expiration of the present month, t
three days a week, according to the provisions of their con-.
tract, the mails to and from the Channel Islands •ia South •
anapton will, aft, r the 31st instant, be reduced from four to
three days a week. These mails will be despatched from
London on the evenings of Monday, Wednesday, and Fri -
day, and will be received in London on the mornings of
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. An auxiliary mail via
Weymouth will be forwarded from London on the evening
of Tuesday, and will be received in London on the morning
of rriday.