The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-08 00:00:00

FRANCE.

The Siecle takes the Government seriously to
task for keeping its fleet before:Gaeta. It was men-
tioned some time since that Admiral Le Barbier de
Tinan was to receive orders to withdraw if the
King persisted in a defence which caused much
and useless bloodshed. It is certain that this was
resolved upon, and equally certain that the orders,
if they were sent, were countermanded. " France,"
says the Steele, alluding to the order to send a
monthly provision to the fleet—
" France was the first to proclaim in Italy the
principle of non-intervention, and it was France
that caused it to be observed. It is for the main-
tenance of that principle, and to give to the Holy
See a proof of sympathy, that she keeps at Rome
an army of observation. It was for this she pre-
vented Austria intervening in the Duchies with
a view to re-establishing the fallen Princes. How
is it possible, then, for France to give herself the
lie, or for her to intervene when she has said that
none ought to intervene ? For it cannot be con-
cealed that the presence of the French fleet is a
real intervention.
" The attitude of the French Government the
very morrow of the day when the King of Naples,
flying from his capital, shut himself up in the for-
tress of Gaeta, armed long before with a view to
the part it now plays, might in strictness be ex-
plained. A feeling of humanity, of generosity, for
a Royal family deposed, for women and children,
justified the protection accorded to the King of
Naples. But it happens that this protection to a
single family endangers an entire nation, and the
sacred cause for which France has so gallantly
fought.
" Under the shelter of the walls of Gaeta the
King foments the counter revolution. His agents
traverse the provinces, and excite them to rise in
insurrection; and they reproach the revolution
with the disorders and the misery Occasioned by
Royalist intrigues.
" Let France accomplish to the end the mission
which she has assumed to protect a Royal family
fallen from the throne ; let her offer them an
asylum on board of our ships, and there let
her magnanimity end. But let her not retard
the establishment of order ; above all, let her not
leave the field open to the passions which generate
all the horrors of civil war.

" We repeat that the French nation cannot—
must not, allow a situation so false and so danger-
ous to be prolonged. It cannot permit a policy of
humanity and kindness towards the Bourbons of
Naples to degenerate into a real intervention.
" We read every day enthusiastic praises in the
counter-revolutionary press of King Francis 11.,
and 9f his heroic and sublime defence. The King
of Naples has taken refuge in a place which can be
taken only by sea, and the French fleet prevents it
being attacked by the only way in which it is vul-
nerable. Is there a great merit in resisting when
one has before him an adversary who has not the
liberty of movement, and protected by one of the
bravest navies of the world ?
" We should not mind the King of Gaeta playing
some time longer at Royalty and soldiers, if the
play did not endanger at once the rights of humanity,
the triumph of the Italian cause, and the policy of
France. But behind those ramparts the King
foments civil war, and fosters disorders and hatreds.
Is it possible that France can keep up such a
state of things, and thus contravene a principle
which she has solemnly proclaimed ? We do not
think so."

Business has not improved. There exists much
uneasiness throughout the country, which has been
produced by social as well as by political causes.
The unseasonable weather which prevailed last

year, and the partial failure of the crops, have

caused an expenditure of capital which has em-
barrassed the position of many traders. The raising
of the rate of discount by the Banks of London and
Paris has likewise added to the difficulty. The
abeence of the usual orders for French produce for
the United States has been severely felt by
many who had provided themselves with a
heavy stock of goods for that market. These
causes, in themselves, would saffice to disturb
the usual course of trade, but the apprehension of
an outbreak on the Continent in the spring has
paralysed the exertions of many. Commercial ope-
rations are consequently limited. Every tradesman
is endeavouring to confine himself within the
amount of his capital, fearing to engage in any
speculation requiring accommodation. It appears
further, that notwithstanding the great caution
observed, some merchants, holding an honourable
position, have been forced to suffer their accept-
tances, due at the end of the year, to be protested,
in consequence of being disappointed in their remit-
tances. It may be said, indeed, that the year which
has just expired was a bad one for commercial en-
terprise. The peace of Europe was frequently
menaced, and even when the danger appeared to
have passed away a vag-, ee feeling of uneasiness
remained. The expedition of Garibaldi, the inva-
sion by the Piedmontese of the Roman States and
of the kingdom of Naples, the revival of the Eastern
question, the expedition to Syria, and the report
of a coolness between the English and. French
Governments, filled the people with anxiety during
the greater part of the year 1860. Many people
ask, now that money is so scarce, what has become
of the enormous mass of gold coin issued from the
French mint within the last two years and a half P
The answer given is that the French people are
remarkable for hiding and hoarding their cash ix
times of difficulty, and that gold coin is particularly
convenient for such an operation.

FATAL SIIIPWRECK.—A few days ago a Spanish
vessel, the Dulce Nombre de Jesus, bound from Havannah
to Bristol, with sugar, struck on the Morte shore, near
Morthoe, on the North Devon coast, and became a total
wreck. The captain and three of the crew were drowned.
The rest of the men on board, eight in number, got on the
rocks and clambered over the cliffs. The Rev. J. D. Ness,
vicar of Morthoe, showed greAt kindness to the sufferers,
who were sent on to the Spanish consul at Bristol.

DISASTERS IN TIIE BRISTOL CIIANNEL.—The
trove Ellen, of and for Stroud, sailed from Bristol with a
general
cargo on the evening of New Year's day. On reach-
ing the mouth of the Avon the wind was Llowir.n a gale,
and the cargo having shifted it was found desirable to run
inside the Dunball till the vessel righted, and she went to
anchor outside and awaited flood tide. On the following
morning she got under weigh and sailed, but when between
Kingroad and the Stones a squall caught her, and sho sud-
denly capsized, turning bottom up. The crew consisted of
four persons—Htury Beard (master), James Knapp,
Henry Niblett, and Andrew Holden, all of whom perished.
The value of the cargo is estimated at £2,000. A French
lugger was reported to be aground yesterday morning cif
Walton Bay.

EMIGRATION FROM PLYMOUTH IN 1860:—The
total number of ships which left the Sound for the colonies
was 45; for the East Indies, 2; and for Hong Kong, 1,
Total of ships, 45; registered tonnage, 13,:12 ; crews, 493.
Passengers to Canada, 7 cuddy, 103 steerage. New South
Wales, 218 cuddy, 1,024 steerage; Victoria, 338 cuddy, 718
steerage; South Australia, 35 cuddy, 611 steerage; Wcs-
tern Australia,.2 cuddy, 247 steerage; Tasmania, 30 cuddy,
8 steerage; Queen's Land, 1 cuddy, 300 stserage. Grand
Totals—to the Colonies, cuddy, 621 ; steerage, 9,9')8. To
Canada, 7 cuddy, 103 steerage; to the East Indies and
Hongkong, 12 euddy, F9l steerage; total emigration from
Plymouth in 1860, 4,265; previous year, 4,124 ; increase,
141.

It may be remembered that at the birth of the
Prince Imperial, on the lath March, IKG, the Emperor
and Emprsss declared themselves godfather and godmother
of all the children boil]. in France on the same day. Their
Majesties have just decided that they will assume the same
character with regard to the children born on that day in
the newly-annexed departments; and in consequence the
Prefect of the Haute-Savoie has addressed a circular to the
mayors of his department, requesting them to give him a
list of all legitimate children now living who were born on
the day in question, together with details respecting the
character awl pecuniary situation (dile parents.