The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-25 00:00:00

A letter from Naples, dated Feb. 18, says—The
Mohawk was sent up by the Admiral to Gaeta
yesterday, on a voyage, as it were, of inspection, to
ascertain the state of the fortress. Admiral S►r
Thomas Cochrane was on board. She returned late
the same night, the weather being very stormy.
From those who Acre on board I hear that in the
part where the explosion of last Tuesday took place
the ruin of the city is complete, but the tire of the
enemy seems to have produced comparatively little,
damage. The cathedral, which was reported as
destroyed, remains couparatieely intact. The
stench in the city is represented to me as being
something insufierable, arising froni the foul habits
of the Neapolitan soldiers lathy than from any
other cause, being in a greater degree somewhat of
the same kind of thing that we are doomed to suffer
in the streets of Naples. Some of the party, how-
ever, observed in various places fragments of those
who had perished from the explosion. A breach in
the wall seaward has been made by the accident,
through which an assault could have been made,
and command obtained of all the works, but it must
have been made in boats, and great risk would have
attended it. I inquired into the probable causes of
the explosion, and the opinion was that it was not
occasioned by the shells of the enemy, though
whether it took place through accident or treachery
it was impossible to say, because, as always happens
in such eases; no one remained to tell the tale. Four
or five of the generals of Francis 11. have been per-
mitted to return to Naples, and were to be seen in
the Toledo on Saturday, while the soldiers, as far as

I can gather, are to be sent to the islands. I take
for granted that they will be sent not as relegati,
but under military discipline, and that many of
those whose term of service is up will have their
release. Under any circumstances so large a body
of men must be the source of great embarrassment ;
yet it may admit of a doubt whether the liberal
conduct of the Government may not be the means
of increasing that reactionary feeling which cer-
tainly exists in the country to a considerable
extent. _ _ _

Admiral Persano left Naples on Saturday, as I
understand, for Messina, to make a formal announce-
ment of the fall of Gaeta, and to summon the cita-
del to surrender. Of course there will be no diffi-
culty on the subject, as the Governor has always
intimated it to be his intention to give in on re-
ceiving the orders of his Sovereign. We are ex-
pecting her Britannic Majesty's ship the Exmouth,
91 guns, from Malta, when in all probability the
James att or the Cressy will leave. It is to be
hoped that the fleet will continue here some
time longer, for I do not think its mission is yet
completed, and I have reason to know that the
Government, which has derived so much moral
support from its presence, would view its depar-
ture with great regret. We are not yet out of the
influence of intrigues, though Gaeta has fallen.
A battalion of National Guards from Massa-
Carrara landed here on Saturday last, and took up
their quarters in the Riviera di Chiaja, They are
fine-looking men, and remarkable for their mili-
tary bearing.
Intelligence has arrived from all parts of
Southern Italy describing the exultation of the in-
habitants on the occasion of the fall of Gaeta. Te
Deums, processions, illuminations, and charitable
offerings seem to have been the order of the day in
every direction.
On Saturday morning Liberio Romano had an
audience of Prince Carignano, and recommended
sending 600 regular troops into every province
to put down brigandage and support the authori-
ties in carrying into execution the measures
ordered by the Government. The fall of Gaeta
now liberates 40,000 men, who may be made use
of in tranquillisingithe country and putting down
those reactionary movements which up to the pre-
sent time have caused so much annoyance:
I am in despair, and you will be, too, at the
length of my letter, but this very morning have
appeared the decrees to which I alluded a week
ago. I condense them as follows :
" The Concordats of 1818 and 1834, and all other
conventions before and after those dates, between
the defunct Government of the Two Sicilies and' he
Court of Rome, have ceased to be of any force, the
rights belonging to the political sovereignty of the
State remaining firm and without prejudice. The
legislative acts constituting the previous public
ecclesiastical rights of these Neapolitan provinces,
are revived, unless abolished by express orders in-
dependent of the Concordat, and unless incompatible
with the actual legislation and administration of
the same provinces. Differences of worship, even
in the Neapolitan provinces, shall be no obstacle to
the perfect equality of citizens in the exercise of
civil and political rights. Ecclesiastics, like other
citizens, are to be subjected to the laws of the State ;
every exemption or privilege to the contrary ceas-
ing. Every punishment established by` the laws
must be applied by the civil tribunals, reserving,
however, to the ecclesiastical authorities their func-
tions for the application of spiritual punishments
after the forms prescribed by the ecclesiastical
laws. All causes regarding the right of nomina-
tion to ecclesiastical benefices or their property
are placed under the civil jurisdiction. In causes
purely ecclesiastical the Royal Esecutoria will not
be granted to citations on appeals to the Roman
Curia, except on condition that these causes shall
be determined in these provinces by ecclesiastics
belonging to the same, 'who may be delegated by
the apostolical authorities, &c."
By another decree the Council of State is em-
powered to decide as to the respective functions of
the civil and ecclesiastical powers ; differences on
which subject have often led to great scandals.
It is also empowered to pronounce in cases of the
sequestration of temporalities. Here in Naples
the Supreme Council will act for the Council of
State. Another decree abolishes the Diocesan Cora-
missions. To these were coitfided the administra-
tion of vacant churches and benefices, as also the
revenues of the bishops, abbacies, and other vacant
benefices, known under the name of " Monte Fru.
thentario." For these commissions will now be
substituted a royal Econo»zo for the Neapolitan
provinces, who will depend on the Councillor of
Ecclesiastical Affairs. The Commissioners now
ceasing to act will, in their individual responsibility,
give up all papers, titles, and everything else be-
longing to their respective administrations to the
Royal Procurators, &c.
By another decree is asserted the "Royal right of
possession" and of the administration of vacant
benefices without any distinction. The produce of
such vacant benefices, after certain deductions which
are specified, shall be applied to ameliorate the
condition of needy parish priests and curates, to
the purposes of worship and restoration of poor
churches, and other uses of charity, arc;
Perhaps the most important decree of all is that
which affects the monastic institutions, and it is
briefly this :
"All monastic orders of both sexes in the Nea-
politan provinces, except such as are hereafter
named, shall cease to be recognised. Likewise the
chapters of collegiate churches, with the exception
of those having the cure of souls, and existing in
cities whose population exceeds 20,000. Simple
benefices, ecclesiastical chaplaincies, and abbacies
where no cure of souls is attached to them, shall
cease also to be recognised by the laws.
"The property now possessed by the corporations
alluded to shall be administered by the Ecclesias-
tical Treasury of the State, under a special direction
to be established in the Neapolitan provinces. The
commission shall immediately take possession of
and form an inventory of the property and revenues
of every establishment, calling in the assistance of
the chiefs and administrators of the respective
houses and corporations. In case of refusal to attend
they will lose all right to a pension, or any of the
advantages hereafter specified. The members of
the religious houses coming under the action of this
law may continue their religious life in some one of
the edifices of the convents to which they are
united, or in other cloisters assigned by the Go-
vernment; their intentions, however, being made
known to the Councillor of Ecclesiastical Affairs
within the term of three months.
" The members of the religious houses contem•
plated in this decree belongingto the orders possessed
of funds, shall receive from the Ecclesiastical
Treasury an annual pension corresponding to the
annual net revenue possessed by their respective
houses, in no cases exceeding 120 ducats for every
member ; 60 ducats for every lay member. No one
of the family who bas not completed his or her
novitiate shall be entitled to a pension. Servants
of both sexes, who have served 10 years, even
though they have not taken vows, shall have an
annual pension of 60 ducats, if 40 years of age ;
of 30 ducats if they have served only three years.
Those who from choice prefer to live out of the
cloister, or cannot be received, shall have the same
pension increased by a sixth. The pension may be
raised to 180 ducats when the funds permit, and the
recipient is 70 years of age ; or to 150 ducats when
the recipient is 60. The superiors of the suppressed
houses, within eight days from the promulgatipn
of the decree containing the names of the in-
stitutions excepted, shall send in all details
I respecting the members of their houses to the kcal