TAE SIEGE OF GAETA.

New Zealander, Volume XVII, Issue 1567, 24 April 1861, Page 6

TAE SIEGE OF GAETA.

[Krom the “ Time*,” Jan. 18.] The French Fleet has left Gaeta with the ception of ft single vessel, and to-morrow the gk*' armistice concluded between the belligerents expire. At the same time, the Moniteur h M i vealed the last move of the Imperial gam e -TT informs the world that the Emperor NajmL yields at length to the representations of thefiriti 5 Government, the reproaches of the British p eoD i the indignation of the Italians, and the silent di' approbation of his own subjects. The hour draw nigh when the King of Naples must cease from his useless resistance. Of the last stand raadeb* the disposed Sovereign we shall speak neither in terms of praise nor blame. Ordinarily theconjune tion of youth, Royal lineage, valour, and raisfortunl is sufficient to insure the sympathies of men * Francis 11. might, if he belonged to another family' appear in history and romance by the side of Charles Edward and other heroes of the sam e kind. But when a dynasty has brought on itsgjf the detestation of the world, like the Neapolitan Bourbons, it is impossible to be interested in the late of its representative. We are not to enquire whether the Prince who in the prime of youth and at the height of prosperity governed with all the cruelty of a Caligula has or has not braved the Sardinian shells. If he has somewhat redeemed the tyranny and indecision which marked his conduct up to the time of his taking refuge behind the batteries of Gaeta, so much the better for him. He will gain in self-respect and in the respect of those with whom he associates in afterlife. H e lias a long, career before him; be is enormously rich, and will, no doubt have his friends and wellwishers in every Court in Europe. By all mean* let it he in the power of these to point to their fallen brother as one who has not disgraced the order in which he was born. Let him be one of the few heroes whom modern legitimacy can boast. But, as regards the mass of mankind, he must not expect to excite sympathy or even curiosity. He will vanish from the public gaze, and live as unremembered and uncared Mr as those Princes of his race the Spanish Pretenders. AVe speak thus on the assumption that no further interference with the Sardinian fleet is contemplated, and that after the armistice is over Admiral Parsano will he able to open fire against the place. Gaeta, almost impregnable from the land side' will probably be reduced in a few days by vigorous operations from the sea. The incident of Ancona is in all likelihood, about to b • repeated, and the King of Naples will have the honour to share the fat of an illustrious French General. But who can say that the Emperor Napoleon is about to carry out the policy to which he has so often pledged himself? If interference ceases at Gaeta to recommence somewhere else, if the Bourbon be allowed to fall only that some other equally unpopular claimant may vex thedistracted country, then the gain will have been but little. Even the greatest benefits do not allow' him who has conferred them to dispose of the lives and honour of the recipients. Napoleon has given Loin bar,y to Piedmont, he has at the strong instance of England permitted Tuscany and the Romagna to dispose of themselves, and he did not interfere when the swarm of Papal mercenaries was scattered by General Cialdiai. But the present agony of Italy is, on the other hand, all of his own producing. The troubles in the kingdom of Naples, the discontent in Sicily, and the forcible restoration of the Pope’s authority in several districts, are the result of this unfortunate and to most men unintelligible policy. It is plain that the notion of holding the balance between ihe two princples which divide Europe is at the base of the Imperial policy. The Emperor will not so for engagehimself either to free Government or to Legitimacy as to give either his fall suppoit. His own posi'ion and the position of France are better, he thinks, as longas hecanside with either party, and both must consequently study to obtain his favour. The decision with respect to Gaeta‘is a concession to Italy and England. The Liberal party have long been waiting for a scrap of favour, and now it is thrown to them. The jealousy of the autocratic Governments is naturally roused, and it may serve His Majesty's purpose to give them a turn next time. But for the present Austria and her friends are in a state of alarm.

How terrible are the straits into which the Court of Vienna is driven is only known to all those who care to inquire into the subject. The language that Austria is poor, her subjects disd / tented, an 1 tier frontier threatened by a victoriwu enemv, expresses but faintly the confusion, and we might say despair, which have fallen upon the Empire. East and West there is nothing but indignation breaking forth into sedition, and threatening treason. The arrest at the mouth of the Danube of several vessels with military store* of every kind, destined to support a Hungarian insurrection, has hardly attracted notice, so open is the conspiracy against the Austrian Crown. The Ilospodar Couz i and the organs of Count O.vnur feel obliged 10 deny any connivance in this act o‘ war ; but the fact that a denial is necessary shows the terms on which Austria is with her neighbours. We can well understand, then, that Count Rechberg should “deplore ” the determination of Napoleon to withdraw his fleet. The Austrian Minister, no doubt, sympathizes with* Sovereign in distress but there are other and nearer interests involved in the abandonment to Gaeta. At the present time almost she whole strength of the Sardinian army is employed in the Papal States and the Two Sicilies. The "holding out of Ga«ta not only necessitates the presence of a besieging army, hut causes disturbances!!! the less enlightened districts, while the leaders of the Royalist party derive comfort and encouragement by the support which the French Emperor gives their master. It must he remembered that Messina still holds out for Francis 11., and that as long as he remains on Italian ground there will he a ferment in the kingdom which will prevent the Sardinians trom turning their attention to the North. We learn that the Austrians havecounted on two Sardinian army corps being detained on the line of the Garigliano for many months to come. This expectation is now, in all probability, doomed to disappointment. Should the French retire, the Sardinian squadron, as soon as the short period 0 the armistice has expired, will make the prolonged defence of Gaeta impossible. Either the the or the blockade, will compel a capitulation, and, the King once out of the country, the disaffected will speedily submit, and the divisions which now prevail will he composed. Without possessing extraordinary powers ot foresight, a observer may predict the next move of the Tunu Cabinet. It is hardly concealed that in some way Austria is to be compelled to abandon Venice. Either negotiation, or the stirring up of intestine commotions, or open war, is to obtain this conce* siun from Francis Joseph. The Austrian Emperor is declared to be resolute not to sell, and to se clearly that the alternative is war sooner or later. If the French fleet had remained at Gaeta a ye*» would have been lost to the Sii dimans one can tell what the ensuing Spring will brin o forth.

Legislation at the Cape.— Whatever may be ease elsewhere, here the Government, as repress by the Governor, has shown a strong disposition encourage all public works, while the Parhamcn , the contrary, opposes them from the lowest P J objects. A large proportion of the members ' given very ludicrous examples of their incapaci J legislation. The truth is. that the men most n represent the people will not leave their busmes professions, and their place is supplied by | » fourth-rate men both as regards position and c u The Cape Town public during the ses>ion vis Houses of Assembly with the same views " 1C „ m in2 have in attending their theatre, to see a ‘ sere farce and they never retire without ample to mirth. —Correspondent of the London Star. How TO keep AN Umbuella -Dr BucklanJ Crt not bear to lose an umbrella. He lost two or one way or another, and at last lie inscrl “ e ’, ug ht scicuous letters, on the handle of a new one purposely, “ Stolon from Dr. Buckland ; »V, by he never lost, although it often mviunglj slope itself in a solitary glory in the umbrella stanay* hall. ’ • _