GENERAL SUMMARY.

Wellington Independent, 6 January 1860, Page 3

GENERAL SUMMARY.

[From the "Home Newd," October 18.] On bis return from Biarritz to Paris v tbe Emppror of the French slopped at Bordeaux Upon bis arrival, all tbe Italians of the city were put uuder an est, in consequence of passports which bad reached tbe ears of tbe police authorities. Tbe danger, if there were any, being thus removed, lis Imperial Majesty pro ceeded, with bis inflexible calmness, to perform the State ceremonies usual on such occasions. He received an address from tbe CardinalArchbishop, in which the high-priest reminded bis Miijesty what be owed to the Church, concluding with tbe hope that bis Miijesty would st II continue r faithful -to ItU -Curistian policy t ie meaning of which is that bis Majesty would interpose to s^tve tho Pope. Tbe position was a uiiiieult one for Louis Napoleon. The priests form a more powerful body all over Roman Catholic Europe tban the standing armies, and it bas never been found practicable to govern Fiance without their " sweet voices." What was he to say t;i this direct appeal to his interests, as " tbe eldest son of tbe church," tlie title hy which tbe'Cardinal Archbishop greeted him ? The Emperor proved to be inure subtle tban the priest ; and witb all the terrors of tbe Vatican, and its multitudinous representatives, rising up before him, be gave an answer lo this insolent address wbich has struck the key-note of an alarm tbat is rapidly spreading into every n< o'i and cranny of the earth where Rom an Catholicism breathes. We refer our readers to a subsequent column, wbeie tbey will find bcth the address and answer; and will here confine ourselves to indicating the two salient points tbat directly touch the future of Popedom. The one is tbe cl.ai and emphatic enunciation of the enlightened policy which, iv the Emperor's opinion, his Holiness ought to pursue; and the other is tbe all-important announcement that the protection of tbe French troops will shortly be withdrawn from Rome. When this protection sbalt have been withdrawn, what i«? to ensue? " Anatcby, terror, or peace?" demands the Empero* 4 . Tne solution is in tke hands of the Pope and his advisers. The Emperor is careful io make tbe Cardinal-Archbishop understand that France will interfere no farther, and that the Pope mus! take upon bimself the consequences of his own acts. *• Tbe Government," ob~>ervts tbe Emperor, with a dryness of expres sion tbat must h ive chilled the ecclesiastic to bis ct>re. " the government which replaced tl c H .ly Father on his throne can only give bim counsel inspired by a respectful and sincere devotion to bis interests." Tbat is to say — We have protected you, Holy Father, for 10 years against your own subjects ; we bave earnestly advised yon to adapt your government to tbe adrancing spirit of the age ; Europe will not consent to ihe indefinite occupation of Koine by foreign troops ; we must cull home our soli diers ; and all we can do for you, Holy Father, in this extremity, is to give you the best advice in our power.

This interview between the Sovereign and the Bishop bas raised up a new question which overshadows all otheis , or rather il bus swelled the Papal corner of tbe Italian question tn gig antic proportions, in wbich uli Christendom is concerned. Never hefore was temporal Papacj in such imminent peril ; not even when the seat of government was transferred t.» Avignon, or when the Pope was shut up in prison. In France, Belgium, and Ireland tbe priesthood have taken up the cause of the beleaguted Father, and the journals ring with prayers antt anathemas. The publication of the furious Pastorals of tbe French Bishops has been interdicted iv France, and tbey fly for refuse to the open colu tuns of the Belgian journals, where menaces against the Emperor may he uttered with comparative impunity. In Ireland, Dr. Cullen offers large indulgences to the faithful wbo will say five daily " Hail Marys! ' for the safi'ty of the head of the church ; and Dr. M'Hale plainly threatens Lord Palmerston with a mysterious retribution, should be take any course tending to the diminution of the Pope's t-mpural power, which temporal power, " full, entire, and uncontrolled," the Catholics of Ire land accurding to Dr. M'Hale, consider lo he essential to the free exercise of the spiritual authority.

In tne midst of this momentous excitement, the Pope bas left Rome— when to return, no man can tell. The state of opinion in bi. own capital nay be inferred from what took place immediately after his departure. The residence of the Sardinian minister, who bad just received bis passport, was besieged with visitors. The demonstration ol public feeling was unmistak able. Upwards of 10,000 cards are said to have been lefi at ite Sardinian embassy. The next day, when the minister took lis departure, ihe streets wcie crowded with people all al mg bis Hue of route, which was unuked out by lines of French and Pap.il troops. Not a word was spoken as he passed through tbat avenue of iiiiyuiu't; ; but tiie silence was » hundredfold more ominioiis than the most indignant clamour. The marvellous thing is that tho Pope and bis advisers ciunol see what all tbe rest of the world sees so plainly. Or is it tbat they nciievc a tyraniiic.il government indispensable to the maintenance of spiriuuil influence ? Il is rumoured, at the eleventh hour, that the Pope and Caidiiuil Aiitonelii ire meditating concessions. The y come 100 In t:\ 'I be Stales of ire .Legation are beyond recover) — unles-s it. lie by f( ivigii fore.*, which is now hardly poshiulc. It is confident!} as-crled ihat ihe French

troops will be withdrawn from Rome on tbe 3lst December ; so tbat tbe Holy Father must begin the now year single handed.

Central Itsly has everywhere adopted the arms and the flat? of Sardinia. A deputation from Bologna offering tbe crown to Victor Emmanuel bas been received with due honours; and the reply of the King, encouraging tbe people to seek tbeir independence, promises the sympathy and support of the sovereign, who, nt present, cannot take a more direct course towards the attainment of the object they both desire in common. In consequence of this answer, tbe Pope has directed that the passports of tbe Sardinian ambassador at Rome should be re. turned to bim. All diplomatic ties are thus snapped between Piedmont and Rome, which must hasten the dissolution of the Roman States rather than avert it. In the midst of these hopeful circumstances, a solitary shadow falls upon the Italian cause. In Parma a murder has been committed — the only crime that has stained the annals of the struggle. Its occurrence is deeply to be lamented ; but it was the work of, a fearful impulse of national feeling, wrought upon by great provocation. The Count Anviti, a man who under the late government, had rendered himself odious to the people, was passing through Parma on his way to organise a plot against the exist ing authorities, when he was recognised at tbe railway station, and decapitated in the open street by tbe populace before the military had time to interfere. The example is a terrible admonition to the enemies of freedom in the present temper of the Italians. But it was o'ie of those incidents which are almost inevitable in gre:it revolutions, and wbich conld neither 1 c foreseen or prevented. All was done within a q'larter of an hour — tbe victim dragged from the barracks, where a handful of carbineers bad endeavoured to save bim, and his head cut off, anil put on the top of a statue. When the National Guard arrived on the spot the crowd was di persed. Who was to blame for this ? The infuriated mob wreaking vengeance for many Id iody deeds, on tbe bad man who had made them what they are ? "He contributed," ob serves the Examiner with greater truth," more t an any man to educate the passions in the te nr-est of which he perished."

The incident is ta be depleted, as furnishing* an excuse to tbe enemies of freedom to withhold their sympathy from Italy. -Rut, instead of being regarded as an evidence of the lawlessness of tbe Italians, it only sens to render more conspicuous their general forbearance. Wonderful must be tbe patience and good sense of a people who after so long a term of despotism, feeling themselves released at last have com nitted but one deed of yiolence against tbeir oppressors. And even in this instance law and justice will be vindicated. Tbe Dictator Fari'ti has issued a proclamation tbat reflects the highest honor on the firmness aud wisdom uf tbe government. Several arrests have been made, and tbe murder of Anviti will be fully dealt with as a crime, not merely against order, but against Italy. The people of Parma are nobly seconding the eff>rts of the executive.

The conference at Zurich bas not yet terminated ils desultory labours. The stumbling block has been tbe debt of Lombardy, a certain portion of wbich Austria has hitherto insisted upon saddling Sardinia with, in the face of a firm protest on the p-ut of the latter Power. It is now stated, however, that France has succeeded in bringing Austria to terms, that the tieaty is t) be signed at once (if not signed already), and that a great European Congress is to he held immediately for the settlement of all other debateable matters aiising out of the Italian campaign. We give this statement as it reaches us, but cannot undertake to answer for its authenticity. Tbe contemplate 1 Congress is said to embrace no less than eleven European Powers — Austria, Russia, France, Prussia, Spain. Portugal, Sweeden, Sardinia, Naples, Rome, and Eiighnd, We cannot speak witb certainty of the participation in such a Congress of any power except Eng land ; and tbe conditions of her assent are known. Lord Jobn Itusseil's declaration, that the preliminary condition must be tbe complete recognition of the right of the Italians to choose tbeir own government, is final so far as England is concerned. We have not yet heard that this condition has been conceded ; but we have heard that the French cabinet has been endeavouring to obtain a modification of our views on that vital point. Under all the circumstances, we dv not see how a Congress, in, wbich England can take part, is possible. We confess we are not sanguine as to the result. There are too many conflicting interests engaged to justify us in looking for an agreement upon a basis drawn from tbe policy of tho constitutional minority.

A difference, which can hardly be called a dispute, although it looked rather angry iv the beginning, has arisen between the British and American Governments, as io the right of sovereignty over the Mnall island of San Juan, lying in tbe channel netween the main land aud Vancouver's Island. Both governments are disposed to negotiate the " difficulty" in a friendly spirit, and there is little doubt that it will be peaceahly settled. But a warning comes out of it wbich ought uot to be lost sight of hereafter. Thfi dispute acquires a colour of tustification on both sides from the exceedingly careless manner iv which the founer boundary treaty was drawn up. The ground could nev* r have been surveyed by the commissioners, American or English, oi tbey would have seen tbe necessity of tracing the line wiih more precision. The only excuse that can be offered fur ths negligence of the English commissioners is, that tbey took the cession uf Sau Juan fur granted as contingent upon, and inseparable from, the possession of Vancouver's Island ; and that this wan tbe sense in which we have all along understood tbe treaty is clearly shown by the fact that in all our maps San Juan is land down as English territory. The Social Science Conference has concluded its sittings at Bradford. Tbe surface of inquiry skimmed rather than surveyed iv the numerous papeis read and addiesses delivered in the multifH/'ous chambers of tbis active body, is very Vnst, and the results, if they lead to uo practical action, supply at least ample material for reflection. One of tbe novelties introduced on this occasion was the appearance uf ladies amongst the debaters. This, in itself, may be considered as a step towards social amelioration; bui as English society is at present constituted it is a step in a wrong direction. Tbe strike in tho building trade has become chronic. Three months have elapsed since ibe workmen at Messrs. Trollope's struck, and the masieis resulted to the retaliation of a ge.ieral resistance tv trade combinations Boll) sides have ni.iiutuiiied, without modification, up to the present hour, ihe attitude they assumed at first. Within the last fortnight negotiations were entered into which it was bop d would lead to a .satisfactory issue; but they havo terminated by cl using tne door against all iurihcr pio-iosils. The evil is spieading instead of uar.owing. How far it is a sij^n of weakness

on tbe pirt of tbe operatives, that the number of men coming in to work under the declaration demanded by the masters has gone on increasing gradually, week alter week, cannot be determined yet. We must learn how far the [ industrial disaffection is likely to make head in the provinces, after the last failure of the London negotiations, before we can form any speculations upon the future. FRANCE. THE EMPEROR ON THE TEMPORAL POWER OF THE POPE. ■ Their Imperial Majesties arrived at Bordeaux on the 10th October, when they were received with enthusiasm, tbe wbole city being en f ite. On the following day the Emperor received the authorities, when tbe Cardinal Archbishop addressed his Majesty on the present state of the Pope and the church. He reminded his Majesty of the words ho had formerly pronounced, declaring that the " temporal sovereignty of tbe venerable head of the church was as much bound up with the Mat of Catholi cism as with the liberty and independence of Italy," and t-usted that bis Majesty would remain faithful to tbis Christian policy, and that he would procure a triumph for the Saviour in the person of bis vicar. To this address the Emperor replied by expressing bis hope that a new era of glory would arise for tbe church when every one shared his conviction that the Pope's temporal power was not opposed to the liberty of Italy. His Majesty added ; — The government which was the means of restoring the Holy Father to the Pontifical throne, will only give utterance to such respectful counsels as are dictated by sincere devotedness to the interests of his Holiness ; hut it cannot but be alarmed about the day — wbich is not far distant — wben Rome will be evacuated by our troops; for Europe will not' allow that the occupation of Rome by French troops, which has lasted for 10 years, should be prolonged in.lefinitjly. When our army shall have been withdrawn, what will it leave behind? Anarchy, terror, or peace ? Tbese are questions, the importance of which cannot escape any one. At tbe present time, in order to resolve these questions, it is necessary, instead of appealing to the ardent passions of the people, to search with ca'mness for the truth ; to pray to Providence to enlighten the people as well as the sovereigns upon tlie wise fulfilment of their rights, and tbat the} may well understand their duties

Tbe Paris correspondent of the Times asserts, that tbe increase now going on in the French navy is on a scale and of a nature inexplicable by any supposition except tbis, that the Government contemplates, as not very remote, a struggle with some ere;.t maritime Power ;—

" I am assured that there aie now building, or under orders to be built, in the French dockyards, 20 ships of tbe line, 10 of the verj- largest size, the other 10 of un. inferior calibre. The Magenta, of which the keel has been 1-iid down at Brest, and which will be the largest vessel in the French navy, is one of the former class, nnd is to have a companion ship to be called the Solferino. Tbe hulls of four of these vessels are nearly or quite completed ; others are in various stages of forwardness *, some are not yet ! commenced,* but only panned or ordered; but it is estimated tbut tbe whole ef tbem will assuredly be completed (barring counter orders) with, in 18 months from tbis time. All tbese ships are strictly vaisseaux de combat, fighting ships, steel-plated and provided with iron beaks ur prows Tbe vast establishment of Creuzot (forges, cannon foundries, and great ironworks,) in the department of the Saone et Loire, and that of Giicrigny, in trie department of the Nievre, are hard at woik, executing, I understand (especially the latter) immense orders for the blindage, or steel plates, and other ironwork required for this form'/'.aiile fleet, now in embryo, but which, owing to the rapid operations of modern science, will soon be fit to take tbe sea."

The French forces concentrated on the frontiers of Moroccu amount to about 20,000 men, under the command of General Martimprey, and it is said tbat tbeir operations will not be confined to tbe protection of the frontiers of Algeria, but tbat they will occupy a portion uf tbe teiritoryof Moroccoof which Ouchda is thecentre and from which point the incursions by the Moors have been made. Several frigates of the French Mediterranean squadron have sailed foi the coast of Africa with 6,000 men. These troops will be landed at the port of Nemours, formerly Djemma Gazaoual, situated within seven or eight leagues distant from the frontiers of Morocco, and reinforce expeditionary corps, which is to occupy the district of Ouchda.

Lord Btougbam, though 81 years of age, has undergone an amount of work this week which would have severely taxed tbe energies of a man in mid lie life. His address at the meetin? of the Sjcial Science Association on the llth wa" a marvel of length aud ability ; on the night of the I2ih he took partinlheannhersary proceedings of the Bradford Mechanics' Insti tute ; on the 13th he paid Sheffield a visit and delivered speeches marked by his wonted fire and vigour ; and the same night be was one of tbe speakers at a woiking men's meeting at Bradford.

Assaults at -Ska. — Ou the 12th Captain Jacob Utley, the master of the ship Frederick, of St Joh-s, New Brunswick, and Charles Utley, his brother, mate of the same vessel, were fined — ti.e mate £3 and tbe captain £5— at the Thames Police court, fjr assaulting Henry Lewis, cook and steward, a black man. Tbe mate raised himself by reaching the top of the door, and kicked the mau in the breast, knocked bim down, seized him by tbe bair, and grasped bis throat. Tbe mate said the '* nigger" thiew him down and bit a piece of ilesh the size of a dollar slick out of tbe top of bis belly, and it bled very much. He gave the " blackey" iv return what he could, right and left. He bared bis person, by desire of the magisttate, and there was a mark on the right side of the belly, wbere he had been severely bitten. Tbe com plaiuaut said be bit the mate tv extricate himself and save bis life, and the magistrate said be was n«t surprised at it. The captain, amongst other thit'gs, threw a plate uf bnt ash at the cook, and had repeatedly kicked bim. Mabtial Resolution of the Quekn op Spain. — The Madrid correspondent of the* Morning Advertiser says that on the 6ih inst. the Queen of Spain sent for O'Dunnell to assure him of her regret that her pregnancy prevented her from taking the command of the army which is destined to slay all the Moors in Morocco. Her sex would have been no bar to tbis warlike j resolve — ber condition alone prevented her. j O'Dunnell is reported to have complimented his { Sovereign on ber good intentions, and to hive suggested that the King was detained by no sucit restrictions — tbat il would be desirable for him to join the army attended by the Infant Do.i Sebastian and the Due de Muntpensier as his lieutenants. But the King, thotigu he ac cepts the rank and emolument of a field mar fchal, declined to comply with the suggestion-