The long-expected fleet has not yet arrived at Naples. The
Western Powers are still granting a respite to King Ferdinand, and speculation is busier than ever as to the sincerity of the French Government. The Austrian Gazette publishes a strange paper, which has been received in this country as an oracle. It implies that, England obstinately insisting on a demonstration to coerce the King of Naples, the Emperor Napoleon consented to join in the demonstration, for the purpose of modifying its ac- tion and checking any insurrectionary consequences. His share in the expedition, says the Austrian Gazette, is conservative ; and people who cannot read between the lines speak of this as a revelation. It is perhaps rather a hint that such is the position which France ought to accept.
Other Powers are said to be sending a contingent to the naval muster in the Bay of Naples ; and if that were true, some of them would be acting in the sense ascribed to France. Among the Governments that have been named are—Piedmont, quite unconfirmed ; Austria, not improbable ; Russia, as an ally of King Bomba, the Lazzaroni, and Mazzini ; and last and least, Spain. The idea would seem to be, a naval conference more ex- tensive than that of Paris. Should it be so, perhaps a short way to settle these European questions would, be for the English plenipotentiaries in that conference to open a naval debate, and in the iron voice of British naval eloquence to move that the Absolutist force be requested to retire,—a motion which would probably be carried.
