While we have been settling our Government for good or for evil, the war has continued to pursue its course of uninterrupted success of the Allies, and unless something almost miraculous should occur, the Austrian dominion in Italy may be considered as at an end. The sentiments of people here are of a very mixed and almost contradictory character, for they are on the whole anti-Austrian, anti-French, and though more indulgent than they deserve to the Sardinians, not favourable to them. The most earnest and general desire is that we should keep out of the _mêlée_, and any termination of the war would be hailed with gladness, because we should thereby be relieved from our apprehensions of being involved in it. We should not be sorry to see the Austrians driven out of Italy for good and all, though most people would regret that the Emperor Louis Napoleon should be triumphant, and that such a course of perfidy, falsehood, and selfish ambition should be crowned with success. The Austrians deserve their fate, for nothing can exceed the folly of their conduct, first in rushing into the war, and thereby playing the whole game of their adversaries, and secondly in placing in command men evidently incapable, and who have committed nothing but blunders since the first day of the campaign. Footnote 1: [Lord Palmerston's second Administration consisted of the following members:-- First Lord of the Treasury Viscount Palmerston Lord Chancellor Lord Campbell Lord President Earl Granville Lord Privy Seal Duke of Argyll Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Gladstone Home Secretary Sir George C. Lewis Foreign Secretary Lord John Russell Colonial Secretary Duke of Newcastle War Secretary Mr. Sidney Herbert Indian Secretary Sir Charles Wood Duchy of Lancaster Sir George Grey Postmaster-General Earl of Elgin Admiralty Duke of Somerset Board of Trade Mr. Milner Gibson Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland Earl of Carlisle Irish Secretary Mr. Cardwell This Administration lasted until the death of Lord Palmerston on October 18, 1865.]