The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-09-20 00:00:00

CENTRAL ITALY.

The Tines publishes the following correspondence :-
1, Leinster-terrace, Hyde Part, Sept. 3.
" My Lord,—The sympathy evinced by the English
nation for the Italian cause, and more especially for the
question of Central Italy, has given to the undersigned
the idea of rendering this feeling, for which they have
the most lively gratitude, efficacious by the formation
of a committee at the bead of which should stand a
name of great authority in England.
"And the name which immediately presented itself
to our mind WAS yours.
"We ask for this name, my Lord; and we place our-
selves under your guidance in every respect. Be good
enough, therefore, to undertake the formation of this
committee, in which it is our wish that the English
element should preponderate.
"It is natural that Italians should interest them-
selves for the emancipation of Italy, but it is generous
for Englishmen to show so warm • sympathy; and it
would be of much service to the Italians that this great
nation which has preceded every other in the path of all
liberties, should make it felt in an efficacious manner.
"We trust in you, icy Lied; allow us to keep this
trust.
" We are, my Lord, very respectfully,
"Your most obedient servants,
"O. T. AVESANI.
"U. DEVINCENZL
"L. SERENA.
" B. FABBRICtYrTI. I
"JOHN B. R(XX,A.
"To the Right Hon. the Earl of Shaftesbury."

"St. Giles's.house, Cranbourne, Salisbury, Sept. 12.
" Gentlemen,—The letter which I have received from
you lies conferred on me the greatest honour.
"if I could take the same view as you do of my
position and influence, I should not hesitate even fors
moment to aocept the post that your confidence haa
offered to me. The claims, nay more, the just deinauds
of Italy on the sympathy and 00-operation of English-
men are mach that it seems impossible for any one, be
be great or be he small, to hold back any support
that might be in his power to bestow. Your ease and
our own are very similar; we long and ardently desired
the blessings of civil and religious liberty. To obtain
them we got rid of our obnoxious rulers, clime those who
should succeed them, and establishing a form of Go-
vernment differing as little as possible from that to
which we were habituated; and all this was done with-
out bloodshed, without violence, without rapine, with.
out confusion, or even disturbance of the order of daily
life, and simply by the will of an united people deter-
mined to be free.

"Your course has been the same. But great as was
our conduct, yours ban hitherto been far greater. We
had long enjoyed the form, and oftentimes the exercise
of free institutions; the principle and practice of them
were familiar to us. But liberty came upon you like •
thunderclap, and yet she found you as orderly, peaceable,
ready, as alive to the blessings she gives, and the duties
she imposes as though you had been trained to them
from your very cradles. So intense is the effect that
Limply the love of national freedom can produce on the
understanding, and the hearts of men.
" We were told that you did not care for liberty, and
that you had not courage to assert it. We were told
that you were unlit for self-government, and that
Austrian bayonets were necessary to save your beautiful
land from bloodshed, plunder, and anarchy by your
own people. We were told that your mutual hatreds
and jealousies were such that no one State, no one city
could be in harmony with another. What, in fact,
were we not told to your detriment and dishonour?
Many believed what they heard. I did so, at one time
myself • but who can wonder at it? What precedent
had history afforded of no apparently sudden • fitness for
the exercise of the grestest of human callings—the
exercise of civil and religious freedom? A nation
seemed to be born in a day ; born, atones, in its full
moral stature with all the powers of self-control, with-
out which there never was, and there never will be, any
true or lasting liberty.
" Well, if such things as these will not stir the hearts
of thc whole Anglo-Saxon race, in whatever part of the
world any members may be found, I know not what
will. But, surely, you have no cause to doubt. You
know the sentiments and you have heard the eloquence
of many of our public men. The people, speaking by
the press, show very unmistakeable signs of their
ardent sympathy; nor would they, if appealed to,
pause longer than might be necessary to consider in
what way they could best give effect and expression to
their feelings.
" You have suggested the formation of a committee,
eonsisting of natives of both countries, in which the
'English element should preponderate.' This coin-
mittee would, I conclude, be empowered to receive such
contributions as the people of England might be induced
to give in aid of the efforts made by the people of Cen-
tral Italy to maintain their rights and Wend themselves
against every form of aggression.
' This hue is safe and just, for whatever misgivings
might have been entertained before the late events of
the policy, or hopefulness of struggling for freedom, the
thing has been achieved, and the Emperor of the
French, true, as we hope and believe, to the principles
he has avowed and the issue he has sought, mast, if he
be sincere, rejoice to see the sound and independent
action of the people whom it is his glory to have
liberated. .

"Iwe no objection to the plan. Whatever might be
contributed would be received by the Italians more as
• mark of sympathy than u • material help in the diffl•
culties that surround them. Let, however, the question
of the chairman stand over for the present. It is suost
desirable that one should be appointed who would be
best able to conciliate friends among all classes, and to
disarn opposition. If, after due search, no better man
can be found who is willing to verve you I shall then
be ready, entertaining a Arm belief that it will please
God to bless your endeavours with a happy issue, in
accordance with their beginning.
"I am, Gentlemen,
"Your faithful friend and servant,
"SHAFTkNILTRY.
"Masses.. Avesani, Bocce, and Others."