The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-18 00:00:00

THE FOREIGN LEGION.

HELIGOLAND, Avovet 14.

The government have decided to establish an ex-
tensive military hospital on this island. The neces-
sary buildings have already been secured, and now
offers for tenders of hospital supplies are publicly
invited to be sent in to the Commissariat department
by the 22nd inst. The stores mentioned in the ad-
vertisement include ale, porter, brandy, port wine,
black tea, sugar, arrowroot, sego, lentils, salt, milk,
and black pepper. The contract to extend over a
period of six months, commencing on the lit of
October. Every article must be of the best quality
end undergo an examination by a commission pre-
vious to being accepted.
Orders have been received here by the Comman-
dant of the Foreign Legion, as soon as 300 men are
again assembled, to hold them in readiness for imme-
diate shipment to England. There were at this
morning's roll-call 174, and the number will soon be
eemplete, as recruits pour in every day, in spite of
the exertions of the German and Danish govern-
ments to prevent it. Yesterday, for instance, a He-
ligoland fishing smack arrived with fourteen fine
young men, and in the afternoon a small steamer
brought nineteen more.
lam happy to be able to add that not a single
complaint has yet been made by either the inhabi-
tants or bathing guests as to the conduct of the men,
Iwhich is above all praise, and reflects the greatest
credit both on the officers and the men themselves
for the discipline observed. The latter are well-
behaved, quiet, sober, cleanly, and, above all, most
zealous in their endeavours to learn the exercise and
acquire a thorough knowledge of their duties.
Amongst the newly-appointed officers are Lieute-
nants Schmidt (formerly in the Brazilian and Schles-
wig-Holstein service, and latterly in the let Regi-
ment of Prussian Infantry of the Line), and Messrs.
Lange and Von Barchard. These three gentlemen
arrived here to-day by the steamer from Hamburg,
and proceed to London en route to Malta, where they
expect to overtake and join their corps. The Nassau
first lieutenant, who was arrested at Hamburg last
week on board the steamer and detained there, as I
mentioned in my last letter, has been set at liberty,
and has alsoarrived here for the purpose of joining
the legion • but it does not appear that he obtained,
any redress or indemnification at the hands of the
Hamburg authorities for his illegal detention.
There appears to be no lack of officers for the corps
and the service seems to be very popular amongst
this class of gentlemen in the north of Germany.
There are at this moment upwards of fifty. officers
who have tendered their services and sent in their
papers and certificates to head quarters, and who are
now waiting for their commissions.

THE LOSS OF THE

(110 •

WISBY (ISLAND OF OOTRLAND), Avo. 9.
I regret to have to report that the English steam
transport Cottingbam (No. 121), Captain Moore, re-
turning from the fleet to England with 111 invalids
and 12 other passengers on board, ran ashore Int,
evening, during a thick fog, on a reef of rocks off 'I
Fahl.Udd, to the south-east of this island, and im-
mediately filled with water. Fortunately the wea-1
ther was calm, and though considerable excitement
prevailed on board, the whole of the passengers and'
crew were landed in safety, owing to the judicious
arrangements made by the captain, who was himself
the last to leave the vessel. Several of the passengers
proceed to-day by the steamer to Calmar and Lubeck,
en route for England, whilst the rest, together with
the whole of the invalids, remain for the present here.
Arrangements have been made for proper care being
taken for every comfort and attention towards the
shipwrecked invalids. There is but little chance
of saving the unfortunate vessel. and if it should
come on to blow, she must infallibly go to pieces, and
hesesse a complete weak.

ITALY.

(PROW 011 0171 OWN 001

NAPLES, Acrousr 8.
From all that is known of the reputation of the
Xing of Naples for sanctity it might not unreason-
ably be imagined that priests would here be exempt
from the ills to which other flesh is heir to. So is it
tree to a certain extent. Priests are inviolable
within the range of their ecclesiastical functions—
they have a most inordinate social influence—the
power of the police is in their hands, and never
did despot on a larger scale exercise greater tyranny
than does the priest in his more limited circle. But
this influence is enjoyed on one essential condition—
it must be in abeyance to government. It must not
only support thisgs as they are, through thick and
thin, proclaiming the divine right of kings, but
must condescend to any acts whatsoever that
may be dictated to it, even to the betrayal
of confession, which may be deemed necessary
to the maintenance of the powers that be. Onse let
a priest be suspected of being a malcontent, and away
rith him. In such matters this government exercises
a high degree of independence, in spite of its vicinity
to thereat spiritual head.
An instance in point I recently communicated. The
priest who was appointed to officiate at the funeral of
the ex-Deputy de Cesare,being suspected of liberalism,
was arrested, and sent to a monastery in Cast*,
where men of his cloth are not unfrequently sent for
punishment, and where they are as badly off as is
a dungeon.
Another case yet more recent strongly mark. the
difference between this government and that of Rome
is the treatment of ecclesiastice. A certain Padre
Felice had been appointed Vicar General of a monas-
tery in Naples. His intolerant conduot and
his peculation. awakened the indignation of
the other monks, who in 1848 raised their
voices against him. The reaction, however, taking
place very shortly nothing was done, and the sups.
riot vowed vengeance. The case came before the
Pope when he was in Naples, who refused to punish
an scclesisatical authority, and ordered four of the

malcontents to be sent to their houses with allow-
ance from the revenues of the monastery. Last year
the order for their exile was rescinded, but only one
returned; and, as he continued, together with others
of the monks, to scrutinise the conduct of the supe-
rior, a ready and common method of getting rid of
them was adopted. They were accused of a conspi-
racy against the government, and were seized seve-
rally by a commissary of police on the nights of the
27th, 28th, and 29th ult. The very suspicion of inch
a crime is fatal ; and so doubtful is now the position
of government that it fights with shadows, listens to
every breath of denunciation, and encourages that
distrust and insincerity which have destroyed all in-
dividual or social faith in this kingdom. So much
for ecclesiastics!

One anecdote, now, of the judicial power, which is
here dependent for its existence on the pleasure of the
King, which is, therefore, sold to the powers that be,
but which enjoys in return a certain license : it is t►e
cue of one of the columns of order, of religion, and of
the throne, of a man by whose decision, together
wit► that of others, Carlo Poerio was sacrifice d—of
one who was, therefore, decorated with the Cross of
Francis I. A merchant called Criomo had trusted
the son of this judge to the amount of 700 duc. He
sent to the court requesting payment of the judge,
who promised it for the following morning. At the
appointed hour, however, an inspector of police made
his appearance, and presented 90 due in cash, and a
cheque for 10 due, which was described as in com-
plement of the full amount. The merchant expressed
his astonishment at this robbery of 600 duc., but he
was threatened with imprisonment, and gave a re-
ceipt. This was a ease where the man thirst not
appeal; it would have brought certain ruin to him—
so many are the modes which power has in this un-
happy kingdom of oppressing the people.
The sensation has not yet died away which was
occasioned by the conduct of the police after De Ce-
sare's funeral, nor have the arrests as yet been termi-
nated. I hear of them in batches. Foreigners arc
regarded with great suspicion, and I am told the
English especially, though, as far as my experience
goes, they have met with singular courtesy. Indeed,
however we may be disliked, our respect for law, and
our habit of obedience, are too well known, I should
say, to awaken any serious disquietude.
A quarantine of fifteen days has been imposed on 1
all vessels coming from Malta, the lonian Islands, and
the Levant. The reason assigned is that the plague his
broken out in Albania. By telegraphic advice., too,
the cholera exists in the south of Sicily. It is at least
curious that every year some epidemic is sure to
break out, which imposes on this government the
painful necessity of putting on a quarantine.
A council of state, summoned for Saturday, August
4, had been suddenly called together on Friday, the
3rd, in Ischia.
The following incident was recently made the sub-
ject of a despatch by Mr. Owen, the American minis-
ter at Naples, to the Minister for Foreign Affairs :
Three American ladies, Mrs. Kyle and her two
daughters, accompanied by a guide, not long since
paid a visit to the heights of Camaldoli. As being
ladies, they were of course compelled to wait outside
the monastery, and whilst wandering about that de-
lightful spot, four hungry-looking robbers, in the
shape of Neapolitan soldiers, darted out upon them.
One seized the bridle of Mrs. Kyle's donkey,
whilst another drew his sword, and threatened
to kill her if she did not give up her
purse, adding that he and his comrades were dying
with hunger, and must eat. The guide interposed,
but this only called down fresh oaths, and the flesh
expression of a determination to have their money or
their lives. The men were informed that the ladies
had only two piastres about them, which they con-
sented to take, and the soldier reluctantly put up his
sword. How the matter has terminated I do not
know. It seems that the men had deserted, and that
they had lain concealed for three days.
Amongst the latest arrests is that of a member of
the princely house of Atri, plunging the whole family
into mourning and consternation. This gentleman
married, some time since, Miss Obriscoff, a Russian
lady, well known in Naples; and her Russian friends,
a. well as the Russian authorities, are being applied
to to interfere. Why or wherefore the arrest has
been made is unknown.