The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-05 00:00:00

ITALY.

or rue nkILY XIIWO
NAPLEB, hisses 28.
gouvernement de Naples," says Thisrs,
march. par soi-mdme." Without principle or prin.
eiples to guide it, it moves along as expediency or
Mr may direct; sometimes hesitatingly, pentium
dieggedly, as either influence may be the "strongest,
Hen" like the child who, trying its first step,
toddles from the nurse's arms to the chair, its move.
meats are always vacillating and uncertain, sad one
is only astonished that it does not fall before it
reaches the goal. Thus, we have seen within timing
few weeks the greatest embalmment atteud its steps
as regards the Western question. Unwilling to taU
any decided position; desirous of compromising be.
tween its fears and inclinations, the government of
Naples settles down at last in neutrality. It is, how,
ever, merely putting off the evil day, for no one tea
imagine that the neutrality can be maintained, sad
when her grain and her oxen are wanted for the
supply of the East, Naples must to a certain extent
yield the ground she has taken. Meanwhile, what
is her position? As regards Italy she is a nullity.
As regards the great powers, though she may hap
deprived them of the right of interference, she his
deprived herself of all claims to either their respect ar
affection. Bo much for her external relations. _ _

Vaoll T=ll

To the internal condition of the kingdom I bare
alluded once or twice recently, and though I have
every disposition to allow for circumstances which
are the growth of centuries, still there is no real pro-
gress in what can dignify a nation, and the whole
political and social state appears to me to be rotten.
Perhaps one of the worst features of the public mind
is the utter apathy or despair which seems to have
taken possession of it. "We are dead, sir, we ere
dead," said an intelligent man to me the other day
"there is no hope for no—we shall never rise male
The individual thus gave expression to the feeling
the many; and the feeling has grown rapidly wts
the last two years; and I am astonished to find that
those who then defended the actual state of thiege
are new amongst the foremost to denounce its rot.
tonnes.. How, indeed, can it be otherwise!
His Majesty abandons his capital, and to.
tires to Caserta, from whose solitude he seldom
emerges, except to carry a torch behind a
saint, or to adore the blood of San. Genus*,
or to review his troops. His Majesty is of cause
perfectly justified in obeying the impulses of his pro-
found devotion, and in securing an interest with the
saints in Paradise; but there are many who think
that it would be no less a duty to show himself to his
people, to labour at gaining and deserving their deo•
tions; to correct the abuses which make this plus
the very sink of iniquity ; and to relieve and liberate
the hundreds of victims of those abuses who are now
pining in prison. To turn to the Ministers; they
are laughed at and condemned by all parties u
and something more—men of nothings
whom the royal breath alone has called into being,
and the suspension of which would consign them to
utter forgetfulness. As regards all departments of
the public service, whether civil or military, the most
shameless peculation exists. The lucri form an im-
portant item in calculating the value of any public
office. From the chief down to the lowest
subaltern, throughout all their various grades,
lucre is the great object sought atter ; and
by satisfying the desire for it there is nothing
which may not be purchased in Naples. You may
buy a false witness for a few carlini, as we have seen
in the political trials, and, though discovered, the vil-
lain will escape scot free. You may make the better
cause appear the worse, or vice versa, by a few pre-
sents judiciously administered. As an employe, you
may be charged with gross delinquencies ; bat, if you
have a friend of influence, and will cross his palm,
you are safe. If you arrive in Naples and understand
the way to set about it, you may pass through the
Customhouse any amount of goods. " What a pity it
is," said some of the authorities to my friend who had
jest paid an enormous sum for duty, "it might have
been arranged to our advantage and to that of the
signore." at if the unfortunate traveller brings
with him two or three unimportant books, what
vigilance, what zeal for the public service is its.
played!
As some slight change to the lamentations which I
have been pouring out, 1 am glad to confirm the re-
port which I sent you some time since that Poetic
better treated. Greater lenity is shown to him,
he hes better food, and is permitted to have books
and writing materials. Is the cup of vengeance fall,
or is there any tear of what may be the consequence'
of a continued persecution of the former friend
royalty P These are not the times when the armies
and fleets of the greatest nations of earth are abroad,
to eased the grand principles of justice, to indulge is
vindictive persecutions. More stress has been held
on the name of Poerio than of others for the supffior
position of the victim, but let it not be supposed that
he is the only one, or that the system which con-
signed him to a dungeon has ceased to exist. po the
contrary, many, many there are who pies in exile
and prison, or who are exposed to the continual pone-
cutions of a lynx-eyed police.
Sicily is still, I believe, without a viceroy, Ceaftl•
cleats being too ill to leave at present. The gamma,
I understand, is to be changed, as also many of the
civil employee, and the Ist and 4th Swiss will thin
have to shift their quarters. Such arrangement'
betoken a disposition to introduce a perfectly new
system, or a fear of the influence of old attachment'
to Filanzieri. He was a great favourite, and de-
served to be so.
His Majesty, ins recent council of state, approvid
of the establishment of an "anonymous society" VA
Naples, for the discount of commercial effects, under
the title of " Board of Discount." The plan was
presented by M. Louis Mayer.
I think I mentioned that the two unfortunate de.
hullers, Davidson and Gordon, after hanging abeat
Naples a long time, and being followed everywhece
by policemen, were sent off some days since to Miter
by order of Sir W. Temple, en route to Enjlindr
under the direction of two sheriff's officers. In
the
confusion of landing they mingled with the pump'
gets and escaped to Gizmo, bat were speedily arrested.
and are, perhaps, now in England.
Exchange on London, 636. Five per Cents., 104.