The Express.
London, England, 1864-09-24 00:00:00

[Stamped, ld. Additional.]

ITALY.

(IZOK On OWN 0311WSPONDINT.)
TURIN, Sur. 20.
_ .

Those are indeed anxious momenta for Italy, and
every one is busy with conjectures as to impending
oontingencies, for every Italian patriot feels that
his country 13 on the eve of a great and serious
crisis. Before beginning to undertake the difficult
task of a chronicler, allow me to make a declara-
tion which will show at once the line I propose to
follow in my letters. Such is the feeling of exas-
peration that the startling news brought here by
iD rquis Pepoli of the convention signed at Paris,
and the transfer of the Italian capital from Turin
to Florence, have awakened, that it would
be unfair were a ndent to give his
opinion about the • cult subject which
resinir nowl the theme of all conversation, both in
this city and in the whole of the Italian peninsula.
To register facts and opinions seriously checked
and honestly stated, without comments, will be my
task, cautiously avoiding all exaggerations, no
matter from which quarter they come, no matter
which party they may serve. This important ques-
tion thus settled, I begin the work of au im-
partial chronicler.
You are already aware that a convention has
been signed between the Italian and French govern-
ments for the regulation of the delicate question of
the French occupation in the Papal dominions.
Although the text of the convention has not as yet
been published, yet I am in a position to send you
a summary of it, which runs as follows :
Art. I. The government of the Emperor undertakes to
withdraw its troops from the territory of the Holy Bee
within the period of two years.
Art. 2. On its side, the governineest of his Majesty the
King of Italy undertakes to respect the integrity of the
present dominion of the Pope, and binds itself neither to
invade nor allow any armed force to attack the need Papal
dominions.

Art. 3. The Italian government will be ready to eater into
negotiations with the government of the Holy See, in order
to ogres upon that portion of the debt which attaches to the
provinces once belonging to the Papal government and now
poeseeeed by the King of Italy.
Article 4. The Papal government will have the right of
orpinieing ea army of foreign troops, whose number, how-
ever, will net be each as to menace the security of the
neighbouring Italian kingdom.

This I think to be, if not the exact wording, yet
the exact spirit of the convention which has already
been ratified by the two oontracting parties, and
which will be communicated to parliament the first
day of its meeting, about the 16th of next October.
A few weeks wili therefore show to Europe
bow the convention will be received by the diffe-
rent sections of the Italian parliament. The
gravity, however, of such a question can easily be
inferred if we consider the agitation it has already
created in the country. Every one, no matter
to which party he belongs, asks whether Signor
Minglietti will be able to defend the convention,
and succeed in convincing the two Chambers
that it is a good one.
The question at issue is, therefore, a two-fold
question. By stipulating the withdrawal of his 1
troops within two years, and by the obligation
accepted by the Italian government of not inter-
fering in the Papal States, has the Emperor im-
plied, with the assent of the Italian government, that
Italy must give up the idea of making Rome her
capital 1 Without the important decision of trans-
ferring the Italian capital to Florence—say the
Italians—such an interpretation could be, if not
easily, yet to &certain extent, refuted. But coupling
the spirit of the convention with the transfer
of the capital, it is evident that, at least in
the mind of Napoleon 111., the Italians must
dismiss all idea of going to Rome even
in a distant future. Italy, they say, has
been betrayed ; the solemn decision of the Italian
parliament—the proclamation of Rome as the
future capital of the kingdom—is set at nought by
the Emperor, and willingly given up by the present
ministers of the Italian crown. Except the per-
sonal friends of the ministers, such is the reasoning
of every man at least here in Turin. To them the
idea that the transfer of the capital from Turin to
Florence has been imposed by the Emperor, is a
matter of certainty. Jaega set aka, they exclaim, we
have been sold to France. It may be an unfair, nay
an unjust opinion, but such is the course public
feeling has taken. The Gazettes del Papule, a
Turineseconaervative paper, directed by a Pied mon-
tese deputy belonging to the moderate party, has
been the first to denounce the present administra-
tion. The Diritto--the most influential organ of
the Left—has followed the lead, and the same has
been done by the Dieeteseione. Of course the clerical
papers are, if possible, more violent against the
convention and the transfer of the capital. A
pamphlet just published by a writer who sesames
the name of Franco Fiorentino, winds up
a tremenduous philippic against the ministry
with the following words—" They wish us to
accustom ourselves to do without Rome and for
ever. This we will not and must not do.
We must remain at Turin, as if we were encamped,
and here we will wait patiently the hour for march-
ing to Venice and to Rome, according to events.
If we cannot establish ourselves at Rome we must
remain &traria. Thedilemma is clear and stringent.
Complete unity or a permanent state of war and of
menace." These few lines will give you an idea of
the exasperation of the Turinese publications. This
pamphlet, which bean the title of "Rome or Turin,"
is to be followed by another already announced
under the title of " The Ministry and the Capital at
Florence," which, I hear, will not be less violent
than the first quoted. The ministerial press strive
hard to throw oil upon the raging waters, but
neither the Opinionnor the Stamps is likely to
succeed. All depends upon the impression this
news is likely to produce in the other parts of
Italy. I hear that Naples, Palermo, Milan,
and Bologna are satisfied, but I do not
know whether they will persist in their
rejoicing, foe political parties will undoubtedly
work them up according to their feelings and their
interests. What is certain is, that Turin is in a
state of exasperation more easily imagined than
described. The town council of this large city is
going to meet to-morrow, and I hear that the
municipal authorities—Marquis Rosh, their worthy
mayor, at their head—are quite mad with rage.
These few facts will show you more than sny words
the real state of Turin. At the first rumour of the
transfer of the capital Count Sclopis, the illustrious
president of the Senate tendered his resig-
nation, which, I hear, is going to be followed by
that of Signor Caeainis, the President of the
Chamber of Deputies. Commendatore Miaghetti
is now working very hard to persuade three Pied-
monts,. deputies, General Pettiti, Signors Sella,
and Lanza, to accept a place in the administration
he presides over. I doubt very much, however,
whether he will succeed in bringing about such a
combination. General Lamarmora, it is stated, has
also refused to enter into the present
cabinet because a condition he had made for his
acceptance has been refused by the Emperor. The
illustrious general had bravely asked Napoleon 111.
to give a pledge for hie good intentions by allow-
ing Italian troops to enter the two papal towns of 1
Velletri and Frosinone. A great anti-ministerial
demonstration is announced for this evening. Poet
time allowing, I will faithfully relate to you the
progress of this anticipated movement.

fixrr. 21.
The agitation is on the increase. It is generally
reported that the officers of the Turinese National
Guard are going to resign their commissions, if
they have not already done so. The town council
is now assembled, and I bear that the agitation bas
attained the highest pitch of exasperation in the
Town-halL The demonstration I announeed yes-

tetday did actually take place in the evening,
bat lam happy to say it did not lead to any serious