The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-03 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

TERRIBLE AND FATAL GUNPOWDER
EXPLOSION AT ST. PETERSBURG.

A fearful catastrophe has taken place near St.
Petersburg, which has thrown all the inhabitants
into the greatest alarm. A portion of the great
powder-mill of Ochta, a suburb of St. Petersburg,
has exploded. The noise of the explosion
was terrible, and its effect very disastrous.
About thirty buildings have been destroyed. A
considerable number have been set on fire and about
80 have been injured. Six workmen were killed,
more than 50 wounded, some seriously, and no
trace whatever could be found of three others.
The country around has more or less suffered from
the shock, and all the window panes of the Convent
of Smolnoe, on the other side of the Neva, were
smashed.

THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF ROME
ON THE FRANCO-ITALIAN TREATY.

The National Committee of Rome has issued
the following proclamation to the citizens of Rome
on the subject of the Franco-Italian treaty :

Romans,—Franoe has at length decided on withdrawing
her troops from Rome within two years time. The principle
of non-intervention has won the day in our case also.
The enormities of the court of Rome and the legitimate, as-
pirations of a people, have put an end to that immobility
which left the Roman question without solution. The
King's government has not fettered itself by
any condition which would deprive us Romans
of the right to annex ourselves to the kingdom
of Italy and the King from accepting that annexation.
In stipulating for respect of the froatisn on the part of the
Italian troops, it was desired to leave Rome to the Romans,
who, far from being a monsoon of catholicity, are the
absolute arbiters of their own &nay.
Roman., you have Una your fate in your own bends.
You will be able to exercise that right which is no longer
refused to any people—universal tannic However, remem-
ber that you have still to struggle against clerical tyranny
which cannot be destroyed like soy other tyranny. For a long
time we persuaded ourselves that in order Untainted° the teen-
pond, the Court of Rome had made inroads ea the spiritual,
power. We ought to get rid of this abuse of oocdicting
powers which exclude on soother, and which threaten to
involve the penny in their min. We have the twofold duty of
restoring Rome to the Romans, and of giving the church that
liberty which she now wants. But to succeed we must
be strong, moderate, united, and we will be. Roman,
Europe has her eyes fixed upon us, and all the
reactionary party which has established its head-
quarters in the Rome of the Popes will preen upon as
with its entire force. Let us solemnly presen
ourselves, and give ooessan foe no interfere's:ie. We shall
respect the Bishop of Rome whilst we get rid of the most
ferocious of governments, whose anions may be summed up
in the memacre of people, the taking away of childne,
hospitality afforded to amanns, prisons, and exile.
Romans, lid us be strong and the future will belong to us,
Let as be strong because the sbir►i of all countries will
shortly swarm around the pontifical flog. We ought to
have but one will and one arm to destroy this last refuge of
the reaction—that constant MIMI, to Italy and civilised

Europa Romans, let us prove ourselves to be on a levet
with our destiny. Ws have a great mission—that of pre-
serving the church to the papacy, of restoring Rome to the
Ramos, and accomplishing the great regeneration of Italy.
We will sot fail in oar duty.
Rome, Sept. 21, 1864.

(writes TELZOILLXB.)

M. DROUTN DE LHUYS' DESPATCH ON
THE EVACUATION OF ROME.
PARIS, Ocr. 3.

The following is a summary of the despatch
dated Sept. 12, addressed by M.. Drouyn de Lhuys
to M. de Sartigee on the evacuation of Rome :
" The despatch recills that the French govern-
ment always considered the occupation of Rome as
abnormal and temporary. In 1859 the Pope pro-
posed to fix the end of that year for the evacuation
of the papal territory by the French, but events
prevented this from taking place. In 1860 the
French troops were to have returned at the end of
August, but the agitation which arose again pre-
vented the evacuation from being accomplished." M.
Drouyn de Lhuys then explains the reasons which
made France desire the evacuation of Rome, and
continues :—" The occupation of Rome constitutes
au act of intervention contrary to one of the funda-
mental principles of our public law, and is the more
difficult to justify inasmuch as our object in lending
Piedmont armed support was to free Italy from
foreign intervention. The consequence of this
state of things is to place two distinct sovereign-
ties face to face on the same territory, and
to frequently give rise to serious difficulties.
The equity of things is stronger than the will of
man. Frequent changes have taken place in the
chief command of the French army, and neverthe-
less the same discussions and the same conflicts of
jurisdiction have continually recurred. Other
inconveniences result from different political points
of view. Two governments, not following the
same inspirations, do not proceed on the same
principles, and our conscience obliges us too often
to give advice which too often the court of Rome
believes itself bound to decline. In witnessing
acts at variance with our social condition and the
maxims of our legislation, we escape with diffi-
culty the responsibility of a policy which we cannot
approve."
The despatch continues, " Notwithstanding the
manifest inconvenience which we experienced, we
resolved not to allow ourselves to be diverted from
the mission we had accepted."
M. Drouyn do Lbuys then points out the happy
changes which have taken place in the general con-
dition of the Peninsula. "The Italian govern.
ment," he says, " has succeeded in dissolving the
formidable associations directed against Rome.
It did not confine itself to oppo,sing the or-
ganisation of any regular force against the
Pontifical territory, but impressed its policy to-
wards the Holy See with a tendency more in
harmony with international duties. It ceased to
put forward in the chamber the absolute programme
proclaiming Rome as the capital of Italy, and to
address to us peremptory declarations on that sub-
ject. Other ideas now begin to prevail. Renounc-
ing the pursuit by force of the realisation of a
project we were determined to oppose, and being
unable to retain Turin as the sea of authority, the
presence of which is essential at a more central
point, the cabinet of Turin itself intended
transferring the capital to another city.
This eventuality is of the highest impor-
tance for the Holy See as well as for the
Emperor's government, for it will constitute a new
state of things no longer offering the same dangers."
The despatch says, in conclusion, that France, on
seeing the stipulations for the protection of the
Holy See, might then fix a term for the evacuation
of Rome. The Holy See must also desire to return
to the normal state of an independent government
"We are confident," says the minister, " that it
will do us full justice for the sentiments by which
we are guided."

DENMARK AND BLEf3WIG.
COPENHAGEN, ()el.. 3.

The question of the boundary line between
Sleswig and Jutland is still unsettled. Captain
Schuller, of the Danish service, has arrived here
from Vienna to discuss that point with the Danish
Minister for Sleswig. TM point in dispute is the
small town of Christiansfeld, in Sleswig, which is
claimed by Denmark.