The Express.
London, England, 1852-02-02 00:00:00

ITALY.

ROME, JAN. 24.
The distant rumour of possible hostilities between
England and France has found its way here, and
occupies the attention of the Hornung as well as the
French army, the officers of which talk over the
deseente en Anyleferre whilst sipping their coffee,
and stretch their legs in listless regret at being con-
demned to form the stationary support of Pio Nono's
throne, instead of figuring in the van of the glorious
army destined to achieve the second Norman con-
quest. If the alarm produced by the bare idea of
such a catastrophe should have the salutary effect of
improving our defences and ameliorating the arming
of our troops it will not have been useless. For my
own part, I can fully corroborate the remarks which
have appeared in your columns with respect to the
effectual service rendered to Oudinot's army whilst
besieging Rome by the lung range of the combines
de lineennes, and as that circumstance was particu-
larly dwelt upon at the time, it is surprising that the
British government should have consented to remain
behindhand in that respect for nearly three years
after the experience of warfare had demonstrated the
destructive superiority of the weapon.
In Ancona the guillotine is in preparation, so that
the inhabitants apprehend that they will soon have
to witness some sanguinary work. I understand
young Murray's sentence is pronounced. He is ac-
cused of having been connected with the band of
political assassins whose crimes disgraced Ancona,
and other cities in that neighbourhood, about the
time of I'io Nono's flight to Gaeta. His relatives
deny the whole charge, and wish the British consul,
Mr. Moore, to place his case before the Pope for his
sovereign clemency. Signors Slorici, Giannini, and
Lesti, are still in strict confinement, and their trials,
in common with other political prisoners, appear
eternal. All the moderate party in La Marca (the
former partisans of the Pope) are now alienated
from the government. For poor Calandrelli, the
triumvir, the only benefit to be procured would be
permission to spend us much of his own money Rabe
pleases, for at present he is only allowed to spend
five baiocchi (twopence-halfpenny) a day • he is not
chained, nor dressed in the degrading gaol garments,
and is in the same cell with a doctor.

Mr. Shepherd has just entered into a contract
with the municipality of Rome for illuminating the
city with gas.
NAPLES, JAN. 21.
It is said that General Filangieri will be ap-
pointed President of the Council, and take the su-
preme direction of affairs.

THE OUTRAGE UPON AN ENGLISHMAN
IN TUSCANY.

FLORENCE, AN. 24.
On Saturday last Mr. Erskine Mather was suffi-
ciently recovered from the effects of the wound he received
on the 29th ultimo to leave the hospital, and it is now hoped
that in a few days his health will be perfectly re-established.
lle is, however, still its a weak state, as you may imagine ;
it having been deemed necessary that he atrial be three
times blod in the arm, and once in the hand, besides the ap
plicatiun of thirty leeches to the forehead, to subdue the
fever and inflammation which ensued. The promised in-
vestigation into the circumstances of the assault proceeds as
1 anticipated. It is regarded as a solemn farce, to be played
by the legal functionaries here, fur the satisfaction of the
English government, with as grave a face as possible. The
delegato, or police magistrate of the district, has employed
three weeks in taking, a ith closed doors, the depositions of
witnesses, beginning first with those of the Austri-
ans. During this interval intimidation has been em-
: Mr. Mother's in
witnesses bniue eases,
fr ns coming
success, to d
or fcriutz
speaking out; and before the whole of the latter could be
examined, the case hes been suddenly removed—why we
yet know not—to one of the civil courts of the Uffizi. The
Austrians give out that the result is certain to be in favour
I of the officer who committed the outrage, and that Mr.
Mather and his brother are both to be sent out of the
Ouuntry. Should such be the end of the affair, it will only
. prove that a great oversight has been committed by our
legation here in not taking upon itself the initiative of the
investigation. It was at first understood that Mr. *Arlen
had himself taken the depositions on oath of eye witnesses
to the assault ; and it is (Train, at least, that the propriety
of this step was pointed out to him, but I learn with regret
that the advice was not followed, and Lord Granville is
therefore left without any means of rebutting the kind of
evidence that may be expect( d iu a case got up in secret,
under Austrian induct:Le.