The Express.
London, England, 1847-09-17 00:00:00

headship of the cabinet, and the portfolio of foreign
affairs, still continued unappropriated, and seemed
likely to remain so until the arrival of the Doke of
Victoria, unless some coup de main should be mean-
while ventured on by Narvaez, who still continued in
the capital, keeping all the engines of intrigue at
work. The Duke de Friu had arrived on the 9th,
and was to have had an audience at the palace on the
nest day, but no intimation was given that the presi-
dency, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would be
accepted by him. Nothing can exceed the viru-
lence with which Mr. Bulwer is assailed by the
moderado press, the journals of which affect
to believe, and desire to persuade the public,
that the recent ministerial change, and con-
sequent measures, are the result of a base
intrigue concocted in the hotel of the British em-
bassy, and directed by the British minister, whose
real object, it is alleged, is to place the Count de
Montemolin on the throne. A long article on this
theme, expressed in language of the most frenetic
violence, appeared in the Faro on the 10th. On the
lather hand, the journals of the progresistas are not
less rabid in their diatribes against the Afrancesados
—the creatures of Christina—the agents of the French
embassy, and the hired promoters of the designs of
Louis Philippe. A furious article on this subject
appeared in the Eco del Comercio of the 10th, headed
" Pretensions of the Freach cabinet," and commencing
—" Catastrophe ! Eventualities! The throne va-
cant! Behold the dreams of the slaves of Louis Phi-
lippe, to place on the Spanish throne one of the
sons of that monarch!" In short, both parties
are lashed into such a transport of rage, that it is not
without the greatest difficulty that a dispassionate
and distant inquirer can collect the truth from the
comparison of their most discordant reports.
The moderados and French party affirm that there
is a strong dissension among the members of the
existing torso of a ministry ; that MM. Goyena, Cor-
dova, and Roe de Olano, lean to moderadoism, while
MM. Salsmanca and De la Escosura give their voices
for progresistaism. The late minister, Pastor Diaz,
is named rector of the University of Madrid.
El Correo contradicts, in the most positive manner,
the statement which our correspondent gave on Wed-
nesday, on what he considered good authority, that
the Duke of Glackstierg had protested, in the name
of the French government, against the amnesty. That
journal affirms that the French ambassador never
made any such protest, either verbally or in writing.
General Concha had arrived at Valencia, en route
for Catalonia.
Narvaez is charged with intriguing still to get into
the cabinet, and to have induced MM. Cordova and
Roe de Olano to favour his views. El Clamor
Public° says that these ministers were to have pro-
posed him, and, in case of his being rejected by their
colleagues, to offer their own resignations ; that mean-
while two active emissaries were employed to conquer
all repugnancy towards him in the palace, by offering
the most humble protestations on his part. After
these preliminary steps the duke asked a second au-
dience of her Majesty, but was refused. Everything,
in short, depended on the speedy arrival of Espartero.

The intelligence which for the last few days we have
given respecting the popular movements in the Italian
peninsula will doubtless have prepared the public for
events of even more serious importance in that coun-
try. In truth, an effervescence prevails from the
Alps to the southernmost points of Calabria and
Sicily. The effects vary according to the relative
sentiments and strength of the people and their
rulers. Where the governments, whether by policy
ass by sentiment, have thrown themselves upon the
current and float with it, all is exultation and ovation.
The churches resound with Te Deums. The clergy
bless the popular banners and consecrate the guns.
The sovereigns cast off the Austrian cockade of
their families and assume,: the tricolor of Italy.
The soldiers fraternise with the people, and
females and children mingle in the triumph, clad
in white robes, and decorated with ribbons of the na-
tional colours. Where the government is powerful
and despotic, the troops and police assail the people,
blood flows, and the movement is subdued for the
present ; but the fire smoulders under the ashes, and
will infallibly break out again. Where the people
are strong and enthusiastic, and scattered over distant
parts difficult of access, the struggle is more equal,
and the country is the scene of general and permanent
insurrection. The Tuscan, Roman, and Sardinian
states afford examples of the first; the Milanese of the
second; and the Neapolitan of the last.
The following is a summary of the intelligence re-
ceived in Paris by the Italian mails on Tuesday.
At Milan the events are thus related:
After the rejoicings which took place on Sunday, Sept. 5,
on the occasion of the entrance of Monsignor the
new archbishop, the population wished to renew both the
festivities tad illuminations on the Bth Sept. A grand illumi-
nation had beets prepared on the Piazza Fontana, under the
archbishop's windows. The new pastor was saluted in the
early part of the evening by repeated acclamations. About
ten o'clock, some young men began to shout " Viva Pio
1 X !" and sang the "Hymn of the Pope," which has been
prohibited by the Austrian police. Excited by a commis-
sary, called Count Balza, not over popular at Milan, the
police guards fell, in the most brutal manner, upon the
singers, striking them on all sides with the fiat of their
sabres. The crowd, incensed at such conduct, fell upon the
police, and great confusion ensued. The guards withdrew
into the court of the archbishop's palace, and this prelate,
having exhorted the people to remain quiet, all further die-
turNance ceased.
On the 9th, the police, informed that the people intended
to amemble in the evening on the Piqua Fontana, and that
a kind of plot had been formed to be revenged on the gen-
darmerie. by attacking them wherever they should be met,
fearing the scenes of the eve should be renewed, thought it
necessary to place the maintenance of public order in the
hands of the military authorities; in consequence of which
Milan has been occupied by the soldiery. Numerous detach-
ments of infantry and cavalry have been posted in the prin-
cipal squares. Several arrests have taken place, and the
citizens have been ill-treated by the troops in several parts
of the town. At the departure of the courier, the population,
highly incensed, could with difficulty refrain from open re-
volt, and the most serious disturbances were dreaded for the
ensuing days.
We have before us the Naples Journal of the 6th,
givinij its version of the affairs of Messina and
Reggio; bat when it is remembered that this paper
is nothing but the mouthpiece of the government, it
will be evident that no credit can be given to its re-
port. The article, besides, is written in the worst
spirit, and demonstrates how little ground there is
for the sanguine hopes entertained by those who give
ear to reports representing the King of the Sicilies as
approving the measures of Pius IX. It is greatly to
be feared that no measures of reform will be adopted
in the Neapolitan section of the peninsula, except
such as may be extorted by force.
The following letter from Palermo of the 6th is
worthy of more credit than the statements of the
Neapolitan government organ :
On the Ist, the officers of the garrison at Messina gave a
dinner in honour of Colonel Busmen, who had just been
promoted to the rank of general of brigade. At this moment
the plot broke out: the insurgents intended to make pri-
soners of all the officers who were at the dinner, but, by a
fortuitous circumstance, they were delayed, and when they
presented themselves to surprise the officers, all of them had
departed. They only found General Sesame, who had just
sot into his carnage. They fired several shots at him,which
inflicted serious wounds in the neck and shoulder, and they
mortally wounded his servant. The carriage of the general
was pursued to the fort; but the troops taking arms, repulsed
the assailants, who received several discharges of grape shot.
The attack was conducted with great resolution. The fight
was kept up from six in the evening until nine, at which
moment the authorities had the upper hand. There were, it
was stated, 40 persons killed, among whom were eight or
ten soldiers. Numerous arrests took place. During the
r'nzeitte a monk traversed the streets waving a flag, which
some declare was tricolour, others red and green, and on
which wan remarked a yellow cress, sprinkled with stare.
The people fought to the cries of " Liberty for ever !" " The
Constitution for ever !" " Long live Pius IX. !" Tne
combat recommenced on the 2nd; but this time, the troops
being on their guard, the insurgents could not maintain
their ground long, and they sought refuge in the country,
end on the hills in the environs of Messina. It was rumoured
at Palermo that disturbances had also taken place at Canna
and Syracuse, and that the telegraphic line was interrupted
between Sicily and Naples. It may have been interrupted
at aft.: Rio, a town situated almost opposite Mesaina, where,
as we base already stated, an insurrection had broken out.
At Reggio there was only one officer quartered, who was
killed, as well as eighteen men, forming the garrison, which
explains the success of the insurgents. The flag of the in-
' surrection, black, red, and green, floated for twenty-four
hours over the town. It only disappeared when the steamers
arriving from Naples with 2,000 men, as reinforcements,
were perceived by the insurgents, who then retired to the
mountains. On the 6th, Palermo was still calm, but the
authorities took greet precautions. The troops were on foot
all the night of the 4th, and spread themselves through the
teen. All the gunpowdi r was withdrawn from the gun-
midis, and the police effected arrests each day. No vessel
coming from the coasts of Calabria, Messina, Syracuse, and
Catena, was admitted without previous examination. The
authorities had even thought, it is said, of calling out the
national guard. There was much discontent among the
people, and of distrust among the rich. Money was with-
drawn from the bank, and on the 3rd, the day on which the
first imellisence from Messina was received, 116,000 dumb'
' (about 000,000 t) wire re demanded. At the time of the de-
parture of the courier, it was rumoured at Palermo that an