The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-09 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 9, 1848.

Use Cl conduct which has been visited by earth noiver- I
sal and unsparing censure.
It is, however, no breach of thin rale tostate briefly
the reason why we attribute great importance to this
owe, and consider it more momentous than an ordi-
nary parish squabble about shutting a pathway: A
deep conviction has been forced on parties acquainted
with the Scottish Highlands that some proprietors
have of late had reciurse to a rs•her unscrupulous
device for augmenting the rentals of their properties.
The clearings made in that region during the lest
halt century G. accommodate sheep, were attended, in
too many cases, with circumstances sufficiently pain-
could deny that the landlords were

ful, but no one ee.
acting upon their right in point of law. It is, how-
ever, different with the measures now being taken to
confer a new element of value on barren acres and
miles of mnunt.in, by converting them into secluded
hunting grounds fur the great aristocracy of the
empire who are ready to give princely
some for the use of any part of the
surface of this busy island that can be
kept as wild and inacceesible as the distant solitudes
of North America. To accommodate the deer and
their lordly stalkers it has been deemed necessary not
only to depopulate whole straths and glens, but to
keep them sacred from the tread even of passing tra-
vellers. The character of the country enables a very
few large propsittore desirous of exercising this
power to cut off all intercourse between extensive dis-
tricts, to prevent the mountaineers having access to
their nearest neighbours or to the only church within
their reach, and to confine the naturalist and the
artist to the dusty turnpike. The glens are the
oily poses by which communication can be kept
up in the mountain country. The Highlanders
hue been accustomed to use them to this end from
immemorial time, sometimes without adhering to any
direct line of pathway, sometimes forming by con-
tinued use a rude but distinctly traced road. It has been
questioned if, even where there is no beaten track, the
proprietors have any customary (they assuredly have
uo statutory) law of trespass by which they can put
down the old usages of the country. And where there
are distinct beaten roads, as there are in many of the
glens, it is confidently maintained that the public have
the law on their side. So strong is the conviction on
this head, that even well-informed and wary lawyers
have been heard to express an opinion that nothing
could have encouraged the proprietors to undertake
the stopping of theee roads, but their confidence that
the poor people in their neighbourhood would not
dare to prosecute them. Be that as it may, the three
sturdy champions of unimpeded locomotion front
Edinburgh, I'erth, and Aberdeen, having challenged
the great chief of Blair Atholl to maintain his right
in a gentle passage of arms in the court of session, we
are likely soon to know whether, as Sampson says
in " Romeo and Juliet," "the law is on our side"
or not.

ITALY.

NAPLES.—The intelligence from the capital,
which is to the 30th ult., may be gathered from the
following letter of our corres,Jondent
NAPLES, APRIL 30.
A cause of discontent here is that the troops which
should have marched through Rome have been ordered to
take another course—the Pope desires not their visit ; and
again, that the firer, which was said up to the last moment
to have left for Ancona or Venice, has been ordered to land
troops at Pescara, a Neapolitan port, and there wait further
orders. It is asserted that Lord Napier has presented a note
to the government, in which they are informed that no
armed force will be permitted I. enter the Adriatic, that is,
I presume, beyond the territorial limits of Naples.
As regards the elections for the province of Naples. abso-
lute majorities have not been secured except in the case of
tines individuals. Of the remainder, many are connected
with the ministry—as Sci.loje, Conforti, Ghent, and Ferrati.
Saliceti, the violent political leader, stands low on the list.
It will now be necessary, according to the law, to obtain
absolute majorities—how, except by se-election, I cannot
explain.
Within the last two days some important decrees have
been issued, one "to 'upend the prohibition of the expor-
tation of corn ;" but this advantage will in some measure be
counterbalanced by the increased rate of marine insurance
(at least for the present), which is raised from 3 to 5 per
cent.
The offisial journal of the '29th ult. has a decree to this
giro, that in consequence of so very few of the candidates
in the electoral colleges having obtained the absolute majo-
rity required by the 10th article of the electoral law, and the
consequent necessity of proceeding to a new scrutiny, and
in consequence of too necessary loss of time ineur:ed thereby,
the opening of the legislative chamber is deferred until
May 15. The same journal declares as false a report spread
through the city that ministers were about to resign.
The same journal says, with respect to the departure of
the troops and fleet, these are to disembark in Ancona ; in
ease the papal government should °poem it, they will lend
at Pescara and Giulia Nova, continuing their way thence
by land to Bologna, as have done other battalions. In the
meantime, a cabinet messenger was rent on Thursday night
to remove the difficulties regarding the disembarkation at
Ancona. As regards the departure of the Beet, I am told
that it is known that a note has been presented from Eng
land, protesting against intervention, or at least recom-
mending the contrary line of conduct, and hinting at some
future line of policy by which Charles Albert would with-
draw from Lombardy, and the Austrians also, England and
France combining to enforce such policy. As to lording at'
Ancona, and sending a cabinet message ta the Pope, his &-
termination to remain neutral is known, and has been
known some time. The people thus feel themselves deceived.
Lest night there was another demonstration before the
palace, and the:Largo di S. Francisco, di Paoli, and of S. Fer-
dinando were filled with troops till near midnight. Cries of
" Treason," " Down with the press, ►nd up with the re-
public," were beard everywhere.
As regards Sicily, letters are in town this rooming which
report the citadel of Messina to be well provided with cannon
and ammunition, and the townspeople to be deficient in the
latter, so as to be obliged to husband their resources. Un-
toss provided with money from some quarter or other, the
S,cilians must fall The report is, that so far from there be-
ing union, different flags are hoisted in different parts of the
country, and the King's party gain ground.

A letter from Stettin of the 2nd of May says : " A
very serious attempt was made by the populace yes-
terday evening to create an 'made and pillage the
houses ; but the firmness and activity of the civic
geard averted the calamity. The agitators set up
loud cries in the streets, and could not be dispersed
without the soldiers using their bayonets."
FRANKFORT.—The Frankfort committee of fifty
have voted a resolution, urging the Germanic Confe-
deration to keep the promises made to the Poles, and
declaring that the Poles shall be allowed still to pass
through Germany on their return to their native
land. The Germanic Diet has referred to a special
committee the motion of Prussia, that the Germanic
Confederation in general shall seize Danish vebsels as
a reprisal for the Prussian ships captured or detained
by Denmark.
AUSTRIA.—From Prague, under date May 2,
we learn that on the Ist public tranquillity was very
seriously disturbed. The tumults were directed chiefly
against the Jews' quarter, which was barricaded
against the national guards. Several persons were
wounded, and 30 taken into custody. The strictest
investigations had beast set on foot, and all assem-
blages of the populace were strictly forbidden.