The Express.
London, England, 1847-05-12 00:00:00

pneaution in their power, but to his mind separate
' coniameent which was carried out in that prison might
have great Intimate on lOM's minds. He would ask the
governor (Capt. (irons) what, in his opinion, wet the effect
of separate confinement on prieonen ?—Capt. Groves said, if
be uuderstood that question to be put to him on oath, and
by the judge of • public court, he should be bound to an-
swer it.—The corneae observed that he considered it a fair
question to be put. The jury had to devils on the cause of
death, and they would like to hear if that system affected
the prisoners. Capt. Groves said, Then I will answer it. I
think that separate confinement for long periods is injurious
to the mind and health. The governor also expressed a hope
that if a report appeared, the circumstances under which his
answer had been given would be stated. Toe ewer thought
it was a question which could be legally pat,Tnd that no
, one would complain of it.—A verdict of Temporary Insa-
nity" wsereturned.

'IRE DUCHIES OF PARKA &
Sta,—ln the Express of Saturday, the let of
May, my attention has beep directed to your correspondent's
letter ham Milan, eastaining some very interesting details
ogna
nlt.cysi and after referring to the deplorable state of &-
to which the inhabitants of Parma and Plaisance
are reduced, under the actual form of government, allusion
is made •' to the ex-Emprose Maria Louisa's wish to dispose
of these duchies at the present moment to the Duke of
Lucca fora million of ducats, provided any good Samaritan
or Israelite in London will advance the money to purchase
her out, in consequence of these possessions reverting to the
Duke of Lutes by the lest treaty of Vienna.
The irepouibility of obtaining aeons to enlightened works
on historical or political subjects in all parts of the Austrian
&minions, sufficiently explains any inaccuracy into which
your correspondent may have been led, fur this clause ol
reservation does not exist in the treaty. signed at Vienna. I
am therefore desirous to state that, neither by the life grant
of these posstaions with °email's, to the Duchess of Parma,
or in virtue of any treat* duripg my minority, in 1616 at
Vienna, or 1817 at Paris, could such a result be tolerated, in
' accordance with my hereditary rights u • sovereign prince,
and the laws of nations; and I feel convinced that men just
and satisfactory compensations might be awarded to the
Duke of Lucca, without prejudice to his interests or encroach-
ment upon prior olefins. It will suffice to observe that
:luastalla was purchased of Torelti in the year 1539, by
Prince Ferrante Gomm" eon of our ancestor, in direct line
John Fnneoli Geaeega, Duke of Mantel, and Indult;
d'Este ; and this possession was erected into a sovereign
duchy in 1621, by the Emperor of Germany, Ferdinand 11.,
in favour of Ferrante H. of Geezer; and his descendants.
Guastalla was incorporated by Austria, without the shadow
of a right, with the duchies of Parma and Plaisance, during
the minority of my grandfather Prince Philippe Louis de
Gonzaga, only six yea of age, on the death of Gonzage,
Duke of Guastalla, in 1746.
My protestations against this act are addressed to the so-
vereigns of Europe on the 26th April, 1843, the 21st of June,
1846, and a,so an important article on this subject may be
referred to in the Gazette de France, of Feb. 3, 1842. With
regard to the duchies of Parma and Plaisance, various revo-
lutions have taken place in these states. The
Otho 111., by a diploma dated at Home, the 11th true:,
996, confirmed Bernard 1., Prinoe of Gump, in his rights,
as Count Sovereign of Parma for him and his deseendamm.
Prince Henry of Gonzaga (son of Addbert 1., of °omega,
by the grace of God Count Sovereign of Milan, of Twine,
and of Valli* Prince of Lombardy, and Marquis of Goa-
saga) married in 1071 Imelda of Parma, great pais&
daughter of Bernard 1., Count of Parma. On this marriage
the Emperor Henry of IV., of Germany, erected Parma into
a Marquise; by diploma dated the 24th of June, 107.5, in
favour of the above-mentioned Henry of floorage, and his
descendants in &lithe branches of the family. The Marquisat
of Parma belonged to the house of Gump until the
revolution in Italy during the 14th century, when Parma
became a republic. In 1545 the Holy See being in tranquil
possession of this state, the Pope, Paul 111., formerly known
as Alexander di Famine, disposed of it in favour of his rela-
tion, Peter Louis Famine, first Duke of Parma, Pleasures,
and Castro, who, being unpopular, was assassinated on the
10th September, 1647, and (Um; some opposition on the
part of the Emperor Charles V. who had announced his
resolution to Ferrante di Clonasiga, Duke of Guastalla, in
1548, to favour the restoration of the Gonzages) his am,
Octavio Faruese, was confirmed in the nuns rights and titles
on his marriage with Marpret d'Antriela a natural
daughter of the Emperor's. Parma end its
were assured to the house of Faradae nearly twos centuries,
until the death of Antonio Famine, the last Duke of Parma,
on the 20th February, 1731.
The treaty of the Quadruple Alliance, art. sth, says,
" The duchies of Parma, Plabeis, and Tuscany, are held
as masculine Itch of the empire." When the succomeinn of
these suites shall be open (what' they scald only be on the
death of the Duke Gomm; of Genital/a, and the Princes of
GonsagnCestiglioae authentically acknowledged as rightful
heirs by the treaties) they will be given to the eldest son of
Elizabeth Funks second wife of Philip V. of Spain.
Art. 3rd of the dasty of Vienna (18th Much, 1781) says,
" The emperor accords the succession of Parma to Don
Carlos, Infanta of Spain, and promises to dispose the other
states of the empire to assent to this arrangement, en modi-
fies that no prince beanog the aroma of Spain should possess
these states.' Bat the Pope Clement AI I. not only for-
mally opposed this treaty, but also the entry of the
Spaniards iota these duchies; declaring that Parma and
Plaisance were fiefs Immediately emanating from the
Holy Su, and that in default of the above-meutioned male
heirs ha alone had the right to dispose of these duchies.
'ffse Pope's pretattation against the right of investiture is
dated the 30th of Hozember, 1731. The prise de possession
in the terns of the Infanta of Spain wee on the 29th of Oc-
tober, 1731. Don Carlos and his brother Philippe, Infanta,
of Spain, abdicated successively the Duchies of Parma and
Plaisance for the crowns of Spain and Naples, consequently
our rights to these possessions as male fiefs are proved, and
by succession in the female line established by the following
marriages : 1. Margaret Farah., daughter of Alexander
Duke of Parma and Plaisance, married in 1581 Vincent
Gonzap, Duke of Mantua. 2. Marcella di Malaspina,
grawidaughter'ot Francis Farneze, Duke of Later., married
an 161.1 Prince Christian Gonzaga Castiglione Solferino, my
ancestor in direct line. 3. Isabella di Martinangn, grand-
daughter of Ramos 1., Farces. Duke of Parma and
Plenums, married, in 1647, Prince Charles V., Gauss&
Prince of Cutiglioae, &Bovine, and Medole, my great-
great.great-gnudtather. 4. The Princess CUtteria Cara-
cuolo St. Buono, grand-daughter of Lavinia Famine and
the Marquis d'Avales, married, in 1721, Prince Francois
Gonsapallaatua-Ceatiglione, my great•great-grandfatber.
In presence of thou facts, it will be perceived that the
treaties which bind all interests, and which are the political
code of nations, have been forgotten on my minority is
1816, and during the minorities of my father and grand-
father ; or retarded whenever the princes of this royal house
reclaimed that justice so solemnly promised, to reinstate
them in thaw sovereign rights.
Guastilla, Parma, and Plaisance, during the last century,
belonged to no person definitely ; at one time the emperor
pretends to dispose of them to Spain, and Spain dispose,' of
them to the emperor. And in virtue of what right do these
princes act ? The treaties do not mention this • on the con-
trary, they established as a principle that there exist princes
of the house of 0 nz.agra, of Mentos, and Castiglione, who
have incontestable rights to these sovereignties. The order
of succession, says Montesquieu, is ordained in monarchies for
the good of the state, which demands that this order should
be fixed to avoid the misfortunes which arise from
despotism, where all is uncertain, because all is arbitrary.
In Italy the fatal policy of Louis XI V. still bears its traits.
Lawful sovereigns have been hurled from their thrones, and
pncue in their minority supplanted, to pave the way for
his ambitious views, and their places filled by strangers to
the land; foe it is a remarkable fact, that with the exception
of our well-beloved Pops Pins IX. and the King of Sardinia,
no prince of Italian origin is on any throne in Italy. The
actual sovereigns of Tuscany, Modena, Parma, and even
Austria, are all princesoldie house of Lorraine. '
Accept, air,
the wigwams of my high conaideration.—ALSX•NDßE,
PRINCI DE CIONTLOI, AKTUA-CASTIOLIOXI, Doc Dx