The Express.
London, England, 1865-02-28 00:00:00

ITALY.

(FROM OUR Owl

FLOKIENCP., Fn. 2L
The King's presence here is felt by all parties as
a kindly and pleasurable influence. His easy off-
hand manners and "bourgeoise" habits endear
him to the democratic population of Florence
every day more and more. Since his arrival here
he has extended his hospitalities to nearly all circles
of society, receiving people at dinner, and giving
them continually a cordial welcome and good cheer.
He has attended the theatres, and he has made a
run on several occasions through the " Corso "
whilst the parade of carriages was at its height,
dropping in and out from amongst the gay throng,
driving in a small open carriage of his own without
ceremony or state. He seems to love simplicity as
he loves honepty and valour. His dislike of giving
trouble is very marked. A curious illustration of
this happened just before his departure for " San
Roesore," a hunting lodge, situated at about six
miles from Pima, whither he was bound on a shoot-
ing excursion. Having fixed the hour for his depar-
ture from Florence as early as 4 o'clock a.m.,
he was seen by his aides and suite, when they
joined him, at the Pitti Palace a few minutes before
the appointed hour, pacing up and down in front of
the palace, and quietly awaiting their arrival,
whilst smoking a cigar. " Gentlemen," said his
Majesty, " I hope you will not object to accompany
me on foot to the station, as I have thought it use-
less to rouse up my household at this unwonted
hour. For the same reason I have no breakfast to
offer you, though, doubtless, we may get a little
coffee at one of the neighbouring caf6s.4 To this the
party cheerfully acceded, and entered a small refresh-
ment house hard by,where, having called for break-
fast, the drowsy waiter was preparing reluctantly to
attend on them, and was growlingly expressing his
disgust at being so early roused on a raw cold day,
when suddenly, in placing the cups upon the table,
he raised his eyes and beheld the King's face.
There, indeed, sat the royal personage, just beneath
his own portrait ; one of the many pictures which
decorate every shop corner, and nearly every Caf6
throughout the realm, in token of the national
loyalty towards the King. Now there was no mis-
taking the likeness. The astonishment of the
waiter may be imagined. He was about to offer
his humble excites, when the King said good-
naturedly, " Never mind, my fine fellow ; give us
some hot coffee quickly." The coffee was soon
ready, and quaffed as rapidly by the royal
guest and company, whilst a gold piece, and
the honour of having waited on the King, made
up the sum of the waiter's surprise and delight.
It was at San P.ossore, near Pisa, it will be
remembered, that the King received the address
which the municipal authorities of Turin presented
to his Majesty. The King on that occasion uttered
a few kindly words on behalf of his native city ;
he had been deeply hurt at the riotous proceedings
of the Turinese, and had felt especially sore on the
subject of the insults offered to his guests on the
memorable night of the Court ball. People here are
somewhat in a better humour concerning public
matters since the French Emperor's speech.
They see Rome as it were in a less indefi-
nite perspective. The notion that the French
troops are positively to leave the city free
within a short space seems absolutely to relieve
their mind of an incubus which had too long
weighed it down. " And who knows," say they,
" what may turn up next 1" This hazy indefinite
hope seems to exercise a sort of inebriating influence
cn the imagination of the Italians.
Within these few days a good project has been
set afloat for the purpose of providing the means
of deolns sheltfr. it a moderate rate to plms Tower
Class of the inhitaiits of Florence. An associa-
tion is beine formed to provide for the building
of this new quarter, and to furnish the capital
foe the work. The municipal authorities of Florence
are to make free grant of the ground, besides offering
other advantages, and are to guarantee 5 per cent. to
the society on the outlay. This measure, if promptly
carried out, will afford immense satisfaction to the
multitude. Houses at a moderate rate are greatly
needed for persons of low means, and much discon-
tent had been aroused by the fact that no measures
had been taken to provide for the comfort of the
poorer class, at a moment when house rent was
raised preposterously throughout nearly the whole
town. _ _

The project for the enlargement and rebuilding
of the Florence market cannot be carried out for
the next six months, until the new quarter is in
readiness to receive the large class of petty trades-
folks, and that nameless variety of the Florentine
population whose local habitation is at, near, or
about the market-place,which is the resort of a non-
descript minium gathentra of people who must
be lodged "somewhere," if turned out of their pre-
sent abodes.
The King's ball has just come off? and has
been a most brilliant fife. The invitations, which
have been most courteously tendered to all
" foreigners " present in the city who have made a
demand for them at the consular agency of the
country to which they belong, or their banker, have
not been, however, so extensively distributed this
time as on former occasions, amongst the Italians
themselves. The " deputies " of the commercial
aristocracy, as represented by the "Casino Bor-
ghese," have alone been invited ; whilst on former
occasions, when the King was in Florence as a
chance visitor, the whole Bourgeois "Casino' were
invited to the ball. Notwithstanding this limita-
tion the number of guests exceeded 3,000. The
King made his appearance about half-past 9, in
his simple black coat, with the collar of the order
of the Sentissima Annunziata round Ins throat.
All the ladies of the leading aristocracy were pre-
sent at the ball in full dress. The scene was moat
brilliant and animated. The King appeared in
excellent spirits, and every one seemed at home.

BELGIUM AND THE MEXICAN FOREIGN

LEGION.

A discussion has just taken place in the Chamber
of Representatives of Belgium upon the subject of
the enrolment of soldiers in the Mexican Foreign
Legion. A minor had been surreptitiously enlisted
into the corps, and carried off againat his will to
Mexico. His father petitioned the house in order to
obtain the young man's liberation. The question,
though limited at first, soon became general,
and one of the speakers who took part in the
discussion maintained that the government, in
authorising the recruitment in Belgium of troops
for Mexico, bad committed an act of intervention.
The government replied that it did not regret
having given its authorisation, and that it afforded
an excellent means for forming experienced soldiers
for the country itself. This argument produced, it
is said, a very slight effect upon the house ; a
i radical member replied by a protest against all
attempts, direct or indirect, on the part of the
government to engage Belgium in foreign expedi-
tions. The debate terminated by the petition being
referred to the Minister of War.

DESPATCH OF THE BOMBAY MAIM &VTR-
Airrron, 27.—The Panellise end Orient Company's
steamer Nyasa', Omstain Weeks. sign been to-day at
2 p.m., with the mule for Gilwaltar. the Ifniterrsinui,
etteb:iitdes, and Bombay, together with 3.1 first and 33 eri.
pamengars. and a freight of 290 hens of specie
Ire Bombay. value 97.9001., of which amount is bar gold
12,5001. ; silver. 78,800/. gold coin, 5,5006 ; gold and
silver thread, watches, to., 1,1001.
The rapidity aad certainty with which Dr. do
rough's Ught-Brown Colima OU will restore strewth to the mad
feeble are Sins deervibed=ork= Clarke. E.q.„
LLB.. Is testifying to its effiato In his own ewe :
After the rode oil, sad all other remedies that I could think
of bad WSW. I trisd, merely so • last resort, Dr. de Jonah's
Ught..Browo Oa !rewired lossediate relief : and ha use was
the Name of ray restoration to health."J
Sold only Is eapsultd
WOLK ea dd., es. sod by De. tie onah's sesta, Amer,
Raeford, and Co., 77, Strand, London, and oheroste.— I Adler-
' glesoiest)