The Express.
London, England, 1865-01-06 00:00:00

ITALY.

(MI ODD OWIF 001UOMPOWDIST.)
TURIN, Jae. 2.
What an eventful period for Italy the year which
LOS just ended. The interference of Frame in
almost al the internal questions of the State,
showing Italians bow dearly nations niustay 'for
the assistance of a powerful ally ; di oniatio
humiliation imposed by a'friendly power inn e East,
*here the Italian ambassador is abruptly refused a
seat in • oonference in which he bad the right of
assisting ; another not less disagreeable humilia-
tion awaiting an Italian extraordinary ambassador
to London when Minghetti's cabinet came to the
unwise determination of interfering in the Isis-
understanding existing at the time of the Polsh
question between Prince and England, forgetting
the well-known principle that the weak is not
always • welcome adviser to the strong; a humi-
liating condition imposed upon this country
by France in the IA Galas' ease ; and, Ludy,
the well-known Franco-Italian Convention of the
15th September, by which Italy was compelled to
resognicie, nay, to defend the temporal power of the
Papacy—that power which is foremost amongst
the enemies of the revival of Italian independence.
All this has been accomplished withing the narrow
period of twelve months. No less trying has been
the condition of domestic, affairs ; for the priestly
and Bourbonist parties, becoming bolder than ever,
have been ernistantly engaged in new conspiracies
against the liberal institutions of the country, either
by means of a clandestine press, or the St. Peter's
pence, or, worse than all, by encouraging recruiting
and paying brigandege in the Southern provinces
of the State ; the finances of the isountry have been
squandered away by a numberless host of
minor officials, or badly managed by im-
practicable finance ministers, who thought that to
put in practice theoretic principles which ex-
perience had already condemned was all that
wan needed to swell the national exchequer ;
then the almost violent overthrow of the previous
cabinet, and the formation of La Marmora's admi-
nistration, which still rules the country. This, I
think, is a fair summary of the most prominent
events during 1864. But as everything in this
world has its bright aide, I hasten to add that
the discussion in both houses of parliament on the
convention of the 15th Sept. revealed a fact almost
unknown in the annals of a nation which dates its
political redemption from no longer • period than
five years. That discussion showed to Europe
that, in spite of her external and internal difficul-
ties, Italy has a right to be considered • nation
whose political wisdom and ability will secure for
'her a first rank amongst the great powers. In the
dearth of statesmen under which this country
labours another revelation was made by those
memorable debates—the revelation of • man
only known before as one of the most eminent
I generals of the country. The eloquent speech de-
livered by Cialdini in the Senate convinced the
Italians that were days of danger to come they
can reckon upon this hitherto untried statesman.
Nor was this all, for when • rigid Minister of
Finance came into power, and had the courage to
tell the truth, and to prove to Italy that without
the greatest sacrifices it was impossible to accomplish
her national redemption, parliament and nation
eagerly answered, and showed that patriotic devo-
tion was equal to every effort.
Yesterday the King received the grand bodies of
the State, together with the officers of the large
garrison of this city. The reception-rooms of the
court were densely crowded from au early hour of
the morning, so crowded, in fact, that nobody
remembers a more brilliant reception.
T:10 greatest anxiety prevailed yesterday amongst
the liberals of Turin as to the manner in which his
Majesty would be received at the Royal Theatre.
All gloomy forebodings were, however, dispelled as
soon as Victor Emmanuel entered the royal box.
The Duchess of Genoa, Prince Carignan, and the
second son of his Majesty, the Prince of Aosta, en-
tered with the Italian sovereign, accompanied by
all the minister., the diguitaries of the state
and the officers of the royal household.
The theatre was densely crowded, not a box was
empty. All the Turineee ladies were there, pa-
rading their freshness and beauty, and if truth must
be told their elegant toilettes. The diplomatic
body was au grand compkt, the wives and daughters
of the foreign ministers being among them. As
soon as his Majesty made his appearance the
audience rose, and a tremendous cheer saluted the
royal party. It was not repeated three times, as is
generally the habit, but it was cordial, nay, really
enthusiastic. The reception Victor Emmanuel met
with is all the more significant inasmuch as the
house wan crowded by spectators who were chiefly
Tnrinese, and therefore not at all satisfied with the
convention which has dispossessed their native city
of the sceptre of supremacy it has held for many
years. On the King leaving the royal box the
cheers were not, it is true, so numerous, and there
are even persons who assert that hisses were
heard. The first incident, however, has no signifi-
cation, for Victor Emmanuel left the box abruptly ;
and as for the second, if trite, it can only have been
an isolated fact. On the whole, however, the re-
caption his Majesty met with last evening may be
said to have been not only respectful and cordial,
but marked with an unmistakable character of
affection.

RI/Wile/SION IN LITHUANIA. The official
Walla Gazette says:—" The establishment of Russian
colonies io those parts of Lithuania, Samogitia, and White
Ruthenia, whose former Polish inhabitants have been
basished to Siberia or the interior of Russia for having
taken part in the insurrection, has already begun. Thus,
173 Russian families have recently settled on confiscated
rands in the vicinity of the towns of IJszpole. Onikaht, and
Andronikaht, in Sionagitia, and 24 families of dismissed
Russian soldiers in the village of Simiojasatici, in the
government of Mobile', all of whose inhabitants have
been coiled to Siberia. In order to provide for the spiri-
tual wants of these sew settlers, who belong to the Greek
catholic religion, three churches have been ordered to be
built by Governor-General Monomial!, who bail appro-
priated 24,130 silver roubles from the confiscation fund for
that purpose?'

THE Lose or HMI Muserr'a Bair RACEHORSE..
—The following account of the logs of her Majesty's ship
Racehorse is from the North China Daily Neatv:—" We
venni to have to report the total loss of her Britannic Ma-
jesty's despatch-boat Racehorse, which occurred in the
evening of the 4th November, in the bay of Lang-man,
about twelve miles to the seat of Chefs°. At eight o'clock
on the above evening, the weather being st the time ex-
tremely thick and hazy, it was thought that the vessel was
entering Chefoo harbour, to which Lung-man bay bean a
great resemblance. Similar accidents hays occurred on
previous occasions, ea, for instance, in the case of the
British barque Homer, which was totally wrecked there
during last winter, and the steamer Steno., which, under
exactly similar circumstances, was indebted to a mars
accident for preset ration from destruction. As soon as the
Racehorse went ashore, the masts were cot away and
every attempt made to lighten her and get her off.
Them efforts were, however, unsuccessful, as a gale, which
bed been threatening for some time before, set is with Wr-
eak violence, and prevented the men from either working
at the ship or launching the boats. Nothing remained,
then, for the crew to do but to fasten themselves down as
beet they could. Enormous men continued to sweep ewer
the deck, so that next morning, out of a total strength of
one hundred and sight °Soon sad Mel only nine survivon
were found, the rest having perished of cold and exhaus-
tion, or banes been swept off the desks. The servings
are the commander, the paymaster, boatswain, sad Nis
sailors, who saved themselves by taking to the lest remain-
leg beat, and drifting about for thirty-en Inure, when they
were picked up by a jsnk. Os the steruiag that dm;
wreck her Majearty's gunboat Leant. iniedi by •
French denial& -nee4 (liaised far • oes time in
the neighbourhood, but did not succeed in picking up toy
[ others at the wow."