The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-18 00:00:00

ROME, Luc 6.
We are in the utmost calm. The churches (this
being Epiphany) are as usual crowded, and there is
not the slightest symptom of the country being in the
abnormal condition attendant on great political con-
vulsions. This orderly and composed state of public
feeling is a deathblow to those who speculated on a
violent and sanguinary reaction.
The hopes of others who looked forward to a ra-
tional arrangement conducive to a reconciliation be-
tween the Pontiff and his diocesans are sorely blighted
by the conduct adopted in many parts of Europe,
where it has been thought advisable to render all
mutual approximation impossible by irritating to
madness the national and personal character of the
Roman people. Torrents of devout Billingsgate have
flowed from episcopal pens, the only result of which
has been to aggravate the complaints of the laity in
this metropolis and in the provinces against the form
of government to which they have been subject for
ages, and which is the only hour when they could
give utterance to their own political views, they have
sought to modify and place within due bounds of con-
stitutional control.

The most odd delusion prevalent beyond the Alps
is, that this territory is under the fictitious or factitious
management of a few rebels. There never was a
more gross imposition on the stupidity of foreign
countries than such an assertion. The few discon-
tents at the present state of public affairs breathe not
a faint syllable of dissent. There is not a civic fire-
lock in the 100,000 national guards from Terracina
to Ferrara, and from Civita Vecchia to Ancona, that
would not fire a shot to support the Coastituent As-
sembly, whatever be its decision.
Then comes the question what will be the upshot
of universal suffrage ? Is there a chance that by a
vigorous combination of rural pastors and lay friends
of the Pope throughout the country districts, if not a
majority, at least a powerful party of the representa-
tives may be secured to the sustentation of his claims ?
Would to God that I could hold out to others, or my-
self indulge in such a hope ! His friends have neither
organisation, nor courage, nor sense: and as to the
Roman princes who fluttered in the sunshine of
fashionable idleness, the Borghesee, Dories, Rospig-
liosis, Massimi, and a long list of mediocrities, they
had neither the education nor the habits nor the taste
of statesmanship.

MADRID, JAN. 10.
General Pavia's amendment to the address in the
senate, condemning the course pursued by the govern-
ment in conducting the war in Catidania, has pro-
duced the only notable debate which has hitherto
taken place in the present legislative sessaion. Pavia
might have damaged the government more, if his case had
been conducted with more address. But his speech, con-
sisting of scraps of despatches, was cold and ineffective,
while tke sudden betrayal to the public of official documents,
without giving his old employers and present adversaries any
warning, has laid him open to the charge of unfair dsaling.
Nay/ate answered without temper or dignity, and began by
calling the speech of Pavia anarchical and revolutionary.
He went on calling names, and said that he should leave the
Minister of War to deal with the arguments. Mirafbres
bettayed much poorness of spirit in not calling the dictator
to order for his vulgar and uoparliamentary intemperance of
languace. The President of the Senate sat as tame as a
mouse while the military despot disgraced the assembly with
his virulent personalities, and administered a fierce lecture
to himself for permitting official documents to be read.
Pavia refused to withdraw his amendment. Only two votes
joined him; but that of General O'Donnell had at least
some weight. The other was of Caamano Pardo, one of the
oldest senators. Even Baron de Meer, who has been Pavia's
patron no lass than model, voted against him. Pavia's sys-
tem of warfare was no doubt defective in ticetodve dsperstoat
of the troops. Someiimes he le/ as iew as four soldiers to
guard a village ; and his scanty detachments had generally
to shut themselves up in their forts, while the Carlists levied
their contributions and rifled the government funds at ple t-
sure. H • persecuted the liberals of the towns with little
Ices cruelty than the Carlini*, so that he was cordially de-
tested by both. And now he has engaged in a single-handed
quarrel with the goy, rnment, whatever biases he may get no
side will have the least pity on him.

THE ROYAL MAIL STEAMER GREATWESTERN LEFT
801:11AWPTON yesterday with the West India mails. She
took out nearly 100 passengers, amongst them were Mr.
Darkly, the governor of British Odiana, and several persons
bound lot San Francisco, rid Panama. Amongst the cargo
was a number of large bundles of pickaxes and shovels, des-
tined for California. It was noticed that the personal bag-
gage of the passengers or Chagres WAS of extraordinary
weight, and was supposed to contain instruments used in the
extraction of the precious metal in the gold regions. Through
some mitundentandieg, Reverel friends of the passengers,
who were on board to see them off, were carried off in the
Great Western, and will be obliged to return with the pilot,
who leaves the steamer in the English channel.