The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-28 00:00:00

ITALY.

The Op,,Atone of Turin of the 23rd states that a
few days vilore a revolutionary placard was found
stuck up at tunes, inciting the people to rebel against
the Piedo.‘.ntese government. It produced no ex-
citement, tve that of ridicule. The author has not
yet been d.scovered. •

DESPERAIE STATE OF THE PAPAL
TREASURY.
ROME, Die. 20.
Loud complaints against the ministers and their
operations have characterised the first sittings of the
newly-reamiernbled financial council of state, nor
will any strength of expression or energy of debate
surprise us in future on its part, if we reflect that the
Pope himself gave it an example of dissatisfaction
only a few days ago, by showing himself moved even
to tears whilst recapitulating in his speech to the
councillors the disastrous condition of the state
finances. What remedy can be proposed for the evil
of an annually increaaing deficit remains to be seen,
as also whence the money is to come for this year's
deficit, amounting to 2,700,000 scudi, about a quarter
of the net revenue of the state. There are but three
methods, and all are impracticable, especially
the last :—to contract a new loan, to impose fresh
taxes, or to lay hands upon some portion of the eccle-
inpatient property.
The government has ceased for three months
making its payments 'martially is silver, and the em•
h19.1s are again entirely- paid in paper. The mint,
owever, is hard at work, providing a sufficient
amount of silver to cover the dividends which will
fall due on the Paris loan at the end of the year,
and to substitute for the 100 scudi notes which are
to be withdrawn from circulation at the same period.
These notes are at a considerable premium, in conse-
quence of their being now considered almost equiva-
lent to silver. The em: ion of notes of the value of
outfaced° each (41. 2d.) not by the government, but
by the Roman bank, has been objected to by the
directors of that establishment, as adculated to bring
their paper into discredit.
Amongst other propositions which have been
submitted to the Pope by the ministerial league,
which now directs every operation in the
state, is that of forming a monopoly of colo-
nial prod we. similar to that of salt and tobacco,
which has been farmed to Prince Torlonia for the
last twi lie years. If this plan is adopted, the mono-
poliste 'Ali engage to pay the government an annual
sum amounting to 1,200,000 wadi over and above
what is now derived from the duty on colonial pro-
duce, on condition of being allowed to fix the prices
of sugar and coffee at much higher rates than those
current at present. It is doubtful whether a scheme
so directly opposed to the modern demonstrations of
sane political economy and commercial prosperity
will obtain the sovereign approbation, especially as
the Nlinieter of Conimerce, Jacobini, is directly
opposed to it, and th_ iiimnion of the financial Con-
sults can hardly he' mire favourable.
A fresh loan with Rothschild is also spoken of,
but as that capitalist would require the salt and
tobacco moropoly to be made over to him as security
or the expiration et Torionia's contract in 1 01,
which monopoly the ministerial league is desirous of
getting into its own hauds ea soon as possible, it will ,
be difficult to come to terms satisfactory to both I
Parties. Meanwhile M. Fould, junior, is here, cos-
/mated, as appears., with another scheme, put forward
bc I company of epuulatora for the creation of a new
debt in the form of C.insols, for the execution of the
kaft-proji cted rails ay line from ltome, via Ancona,
to Bologna. Whatever may be the means which the
government decides upon adopting, there seems again
to be a ifeneral opinion that the paper money will
really be withdrawn from circulation ere long, and
the coneestuence of tLis rumour is already perceptiloc
in the red' ieed price of specie.

4014,100 W AMA RAILWAY.
he the week gilding Dec. 24, 1853, 4,6381. 15s. I ld.
eseessosssdins 4,110.. 184. 11.1. Incrtsss
.818.Rw Ih• 04.