The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-23 00:00:00

ITALY.

The Chntemporaneo of !tome, of 13th May, sari
We might have run the risk, and a very serious risk, of
a French intervention ; if it had taken place, it would have
been the fault of the Italian princes, who, from ill designs,
or weakness, would have betrayed the holy cause of the
pimple. That Italian independence may be a reality,
all, without exception, should declare and carry out
war against Austria, and then there could be no neces
say fur calling in aid our silica. Our natural allies
certainly, would now be the French, but the danger
of the contagious contact of republican armies should
be seri way considered. The intervention of Fraoce
might be more fatal to the cause of the princes than to that
of the Italian people; but still it is well not to put things
in two strong a point of view. The French nation knows
that the rupee: for the nationality of other countries is the
Nuevo guarantee of its own independ, nee; will she therefore
interfere without being called on ? Many of the European
nations would assume a right to interfere in the affairs at
France if she sbouid interfere its ours.
The Pied»lantese Gazette, of May 17, states:
That the works against Peachier& were continued. The
tiring from the fortress was kept up, but es yet without any
result. Urn. Chiu 'o, Chiel Commandant of Engineers,
directs in person the works of the Sappers. No attack has
been made on our lines. The fee -nuisances are continued.
The 22011 Marza, of the 16th, says:
At Cornu la the loss of the volunteers was 200 killed end
wounded. The Austrians occupied strong positions, of which
no reconnabianct had been made by the Italian troops Dominic,
sent a battalion of ehassears to reinforce Ferrara, but could
not himself go from Hassano, u the Aosta ions were attempt-
Mg to pass the PitlYll. On the morning of the 91.11, the Aus
trims attacked the bridge of Piave; two cannons defend, el
it, served by engineers from Treviso. The Austrians,
having unmuked two covered batteries, opened a heavy
fire on the engineers of Treviso, who had only time to
spike their guns and retreat on Treviso. The Austrians
pared the Piave at Sprosianca. It was expected they would
attack Treviso, which was resolved on a determined resist.
ance. The 16,000 Neapolitans arrive too slowly. Du.
rondo's headquarters are at Caulella. His army,
in three divisions, is at Citailella, Basuto, and Castelfraticu.
A new battle between the Austrians and Ferrari is immi-
I vent.

The same journal says :
By official news of the 12th, given by the Provisional
Government of Venice, we learn that twelve Austrian
;Owlets advanced at day-break on the Gate of St. Thomas at
Treviso, and were npulsed by the ar,illery. The Italians
then made three sortie< whico ...motioned severe low to the
enemy, and in which two cannons were taken. General
Guidotti was severely wounded, and two men killed. Gen.
Ferrari concentrated his forces towards heave.
We read in the Piedmontese Gazette of the 17th,
that the government of Modena has followed the
example of that of Milan. By a decree, dated the
10th inst., it has convoked the people fur the 25th, in
order that they may give their votes on their union to
the kingdom of Upper Italy.
On the 15th it was suited, at Florence, that Pal-
manova and Treviso had both been taken by the
Austrians, and that Padua had been bombarded.
Generals Zucchi and Durand° are stated to be entirely
at the mercy of Nugent.