The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-11 00:00:00

of Italian society, like Mr. Mariotti, that we need
offer no excuses for preferring it.
The following chapters, on the present of Italy,
contain much interesting information on the rip.
sedve subjects. Their titles are : Mayer, or Popular
negation in Italy ; Anna Pepoli, or the Deimos cl
the Wooten of Italy. (Roberti, Ateglio, mg Pies
IL lave each their chapter.
The essay on Mayer, or Education, commences with
a singular regret for an Italian, yet not an uncharao-
teristic one. It regrets that education in Italy
does not teach either religion or resignation ;
but on the contrary, instils nothing beyond the de-
sirability of worldly preferment, and the advioe to
reverse by study the inequality which poverty
and low birth create. Now, as this is the greet
doctrine of all the schools in the world we don t see
why Mr. Merlotti should object to it. He does so,
because England, if it excites such desires and such
activity, satisfies both, whereas, however excited in
Italy, it can never be satisfied. We hope Mr.
Mariotti is mistaken. Let him look up, and in hope:
a sphere of activity will open for Italians, as for men
of other countries.
Mr. Mariotti gives an interesting account of the
national universities, founded so liberally in the old
republican spirit, then deserted on the loss of the
national liberty, and allowed to sink into mere acade?
Ries of learned languages, then emancipated by the
revolution,' and about to prosper, until &spoliator-
rifled. came to strangle them. When perfectly dead, the
Italian universities were handed over to the Jesuits.
The first improvement in education, although in
the lowest and elementary department of it,
was in Lombardy. Thus Germany b..gan to
dim its educational principles upon Italy. Pri-
mary schools were opened in Milan and Venice,
and intrusted to the laity. The PiedmontesC
government also opened schools, but left dm
to the clergy. In Tuscany and Parma schools was
permitted to be founded by private beneficence.
In Rome and Modena even this was forbidden. In
Lombardy all children must be sent to school between
the age of six and twelve, under fine of half a lire a
month to the parents.
It is but justice to state that in the matter of
primary education and its secular nature, the Austrian
government of Lombardy is not only more liberal and
enlightened than other Italian governments, but is
more so than even the government, parliament, and
public of England! So let us not cry fie! upon the
Aust. inns in all matters. Whilst Austria was thus
promoting education, what was the state of things in
the south of Italy ? It was such, that Mayer, of Leg-
horn, the author of the " Guide del Educatore," who
preached the necessity of substituting " popular educa-
tion" for the "lottery" as a government institution,
was, for the crime of thus preaching, thrown into a
dungeon at Rome, where he lingered four whole
months! Such facts as these, proving how far Rome
was behind even the government of Lombardy, in-
crease the feeling of congratulation at now finding
Rome itself regenerated.
" Anna Pepoli" is an interesting chapter on the com-
parative state and character of young womanhood in
Italy, and in other countries. It contains, among other
sketches, an extremely lively one of girlhood in
America—severe but not illiberal, and highly useful
as a study.
The Abate Gioberti is chiefly celebrated for having
now these some years foretold the regeneration of 1
Italy. What is singular is, that Gioberti predicted its
regeneration through the means of its present install-
tions, and without getting rid of one of them. He is
for a temperate monarchy—a council of state rather
than a representative assembly ; he is for a censorship,
the authority of the clergy, the existence of the
monks. In short, he is not only for a detwaistno illus-
(ratio, but for a despotism in the nineteenth
century, adorned with all the improvements of modern
times, as well as with all the incumhrances of the old.
Italy is not only to regenerate itself, but the world,
which it is to re-convert to catholicism by the best
possible way indeed—viz., ridding catholicism of its
nonsense. Gioberti, in his attempt to conciliate
every person and everything, failed however to con-
ciliate the Jesuits. They corsequently became his
mortal antagonists, and would not have Christians
reformed, nor catholicism modified, even for the sake
of bringing back Europe into the pale of the church.
Gioberti, however. pacific, was not to be put down.
And be accordingly took up his pen to prove, at im-
mense length, the existence of the Jesuits incompati-
ble with society at all, much less with its improvement.
We must hero pause with our review, under the
determination to return, at a future period, to what
the writer says of Pius the Ninth, and of the Mar-
iuis

_Mum.
WILSON'S SONGS OF SccrrLAND.—Last evening, 1
Mr. Wilson commenced his weekly series of vocal entertain- ,
merits in the Music-hall, Store-street. His programme
presented little novelty, but his eel( ction comprised some of
the most beautiful and pathetic of his ballads, mingled with
several of those comic pictures of old Scottish manners which
he gives with so much humour and dramatic effect. Of the
one elm we had " Saw ye my wee thing," " Lizzie Lind- •
say," " Auld Robin Gray," and " 0 tell me how to woo
thee." 01 the other, "Come under my plaidie," "Duncan
Gray," " The Laird o' Coekpen," and si veral others equally
pleasing and charact, ristic. One was new to us—
" The Married Man's Lament," the words of which,
though very Scotch, have the appearance of being
modern, while the melody is certainly not Scotch,
but English, being the air of the song, " When I followed
a lass," sung by Justice Woodcock in " Lave in • Village."
Mr. Wilson was in full possession of his vocal powers, and
sang with hit usual simplicity, expression, and spirit ; and
the applause which he received from a numerous audience
showed that the national snugs of Scotland, sang as he sings
them, never lose their freshness and attraction.
VERDI'S GENUSALEMME.—Verdi's "Jerusalem "
has now become one of those grand sources of attraction in
Paris, which recall the palmy days of ancient times. Great
changes are, it is said, about to take place in the personnel
of the opi ra at the close of the present season. According
to report, neither Dupree nor Barhoilet are to re-engaged,
and several others of less note also retire. It is not, how-
ever, stated who are to replace the first tenor and baritone.
' It seems certain that Roster is engaged at this theatre; he is
not, however, to appear before the commencement of next
• year, when he will (Milan. in the long-talked-of opera of M.
Meyerbeer, " Le Prophete," should no new obstacle arise in
; the interim fartl.er to delay the production of that expected
, clterd'wurre. Roger, it is said, leareethe Opera Comique
l in July, and will probably spend a few months in Italy pre-
' vious to assuming his perilous post at the Academia.

Zbe Drama.
FRENCR PLAYS.—ST. W5'S Til EATRE.—Two
new pieces were produced yesterday evening, the one a
domestic drama by MM. Alexandre Dumas and Charles
Latent, entitled " Jarvis, l'honnete hornme ; ou le Marchand
de Londres ;" the other a vaudeville, called, " La Veune
de Quires Ans." The former is a play of much
interest in its slight plot, well constructed, and admirably
performed. The hero is a London merchant, whose probity
and truthfulness have acquired for his mere word even,
more unqiiestic fling credit than is given to other men's
bonds. He is honoured by the universal city as Jarvis, Use
Honest Man. Cited before Judge Jeffries for complicity
in Monmouth's insurrection—his only share in which was
the promise to an old friend that should the attempt he un-
successful be will adopt that friend's sole child—other proofs
astainst him failing, he is required to declare upon his word
that he is guiltiest of any knowledge of the plot; he vindicates
his word, and is condemned to die on the morrow morning,
at six. Sympathy with his affliction at the thought of dying
ere he has once more seen hie daughter, draws from the Lieu-
tenant of the Tower, an old friend, permiraion for him to
visit her house, on his word that he will return to his
dungeon at four o'clock, prepared to undergo his sen-
tence. To his daughter he feigns that he has been
released on condition of quitting the country with the riling
sun, and he makes this allegation the ground of at once
celebrating her marriage with her lover, the confidential
clerk of the house. The daughter, however, discovers e
truth; and, to save her father's life, drugs his wi thne
with • narcotic, and conveying him, by her lover's
aid, to a carriage. effects their escape. In the next act,
the period of which is three years later, we find Jarvis, a
proscribed exile, and, from the discovery that his involun-
tary flight has occasioned the execution of the Lieutenant of
the Tower in his default, • maniac, the ecstacies
of his meaner, being directed against his daugh-
ter, whom be regards as the cause of his dishonour.
Ultimately, it is found that the Lieutenant of the
Tower, though actually hanged, had, by the care
of a friendly physician, been brought back to life, and is now
safe in • foreign land. The intelligence made known to the
apprehension of Jarvis, restores him to himself and to his
daughter, and the further intelligence of the expulsion
of James 11. restores bum to his country. The
acting Rouge in the various phases of
the hero'spart was most effective ; there was great
energy, without the slightest appearance of bombut.
Bocage was admirably played up to by M. Fecbter,
M. Janet, and M. Tourill in, and by Mdme. Rebut Fecbter.
Tile vaudeville is too slight a matter to require detailed
notice. It was pleasantly embodied by MM. Tonrillon and
Josset, and by Madlie. Lagier.

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL.
CAMBRIDON.—GONYILLI AND CAIUS COLLEGIL—We un-
derstand that it is intended to celebratethe 500th
on
of the foundation of this college by a grand festival on the nary
inst. This college, originally styled Gonville Hall, was founded
in 1347-8, by Edmund Oonsille, son of Sir Nicholas Gonsille,
rector of Terrington, Norfolk, and endowed for e: muter
and three fellows. He gave statteds, which are still 'd
. h.twesa Fres School-lane and