The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-08 00:00:00

EXTENSIVE CONFISCATIONS BY THE EN

PEROR OF AUSTRIA.

The Milan Gazette of the Ist makes known that
the Austrian Emperor has not shrunk from the
frightful act of immorality which recent advice. from
Vienna had foreshadowed. The confiscation decree,
although now first officially promulgated, was re-
solved on in the middle of last month. The intro-
duction to the decree states that by a "sovereign
resolution of the 13th ult. the Emperor has deigned
to order" that which follows, in consideration of
the "manifest complicity " of the political emigrants
of the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom in the late
troubles at Milan. Then follow the directive arti-
cles of the decree, which enjoin the sequestration
from that date of the estates and chattels of all poli-
tical emigrants from the Lombardo-Venetian king-
dom, without excepting those who hold the permis-
sion of the Emperor to reside abroad. The Emperor
thus concludes his decree: " My Minister of the In-
terior is charged with the execution of the present
ordonnance, in concert with my Field Marshal Ra-
detzky, and I shall decree at another time respecting
the disposal of the property struck with sequestra-
lion."

With this document is published a notification by
Radetzky, dated from his stronghold at Verona, and
purporting to explain the order of his muter. It is
there announced that the decree applies not only to
revenues, but also to occasional sums payable to re-
fugees, which must now be paid to the government.
Among other warnings, it is stated that notaries or
others who shall aid any one, even if only
by counsel, to evade the "law," will be
lia-
ble to criminal prosecution. Persons refusing
to be administrators of property sequestrated, will
also incur punishment. Radetzky says that he ex-
pects that each and all will eagerly aid the agents of
the government in the execution of this measure.
It is remarked that Radetsky, although quoting the
decree, does not support it with the imperial sig-
nature.

From Turin of the 2nd, we learn that upon re-
ceiving the official notice of the confiscation, the
Piedmontese ministers held a hasty sitting, and
called several persons of consideration to their coun-
cil. .

.....
The Patria, a conservative journal, states that it
was then resolved to send to London for advice under
the grave circumstances which had arisen.

FLORENCE, Fes. 25.
A few facts relative to this country, coming from
one who has been for a long time a resident in
Tuscany, and acquainted with the feelings of the
people, may perhaps be acceptable to the readers of
the Express. The distracted state of Tuscany,
and Italy in general, is almost incredible. The two
great evils from which Italy is now suffering, and
which act as an incubus on this unhappy land, are
the Austrians and the priests. It would be difficult
to say which is the greatest bane. Depend upon it
they will soon ruin this beautiful country if some
means be not devised to get rid of both. In England
Dr. Cahill may endeavour to persuade people that
the Grand Duke acted very leniently to the Medial;
but be assured that here all enlightened persons
look upon it as a most tyrannical act, and done
merely to please the priesthood, whose bigotry in
Tuscany is greater than anywhere else. It is again
the repetition of the Jesuit maxim, that the end
justifies the means—any means to sustain a falling
fabric. At Florence one hears nothing but execra-
tion at the name of Austria and the priesthood.
No such feeling as religious belief exists amongst
the people ; and numbers of Roman eatholica with
whom I am in daily intercourse have commonly
expressed their feelings to me against the Pope
and his priests, who are the laughing-stock
of Italy. This excess of bitter feeling against
the ecclesiastics is surprising, and almost incredible.
Many married men will not receive them in their
houses, at least those who have any regard for their
wives and daughters; but unfortunately there are
many weak and bigoted women who are led astray
by them, and by confession too frequently divulge
the opinions of their husbands and brothers, and
become thus the instruments of injustice.
The attempt at assassination of the Emperor of
Austria has caused quite a panic here, and more par-
ticularly with the Grand Duke and his party, in-
cluding the priests. The latter are in great fear that
if anything occurs here they will all be expelled, and
many have in their houses dresses of civilians, to
facilitate their escape from the wrath of the people.
In Lombardy, probably the feeling is not so great, as
the priests there seem to be influenced by more gene-
rous feelings, and go hand in hand with the popular
feeling of execration towards the Austrians.
It is lamentable to look upon this once prosperous
and contented part of Italy, and not to feel for the
poor victims of grinding tyranny.
To a small country like this, and in its present
wretched state, with a population scarcely eqnal to
London, you can conceive what a burden it must be
to maintain 8,000 or 10,000 Austrian troops, besides
its own regular army, which is being daily increased,
to say nothing of maintaining an expensive Grand
Duke and his government.
You will have heard of the barbarous expulsion of
the Ticiaese from Lombardy. In all probability
there may be 15,000 to 18,000 natives of Ticino
affected by this act, if not more. I have given the
smallest number, but I have heard it stated at 12,000
families. This measure, to say the least of it, is most
impolitic, and will sooner or later recoil on the Aus-
trian government of Milan with redoubled force, as
many of those expelled are young men capable of
bearing arms, and who will eventually assist the
Lombards in liberating them from a most execrable
yoke.
, Yesterday mass was performed, and aTe Deum
t sung at the Duomo, to render thanks for the miracu-
I lone escape of the Emperor of Austria from the as-
, sassin's dagger. It was attended by the Grand
Duke, the court, ministers, and diplomatic body, and
, also the Austrian troops ; but as it was the heaviest
day of rain we have yet bad, and dreadfully cold,
the poor soldiers got a fearful ducking, the effects of
i which will affect many of them.