The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-22 00:00:00

THE FRENCH INVITATION TO A
CONFERENCE

THE MARQUIS DE MOUSTIER'S CIRCULAR.
A Madrid journal publishes the text of the in-
vitation to a conference addressed by France to
the gavernmenta of Europe. The fact of this
document having been first translated into Spanish,
and now into English, will probably occasion some
slight variations in the wording, but the general
sense remains unaltered :

Monsieur,—Animated with feelings of sincere friendship
towards Italy, and penetrated with the importance of the
interests on which depend the security and independence
of the Pontifical throne, the Emperor has witnessed
with deep affliction and constant solicitude the
antagonism in which events have placed the go-
vernment of the Pope and that of Victor Em-
manuel. Our greatest desire had been to dis-
cover the possibility of a good understanding, and to con-
template that result. We have omitted no efforts sug-
gested by a calm observation of facts, and the enumeration
of the means we have employed would be long. However,
being leas anxious to arrive at an immediate solution,
than not to compromise, by premature excesses, a result
which time alone can cause to bear fruits, we have codes.
soured to calm agitation on one band, and mistrust on
the other, and such was the spirit of the convention of
the llith September. By placing the future of the ponti-
limey under the protection of. Italy and France, Rome
might obtain security and the Italian government the
means of calming, by the sincerity of its conduct, the un-
easiness and suspicion which had entered all hearts. This
measure of prudence was destined, from the moment in which
itshould begin to produce its effects, to appease the passions
which under the form of patriotism have al ways endeavoured
to divert the minds of the Italian'people from their natural
pursuits, to convert them into instruments of a disorder
which the revolutionary party is endeavouring to develop
on all sides, with the same object and by similar
means. The events which have just weaned in
Italy carry with them a great lesson, and are
of a nature to excite anxiety in the European
cabinets. If the Emperor's government has been forced
to maintain intact the conventions made with it, and if
by its firmness it has given a fresh force to the feelings of
moderation which in Italy aspire to establish the grandeur
of the country on secure bases, this is not • reason
that the task which events have imposed on
France should fall on her exclusively. Her efforts,
to be completely efficacious, must be largely shared
by the other governmente, which are not leas interested in
maintaining the principles of order and stability in
Europe. At present there no longer exists those consi-
derations which, on • former occasion, rendered difficult
the examination of such questions by the cabinets of
Europe. Italy, recognised by the powers, in peace with
them, and concerning itself only with her own subjects
of agitation, cannot be a direct cause of disorder
and conflict ; but the fact cannot bo denied that
her situation, like that of Rome, requires the
serious attention of all, because it is a subject of din
quietude and anxiety. ANaording to the principles which
are now recognised in the world, no government will
refuse to give to its subjects of any form of belief all
legitimate satisfaction required by the pence of their con-
sciences. We have no doubt that from this point of view
the European governments will accept with eager-
ness the proposal we make to them to assemble
in a conference to examine those serious ques-
tions. Thus, in examining the facts with- calm and at-
tention, that assembly, naturally inaccessible to secondary
considerations, will find the bases of a labour to which we
must not at the present moi.:ent think of fixing the limits,
and of which we cannot anticipate the results.
Be so good as to submit this object to the attention of
the government to which you are accredited. For our part
we are confident that it will not hesitate to give a favour-
able reply, and that it will recognise the opportuneness
which circumstances give to the immediate assembling of
the plenipotentiaries.—Receive, Le., Morena&

ROME.
MR. ODO RUSSELL AND CARDINAL
ANTONELLI.

Mr. Odo Russell, immediately after his arrival
in Rome on the 13th inst., addressed a note to
Cardinal Antonelli, requesting an explanation of
the motives which had induced his eminence to
authorise the police to enter his apartments in the
Chigi Palace. The Cardinal sent a courteous reply,
after the lapse of only a few hours, offering an
ample apology for the apparent transgression of
the privileges usually conceded to the residences of
foreign representatives, and stating the reasons for
'the proceeding.
I It appears (writes the correspondent of the Post)
that in the course of the recent disturbances a plan of
Rome was found on the person of a slain insurgent with
several public establishments and palaces marked " red,"
indicating, as it is supposed, that such buildings were to
be mined and blown up. The police authorities conse-
quently proceeded to a minute investigation of the locali-
ties thus designated, and are said to have discovered in
the Orsini Palace, and some others, traces of operations
having been commenced for this incendiary purp se.
As the Monte Citorio Palace, a vast building,
occupied by the direction of the police, prisons,
passport offices, and tribunals, was marked red
on the insurgent plan, ►nd as it is only ope-
rated from the Chigi Palace by a narrow lane, under which
the cellars of the two buildings are contiguous, it was coo-