The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-20 00:00:00

VENICE.

norr.)
VINICR, 007.12.
These has been much suffering amongst the

(nom ()us appciAL

working classes of Venice, in consequence of the
dismissal of labourers from the mint, the arsenal,

and the government tobacco factory. More than two
thonausd families have been deprived of their
ordinary means of support during several weeks
past, yet they have neither raised bread riots, nor
committed any other acts of violence. It was a
comfort to them that their dismissal by the

etrangen was to be followed by a change of rule ,
which they had long desired. The people out of
work waited patiently to be re-employed, and their•l

wealthier fellow-citizen did all in their power to

help them. Liberal subscriptions were made, and
in addition to what Venice herself could do, there

came charitable gifts from beyond the Lagoon.
Both Victor Emmanuel and the Emperor of the

Fres& sent money for the relief of the distressed
laboosers, as did also several municipalities on the
main land. There is now a daily issue of rations
to the aged and infirm, with a donation of about
6d. sterling to each man who is out et work. If
mistake not the tobacco factory has just resumed
its former activity, under Italian superintendence,

so that a part of the dieresis will be at once re-
lieved. Homes will be cheered which are in upper
stories' reached by many flights of stairs, and there
will be something to buy the tricolor ribbon for
the fMe day, or a glass of thin red wine for drink-
ing his Majesty's health.
The government employe of the higher grade
who decidad to change their allegiance and not to
retire to Austria when their fellow-countrymen of
the Italian .kingdom should take' Poiseadon of
Venice have been sorely pistoled in pocket. Their
solaria ceased on September 1, and with each delay
in the peace negotiations they have seen their
finansial position grow more embarrassed. They
could not solicit charity, and they felt bound to
continue at their poets that they might not deserve
to be superseded. So they have remained unpaid,
hop* to see the tricolor hoisted next week, and
disappointed, when next week cams, to find that
the good time was still deferred. Everyone has
been hoping, and everyone, except the imperial
and royal commissioners, has been in a chronic
state of disappointment. People in general
did not appreciate the immense amount of detail
whit)♦ a peaceable cession of cities and territory
involves. MM. Mooring, Bevel, and Lebceuf
must have groaned over the total of Austrian war
material, while others were groaning over their
slowness in bringing the affair to an end. At last
we have intelligence of a move in the right direc-
tion. The diplomats have said their say, the in-
renter,' of the goods of one Francis Joseph, an
out-going tenant, has been duly examined, and the
Austrians have moved out of Peachier& By this
time there may have been another move inthe right
direction ; Verona may be free to express her
=without danger of the bloody work of
6. As they are under orders to go, the
sooner the Austrians vanish from the scene the bet-
Anr.egban will come the plebiscite, the vote for
Victor Emmanuel, which is a foregone conclusion,
and his Majesty's solemn entry into Venice. He
will acquire two million and a half of new subjects
by the cession of Venetia, and a fine sea port in
the grand old Queen of the Adriatic. These
northern Italians are little likely to cause political
trouble to the kingdom. They have learnt a bitter
lesson from their foreign masters, and will value
the unity of Italy before everything else. Priests
and republicans would in vain exhort them to de-
sert the house of Savoy, for Victor Emmanuel is
the rallying point of all parties, and his popularity
is unbounded.
Among the signs of returning life in Venice—
the painting, and hammering, and extension of
premises—are to be seen several newly-opened gun-
shops. Firearms were forbidden, and it was ac-
counted treasonable even to speak of them. But
with the extinction of the Austrian police a week
ago, guns and pistols became recognised articles of
commerce. The National Guard did not fear that
they should be overpowered by armed thieves, and
the former source of danger from revolution was
happily removed. I can now walk out and buy a
pistol as easily as an umbrella ; though, in t 1
torrents of rain which are falling, it weld be of
much leas use to me. I can buy a dozen pistols
for that matter, and half a dozen daily newspapers.
What a change since this day week ! Half a dozen
daily papers in Venice alone, with constant arri-
vals of Florentine and Milanese journals. The
feast of reason is well-nigh overpowering, yet it is
preferable to the dulness which preceded it.