The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-19 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

ITALY.
MANIFESTO OF THE OPPOSITION
DEPUTIES.

The Italia publishes a manifesto of the parlia-
mentary opposition addressed to the Italian nation,
and signed by 77 members of the late Chamber.
After finding fault with the govenuuent for its
past conduct, the manifesto, which is dated
Florence, Feb. 17, says :

Advocates of the sacredness of the human conscience,
we desire equality of creeds and not the pre-eminence of
an episcopacy under the egis of governmental pro-
tection—of an episcopacy armed with privileges
rind threatening usurpation. still worse—an oligar-
chy fatal both from a political and religious point of
view, which seems incapable of keeping within the limits
of its ministry, and is incessantly invading the domain of
the civil power. We will not imperil the safety of the
state by maintaining a servitude in the bosom of
the church which would place anew the inferior clergy
under the tyranny of the high dignitaries, become
the dispensers of wealth which in their hands will
be an instrument of war against the country ; whilst
by means of a proper arrangement that wealth may be
made to serve as a basis for the reorganisation of our
finances, and become, in consequence, a source of prosperity
for the State and the communes. In fine we do not desire
that the State should bend the knee and disarm
before a political pontificate which strikes with its
thunders and disputes with Italy her capital. The
country, whose right of public discussion has been inter-
dicted, is punished for the moral support which it has
granted to its representatives; the right of meeting in
Italy is assailed in order that there may be no disarrange-
ment of the negotiations with the Vatican, from which
proceeds that breath of reaction which strikes with an
absolutist vertigo even those ministers who formerly de-
clared themselves the friends of liberty. The dilemma
is now put before the country in precise terms.
It is for the country to decide between the theory of the
caprice of government in the place of law, or the precise
text of the law defended by parliament ; between economy
reconcileable with the security of the state, the exigencies
of urgent wants, and the national welfare ; or persistence
in a system which, to the great detriment of the public
treasure, impoverishes us more and more and threatens
fresh dangers to national credit and honour. We calmly
appeal from the verdict of the government to that of the
electoral urn, at whichwW be discussed the questionsof law
and liberty, which, for the safety of the country, we have
defended with our votes, and which, if necessary, we
should defend at the coat of our lives.

THE NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION.
According to a communication from Berlin in
the Avenir National the first proposition to be
submitted to the North German parliament will be
one for conferring on the King of Prussia the title
of " Emperor of the Germans."
The Cologne Gazette publishes the full text of the
new constitution for the Confederation of North
Germany.

(BETTER'A TILLEGELES.)
FRANCE AND CANDIA.
(OFFICIAL OP./WATCHES.)
PARIS, Frs. 19.

The official yellow-book contains about 00 pages
referring to Crete. Numerous despatches from M.
Drouyn do Lhuys and the Marquis de Moustier
attest the constant solicitude of the French go-
vernment for the Christians. One despatch of M.
Drouyn de Lhuys, dated August 27, urges the
Porte to send a commissioner to Candia without
delay to examine the position of affairs, and devise
means for remedying it. A despatch from the
Marquis de Moustier to the French Minister at
Athens, dated Oct. 12, denies the rumour that the
marquis, when he passed through Athens, made
use of threatening language at an interview which
ho had with the King of Greece.
A despatch from the same minister, dated Nov.
8, addressed to the French representative at Con-
stantinople, counsels the Porte to adopt measures
of clemency, and adds, " The question now is
under what conditions Turkey will henceforth be
able to govern Crete, in order to repair evils and
efface painful reminiscences."
Another despatch of the 7th December asserts
the inability of the Ottoman government to quell
the Cretan insurrection, and continues as follows :
" Turkey should be sensible to the danger of
allowing the evil to increase to such an extent
that the position of the Turkish empire would at
length necessitate the employment of extraordinary
remedies. We consider that we give a fresh proof
of our interest in Turkey by calling upon her to
devote to this question all her solicitude and
reflection."

A despatch dated December 14 says :—" Public
opinion in Europe with regard to the Candiotes
begins to be sympathetic, and more distinct marks
of encouragement are being afforded them. It is,
therefore, in the highest degree incumbent upon
the ministers of the Sultan thoroughly to examine
the state of affairs, and foresee the consequences to
which it may lead. If the Porte is deficient in fore-
sight, it may, before many months, have to meet still
graverand more imperative necessities." A despatch
dated December 28 points out that the difficulties
with Crete have successively increased, and adds :
" Admitting even that the insurrection should be
speedily quelled, the question at issue would no
longer be what it was a few months ago ; solutions
which at the beginning of this crisis might, per-
haps, have pacified the Cretans, now run a risk
of being considered insufficient. We cannot dis-
guise from the Porte the serious anxiety felt by
the French government on the subject. Things
have now reached a point at which the fullest
candour is certainly the greatest evidence of
friendly feeling which we can afford to the Turkish
government."
The last despatch contained in the yellow-book
on the subject of Candia is addressed by the Mar-
quis de Moustier to the French minister at Athens.
It says :—" We have learned with much satisfac-
tion that the tendencies of the new Greek cabinet
towards Turkey are not aggressive. The agitation
which the Greek government permitted to extend
might have produced the most deplorable compli-
cations both for Greeee and Europe. We could
not remain indifferent to anything which might
increase the prosperity of Greece, but as the price
of our good-will and solicitude we are justified in
expecting that it will not be sought to impel us
prematurely against our will into any line of policy.
We must always desire to be left free to suggest at
the proper moment and in our own time whatever
may appear to be expedient."

CHINA.
(By telegraph from Galle.)
HONG-KONG, Jae. 13.•
The rebels are threatening Hankow. Great fires
have taken place in the North of China.
Advices from Japan state that Prince Stotabaahi
has been elected Tycoon, and has announced a
policy favourable to foreigners.
• This message has occupied 21 days in transmission
from Galle. The commercial intelligence is anticipated
by the telegrams of later date published this morning.

Gaiignatti states that " Cora Pearl," the debu
tote at the Boulfes, has closed her brief dramatic career.
That despotic gamin of the Quartler Latin, Pipe-en-Bois,
who hooted Gaetano from the stage, is said to hare signi-
fied his dioplessure ; and in compliance with this injunc-
tion a new Cupidon now ploys in Orpher. This disturb.
ance is a severe blow to the Bouffes' exchequer.