The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-06 00:00:00

ITALY.

THE OPENING OF THE SARDINIAN
CHAMBERS.
(ROY OCR RPICIAL CORAZEPORDIRT.)

TURIN, Ana, 2.
The 2nd of April will henceforth be reckoned
one of the brightest days in the Italian calendar,
for on it the gallant King of a noble nation was
permitted for the Snit time to address the repre-
sentatives of 12,000,000 people, who by their
valour and their concord have at last reoonquered
their independence. In spite of the Papal excom-
munication about 270 deputies and as many sena-
tors were present this morning at the opening of
the Sardinian parliament. It really does seem that
the spiritual weapons of the Vicar of Christ have
last their edge, for honourable members and most
noble senators looked as jolly as possible, in spite
of the unpleasant names bestowed upon them by
the holy wrath of the Vatican. The news that the
bulks of excommunication had been published at
Rome was confirmed whilst I was leaving Bologna
for this city, and I may truly say that every per-
son to whom I spoke during my journey was actuated
by OM sole sentiment, that of pity for the poor old
man whose power to punish falls so far short of his
inclination. The same feeling prevails in this capi-
tal. Here, as well as at Bologna, Modena, Puma,
and Alanandria, everybody is disposed to laugh at
Cardinal Antonelli, and seems quite resigned to
dispense with holy communion and confession,
I should the clergy follow ad lift rant the orders of
' Rome. Although Piedmont is a catholic country,
ten years of liberal institutions have borne theirfruits.

All the week the railroads have been bring-
fug to the capital thou/muds of people every day.
It has been next to impossible to find a room, or
even a bed, for some days past. On my arriving
here yesterday I had to run about the town for five
long hours ; and if it had not been for the kindness
of • friend, I should have had to spend the night
sub Jove, or at best under a portico. The streets of
Turin, as is always the case during popular
festivals, have been elegantly decorated with num-
berless banners, pennons, festoons of Bowers, and
similar orniuneuts. All the main streets were full
to suffocation of people with joyful faces, hasten-
ing to the Plana Castello, all animated
by the thought of greeting the king ?ilea-
Om en.. As eleven o'clock struck, Victor Em-
manuel, followed by a brilliant staff, alighted
and ascended the grand staircase of the Pala:no
Madams, where the deputies, senators, and about a
thousand privileged persons, who were fortunate
enough to get cards of admission, were waitinkfor
him. I was of this number, and amused myself by
looking at Count Cavour and Farini, who were ex-
changing hearty shaken of the hand with senators
and deputies, when a tremendous cheer out of doors
made us aware that the King had entered the whir/ of
the palace. Victor Emmanuel entered the great hall
with a firm step and ascended the throne bowing to
right and left amidst the most tremendous shouts
of "Ervin il Re." The cheering inside the house
was instantly echoed beck by the cheering of the
crowd outside. When silence had been restored
Parini invited the new deputies to take the oath of
allegiance according to the constitutional law of the
country. This done, the King began to read the
royal speech, which you will by this time have re-
ceived by telegraph. It is a noble and dignified speech,
and has justly rased the hopes of all Italian patriots.
No pen could describe the thrill of enthusiasm
which ran through the audience when Victor Em-
manuel, in firm, distinct, and ringing tones pro-
nounced the worts—" Firm as my forefathers in
the catholic dogmas and in the respect for the chief
of the religion, ff the ecclesiastical authority em-
ploys spiritual weapons for temporal purposes, in
the security of my conscience and in the tra-
ditions of my ancestors, I shall find the strength
to maintain intact the civil liberty and
my authority, of both of which I only owe
an account to God and to my people."
This, and the end of the speech, in which the King
said that Italy must henceforth be for the Italians,
were the two passages which were most applauded
by the audience. The reception which waited
Victor Emmanuel in the streets was such as is
sel-
dom given to princes. It was the real and solemn
manifestation of a happy people that knows how
much it owes to its sovereign. It was an outburst
both of gratitude and of hope—gratitude for what
has been achieved, hope for what is still to be
done. To the cry of " Long live the King of
Italy," was often added, " Let us not forget our
brethren of Venetia." Cavour and Farini were
not of course forgotten by the crowd ; they
had a right to the gratitude of the Italians, and
they had a good share in the oration offered to the
son of Charles Albert. The Chamber of Deputies
has held a short sitting, at which the members
of the bureaux were chosen. This evening we are
going to have a splendid illumination of which I
shall send you some account to-morrow.

A frightful accident occurred on Wednesday on
the Versailles line to Peri.. An outside passenger reaching
forward when the train was approaching a bridge, his held
coming in contact with the •towe•wnrk was literally 'emend
frvt ►i. body by the violence .f the roncussimi. 9ha
trunk was seen to follow the heed es it a...lashed from lb.
rinwey cerriege.