The Express.
London, England, 1859-06-24 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROYI. PARIS.

(Tiox ous OLIN CORRISPONDRXT.)
PARIS, THURSDAY ENILVINO.

The bloody conflict at Perugia between the Pope's
Swiss guards and the people is considered in govern-
ment circles as a deplorable event. It no doubt
tends greatly to increase the difficulty of the task
which the French Emperor has undertaken of preser-
ving the temporal dominion of the Pope while emanci-
pating Italy from the Austrian yoke. The papal
forces are confessedly inadequate to repress the
national movement which has broken out in many
large towns of the States of the Church. The policy
of selecting a little mountainous village like Perugia,
where the population is too small to offer effectual
resistsnce, for shedding blood in the name of
papal authority, may well be doubted. The event
is likely to double the intensity of the revolutionary
movement in Bologna, and to e xr;te insurrection in
all the disaffected parts of the Papal States that
have hitherto remained tranquil. The Romans,
rightly or wrongly, consider themselves included in
the Emperor Napoleon's Milan proclamation,
addressed to the " Italian people," and claim the
benefit of his promise that the French army shall
not interfere with the manifestation of their
"legitimate wishes." Unless, however, the Swiss
hirelings, now masters of Perugia, shall be sup-
ported by French troops, nothing is more likely
than that they will speedily be driven out by an
overwhelming national force.

The Pays, in answer to "various correspondence,"
which persists in affirming that King Victor Emma-
nuel is disposed to accept the dictatorship which has
been offered him by certsin towns in the Roman
States, inserts that all these rumours are completely
false, and that the King has refused any sort of dio-
tatonhip, whether" provisional" or otherwise. The
fact that Prussia is making a serious diplomatic
effort to put an end to the war seems to be every
day regarded as more and more certain. But great
astonishment is felt at the positive assertion of the
ledependanee that the territorial limits established
I by the treaties of 1813 are to be proposed as the
bases of the announcement. The impossibility that
Prussia can for a moment seriously suppose that
France will listen to any such proposition, gives
some countenance to the all but incredible assertions
of certain German journals that a war with France
is really intended by Germany.
The Boone continues depressed. The attitude of
Prairie is decidedly construed as more serious than
it was thought to be three or four days ago. The
Rente fell 35c. for cash and 20c. for account, elating
lat the lowest prices of the day-81fr. 80c. and
81fr. 76c. Mobilier fell Mr. Very little business
was done in railways, which were generally quoted
about 2fr. 60c. lower. Orleans fell 7fr. 60c. The
important trial of the eoulissiers now proceeding
caused the liquidation of several accounts.

ITALY.

THE TWO BICILIES.

(71011 OUP. Owl

NAPLES, Jo= 18.
All Naples was taken by surprise at the appoint.
ment of • permanent British minister here. From
what bad passed within the tut month, such • step
was far from being expected, nor did it appear to
have been justified by the policy of the present'
sovereign. To say nothing of the communication
which had been made officieusement before the ap-
pearance of Mr. Elliot, that if a constitution were
given by the Neapolitan government England would
send& minister, at the time thatthenew appointment
was made not a single concession had teen granted.
There was, therefore, an unbecoming haste in renew-
ing relations ; and there arc many who would have
desired, and who think that the political position of
Italy demanded, that England should have been repre-
sented at Naples by men thoroughly Italian in their
sympathies and progressive in their ideas.
As some of the results of Mr. Elliot's mission, I
bare to apprise you that on Thursday night late
three decrees were published, to the following effect:
—An amnesty is granted to those condemned to
irons, seclusion, relegation, or imprisonment for poli-
tical offences committed in 1848 and 1849, excepting
I those mentioned in the decrees of 27th December,
1868, and 18th March, 1869 ; the former of whom
are l'oerio and his companions; and the latter, not
I 7tet out of the country, are still condemned to exile.
the action of this decree, therefore, is restricted to
those who have already suffered ten years' confine-
ment; some of whom, perhaps, have only two or
three years more to complete their term of punish-
ment, and excluding others of thou compromised in
1848 and 1849, such as I'oerio and his companions,
who have received the mercies of exile.

Another decree relieves all those engaged in the
political turbulences of 1848-49 from all civil disabili-
ties—enables them to procure passports and doctor'.
degrees, and to serve in any public office. The num-
ber of those so relieved is enormous. A person who
had 000asion to make some inquiries for a
friend of his—an " attendibile"—tells me, that
fire folio volumes were searched, full of names
of these unfortunate persons. This measure is
a great relief, as it comprises, at a moderate
calculation, 80,000 persons. Those who are in
prison without trial are left as they are, as are
the persons who were arrested last week after the
demonstration. Filangieri has urged their libera-
tion ; but his Majesty, fearing that it may be re-
garded an a sign of weekness, has hitherto refused
tt ; thus making the sovereign will the law of the
eountry.
A third decree grants three years' diminution of
punishment to all condemned for ordinary offences.
A fourth decree is intended to please the poorer
clauses: "All articles of drew, cloth, and common
metals, pledged for sums under two ducats, up to
13th June, shall be redeemed, capital and interest,
by our royal Treasury, and restored gratuitously to
the pledgers."
The week has been marked by arrests, and a dis-
play of public force occasionally in the streets.
From Sicily, which is almost a sealed book to us,
I hear that a few days since there was a strong de-
monstration in Palermo. The authorities telegraphed
to Naples for instructions, and orders were given to
bring out the troops, which was done. There was,
however, no colli►ion, though the arms were said to
have been removed from the Austrian Consulate.

At Messina the following incident; reported to
have taken place, though I will not guarantee it. A
donkey, dressed out in tricoloured ribbon,, wee
driven by a number of lads into the Piszsa. In one
ear was stuck the letter F, in the other IL, and on
his forehead the proclamation announcing the ascent
to the throne of his Majesty. The police soon de spoiled
the donkey of his finery, and then left him, hoping
he would retrace his steps to his stall and betray his
master; but it appears that the donkey was utterly
lost, and might have been brought in from the
country.
_ _ _

I cannot et frain from adding, that the more I see
of the Neapolitans, the more I am convinced of the
general discontent with the decrees of the 16th inst.
" They are a 'burls,' an 'inganno,' an ' insulto,' "are
words in every one's mouth. Pity that this govern-
mint
everything is too late or imperfect. At the last
moment I hear that the great demonstration in
Palermo was made on occasion of the illumination of
the Sardinian Legation after the battle of Magenta.
Lut Sunday and Monday nights the arms of the
Austrian consul were covered with blood. Troops
oat during the week. Here in Naples I hear that
"Down with the Bourbons!" has been found written
on the walls in many places. Some of the employes
In the telegraph office have been arrested on a charge
at having a secret machine, with which they send
and receive despatches.