The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-04 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 4, 1866.

ITALY.

(ncom ors ISPICIAL ocancesrownerr.)
VENICE, BM.
There has been a steady creeping forward of that
political clock hand which we observe from day to
day with so much interest. Garibaldi's portrait is
now offered for sale in more than one Venetian
print shop ; the ribbons in many a haberdasher's
window are arranged in alternate patches of red,
white, and green ; and a boat has been seen upon
the Grand Canal bearing the forbidden tricolor.
Such a sight was due to the presence in Venice of
the Italian officers who have come to take poems-
lion of barracks and arsenal for King Victor
Emanuel. Some say that the tricolor was hoisted
upon an Italian boat ; others, that a native gondo-
lier took courage on the strength of accomplished
facts and made his protest. Certain it is that
the flag has appeared amid great excitement,
and that no evil consequence has followed. I
need not recapitulate those tokens of Aus-
trian rale still visible at every turn
on land and water. Venice is at this
moment an imperial city, as far as soldiers, gun-
boats, and policemen can make her so. But the
clock hand really moves—the old state of things is
fading away. In full view of a dozen policemen
you may purchase a portrait of the King, or of
General Cialdini, or even of Garibaldi himself.
The National Guard of Venice was embodied
without either arms or uniform. It might assemble
in a quiet way for drilling, nor fear that its mem-
bers would be arrested, but their Quaker muskets
had harmless wooden barrels, and they wore only
plain clothes. Yet it was better to have such de-
fenders of public order than none at all. General
Alemann recognised the importance of a national
guard for the city in use there should occur an
interregnum during the proposed plibiseite. Ha
permitted the six wards (sestseri) into which Venice
is divided to raise their respective companies, to
drill those companies out of sight of the
people, and, finally, to take a share of
night duty against thieves and vagabonds. I have
before spoken of the excellent effect which the
guard produced ; not so much by physical force as
by the confidence which its appearance inspired.
When sleepy citizens heard the tramp of many
feet beneath their windows in narrow side streets;

or dimly lighted alleys, they looked out upon their

countrymen with a hearty goodnight, and perhaps
joked them in the patois of the place upon their self-
imposed vigil. The guard was well received by all
classes ; wine shops which the police had been shy
of entering were peaceably cleared by a few young
gentlemen, without weapons of any kind ; and far
from feeling 11312i0U11 as to their safety, the citizens
of Venice had never felt so secure.
In honour of General Revel, the Italian oom-

miasioner, a detachment of the National Guard
has been posted at his hotel, where two sentries*
who might to outward seeming be casual passers
by, have stood for some time past. It is a sentry's
privilege to stand without fatigue until we return
after long absence, and wonder to find him still at
his post. He has been relieved over and over
again, and is perhaps not the same person whom
we saw before. Thus with the guard of honour

at the general's hotel, and its long-standing senti-
nels in plain clothes. They have a friendly crowd
close at hand—an eager crowd, eager for a glimpse
of the Italian uniform. Though the sentries do
not wear it as yet, being only chrysalis Italians,
the general and his coadjutors, naval and military,
are in gratuk tenue, as befits their mission. So
there is something to be seen which has been
hitherto unknown in Venice, and the crowd waits
patiently to catch a glimpse of the national uni-
form ; and when darkness comes on the hotel is
illuminated, and a band of music performs before
the general's window by way of serenade. "We
have no doubt what we wish," say the people one
and all. " Give us a chance of dealing with bri-
gands like those in Palermo, and we will show the
world that we mean to be Italian to the death.
There will be no need of a garrison to keep Venice
Many of the Austrians have departed for Trieste,
and many more are expected to leave before the
end of this week. I perceive amongst those who
remain a disposition to buy mementoes of the
place. Trinkets, prints, and photographs com-
mand a ready sale, provided that they be not too
dear, whilst under the first head it is surprising to
see what large packets of shell ornaments the
Huns will trouble themselves to secure. Here
they are, at this corner stall, in act of
bargain. It is a lengthy affair, for signs
are mostly used instead of words, and both
parties display great caution. The dealer
gesticulates over his wares ; the customers shake
their heads. " What!" cries he, " such beautiful
things not worth a florin !" " Half a florin," sug-
gests the tallest Hun. " Impossible !" " Well,
three-quarters." The dealer is moved; he con-
sents to three-quarters, and his wares are bought.
When the customers are out of hearing he says
pleasantly to a neighbour, " Ah, Luigi, heaven
be praised, even now I have made the Croats pay
a little too much."

On Tuesday Sir Stafford Northcote, President
of the Board of Trade, accompanied by Mr. T. B.
Harafall, M.P., Mr. R. R. Graves, M.P., Mr. John laird,
Beasley, chairman of the Conway School
frigate Commietee ; Mr. Timid M'lver, of the Canard Com-
pany; Mr. Christopher Bothell, he., visited the training
ships in the Mersey—namely, the reformatory frigates
Akbar and Clarence, and the school frigate Conway, for
effirrers • and the training ship Indefatigable, for seamen.
AN ALLEGED CUSTOM ON SALVAGE SERVICES.—In
a case, " The Plymouth Rock," before the Court of Ad-
miralty on Tuesday, an application was made to Dr. Lush-
ington to distribute the salvage money (2,500/.) for services
rendered in the Thames. The crew had been offered 15
per cent., according to a "custom," and two bad taken it.
The other six bad come to the court, and denied the
alleged custom. His lordship said he knew of no such
custom and directed 40 per cent. to be paid into courtto
abide the result.
THE BOILER EXPLOSION AT NORWICH.—The in-
quiry into the circumstances attending this explosion was
brought to a close on Tuesday evening. After some expe-
riments with the plates which had given way, Mr. Flet-
cher, of Manchester, gave evidence confirming his previous
conclusions, that the iron was brittle and of indifferent
quality. Mr. Bramwell, C.E., did not dissent from this
opinion ; and the coroner having summed the jury
returned the following verdict :—" That the deceased met
with their deaths through the explosion of a steam boiler,
such explosion being occasioned by the improper construc-
tine of it."
MURDER AT OLENYEIOH MOUNTAINS, DON/LOAL.
—A man named M'Kelvey, who had some sheep grazing
on these mountains, went to look after them on the 23rd
ult., and remaining absent from home for some days, his '
family became uneasy and made inquiry at the houses of
some reladons, thinking be had gone there. No trace of
the miring man could be found till Friday last, when •
large number of the errantry people set out with the
Dunglos eanstabralary to search the mountains. In the
evening of the same day M'ltelvey was found dead, his
heed having been beaten in with stones. The ground bore
marks al if a severe straggle had taken place. As yet no
calms can be assigned for the barbarous deed. The con-
stabulary are ea the alert, and every effort is being made
to unravel the mystery.—lreiblia ispsess.