The Express.
London, England, 1856-06-20 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 20.

le we may judge of Italian intellect from Italian
literature, it combioca the scrupulous love of troth
and capacil for patio at research of the German with
the pract eel tendencies and craving for artistic
finish of the French. Viewed as men of action,
the Patio., had, towards the close of last century,
been rendered to the last degree frivolous and effemi-
nate by a c-ocoorse of adveree id:lances. But NA-
roLLOS resuscitated their warlike spirit, end forty
years' training in the hard school of persecution has
made of them practical, energetic, high-minded poli-
ticians. 01 all the peoples of the Continent we know
note so ripe for freedom as the Italian—none of
whom it may so confidently be predicated that they
will turn their freedom to good account, using it
without abusing it,

It is impossible to contemplate without a feeling
of indignant bitterness the actual condition of such
a people. The population of Italy amounts to about
twenty-five millions and a half of soul.. Ot these,
f.v,: millions, inhabiting the Venetian and Lombard
territories, are subjected to the direct tyranny of an
alien race ; whilst the three millions who occupy the
Tom, Mode name, and Parmesan dominions, and the
three millions sub ect to the Court of Rome, are
governed by mere puppets, of which Austria draws
the strirge; and the seven millions abandoned to
the tender mercies of the King of NAPLES are ruled

upon Au•trion prit,ciples, with countenance and en
couragement from Austria. In all the States we
hive enumerated, to be an Italian, to entertain
or avow the sentiments of au Italian, is a crime.
Civil and ecelmiutical absolutism conspires to trample
down every free thought, every generous aspiration ;
and the cowardly oppremore seek for protection
against their outraged su►jects by servilely obeying
the behests of a foreign despot. It is not only the
moral charac•er of the nation that is debased by such
rule—property is immure, and the resources of this
lied are left partially or entirely undeveloped.
On the political chart of modern Italy there is only
one soon) spot—the Subalpine Kingdom, with its
five millions of Mimeos, continental and insular.
In some respects Piedmont is at this mo-
ment an Italian counterpart of what Prussia
wee under FIEDZIICII THE OILIAT. The great
merit of that monarch consisted herein, that
he was the head of the constitutional opposition
in Germany to the bigeoed deepotim of Austria. He

championed rho Protestant and constitutional interest
of Germany by organising an effective army ; and he
maintained his army by that tolerant policy which
invited men of talent, whatever their opinions, to
enter his service, and that discrimination which con-
ferred the highest honours and the meet important
charges upon the men of greatest ability. In this
manner be augmented the resources of his country,
and enabled it to support an army apparently far too
large for its means. In like manner, we ma at
present the best intellects of the various Italian
States warmly received in Piedmont, eater
ralised, and promceed to high station. As
for the army of Piedmont, the soldiers of all
Europe are unanimous in its praise. There is,
indeed, one material point in which the Sardinia of
our dry differs from the Prussia of the time of
FOIDZILICK SHE 011 LAT. FAIDERICL, with all hie
high qualities as a warrior and a stateenian,was a self-
willed despot. He was the one active and influential
will in his kingdom. Hence it came that the power
of Prussia for good died with him, and has only
manifested itself since, at long intervals, in an inter-
mittent spasmodic activity. Bat the Government of
Sardinia iv emphatically a constitutional Government;
its institutions are Wallet(' to train and form lOW
Otseive generations of statesmen and military leaders
—to give permanence to irs power for good.
It is an instinctive sense of this truth that makes
the beet Italian patriots turn their eyes at this mo-
ment, will a common consent, to Piedmont, as the
foutitelu-head of Italian liberty, nationality, and in-
dependence. They do not eft clearly an yet how
Piedmont is to accomplish its great task, but they
feel an intuitive conviction that Piedmont is the
nucleus on which is to be formed an Italian nation—
that the statesmen end soldiers of Piedmont are the
destined champions of Italian liberty and independ-
ence. Hence it comes that republicans and conga-

tationalista--federslists and
moment ready to rally round the standard of Pied-
mont if any opportunity for action offer. No doubt the
respect for constitutional liberty which has hitherto
characterised the government of Piedmont boo
had much to do in conciliating this universal coot{.
deuce. Bat we are confirmed that even though soma
unlucky accident should transfer the reins of gover►
merit in Piedmont to less liberal statesmen, they wield
still maintain its ascendancy over the Italian mind by
remaining true to the great canto of Italian nationality
and independence. The fast majority of the sdeaded
classes in Italy are passionately enamoured of liberty,
but they know that an indispensable prorequisits of
liberty is national unity, and the subversion of foreign
domination.

at this

This is a seniitnest, a principle of action, which
the English Government ought to foster. It is all
very well to preach humanity to the Ling
of NAPLES, and rational government to the Pore.
But Italy can only be effectively aided IN its strug-
gles to avert revolution through the establishment of
good government, by lending moralsuppoet to the only
Italian Government which hoe shown itself capable°,
appreciating and acting upon sound principles, and
which is a teal military power. But to be of any avail
this moral support mast be promptly and openly
afforded. The struggle of Sardinia against Austria is a
most unequal one, and the *ems of its inequality ex-
poses the Sardinian Government to constant temptation
to yield to the insidious whimpers of the French
EMPEROR. It will be a fatal event for Italy if
ever the Cabinet at Turin is prevailed upon to
adopt the policy of the Government which owes its
power to the Corp cl Etat.

001111110111ENT AUDITS.—A parliamentary return
(No. 215) gives so lull as exposers of the negligent*
and inefficiency of the present system of audit, that
we hops the select committee on public moseys now
sitting will insist on knowing bow many of the 441
accounts which had not been audited on the 5-h ult.
belong to the present year, aed bow many to the pre
eediug, as it would appear that the Nat fisaueC
amounts were published without audit of say kind.
The Post.office accounte have only been audited to
1851, sad the Customs to 1863; other ammo's are
&pally behiadhaed, showing that the Audit-01am
at repeat constituted is a mere excrescence.
Gin's—At a Greets Coen of the %meson of
this Hospital. bad as Übe lath Wit , lb. Htt.wiyt appeiro.
Mille van made:—Dr. Owes Vera, of Albesarir-•treet,
Pbrisiss ; Dr. Wilke. of 8.. Tiow.strear, Assisiost
Paralides • Mr. J. Calor !emir, et Williagtewstrest.
Leadee-leidge, Animas arms.