The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-09 00:00:00

ITALY.

(TROY OUR OWN oolutzsroirmarr.)

FLORENCE. Nov. 4.
This day the royal decree has been signed for
the definitive union of the Venetian provinces to

the kingdom of Italy. This event, one of the moat
important in the annals of modern Italian history,
has been accomplished at Turin with great pomp
and ceremony. The act took place in the throne
room of the Royal Palace, in presence of the mi-
nisters, senators, and grand dignitaries of the
State. The King entered the presence chamber
soon after elevegi a.m., accompanied by his
eons, Prince Humbert and Amedeuts and his
Royal Highness the Prince di Carignano. The
Venetian deputation, headed by Count Giusti-
niani' then presented his Majesty with
an address from the provinces of Venetia,
announcing the favourable result of the vote of
union, and the devotion of his new subjects to the
King's person. His Majesty responded in an ap-
propriate speech. After this the Keeper of the
Privy Seals read the royal decree, acknowledging
the act of annexationtf the Venetian and Mantuan
provisos to the kingdom of Italy. The King,
princes, and grand dignitaries of the State, and the
members of the Venetian deputation, respectively
affixed their signature thereon. Lastly, the " Iron
Crown" (the historic crown kept at Monza, and
now restored to Italy, as the King pertinently
remarked) was presented to his Majesty by General
Count Menabrea, who said :
Sire, this crown will henceforth be invincible, as it is
placed under the custody of the Italian people, who will
defend it with their love. With good right may your
Majesty pronounce the words—" God gave it me: woe to
those who shall touch it."

After due acknowledgments on the part of his Ma-
jesty, the ceremony was concluded ; andleaving the
throne room, accompanied by his suite, he pre-
sented himself on the front balcony of the royal
_ .

palace, to afford his subjects a view of their " Re
galantuomo" whilst he witnessed the review of the
royal troops and of the National Guard. There
was much loyal and enthusiastic cheering, and
many tokens of sincere and heartfelt joy.
Florence, the capital, meanwhile sends forth
through her syndic a " manifesto," declaring it to
be the resolve of the municipality to affix under the
" Loggia dell'Orgagna " a memorial tablet comme-
morating this event, " the most important in the
modern history of Italy." The Florentines are
requested "to make merry and show tokens of
joy in union with their newly annexed brethren of
Venetia, on account of the happy union of those
provinces to this kingdom effected to-day." Flags
have been flying in consequence of this in various
directions during the day. The Cupola and
Hum°, and the principal public buildings
of Florence have been illuminated, as well
as the Pergola and Pagliano Theatres. Bands
have been playing in different quarters
of the city, but altogether the demonstration
has been cold. In truth, the general state
of Italy, and more especially the alarming state of
Sicily, continue to weigh on the public mind.
Sicily, it is thought, is again on the eve of some
serious outburst. All the island is agitated, but
Palermo especially is alive with trouble. The
insurgent's are brooding, planning—watching and
waiting for something, they scarcely know what.
Hatred, misgiving, and discontent prevail in every
quarter of the island. Tho very qualities and
faults of the Sicilians make there unpopular
amongst other Italians. Their insular pride, their
resistance to all law save that imposed by their
own stubborn will, their subjection to priestly
craft, the deplorable ignorance in which the mass
of the people have been kept, their quick intelli-
gence and apprehension, their passionate and vin-
dictive nature, all servo to render them formid-
able adversaries to a government which does not
show itself sufficiently determined toact vigorously.
In the face of such obstacles there is but one
remedy, and that is, to rule with firmness, strictly
but fairly. The instruments of government are,
instead, all feeble—all paralysed inaction—nothing
is done to punish or to curb. Meantime far from
experiencing the hoped for " benefits" of the new
system of government, the people have had to bear
taxes and over-taxes, and the "conscription" (to
which they had ever been absolusely rebellious) ;
and, to crown all, their much revered clergy and
the religious corporations are, as they consider, out_
raged; the latter are cast out of their conventual
dwellings ; the " sacred virgins" are thrown help-
less into the wide world. All this, of course,
strongly excites a pauper population, dependent in
great measure for succour and daily bread on
the benevolent institution!' of the church.
Whilst honest and right thinking men deplore
the many evils of Italy, whilst there is a general
lack of energy, strength, and power of " associa-
tion," want of a common understanding amongst the
best men in carrying out measures for ameliorat-
ing the present ayatem, and putting down with a
strong hand the evils of discontent ; there is, on
the other hand, in nearly every part of Italy a well-
coustituted " Rogues' Company"—the" Camorra,"
as it is called—whose numbers are overwhelming,
whose members are bound strongly in unity to
each other, and whose meshes of evil spread over
the whoie face of the country, in greater or lesser
degree. The " Camorra" is not only rampant at
Naples and Sicily, in Romagna and Bologna
(where matters have, however, of late im-
proved), but in Florence as facts have lately proved.
Money has been extorted, by intimidation, on
many occasions, as it is now known, from indi-
viduals of wealth and position, who have been
weak enough to consent to payment, and who have
not chosen to mention this to justice—mere
chance elicited the fact. The whole details,
ere long, will be brought before the public, and it
is hoped justice will be dune on the " rogues " who
are not common thieves.
The Papal " allocutions" have made no impression
whatever here. The Italian press has perfectly
understood its mission on this occasion. It says
this is no moment for " theorising," or discussing
the interests of the church. It is a moment in
which the Romans must show, by a tranquil and
dignified demeanour, that they can take care of
themselves without the necessity for foreign aid.

A short time since the head porter of Trinity
College, Cambridge, died, and it has since turned out that
he had amassed between 15,0001. and 20,000/. during the
period in which he had held office. According to the re-
gulations in force he was entitled to make a charge of one
halfpenny for every letter which was delivered through the
ce to him for the undergraduates, and the receipts
ram this source must have amounted to no inconsiderable
sum in a society which musters some 000 resident students.
The suthoritiesof the college propose to pay the new porter
a lied salary of 2501. per annum. There are upwards of
forty candidates for the vacant poet.