The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-26 00:00:00

AFFAIRS IN ITALY.

The following is an extract from a private letter
recently received from Florence:

Naturally you will expect some notice of the remark-
able, though unsuccessful, attempt on Rome. Although
I was away in the country at that time I heard the opinion
of all parties, from the warmest Italian to the blackest
clerical. There is no doubt poor Garibaldi was urged on
prematurely by the party of action in France and in Ger-
many, and that he was grossly duped into the belief that
he would not be opposed either by the Emperor or by the
Prussian government, and that money did come from Ger-
many. There is also no doubt that Rattazzi was "game,"
but that the generals refused to march. They say here
Madame Rattazzi was the prime mover of the whole
thing. As for the country, you never beheld such a
deep, genuine, national feeling. The entire body of the
lads from 15 to 20 marched to the frontiers. They had
no arms, no clothes, no food, and little money. Of comae
in such • multitude there were some ruffians, and more
loose characters, and of these Garibaldi made severe, just,
and wholesome examples, but the great mass were very
sincere and most self.serrificing, and it was gloriously
shown that where the terms were anything like equal, the
national arm was stronger than that of the foreign merce-
nary. Of course it could not be supposed that unarmed
lads of such extreme youth could stand before the finest
troops in Europe, armed with the best new weapons,
and backed by an overwhelming French army, but
even at Meutana the Pontifical troops were sadly
beaten until the French Chassepot came up. The Italians,
so far from having anything to be ashamed of, have every
reason to think they came off with great credit ; and the
clericals, in their hearts, are staggered exceedingly by the
pluck and heroism of these poor lads.
I The scenes in the hospital at Rome, where the wounded
ii Cairoli reproached Pio to his face for the crimes the Papal
government committed in his name and the murder of his
brother, made the greatest sensation at Rome ,• and the
Pontiff, wbo is only allowed to hear the most abject fiat-
s tery and the stupidest adulation, wee greatly struck by the
' dauntlessness of the poor wounded Garibaldino. Justice
demands it to be noted that popular Mitred is solely
directed against the foreign mercenaries of Rome, and that
the Roman troops behaved most fraternally and humanely
to the wounded Garibaldians, nor did Pio Noma himself
show any rancour, he is so wrapped up in that sublime
idea of his own infallibility. He was rudely awakened by
the voice of truth coming from poor young
As usual, the Italians shine more in enthusiasm for •
great leading idea than in common sense and practical
judgment and administration. All the departments of the
I public service are in a universal muddle. There is no
lother word to express it. The state of the artillery was
so (Ungraceful in September and October that to serve the
few batteries sant to the frontier government had to press
horses into the service by requisition. Most cheerfully
were these given, and hardly • soldier missed
when the category of 1642 was called. But one deeply
deplores that the class just above the people should be so
wanting in those qualities which would utilise the tine
feeling of the latter for the benefit of the country. There
can be no doubt, considering the native intelligence and