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

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26. 1867.

any countervailing advantage. He was for all 1
these reasons radically and altogether opposed to ;
the bill. He was far from saying that no army
reform was called for; on the contrary, the un-
necessary number of the Imperial Guard,
the great military commands, the vicious
system of promotion, the fanciful equipments,
and the theatrical inameuvres which would
be utterly useless in the face of an enemy, were all
things that demanded revision. But he felt that ,
lin going even to the slight extent he had done into 1
technical matters, he was beside the question;
because, in reality, what they had before them weal
not an organic, not a permanent law ; it was a
transitory measure, an expedient for a particular
purpose, in short, however speciously the fact;
might be denied, it was a war measure. (Loud
exclamations.) Ho was not to be hoodwinked by
the argument that the bill was not a war measure
because its full effects would not be produced till
six or seven years hence. Had not the Minister at 1
War admitted that from and after the Ist of
January next the government would have under 1
its hand 400,000 mobile national guards, and thus
be enabled to empty the internal garrisons, and
send the whole active army to the frontiers
As to the possible momentary diminution of two
I or three thousand men of the first category, it was
not a matter to which any importance could be
i attached ; and for this plain reason, that the mlcu-
I
1 lation might at any moment be upset by an aug-
mentation of the annual contingent. The Minister
at War, with parliamentary ingenuity, for the
purpose of catching a vote, had said, " Give
' me the nine years service, give me the mobile
' national guard, give me the permanent law, and
I then I promise you that this year we will try
whether a contingent of only 100,000 men will not
be enough. Yea, " by way of trial," and to-morrow
perhaps we shall be asked for 120,000 or 130,000
for another trial, and for more in case of necessity.
The concession was but apparent. They were aaked
to vote what was irrevocable ; the promise made
them was transitory and experimental. On such a
solemn occasion as the present it was necessary to
speak the whole truth. Ho was persuaded and
would say that it was France which had prepared
and organised the alliance between Prussia and
Italy. It was France that had fomented the war
of 1866—Venetia was only the pretext. One
object was to find occupation for the army—an in-
dispensable thing whenever an army was
large ; otherwise promotion was slow, and
discontent followed. The other motive had
its rise in the detestable conviction, very
prevalent in certain minds, that a new dynasty
could only be founded by victories and conquests.
[This language in the mouth of a man who only a
year ago received the offer of a portfolio produced
much confused interruption.] What was hoped
was, that the struggle between Prussia and Aus-
tria would go on for a long time, and that France
might ultimately intervene and get a share of the
spoil. (Interruption.) If this were not the calcu-
lation, the part taken by the French government
in organising the war of IFai6 would be not only
inexplicable, but criminal. Well, events had
thwarted the expectations of the French govern-
ment, and now it could not resign itself to the dis-
appointment. The Corps Legielatif was deeply
responsible for this state of things. It took every
opportunity of professing its love of peace, but in
reality it voted every day for war. (Great noise,
and cries of "True, true" on the Left benches.)
Yes. Whenever a speaker rose to say that the
events that had taken place in Germany were
neither humiliating nor menacing to France he
was cried down •, and those who affirmed that
Bedews was a diminution of the prestige of
France were applauded. If this were denied, he
would only ask those who interrupted him to read
the Muniteur. When these things were constantly
said it was impossible that a sensitive nation
like France, with a chief whose name was
Napoleon, could long resist tho pressure.
Either the Chamber and the nation must
resign themselves without any arriire pens* to
accept accomplished facts, or they must manfully
, prepare for a terrible war with Germany. The
only way to avoid such a catastrophe was for the
Emperor to substitute a liberal and constitutional
for a personal government, and for the Chamber,
which officially represented the country, to reject
this bill. Referring to M. Thiers' passionate excla-
mation, "Let us be Frenchmen," he would say
! that it was not the most noble way of being a
' Frenchman, to prevent Germany from being Ger-
man, and Italians Italian. The patriotism which
consisted in paying for a substitute,voting supplies,
and composing a few well-turned phrases for a
I speech was cheap and easy, but they should think
I seriously of the interests of the working classes,
' upon whom the blood tax most heavily fell.
Among the many war symptoms I regard as not
the least significant a well-accredited report that
the Minister at War means to propose an increase
of pay of 3,000 f. for generals of division and
2,000 f. for generals of brigade.
The Bourse showed further weakness at the
opening, and Routes went down to 68.50, being
16c. below the lowest point of yesterday's depres-
sion. But on the news of General Menabrea
having been ordered by the King to re-form a
ministry there was a reaction, and the last prices
show scarcely any change.

the temperance of the Italians, that if the higher classes
would exert themselves to be active, studious, honest, and
leas slothfully devoted to idling at es.f.W and theatres, the
army would be on a fur better footing.

There were many " meetings " in Florence se to the
propriety of demonstrations to call back the House of
Loraine and the other princes. These demonstrations did ,
not take place upon the following grounds :—The party
had not the least feeling of shame at calling in foreign
troops? but the government had agreed to be peasive, if
thu exiled princes were to return, unless a French army
took possession of Italy. Now the expenses of such an
army, estimated at 200,000 men, must fall upon the
great landowners, all oodini, and these burthens the latter
shrank from undertaking ; consequently the demonstra-
tion did not take place ; and more, the clerical newspapers
were, for thern, most moderate, having received their cue,
a most remarkable symptom of the slugglish, selfish apathy
of the party, and contrasting strangely with the generous
imprudence of thousands of Garibaldini. It is reported
that the backwardness and apathy of the codini, or clerical
' party, greatly enraged the French Emperor, who was ready '
to send back the princes if their subjects wished for them.
The state of lorence in September, October, and
November, was the most singular in the world. Yon
could not expect particular enthusiasm for the success of
the Roman enterprise, but you might have looked for some
disapprobation of a scheme which would deprive Florence
of the privileges of being a capital. No such thing. Not
a single opinion, one way or other was expressed by
the Florentines. Ido believe if the *coon of Japan was
set up in the l'itti, the genuine Florentines would only say
" guardi" (look), and ask who had won at the lottery.
All the rows were got up by young scamps from the Ban-
ned, and the troops soon dispersed these. Now, the fear-
ful epidemic being, we hope, over, the troops are being
exercised with the now weapons, but there is A hitch in the
Chassepot, at least in those Chassepots sent to our trooc
here—probably very different from the weapons designed
the inventor, and made under his immediate supennten
ence. It is perfectly true they did " merveilles," and mowed
down 600 Italians, armless, and without ammunition, at
Mentana, and that inglorious butchery only took one
hour and a half. Afterwards it was found the weak points
(the india-rubber valve) began to tell, and that the cart-
ridges fouled the nel. Now, the great claim of the in-
ventor to notice was that the barrels did not foul. It
is supposed, therefore, that the fault lies in the cart-
ridges supplied. However, the fact remains. There is
• hitch to overcome about the weapon of which we have
heard so much. At present our poor Italy is in sad straits,
but it is "dement to know she defiantly told Narvaes, on
hearing of his impudent threat through the French, that
if any ships of Spain tried to land troops in Italy they
would be fired into. The Due de it got into an awful
rage after this, and asked for his passport, but on the pad-
fielding prayers of the French he was induced to retract
his demand. They Nay here the King of Bavaria is willing
to resign, and live like his grandfather in which ease
Bavaria would be hitched forward to Prussia. The Ita-
lians, of course, are anxious for this, looking to the natural
hatred of France and Prussia as their best chance.

To the great delight of the Italians, the crops all
over Italy this year have been more than abundant.
They have been overwhelming. Hay, corn, pulse,
fruits, wine, oil, and chestnuts, all equally astonishing
in quantity as in quality. This, after the clericals had
predicted scarcity and famine, owing to the sales of
the Beni Dennaniali, has set the Italian party crow-
ing, as you may suppose, and there is no denying
the fact, as it is delightfully patent to the humblest
Contadino. At Mazzadi, in the Romagna, there are
not barrels sufficient to hold the wine, nor vats for
the oil. This I had from landed proprietors there. So
wonderful was the crop, that strong, excellent wine only '
costs 16 francs the soul= (two barrels). The French
are buying up everything eatable and drinkable they
can, and are driving away all the oxen, swine, mules,
and donkeys, and giving excellent prices for them.
It amazes one now and then to get a peep behind the
scenes of rural life in the Peninsula. The province of
Molise contains 100,000 souls. Its chief town is Campo-
basso. It' was originally a fortress of Manfred, he who
was slain at Benevento, 1289 or thereabouts. The place
is exceedingly beautiful aud healthy, on an elevation in a
lovely valley, surrounded by an amphitheatre of very
lofty, beautiful mountains. Provisions are extremely
abundant, cheap, and good, and the people very wealthy,
and able to command every comfort ; but dreadfully igno-
rant and filthy. A " Galantnomo" there signifies a man
who wears broad cloth ; and even the richest families
all eat out of one enormous brown crockery tegarpe, or
dish, just as the very poorest Irish do. The women
would not be ill-looking but for their incredible filth. There
are no tire-places, because nobody knows how to make •
chimney, the native way of cooking being to hang a pot
over a fire in the centre of a room. Yet the maocarom I.
of first rate quality, and only calls for Parmesan instead
of acrid sheep's milk cheese to be excellent. Though so
abundant in fruits, the country yields no wine, the people
not understanding the use of their grapes. As a matter
of course, their religion is a mass of gross superstitions,
and their morality very doubtful. No man is withheld
by say scruple. Whose is the fault? The Roman priest
and the Bourbon government. The sale of the seques-
tered church property has hitherto proceeded rapidly,
and with keen competition for the different lots, greatly
to the mortification of the clericali, who had hoped
to frighten away purchasers by threatening them
with eternal damnation, end thus to secure all the
bonus Gouda for their friends and themselves. But
it only showed the remarkable want of knowledge of
humau nature which priests are so distinguished
for. People only laughed at the thunders of the Vatican,
and rushed to the auctions, thankful to exchange cellos
of the national debt for real property at a moderate
price, and with parliamentary titles. A house in the Via
Montebello, put up at 10,000 f., was sold at 60,000 E—this,
of course, was en exceptional case, but it is not too much
to give 50 per cent. above the valuation aa the fair propor-
tion. This measure will have the effect of creating a great
body of proprietors interested in the welfare of the land,
and resident for many months on the land. I myself
think it a great pity government did not con-
vert. either by voluntary offer or by a little
wholesome pressure, the great body of peasionaff,
or dependents of tho exiled princes, thus into land or house
owners, as it would have relieved the treasury at once of
en enormous dead weight, which will be but very slowly
dimiuished by time, and certainly to a peasioNatu the con-
version of an uncertain and temporary provision into
a commutation of real property would have been but too
welcome. However, lf this was thought of, it was not
carried out, possibly for fear of making tee pensionoti too
independent, whereas they are left under the fear of being
turned adrift should they become obnoxious.
The country ia fulled money, but unfortunately the want
of a good, practical, clear home administrat ion prevents this
money benefiting the people. The insufferable worries,
plagues, delays, forms, and the grinding stamp duties
crush all private enterprise, and leave no business brisk,
flourishing, and lucrative, save that of the smuggler.
Indeed the smuggler is the tutelary god of the rural
household, and it is entirely owing to the pig-headed obsti-
nacy of the Piedmontese notion of finance that it is so.
The great merchants in Florence, even, are obliged by the
maltreatment, worries, losses, and extortions of the royal
customs to enter into this protection league—and so des-
perately s:nggish is national industry that even those
miserable grey rugs used by the very poorest classes for
their beds came from abroad—wretched coarse grey rage,
composed of refuse, wool, horses'and goats' hair. Surely in •
pastoral country like Italy these might be worked up for
the use of the people. It is the torpor and sluggishness of
the people here that disheartens the best friends of Italy.
The graceful but trivial art of glass-blowing is, however,
flourishing at Masan°, thanks to tho ardent patronage of
the English court and aristocracy. The coloured glasses
are most exquisite, especially those imitative of the
I nautilus shell. Bat in white glass nothing approaches
I the crystalline purity of the English.

THE BOMBAY MAlL.—Eirr.z, DEC. 25.—The
Rangoon, from Bombay 14th inst., arrived at 9 a.m.
to-day.

QUEENSTOWN, DEC. 25.—The National Steam-
ship Company's steam-ship France, from New York.
arrived off this port at 10 p.m. to-day. She brings 61,463
dollars in specie. After landing tho passengen she pro-
ceeded for Liverpool.
THE NEW WORKSHOP REOULATIONS Aar.—On
Wednesday next the act to regulate the hours of labour
for children, young persons, and women employed in work-
shops in the United Kingdom will take effect. No child
under 8 years is to be employed in any handicraft. A
" child " is to mean one under 13, a "young person " one
of 13 and under lei, and a "woman" 18 or upwards. No
child is to be employed more than six hours and a half in
each day, or a young person more than twelve, with at
least one hour and a half for meals and rest. There is to
be no work on Sunday, or after 2 o'clock on Saturday,
except in cases where not more than five persons are em-
ployed, and where such employment is in making articles
to be sold by retail, or in repairing similar articles. Every
child employed in a workshop is to attend school fur at
least 10 hours in each week, and on the applin.tion of the
teacher the master may pay for the schooling, and deduct
the same from the wages. There are provisions to enforce
the new law, and to inflict penalties in a summary manner.
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