The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-18 00:00:00

..-°*

".

LATEST iItTELLIGENCE.

THE IMPENDING CRISIS.
LETTER OF GENERAL GARIBALDI.

General Garibaldi has replied in the following
terms to the letter of the Minister of War, offering
to him the command of the Italian volunteer
force •

Caprera, May 11,1866.

I accept with sincere gratitude the arrangements you
have made, and which his Majesty has sanctioned, with
respect to the corps of volunteers. I am thankful fox
the confidence which you repose in me by giving me the
command. Be my interpreter to the King, and express to
him my feelings. I hope soon to participate with our
glorious army in accomplishing the destiny of the country.
I thank you for the courtesy you have shown to me in
your communication. G. GARIBALDI.

In addition to the foregoing Garibaldi is said to
have written another letter to the minister inform-
ing him that he should retain in his own hands the
appointment of the colonels of the 10 regiments of
volunteers, and that he did not wish a second
general should be appointed, conditions which were
readily complied with. It is conjectured that
amongst the colonels to be appointed M. Morto
will have the command of the Genoese Carbineers,
Nicotera, Corte, and Cairoli those of Milan. His
eldest son blenotti will command the University
corps.
- -

The Florence correspondent of the Dikes writes
as follows on the 15th inst. :

We are in the midst of reports of a congress, and of
mysterious negotiations which disquiet the public mind,
and are beginning to irritate it. This period of indecision
cannot long endure without great danger. In official
quarters great, very great, illusion exists on this point.
It is thought that the extraordinary condition in which
we have been since the 19th of April can be easily pro.
longed. Yet there is reason to believe that the week will not
pass over without some decisive step being taken. In the
existing state of things and of men's minds Italy cannot
avoid going to war unless Austria cedes Venetia. This
necessity is so evident and palpable, that it is no longer
even discussed. A promise has been obtained from
Garibaldi that he would not leave Caprera till he got the
signal, but the party of action, which has now rallied to
the war, is pressing the enrolment of volunteers who are
presenting themselves on all Bides. Garibaldi is expected
in Florence on the 20th. It is supposed that by that time
the negotiations relative to the Congress will have been
concluded. The Pope has permitted, or at least has not
prevented, the passage by railway of the Italian troops
across the Roman territory. He has shut his eyes and let
the thing be done.
In a letter from Bologna to the Osserratore Ro-
wow we read :
We live here in the midst of great excitement. Bologna
has become the centre of military operations. The head-
quarters will be fixed at San Michele. We are concen-
tratingio,ooo men in the fortifications of the city, and in
the surrounding forts. Troops, artillery, and munitions
are constantly arriving. Bologna is like a great en-
trenched camp. There is scarcely a family that has not
sent a son to the war. The churches in the faubourgs
are occupied by soldiers. In addition to others, the church
of San Paolo di Ravona has been taken for this purpose and
the church of Sim I:6idi.s is also to be occupied. A large
number of soldiers are lodged in the etvrini of the surround.
ing country. Italy, it is said, will have an army of 590,000
men, and Ido not think the number is exaggerated, consi-
dering the extraordinary numbers that are being enrolled.
Enthusiastic meetings take place in order to keep up the
public spirit and to encourage the young men. Offices for
the enrolment of volunteers have been opened, and the
working classes are hurrying to give in their names.
Ad vices f rom Minden announce that some troubles
had broken out on several points of the province
of Westphalia, and that at Bielefeld, the principal
seat of the fabrication of linen in Prussia, the
workmen designated to form part of the landwelu-
; of the ith corps, in formation at Munster, have
refused to juin. Half a battalion of the 53rd
Regiment was sent 41 the place, but the other
workmen, to the number of fifteen hundred, took
the part of their comrades, and tho commander of
L the troops, before going to extremities, believed it
his duty to make a report to his superiors, who
referred the case to Berlin.