The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-31 00:00:00

ITALY.

SARDINIA.

Craoll ovn own CokILEBTONDENT.)
TULIN, Jib. 28.
It will be in conformity with my ordinary prat- 4.
tics if I speak only briefly of those pulling events
of which you may read in any of the journals pub-
lished in this city. Prince Napoleon has visited the
fortifications of Alessandria in company with General
Niel, and both have congratulated General La Mar.
mora. On Sunday morning the French general
officially asked, in the name of Napoleon 111., the
hand of the Princess Clotilda for his Imperial
Highness. In the evening the betrothed, with the
King and the whole court, wont to the theatre,
occupying the front circle. They were received with
loud and protracted cheering. The high aristocracy,
better advised, have ceased their opposition, and
appeared on that evening with all possible display,
In my last I referred to the activity of Austrian
emissaries, and some intrigues which had
been set on foot by the clerical party.
The latter have done all they could to prevent the
marriage about to take place. As the Prinee,s
Clotilda is extremely young and very religious, they
tried to persuade her she was going to take for a
husband a man tinctured with unbelief, and to live
in an atheistical court. Some time back the gees.
tion was mooted of giving a Princess of Saxony to
Prince Napoleon for a wife, but it dropped to the
ground, not without the occult and hostile inter-
ference, it is said, of Austrian diplomacy. Since the ,
marriage of Vittorio Emmanuel's daughter with the
son of the ex-King Jerome has been spoken of, the ,
Court of Vienna have endeavoured to revive that
negoti►tion, assenting to what they formerly dis-
approved. These and similar manceuvres have com-
pletely failed. The Princess Collide. gives every
sign of satisfaction. Nor is the Prince less content,
and he sincerely admires the frank, affable, and
cordial kindness of the Kiog, his father-in-law.
On Monday evening last there was a grand ball
at Court, at which about 1,300 guests were present.
Nothing could be more splendid cr more joyous.
The King conversed long with Eir James Hudson.
The curious pretend to know that the British Mi-
nister took upon himself to expose to his Majesty
the grave dangers into which the present policy of
his Cabinet might lead him. But Sir James is well
aware that Victor Emmanuel has the Italian national
cause at heart even more than his own Ministers
have. On Sunday next the marriage will be
, solemnised ; on Monday ;the King and the bridal
pair will be in Genoa, where a brilliant reception
awaits them. On the following day a French
flotilla, which is already on its way, will, conduct
the imperial pair to Marseilles.
Napoleon 111. has shown his desire to honour the
new relationship just formed. It wu at first pro-
posed to put off the celebration of the nuptials for
some time, but something happened in the meantime
to hasten the ceremony. Perhaps it has been owing
to a discovery of certain intrigues, and perhaps the
increasing complications of diplomatic intercouse
between various European states may have partly
been the reason.

Fresh troops continue to pour into Lombardy,
although two contrary parties are at issue in the
Ault° Council at Vienna. One wishes to see no act
committed that may be interpreted as a sign of con-
cession and weakness ; the other, at the head
of which is Baron Betel, endeavours to remove
every pretext for discontent on the part of France,
and disapproves this sudden despatch of 30,000 and
odd men to Italy. All agree, however, at Vienna,
that little hope remains of preserving peace. Should
the difficulties between France and Austria be even
removed, there would still be left the far more
serious ones between the latter power and Piedmont.
Sardinian diplomacy has every right to demand the
demolition of those new detached forts that have
been built at Piacenza contrary to the letter of the
treaties; it can require solemn reparation, and at all
events proportionate indemnity, respecting those un-
jest sequestrations laid on the property of such Lan-
bards as have become Piedmontese subjects. In
short, Piedmont, as the protectress of national
Italian interests, is able to demand of Austria,
and of France too, that they chill withdraw
their troops from the Roman state, and it can gene-
rally also demand such a settlement of Italian affairs
as may allow Piedmont to disarm and live in repose.
I do not myself think that these knots can be unfas-
tened otherwise than by the sword. Here we are
beginning to see light thrown on some secret con-
ventions. France will not herself begin the war
but will assist Piedmont as an auxiliary in virtue
of her alliance and family ties. Napoleon will not
himself command the army, but the chief will be
Victor Emmanuel. As in the Crimean war, France
disclaims all thought of aggrandisement by con-
quest. She believes she will be sufficiently rewarded
if she procures a faithful ally in the Italian people.
The Emperor hopes that Italy will henceforth be of
necessity attached to the fortunes of the Buonaparte
family, and anxiously desires to humble the main
support of that coalition which drove Napoleon I.
from the throne. I believe you may accept these
statements with full confidence as exact.

The task of French diplomacy at the present mo-
ment is to circumscribe the future war, and on every
Bide by every effort to ealm the strong apprehensions
of England and Prussia. AU the letters we receive
from the other side of the Alps make mention of the
vest military preparations of France. A Sardinian
diplomatist, Signor 8., received yesterday the news,
that between Grenoble, Lyons, and Toulon there are
stationed three army corps fully equipped and ready
for embarkation at a few days notice for any point
of the Mediterranean coast. A.