The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-04 00:00:00

ITALY.

THE TWO BICILIES.
(moll 011 l OWN 001/I.IIIPONDI

NAPLES, Disc. 26.
On the 13th of December, Poerio being ill from a
alight fever, occasioned by the rubbing of his chain,
the room in which he is confined with Nisco, Palermo,
and the Duke Castromediano was entered by the
eommander of the prison, the inspector of police,
the° hake Regio, his chancellor, and two gendarmes.
On the order of the judge the gensee pro-
ceeded to examine the person of Poem, his letters—
all marked with the stamp of the commander and the
inspector, or they could not have entered—his bed-
clothes, and even the old shoes which are made by
people in the confidence of the authorities. After
a fruitless iavestigation the gensdarmes were
ordered to ezunineNisco in the same manner. During
this inquisition not a question was asked, not a word
uttered. Onitsconclosion thejudge simply pointed out
a certain part of the proms verbal be his chancellor,
and said that " those things were not to be found."
There was a desire on the part of the primmer, to
insist open an "interrogatono," which the law in fact
permits, and lino° is said to have spoken with the
judge Penes a double row of bars; but the reply was
that be had completed his duty, and had made a
report that nothing wan proven. The charge, how-
ever, was not made known to them. A copy of this
report, for their own defence, had been asked for, bat
with what result Ide not knew. Such is the perse-
cution and indignities to which these unfortunate
men are subjected. How anything can reach them
of a compromising character may be inferred from the
fallowing facts. These men, after havingbeen impri-
soned as gaCey slaves for seven years, are now confined
inn melees the top of a mountain, surrounded by two
high walls, and a fosse with drawbridges. They are
under an exceptional system of treatment, have
neither pens, ink, nor paper, write twice a week to
near friends only in the presence of guards, and
en paper furnished by the authorities. Everything
that enters the prison is minutely examined. They
can see their friends only by special permission;and
then at the distance of ten palms, behind a double
row of ban. Poerio has not seen a relative nnee
his confinement. They are guarded by 120 soldiers
and 26 pusdannes. How can mez so situated
plot, ann how can denunciations and inquisition be
regarded in any other light than as parts of
a systematic attempt to ruin those whose
honesty it cannot sap or whose will it
cannot break do not understand inch

Quixotism," said a friend to me recently : "these
men might have their liberty by aaking for it, and
acknowledging their offence." Ido understand this
so called Quixotism. First, there are many who
have said for liberty without receiving it. Secondly,
they cannot acknowledge an offence when they
sawn that none has been legally proved. No able
lawyer in Naples would say so; all, in fact, affirm that
it was an infamous sentence, and Poerio asks not
for pardon, but for s revision of the whole case. Were
be to ask for pardon as the condition of liberty he
would belie his conscience, and would fall altogether
from that high position he now occupies in the
opinions and affectioas of honest men. People who
visit Naples should rather trust to statements of
those whose business it is to investigate the truth,
than to those whose interests may warp their judg-
ment, or whose occupations render them necessarily
as soperflcial observers as those whom they affect to
enlighten.
From the scene of the earthquake I have little to
report. The official journal itself has been silent for
the last two nights, and far the reason, I believe,
that the details are too horrible to relate. I have
seen the courier from Anletta, who says that there
the inhabitants were living in tents or wooden bar-
racks; the roads were open, and gensdarmes and
urban guards were watching over their safety.
Government is sending down stores of every kind,
but no persons of any distinction leave to visit the
afflicted population.

A correspondent of the Nord states that an exten-
sive insurrection in the kingdom of the Two Sicilia'
had been organised, the mmlet►ul and preparations
for which had been collected at Tunis, whence an
expedition was to .ail for the Neapolitan coast. The
enterprise was to be made under the name of Prince
Murat. The affair for the pnvent has failed, owing
to the vigilance of the Neapolitan government