The Express.
London, England, 1859-07-26 00:00:00

THE ZURICH CONFERENCE.

BERNE, JULY 26.

The conference of the three poweiW, France,
Austria, and Piedmont, will most likely take place
at the end of July, and be probably of short dura-
tion.

HE ADRIATIC.

TRIES E, MONDAY, JOLT 25.

The imperial war steamer Elizabeth, having on
board Count Colloredo and Baron Hubner, has
arrived here from Ancona.

LUMIIII ill evacuated, the French fleet having set
Nil.

THE ITALIAN CONFEDERATION.

When the news of the preliminaries of Villafranca
became known, we pointed out that the project of a
Confederation—an old idea of the Emperor of the
French—could not be considered as an essential con-
dition of the peace, depending as it did upon the
eaasent of numerous parties having opposite inte-
rests with respect to it. One of the most in-
fluential of the governmental journals at Vienna
was at the same time developing a similar
opinion. The idea was further opposed vehe-
mently at Turin. We believe that although the
scheme may not have been formally struck out of the
it is not now insisted on by its author,
Mrstkatmlille more will be heard of it. To con-
hesista Italy before the governments of Italy have
bass mottled in harmony with the wishes of the
people, is to begin at the wrong end. The Aside-fax
Gazette, in the following article, is at pains to show
that the government of his Imperial and Apostolic
Majesty does not set muck value on the project, and
is not pledged to its realisation
Since the year 11349 the Austrian governmeot had sought
to render the proposition of an Italian oosfederation aorept-
able to the governments of Italy. That project has just been
reamed by the powers which have concluded the peace, and
hoe been extended to the whole of Italy. each • ousbinse
tits will be accepted only so liur as lie acceptance can be en-
forced ; the States which can resist will oppose it as muck as
phobic We have always doutted whether the Pope would
accept the Presidency—whether he would enter the =fed*.
ratios. It Is now stated that he refused that post of hoomar,
sad we well underhand that he Imo motive. sufficient for
doing so. la order to be the Independent chief of the Catholic
church, the Pope must be supreme; but he would lose that
independence II he was at the head of a power disposing of
• great shay. He ought to be neutral to European questions,
sad °ash( not to be drawn into the whirlpool of Inter-
national quarrels by force of cireumatances or policy.
Bea If, in utilities to the crozier, Rome had once more a
=lced, if the sovereign of Rome could dispose of some
of thousands of bayonets, not only the existence of
the pieta teat states, but the independence of the catholic
towntrles would be in danger, and a mess of enemies would
be raised up against the church of Rome te fight for lits and
death.
_ .

The Pope, as chief of a confederation of 25 !Billions
decals, would be a danger to the balanced power in Europe
end to the geed of the church; the Peps, sea men nomi-
nal Fitithet. who did nothing but cover with his august
nese thorned' s§ adhere and sign their deers's, would suffer
Wary to hie 100 dignity and restraint in hie exalted tum-
efying : hie pest would be unbearable. Non-occlesiaatical
powers wield in this wee have ea opportunity of abasing the
alma for their twit tads, sad even of putting cosetrabd
ups it. At Rode, admit political tact hut never been
weatieg, nos ally meet thee§ difficulties be felt, but it must
be ales takes lido eossideration thet the whole temporal do-

silos of Imo Pop Is pot to gouda& by the. arraieeseent.
lle 1/111114 be slop to Sod a twist Ibr sotttog aside the tees-
pads pewee of a Pops. wile elms to remain impartial,
old Stedlods would newer bowman to inclination to do this.
flordinie, gestrally, wiil not are horn aiming at leader-
ship-4 indirect domination—in Italy—in mom to arrive
ultimately at the eovereoguty of Italy : the nomination of
M. Ratuzi u prime minister of Victor EMM2IIO4I proves
Wm only too clearly. She will attempt to slim thus pro-
jects in the sew ooefederatioo, sod we ought not to be war-
ps-Wed, therefore, It Napier, to metope from this Femme sod
these intriguer, should wish to remain a strugwr to the eon-
federatiou. Acmiedieurly the parties which have ooscluded
the quo have referee unekrtaittes to favour the formation
of • eamiedertvaio• of this kW, for It is by no 4144128 to their
pewee le lens ono ofecitsay.