The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-23 00:00:00

[STAMPED, id. ADDMONAL.]

OPENING OF THE ITALIAN PARLI
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.

FLORENCE, MAKcit 22.

The Italian Parliament was opened to-day by the
King in person, who delivered the following speech
from the throne :
Signori Senatori, Signori Deputati,— For the happiness
of Italy, who has confided to me her destinies, I have
deemed it expedient that the representation of the coun-
try should be renovated at the fountain-bead of the na-
tional suffrage. lam confident that it will there have im-
bibed • consciousness of the serious wants of
the country, as well as the strength necessary to
provide for them. There has been a time for
daring resolutions and bold enterprises. I pursued
the course which was then necessary, full of confidence
in the holiness of the cause which God had called upon
me to defend. The nation replied with readiness to my
appeal, and by cur union and persevenume we acquired
our independence and preserved our liberty. Now that
her existence is assures, Italy demands that the forme of
her intelligence and her will shall not be exhausted in
intemperance and rivalry, but shall on the contrary be
concentrated with the object of giving her a stable and
wise organisation, in order that she may be able to develop
in repose and tranquillity the elements of vitmity and
proaperity which she baa received from Providence. The
nation demands that the chamber and the government shall
apply themselves with wisdom and resolution to this work of
reparation. Nations love and appreciate institutions by rea-
son of the benefits they derive from them. It is necessary to
show that our institution■ give satisfaction to the noblest
aspiratioos after national dignity and activity, and that
they are at the same time a guarantee for the good organi-
sation of the state and the welfare of the people, in order
that the latter may not lose confidence in liberty
which is the honour and the strength of our political re-
construction. In order to obtain this result my govern-
ment will submit to your deliberrition a bill for a complete
administrative reorganisation, which will strengthen at
the same time both liberty and authority, and facilitate
as well as simplify the relations between the governing
and the governed. While the provinces and the communes,
in accordance with the proposed law, areto enjoy greater
►iberty in the sphere of their jurisdiction, more extensive
powers must be united in the hands of the chief of the pro-
vince, so as to diminish the confusion inherent in decen-
tralisation by the application of a remedy calculated to
strengthen the bonds of unity. There will be presented
to you, at the same time, bills, of which the object will be
to render the collection of the taxes more simple and
uniform ; to reform some portions of our system of taxa-
tion ; and to obtain by a more sensible method of accounts
a safe control and rapid check over the application of the
public money. The necessities and engagements of the
state do not allow us for'the moment to diminish, as I
would wish, the burdens which weigh upon my people.
In the meantime the legitimate liquidation of the eccle-
siastical patrimony, strict economy in the expenditure, a
vigilant application of the new laws, and the severest
morality in the conduct of all the branches of the public
administration, will make the payment of the taxes ap-
pear less burdensome. The prompt discussion and effec-
tive application of the proposed reforms can alone restore
our credit, and remove the necessity for fresh imposts.
The financial question is at the present day not only a
question of supreme interest for Italy, but also one of
honour and national dignity. Parliament will, I have
no doubt, direct all their activity to the solu-
tion of this question. On solemn occasions we
have pledged ourselves to Nurope that we would
become a power for the advancement of civilisation,
order, and peace, so soon as we were placed in possession of
our national existence. Now is the time for us to redeem
that pledge, and to fulfil the hopes that have been placed
in us.

Gentlemen of the genets and Chamber of Deputies,—
The honour, the safety. and the future of the nation are
now in your hands. If it was a glory for us to have ac-
complished by so many sacrifices the work of our indepen-
dence, and to have endowed the nation with the activity
and vigour of life, it will be no less a glory for us to
organise it at home—to make it sure of itself, respected,
and strong.

The King concluded his speech amid loud and
prolonged cheering.

Da. LIVINOSTONE.-Commodore Hillyar, in a
letter dated at Bombay the Ist inst., addressed to the Ad-
miralty, states that her Majesty's ship Wasp proceeded on
the 2nd of January to Quiloa, with Dr. Seward, her Ma-
jesty's acting political agent and consul at Zanzibar, to
endeavour to ascertain the truth of the report that Dr.
Livingstone had been murdered by a Zulu tribe near Lake
Nyasaa,
Tee MANSION-HOUSE DIST'RESS RELIEF FC:SD. -
The committee who have undertaken the management of
the above fund held • special meeting yesterday at the
Mansion-house, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor.
It will be remembered that the committee at a recent
sitting entertained the question whether the time had
not arrived for them to cease their labours, particularly as
the fund at their disposal had dwindled to a very low
ebb, but in consequence, however, of the representations
that were made to them as to the amount of distress
that still continued to exist in the eastern parte of the
metropolis, aggravated by the renewed inclemency of the
weather, they resolved not to dissolve at that time, but to
await the result of an appeal to the public for more funds
to enable them to carry out their benevolent object. The
Lord Mayor accordingly made • few observations from the
bench, and Mr. Gibbs, the honorary secretary to the com-
mittee, reported yesterday that the result of this appeal
was that during the last four days nearly 1,000/. bad been
remitted to the committee. Among the contributors
were the Fishmongers' Company (second donation), 1001.;
the Duke of Portland, 100&. ; and Mr. Adrian Hope,
1001. ; the total amount of the fund being thus raised to
nearly 1,4001. The committee, under these circumstances,
resolved to continue their exertions • short time longer,
and they made • grant of 2001. to the Deptford committee,
and another of 1001. to that of St. James, Ratcliffe, and
then adjourned.
RATING IN THE METROPOLIS.-The return moved
for in the House of Commons, by Mr. Goschen, was pub-
lished yesterday, showing, with respect to the several
unions and parishes within the metropolitan district, the
amount expended for rating to the poor for each of the 10
years ended at Lady-day, 1866; the rateable value, and the
rate in the pound of the expenditure. In 1866, the amount
expended was 18,899/., and the rate in the pound 9d.-
Fulham, 15,9861. at le. 7jd. in the pound ; Paddington,
16,1307., at 64.; Chelsea, 21,6231., at Is. 104 d.; St. George's,
Hanover-square, 22,1211., at 6j(l. ; St. Margaret and St.
John , Westminster, 24,171/., at Is. 24d.; Se. Martin-in-the-
Fields, 13,9941., at Is. OsL ; St. James, Westminster,
72,1361., at Is. ojd. ; St. Marylebone, 55,8311., at Is. lid. •,
Hampstead, 5,52'3/., at fijd. • St. Pancras, 59,6614., at
Is. 3d. ; Islington, 28,4641., at'9ld. • Hackney, 19,6341., at
Is. ld. ; St. Giles and St. George, Bloomsbury, 18,3491., at
le. 6ci. ; Strand, 23,112/. at ; Holborn, 14,906!., at
ls. 64d. ; Clerkenwell, 18,367/. at le. 9)d. ; St. Luke's,
21,126/., at 2s. 71.; East L0nd0n:27,149f., at Zr. 11d.; West
London, 22,4171., at 2a. 7jd.; City of London (whose gross
rateable value waa 1,767,006/.), 44,04:1/. ,at 61d.; Shoreditch,
40,0201., it 2s. 8)d. • Bethnal-green, 28,5:W., et 2s. ;
Whitechapel, 32,3301.. at 2s. 5d.; St. George-in-the-East,
26,467/. at 3e. 24d.; Stepney, 31,424/., at 2s. $1,1;
end Old' '
Town, 18,1771., at Is.lojd.; Poplar, 27,285/., at
Is. 3d.; St. Saviour, 18,9344., at 2a. 9jd.; St. (Nave,
9,2784., at Is. (41.; Bennondroy, 16,9561., at N. 01d. St.
George, Southwark, 22,652/., at Is. 3d.; Newiegton,
23,294/. at Is. 9jd.; Lzunbeth, 48,433/., at Is. 714.;
Wandesirorth and Clapham, 25,3101., at le.; Camberwell,
22,3521., at Is. 31:L ; Rotherhithe, 10,736/. at 2s. 2d.;
Greenwich, 44,173/., at 2s. 244.; and Lewisham, 13,4331.,
at fijd.
Foaalos-orrzcs, MARCH 19.-The Queen has
been pleased to approve of DI Gustave Overbech as Consul-
General at Hong Itong for his Majesty the Emperor of
Austria. The Queen has also been pleased to approve of
M. Cherie. Oppeuheim, as Consul at Edinburgh for his
Imperial Majesty the Sultan. The Queen has also been
Owed to approve of Senor Nugent Robinson as Consul at
Dublin for the Republic of the Equator. The Queen bas
also been pleased to approve of Don John radial Mutrie as
Consul at Belize for the Republic of Honduras. The
PBQeymouraruue:hLasahoiConsulfr. been
atl' eaQ:elnrtownaPPT°f for thae RDonepublicW. eel
- .

ADMIRALTY, MArecli 22.—Arromntstris.—Lieu-
teLoust U. H. Anna, to the Challenger (additional), for
surveying service. Second Master C. G. J. Cater, to the
Rodney. Engineer J. ll'lntynt, to the Orontes. rust
class Assistant F.ngineers .J. A. shawyer, to the Orontes,
and J. 5. Pidgeon, to the Virago.
ORTIRAL PALACIO. Ont Bw.m. DAT.—
FIIDAT, Manor 22.—Adaisiceis OS pretty 233; &Me,
by moon tickets, 739. Total visitors, 2.

.: C~.~.~

[TWOPENCE

THE GOVERNMENT REFORM BILL.

BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY NIGHT.

A crowded and enthusiastic meeting convened
by the Mayor (Mr. George Dixon) was held in the Town.
hall this evening, for the purpose of considering the
government reform bill ; the KAYOS presided. The fol.
lowing resolutions were carried unanimously :-1. Moved
by Mr. Thos. Lloyd, seconded by Rev. R. W. Dale, and
supported by Mr. W. Radford, " That this meeting hating
considered the reform bill proposed by the government,
accepts with great satisfaction the recognition of house-
hold suffrage as the basis of the franchise in boroughs ;
but is of opinion that the advantages of the propositions
would be directly neutralised by the condition which
limits the right of voting to those occupiers who pay local
rates directly,and by the unwise innovation of dual voting.
which, by the creation of invidious distinctions between
clazaes, would cause permanent ill-feeling in the nation.
2. Moved by the Ven. Archdeacon Sandford, and seconded
by Mr. James Baldwin, " That the government, by
proposing for the counties a higher qualification than was
adopted by the present House of Commons last session,
have placed themselves in direct hostility to the
nised demands of the people. 3. Moved by. Mr. r.rl".
Wright, and seconded by the Rev. Charles '1 ince, "That
the proposed re-distribution of seats is totally inadequate
to rectify the existing anomalies of the present law, or to
assimilate in any buportant degree the repreaentation of
the population, intelligence, or wealth of the nation." 4.
Moved by Mr. Rutherford, and seconded by Mr. George
Baker, " That a petition to the House of Common,. em-
bodying the foregoing resolutions be signed by the Mayer
on behalf of this meeting." A vote of thanks to the
Mayor for presiding terminated the meeting.

NOTTINGHAM, FRIDAY NIGHT.
An enthusiastic meeting was held in the Ex-
change-hall to-night, totake into eonsideration the govern-
ment reform measure. es totally condemnatory of
the scheme were delis ; and it was resolved that in
consequence of the decision of the liberal party on Thurs-
day, the meeting should be adjourned until after the
second reading of the Reform Bill.

HULL, FHIDAT NIGHT.
A numerously attended and enthusiastic meet-
ing was held at Hull to-night. Resolutions were carried,
condemning the government bilL A conservative amend.
ment was proposed to the effect that it ws. the desire of
the government to settle reform on constitutional pris•
ciplea, and rejected by seven to one. The ex.iliayor pre•
sided, and the leading men, both liberal and conservative,
addressed the meeting.
LEEDS, riIIDAY NIGHT.
A meeting of the Leeds Reform Registration
Association was held to-night, Mr. Darnton Lupton in the
chair, to consider the conservative scheme of reform. On
the motion of Mr. Frederick Baines, a resolution was
adopted, objecting to the dual vote and the system of
voting papers, and calling for essential 'aeration in those
provisions, which would exclude voters who pay their
rates through their landlonds, and who also, when placed
in circumstances to obtain the vote, were exposed to diffi-
culty, trouble, and expense in proving their claim to the
franchise. It was also agreed by the meeting that a
5/. rental would be regarded by reformers as a satisfactory
substitute for the borough franchise offered by govern-
ment. The meeting evinced a disposition to allow the con-
servative bill to go into committee under certain provisos.
Confidence was expressed in Mr. Gladstone, and hope enter•
tained that the liberal members would act on the policy
the right hoe. gentleman sketched on Thursday.

Meetings at which the bill was condemned as
unsatisfactory have also been held at Levetishulme,
Barnidey, West Leigh, Nottiagimm, Macclesfield, Droyls-
den, Bolto°, and other places.