The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-16 00:00:00

AGITATION IN

GENEVA, KoJDLY.
In Switzerland the agitation upon the question
of Savoy is increasing. On Saturday and Sunday
numerous meetings took place at Thun, Winterthur,
and other places. The most important were those
held at Olten and Lausanne.

An extraordinary envoy will be sent to Berlin.

GENEVA, SUNDAY EVIMUIO.

Yesterday evening (Saturday) a Genevan depu-
tation, reprebenting all parties, presented Sir Robert
Peel with a testimonial, consisting of a cup and a
rifle. The most cordial expressions were exchanged.
Sir Robert Peel promised the support of England
for the preservation of the independence and neu-
trality of Switzerland. The deputation expressed
their thanks to the English ministry and parlia-
ment.

Under date of the 11th inst. the Federal Council
of Berne has issued a note to the great powers re-
presented at the Vienna Congress, protesting against
the voting which is being organised in Savoy for the
annexation to France, and declaring that Switzer-
land cannot admit the validity of such a proceeding,
as it is notorious that French agents, directed by
Senator Laity, are canvassing the population in
French interest&

THE INSURRECTION IN SICILY.

We read in the Gazette de Milan of the 12th :

" We have received news from Sicily of a later
date than that already published by us. Not only
is the revolution sustained, but it daily becomes
stronger and more general. After the obstinate
and bloody combats of which we have spoken, the
insurgents withdrew from the principal cities, and
concentrated themselves in the interior. There are
I from 9,000 to 10,000 combatants, all well armed and
provided with munitions of war. They have cut off
the water supply from the city, and the dearth of
water has already been much felt. Every night
they attack the royal troops besieged in the city, in
order to keep them in continual alarm and to fatigue
them. All communication with the interior of the
island is interrupted.
" We have no precise accounts of the result of
the movement in Abrurso and Calabria. All the
south of the island is in insurrection. It is believed,
or at least it is hoped, that the north will not be
long in following the example. In spite of the
peat agitation which reigns at Naples, the govern-
ment constantly Fiends troops Into Sicily. A Nea-
politan fleet cruises before the coasts to prevent any
disembarkation."

MARSEILLE:I, Artist 14.

According to letters received here, the inaurreo.
tion at Messina broke out on Sunday evening last.
The popular movement commenced by shots being
fired in the Strada Ferdinanda ; pieces of furniture
were thrown from the windows upon the troops. An
agent of the Afiaagerie imperials, and several sailors,
who had disembarked from the packet Meandre,
were exposed to the fire of the musketry, and one of
the sailors was wounded. The French consul made
representations to the governor. The firing of
musketry and several cannon shots were heard
during the night. The governor threatened to bom-
bard the city should resistance continue to be
offered. The principal inhabitants of the city then
interfered, and obtained that the police, the prin-
cipal cause of the popular irritation, should be re-
moved.
The troops made themselves masters of
all the positions in the town, and part of the in-
surgents withdrew into the country.
On Monday evening the Meandre left Messina
with despatches from the French consul.
All is over. Further details will be shortly re-
ceived.

MARSEILLES, Arau,l4.
The packet from Naples brings an official report
affirming that tranquillity reigns at Palermo. This
report says nothing of Messina. The next packet
will not reach Marseilles until Monday evening
next.

FRANCE AND SARDINIA.
TURIN, SUNDAY.
The cession of Nice to France was an absolute
necessity for Piedmont, in order to obtain from
Napoleon 111. the guarantee of Lombardy and the
Duchy of Parma.
This guarantee appeared to be expressed in a
secret article of the treaty of the 24th March last,
relative to the cession of Savoy and Nice.
France has, however, refused to guarantee to
Piedmont the other annexed provinces, viz., Tus-
cany and the Legations.

SARDINIA.
TURIN, Arm It
In to•day's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies,
Signor Ridjouse made an interpellation referring to
the late events in Sicily. Count Cavour, in his re-
ply, considered a discussion on the subject both
useless and dangerous ; he further stated that the
Neapolitan government was occupied in the interior,
and concluded by saying, " Our fellow-citizens are
continuing the struggle.'
On the report of the committee in reference to
a petition from some inhabitants of the Northern
province of Savoy, requesting liberty and latitude
in voting upon the question of annexation, the
Chamber, by a large majority, passed to the order of
the day.
The Chamber was then prorogued until the Ist
of May.
The number of deputies who have inscribed their
names to accompany the King on his tour through
Central Italy has been increased by 110.

THE PAPAL STATES.
ROME, Arm 14.
General Lamoricibre, in his quality of com-
mander-in-chief of the Papal troops, only relieves
the Pope, and not Cardinal Antonelli, of the pre-
sidency of the War Department. The cardinal
having however insisted on leaving the military
administration, is about to be replaced by a French
general, a friend of General Lamoriciera

AUSTRIA AND THE SAVOY QUESTION.
VIENNA, SUNDAY.
The assembling of a conference, as demanded by
Switzerland, for the settlement of the affairs of
Savoy, is very doubtful, as, without France, Rus-
sia and Austria decline to enter any conference ;
Austria adding, that if a congress takes place,
its programme must be determined beforehand.
The following are the ideas of Austria on that
question :
The fundamental intention of the Congress
of Vienna, in neutralising the districts of
Chablais and Faucigny, was to protect Switzer-
land and 8111141b2111 from the preponderance of
France. The moment the whole of Savoy is incor-
porated with the French Empire, there is no fur-
ther reason for the neutralisation of Chablais and
Faucigny, and the guaranteed stipulation by the
treaties of Vienna can no longer be applied.
The only real way by which the difficulties of
the question could be removed is by a direct under-
standing between France and Switzerland, for
which the other great powers would offer their
good offices.