The Express.
London, England, 1866-02-06 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 6. 1866.

ITALY.

triox on owl, oomerusers%)
FLORENCE. Fm. 1.


Thereat business of the Chamber is still waited
for, the discussion on the proposals of Signor
ficialoas, and the absolutely necessary measures to
be taken for the meeting of the yawning deficit,
which, as things stand at present, threaten to
swallow up not only all that the prime minister
proposes to throw iato it, but Italian credit alto-
gether. Everybody feels that all other political
business is mere child's play, and taken up only for
the purpose of doing something till the great and
true work of the session shall be entered on. And
the matter is so portentous, so beset with difficulties,
and so all-important, that men seem to be content
to hold off from it for a while for very fear of the
blues of the struggle. The time of pause thus
occasioned is not entirely lost. The minds moat
capable in the country of arriving as the least ob-
jectionable solution of the difficulty are at work
upon it, and it is well that the Chamber should
have the benefit of their studies before taking action
in the matter.

The most valuable contribution to this work, and
the moat important event in the political world for
the last few days, has been the scheme of the late
minister Minghetti, published in the Opinions.
Signor Minghetti is of opinion that all Italy
requires to be enabled to bear her financial burdens
without bending under them is time ; that if only
it were possible for her to obtain a period of pause
for three or four years, during which means will be
found of restoring equilibrium to her finances with-
out crushing her by new taxation, the increase in
her wealth and the development of prosperity
would be such as to enable her to pay, without
excessive difficulty, the present yearly amount of
her expenses. Is it possible to fmd a means
of doing this ? Signor Minghetti thinks that
it may be found in the property of the reli-
gious corporations, and the " ease ecclesisatico," or
property of the secular portion of the church.
This property he estimates at eighteen hundred
millions. He proposes to say to the clergy, regular
and secular—You shall be secured in your present
position for ten years. You must during those ten
years convert all your real property into chattel
property ; and you must pay to the state, in certain
stated payments, six hundred millions. You shall
be yourselves the agents of this conversion, and the
balance of the property shall, in the form of in-
vested chattel property, serve the purposes of the
church. This, stated very summarily and shortly,
appears to be the gist of Signor Minghetti's scheme.
The three years thus gained would, he says, be suf-
ficient to enable Italy to pay her way thereafter with-
out difficulty ; and the ten years of toleration would
save the state from the necessity of loading itself
with the burthen of maintaining all the members
of the monastic orders, an expense which, if
assumed at once, as it would have to be were the
orders abolished forthwith, would absorb nearly the
whole of the sum obtained, especially if the mem-
bers of the mendicant orders, who have nothing to
give up in return, are to be maintained also, as
they must be.

There are unquestionably elements in this scheme
that appear to be very promising ; but there are
great " lacunae," parts of it which seem to have been
scarcely completely elaborated by the author, as
may well be supposed to be the case under the cir-
cumstances. For instance, the question strikes
one at once, who are to be dealt with in this nego-
tiation with the clergy ? They have no legal repre-
sentatives. How is such a negotiation to be con-
ducted ? What guarantees are there for the due
employment of the remaining two-thirds of the
Property ?

These and some other difficulties seem to have
suggested themselves to the Hon. Deputy Yen-
turelli, who has written to the Nazione of this day
some remarks on Signor Minghetti's scheme, which
seem to me to comprise one or two very valuable
modifications of it. Putting aside some prelimi-
nary objections of Signor Venturelli, based on the
fact that the mode of dealing with the church pro-
perty proposed by Signor Minghetti involves in
many respects precisely the principle of oonfisca_
tion to state purposes which the late chamber
refused to entertain—putting these objections aside,
as perhaps sufficiently answered by the increasing
urgency of the case, Signor Venturelli points out
the extreme difficulty and objectionableness of
entrusting the immense operation proposed to the
clergy themselves, and suggests, "if instead of
obliging us to support for ten years more the reli-

eons corporations and the other ecclesiastical
bodies, allowing them into the bargain to retain
two-thirds of their property, we were to entrust this
great operation of the conversion of the property
to the communes and the provinces, obliging them
to the payment of the 600 millions, payable in four
years," would it not be much better ? It seems to
me that the plan contains a great improvement on
the valuable idea of Signor Minghetti, and supple-
ments it in its weakest part. Of course it is much
less favourable to the clergy. But then it secures to
the communes that benefit out of the ecclesias-
tical revenues which the late chamber decided that
they ought to have. Besides that, it would put
the vast business of the conversion of the property
out of irresponsible into responsible hands, easily
to be dealt with ; and it would, when all was done,
leave Italy with a really "free church in a free
state."

I have a few words of objection of my own to add,
which Signor Venturelli does not touch.
lam fully persuaded that Signor Minghetti is
right in believing that Italy only needs not to be
crushed with the new taxes Signor Scialoja proposes
to lay on her to develop such a dears, of prosperity
as would enable her to pay her way without diffi-
culty. I fully agree with hini in the vital im-
portance of obtaining for her such a period of relief
as shall save her from being fatally stunted in her
natural growth by the imposition of burthens too
great for her young strength. But I do not think
that three or four years is sufficient for this pur-
pose. Nor will the 600 millions justify us in talk-
ing of four years. It will not suffice for the carry-
ing of us through three years, 600 millions will
not pay 260 millions a year for three
years. Signor Minglietti's scheme will do a great
deal. But it cannot do all that he expects from it.
Join it to reduction of the army and all might be
well. Take an hundred millions oft the expense of
the unneeded army, reduce the cost of it from 200
I to 100 millions, in addition to the various reduc-
tions proposed by Signor Scialoja—make the deficit
thus 100 millions a year instead of 260, and let
the expeeted 600 millions early us over six years
instead of not over three, and then indeed Italy
would soon see her Five per Cents, at 80 or 85.
The Diritto has an interesting little paragraph
giving the following list of the editors of news-
papers who are members of the new chamber :--
Signor Asproni, of the Popolo crlialia ; Lazzaro, of
the Roma; Zini, of the Apperinino ; Bottero, of
the Turin Gazzetta del Popolo ; Coroino, of the
Pawl° of Naples ; and Civinini, of the Diritto.

AUSTRIA.

THE IMPERIAL VISIT TO PESTH.
MOGI OWL owir ookasszesnorr.)

PESTH, Jsa. 31.
With the arrival of their Majesties the weather
has changed completely. To-day it is bright, and
sunny, and warm ; it is as if the spring—smiling,
cheery spring—were already here. Yesterday it
was fine too, but it was an autumn morning. I
was at Ofen betimes, and the town below me was
still veiled in mist, with here and there a building
just seen where it began to separate. Later the
haze in the distance, where the river rolls put the
foot of the rocks on which now sands the citadel,
had been already partly dispersed by the sun, and
a large sea of silver lay spread before you. But
you could not nee its extent, as the mists still hung
above it, and it apppeared as if yonder was the
ocean with its vast interminable expanse. Fancy
could not well have formed a grander picture, for
close at hand was the quay and its stately edifices,
all leading to and even bordering that great bright
11C4. Here was a Claude in tangible reality.
This afternoon a deputation from the Upper and
Lower House will be received by their Majesties.
Every day tte court is here the dinner will consist
of forty persons, and as twenty is about the num-
ber of the imperial suite, as many invitations will be
issued daily. On the right hand of the Empress
yesterday sat his Eminence the Primate of Hungary.
To-morrow a ball will be given in the large halls
of the Roden* to which their Majesties are coming.
From every aide the information reaches me that
the hopes of a compromise being arranged are
growing more and more strong. Whatever may be
the plans of the leaders in the Diet, the country, it
seems, will exercise a pressure in order that, almost
at any reasonable cost, an agreement may be
come to.

A company is about to be formed at Raab for
the furtherance of speedy and cheap communica-
tion on the Danube and its tributary rivers by
means of tug-boats. Its activity is not, however,
to extend beyond the Hungarian frontier. Any-
thing that tends to promote communication in the
different provinces of the Austrian empire must be
hailed as a benefit. Much is being done at present in
this direction by government and others. If only
more attention had been given to this matter sooner
the country would be in a very different state to what
it now is. Out of the general discomfort caused
by poverty arose a ceaseless irritation ; and in
this state men are ready for any desperate act.
We see already that the mere circumstance of the
population turning their attention to the develop-
ment of material interest exercises a beneficial
influence, and makes them less antagonistic to
constituted authority. They find they have now
something better to do than to pamper their dis-
content. Heavy as is the burden of the Austrian
debt, it would be the wisest thing a minister could
do to increase it by some millions—in order to
build a railway through Transylvania, for example.
English capitalists are, it is true, considering the
matter, but, for some reason or other, it does
not advance. The news has arrived from
Vienna that the document relating to "Church
Regulation" (for protestanta), which was decided
on by the synod in 1861, has just received the
imperial sanction. It has caused great joy among
those whom it more intimately concerns.
Two telegrams, one from Salzburg the other from
Gratz, announce that by imperial order the "police
direction" in both towns is put an end to. From
the lst of March the police is to be in the hands of
the commonalty. This is indeed a revolution !
PESTH, In. L
Unless some unforeseen event take place the
court will return to Vienna on Monday, the 12th.
On that day Prince Schwarzenberg gives • ball, at
which their Majesties have promised to be present.
If, therefore, nothing occur which would make it
advisable for political reasons to remain here, the
departure hence will be as I have said.
On Saturday, and again on that day week, " a
ball will be given at court." There is a distinction
to be made between this and a " court ball." To
the latter those only are invited who have court
rank, cr rather who are eligible to appear at court,
such as military officers of every grade, aulic
councillors, chamberlains, nobles of a certain rank,
&c. As the same rules of etiquette do not exist
here as at Vienna, it would be impossible almost to
know where to draw the line of demarkation.
Under present circumstances it is well not to at•

tempt it, as in doing so many no doubt would be
overlooked or deprived of a right which they consi-
der as belonging to them ; and thus mortification'
would be caused and an ill-feeling be the result.
In Hungary, as in England, the simple gentleman
oonsiders himself " hof-fiihig ;" at the court of
Vienna the influence of old Spanish etiquette makes
this impossible. Some 600 invitations will be
issued on Saturday, which is about as many persons
as the moderate sired coi~s will hold.
I told you that norp ogramme had been made
for the stay of their Majesties. On this subject
there circulates an observation of the Emperor,
which whether true or not—though there is no
reason why it should not be so—has produced
much satisfaction. He is reported to have said
there was no necessity for a programme this time.
He was no longer a guest here : he was now at home,
Some persona thought the Emperor might stay
here long enough to receive in the palace of Ofen
the address, in answer to the royal speech. But
this is hardly likely ; for though the address is
written, and will, I dare say, undergo but little
alteration, still there will be a debate, and members
will not be willing to let themselves be deprived of
expatiating at length on the subject. There is no
knowing bow long this might last ; and the Emperor
could not wait for the result. On Wednesday next
the address will be printed and distributed. It is,
as I learn from reliable authority, very moderate
and " nicely-mannered" (" artig" was the word
used in describing it) in tone. It is about
one-third the length of the address of 1861,
which was very long, filling as it does 72
small-printed duodecimo pages. The principles
of that of 1861 are here also taken as the founda-
tion on which to build. It was necessary to do so
in order to have a starting-point, but an opening is
purposely left for discussion and arrangement.
There is no imperative laying down the law as in
the address of 1861 ; and the position now taken
shows sufficiently that there is a readiness to make
concessions, and net to remain on the ground then
taken.

I observed to an influential member of the lower
house that I had faith in an ultimate accommoda-
tion being arrived at, and that if it did not happen
this session, it certainly would the next. " No,
no," he exclaimed, interrupting me, " it will be
done this session, but it will go on slowly."
Indeed on all aides, from those best informed as
to the intentions of the leaders and their influence,
I hear the same thing. They do not for a moment
doubt that the question will be settled satisfactorily.
I therefore keep to my opinion expressed the last
time I was here.
Two things are necessary for leading to a happy
otoootupliehmest of the work in hand—moderation

on the part of the H*ng~s, and Wiese° on
that of the Emperor. There was at one time a
degree of anxiety on this latter point. It was feared
if there was such slow progress that the result
seemed removed to an intermixable distance. His
Majesty would grow discouraged, and his power of
endurance be at an end. But from all I learn
the Emperor is determined to let things
go on as slowly as they may. When last
in Peath a deputy, to whom his Majesty addressed
himself, asking his opinion of the chanoes of a happy
accommodation, gave as answer, "If your Majesty
only has the patience to wait, all will end well." To
which the Emperor answered cheerfully, "Oh,
ich werde aus barren "(I shall not lose patience.)

It was, I say, feared it might be otherwise, and
that no perceptible progress being made, some other
system would be adopted and tried. This would
have been moat unfortunate ; for as it is, people's
faith in the stability of things is not very great.
With regard to the other neoessity—moderation
in demanding—there is, I think, no longer anything
to be feared on this point. Every conversation I
have here shows me more and more the preva-
lent feeling to be this—a compromise is a necessity.
I dwelt on this fact from the very beginning, and
still lay stress upon it in justification of my pre-
dictions.

This afternoon the deputation of the members of
the Diet waited on their Majesties. They went
first to the Emperor, then to the Empress.
The arrival of the different members of the depu-
tation, with their gorgeous dresses, and the splendid
liveries of the servants, was quite a sight. The
primate arrived in a large lumbering state carriage
drawn by four heavy long-tailed Flemish-looking
greys, ouvered with trappings. A coachman drove
the two wheelers, and a postillion, in enormous
boots and bright-coloured jacket bordered with
gold lace and fur, the leaders. Horses, carriage,
servants suited each other admirably. It was a
ponderous affair. Only the two hussars who stood
behind, literally covered with silver, formed an
exception. They were slim fellows, and stepped
lightly about in their bright yellow Hessian boots,
their dolmans banging jauntily over their shoulders,
and the sabres clattering on the stones. The
guard turned out when his eminence appeared, and
presented arms.. . .

_
I hear the Ministry of Finance has just granted
the necessary sums for building the Transylvanian
line from Arad to Karleburg. Now at las there
is hope for Transylvania, and that interesting,
fertile, and beautiful province will be visited and
its resources become known. I hardly know a
piece of news that would have given me more
pleasure.

PESTEI, FIB. 2.

Owing to s mistake, over which I had no control,
the telegram of yesterday gave an incorrect account
of the Empress's answer to the deputation. It was
the Emperor who said—

If the representatives of the land give positive proofs
that the oosfidenos of their Sovereign is responded to, they
will most amoredly gnawed is bringing nears, that aim
which the interests of the land, and of all its different
people, render so desirable.
What the Empress said was :
- -

By being able tovialt the capital of Hungary at the side
of nay Imperial Consort, owe of the first wishes of my heart
has been realised. For I feel a sincere regard and a warm
sympathy for the noble land of Limitary, sod experience a
pleasure in solourning them It is therefore most agree.
able to me to receive the hearty welcome of the repre-
sent:divas of the lend, and I respond to it with the simian
wish that their sphere of action, extending as it does far
beyond the boundaries of the country, may be attended
by the richest blessings of the Almighty.

GERMANY.

(nom ♦ COMSPORDENT.)

FRANSFORT-ON-TBE-MAINE, Fn. 3.

Scarcely a month passes over without witnessing
a breach of the Prussian constitution. The boun-
daries of the state can only be altered by a special
law ; and yet Lauenburg has been annexed without
any such law. The inferior nobility is in posses-
sion of all military commissions, and their privi-
leges are increased• and yet the constitution says
all privileges are abolished. No exceptional tri-
bunal is to exist, and yet a Court of Discipline has
been established, precisely for the purpose of terri-
fying officials who oppose the government, and of
sending such judges as dare to have an opinion of
their own to another post, of course a very unplea-
sant one. Liberty of religion is guaranteed, and
yet the catholic. and protestant dissenters are
treated like outlaws. The liberty of the press and
of public meetings is illustrated by the actions
daily brought against editors, and by preventing de-
puties from having a banquet at Cologne. It is a
pity that the deputies do not determine no longer
to play a part in this miserable farce, throw up
their mate, and being re-elected, as they certainly
would be, refuse to respond to the call, and thus
force the government to appear what it really is,
an absolute despotism in the very worst hands.
It is idle to believe that there will be any change
during the lifetime of the present King, or while
Prussia remains at peace ; and of this Bismarck
will take gOod care. All his big words about the
annexation of Schleswig and Holstein were never
anything but moonshine, and every succeed-
ing day makes it more manifest that
the duchies are his Mexico, and Austria his
United States. In the same ratio as an under-
standing with Hungary becomes more probable,
Austria shows that she never meant to go to war
to increase the power of her rival and competitor.
The news from the duchies, brought by those
members of the committee of 36 who were present
at the last monster meeting at Altona, leaves no
doubt that the people are resolved never to bow to
Prussia, to submit rather to any sacrifice in order
to escape from such a fate, and to insist on their
being heard in their own affairs by their deputies.
Prussia, of course, not being curious to know what
they will say, objects to this with all her power--a
flagrant breach of the constitution of the Confedera-
tion,
i which provides for regular assemblies of depu-
ties n all German countries.

The young King of Bavaria appears to be under
the influence of bad advisers. He has just denied
a bearing to a deputation from the principal
towns who came to explain their grievance's : they
were told to address themselves to the Chamber of
Deputies, which will not meet until next year.
There is a rumour that the Queen of Wurtemberg,
a Russian Princess, is going to take up her resi-
dence at St. Petersburg for a while, as she feels
disappointed that her advice to govern the country
on Muscovite principles was not agreed to ; the
King hesitating to make himself obnoxious to his
otherwise contented people.

MANCHERTER MZMORIAL TO THE LATE Pitnccz
COROORT.—WA learn from good authority that the me-
morial to the late Prince Albert is now likely to be com-
pleted without delay. The marble stake which Mr.
Alderman Goadsby so handsomely presented to the city
some time ago is to be crested in Albert-square. For
some time the subocriptious made but little proems. A
sum of about 2500/. will be required. A number of gentle-
men have now taken the work in head with every P
of speedy 1111C08111. One of them has himself obtainedwtsc
promises to the amount of 1,0001., and hooka have been
placed in the bands of others, who have little doubt of
being able to get the list filled up without further daisy.
[Advertisement.]--Rowlands' three great pre-
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properties of the genuine article. Rowlands' " Kalydor' for the
complexion has retained Its prominent place 'moor faahlonable
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ustly be attributed to the excellent character of their
and to the fact that unlike many other proprietors of
fame they do not allow their cosmetics to deteriorate
is 4uill7,—Boilos

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