The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-25 00:00:00

ITALY.

In the course of a speech recently delivered by
M. Ratazzi, President of the Italian Chamber of
Deputies, he mentioned that a coalition of clericals,
protestat;te, and Voltairians existed against the
imperial government :

M. Itataizi has since received & protest signed by a great
number of the clergy and members of the French
reioneed church, in which they remonstrate against the
injustice of the remarks of the hon. presideut, whose judg-
ment, they say, was founded on the perusal of the book
recently puled by M. Guizot, and which he
Itateszi) has incorrectly regarded as the ex-
preuiou of the sentiments of the protestants
in France. They state their opinion that, as
the church of Christ is • spiritual institution, the
whole scaffolding of the temporal power of the Em=
church mast fall before true Christian principles, and before
the great ideas of religions liberty which are spreading over
the world. The protestants of France, adds the, protest,
are neither incredulous men nor demagogues, but are
the mast devoted citizens of their country. The documenton
concludes by expressing wishes for the prosperi*y of the
great Italian nation. M. Itatazzi, in reply, expresses re-
gret that bis remarks should have been interpreted in a
sense offensive to the French imangente in general. When
he stated that among the dOseden of the Pope were not
only clericals and catholic., but catholic. and Voltairians,
he did not mean the whole of either of those bodies,
although lie must still bold to his former assertion that
there were many who followed in that path from political
motives, and merely to show their opposition to the Imps-
rial_governmeet.
The hon. gentleman adds that he is now happy
to admit that the great body of the French protes-
tants are not actuated by such sentiments.
The Official Gazette of Turin publishes the law re-
cently voted for extending the war tax of 10 pee
cent. to the provinces hitherto exempt from it.
Some of the Italian journals state that M. San
Martino has accepted the portfolio of the Interior
in the Ricasoli cabinet.
The following is the text of a letter addressed by
Garibaldi to the provincial Council of Calabria
Ulterior, in answer to an address from that body ;
Caprera, Nov. 12.—Your blood has not deviated from
the path traced by your ancestor When the destined
hour shall strike, I shall again see you in arms, to the ter-
ror of the enemies of Italy. The time is not far 'Want.
Bs all prepared for that last trial, and we shall conquer.—
Yours, GARIBALDI.
A letter from Venice says it is impossible to draw
darker picture than the state of affairs there now.
Winter has set in, all commerce has ceased • those
nominally rich only spend . the money actually ne-
cessary for their immediate wants ; no surperfluous
luxuries are lavishly bestowed ; no strangers till
the hotels ; but everywhere are poverty and bank-
ruptcy. And why is this r
First, the port of Venice a few years since was thronged
with merchant ships ; now the long and secure harbour of
the Guideoca mouot show the flag of England, nor of
France, nor of any other country but Austria. There are
small vessels of coast trade, there are colliers, and even now
and then cargoes arrive fur the reilway company ; but for
the general traffic, the great commercial interests, there is
scarcely a foreign flag to flutter in the breeze. The merchant
has withdrawn from speculation, his clerks are discharged,
his porters become mendicants, and throughout the whole
city, with the exception of some Jewish antiquarians,
the buying and selling is merely nominal. Walk through
the Meneria at the hour when the monotonous foot-fall
Minks the movement of people, look into every shop, and
out of hundreds that pass not six will buy. Ask these
shopenea how they thrive, and the bitter sneer will only
herald the words, "We are all ruined." Anti where is the
mask and mummery of • Venetian carnival Surely that
time will produce animation and traffic—not so. last year
the caramel was buried, and not one mask had appeared.
This year will not resuscitate the former merriment. But
the Emperor is nain to visit Venice ou the 24th of
this mouth ; the Empress is there. and courts
are always surrounded by the rich. Balls, dowers, and
operas must enliven the city, and lead to the circulation of
money. Not so. The Venetians of fortune--Rua they are
not legion—will keep aloof, and those who can remain in the
country will not hazard:the suspicion of disloyalty hycomiag
to the city, and refusing the invitation to court. The Em-
peror came privately into the city on the morning of the Ist
December, and remained a week, when he went out again in
the dark—Dot a Venetian encumbered his path. He came
and he went unnoticed, unobserved, unwelcomed. The
Piazza was illuminated, and the band played. The music
ceased, and the lamps glared and flickered to solitude ; not a
Venetian crossed the fiend Place in Europe. The next rimming
the thou and jets of gas were removed, and
were they lighted during the imperial visit. The band
played every day, and soldiers were driven like sheep in
a fold to make • display; but, with the exception of
Austrian officers and their families, no one came to listen
to the finest military music that could be beard. There
was a grand review, and the Emperor, iu all the pomp sod
majesty of military parade, was then; but only • few of
the lowest Veuetiaus attended. There was • sham fight
on the Lido—a sight which geuerally attracts thousands—
but not a Venetian stirred from his house. But still
the " coming events cast their shadows before ;"
new fortiticatioas are ordered ; and the display of
liberality in the abolition of that public nuisance,
the passport system, is now an acknowledged farce.
It is true you can come and go on the Austrian territory
without annoyance ; but can the bird fly beyoud the con-
fines—can the Venetian escape his iron cage` Most cer-
tainty not. The whom whose law is above all, and whose
judgments are arbitrary, from which there is no &Neal.
will not allow • passport to go out of the country, and your
affairs may be in jeopardy, your wife upon a bed of sick-
ness, a child dying of a filer, and your pressing and inset
demand for • passport will be unavailing. You are knows
actually to have wished Wire free, anti to be governed by a
king of. your own country—it is enough. Your petition is
seheard—y,ur demand is never to be granted.

btßerimile. Patti is singing with very great success at

The Nationalverein has remitted 30,000 florins
more to the Minister of Marine for the Prussian fleet. which
raises to 130,000 florins the amount subscribed by that es-
soxiatioa.