The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-21 00:00:00

THE OPENING OF THE ITALIAN

PARLIAMENT.

The following is the speech of King Victor
Emmanuel at the opening of the Italian Parlia-
ment ; an abridgment has already been published :

Gomm= SENAToss, Gexruagex Diecnza!

Press and *early entirely united, by the wonderful aid of
Divine Providence, the concordant will of the peoples and
the splendid valour of the armies, Italy confides in your
virtue and wisdom.

To you it pertains to give her common institutions and a
firm foundation. In endowing with greater administrative
freedom peoples that had various usages and institutions,
you will take care that political unity, the aspiration of so
many centuries, may never be diminished.

The opinion of civilised nations is favourable to us ; the
just and liberal principles, now prevailing in the councils of
Europe, are favourable to ua. Italy honed', too, will
become a guarantee of order and peace, and will onoe more
be an of instrument of universal civilisation.

The Emperor of the French, firmly upholding the maxim
of non-intervention—a 111.411111 eminently beneficial to us,
nevertheless deemed it proper to reed his envoy. If this
fact was a cause of grief to us, it did not change the senti-
ments of our gratitude nor our confidence in his affection to
the Italian muse.

Frame and Italy, having in common their origin, tradi•
tines, and customs, formed on the plains of Magenta and
HoMerino a bond that will be indissoluble.

The government ►od people of England, the ancient
country of freedom, loudly took part for our right to be the
arbiters al our own destinies, and they have lavishly be-
stowed on us their good offices, the grateful remembrance
of which will be imperishable.
A loyal and illustrious prince having ascended the throne
of Prussia, I sent to him an ambassador in token of respect
fa him personally, and of sympathy with the noble Ger-
man nation, which I hope will become more and more con-
Timed that Italy, being oonstititted io her natural unity,
cannot offend the rights or interests of other nations.

Gentlemen Senators, Gentlemen Deputies, I am certain
you will be anxious to supply my government with the
means of completing the armaments by land and sea. Thus
the kingdom of Italy, put into a condition of not fearing
offence, will more easily find in the consciousness of her
own strength • reason for opportune prudence.
Once my words sounded bold ; it being as wise to dare in
season us to wait in season. Devoted to Italy, I have never
hesitated to expose my life and crown, but no one has the
right to risk the life and destinies of a nation.
After many signal victories the Italian army, increasing
every day in fame, acquired a new claim to glory by cap-
turing one of the most formidable fortresses. I consols
myself with the thought that here will close for ever the
mournful series of our civil coufiicta.

The fleet has proved in the waters of Ancona and Gaeta,
that the mariners of Pica, Genoa, and Venice, are revived
in Italy.
Valiant youths, led on by a captain who has filled with
his name the most distant countries, have made it evident
that neither servitude nor long misfortunes have been able
to weaken the fibre of the Italian peoples.
These facts have inspired the nation with great confidence
in its own destinies. I Like pleasure in manifesting to the
first parliament of Italy the joy I feel in my bead as King
and soldier.

It will be seen that the reproaches addressed to
Victor Emmanuel by the ladtpendance Beige and
other papers, on the strength of an imperfect tele-
gram, for not having alluded to Garibaldi, are
unfounded.