The Express.
London, England, 1859-09-30 00:00:00

TO TUB =ROI OF Tl■ WNW.

CENTRAL ITALY.

BOLOGNA, Birry. 21L

Ste.,—lf you thick the following ebservatioas et a
person travelling in Central Italy with the view
and with some opportunities of judging of public
feeling have say interest, I bops you will make any
nee of them you think fit. It is impossible to be
Ltre without at once perceiving in how many
respects the state of public feeling here feu been
mivrepresented,esd how difficult it is to estimate
it at a diet►nes from the actual fasts.

Order, it ham been inclemently repeated, has been
invariably maintained in all the abandoned pro.
vinces of antral Italy ; but except upon the spot, it
is hardly passible to comprehend the nature of that
order—hew thoroughly it is the result of a common
intelligent effort, a;th one dominant idea as its
centre. Order has been maintained, not by the skill
of the governments, nor by the pressure of a domi-
nant party or class, hut by a lively anxiety on the
part of every member of the community to maintain
entire tranquillity as the price of national existence.
Before the war, during the struggle in the field, at
the moment of the peace, and up to the present
titne,every passion and demonstration hare been con.
trolled by the one common feeling of national union,
But it is something far more than order which has
been maintained. The fact is, that in four States a revo-
lution has been accomplished, the whole machinery
of government reconstructed, and the social fabric
shawl to its centre, not merely without open vio-
levee taking place, but with scarcely a break in the
ordinary aspect and action of daily life—without any
of the methods of exceptional crises being used,
almost without a moment of alarm or a sign of ex-
cess. It is not merely a fact that thew pordaticere
have now for nearly five nsoaths retained
unbroken calm throughoat city, village, and open
country ; but now of the ordinary occupations of
life have been suspended or injured, no laxity has
crept into the public administration, no suspicions or
jealousies have been awakened, neither despair nor
indiff►rencs has taken hold upon men's minds, and •
long period of trial has left the public comedown
stronger ant steadier now than ever. What, how-
ever, is a far higher effort at such a time of excite-
ment is that everything which ordinarily fol-
lows sadden revolutions has been uni-
formly avoided. Club., assemblies, proceirsione--
agitation in every shape—have been shunned
as a pestilence. Use or two definite demonstrations

of opinion have been made, but every form of excite-'
meat I. forborne. The press, though quite adegaate
to the occasion, a wifformly temperate, and under
a control ",rich needs little exercise. The word
tat been pared through the people to sot and not to
talk. The couuel has been instinctively caught
ap, sad the IMAM are as much convinced of the ne-
cessity of calm as any government could desire-
Among the gentle race of Tuscany, as might easily
be supposed, order is habitual and natural ; but in
the energetic rani of Romagna and the hot populace
of Bologna the same spirit reigns. Offences spinet
public authority cease ; robberies sad anew
sinatioes are no !eager the order of the day,
and the pewee receive a ready and uneemestemed
support time the people. Again, the una-
nimity of opinion which has been displayed
through all the four States, end through every
town and district in them, is se striking and
as genuine as the order maintained. This, too, is
the result of the one dominant principle—the ides
of national existence. Here it in easy to satisfy one-
self how thoroughly spontanewasead iatelligent that
te. LI Amiga all whom you meet, talk with turn of
an classes In al difforeat districts aad eitustioas as
'sib* end you receive the same ••ewer almost is
the Name wards. Thole who have directed the move-
mat expiate the sensual desire in the clearest and
meet asaviaeleg begoage ; the rest will state the
one idea, lemming with more or less presides,
whilst the humblest artisan hits off the same notion
in a word or with same forcible and homely phrase.
This unanimity through which one gets but one
answer to the same question is almost perplexing.
One feels as if in the midst of some vast conapirney
where the word has been paned round and every-
one is bound to follow. It is indeed a esaspi-
racy conducted by a whole people, orgeadesd by
chosen leaders, and acting with mutual confidence.
This agreement is s sign of singular intelligence and
political aptitude displayed by the whole mass of
the people, and, at the same time, of the mutual
trust of class towards class. The one object of this

common effort is the formation of an Italian State
strueg enough to resist all foreign influence from
ono side of the Alps or the other. That hope end
wish extinguishes all other objects, and unites all
parties, Omsk sad interests. It is that alone which
can explain or account for the order,the harmooy,aed
the sacrifices incurred. Nor can there be found
any method short of the union of the whole North
Italian Provinces in one kingdom which can satisfy
and realise that dominant purpose. It is impos-
sible to overrate the deep impression which the cha-
mfer of honesty and honour of the King of Sar-
dinia has left upon the Italian mind. "Ile alone is
an Italian Prince; he alone has kept his oath; be
alone has fought for the cause." Such is the lan-
guage repeated in every form and in every place.
On every house, in every street in Florence, in all
the towns of Tuscany, in the country places, in the
villages ORD upon the crests of the Apennines, in
Bologna and throughout the Romagna, in the
Duchies of Parma and Modena, every door bears its
inscription—" Victor Emmanuel, oar elected King."
All my investigations into the freedom of these
demonstrations, into the liberty of the municipal
authorities which have almost unanimously voted
the Union; lastly, into the free and legitimate cha-
racter of the various Assemblies, have led invariably
to one conclusion—that the one conviction, hope, and
wish of the whole people of the four revolted States
is immedi►te and entire union with the new Italian
kingdom of Victor Emmanuel. Apart from the
solidity of the whole social system there is
here an ancient and vigorous political orga-
nisation which holds together the separate
atoms of the State when the central autho-
rity falls. Everywhere one is forced to ad-
mire and to wonder at the strength with which the
old municipal system still rallies round its traditions
of order, Nutt; al union, and the duties of a citizen,
For six etut urea and more, in every city, town, and
almost in ev.-ry village., this, the legacy of the old
Roman civilisation, has maintained itself, unbroken
alike by feudalism, monarchy, or the Church, as an
honoured and efficient machine of local government
and of civil union. Everywhere the same thing has
been repeated : the political system has suddenly
fallen, but the parts of the political whole remain in
vigour. The municipal authority in each town re-
mains the natural head to which all citizens tan•
The great city bell from the old Gothic belfry sum-
mons the elute= to rally round the ancient emblems
a national guard spontanereely forms, the authority
of the city council is recognised, the framework of a
new political system is created. Step by step the
same process is repeated through provincial city,
town, and hamlet, the local council provide for the
moment, gradually reunite themselves to the central
city, until one hyena the threads of government are
gathered up, sad the State is pin knit together

ander an authority which all respect, and to form e
which all have contributed. Such is a sketch of an
old but not effete civilisation which has done good
work &wiz, the recent events in maintaining order and
respect for legitimate authority. But quite above all
each municipal tendencies is now at length dominant
tie principle of national union. These very muni-
cipalities have been the very powers which have
most effectually promoted the Union, nor le there any
trace that can be seen of any oppositioa from those
local centres to the amalgamation of several pro-
vinces into one State. In Bologna in particular, this
anialgensatiln is desired with the most universal
impulse. The far-seeing look to it es the
one hope of drawing off the passions of
the people from commencing any conflict or
taking any vengeance upon the priestly class;
the whole people feels its kindred and connexion
with the rest of the Lombard race, and the Union
most thoroughly satisfies the feelings of a population
which Mare than any other in Italy has suffered from
Austrian oppression in its worst form.
How far the local governments have shown energy
and skill, is a separate question which it is not
netteasery now to examine. The great fact for an
observer is the entire onion and mutual confidence of
the whole people, sustained by the inspiring hope of a
new national life, which has made all government
comparatively easy, and offers the hope that almost
any effort is prosible. It may well be a serious ques-
tion whether even the populations themselves have
shown military and civic devotion fatly ade-
quate to the occasion. It is clear that they have not
exhibited that splendid heroism which has marked
more than one crisis in the life of one or two great
nations, nor, indeed, that indestructible strength
which some smaller, but warlike, races have shown.
Very much, however, has been done. These
four small States have a fine regular army
of forty or fifty thousand men. The single
province of Romagna has in two months created a
complete and excellent army of 14,000 men, tho-
roughly equipped, on a footing of war. When one
sees the tine look sad bearing of these new volun.
toms, in whom maks every class and condition of life
is represented-4rbea me marks bow in every town •
naticasi guard soddenly improvised has sprung up
with the martial aspect of trained soldiers—and, most
of all, when one is brought into contact with some of
those lino spirits who surround and emulate Gari-
baldi, and feels the strength of their simple, warm, and
unflinching natures, with all the gentle modesty and
quiet self-devotion of antique times breathing in
every word and action, it is impossible to believe
that the Italian cause is wanting in solid strength or
martial virtue. The present armaments are no doubt
respectable, though far from adequate. They could,
however, be immediately doubled were it not that
those who direct the movement are anxious to
avoid every extraordinary strain, to subdue all
enthusiasm, and to sorry on their struggle
with unbroken regularity and caution. Doubt-
less they carry this too far. It must, however,
be remembered that all that has been done hoe
been accomplished without • single recourse to rove.
latimary expedisats, mid without a trace of me-
Winery excitement. It is not the time to judge
how far these rulers have been wise. It is the
time, indeed, to recognise and honour the spon-
taneous union and healthy confidence of the whole
bulk of these Italian peoples, to estimate the worth
of these acts of self-abnegation and sacrifice, and the
force with which en honourable ambition has pens'
tinted all hearts and minds. Muck has been said of
their order and docility, but then ars the smallest
virtues that have been shown. But a traveller in
Central Italy who has mixed with persons of different
grades and convictions cannot withhold his testimony I,
that he has not heard one expression of
meanness, of selfishness or cowardice, has found no
paltry intrigues or petty suspicions, but has felt the
national heart to be sound and the impulse deep and
honourable, with confidence, calm, and resolution, and
all the signs of a great future in the spirit and hopes
of the minis. He knows all that has been said to the
eontrary elsewhere, sad how mach it is worth.—
I am, &c.,

DENT.)
MODENA, fiery. 2.1. I
It has been everywhere confidently affirmed
that the forces of these revolutionised States
do not amount to 20,000 men, and that the
boasted number of 60,000 is only realised on
paper. It is true that the utmost strength of the
troops which a month ago could be brought into the
field would not have exceeded the first mentioned
number, but things have now greatly changed,
and from what I saw myself, both here and at
Parma, I have reason to believe that the army of the
League, which is now under the orders of General
Fanti, is not far short of 32,000 good fighting men.
The starting point of foreign correspondents, in ad-
verting to this subject, has generally been the num-
bers of the contingents stipulated in the convention of
the League. As commander of the Tuscans, Gari-
baldi bad under his orders 10,000 men, and !Accra-
cope was the general of 7,000 Romagnoli. Parma and
Modena together were put down in the list for 8,000.
It was therefore clear enough that General Fanti, as
chief commander of the Central Italy army, could
not bring into the field more than 26,000 IDOL That
number, which no doubt was a correct one only •
'south ago, has now been increased by 8,000 through
the prodigious activity of both Dictator Parini and
Colonel Ftapoli, the Minister of War for Parma and
Modena. The partial disbandment of the volunteer
corps which fought in the late war, and the nume-
rous emigrations of the Venetians, have enabled
Colonel Frapoli to doable the numerical strength of
the Modena, Reggio and Parma brigades, and to
complete three battalions of sharpshooters, together
with live batteries of artillery and a regiment of
hussars. if we add to this small army the battalion
of "La Speranza," formed by boys from four-
teen to vetoer, which is under the command
of young Count Giovatini Arrivabene, the corps
of engineers and pioneers, the Guards (so
called) of National Property, the medical service and
commissariat, we attain the above-mentioned
numerical strength. You must not forget that these
results have been obtained in lees than two months,
for the actual organisetiooof the Parma and Modena
army did nut begin before the month of August. It
is therefore easy to foresee that when this military
force shall be concentrated in one hand—and this, ae
have reason to believe, is what will occur before
long—Central Italy will be able to bold the field
with a well organised army of 60,000 before the
end of this year. At present General Fanti
is only the chief commander of the federal
contingents, Air Garibaldi and Merxicapo still hold
the command of the rest, the Tuscan and Rontsgnol
armies. There is, however, reason to hope that such
an abaormal state of things will be put an end to in
a few days; and for my part, I should be very glad
if my warning should prove to be timely and bene-
ficial to the Italians, even though it reach the person-
Nos to whom it is addressed by a roundabout channel,
through an English newspaper.
This morning Garibaldi left this town for Bologna,
where his head-quarters have been established. In
two days I shalt myself reach that ancient seat of
inedneval learning, now the sesne of such stirring
and important events, and I will not tail to revert
once more to the essential subject of military pre-
, parttime.
Mr. Panizzi, of the British Museum, has left this
city on his way hack to England ; but from Turin he
will go to pay a visit to Count Cavour, at his country
hens. of Leri.

(Flog OVU SPICIAL