The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-22 00:00:00

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I7ALIAN AFFAII{S.-

r FLORENCE, MARcit 15.
The political horizon here is as dull and monotonous as
the material one, which cold mists and drizzling rain have
for the last few days deprived of all its usual brightness.
Nothing is known for certain of the intention of Ministers
with regard to the extinction of the forced currency, and
most people are tired of speculating about it. It has been
found necessary, in consequence of the failure of the recent
negotiations, to postpone the financial statement until
after Easter, and until then the Chamber will be occupied
with the remaining special estimates and the endeavour to
get on with the tedious Reorganisation Bill, of which
most of the deputies appear to be heartily sick. The
clauses at present under discussion contain no points of
any general interest. These, together with the Estimates
of the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce, have
taken up all the last week. The system at present in
force for the draining,
.of the Maremma has excited con-
siderable criticism and provoked unfavourable comparisons
with that introduced and so effectually carried out by the
late Count FoSsornhroni, Minister under the Grand Duke.
It appears that the malaria is now gaining, instead of
losing, ground, awl that the districts in question are
becoming less and less fit for human habitation. But as
the remedy could only be found in a more lavish expen-
diture, it was impossible, in the present disastrous state of
the public finances, to do justice to these complaints.
On Saturday, as I predicted would be the case, the
secret committee of the whole House threw out D'Ondes
Reggio's bill on Freedom of Instruction.

M. Nigra is still here en conge. The question of his
transfer from Paris to London has, however, as it appears,
been settled in the negative sense, and he returns to his
post after a short stay at Turin. There is no limit to the
conjectures by which some of the Italian journals endea-
vour to give importance to this incident, as well as to the
recall of Count von Usedom. There is, however, no
reason to suppose that the first-named diplomatist has
been sent for to Florence with any other object than to
facilitate a decision of the question whether he was to
retain his present post, or be sent to the vacant one in
London, which it appears so difficult to fill. The coinci-
dence between the journey and the affair -of the Prussian
Minister was certainly tempting to the political gobe
mouckes, and they could hardly have fail&t—to present us,
as they have, with rumours of projected alliances in the
event of war, as the cause alike of the demand for M.
Nigra's presence in Florence, and of the dissatisfaction
with the Prussian representative alleged to be felt by
Count Bismarck. In the latter case, those who know best
are inclined to believe that the real dissatisfaction which
has been the cause of Count von Usedom's displacement is
no other than that experienced by that diplomatist him-
self in the very delicate position which has been created
for him by the proceeding adopted last year by the Italian
Government through the publication of the secret despatch
in which he had proposed a plan of campaign for the Italian
army in the late war. This proceeding gave rise to the
celebrated pamphlet controversy between Generals La
Marmora and Cialdini, and left to the Prussian Govern-
ment, in view of the feeling thus excited at Vienna, hardly
any other alternative than that which it actually adopted,
namely, the disavowal of its own-Envoy's despatch. This
act, however, although, to a certain extent, it saved
appearances, deceived nobody, and it was evident that the
strategical plans contained in the despatch in question
were not attributable to so unprofessional an author as
Count von Usedom.

A report has been current during the last two days
among some of the bankers here to the effect that another
French firm has entered on the scene ready to take up the
broken thread of the negotiations for the necessary loan.
Nothing, however, is likely to be known for certain until
after Easter. Meanwhile the rumours about a forced loan
are by no means silenced as yet, and the advocates of that
desperate expedient profess to give the details of the pro-
ject which they allege to be in contemplation, involving,
as they believe, the repayment of the loan in five years.
The failure of so many schemes for ameliorating the
financial position of the country, to realise what was
expected of them, has produced great and general dis-
couragement as to the future, and, outside the circle of the
more immediate supporters of the Government, one hears
much scepticism expressed as to the possibility of ulti-
mately avoiding a complete breakdown, so enormous is
the interest of the public debt when compared with the
present resources of the nation.

The joint anniversary of the birth of the King and the
Prince of Piedmont was celebrated yesterday. The day
was ushered in by a salute of artillery, and the usual
diplomatic and official dinner was given by General
Menabrea. The flags and illuminations, the latter being
by no means brilliant, appeared to be exclusively confined
to public offices and the residences of persons having places
at Court.

The church of Santa Croce has just been closed for the
purpose of partial internal restoration, and with a view to
the removal of the lateral altars, the space occupied by
which is required for the monuments which from Clue to
time may be decreed to the celebrated personages interred
there. One of these sites is already allotted to Rossini.
The works have already brought to light several frescoes,
some of which are by Taddeo G addl.

ronmux NOTES.

rnANcz AND 231;LOIVII:

The Stananra and other journals (Irmo-lino tnht Frail 66
is beating a retreat and abating her high pretensions;
the Liberte holds that Belgium is the party which low
given way. The Paris cor, espondent of the Stawiara
asserts that France no longer insists on Belgium stultify.
ing herself by validating the contract with the ICaetgrn
and has, after much demurring, ended as ebo should have
commenced—assented to the Belgian proposal to arrangs
the tariffs between the two countries for the transport of
coal, so that the Eastern line should not bo a loser. The
Liberte, on the contrary, asserts that Belgium has yields('
in two important particulars. The Brussels Ministry has
agreed to submit to the Commission all commercial
relations between the two countries, and likewise to permit
the revision of the question which has brought about the
Franco-Belgian difficulty. But this does not imply that
Belgium will sanction the contract between the Faint of
France and the Luxemburg lines. There may be a
revision without involving the sanction of the contract
which a law was passed to forbid. The Paris correspon.
dent of the Post thinks the solution will be nothing more
than a fair financial arrangement. But the bases of the
negotiations are even yet unsettled, so that these state.
ments can be regarded as nothing more than well-foanded
anticipations.

" THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE."

The Austrian and Italian j ;urnals are still occupiei in
saying polite things of each other. Count Beust and the
Emperor Francis Joseph are at Trieste, whither General
Della Rocca has gone to compliment the Austrian Sove-
reign in the name of the King of Italy. He is the bearer,
it is said, of an autograph letter. Some journals are re-
viving the triple alliance project, and the .New Free Press
says that there is at least a good understanding between
the three countries, the object of which is (of course) " the
preservation of peace." There can be no doubt that
Austria and Italy are now on the best of terms.