The Express. — 1847-02-23 (London, England)

ROME, F. 8.  I fear Austrian influence in Roman affairs is but " scotched, not killed." The old serpent seems yet lively enough, and twines itself round the high priest , and his ministers after the old Laocoon fashion. Last week afforded a case in point. At the instigation of the Kaiser's embassy here, a domiciliary visit was made at the shop of the liberal bookseller, Naftali, and all his stock in trade overhauled in the most unceremonious style. The murder at last was found out: and what d'ye think came uppermost ? Six hundred copies of a pamphlet bearing the print mark of " Paris," and embodying the speech of Count Montalembert, is the French Peers, on the massacres of Galicia and Tarnow ! Also a few copies of the eloquent Abbe Gioberti's political and religious essays, which do honour to Italian and Christian literature. The indignation of all honest men is aroused at this wanton inroad on the declared policy of Pitts IX. ; and it has neutralised to a great extent the effect of the late " sermon." In every social meeting of every class the following " card" is circulated refleoting on this act of the new governor.  Lo Stawtwv perfloieito Doi Coweittadixi. oleo Um Igarbst Mamba rise a teal ; peas Grawill lima win aims sisal ; apes a wi Amid alms (Welker qval r. II program! And, certainly, if the attention of Papal authority is directed towards rectifying the press, it might find other game besides the works and speeches of two most distinguished members of its own communion : men who combine, iu rare conjunction, sincere faith with high intelligence and impressive logic. There is, for instance, a book which has a greater circulation in the Roman States than the New Testament, or Thomas I Kempis, called the " Book of Dreams," or the oracle of the government lottery. Wheelbarrowfule are sold to the populace at every fair, and it is often the only book in a whole village. The faith of credulous ignorance in this book is a most astounding fact; and no later than four days ago, at the drawing of the lottery,an instance of its infallibility was quoted in all the haunts of the people. A labourer fell from the scaffolding of the new hospital in the Corso, end was killed on the spot ; his fellow-workman left the corpse in the street, and ran to consult his " Book of Dreams." Paura, sangue caseate, were the cabalistic words, whose corresponding numbers set forth therein he seeded for his investment of fifteen bajoechi. On Saturday, his three numbers all came forth from the government urn, winning a prize of 300 dollars ! Your noticing the absurd crusade against Monte- i lembert's speeches and aiobertes works, while such mischievous rubbish is allowed to poison the popular mind, will have proper effect here, as your paper is diligently perused at head-quarters, the news-room copy. being occasionally stopped, an evidence of oversensitiveness. The subject of the infamous lottery system is, however, too vast for a casual notice, and deserves a separate letter : its degrading and immoral operation on every class of this pauper yet gambling community has been exposed by the best writers of Rome itself to no purpose hitherto. Sarcastic poetry  has aimed its shaft of ridicule in vain ; for the pulpit, alas! is not allowed to touch on the tabooed topic: Evriva la Imo Cbe lotto =adieu* 11 repo del grew Ci 'mole on ran brae: I mall, i blontml li mini rode, E lieno prorrede Col libro dot sopa. The carnival has begun brilliantly to-day.