The Express. — 1867-12-26 (London, England)

AFFAIRS IN ITALY.  The following is an extract from a private letter recently received from Florence:  Naturally you will expect some notice of the remarkable, though unsuccessful, attempt on Rome. Although I was away in the country at that time I heard the opinion of all parties, from the warmest Italian to the blackest clerical. There is no doubt poor Garibaldi was urged on prematurely by the party of action in France and in Germany, and that he was grossly duped into the belief that he would not be opposed either by the Emperor or by the Prussian government, and that money did come from Germany. There is also no doubt that Rattazzi was "game," but that the generals refused to march. They say here Madame Rattazzi was the prime mover of the whole thing. As for the country, you never beheld such a deep, genuine, national feeling. The entire body of the lads from 15 to 20 marched to the frontiers. They had no arms, no clothes, no food, and little money. Of comae in such • multitude there were some ruffians, and more loose characters, and of these Garibaldi made severe, just, and wholesome examples, but the great mass were very sincere and most self.serrificing, and it was gloriously shown that where the terms were anything like equal, the national arm was stronger than that of the foreign mercenary. Of course it could not be supposed that unarmed lads of such extreme youth could stand before the finest troops in Europe, armed with the best new weapons, and backed by an overwhelming French army, but even at Meutana the Pontifical troops were sadly beaten until the French Chassepot came up. The Italians, so far from having anything to be ashamed of, have every reason to think they came off with great credit ; and the clericals, in their hearts, are staggered exceedingly by the pluck and heroism of these poor lads. I The scenes in the hospital at Rome, where the wounded ii Cairoli reproached Pio to his face for the crimes the Papal government committed in his name and the murder of his brother, made the greatest sensation at Rome ,• and the Pontiff, wbo is only allowed to hear the most abject fiats tery and the stupidest adulation, wee greatly struck by the ' dauntlessness of the poor wounded Garibaldino. Justice demands it to be noted that popular Mitred is solely directed against the foreign mercenaries of Rome, and that the Roman troops behaved most fraternally and humanely to the wounded Garibaldians, nor did Pio Noma himself show any rancour, he is so wrapped up in that sublime idea of his own infallibility. He was rudely awakened by the voice of truth coming from poor young As usual, the Italians shine more in enthusiasm for • great leading idea than in common sense and practical judgment and administration. All the departments of the I public service are in a universal muddle. There is no lother word to express it. The state of the artillery was so (Ungraceful in September and October that to serve the few batteries sant to the frontier government had to press horses into the service by requisition. Most cheerfully were these given, and hardly • soldier missed when the category of 1642 was called. But one deeply deplores that the class just above the people should be so wanting in those qualities which would utilise the tine feeling of the latter for the benefit of the country. There can be no doubt, considering the native intelligence and