17 FEBRUARY 1849, Page 2

Italy moves towards a new crisis. The Grand Duke of

Tus- cany has fled ; and the leading men of Florence, denouncing "Leopold of Austria" as the violater of their constitution, have induced the people to appoint a Provisional Government. In Rome, the citizens are on the point of proclaiming a Republic. In Naples, the Parliament has met, with every sign that it will sturdily maintain a liberal policy ; and there are rumours of concessions from the Throne. The hopeful are even looking for the appointment of representatives to the Italian Constituent Assembly by Naples. The flight of " Leopold of Austria" might raise apprehensions that he was imitating Ferdinand the First of Naples when he fled to Laybach ; but he is said to have sought a passage on board an English ship to Elba. However that may be, Italy now stands arrayed against her Princes : she is less fresh than she was in 1848; Austria is stronger.