1 OCTOBER 1859, Page 11

Oa the other hand the Duchies seem to be negleoting

no means to strengthen themselves. According to.a letter from Florence- " A. scheme of union between. Piedmon4 Parma.. Modena, Romagna, and Tuaeauy has been effected, givingin each of, these States free execution to all the civil and. criminal sentences pronounced on any of the others. A kind of university league has also been covenanted, by virtue of which the de- grees vented by one of the learned bodies of those five States will be avail- able in.albtho seminaries of learning of the other States. Great activity prevailain.foewarding a project of Customs union ; the Sardinian Govern- ment, with a.view to expedite matters and smooth down difficulties, offer- ing to farm out the Customs revenues of the other States, an arrangement which will entail considerable though temporary loss-upon Piedmont"