20 NOVEMBER 1869, Page 2

The Times strongly confirms our recent account of the revival

of industry in South Italy. In the Terra di Lavoro, say its correspondents, life has completely revived, and people are draining the marshes along shore. A dozen cotton, silk, wool, paper, and iron factories have nearly doubled their trade. At Acerra the people have rebuilt every edifice from the cathedral to the cabin out of the profits of their madder, while the tonnage employed along, the " Coast " from Naples to Genoa has doubled. Disloyalty, too, is decreasing. The last Imeute in Naples, early in October, was a very small affair, and. the aceouchement of the Princess Margherita has called, forth an enthusiastic demonstration. If the Treasury could only get a few capable and honest officials who would really collect the taxes voted, Italy would be solvent and secure; but the laxity in this respect is appalling, and so is the ignorance of scientific finance. Of all stupidities, that of raising taxes till everybody evades them is the greatest, and this is what is done in the matter of income-tax. Honest people pay 5s. in the pound, and dishonest people pay nothing, and are, of course, the majority.