Rumours reached this country, some days back, of a new
movement towards freedom in Italy, favoured by King Charles Albert of Sardinia. It was regarded as the echo of rumours long ago current respecting the same Monarch, even while he was Prince of Carignan. This week, however, the Journal des Debuts gives authenticity to the reports, and thus renders them worthy of attention. About two years ago, we believe the Abbate Gioberti, and after him Count Cesare lalbo, published books, in which, while deprecating the revolutionary movements that have se often disturbed Italy, the writers plainly called for the inde- pendence of that country, and indicated Charles Albert as the et person for its head. So far from being exiled, both were un- disturbed ; and the Count has been well received at Court. Some manifestations of a similar spirit lately took place at Genoa ; *here, according to the report, the people called out " Long live Charles Albert, King of Italy!" The Austrian Ambassador de- manded some kind of satisfaction from the Court at Piedmont, but did not receive it. Without alluding in terms to these events, the Journal des Debats relates the sequel. The Austrian Govern- Merit of Milan maliciously issued a decree, on the 20th of April, raising the duties on Piedmontese wines from 9 livres 7 :midi the hectolitre to 21 livres 7 soldi ; a duty which was prohibitory. Instead of directly retaliating, the Sardinian Government lowered its own duties on French wines and sugars,—" having reference to the treaty concluded with France, and desiring far more closely to bind the commercial relations between the two coun- tries." This proceeding, although the Legitimist Quotidienne laboriously endeavours to make light of it, is more important than on the surface it might seem : any political change in Italy, to be effectual, must be made with the concurrence of France; whose aid, overt or tacit, cannot be done without.
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