30 SEPTEMBER 1865, Page 2

The Italian Ministry' have published their programme, in the shape

of a circular from the Minister of the Interior on the elections. They promise to bring forward a Bill for the sup- pression of religious bodies, and the diversion of their wealth partly to the communes and partly to improve the position of the parochial clergy ; to reform the system of higher educa- tion ; to reduce expenditure, re-adjust taxation, and " propor- tion the income-tax to the income of the taxpayer ;" and to carry on the work of unification. These are sensible promises, if the Ministry will only keep them ; but we should like to hear a little more about that income-tax suggestion. Impoverished ministries

form strange plans, and an impot progressif has been a temptation ever since the days of Cambon.