The Times correspondent in Rome declares that Italy is just
now so prosperous that the British Ambassador, Lord Currie, is astonished at the advance he finds both in agri- culture and industry. The revenue comes in regularly and keeps an even pace with the expenditure. General Pelloux, the Premier, has completely extinguished brigandage in Sardinia, where it was preventing all development, and has restored among all officials throughout Italy confidence that in emergency they will be supported by the Administration. The public mind is greatly reassured, and the Government, though harassed by the demands of the "groups," is confi- dent of a working majority. General Pelloux has, moreover, with great adroitness evaded a rather serious political danger. The Socialist Deputies, maddened by the publication of the Public Safety Act by Royal decree, after a long effort at obstruction rushed at the voting urns and overturned them,— an act of violence towards the Legislature punishable with twelve years' imprisonment. They were to be tried, but as the trial would bring on a most embarrassing discussion as to the extent of the prerogative, the Premier summoned Parlia- ment, and the accused Deputies are consequently beyond arrest until the end of the Session, when the whole transac- tion will have passed from men's minds. The Times corre- spondent thinks this course discreditable to General Pelloux ; but great political trials usually only envenom strife. The Socialist Deputies behaved very badly, but penal servitude is a severe penalty for a burst of unruly temper.
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