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aided the Gazzetta from public funds. On January 24th, the Chamber of Deputies adopted a law imposing severe penalties on priests abusing their powers to attack the Government and the laws. During the debate, the Minister of Worship and Justice declared that the law concerning the Papal guarantees was a solemn and unassailable pledge given to the Catholic world of the Pope's complete independence in the exercise of his spiritual power. Italy ought to regard the maintenance of this law as a question of honor and of loyalty toward Europe. He was determined to respect the law, and would not allow the political friends of the ministry to entertain any illusions in this respect. On March 3d, a law was passed by a large majority, prohibiting certain officers of the Government from becoming members of the Chamber of Deputies. On March 27th, Signor Depretis, the Minister of Finance, made his financial statement in the Chamber of Deputies.

The

budget for 1877 shows a surplus of about 12,000,000 lire, and the minister said the expenditure must remain within the limits prescribed by that result. With regard to the construction of new lines of railways, Signor Depretis maintained that the funds required must be provided either through guarantees upon the earnings, or an appropriation of rente, the amount of which, however, should not exceed 50,000,000 or 60,000,000 lire annually. In reference to the Basle Railway Convention, the Government was engaged in liquidating the accounts with the company. Signor Depretis hoped to bring in a bill this session relative to the management of the railways. He alluded to the improvement effected in the state of the budget, and said the Government intended introducing administrative reforms without disturbing the equilibrium which had been attained. He announced the presentation of bills for the gradual extinction of the forced paper

currency, the conversion of the landed property of confraternities and parishes, the imposition of a tax upon the manufacture of home-made sugar, and the introduction of changes in the customs tariff. Alluding to the treaties of commerce, Signor Depretis said: "I hope that the moderation and equity of our demands will be appreciated, and that a conclusion will be arrived at. I cannot consent to long prolongation of the old treaties, and I shall remain unshakable in my resolution to exact parity of treatment." Finally, the ministry presented bills for creating a ministry of the Treasury, and making other administrative changes, as well as for limiting the circulation of paper money, and establishing a sinking fund of 20,000,000 lire. The Chamber subsequently adjourned for the Easter recess until the 9th of April. The Italian Green-book on the Eastern Question was presented on April 9th to the diplomatic corps, and on the 10th to Parliament. It contained 510 documents, ranging between the dates of July 17, 1875, to February 10, 1877, none of which, however, were said to be of any importance. A number of documents were afterward added, which showed that Italy had suggested the well-known voluntary declaration of Russia, when the Protocol was in danger through the opposition of Great Britain. On April 23d, the Chamber of Deputies were occupied with the consideration of the course pursued by the Government on the Eastern Question. Signor Visconti Venosta asked to be informed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs what degree of truth there was in current reports that Italy had entered into an undertaking with one more than with another of the guaranteeing Powers. He did not ask for any declarations which might impede liberty of action in future eventualities, but he wished to be assured that Italy would maintain a strict neutrality that she would do nothing to create doubts as to her intentions; that she did not intend to increase her armaments so as to

arouse the distrust of other Powers. Signor Musolina, a member of the Left, declared himself a greater Turk than the Sultan. He denied the right of Europe to intermeddle in the internal affairs of Turkey. He asserted that Turkey had fulfilled all her promises of reform, and censured the Government for not having

formed a European coalition against Russia. Italy, he affirmed, could take the initiative by resolving the Eastern Question in a moment, and if war broke out the Turkish blood would be on their heads. The atrocities in Bulgaria and the insurrections in the Slav Provinces, he said, were the work of Russian agents and the result of Russian machinations, and he laid upon the table a large bundle of documents in proof of his assertions.

The Duke of Colonna da Cesaro asked if any interchange of ideas had been made between the Powers to secure the neutrality of Roumania. He said additional precautions would be necessary to protect Italians and Italian interests, for if war broke out it would be a religious war. From an examination of a green-book, together with a blue-book, he approved the policy of the Government as that of a liberal nation interested in the condition of oppressed peoples, but, at the same time, maintaining its treaty obligations and its desire for peace. He maintained that Italy had been active and impartial, and had not sided either with Turkey or with Russia. He trusted to hear his words confirmed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a declaration from him of his intention to observe the most strict neutrality until the interests of the nation might require a different course. Replies were made to the different

[graphic]

PIAZZA DEL POPOLO, ROME.

speakers both by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the Council. They declared in the most formal manner that Italy had emerged from the lengthy negotiation upon the Eastern Question free from any ties whatsoever, and on the best terms with all the Powers indiscriminately. The ministers declared

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reply to an interpellation on the change of policy in France in regard to Italy, the minister stated that it was clear from the declarations of the French Government that the cordial and friendly relations between the two nations remained unaltered, and that it was neither probable nor possible that France would let herself

be led into acting against the safety of the country, to the formation of which she had so much contributed. Signor Depretis confirmed Signor Melegari's statement, regretting that an interpellation, fraught with so much inconvenience and possibility of misunderstanding, had been made. The Chamber of Deputies adjourned on June 15th, and the Senate shortly after.

In November, the Minister of Public Works, Signor Zanardelli, tendered his resignation to the King, by whom it was immediately accepted. His portfolio remained provisionally in the hands of the President of the Council, Signor Depretis, who was also Minister of Finance. The imme

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CHURCH AND PALACE OF THE LATERAN, ROME.

to make any military preparations, the ministers replied that the necessity of anything of the kind was altogether foreign to their anti-diate and ostensible cause of this division in cipations; but should the interests of the country call for such preparations, Parliament should first be consulted. Signor Depretis concluded by saying that Italy deplored the calamity of war, but felt secure in her own loyalty, in her King, and in the valor of her army.

The Clerical Abuses bill was rejected by the Senate, on May 7th, by a vote of 105 to 92. This vote took every one by surprise, as the separate articles of the bill had been previously adopted, with the exception of the first, which was amended by Signori Cadorna and Lampertico, and was then adopted. The bill had been warmly recommended by Signor Sella, the leader of the Right, and when it was defeated, he resigned his leadership. It may seem rather strange that the chief of the opposition should resign in consequence of a vote given against the ministry, while the Minister of Grace and Justice, who brought the bill forward, retained his portfolio. But the measures rejected by the Senate on this occasion were voted by it as a part of the penal code still in operation, and were framed by the former Government, which, when in office, conceived the necessity for this law. A majority of that party now opposed it when brought forward separately by its successors. On May 23d, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated in the Chamber of Deputies that the Government would scrupulously observe the law guaranteeing the Pope's liberty. In

the ministerial council was the convention with the railway companies. The Government, which wished to rescind its contracts with the three existing companies, was limited in its operations by parliamentary votes, forbidding the railways either being placed under state management or being intrusted to foreign companies. The only capitalists in the country who would or could take charge of so vast an enterprise were the same men to whom the tobacco monopoly had been already farmed out. Signor Zanardelli, at that time in opposition, had stubbornly opposed the tobacco convention, and harbored an invisible antipathy to those capitalists, whom he announced as the " vampires of the state." He, therefore, objected to the new railway convention at every step of the negotiations, and although he seemed from time to time to yield to the pressure of his colleagues, he remained to the end a man convinced against his will, and was placed in the alternative either of a break-up of the whole cabinet or of his own retirement.

The Chambers met again on November 22d. On November 28th, the Chamber of Deputies adopted, by a large majority, the clause in the penal code then under discussion, abolishing capital punishment. On December 14th, a debate occurred on the liberty and secrecy of private telegrams, which led to a vote of confidence in the Government being proposed,

which was carried by 184 to 162 votes. Nevertheless, in the sitting on December 16th, Signor Depretis announced that, in consequence of the present position of parties, the ministers had tendered their resignation to the King, who had accepted them, and that Signor Depretis had been charged with the formation of a new cabinet. On December 28th, the King announced the following cabinet to the Senate: Depretis, President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Crispi, Minister of the Interior; Magliano, Minister of Finance; Mancini, Minister of Justice and Worship; Mezzacapo, Minister of War; Brin, Minister of the Navy; Coppino, Minister of Education; Perez, Minister of Public Works; Bargoni, Minister of the Treasury. The Chamber was prorogued on December 19th, and the Senate adjourned on December 29th.

The Minister of the Interior, Signor Nico

tera, was engaged in a bitter quarrel with the opposition during 1877. On November 2, 1876, three days before the election for deputies, the Gazzetta d'Italia published an article entitled, "The Hero of Sapri," the autobiography of Giovanni Nicotera. In this article it gave a documentary history of the rising of Sapri in 1857, and the trial of the participants in it, all the records of the trial being signed by Nicotera himself. From this article it appeared that Nicotera, who had taken part in this rising, betrayed his confederates, and, while professing to be a Republican, assumed the title of Baron, without having any right to it. In consequence of this article, Nicotera sued the proprietors of the paper for libel. During the trial, however, a large number of damaging facts were produced against the minister, and the general result was so unfavorable to him, that the state-attorney did not uphold

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BRIDGE AND CASTLE OF SANT' ANGELO, WITH ST. PETER'S IN THE DISTANCE, ROME.

the charge in its original form, but asked for a comparatively mild sentence. On January 25th, the trial came to an end, and the proprietors of the paper were sentenced to three months' imprisonment, to pay a fine of 500 lire, and the expenses of the plaintiff.

A numismatic discovery, unparalleled in extent, was made near Verona in January. Two large amphora were found, containing no less than two quintals, or about 600 English pounds weight, of coins of the Emperor Gallienus, and his successors within the 100 years following his reign. The number of coins was estimated at between 50,000 and 55,000. Of those of the Emperor Probus, there were more than 4,000. The majority were of bronze, but there were some of silver and others of bronze silvered.

They were all in the finest state of preservation, and, with the exception of those of Gallienus, which were a little worn, they were so fresh from the mint as to make it evident they were never put into circulation. The discovery was considered of sufficient importance for the Minister of Public Instruction to dispatch Signor Pigorini specially to Verona to report upon it. All the finest examples were to be placed in the Museum of Verona, and the remainder either exchanged in sets with other museums or sold, as might be decided upon.

On June 3d, the 50th anniversary of the Episcopal consecration of Pius IX., and the 30th of the promulgation of the Italian Constitution, were celebrated with all possible solemnity both at the Quirinal and at the Vatican.

J

1. Public debt.
2. Civil list.

EXPENDITURES.

3. Pensions and indemnification of the deposed
princes..

4. For the Shinto and Buddhist Temples...
5. Council of State.

6. Senate and Provincial Assemblies..

7. Ministry of Foreign Affairs..
the Interior.
Finances..

8.

9.

JAPAN, an Empire in Eastern Asia. The appellation by which the Emperor is generally known in foreign countries is the ancient title of Mikado, or the Venerable. The present Mikado, Muts-Ilito, was born at Yedo, September 22, 1852; succeeded his father, Komei-Tenno, 1867; married December 28, 1868, to Princess Haruko, born April 17, 1850, daughter of Prince Itchidgo. The first child of the Em- 10. peror was born in 1873, but died soon after. There is no regular law of succession, and in case of the death of the Emperor without leaving issue, his successor must be chosen from the Katzura, Arisugawa, Fushimi, or Kannin families. At the head of the Government is a Council of State, of which Sandjo is the first president, and Iwakura the second. The other members are the ministers. The ministry was composed as follows, in 1877: Foreign Affairs, TerashiIna; War, Yamagata; Navy, vacant; Interior, Okubo; Finances, Okuma; Justice, Ogi; Education, vacant; Public Works, Ito; Imperial House, Tokudaïdjin.

The following table gives the area of the several islands, according to an official calculation made in 1877, and the population in 1874:

5,551.447

827,500

17,517,453

187,924

494,000

237,000

185,600

3,699,812

66

1,798,600

66

War

7,250,000

11.

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8,549.700

12.

46

Education..

1,704,800

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Worship.

78,000

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Public Works..

4,900,000

Justice....

1,420,060

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316,000

17. Colonization..

1,905,660

471,000

4,162,500

1,945,000

220,000

1,629,000

548,300

500,000

559.051

1,880,000

62,998,847

2,296

15.
16.

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