the provinces subject to Austrian oppression, the revolution is, strictly
speaking, a popular one. I suspect that the populace of Rome have no
strong desire for Italian unity or, still less for annexation to
Sardinia, but I am still more convinced that they have no affection or
regard whatever for the existing government; not even the sort of
attachment, valueless though it be, which the lazzaroni of Naples have
for their Bourbon princes. It is incredible, if any such a feeling did
exist, that it should refuse to give any sign of its existence at such a
time as the present.

With respect to the actual pecuniary cost of the Papal government, it is
not easy to arrive at any positive information; I have little faith in
statistics generally, and in Roman statistics in particular; I have,
however, before me the official Government Budget for the year 1858. Like
all Papal documents, it is confused and meagre, but yet some curious
conclusions may be arrived at from it. The year 1858 was as quiet a
year, be it remembered, as there has been in Italy for ten years past. It
was only on new year's day, in 1859, that Napoleon dropped the first hint
of the Italian war. The year 1858 may therefore be fairly regarded as a
normal year under the present Papal system. For this year the net
receipts of the Government were,

Scudi.
Direct Taxes . . . . 3,011571
Customs . . . . . . 5,444729
Stamps . . . . . . . 947184
Post . . . . . . . . 111848
Lottery . . . . . . 392813
Licences for Trade . . 174525
Total 10,082670