The Express.
London, England, 1849-03-10 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 10, 1849.

morning contemporary, and I e xtract one passage Pa
showing briefly and pointedly the state of the Sicilian
question :
Is is just this constitution of 1812 which the Hine of
Naples will not grant. The Sicilians have demanded it for
three-end-thirty years from the ho ere of Naples ; for thi-
they revolted in 1820, 1831, 1837, and 1848; for this
Palermo was bombarded, Messina destroyed, and for this
we combat at the present day. Do you know (a London
morning contemporary) what Ferdinand swore, what Eng-
land gearsatsed with the constitution of 1812 ? That the
army irsald be entirely and exclusively Sicilian, that the
reside in Sicily, that the monarchy of Sicily
be eigesrab and distinct from that of Naples, and
Gem any °dew kingdom or province whatever ; that the
lift on aftstring the states of Naples should himself reign
in Sicily sr base his ran there, yieldina to him the kingdom.
The latest Sicilian papers speak of fresh arrivals
of munitions of war—bayonets, sabres, muskets,
besides a great number cf instruments for en-
gineers and artillery. The studente of the Univer-
sity of Palermo had petitioned both chambers for a
permission to form themselves into a " University
leg!on"—in filet everything iodice.tes the utmost en-
thusiasm. On looking over the journals for 26 days,
I find that 76 vessels had entered port, the majonty
of which were English and coasters, many American,
French, Sardinian, and some Norwegian.
I turn now to Monier, from which I have received
the following interesting and important letter :
Massisre, Fan 23.—As you requested me to give
you every possible information on the Sicilian volunteers
enrolled under the batmen of the Neapolitans (es raid in
Naples), I c.n give you the minute particulars. There were
not more than 480 or 500 men, part of whom were com-
posed of the dregs who pillaged the town on the 7th of
September; the remainder, say about three hundred,
are composed of some ex gendarmes and a few ragged coun-
trymen and beggars, induced to serve after having been
-Imbed and fed for a trOatidertbk tipsy, Tin whsle
; • - •
asvieg ueen cu ~c •se:ad on the "Nana of the Capuchins,
marched fete the town on the 21st January. with Fdangien
at their head. On arriving at the Piazze Ferdinand* they
were divided into three companies, and each company was
presented with a flag, with a distinct number, and the nsun-
bee of the battalion, so tint you can easily imagine what
these battalions consist of. The great proportion were
destined afterwards to serve their country as "'audio
urbane " in several villages, and some few have already
deserted, alter having been hooted by their countrymen.
You can have no Idea how these men are treated, even by
the lowimt of the low. These details you may depend on as
correct. We have had a report here that F 11614614, accom-
panied by an Anglo-French deputation, has gone to Palermo
to settle the Sicilian question.
In addition to the letter, the Luce, a Palermitan
paper, says that more than 50 of the far-tamed
Woran volunteers had deserted from the Neapolitan
flag, and had arrived in Catania with their arms. '
Messina papers speak of the private celebration of
Jan. 29th, the.annirereazy of independence for that
city. Two of the senators who refused to go to the
cathedral, to be prevent at a Te Deems, sung in honour
of Ferdinand, were imprisoned and canductei to the
citadel. "If foreign diplomacy," says the Tourist,
" seeks for new argument of the impossibility of the
rule of the Bourbons in Sicily, tbio gime Would be
sufficient."

erom Catania I hear that the roads are all des-
troyed and much of the ground undermined. Of the
48,400 ounces, which was the proportion of the forced
loan that Cataaia had been pat down fur, 34,230 bad
been paid in one day. One of the journals of that
city, in alluding to the Sicilian galley-slaves,
who have been let loose upon them from time to time
says that recently 30 or 40 of them had been sent
from Naples to 'Messina, and that thence, dressed as
monks, they were endeavouring to penetrate to (Ma-
nia ; but, on being discovered by the Catanese, they
were consigned to the public prison*.
Leaving Sicily, let me now advert to the affairs of
Naples. The diplomatic corps have returned from
Gaeta, and up to this hour I know nothing more.
It was said yesterday that the Grand Duke was not
corting to Naples at present, but that the Pope was
expected during the week ; indeed, there hes been
much tdk of a conference of crowned and uncrowned
heads to be held in Naples. A very Important
bit of news I had from a gentleman,
whose son had just left Fillingien, is that
all the Sicilians (except two) who were
taken prisoners in the Corfu waters last autumn
have been pardoned. This looks like an effort
at conciliation. I think it likely, however, to
be a concession to diplomatic remonstranoes. The
Suet, it is said, is certainly to sail immediately ; it
has orders to hold itself in readiness ; its destination
it is believed is Sicily. The Havre will probably rema'n.
Yesterday I observed large forces of infantry and
artillery enter the arsenal to be embarked, whither
I know not. Many arrests have been spoken of
within the last few days, and some even of the mili-
tary. I believe that many propagandists of republi-
can and' constituents' principles have been at work.
P.B. Last night the steamer Polifemo was to leave
for Messina with 100,000 ducats for the troops sta-
tioned there. The government has taken up nine
merchant placers to serve in conjunction with four
steam frigates as transports for 400 homes for a regi-
ment of lancers. Tue Independent publishes the
following ministerial order, though it does not give it
as official : " Minister of War and Marine to General
Palina—Considering the state of rebellion in which
the dominions of the Holy See arc against his Holi-
ness, their letitimate sovereign; considering that
many of their soldiers are assembled on our frontier,
and it being necessary, in case of need, that we should
act with due energy as circumstances shall demand;
you will place in a state of siege all the
communes lying on the frontier, with their respective
territories." Of fleet news, I must tell you, Mayes-
terday morning the Spitfire came in from Gibraltar,
with despatches for Admiral Parker ; she reports that
the fleet < f Admiral Napier consists of 7 vessels of the
line and 4 steamers. An extraordinary courier
arrived yesterday at three o'clock, with despatches
from London for Mr. Temple. At the last moment: It
is whispered that the King conceded everything that
was asked 3esterday by the two admirals and the
ambassadors; this is the fleet private interview they
have ever had with the King. The fleet positively
sails, it is raid, on Friday. I must not omit, however,
to say, that bombs and congreve rockets are now being
pieced on board government vessels, that 500 horse
stalls are ordered, and that some royal steamers leave
this evening for Sicily.
The Fives were 81f, ; Exchange, 585.