The Express.
London, England, 1849-04-18 00:00:00

of that place by the Neapolitans under Filangieri,
Arr. a bombardment. The Neapolitan squadron of
15 vessels sailed on the ith for Syracuse, which was
summoned and surrendered without firing a shot.
The general commanding the Sicilian forces took
rouge on board the Bulldog steamer. and arrived
bore on the 10th.
Conditions will again be offered to the provisional
government, and if rejected Palermo will be plun-
dered and burned. The victory of Radetski hes done
more harm to the Sicilian cause than all the forret of

Naples.
Immediately the Neapolitan forms came in sight of
Syracuse, the inhab!tants opened the gates, rang the
bells, and shouted " Viva Fel dinandor pulled down
the Sicilian colours, and expressed an entire sub-
mission.
We have received letters from a correspondent
at Catania of the 7th inst. He writes:—At
en early hour on the morning of the 6th the
Neapolitan squadron, consisting of 17 vessels,
steamer., frigates, and gun boats, took up a
position to bombard the city. The firing lasted
all day with much, damage to the city, and but
little to thes vessel. Tile following morning a
simultaneous attack was made by sea and lend.
The Swiss to the number of 2,600 led the van,
and were supported by two regiments of cavalry,
and followed by an army of 16,000 men, with forty
pieces of cannon. After a brief but obstinate re-
sistance, the Catanese were overpowered, and the
troops of Ferdinand entered the city, which tin n
became a real field of battle. As the troops ad-
vanced the resistance became more obstinate. The
assailants were fired on from windows, housetop',
and barricades. This morning the greater part of the
principal inhabitants and the garrison abandoned the
city and fled to the mountains. Filangieri has given
up the city to sack and fire. It is now is flames in
many parts. The soldiers are prowling about, plun-
dering houses, violating women, and stabbing all
who oppose them.
SARDINIA.—By a decree of the 12. h inst. the city
of Genoa is declared in a state of siege; and by ano•
they decree Gen. La Marmots is named a royal com-
missioner for that city. All I unctionaries are summoned
to return immediately to their posts on pain of dismissal.
In consequence of the state of siege, all strangers who
cannot give an account of themselves are to leave the
town, unless special permission be granted ; ell clubs
are closed; journals tending to disturb public tran-
quillity will be seized or suspended. All arms are
to be given up.
General Dabormida and Chevalier Carlo Boncom-
pagni left Turin on the 12b inst. for Milan, to treat
for peace with M. de Bruck, the Austrian minister of
commerce, who has already arrived in that city.
The Corriere Mercantile of Ganes of the 13th eon-
tsins the following from Ancona of the 7th :—" 7 p. m.
An Austrian steamer has entered our port with two
Sardinian plenipotentiaries; the Sardinian squadron
is getting under weigh. The following despatch has
been addressed to the Prefect of Ancona by Admiral
Albini: " Excellenoy,—lmperions circumstances, and
the announcement that Venice is to be blcckaded,
force me to leave Tour port, to proceed immediately
to the menaced point. Your town has nothing to fear
from this. I beg your excellency to inform the
people that I have no other idea save that of acting
for the good of the country."

GERMANY.

DEFEAT OF THE AUSTRIANS.

THE HUNGARIANS AT PESTH.

AUSTRIA.—Oar correspondent writes :
VIENNA, APRIL 13.
I have just received the information that Waitzen
was taken yesterday, by storm, by the Magyar army.
General Bens left part of his troops under the com-
mand of Massaro', and proceeded with the rest to
Pesth, where ho arrived the day before yesterday, in
the evening.
Our stocks sold this evening two per cent. under
the rates of this morning.
FRANKFORT.—We have news from this city
of the 15th instant. At the conference, on the
14th of the plenipotentiaries of the twenty-
nine German states, Baron Von Gastem (the pre-
ardent of the central cabinet) spoke as follows :
The Legislative Imperial Assembly completed, oa the
27* alt., the eseond reading of the German imperial
asestitution, which it promulgated on the 28th. The entire
nation, as well as the princes and governments of Germany,
have watched the labours of that Assembly, have taken part
in the accomplishment of the work of the constitution, and
become convinced of the great difficulties in the way
thereof. The establishing of the confederate state,
with a strong central power, and of a represen-
tation of the people bated on comprehensive rights, require
great se rifer on the part of the governments of the various
states. The indemnification for those sacrifices lies in the
prosperity of the entire nation, and in the united power
which flows back on each state. The ministry of the central
power consider it to be their duty to contribute all in their
power to the carrying out of the now completed imperial
sonstitution. They entertain the opinion that, through the
Ist section, in connexion with the 87th, of the constitution,
the future arrangements respecting the *operate federal rela-
tions of Austria (the necessity for which arrangements was
acknowledged by the National Assembly in its decision of the
12th Jan) meet prejudiced. I hope and trust that ill the
gwvernments will see in the constitution (en authentic copy
of which I shall have the honour to give to each plenipo-
tentiary, in order that it may be forwarded to the respective
governments) the safest and only possible bond of union
amongst the princes and nations of Germany, and thereby
secure to the fatherland a long desired peaceful and legal
basis.
Herr Von SCUMERLINO observed that " Austria had all
along adhered to the principle of a concordance between the
governments and the National Assembly, and that it would
still adhere to it, notwithstanding the decisions of the above
Assembly. Austria would hold in reserve the propositions and
declarations it had to make." The plenipotentiary of Luxem-
burg made, in the name of his government, a similar state-
ment. The respective plenipotentiaries of Baden, Nassau,
the two Hems, 'Schleswig-Holstein, the two Heck-
lenbarghs, Altenburg, the three Anhalts, and Frank-
fort resolved to abide by the decisions of the Na-
tional Assembly. Those of Oldenburg, Weimar, tiam-
lleiningen, Coburg Gotha, Brunswick, Bremen, and Lu-
beck, expressed their determination to draw up a declaration
with reference to the Prussian circular note. It may be
stated for a certainty that the last-named states will support
the National Assembly. It ieunderstood that Wartemberg
will do the same. Prussia, Bavaria, and Saxony reserve
their opinions.
The plenipotentiaries of 28 German governments
have transmitted to the plenipotentiary of the Prus-
sian cabinet a collective note, to the following effect:
—Their respective governments have seen with plea-
sure that the King of Prussia is inclined toplace himself
at the head of the German confederate state. His ma-
jesty's resolution to make his acceptance of the imperial
crown dependent on the will of the respective govern-
ments is duly appreciated by them, and is one likely
is Mato the consolidation of the edifice of the Ger-
ms constitution; convinced, however, that a powerful
eselbdetste state is necessary for the welfare of Ger-
many, the respective 28 governments approve of the
election of his Prussian majesty as Emperor of the
Germans. All the 28 governments do notare
of all the provisions of the constitution ; nevertheless,
they will adhere to them, and they trust that Prowls,
abandoning the principle of a concordance, will act
with the same spirit of disinterestedness for the sake
of the welfare of fatherland. The collective note in
question is signed by the representatives of the fol-
lowing states :—Baden, the two Heists, Oldenburg,
Mecklenburgh, Holstein, Lauenburg, Brunswick,
Nassau, Weimar, Coburg-Gotha, Meiningen, Anhalt-
Bernburg, Anhalt-Dessau, Schwarzburg Rudolstadt,
Sondershausen, Reins, Hohenzollern, Waldeck, and
the four free cities.