The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-29 00:00:00

THE BOMBARDMENT OF GAETA.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the KU,
the Two Sicilies has addressed the following
cular to the diplomatic agents of his sovereigi
foreign courts : _

Gaeta, Jan. 1
Monsieur le --,—The admiral of the Imperial isqu„
Proposed to the King, in the name of the Emperor of
French, an armistice, which, commencing on the Bth, w,..
last to the 19th. The admiral declared that if this prop
tion were not accepted the squadron would withdraw it
week ; and if accepted it would remain until sunset
above day, when hostilities would recommence, 11112. i
Sardinian squadron would be at liberty to bombard 1.. v.
This alternative was a sad one, because either involved
departure of the fleet and the interruption to all corm,
cation with the rest of the world. The armistice in r
was unfavourable to us, because our defences could no:
increased, and the Sardinians required time to song!.
their means of attack. Nevertheless, his Majesty epees
it, not only from considerations of humanity, but beams
was the desire of the Emperor of the French. Tlb
why the Governor of Gaeta accepted all the articles p
posed ; but the proposal that a French °nicer eh.
bo present to see that no works were carried ou dry
party was refused by General Cialdini, a refusal which
afterwards confirmed by his sovereign. We, hewer,
did not refuse to observe the truce, and, although
heard every hour of the progress of the enemy's works,
respected the conditions, and we cannot be accused
not having been faithful to this indirect armistice. Pr
to-morrow the port of Gaeta will be blockaded and ,let
attack by sea ; from to-morrow the very vessels of
Majesty, delivered over by:the most infamous trease to:
King of Sardinia, will come and throw their shells ou
armed families who have sought refuge here, sal
the legitimate King and Queen of the Two Sicilies.
cannot be believed that Europe will any longer remain
passible at the spectacle of a king recognised by all •
powers, despoiled of his states by the most iniquit
aggressions, a prey to all the horrors of a long bon&
meet, without any other crime than the courage of lino-
defending the last bulwark of the monarchy apiel
cowardly invasion. The King is resolved to meet to
end all the perils of his position. Blocked in and attac
at the same time by sea and land, he may fall under
ruins of the place, or be made prisoner by his ea •
Whatever may be his fate, his Majesty is ready to meet
with that greatness of soul and that firmness of which
has given such constant proofs during the last five in.
Against what has happened and what may take place it
useless to protest. The moral feeling of every riglitonial
man will do so, and if Europe abandons the King, his
jesty will not abandon himself, but will do his duty s
sovereign to the end. You have seen by the journals
is the true state of the kingdom of Naples and of union
nate Sicily—mistrust, absence of security, and ruin.
inhabitants in every part rise spontaneously, and protest
favour of their legitimate sovereign against fowl
domination. Under these circumstances, the Kis
wishing not to save his own person, which
exposes every day to the greatest dangers,
to secure against humiliation and insult the royal digui.
which be represents, has a right to hope that in the .
equal struggle which is about to continue, the powers
Europe will declare, yes or no, whether they recognise t
blockade which is about to be established without say tl.
claration of war by the squadron now in the power of .'
dint*. And if this blockade be not recognised his Naj,
has at least the confidence that a collective summons will
sant to the King of Sardinia to guarantee the liberty of .
sovereign if the arm of a desperate siege should spare
life, and to secure against outrage the person of the c.
Queen, who with a magnanimity worthy of her heart,
insensible to all personal peril, has resisted the most ire
sant prayers, to devote herself in the hospitals to theme
the wounded. You are authorised, Monsieur le
read this despatch, and to deliver a copy of it.

Cr~¢u