The National Register.
London, England, 1821-04-02 00:00:00

No. 1,305.—V0L. XIV.]

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.
TURIN, MARCH 19.--Thoagh you must be al-
ready informed of the principal events which have
distinguished the revolution in Piedmont, I shall
make no apology for recapitulating a few of them,
and thus supplyin,s you with a brief narrative of
what has occurred since the first uncertain move-
ment till the date of my letter.
The arrest of Prince Cisterns, on the frontiers of
Savoy, as he was returning from Paris, said his con-
veyance (in chains I have heard) to .Finistrella, a
fortress in the wildest parts of the Alps, together
with the arrest of several of his friends, convinced
the constitutionalists that their projects were known,
and thus only hastened their accomplishment.
Their object was to gain at first possession of some
of the fortresses. The son of the Prime Minister,
the Marquis of St. Menem, who was among the
number of those suspected, and who was put under
arrest in his own house, found means to make his
escape, and proceeded to the fortress of Alexandria,
whereihis partisans were numerous, both among the
citizens and the garrison. There seemed to have
been no previous concert between the revolutionary
party and the troops. There was no conflict of arms.
but there seemed at first little acquiescence. The
governor opposed the surrender of the fort ; the
colonel of the Savoyard regiment of infantry (about
1500 strong) who were in the town, would take no
part in the movement, anti gave his troops leave or
a command to disperse, and the regiment of Genoa
was equally wavering and uncertain. In the mean
time a body of the citizens, with the troops in the
interest of the constitutional party, got and kept
possession of the fortress, and fired salvoes of artil.
lery, amid shouts of " Viva la Constiluzione di
Spagna." On Saturday, the 10th, the intelligence
of what was going on in Alexandria reached the
capital, and inspired us much terror into the court as
it did hope and resolution• into the party opposed to
it. No movement took place at Turin indicating a
general participation in the designs of the constitu-
tionalists till Sunday the 11 th ; un the morning of
that day a Captain Ferreri, and about 100 privates
of the regiment called the Royal Legion, proceeded
to the boulevards, beyond Porta Nueva, shouting
" Viva it Re, viva la conslillizioae di Sparia." A
considerable party of students joined the soldiers
ishout ten o'clock, and their numbers increased till
they amounted to about 400. At noon, two com-
panies of the royal guards, two squadrons of car-
bineers, with a detachment of Piedmont dragoons,
proceeded to disperse this body, to the cry of " Viva
a Re," they were answered with " Viva la Cvoisli-
lusione," from the motley group of students and
soldiers, armed with pistols and sticks, who put
themselves in a posture of defence. Things remained
In this state till four o'clock, when the latter, seeing
that they were not joined by the citizens or troops,
retired from their position, pursued by the dragoons,
crossed the Po, ascended the heights fronting the
city, and on the following day proceeded to Alexan-
dna, The guards and dragoons returned to their
station before the royal palace, where they were
joined by some companies of artillery anti a battalion
of the regiment of Amite. On Monday morning,
the 12th, some of the students and citizens, acting
in concert, found means to ewer the citadel, where
they hoisted the flag of revolution, and proclaimed
the constitution As min as they entered, they
raised the drawbridge, and announced the event by
firing three cannon. An immense crowd flocked to
the glucis of that forms.% and saw the unexpected
spectacle of the garrison upon the ramparts, and the
artillery at the garrison, shouting " Viva ii Re, viva
la Constituaione di Sratt4," rho people without
no longer hesitated to answer with similar ACCIAIII4-
lions and enthusiasm. In this state of things Prince
Cariosno, the next in succession to the crown to
the King's briither, and a young man of popular
character, had pot:ceded from his palace to the ci-
toilel to ascertain from his own observation the
extent of the insurrection, and surrounded by entlitt-
aitistic multitudes, who, amid the loudest acclaim,.
nuns of respect tor his person, entreated lion to
intercede with the King to yield to the wishes onus
?calk anti Rive them from the honors of civil war.
lite Prince yielded, anti repaired instantly to the pa-
lace, accompanied by elan' t 'lO,OOO of the inhabitants
—Tile deputation continued in the palace tram 7
o'clock in the evening of Monday, till two o'vlo‘k