The National Register.
London, England, 1820-09-10 00:00:00

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Our Bing, Comititution, ann natuil.

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No. 1,264.--VoL.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1820.

[PRICE 94d•

THE HOLY ALLIANCE.

great means of safety are secured now to every pretax.
ment, which, with the feeling of its dignity and its duty,
has determined not to destroy itself.
One of these means rests on the satisfactory conviction
that between the European powers there exists no mis-
understanding, and that, according to the invariable
principles of sovereigns, none can be foreseen. This
fact, which is placed beyond all &nazi, confirms our
positions and guarantees our strength.

. .
nat'allbw us• to invert, is publisteit in the Palest° •
paper (the Plicenix) of the 15th August, of the &a. •
test betwecen the people and the municipal autheri.
ties of Girgenti, previously to the accession of that
place to the invitation of the provisional Junta.—
Nothing could exceed the ardour and enthusiasm
that were manifested in the cause of independence.
The triumph of the popular party was complete, and
letters were despatched to the Junta at Palermo,
apprizing them of their having gained the ascend-
ency, Mill requesting information in the mode of
electing a deputy who should represent their inter-
ests at the new seat of government.
At Cultarisetta a strenuoteresistance was made
to the provisional Junta, and a division of the Army
of Natiornd Inilepoldence, under the command of
the Prince of St. Gittaltlo, invested the place on the
Stli of August. His efforts were directed in the first
instance to negociutlArfor a peaceful surrender, but
without effect, till a further reinforcement arising
on the 11th, commanded by OA: U. Pietro Orlando,
with Major D. Michele, and Capt. Rodrigo Palmeri
Micciche, which augmented his troops to near 8,000,
andkenabled him to occupy some important advanced
posts, a more favourable disposition was shown by
the inhabitants. A ntessenger was sent out from
the town with a flag of truce to treat for a capitula-
tion, who was received by the troops with shouts of
joy, and embraced, as a brother. This cfk.r proved,
however, to cover an act of the blackest treachery.
Half an hour had scarcely dapsed from the arrival
of the messenger when the advanced guard of the
independent army was suddenly attacked by a pow.
erful force, and many of them were killed. The
troops, under the irritation produced by this breach
of faith, entered the town poll melt, and, carrying it
by assault, a great number of the inhabitants lost
their lives. The town finally acceded to the inde-
pendent cause. Trapani was in a state of blockade.
but still held out. From Catania, which is an
open town, little resistance was expected ; but Sy-
racuse and Messina, being strongly fintifiekl, threat-
ened a severe contest. All communication between
Palermo and Messina, and through the medium with
the Continent, was cut.off. No couriers were per.
witted to pass.
FRANKFORT, AUG. 26.—The last accounts re-
ceived from Rome speak of numo ous arrests which
have taken place in the States of the Pope, particu-
larly in the marches and legations. These measures
have been judged indispensable by the pontifical
Government, to prevent revolutionary intrigues,
and the fatal consequences which might attend
them. It seems, that there is great impatience in
the Roman States by the Austrian troops, who are
to protect them."
ETNA AND Vzsovtus.—A letter front Palermo
says, " that the academy of that city had sent win..
persons to mount Etna; who affirm that, while they
stood on the crater of the volcano, they heard from
it the thunder of the late eruption of Wart Vesu-
vius, which gives room to conjecture that these two
volcanoes have some subterraucous communication
with each other."

LATTER OF PRINCE METTERNICH. PRIME MINISTER OF
AUSTRIA. TO TIM CHIEF MINISTER OF EACH ON THE

GERMAN PRINCES.
Your Excellency has expressed the desire of his Royal
Highness the Grand Doke to know-in a general but pre- •
cise manner the ideas of the Imperial Cabinet on the
political state eii*Gertnany. This invitation on the past
of a Prince who gives dsily the most laudable prook of
his firm inclination to protect its welfare, and his pro- '
found sense of the elements which compose it, honours
me as much as it imposes on me the duty of communi-
cating in your Excellency, without reserve, the point of
view under which we consider the actual state of things. •
Time advances in the midst of storms ; to endeavour to
arrest its impetuosity would' be a vain attempt. Firmness,
moderation, prudence, and a union of accurately ascer-
tained forces, are still left in the power of the protectors
and the friends of order. This at present counitutes the
duty of all sovereigns, and of well-intentioned states-
men ; and he alone shall merit that title in the day of !
-danger, who, after examining what is passible, and what
is equitable, will not allow himself to be turned from
the noble object to which his efforts should tend, either
by ineffectual wishes, or by dejection of spirit.
The object is easily determined. Its our days it is
nothing more nor less than to maintain that which
exists ; to attain it is the only means of preserving pre-
sent advantages, perhaps even the best calculated to re-
cover that which has been already lost. To this end the
efforts and the measures of all who are united by a com-
mon principle and a common interest ought to be di-
rected. The combustible elements which had been long
prepared were inflamed between the years 1817 and 1820.
The false course which the French ministry pursued
during that epoch—the toleration allowed in Germany
to the most dangerous doctrines—the indulgence shown
to audacious reformers—weakness in repressing the
abuses of the press : finally, the precipitation with which
representative constitutions were given to the Southern
Stateskof Germany—all these causes have impressed the
most fital direction on parties whom nothingcan s', tiny
Notliingg proves better the impit,sibility of satisfying
these patties than the observtaion, that their most active
operations have taken place in the state where the great-
est indulgence was shown to their pretended views.
The evil It :4.1 reached such a pitch before the Congress
of Carlsbad, that a trifling political complication would
have beef sufficient to overthrow entirely social order.
The wisdom • of the system which the great Courts
adopted has preserved them from the dangers whicb
will might be fatal. AV hat, then, its such a case ought
to be the march of an enlightened government I In
proposing this question) we pre-suppose the possibility
of salvation, anti we think ourselves perfectly authorised
in such a hope. In exainining the means by which we
can attain so elevated au etal, we see ourselves brought
hack to the point whence we set out. To repair by little
and little an edifice which threatens to fall, we must
have a sure foundation. Thus, to secure a happier fu-
turity, we must be sure at least of the present. The
suaitatenance of that which exists ought, therefore, to be
the first, as well as the most important, of our cares.—
By this we do not understand only the ancient order of
things which has been respecter in some countries, but
likewise all the new institutions legally created.
The importance mrintaining them with firmness
and constaoey may be seen by the attacks which have
been made upon them, with a fury pet naps greater than
agai list our ancient institotions. In the present times,
the transition from what is ancient to what is new is
accompanied with as much danger as the return trout
what is new to what has beets abolished. Both may
equally lead to an exptosion of the calamities which it
is essential to avoid at any price.
Not to deviate in any manner from the existing order
of things, from whatever urLiu it may have sprung ; not
to attempt changes though they should be thought ab-
solutely necessary, except with entire liberty, and alter
• resolution maturely weighed, such is the first tio:y of a
government which is inclined to resist the evils of the
age. Limitless unit a resolation, however just or
naturai, would excite obstinate opposition i but the ad-
s tit being placed upon a known and ack nicw led-
ged basis is evident, because from this strong ground it
would be easy to stop or to anticipate in all directions
the necussanty uncertain inouous of the enemy. We
regard the (injections which may be made, namely, that
among the constitutions hitherto given to Germany,
there are some which repose tin no basis, and have con-
sequently u,pewl dams as 'kW. led. If such had
beet' the c tar, the tic magra4ues, always indefatigable,
would not nave railtstllo undrnwne thesis. Every order,
legally Cs ablishetl, contaiiis within itself the principle
of a bettor system, provided it is not the work of arbitrary
power, or ot frantic blimlness, (like that generally 01 tile
Cortes, in 1812.) may ihrireiwer i.e said, that a
charter is nut a Colo.lllooollloopaly so eolIed; We latter
is luruted by time, atid depends always on the knowledge
and inelinthon of government to give to Lie devehilie-
ttiesit of toe consthituunal regime such a direction as
Indy impala e the good fruit time evil, consolidate public
authority, and preserve toe mime and 110: happiness
of
tlw 114.14 s ul the uattutt auto wiry hostile aticutin. 'lnto

The other means is the union formed in the course of
the last nine months between the German states; an
union which, by the blessing of God, our firmness and
fidelity will render indissoluble.
The conferences at Carlsbad, and the decrees which
issued from them, have acted in a more powerful and
and salutary numner than perhaps we dare own to our-
selves rtt a time when we have still the feeling of those
embarrassments which agitate us, and wnen we can only
calculate superficially all the advantages which we have
obtained.
Measures so important as these, can only be appre-
ciated in their whole extent when we can knqw the
whole of their results. Toe epoch which inunediately
follows cannot present them all to os, but we efin ap-
preciate the effects produced by the resolutions of the
9Uth of September, by calculating, the progress which
the enemies of order would have made without them.—
The results of the conferences of Vienna, though of a
more elevated order, will have as effect less brilliant,
but more prcfound and desirable. The consolidation of
the Germanic union ()tiers to each of the states iwiatch
compose it an efficacious guarantee—an invaluable ad-
eant.e:e in present circumstances, and one which we
could nut have been certainly assured, except by the
course that has been followed. The; good faith and
moderation with which this important work has been
conducted may on the one hand have fixed us in certain
points, and prevented us front taking measures more
bold and energetic ; but. on the other, supposing such
course possible, there would have.. been wanting to the
work one of the first conditions, namely, the free con-
viction and the sincere confidence of all the contracting
parties.
Nothing could havecompensated such a defect, which
must have been in every attempt to put in execution de-
terminations made under such auspices. In general the
moral force of the confederation was as necessary as its
legislative Mrce ; and the progsess which the conviction
of the utility and the necessity of this union has made,
is, in our opinion, a most impottsat. and most happy
result,
The rules which the G.Trattn. governments will
henceforward have to observe may he pointed out in a
few words:—
I. Confidence in the duration of European peace, and
in the unanimity of the principles which direct the high
and allied powers.
2. A scrupulous attention to their own system of
administration.

3. Persever.ince in the maintenance of the legal basis
of the existing constitutions, and a firm detet initiation
to defend them with force and prudence against every
individual attack. _ _ .

.....
4. The amelioration of essential faults in these con-
stitutions ; this amelioration being made by Govern-
ments, and grounded on sufficient reasons.
5. in case of insufficiency of means, au appeal to the
assistance of the Confederation—an assistance which
every member has the most sacred right to exact; and
which, according to present stipulations, can less than
ever be refused.
Such is, according to us, the only truly salutary, legal,
and safe cour.se. On such principler rests the political
system of the Emperor ; and Austria, tranquil in her
interior, posse-sing-an imposing mass of moral force and
physical resources, will not only snake use of them for
own preservation, but will always be ready to dispose
of them for the advantage of her confriderates when duty
and wisdom demand their exercise.
1 have the honour to he,
(Signed) ETTERNICII.
• FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE,

A melancholy circumstance occurred lately at
Brussels. A man was taken ill in the night, and
his wife rose to procure him assistance, but betbre
she returned he had expired. W hen she perceived
that she exclaimed, " 0 Mother of God ! grant that
I may nut survive him;" and in an hour after she
herself was a corpse.

SICILY.

CONFLAORATION IN THE PTRENEESA fright-
fill conflagration which begun to burn on the morn-
ing of the 21tl of July, and which was scarcely
extinguished on the Wth of August, lays waste at
this moment the huge thrests which crown the Ape-
nines, in the vicinity of Fondi. At the moment in
which we are writing, the commune of Fondi is on
all sides surrounded by flames. Thu conflagration
has even extended beyond this territory, and espe-
cially into that of St. Andre, along the comular
road through the territory of St:Er:kg-hone, and of
Isa. The sub intem'aut of Fondi has pot in
requisition all the inhabi:ants, for the purpose of
putting an,fnil to this dreadlul calamity. It is not
known whether this has been the effect of chance
or of malicious
.design, and whether it connnenced
in the Ron rut states or in the Linzriont of Naple..—
Fondi is divided by the boundary of these too

Advices and Gazettes from Palermo, to the I fith
ult., were received yesterday, by way of Genoa.—
The return of the deputies front Naples sent to ne-
gociate for the independence of Sicily, with a refusal
on the part of the Neapolitan Government, was the
signal of the most vigorous measures on the part of
the provisional Junta at Palermo. A dkcree was
immediately issued for enrolling in the military Ser.
vice of the country the name of every it:habitant of
Sicily capable of bearing arms, without exception of
rank ; and troops were dispersed in all directions to
attack those plares which still adhered to their de-
pendence on Naples. In the preceding advises
Mes,ina aul Trapanti alone weds mentioned as in
that predicament, but it is now understood that
Catania :oil Syracoe take the saint An in-
teresting inmnint, which we regret 0'..1 ...suit:, will

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