The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-27 00:00:00

THE HOUSE OF SAVOY.

The House of Savoy, of which King Victor Emmanuel
is now the head, descends from the old Counts of Sar-
dinia. Although it is one of the most ancient and most
illustrious in Europe, there are few reigning families in
existence, on the origin of whom so many contradictory
versions have been given. All authors agree in carrying
back its genealogy to the 9th or 10th century, but while
some of them, with much appearance of probability, de-
rive it from the ancient kings of Aries, the Princes of the
House of Savoy themselves appear to accredit a state-
ment, according to which the famous Saxon chief, Witi-
kind, who is also mentioned as the head of the Capetian
branch of France, is the founder of the Royal House of
Sardinia. However this may be, Bertold and his son,
Humbert, the white-handed, were Counts of Savoy in
the first half of the 11th century. One branch possessed
the Principality of Piedmont. It became extinct in
1418, and that principality was reunited by Amedee
VIII., chief of the second branch, whom the Emperor
Sigismond created Duke of Savoy. In 1631 the House
acquired the Duchy of Montferrat. Victor Amedee
Duke of Savoy, was in 1713 made King of Sicily ; he
exchanged that kingdom for that of Sardinia in 1720.
Ills son Charles Emmanuel 111. acquired a considerable
part of the Milanaise. In 1815 the territory of the
ancient republic of Genoa was united to the Sardinian
monarchy, which is now composed as follows :—The
Island of Sardinia, 430 geographical miles in extent ;
Duchy of Savoy, 176 ; Principality of Piedmont, 369 ;
Duchy of Montferrat, 491 ; part of the Duchy of Milan,
147 ; Duchy of Genoa, 110. In all, 1,277 geographical
miles, with a population, according to the last census,"of
4,300,000 inhabitants. The House of Savoy has con-
tracted several alliances with the Royal House of France;
Louis XVIII. and Charles X. married the two daugh-
ters of Victor Amedee 111., King of Sardinia; but both
these Princesses died before their husbands ascended the
throne of France. King Victor Emmanuel is son of
Charles Amedee, Albert of Savoy, Carignan, and the
Princess Maria Theresa, daughter of Ferdinand, Grand
Duke of Tuscany. He was born on the 14th March,
1820, and is consequently in his 36th year.

DISCONTENT 1N RUSSIA.

We find the following in the Moniteur

FRANKFORT, Nov. 20.—The letters received here by
Ruspian or Polish families from the interior of Russia
all agree in affirming the existence in Poland and Russia
of a profound discontent, provoked by the war, and the
endless miseries which it has caused throughout the
length and breadth of the empire. The militia were as-
sembled undo.- the promise that they should not quit
their provinces ; nevertheless, they are sent away far
from their firesides, and accordingly they appear re-
solved to avenge themselves for the extra fatigue and
privation imposed upon them, by committing all sorts
of disorders in the various places through which they
parr. . _

The insurrectional movements which have taken place
upon many points of the Ukraine are of a more serious
character than has been generally supposed. It has bee❑
found necessary to despatch artillery and troops against
the mal-contents.
The Gazette de Koenigsberg of the 17th contains
a letter in which it is said—
The recruiting for the Russian army meets with great
difficulties, the painliar maladies of the summer having
carried off many young people and enfeebled others, and
several having either taken refuge in Prussia or con-
cealed themselves in the interior.
The proprietors and authorities of the cities, who are
compelled to supply recruits, take much trouble to di-
cover the hiding places of the young men who have dis-
appeared. The men enrolled are sent off as speedily as
possible to the places of muster, in order to avoid new
dexertione.