The National Register.
London, England, 1820-08-06 00:00:00

NAPLES.

-mew—
The following is an extract of a letter from
Nsples, dated July 14
_ _ _

" A few days ago, in the midst of the ferment
occasioned by the sudden and extraordinary change
n our Government, a line of battle-ship, and asveral
vessels of war, appeared in the harbour ; and a re-
port was immediately in current circulation that the
King meditated embarking his treasure on board
those vessels, and even the design of escaping in
person. This suspicion, however, was removed by
an embargo which was laid on all the vessels in the
port, which was enforced so strictly that all their
sails were taken away, or lowered to prevent any
possibility of the order being infringed. Yesterday,
after the King, the hereditary Prince, and his brother,
had sworn to the Constitution, a circumstance oc-
curred which is much to be lamented, though it had
not the smallest connexion with politics:—About
300 men of the Famese regiment, which was ordered
into garrison at Gaeta (the principal fortress in the
kingdom), refused to go, ran confusedly with their
arms through the city, and advanced a short dist-
ance out of town. Some officers of rank followed
and overtook them, and a regiment of dragoons, with
some infantry, were ordered to attack' them ; but
the officers succeeded in persuading them to return
to their duty, on which the troops were drawn off,and
again came back to their quarters. A party of the
deserters, however, as they were passing the quarters
of the dragoons, wantonly and wickedly fired among
them. The Colonel of the regiment came out un-
armed, and received two wounds ; but they fortu-
nately were not mortal. The dragoons, irritated
by this insult, naturally sallied out, and attackite,
the deserters with fury, soon put an end to the
whole business. About 50 of the deserters were
killed, and a number wounded. Some of them
rushed into the sea, the affair occurring close to the
shore. The rest were either made prisoners or
returned to their quarters, with the exception of 20
or 30, who got off. I hear they confined their
officers before deserting. One of their Captains,
who got among them with the view of persuading
them to return to their duty, was unfortunately cut
down in the confusion by the dragoons, and lost his
life. A considerable number of the people keep
guard where the priest Minchino lives, and came to
assist the dragoons. The priest himself, I under-
stand, came also, but the unhappy business termi-
nated before his arrival. The contest did not last
much more than half an hour. None of the
dragoons were killed or wounded ; only two or three
of the militia, and one of the armed peasantry, lost
their lives. The city remained perfectly tranquil
the whole night. I came home at 11, and found
the streets as tranquil as usual. The enemies of
of liberty will no doubt magnify this much-to-be-
I imentea mutiny into a complete massacre and
a counter-revolution, but my opinion is that the happy
c range will be perfectly consolinated.
With regard to Sicily, it is certain that they de-
test their forced union with this country, and wish
to be separated again, as an independent kingdom.
A Sicilian nobleman is lately gone from hence to
Palermo with despatches. who, it is most confidently
said, carries the Printe's declararion that they shall
have such a constitution as is wished by the country
at large. The benefits already conferred oil Sicily by
the Prince have done him infinite credit. The
useless office of Captain-General is abolished. An
order is posted up at the Custom-house, that any
merchants having reason to complain of any of the
Custom-house officers, are requested to go imme-
diately to the Director-General for redress. The
land-tax, it is said, will be diminished, and tlie
government monopoly of salt and tebacco thrown
open."

Extract of another letter, dated Palermo, July 15:
" Yesterday evening, in the promenade near the
cathedral, which was brilliantly illuminated in
honour of the festival of St. Losalia, the people
spontaneously moutited the uoclzade of Naples, which
consists of the three colours—blacL, ;ky-blue, and
red. This morning yellow has been added to the
cockade, to denote the independence of Sicily
There is an unanimous desire to adopt the Constitu-
tion of Spain, on condition of this kingdom being
separated from that of Naples, and gos :Tried by a
King which it shall tbox.e for itself out of the Roral,