The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-26 00:00:00

VICTOR EMMAND'EL AT NAPLES.

Upon the time-honoured principle audi alteram
partens we readily give insertion to the following
amusing and graphic account of the recent visit of
King Victor Emmanuel to Naples, taken under
date 14th Nov., 1863, from the Memorial Diplo-
matique :
Victor Emmanuel arrived at Naples on Wednesday, the
11th instant, at noon. His journey, which the Piedmontese
insist on transforming into a complete ovation, has been on
the contrary, an uninterrupted succession of accidents and
deceptions. Victor Emmanuel was to inaugurate the railroad
from Ortona to Foggia. In order to get the works finished
at the time named, 4000 men were employed day and night,
One thousand francs a night were spent on electric opera-
tions. As the rain fell in torrents, thousands of waterproof
coats were distributed to the workmen, who had been given
wine a discretion. It rained incessantly for four days. I leave
you to imagine what must have been the solidity of the
works. Then, on Wednesday, the King arrived at noon,
having been expected at 8 o'clock. From eight the National
Guards and the troops had been under arms. At the terminus
were the King's sons and the Prince de Carignan, the Pre-
fect, the Syndic—in short all the civil and military authori-
ties more or less constituted. Of course there were pro-
longed cheers and acclamations. At the moment that Victor
Emmanuel stepped out of the carriage, the roar of the
cannon announced his arrival at Naples ; at the same in-
stant the rain fell in torrents, which was really frightful to
see, and which speedily changed the streets into rivers. As
the weather had been fine in the morning, all the carriages
of the court party were open. I need hardly tell you
that their enthusiasm was somewhat damped. Some of
the Working Den's Societies followed the cortege in
dirty carriages, adorned with still dirtier flags, A great
parade of the forces took place. The 12 legions of the Na-
tional Guard were echeloned from the station to the palace.
The grenadiers, the marines, two battalions of artillery, and
a squadron of lancers occupied the Place San Ferdinando
before the palace, The Bth regiment of the line was on the
Place Marcatello, the 7th and 11th were on the Place della
Pigue, the 12th, Place Castello, and the Light horse at the
Capuan Gate, Some grotesque episodes marked the arrival
of King Victor Emmanuel. A woman, all dressed in black,
holding a great banner dressed in black crape, was intended
to represent Rome, When the cortege started, this woman
wished to rush forwerd and show herself to the King, but
she slipped and fell into a great pool of water, from which
she was not picked up until the Royal party had passed on.
You know the people of Naples, and that they are very su-
perstitious and much inclined so joking. On every side
arose mocking cries, "All is over I Rome has fallen into the
sea. Victor E.nmanuel has missed Rome, 'tis not the first
miss he has made of it;" and other jokes which amused me
very much, being accompanied by those gestures which are
unmatched in the world. The municipality had conceived an
unfortunate idea, which was to post on the walls immense
placards bearing the words" Benvenuto, it Re d'ltalia." The
result was that on all sides one heard that Victor Emmanuel
was dethroned, that the Municipality had announced it
everywhere, and that Benvenuto was king in his stead.
Toe next day a caricature representing Benvenuto (the
principal confectioner in Naples, as well known here as
Tortoni in Paris), seated on a throne in his cafe, and re-
ceiving the homage of his subjects, made its appearance.
But, to return to King Victor Emmanuel. He was wet to
the bones, but appeared to take his bath philosophically
enough, and certainly conducted himself well in an un-
pleasant position. Every now and then it was plain that
he barely restrained a burst of laughter, provoked by the
irrepressible shivering of the Prefect and the Syndic, both
seated in front of him. They reflected dolorously on the
colds and catarrhs by which they would expiate their damp
journey. Their teeth were clenched during the whole of
the drive, The air of all the persons composing the cortege
was rather pitiable than enthusiastic, and the King jested
with the ladies who had been invited on the frascheur of
their toilette. Having reached the palace, the King aP-
peered for a moment on the balcony. The troops were then
to have marched past, but the instant the King presented
himself the rain, which had ceased for a few minutes
el u
reswenhtil,de
m
the cortege was passing down the Rue de
re-
commenced with such violence that Victor Emmanuel,
had been carried
apparently thinking
the -Ispekection did not take
too far, retired, and th joke
i
place. Some ragamuffins crossed the square, cryihng. ,
h' To
Rome Ito Venice I' But the King was changing sirt,
and the mounted gendarmes dispersed the crew. At San
Carlo it was found impossible to get up an opera. They
sang a cantata of Verdi's, in honour of England, and
having nothing whatever to do with the King's arrival at
Naples. It seemed as if the spectacle were in arrival
of
Mr. Elliott, the British
tu
Minister. Apropos of Mr. Elliot,
you must know that the yettara has pursued the Ministers
as well as the King himself.
who accompanied the sing,
The Prussian, Turkish, Russian, and English Ministers,
as well as the First Secretary of the French Legation, have
followed Victor Einraanuel everywhere. At Bovino the
diplomatic equipage was overturned. The Turkish Minister
his wrist, but Mr. Elliot, whose mind is greatly
pre
sprained
„fed about brigands, immediately suspected an
-occur
ambuscade, and drawing his revolver, fired at the
all
No one was wounded, but it was very
difficult to calm Mr. Elliot. The bad state of
t roads
postillions•
was the sole cause of the accident; in fact, the En-
gineers dare not work where the brigands •
that brigan-
reign. Ido
not know how Mr. Elliot will be able to affirm
age no longer exists, and that the roads are o perfectly safe,
when he arms himself cap-a-pie to make a
journey with the
Tong in the midst of an army. Let ug retu
return to e
evening.N aple s
There was to have been a grand illumination in h
The rain having ceased for some hours, the lights began to
give sign of life. But 10, they had placed a bust of Victor
Emmanuel on a sort of Altar in front of the Ministerial
Palace, in the Rue de Toledo, and lighted eandles all round
it. In addition, immense wax torches were lighted in each
balcony, and the crowd were presently bathed in showers
of hot wax. It was a compensation for the ducking of the
morning. Briefly, it was not pretty, but then it was very
funereal. At half-past nine the attendants charged with the
management of this illumination after the fashion of Pere
La Chaise, came, and economically extinguished the can-
dles. Then the crowd hissed, yelled, screamed and hurled
execrations at these unhappy creatures who hereby
exceeded the orders they had received, and who retired
amid a shower of abuse. At 11 o'clock a torrent of rain
extinguished the lamps, which still zealously burned. The
object of Victor Emmanuel's voyage was to review the fleet.
It is the same case, at present, with the review as with the
marching past. On Thursday, at 9 o'clock ix the morning,
the Admiral ordered the fleet, then anchored at Baja, to
proceed to Naples. Large placards had invited the whole
population to witness the review which was about to take
place. At one o'clock half the fleet arrived. The weather
was so bad it had been found impossible for the smallerships
to leave the Gulf of Baja. No matter, the review must be,,
held. The admiral ordered the ships to be got into Isihnoeroet.
battle. The whole population had assembled:ontheaulf of
At half-past one, a furious gale swept
overtheto be-
Naples, the rain came on again, the sea w" terrible d
the review
hold. The ships broke from their anchors, an
fireworks in the
' became impossible. The public cried out that all this was
very mysterious. They were P
• r°
• had changed to a re-
evening, but at sunset the h
Aurrander, rain, wind, and hail,
gular tempest; lightning, ---
ess. This morning
nothing was wanting .completen •
the weather is terrible—it rains, and the sea roars
to its
; there
ock disembarkation at Baja—but
was to have been a ln
no-
thing has
as
yet been possible of the whole programme.
ettmg tired; he will go
Victor Eminannel is gaway on
Monday, mid will probably have done nothing but dine and
visit the stables. The journey has been a complete failure.
Its only effect has been to pmke Victor Emilaanuel more