The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-13 00:00:00

1711 E GREAT ASSEMBLY OF ITALIAN
LIBERAL S AT GENOA.

Letters from Genoa contain a full report of the
first sitting of the General Assembly of the Prov-
vedimento. These accounts dwell upon the un-
bounded admiration of the Genoese for Garibaldi.
Flags hung from every window, and cries of "Viva
Garibaldi" resounded through the streets. The
appearance of his calm and dignified countenance
in the carriage which cpnveyed him to the place of
meeting excited the people to the greatest pitch of
enthusiasm. The platform in the hall was crowded
with Garibaldian heroes—members of the cele-
brated " thousand," the comrades of Garibaldi at
Massala, Calatafimi, Palermo, Naples, and Capua.
The General appears to have been much moved on
seeing himself surrounded by his old followers.
The verification of the powers of each delegate
having taken place, Garibaldi rose and spoke as
follows :

" Citizens, I feel truly happy, and each of you in
this assembly will assuredly experience the same
satisfaction. I feel happy because I find myself
in the midst of the representatives of a free people,
the representatives of a people who have had
the good fortune to merit the applause of the
world for their noble conduct, and of en-
tire humanity, whose principles they have
courageously embraced. Yes, I am happy to
find myself in the presence of the repre-
sentatives of the whole Italian family, because
if present circumstances have not permitted all
to meet here as the representatives of free provinces,
we shall nevertheless have the happiness of seeing
in the midst of us representatives of the provinces
still enslaved—brothers whom, without any doubt,
and I need not dwell upon the words, we have all
sworn to deliver. (Applause. Cries of Vive Gari-
baldi !" Vivent Rome and Venice r) To-day the
principal object for which the central committee of
Provvedimento has convoked the present gathering
is to consult as to organising and uniting all the free
Italian societies—a holy end, an end which ought to
lead us to the accomplishment of the destinies of our
country. lam at this moment surrounded by men
who know history better than I do; but however
little may be known of it, we know that the cause of
the misfortunes of Italy is internal dissension.
Therefore the idea of bringing all minds into har-
mony—of re-uniting all the members of the great
Italian family, is certainly a holy idea ; and you will
permit me to applaud the noble conception of the
central committee of Provvedimento. The idea,
then, of forming one society from all the liberal
Italian societies will probably obtain the approval
of all the representatives of these societies. In the
contrary case free discussion will permit every one
to express his opinion. For my part, lam strongly
in favour of uniting all these societies, in order to
form—to express it in a word—the Roman faces—
[the whole assembly rose at these words, and burst
into a shout of applause]—faces before which
all tyrannies will certainly fall. Having given
you my thoughts upon what relates to our coun-
try, I leave the decision with you; but I will
add, as to myself, that I shall be happy if this union
of all liberal assemblies extends, not only through-
out the Peninsula, but beyond it ; that is to say,
that the Italians will hold out the hand to all the
enslaved throughout the world. (Loud applause.)
Consequently, I submit this also to your delibera-
tion. (Applause.)
At the conclusion of this speech Garibaldi, in
compliance with the universal wish, accepted the
office of president.