The Sun.
London, England, 1862-10-09 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—During a short visit to Italy in the autrAmn
of 1859 I had occasion to express at a small meeting
of Milanese citizens the conviction I then felt that
Lord Palmerston's Government would afford its
moral support to the cause of free government in the
Italian Peninsula, and that the English nation was
generally in favour of a united Italy.
The accompanying correspondence will show that
these Italians have expressed their gratitude to Earl
Russell in a tangible form, and that the marble
statue alluded to and the address which accompanied
it have been accepted by the noble Earl.

I feel highly honoured in having been deputed to
convey this expression of Italian gratitude to our
Fcreign Secretary, and I am convinced that I am
only doing justice to the donors of the statue in
asking you to take notice of the circumstance in
your journal.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your
very obedient servant,

A. KINNAIRD.

(Translation.)

"To THE RIGHT HON, THE EARL RUSSELL, &C.
" May it please your Excellency,—A philanthropic mem-
ber of the British Parliament, Mr. Arthur Kinnaird (who,
at the commencement of Italy's regeneration, travelled with
cne of his colleagues through our peninsula, with the view
of giving, as they did through the press, an impartial narra-
tive of their journey, after carefully studying its political
condition, expressing at the same time an opinion most
favourable to the rights of the Italian people), told some of
his friends when he was at Milan that your Excellency was,
from among the members of the English Cabinet, one of the
foremost in defending the unity of Italy, and that therefore
the Italian patriots might rely upon you with the utmost
confidence. This assurance on the part of your noble fellow-
citizens was subsequently confirmed most fully by an authen-
tic public document. We allude to the note addressed by
your Excellency to the representative of your Government
in Turin, Sir James Hudson, bearing date the 27th cf Octo-
ber, 1860, the last day of the Conferences at Warsaw. The
noble frankness with which your Excellency disapproved the
reproach cast by the other great Powers of Europe on the
acts of our Government, when seeking to achieve with
effectual determination the independence and liberty of
Italy, so happily initiated by Franco-Italian skill and va-
lour ; moreover, the entire approbation given by you, in the
name of your Government (despite the diplomatic ambi-
guities of the other leading states of Europe), to the mode in
which the people and the King of Italy, with remarkable
concord, are striving to vindicate the right which each na-
tion has to belong entirely to itself--these things have
awakened in every Italian heart feelings of the most lively
gratitude.

" The undersigned, therefore, constituting themselves the
interpreters of the gratitude thus deservedly entertained by
Itqly for your illustrious support of her cause before the
European Areopagus, undertook to promote among their
fellow•countrytnen a voluntary subscription, in order to be
able to offer to your Excellency, as a token of national gra-
titude, a statue of Carrara marble, the work of an eminent
Milanese sculptor, Carlo Romano, Professor of Moulding
in the Royal Deaf and Dumb Institute of Milan, which was
in the Exhibition at Florence.

"'The subject chosen by the artist appears to them very
suitable to the occasion, inasmuch as it expresses in marble
the predominant idea of your valuable note, symbolically
representing the unity of Italy by an elegant young female
figure seated on a rock, wearing on her right arm a brace-
let on which is engravers the motto, Italia una,' and hav-
ing her eyes fixed upon a diadem held fast in her two hands,
en which is exhibited in relief various armorial ensigns ap-
propriate to the different States of Italy.
" At the request of the promoteis of this patriotic tribute
the sculptor granted to them the possession of this work of
his as a mark of his country's gratitude, at the same time
offering gratuitously a portion of the work of his hands.
The undersigned, thus supported by the earnest and volun'
tary co-operation of numbers of their fellow-countrymen,
are sincerely rejoiced at being permitted to accomplish suc-
cessfully this their unanimous wish by offering to your
Excellency a spontaneous tribute of grateful Italians-3
tribute which they hope you will kindly value the more
from its being presented to you by your noble fellow-citi-
zen, Mr. Arthur Kinnaird, who, as he was for us the gua-
rantee of your most powerful patronage, will be also to you
the witness of their never-failing gratitude.

(Signed)
" Cavaliere LUIGI SCOSA, President of the Chamber of
Commerce and Chief Commissioner.
" Professor ABATE FRANCESCO RIGONATI.
" Rev. Professor LUIGI MELREZZI.
" FIETIO PIETRASANTA, Director of an Educational
Institute.
" Dr. PIETRO LABAT, Director of the Agrarian Council
of Milan.
" Advocate LUIGI MANINI.
" Advocate LUIGI SOMMARUGA.
" GIOVANNI LOCARNO, Painter.
" FRAGIONERE VIAGINIO CORRIZ.
" Milan, July, 1862."

(Copy of Earl Russell's reply.)
Foreign-office, Oct. 1.

" Gentlemen,—lt is with feelings of deep gratitude that
I accept your gift of a statue, the work of the excellent
sculptor, Carlo Romano, and representing ' La Convinzioue
dell'Unita d'ltalia.'

"my persuasion that Italy herself was
the
fittest It has
judgelTee
of the
ebest mode adapted to•secure her free'
dom, her happiness, and her independence.
" The only merit I can claim, in conjunction with mY
colleagues in the Government, is that of having expressed
openly, constantly, and successfully, the opinion that ItalY
should not be interfered with in the great task which, to the
immortal glory of her sons, she undertook.
,g It has been her good fortune that in the commencement
of this work she was aided by the powerful armies of the
Emperor of the French. Her own fortitude, her own ow":
ration, and her own patience have been conducive w her
further progress, and her constancy will, I trust, complete
the edifice of which the genius of her people laid the broad
foundations.

" I have to thank my friend, Mr. Arthur Kinnaird,
being the faithful interpreter of my sentiments in reference
to the Independence of Italy. 66 RussELL•

MR. ROEBUCK
AND THE " TIMES."—The bah and
learned member for Sheffield writes from Vienna to the
Times:—" Sir,—Your Own Correspondent' from this eitY„:
Mr. Bird, has said in his letter of September 26 that Bar°:
Thierry, with whom are Messrs. Roebuck and Lever, lls'•
obtained a concession for a railroad from Arad to iierrusl33l-
stadt and Cronstadt,' low, if Mr. Bird means by t°
say that I am a concessionaire, the statement is svlaollY 41-
correct. I have asked nothing of the Austrian Government;
to
I expect nothing from them. If the paragraph means
assert that I am a guest of Baron Thierry, it is equallYu,n,,,
true. Ido not underz,tand what the Times has to do
my movements while on the Continent, lam here travel
ling privately with:my family, and holding no public ofnc°
performing no public duty.'