The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-18 00:00:00

SICILY.

CAPTURE OF CATANIA.-ATROCITIES
COMMITTED BY THE NEAPOLITANS
AND SWISS.

The Malta papers of the 10th of April publish the
following account of the destruction of Catania by
the troops of King BOMBA, and of the capture of the
ruins of that unfortunate city after an heroic resist-
ance of three days :
" The Neapolitan steamer, Duca di Calabria, arrived
on Saturday night las', from Messina, with a dispatch
for the Neapolitan consul in this island, stating that the
royal troops had taken possession of all the coast from
Messina to Catania, and particularly of Jaci, with the
view to make a simultaneous attack upon Catania by sea
and land. On the morning of the sth, three Neapolitan
steamers took up a beautiful position at a short distance
from the city, and opened their fire; the castle and the
small forts of the city immediately replied to the fire
with much energy and skill, which injured two of the
steamers. On that evening the Neapolitans retired; the
next day seven steamers appeared, and again
opened a terrible fire on the city. The garrison
and the inhabitants returned the fire, like the day
previous, in such a manner that General Filangieri saw
that be must make a simultaneous attack on the city by
sea and land; he therefore ordered the troops at Jaci to
advance upon Catania. The Swiss were the advanced
troops, supported by 700 Lancers; the main army, of
16,000 foot, and 32 pieces of cannon, followed. These
attacked the city at a weak point, which was ill guarded
by the Catanians, and got in, notwithstanding the obsti-
nate resistance of the defenders. The city then became
a real field of battle. As the troops advanced, the re-
sistance became more obstinate: the assailants, who were
fired on from all the houses, and from barricades, became
more ferocious, and the assailed the more tenacious to
defend the town, which superior force only could take.
The city, bombarded by sea and land, was compelled
to surrender, and on the morning of the 7th a
por-
tion of the garrison and a great number of the inhabit-
ants retired to the mountainsin perfect order, abandon-
ing the city to fire and plunder. The greater part of the
houses were sacked and destroyed. The public library,
the palace of the Marquis San Giuliano, that of the
Prince of Careaci, and many other edifices, were burnt.
About 1,700 Neapolitans were killed, and a great number
more of Sicilians. Such has been the fate of this fine
city and its inhabitants. General Filangieri immediately
published a proclamation, in which he ordered, that
within twenty-four hours all the inhabitants should gin

up their arms to the Neapolitan authorities. Syracuse
was to be attacked on Sunday last.
" Her Majesty's steamer Bulldog arrived last night
from Syracuse with an account of the surrender of that.
city. General Werenski, Governor of Syracuse, and
his staff came in the Bulldog."
The conduct of the Neapolitan troops is represented
to have been atrocious in the extreme. They massa-
cred thousands of the peaceful inhabitants after the
troops had retired from the city. Neither age nor
sex was spared, nor was the neutrality of foreigners
respected. Lieut. HOBART, of her Majesty's steamer
Bulldog, who was sent on shore on duty, in remon-
strating with a Neapolitan dragging out a poor woman
to death by the hair, narrowly escaped being put to
death by the assassin's bayonet.
An eye-witness of events in Catania says :
" The Sicilians fought bravely and well all the night
of Good Friday, till nine o'clock on Saturday morning.
After the battle, we landed, and such a Ecene of carnage
and cruelty I never witnessed. The dead and the d 3 ing
were crowded on each other.
" The Neapolitans had buried their own dead, but in
rushing through the streets seemed to find a demoniac
pleasute in mutilating the senseless clay around them.
" I saw three soldiers strike their bayonets into a poor
fellow breathing his last, and numberless were they who
lay headless in the streets, the victims of more than canine
feceeity.
" Catania is in ashes! The streets are incumbercd

with half-burned rafters, immense logs of charred wood
occupy, with broken guns and overturned carriages,
the place lately teeming with enthusiasm and health.
" The Sicilian dead lie unburied—the Neapolitans
even kick them as they pass, plunge into the midst of
tho nearly deserted town, rob, plunder, and destroy, and
commit every possible atrocity on helpless innocence or
decrepid old age."
Another letter says, the details of the operations
of the forces of the King of NAPLES, under FILAN-
GIERI, are of the most revolting description, marked
as they are with the horrors of war in their blackest
dye. Wrecked villages and smoking houses marked
the route of Neapolitans and Swiss for miles along
the line of march on the coast. On discovering that
FILANGIERI was approaching the town from behind
the hills where it was not so well defended as on the
coast side, the Catanians commenced destroying the
approaches, barricading the passages, transferring
ordnance to forts commanding the points threatened,
and raising temporary batteries, until they bad got
18 or 20 guns in a very tolerable position. They
then determined to meet the KING'S troops as far
from their homes and hearths as they could, and
with this view a feW of their regular troops,
with a large body of the inhabitants, marched
about five or six miles from the town, and
at this distance, on the morning of the eth inst.,
they first came into collision with their foe.
They were, however, borne down by numbers (the
garrison of Catania consisted only of three regiments),
but they disputed every inch of ground. The troops
of FILANGIERI continued to push forward, firing the
houses as they advanced, burning those within and kill-
ing those without, until the insurgents, rallying at an
elevation under cover of some ruins, checked the
enemy for some time. Reinforcements, however,
enabled them to make good their approaches to the
town, and thus they fought their way, band to hand,
and step by step, overturning the barricades and
bayonetting the defenders, until about four P.M.,
when they reached the main street, which runs
through the town. Up this street, which is more
than a mile long, they advanced, sweeping it
with their field pieces, and pouring in vollies of mus-
ketry at the windows and doorways, the inhabitants
resisting fiercely at first, fighting with all the energy
of despair as they foUnd no chance of escape. Still
the Royalists continued the burning, until at length
the whole of the principal street was on fire, and at
half-past seven, when all further resistance had
ceased, the cathedral, the university, the hospital, and
most of the palaces and public buildings, and in fact,
the city of Catania, was in flames.
The night of the 6th closed on the horrors of a
bloody day, the conflagration continuing with some
dropping shots of musketry during the night.
The next day broke ominously upon the devoted
place, now in complete possession of the Neapoli-
tans and Swiss, excited by drink and infuriated
by the severe loss they had sustained from the
handful of troops (only three regiments), and
the united resistance of the population. The ill-
fated survivors of the once noble city were given
over to the tender mercies of the conquerors, and
a general pillage ensued, which lasted from the
dawn of the 7th instant until the afternoon of the
Bth, during which time burning and destruction of
life and property were carried to the most fearful
and wanton excess, especially on the 7th, when the
most: atrocious massacres were committed, and nei-
ther age nor szx was spared by the unbridled
soldiery. An attempt was made on the second day to
put an end to this bloody work on the intercession o!
the British Vice-Consul and the commander of her
Majesty's steam•sloop Bulldog; and their remon-
strances, it would appear, had some effect in saving
life, but the town had been utterly wrecked, and
scarcely a score of houses remained standing in the
principal street.
Whilst this was going on ashore the Neapolitan
fleet, composed of three frigates and ten steamers,
bombarded and shelled the forts; but little damage
was done from the sea, nor did the ships suffer from
the fire of the batteries.

The French steam-frigate Descartes, and her Bri-
tannic Majesty's steam-frigate Bulldog, were lying
off Catania during the whole of the time, and their
presence caused the lives and property of the subjects
of their respective countries to be respected ; they
also received as many as chose to avail themselves of
their neutral character for protection, and left Catania
with the Neapolitan squadron for Syracuse, on the
night of the Bth instant.
Neither the destruction of Catania nor the surren •
der of Syracuse has at all daunted the Palermitans,
and it is before Palermo that the wrongs of Sicily
will be avenged. The latest accounts from that city
state that the courage of the Palermitans rises in pro-
portion to the desperate character of their cause. It
is a confirmed fact that ladies of all classes, including
Princesses, Countesses, and other women of rank,
have been working in the trenches and on the fortifi-
cations. The enthusiasm was of the most exalted
nature, and each man and woman bore themselves as
if the success of their cause depended upon a single
arm. Palermo was well supplied with efficient
ordnance and excellent ammunition, and nil desperau-
was their motto.

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, TUESDAY.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert left Windsor
Castle this morning, at seven o'clock, attended by the
Marquis of Abercorn, Groom of the Stole to his Royal
Highness; Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps,
his Royal Highness's private secretary; and Colonel F.
H. Se) mour, Equerry in Waiting.
His Royal Highness and suite left in a carriage and
four,
.preceded .by outriders, proceeding through Ux-
bridge to the Watford station of the North-Western
Railway, and thence, by a special train, to Rugby and
Lincoln.

ller Majesty walked this morning in the pleasure-
grounds of the Castle.
____

The Royal Family also walked and rode in tho Castle
grounds.

Lord Byron is expected at the Castle this afternoon,
to relieve the Earl of Morton in his duties as Lord in
Waiting to the Queen.
Major-General Sir Frederic Stovin, Groom in Wait-
ing, left the Castle this morning for town.
The Royal dinner party at the Castle this evening will
include her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, her
Serene Highness the Princess Amelie of Hohenlohe
Schillingsfurst, Lady Augusta Brace, Baroness de Speth,
the Earl of Morton, and Sir George Couper.
The Queen's private band was in attendance yester-
day evening in the Castle, and performed the following
pieces:—

Overture and Entr' Ades' Lindpaintner.
Chesur et Danse E'Armide
Selections—" La Fille du Regiment"
Trot des Chevaliers Gardes
Feldbleamlu Walser ..
Her Majesty's private band attend this evening in the
Castle.

Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary honoured the performance of
the Royal Italian Opera with their presence yesterday
evening.

A Cabinet Council was held at twelve o'clock yester-
day at the Foreign-office. Lord John Russell, the Lord
Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir George
Grey, Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, Sir John Hobhouse, Lord Campbell,
the Right lion. H. Labouchero, and the Marquis of
Clanricarde, attended.
The Council sat two hours and a half.
Commodore Sir C. Hothana had an interview with
Earl Grey yesterday at the Colonial-office_
der-General to
Mr. Highatn, Secretary and Comp
:ot National
at
tn hin-
terview the Commissioners for the Reductionht H ot.nr.o°h:
Debt, had an interview with the C__hdap,cellaoatdhrroeaonlf the Ex-
chequer yesterday. Mr. Wilcox, M
yesterday with the
tweet.
official residence in

ARBOrbitse:sliat:utsrengtAND CHEAP FARES.--e-We
on one occasion, that his Lord-
by second class on the
the fare was fixed too high per
shipL,OvrilhDen Y.
travelled
Midland Railway, .
the Grimsbyand Sheffield r
At that time
,me was
first class.
remember thLeoprdapwe
orsiey,
not completed. NyFdnesday, the 18th, is the laying of the
first stone of the Grimsby Docks, which belong to this rail-
way company, and which Prince Albert is to lay. The
railway company having advertised " return tickets" to
Grimsby-, we applied at the office, when double fare was de-
manded—we presume the fare there and the fare back. Now,
having always understood return tickets to mean one fare, or
at most fare and half fare, we turned on our heel, feeling,
like my Lord Worsley, highly indignant at the demand. We
presume, however, his Lordship finds that railways are not
the bright golden things he once imagined, or he would have
used his influence to prevent the company charging so much
as to prevent many loyal, though ,poor, men showing per-
sonally their attachment to royalty.
RAILWAY COMPETITION.--Zile LOHeOII and North
Western and the East Lancashire Railways are rival
lines. The North Union used to charge 6s. first-class,
4s. second-class, 3s. 3d, third-class. The present fares
are 11, 9c1., wad 6d,

1-Ir_

•TO THE SECRETARY Zg -,
A. •
•:- 'HE
METROPOLITAN REFORM ASSO ON.
Sir,—The termination of what cttll the
holidays, brings me back to my wonte4sfe creations.
After being adjonrned on the 4th of t i t• ;Idnth, the
House met on Monday the 16th, and pp] 3-into an
apparently interminable debate on thr. re-• eft at: the
forty-three colonies. It was not likely th4.lf:, ..,Icr,-ba -
much immediate result; and yet it is time for - • —; to think upon the subject, when it is so plain that the
first necessity of life for the country we inhabit, is - the bridging of the sea to all the unoccupied por-
tions of the globe where our population can be quartered.
The country is beginning to be like Noah's ark;. it may
be very painful to think of leaving it, or the nook on
Ararat near which it went agrsoeuvnerda,llaynedlinNgoaahs
laonndgbaiss
minaywhich they find thcmselves.
sons and
aarnedahbilse steontsh'eseoluast
But go somebody must, and did; as the existing world
can logically testify.
If statesmanship was not among the lost efts, rulers
would have ber,un,tefore now, tocalculate not only- how men
awfeterrewteorbdee,and what sentabroaat were
ebruet
tobe
what
theya futurestobe rcoletioofn
ethembe-
tween twee n the new societies and the old. Instead of II Inch,

nobody seems to have got much further, than a vague
impression that a colonial rebellion must some time or
other break up any connexion that is left. A conclu-
sion about as tensible, as if every man were to specu-
late upon a bout of pugiliam v;!th his first-born, and
view in this the winding up of the family connexion.
Indeed it is not clear, that. in some rare state of bar-
balism or other, something like this does not actually
take place. An example, and a measure, of the progress
made in the economy of political associations, which
aro nations.

On Tuesday Mr. Sadkir brought on his motion for
calling attention to the legal circumstances which im-
pede the sale of landed property in Ireland. And this
is another of the questions which dismay by opening
the prospect of an interminable abyss, and which still
press on all minds with the consciousness that the thing
must be looked into to-morrow or the day after, or at all
events some day not far off if not to-day.
There is a fashion in despondency, as in everything
else; and so it becomes the fashion to be despondent
about Ireland, which in truth is only another name for
procrastinating and evading putting the shoulder to the
wheel. No man doubts that two oe three" Whistlers at
the Plough," with two or three intelligent and fearless
Quakers, and a Lord to take the credit, would go to Ire-
land and bring back something very like a reason-
able plan, for an effectual -beginning of what
cannot be begun too s)on. If there was
no other reason, there is reason in this ;
that the rebellion, of pots de chambre which has
been just had in Ireland, has beeq one of the mainstays,
one of the grand props and instruments, of the succesful
suppression, for the present at least, of resistance to the
despotisms of Europe. It has clearly cut off all or the
greater part of the aid to have been expected from the un-
deniable feeling of the great majority of the British people
in favour of continental liberty. Mr. Meagher of the
Sword has done:for Sicily, and Rome, and Genoa; so far,
at least, as that can be effected by maiming the arm of
British co-operation. Why should Italy be tree, and Mr.
Meagher not be First Consul? Wretched as is the syllo-
gism conveyed, it is enough for Englishmen, with their
eyes and ears stuffed by the vulgar agents of our Tory
newspapers. _ _ _

For this reason among others, Ireland must be put to
rest. And as the means to it, when the time comes, the
Repealers in the House must be adjured to silence by all
the persuasives the captain of a steam-boat throws before
his passengers in a moment of crisis. They have bad
their time for talking, and may have it again; but, for,a
brief moment, the less " conversation with the man at
the wheel" the better.

One light was struck out by the Member for Carlow,
which should be followed up. When stock is sold, no
flaws in the seller's title hold against the purchaser;
such at least is the assertion. If so, why should not
the same be done with land? It does not follow that
the identity must be absolutely allowed. But it makes
out a strong case of guidance, for a search after the rea-
sons why. _ . .

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN OLD REFORMER.

London, April 18, 1849.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
BATH RACES.—TIIESDAY.
The Lansdown Trial Stakes of 15 soya. each, 10 ft, and
50 added. One mile. (10 subs.)
Mr. Harrison's Pyrrhus the First, 6 yrs, 9st 31b
Mr. Godwin's Hotspur, 3 yrs, 7st . (Pearl) 2
Sir J. Hawley's Sponge, 4 yrs, Bst 71b (Flatman) 3
Mr. E. N. Fox's Cambric, 3 yrs, 7st (Kitchener) 4
Mr. Dixon's Philippa, 3 yrs 6st I llb Goater) 5
Betting-5 to 4 agst P 3 /Thus, and sto 2 agst Sponge.
Won by half a length. Bun in 1 min. 59 sec.
The Weston Stakes of 10 sous. each, and 50 added, for
two yrs old. T.Y.C. (21 subs.)
Duke of Richmond's Officious, Bst 4lb (Flatman) 1
Captain Archdall's Rose Pompon, Bst 41b (Wakefield) 2
Mr. Jenkin's Miss Larkaway, Bst 41b ...(Donaldson) 3
The following also ran :—Mr. Drinkald's Remnant,
Bst 9:b (Ford)—Mr. J. Goodwin's Wansd3ke, Bst 91b
(Dixon)—Lord Palmerston's Dactyle, Bst 61b (A. Day)
—Mr. Stevens's Knight of Gwynne, Bst 61b (S. Rogers)
—and Mr. Ccmmerill's St. Ursula, Bst 41b (Maton).
Betting-5 to 4on Officious, and 4to 1 agst Knight
of Gwynne. Won by two lengths. Run in 53 sec.
The Somersetshire Stakes of 25 says. each, 15 ft, and 5
only if declared, with 100 soya. added. Two miles
and a distance. (79 subs., 52 of whom declared.)
Sir R. Pigott's Esidarius, 3 yrs, 4st Illb
Mr. Gregory's Loupgarou, 3 yrs, sst ...(Treen, jun.) 2
Lord W. Powlett's Brandyfuee, 5 yrs, 7st 71b . 3
The following also started but were not placed:—
Mr. J. B. Day's The Tartar, 5 yrs, 7st 81b (A. Day)—
Mr. T. Parr's Lethargy, 5 yrs, Sit 111 b (Butler)—Mr.
Isaac Day's Subduer, aged, Est 71b (Wakefield, jun.)—
Mr. Brown's Bacchanalian, 4 yrs, Est 41b (W. Sharp)_
Hon. S. Herbert's c by Sir Hercules, out of Empress,
3 yrs, Sat 41b (White)—Mr. Whielden's Cashier, 3 yrs,
4st 101 b (carried 4st 131 b), bolted (S. Mann, jun.)
Betting-6 to 4 ant Loupgarou-4 to 1 agst Esidarias
—6 to 1 agat Branbdyface—and 10 to 1 agst Lethargy.
Won by a length. Run iu 4 min. 15 sec.
Sweepstakes of 10 sm. each, and 50 added. Heats,
once round. (8 subs.)
Mr. Harrison's Miss Burns, aged, Bst 41b (A. Day) 1 I
Mr. Isaac Day's Milliner, 6 yrs, 85t...( Wakefield) 0 2
Mr. Stevens's Old English Gentleman, sst 121 b... 2 0
Mr. I'. Parr's Baronet, 6 yrs, Bst 4lb
Mr. Treeu's Landrail, 4 yrs, 7st 21b 0 dr
Both heats won in a canter.
It is scarcely possible that the weather could have
been more unfavourable; the cold was intense, and the
snow fell almost without intermission from twelve o'clock
until near the close of the races. The company, it will
be readily imagined, was very select.
THE METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.—Offers to take 2
to 1 about Peep-o'-day Boy.
-BETTING AT MANCIIESTER.TtrEsnmr.
THE METROPOLITAN HANDICAP.-7 to 2 agst Peep-
o'Day- Boy (taken)-5 to 1 agst Flatcatcher (taken)-
sto 1 agst Lugar (taken)-13 to 2 agst Fernhill (taken)
15 to 1 agst Maid of Lyme (taken)-200 to 8 apt
Dacia (taken).
Two THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES.-6 to 5 agst
Nunnykirk (offers to take).
CHESTER CUP.-12 to 1 agst Joc-o'-Sot (taken)-
100 to 6 agst Blucher (taken)— 100 to 6 agst Halo
(taken)— 100 to 6 agst Chanticleer-1,000 to 10 agat
Lord Saltoun (taken).

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.
DECEASE OF THE DOWNING PROFESSOR OF LAWS.
CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 17.—Professor Thomas Starkie,
Downing Professor of the Laws of England, expired at
his lodge in Downing College, on Sunday evening last,
at the age of sixty eight. Professor Starkie graduated
at St. John's College, and went out in 1803, when he
was senior wrangler. He migrated to and was appointed
fellow and tutor of Catherine Hall, and subsequently
(in 1823) Downing Professor of Laws. He was ap-
pointed University Counsel in 1825, and lately by the
Whig Government to the Judgeship of the Clerkenwell
Small Debts Court. All the above preferments are ren-
dered vacant by the lamented decease of the Professor,
who was respected among all ranks. Professor Starkie,
in the year 1840, contested the representation of the bo-
rough of Cambridge in the Liberal interest, but was
beaten by his Conservative antagonist (Sir Alexander
Grant) by a majority of 726 to 647. As an author, the
name of the subject of this notice will go down to pos-
terity in connexion with " Starkie on Evidence," and
several works of high and standard reputation. Pro-
fessor Starkie's death is to be attributed rather to a ge-
neral decay of nature than to any specific disease. Ho
has. left a family to mourn his loss.

closed
in
osea which
for
THE CASE OY CAPTAIN DOUGLAS.—We have thus
far abstained from making any observations on the affairs of
had
Captain D_uglas, and it is our intention still to abstain from
so doing so long as the case is swbp.alice. Sympathy, how-
ever, towards that officerinetrhteh : aconufrat
i
situation
Warren, as soon as the defence of Captain Douglas had been
he is placed, induces us to state that to our knowledge Mr.
pa
delivered, and especially after
deliberation, said on more than one occasion to the friends of
Captain Douglas that he felt perfectly indifferent as to the
terms in which the Court Martial might express
their deci-
sion. lie said there could be but one result,
honourable acquittal of all the charges;
it was ridiculous to have to contend • and as for the first,
more than once said, in a very significantagainst it. Mr. Warren
was not Captain Douglas who had manner, that it
issue of these proceedings. cause to apprehend the
authority that the We have it also on the best
Learned Gentleman,
a moralist every one must to whose opinions as
declared before quittin _ attach 'great weight, emphatically
take upon himself theg.the island, that he was prepared to
entire responsibility of justifying
Captain Douglas's
conduct
throughout the transaction, as
perfectly consistent kith
the strictest principles of ethics, and
the dictates of honour. The Court Martial concluded its
deliberations on Thursday afternoon, and Lieut.-Colonel
Torrens, the president, and Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A.
Gordon, the Deputy Judge-Advocate, left Guernsey for
London
yesterday morning with the minutes of the pro-
ceedings to lay before the Commander-in-Chief. The other
members of the Court will remain in Guernsey till further
orders. Mr. Warren also left for England yesterday.—
Guernsey Star.
lIULL, TUESDAY.—Rumours of the intended doings of
the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors, in consequence of the
visit of Prince Albert to Lincolnshire, are multifarious. We
have heard something of about half that august body in-
tending to proceed to New Holland at eight o'clock to-
morrow, from thence by omnibuses to Brockelsby, to pre-
sent a loyal and dutiful address to his Royal liighwess ; but
for the credit of Hull we hope this is incorrect—we mean, of
course, the mode of conveyance—as the mace bearer, w 1
the sword of justice, would cut an awkward figure comi IT
out of an omnibus.
ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL, NEw CROSS.—Sir Francis
Baring, the First Lord of the Admiralty, has handsomel y
expressed his intention of continuing to give annually,
for competition amongst the pupils of this institution, t ho
naval and marine cadetships which were granted by Lis
precleceam in Once.

TO CORRESPON DENTS.
No communication can be attended to unless authenti-
cated by the name and address of the writer.
Rejected communications cannot be returned.