The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-25 00:00:00

" (From a third letter.)

"Early in the -morning of the 13th four Austrian
officers presented themselves to the Cardinal Legate,
to apprise him of a military manoeuvre which they
were about to execute in the city by order of their
Government, and invited him at once to publish a
notification for the purpose of tranquillising and pre-
paring the public mind in Ferrara for the evolution
in question. The Cardinal replied, that he would not
deceive his Ferrarese fellow-subjects, not being able
to give credence to their words ; and urged them not
to violate the pacts of treaties, protesting against the
Austrian Government for all the consequences. The
Austrians left, uttering menaces.
"At about half-past twelve o'clock, P.M. two bat-
talions entered the city with lighted matches and va-
rious pieces of artillery ; they occupied the posts,
driving out the Pontificial soldiers.
" [Another letter has just reached our office from a
correspondent in whose good faith the utmost reliance
may be placed, which, whilst it concurs in the main
part of the above report, gives a different version of
the details relative to the notification—that the Car-
dinal did not refuse, but on the contrary requested
time for deliberation, &c. We deem it advisable to
print our correspondent's letter at full length :—]
" Here we are, in the power of the Austrians, or
rather the city is in their power. This morning, at
eleven o'clock, two Austrian battalions, one of chas-
seurs, and the other of Hungarians, on the left, and
a body of hussars on horseback, drew up on the
esplanade of our walls which is situate in front of
the Austrian fortress. On the right were stationed
three pieces of field artillery and the band ; at each
piece of artillery were posted the gunners on horse-
back with lighted matches. The guns of the fortress
were also pointed towards the city, and the gunners
stood prepared to fire them. The troops were made
to take an oath (I know not the nature of it). The
major of the chasseurs, with an adjutant and a decree,
proceeded to the residence of the Cardinal Legate, to
communicate to him the dispatch of their General,
who, in the most insolent manner and with new and
increased powers, demanded that the posts of the
Grand Guard in the Place Publique, and those of the
city gates, should be given up to him.
" This requisition was received by his Excellency
with that just indignation of which you may readily
form a conception. He replied to the major that he
was not the man voluntarily to surrender to any
foreigner the posts of a city which his Sovereign had
chosen to confide to his care ; they were aware that
he had no force adapted to offer any resistance to
their proposal ; they might do what they pleased, but
not dare to ask his consent, adding that he loudly
protested against this new act of violence ; and, in fact,
he caused a solemn protest to be drawn up, and imme-
diately dispatched a courier to Rome.
" The Legate then requested the Austrian officer
that the contemplated outrage might be at all events
postponed until the morrow, in order that he might
give notice to the inhabitants, and prevent the out-
break of any tumult or insurrection. The Austrian
replied that no delay could be granted, and returned
to his General. _ _

"Two corps of infantry were then detached from
the battalions, and, accompanied by some hussars on
horseback, entered the streets of the city. One of
these corps directed its march to the Place, and, merely
because they heard a cry of Viva Pio Nono,' raised,
as they were passing under the Volto del Cavallo, they
halted and made ready to fire upon the people. In
this manner they entered the Place. The confusion
which prevailed at this moment baffles any attempt
at description : the shops were shut in the twinkling
of an eye, and the benches of the venders of goods in
the Place withdrawn with magical celerity. The
Austrians drew up before the small body of volun-
teers under the Palais de Justice, disposing themselves
for the occupation of the guard post. Upon this the
few soldiers who were there sallied forth, and, without
rendering any military honour, repaired to the resi-
dence of the Legate, there to redouble the guard. At
the same moment the other body of Austrians pro-
ceeded in like manner to occupy the gates, and they
are now masters of these posts, and have four senti-
nels stationed there. It is said that several thousand
Austrians are already stationed along the line of fron-
tier, and another reinforcement of the garrison is ex-
pected here.
" The palace is still in the custody of the Volun-
teers, and the prisons in that of the citizens. The
afflicting state of the city is indescribable; to see our-
selves in the hands of the Austrians, without the
power of doing anything to liberate ourselves, is, a
torment which will be readily understood and appre-,
ciated by every Italian mind."
The Journal des Debuts publishes the protest of
Cardinal Ciacchi, which was couched in the follow-
ing terms :
In the most holy name of God, under the ponti-
ficate of his Holiness Pius IX., Pontiff 0.M., fortu-
nately reigning the second year of his pontificate, of
our salvation 1847, and of the Roman indiction V.,
at Ferrara, chief' town of the Legation, this day, Fri-
day, the 13th of the month of August.
" I, Dr. Elisea, son of the late Dr. Monti, ponti-
fical public notary, residing at Ferrara, in the street
of Giovecca, No. 2, in the parish of the Cathedral, by
order of his Eminence the Cardinal Legate of this
city, repaired to the castle, or palace, of the Govern-
ment, and there, in presence of the undersigned wit-
nesses, his Eminence Cardinal Ciacchi, apostolic
legate of the city and province of Ferrara for his
Holiness Pope Pius IX., our Lord directed me to
write under his dictation the following protest :
" Notwithstanding the protest which I addressed
on the 6th instant to his Excellency the Deputy-
Marshal Count Auersperg, commanding, in the name
of his Majesty the Emperor of Austria, the fortress
and imperial troops, relative to the Austrian patrols
which traversed the city, a protest which I communi-
cated to the superior Government, from whom I
received an honourable approbation, as results from a
dispatch of the most eminent Cardinal Secretary of
State, dated the 9th instant, No. 72,725, Ist section,
a military deputation came to-day at noon in an
almost menacing attitude (in aspetto quasi minnac-
cioso) to present me a paper, written by the said
Deputy-Marshal, stating " that a dispatch from Milan
of his Excellency the General-in-Chief, Count Ra-
detzki, dated the 11th of August, 1847, gave him
positive orders to occupy the granguardia (the prin-
cipal post in the place) as well as the gates of the
city of Ferrara, in conformity with the principles of
military service, and in perfect accord with our
undoubted right."
" That occupation was executed this very day, at
one o'clock P.M., and as I consider that act as a
manifest violation of the sacred rights which his
Holiness and the Holy See possess over the city and
province of Ferrara, and not wishing by my silence
to impair those rights, in my quality of representative
of the Holy See, and apostolical legate of the city and
province of_Ferrara, I formally protest, as it is my
right, against the fact of the occupation which has
just taken place, declaring it totally illegal, arbitrary,
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" Such is the protest most formally and
effi-
caciously declared by his Most Reverend Emisnenc
who ordered that the original of the protest should be,
preserved in the archives of the State, and a copy
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on the square of La Pace, in presence of the most
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son of Pierre Bottoni, residing in the parish of St.
Etienne; and of Dr. Francois; biarie, boil of the late