The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-06 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, AUG UST 6, 1847.

A. terrible catastrophe lately threatened to plunge
the Reiman population once more into that abyss of
political degradation from which it had been very
nearly extricated. A conspiracy more tremendous in
guilt, or more blood-thirsty in character, has never
been detected since the days of CATALINE. It
evinces in Prince METTERNICH an audacity like that
of IllsaAr, and a ruthlessness like that of CASAR
BORGIA. Had not the villanous machinations of the
Austrian Cabinet been divulged, and resolute mea-
sures instantly adopted for their frustration, this year
would have been memorable in the annals of history
for a massacre as diabolical as that of the Huguenots.
Happily, however, the infamous plots of Vienna
were discovered in time, and the good fortune which
bits hitherto attended the movements of the present
glorious Pontificate, did not desert the great and
admirable Pins in the moment of his greatest peril.
Austria is discomfited and Rome is free. We re-
gard, in fact, the occurrences which have recently
transpired in the Eternal City as at once so remark-
able and decisive as to render the complete emancipa-
tion of Italy no longer doubtful. The very morning
which was destined by the retrograde party to witness
the abasement of the reforming PONTIFF and the
butchery of his loving people proved, on the contrary,
the one in which his liberal government attained its
apogee. Whatever may be the subsequent contri-
vancies of the absolutists there can now be no hesita-
tion as to the final success of the generous Govern-
ment of the Sovereign PONTIFF.
Authentic accounts of the extraordinary circum-
stances to which we are alluding have arrived in
England. Before the accuracy of the first indefinite
rumours were substantiated by correspondents of un-
questionable veracity, we must acknowledge that we
were incredulous as to the truth of such horrible and
sanguinary schemes, With a vivid remembrance of
the incorporation of Cracow, and the buccaneering ex-
pedition in Gallicia, we could not conceive to ourselves
the possibility of the Austrian Administration adventur-
ing upon a crime so gigantic in atrocity. The narrative
of these proceedings is now, however, as entirely
beyond unbelief as the turpitude of the conspirators
is utterly without palliation. It would appear that
the anniversary of that memorable amnesty which
first showed to the people of Rome the clement dis-
position of the new POPE, was selected by the agents
Of FERDINAND as the most fitting period for crushing
the spirit of Freedom in the Papal States. Amidst
the majestic ceremonies of tha,i, day, when the grate-
ful populace of Rome were manifesting their love for
their SovEREIGN, the hired assassins of Austria were
to mingle with the multitude as.,embled on the Piazza
del Popolo, and there, at the foot of the
colossal statue of Pope Plus IZ., to offer up the lives of
many thousands to the offended genius of Despotism.
The salvation of those lives is universally attributed
to the vigilance and patriotism of a second RlENzl—
called CICRRONACCIO. Although simply a Roman
citizen, CICERoNAccio is virtually a tribune in in-
fluence, and a prince in position. The uneasiness
which manifested itself among the people as the day
of public rejoicings approached, seemed to arise from a
sort of intuitive sense of impending danger, and aroused
a variety of suspicions in the heart of Czczaoiekccio.
Iffy watchfulness was in the end rewarded by the
tirmly detection of a conspiracy which threatened
himself and his fellow citizens with a sudden and bloody
death,
immediately these hideous revelations un-
fokod hiss before the scrutiny of Ciczaor4c-

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