The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-28 00:00:00

4°' g'int

LONDoN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 181$

Wherever liberal reforms have not been effected by
moral agencies in Italy, physical disturbances have
already manifested themselves. Lombardy has wit-
nessed the first bloodshed since the popular movement
commenced in the Peninsula, and the people of Sicily
have at length responded to their compatriots at
Rome, at Florence, and at Turin, by raising the
banner of rebellion, and routing the authorities at
Palermo. At the northern extremity and at the
southern extremity of the Italian kingdoms there is
manifest that disquietude of spirit and that ripeness
for insurrection which is altogether imperceptible in
the intermediate states. The obstinacy with which
the Viennese and the Neapolitan Cabinets have ad-
hered to the absolute doctrines of sovereignty
has rendered inevitable those commotions which
are impossible in the territories of Pro
NONO, Of CARLO ALBERTO, and of LEOPOLDO
SECONDO. In Venetian Lombardy and in the king-
dom of the Two Sicilies the Administrations have er-
roneously resolved upon governing the multitude
through the considerations of fear, instead of through
the sentiments of love and confidence. How far they
have been mistaken in so doing, events are just now
proving in a very significant manner. The vaccillat-
ing disposition of the King of NAPLES and his perti-
nacious denial of even the smallest concession to the
popular requirements, and to the exigencies of the
age, have inspired his subjects not only with feelings
of contempt for himself personally, but with the most
unconquerable indignation at the harshness and
subserviency of his Government. The ruthlessness,
on the other hand, which has been recently dis-
played by the creatures of the KAISER, the inflexible
and austere policy of Prince METTERNICH, but, above
all, the brutality with which the citizens of Milan
were butchered by the German garrison of that
capital, have inflamed the passions :of the
_Lom-
bards, and added to the estrangement of their loyalty
the most ineradicable and ominous abhorrence.
Austria has herself spilt the first blood south of the
Carpathian mountains. Let her beware of that de-
votion which she has bearded, of that allegiance
which she has contemned, of that courage which she
has treated contumeliously, . of that sanguinary
vengeance which she has rendered inevitable
Although it may appear on the first reflection
rattler unfortunate that these two outbreaks in
Northern' and Southern Italy should have occurred
simultaneously, we are satisfied, on mature considera-
tion, that that very circumstance will prove advanta-
geous in furthering the cause of national independence
throughout the Roman peninsula. Had Lombardy,
tor example, proved submissive at the moment when
the Sicilians declared themselves definitively in favour
of political innovation, the Austrian Government
would have been able to direct all its energies
in such a way as to afford the most
effectual aid to the congenial councils of the
Neapolitan Monarch. If, on the contrary, the
Sicilians had evinced no inclination whatever to in-
t,rfere with the policy of their absolute Sovereign,
the Austrian Government would Lave been at leisure
to crush out the fire of patriotism and liberality
under the pressure of her armies in Lom-
bardy. As it is—the tokens of civil war having
already manifested themselves at the same time
in the streets of Palermo and in those of Milan
—the thoughts of METTERNICH are distracted by
the unanimity of the Italians, and the energies
of his Administration must in all likelihood
be weakened by the accumulation of the
obstacles to absolutism. Already the solicitude of
Austria to aid the King of the Two SICILIES in his
unnatural attempts against his own people have been
disappointed by the dignified objections of the Papal
Government. It now remains to be seen whether
the Ministry recently inaugurated at the Quirinal
will have sufficient authority to prevent, by its con-
tinued refusal, the forcible marching of 30,000
Germans through the States of the Church.
We cannot for a moment, however, imagine
that the Cabinet of Vienna would have au-
dacity or madness enough to attempt such
a proceeding in defiance of the decrees of a paternal
legislature—a legislature whose ordinances are lis-
tened to with the respectful affection inspired by gra-
titude. We cannot think that even the violators of
Cracovian freedom would have daring and reckless-
ness enough to march their mercenaries through the
liberated principalities of Italy, thereby courting the
onslaught of an excited race, and arousing those dor-
mant sentiments of rage, which would be kindled to
an irresistible frenzy on beholding the foreign
soldiers whose hands are still red with the
blood of the peaceful and patriotic Milanese.

A standing armitnearly approximating in strength
to an aggregate of 100,000 men, is at this time press-
ing heavily upon the aspirations of the Lombardo-
Venetians. If that number should be to any con-
siderable extent diminished by the transmission of
military assistance to the Court of Naples, the effect
in Austrian Italy might be tremendous. Therefore
it is that we are disposed to anticipate the concentra-
tion of the warlike resources of Vienna in the
splendid territories governed by the Viceroy
RAINER. The dictates of selfishness will, in
all human probability, predominate over those of
sympathy. FERDINAND of the Two Sicilies will be
abandoned to his rather ominous destinies—so at least
we are inclined to conjecture—rather than the Vice-
roy RAINER and his subordinates. As far as the
Popular cause throughout the Ronan peninsula is
concerned, we trust, most profoundly, that Prince
MarrenNicx will decide otherwise ; and that by
(tividing his forces he will neutralise their effect both
upon the Milanese and the Neapolitans, upon the
Lombards
and the Sicilians. Whatever may
be his ultimate determination, we are san-
guine as to its proving ineffective as a signal
for increased oppression.
cannonadem
destroyed causeof
artillerymen,
ofr th
t blThere is a vitality
eltalians
charges
by such
tohfe a
cavalry
rifles
fl es s c
oao
fnn r
sharp-
shooters a
r thebpe.
ylertyehme
shooters or by the bayonets of infantry. A struggle
has commenced among the fertile and diversified
scenery of Sicily more gigantic and momentous than
the most awful of the many appalling eruptions of her
volcano. Society is shaken in Syracuse, in Palermo,
and in other Sicilian cities—it is shaken by the voice
of Liberty—a voice more potent than that which the
Pagans imagined to themselves as sounding in the
earthquakes, when the ground was wracked with the
subterranean throes of /Etna. That voice has already
virtually pronounced the doom of absolutism both in
Naples and in Venetian Lombardy.

Theirs is
is
officernoduotyf
am
vessel
arduousel el p
employed
headn thatin
the
hoef
raaccokme;
Service. It is not merely the ordinary responsibility
of superintending the navigation, of regulating the
crew over whom he is placed in authority, and seeing
that each man performs the services incidental to his

situation, of adopting the precautions which his
former experience teaches him to be essential to the
safety of the valuable property committed to his
charge, and the still more valuable lives of his pas-
sengers, that renders his position so onerous. Such
is the lot of every naval officer, whether engaged in
the service of his country, of public companies, or
of individuals, and no British seaman will shrink
from the task; but it is the painful neces-
sity of enforcing the regulations for the
internal management of his ship, of demand-
ing from all his passengers, without:exception, a strict
conformity thereto, that constitutes his chief diffi-
culty. Persons who, under ordinary circumstances,
would render a prompt and willing obedience to the
convenances of society, become querulous from the
unavoidable annoyances to which they are exposed
during the voyage, are disposed to cavil at every
ordinance that may restrain the full exercise of their
own whims and fancies, and inclined to look upon
the strict enforcement of the rules intended for
the comfort and safety of the general body, as an
unwarrantable interference with their own freedom
of action. This is more particularly the case when
any real or fancied importance induces any person to
arrogate to himself extraordinary privileges, and to
suppose that exceptions should be made in his favour
which could not be conceded to his fellow-passengers.
If the assumption is for a moment tolerated, there is
an end to the comfort of all on board. The captain
must steadily repress every attempt of the kind, and
temperately but firmly enforce the regulations that
have been promulgated. On board his authority
must be wholly unquestioned—he is for the time
an absolute despot, against whose commands there
can be no appeal. If any the slightest infringe-
ment is sanctioned, it is impossible to say to
what lengths it may proceed, or how many may
be disposed to follow the injurious precedent. He is
the general depository of every complaint, and as
some may feel themselves aggrieved by what would
be desired by others, his only course is to adjudicate
on every occasion according to the rules that have
been established, whenever there are any that may
be applicable, or to announce such new and equitable
regulations as the exigencies of the case may require.
In his sight every passenger must be regarded as
upon a footing of perfect equality. He cannot with
propriety make any distinction in favour of one ; all
must participate in the benefit of any relaxation.
It is therefore incumbent upon the proprietors of a
vessel engaged in such, a service to procure a coin-
mender who shall not only be :a sound and
practical seaman, but also a firm, and unbending dis-
ciplinarian, and when they have had the good for-
tune to obtain the services of such a man, it is their
bounden duty to support him in every just and equit-
able exercise of his authority.
Perhaps the rule which of all others it is most ne-
cessary to observe strictly is that which regulates the
distinction between the different classes of passengers.
He would be deservedly censured if he permit ted
steerage passengers or menials to mix with tho-e
who have by the payment of a higher fare purchased
additional advantages. The complaints of such per-
sons would, indeed, be loud and unceasing, if they
were compelled to mix with the domestic servants of
a fellow-passenger, and it would signify little
whether that association took place by allowing them
to dine with the cabin passengers, to frequent and use
the grand saloon by sitting there when not in atten-
dance on their respective employers, or by walking
and amusing themselves on that part of the quarter.
deck which has been set apart for first-class passen-
gers. It is therefore the duty of the commander,
should any attempt of the kind be made, immediately
to interpose his authority, and to forbid a repetition
of such a course, whether a complaint has been made
to him by any of the passengers or crew, or he had
himself observed the violation of the established regu-
lation. It would also be very, improper if he, in
the event of any complaint being made, should com-
municate the name of the party from whom it ema-
nated, because by so doing he would give occasion to
disputes and quarrels between his passengers, which
might lead to serious results when they were re-
moved from his jurisdiction. His line of conduct,
therefore, is perfectly clear, and it might reasonably
be supposed that in pursuing that plain and straight-
forward course he would be supported by every
person on board, and the higher the rank, the more
exalted the station of the party, the more necessary
that he should set the example of an unhesiting obe-
dience to the rules framed for the general welfare.
A correspondence has recently appeared in a pro-
vincial contemporary, which we shall publish in extols()
in The Sun of to-morrow, which confirms the
rumours that had previously existed as to the causes
which led to the removal of an efficient and expe-
rienced officer, Captain H. E. WARNER, from the
command of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam
Navigation Company's ship Haddington. From
what has thus been stated, it would appear as if Lord
Viscount TORRINGTON, the recently-appointed Go-
vernor of Ceylcn, had strangely forgotten himself,
and considered that as a personal insult which was
merely the proper carrying out of the regulations-
It would further appear that the directors of the
company had most unfairly sacrificed a meritorious
officer to the unreasonable vengeance of his Excel-
lency. Of course we can only judge from
the correspondence to which we have alluded,
and it is possible that other circumstances might have
existed to justify the proceeding. If so, we trust
that they may speedily be communicated to the pub-
lic, that the odium which must otherwise rest on the
parties implicated may be removed—that a just
judgment may be formed on the entire facts—that it
may be known whether an officer will be supported
in the impartial discharge of his duty, or whether he
must truckle to any nobleman or man of rank who
may chance to be a passenger, and in obedience to
his dictates consent to the abrogation of the rules
that are intended to produce order and increase the
comforts of the large and frequently ill-assorted
party who, for the time being, are placed under his
control. It is due to the directors themselves that such
an explanation should be given, and more especially
so to Captain WARNER, who has a clear right to de-
, mend that no concealment should be maintained, but
, that the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, should at once be stated.

As far as we can collect the points of difference, it
appears that his Lordship considered himself aggrieved
because Captain WARNER forbade the female servants
of Lady TORRINGTON from walking on that part of
the quarter-deck where the lady passengers were,
between the hours of six and nine o'clock in the
evening. It was open to them at all other hours, and
it was only their walking arm in arm and prome-
nading amongst the ladies that was objected to. His
Lordship seemed to think that he was himself the
proper person to notice complaints against his ser-
vants, and to take care that they did not become
troublesome to any one on board. To this, however,
the captain could not assent ; and it seems to us that
he would have been guilty of a serious dereliction,
from his duty had he done so. Lord TORRINGTON,
however, thought otherwise, and the directors have
coincided with him. Lord TORRINGTON was for some
time deputy-chairman of a railway company; we may
ask him, would he have consented to the discharge
of one of the officers of the company, because
he had forbidden servants—for whom second-class
fare only was paid—from riding in the first class
carriages ; or would he not rather have commended
such conduct as the efficient and faithful performance
of that officer's duty ?
We shall not now allude to the observation of his
Lordship, " that his servants were as good as any
lady on board, and that it was nothing but their
vulgarity that occasioned the objection"—such might
be his opinion, but ae venture to say very few
Englishmen could be found to coincide with him.

The Alba of Florence of the 19th says, that at
Naples the insurrection of Messina, on the 12th, was
given as certain. At Palermo, the Provisional Go.
vernment is composed of Dr. RIIGIERO SErristo,
ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs, under the Constitu-
tion of 1812, Prince VILLAFIORITA (the Nouvelliste
of Marseilles says the Duke DE MONTELEONE), Advo-
cate MAROCCO, and Count PIETRO ACETO.
The Piedmontese Gazelle publishes a communica-
tion from Germany of the 21st January, which says,
that at Palermo the wife of a person named PELORO
perambulates the town at the head of 600 men, en-
couraging the citizens. The committee of Govern-
ment deliberates in the public square; the town is
well provided with provisions and money. The KING