The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-14 00:00:00

ITALY.

ARMISTICE BETWEEN THE AUSTRIANS
AND THE PIEDMONTESE.
An armistice for forty-five days has been concluded
between the Austrians and the Piedmontese. This
intelligence reached Paris by telegraph on Saturday. .
This cessation of hostilities will give time for the
negotiations which England and France have entered
into for a mediation.
CHARLES ALBERT has been welcomed by the
Piedmontese with an enthusiasm and joy scarcely
justified by his disastrous retreat and precipitate ca-
pitulation. Nor has this enthusiasm been damped by
the accounts received in Turin and the other cities of
the Sardinian kingdom, of the cruelties inflicted by
the German victors upon the unfortunate Milanese.
Of those barbarities of the Austrians some concep-
tion may be formed from the circumstance that the
beautiful faubourg of St. Gothard, forming the richest
and most magnificent quarter of the capital, the in-
habitants of w hick had all fled, was delivered up to the
ravage and pillage of the soldiery, and completely
destroyed. The loss of property in that quarter was
said to be fifty millions. The inhabitants who had
remained in Milan are represented as standing pas-
sively by and witnessing the scene of desolation
without either surprise or fright.
Another account says, that the devastation by fire
in the city of Milan and its environs are of terrible
extent. The number of Austrians who entered on
the 6th was 30,000, another numerous corps being
encamped outside its walls. The national guard was
dissolved and forbidden to appear ix uniform. The
journals were suspended and all popular assemblages
interdicted. Arms and ammunition were ordered to
be surrenered. The Opini one, of Turin,' of the 9th,
gives deplorable reports of the pillage and destruction
of the most beautiful palaces in Milan, such as those
of the Litta, Borroneo, and Greppi. After plunder-
ing these, they were set fire to, but happily they
were extinguished before they were destroyed. These
reports go on to say that the lowest of the populace
ashamed of the excesses, brought back some of the
precious objects to their owners. The Croats were
robbing in all directions. They entered the shops in
bands of from ten to twenty, seizing and carrying off
whatever they wished, telling the owners that RA..
BETSET would pay them.
Happily, these atrocities can only tend to the faci-
litation of the project for the permanent emancipation
of Italy; but, unhappily, it may also result in,tremend-
-0113 vengeance towards the Austrians.
It was said once by the Emperor NAPOLEON that
whenever an army displays ferocity in its triumphs,
that is a sure token that it was all but beaten.
A private letter received from Turin, and dated
from that city on the 7th inst., says, that " persons
who have escaped from Milan arrive in crowds. They
observe that RIDETZIT had accorded till eight o'clock
on Saturday evening for the evacuation of the city by
the Piedmontese troops, and the departure of the in-
habitants who might desire to leave. Milan refused
the capitulation. The Milanese desired to make the
KING annul it, and impose an impossible defence on
him. But the KING did not treat with RADETZKT
until after having ascertained that all pro-
rogation of the struggle would be fatal.
Ile resisted the Milanese, and for a time became
their prisoner. They desired to hold him as a host-
age. On his departure more than 60 muskets were
fired at him. The people pillaged and burned his
equipages. Three days before CHARLES ALBERT, on
being pressed by a deputation not to compromise his
life and hie army by proceeding to a post, which the
defence of his own territory rendered imprudent, re-
plied—' Honour calls me—it is the only counsel I
can listen to under these circumstances.' The KING
is at this moment at Novare, and is expected this
evening at Turin, where he will be received with re-
spect and affection. The monarchical sentiment
never showed itself stronger here."
The Risorgimenio of the Bth publishes the articles
of the capitulation of Milan, as follows :—" 1. The
town shall be respected. 2. So far as it depends from
his Excellency the Marshal, he promises to have,
as to the past, all the considerations that equity re-
quires. 3. The movement of the Sardinian
army shall be effected in two days of march, as had
already been agreed by the Generals. 5. In re-
turn the Marshal demands the military occupation
of the Roman Gate, and the entrance and occupation
of the town at noon. 6. The transport of the sick
and wounded shall take place in the two days of
march. 7. All these conditions are to receive the
acceptation of his Sardinian Majesty. 8. His Ex
cellency the Marshal demands the immediate libera-
tion of all the Austrian generals, officers and func-
tionaries that are in Milan.—Signed, August 5, by
the Podesta of Milan, and by the chiefs of the staff of
the two armies."
It is said that General MAzarm still keeps the field
near Monea to the north of Milan, with 15,000 men,
and that Generals GRIFFINI and PERRON, at the head of
10,000 men, are isolated at Brescia, where they will
probably be obliged to surrender as prisoners of war.
The defeat of the Piedmontese army is probably the
most rapid and the most complete of any recorded in
history. Ten days ago CHARLES ALBERT was besieg-
ing Mantua and Verona—to-day he does not com-
mand a man in Lombardy.
One account says that the armistice between
Austria and Italy was effected by the intervention of
the representatives of France and England at Turin ;
another that it was brought about by an aide-de-
camp of General OUDINOT, sent expressly for the
purpose.