The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-13 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

The Augsburg Gazette, alluding to the rumours cir-
culated by several continental papers of a fresh mili-
tary conspiracy in St. Petersburgh and Warsaw, posi-
tively denies their authenticity on the authority of
direct communications from Russia. There is not a
trace of anything like conspiracy. On the contrary, in-
asmuch as any revolution in that empire must ne-
cessarily originate with the higher classes of society,
the movement would in all probability be rather op-
posed to, than in favour of, the new ideas of the day.
The very endeavours of the CZAR to ameliorate the
social condition of the lower orders, especially the
serfs, are a source of great dissatisfaction to the
aristocracy.

ITALY.

SICILY.

The following is the latest intelligence from the
seat of war in Sicily :
Extract of a letter from Messina, of the 2d inst. :
" The accounts which reached Naples from Sicily on
the 30th ult. caused the greatest agitation. It was an-
nounced that in Palermo the Provisional Government
presided over by Ruggiero Settimo had been over-
thrown; that a Republican Government had been estab-
lished in its place; and that several provinces in the
island, which were opposed to Republican ideas, were
looking forward anxiously to the arrival of the expedi-
tion which was fitting out at Naples. On the evening
of the 30th ult.:the expedition, which consisted of 10
steamers and a frigate, having on board 3,500 men, lett
Naples, and reached Reggio on the following day, where
several regiments were prepared to embark. Two
steamers commenced to carry troops to reinforce the
citadel of Messina, where there are now about 10,000 men.
"The city of Messina presents a very formidable aspect
in appearance; the defence will, doubtless, be very reso-
lute, but the result of the struggle cannot be doubtful.
All the houses in the town are completely dismantled,
all the furniture having been sent into the country, and
only a few mattresses left to shelter those who fire from
the windows. The streets are completely unpaved and
covered with barricades; men of all classes, priests,
monks, and children work at them night and day, but
they have none to direct them, no professors of the
science, and these ill-constructed ramparts cannot long
resist an attack of cannon. The combat will be fierce
and sanguinary; but the Sicilians, although determined
to fight to the last gasp, have no chiefs, their arms are
bad, and their forts are ill placed and badly defended;
their only weapons, indeed, are their courage and their
deadly hatred of the Neapolitans. Reinforcements have
arrived from Palermo, but in small numbers.
" SEPT. 3, SEVEN A.m.--The fire has been opened for
the last hour on both sides, the citadel bombards the
town, and the town replies with energy ; its firing is
good, but almost all the shells burst in the air. The
steamers from Reggio, bringing fresh stores and troops,
have just arrived. The troops will be landed at a spot
about six or seven miles distant from the town, while
the forts continue to fire on it. Another landing will be
effected on the eastern side, so that Messina will be
placed between three fires, and nothing but a short
though desperate resistance can be expected, unless the
heroism of the inhabitants effect a miracle.
"The ships anchored in the roadstead have been obliged
to haul off to a greater distance, as the shots were fall-
ing in amongst them. The French frigate Psyche left
about a week since for the Adriatic, but her place has
been supplied by the Panama for the protection of
French subjects, and to form an asylum for those Sicilian
women and children who may require it. The same
hospitality has been offered by the ships of all nations
in the roadstead.
"HALF-PAST SEVEN.—For the last half-hour the
firing from the town has somewhat slackened, while that
of the fort has become brisker. No intelligence has
yet reached the town of the landing of the royal troops."
The Constitutionne/, in a postscript to a private
letter, says--

1 "At the moment of the departure of the French
packet-boat the combat was very desperate, particularly
on the part of the Swiss troops, but the Sicilians every-
where had the advantage.
" The people had attacked the citadel, and had de-
stroyed a part of the fortress, which was protected by
forty pieces of cannon. The Sicilians, in order to carry
a redoubt, had waded up to their waists in the water.
" All Sicily was marching to a man to defend their
national independence.
" The people have everywhere displayed the most
extraordinary bravery; the youngest children have
emulated their elders in the most daring feats of
heroism.

" On the approach of the Neapolitan squadron. Rug-
giero Settimo published a proclamation to the Sicilians
calling on theca to stand firm in the defence of their
liberties, and holding out to them the strongest hopes
that a few hours would show them the futility of every
attempt on the part of their tyrants, any longer to enslave
them."

The Marseilles Xouvelliste says.'—
" While we are writing these lines, the Tancrede
post-office steamer, which has arrived with the Levant
mail, brings us letters which confirm completely those
which we had previously received by the Porcupine. The
following note has been sent to us:—
" ' The commander of the post-office steamer Tan-
crede, which arrived this morning from Malta and Italy,
declares that on the 3d current, at seven in the morning,
twenty gun-boats, forming part of the Naples squdron,
as well as the citadel,
commenced firing on the town of
Messina. A first disenbarkation took place without
success, and at the moment of his departure (half-past
five) the advantage was on the side of the town, which
had silenced the gun-boats as well as two bastions of the
Neapolitan citadel.' "