The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-09 00:00:00

THE STJN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVE TING, ATIGIIST 9, 1848.

general advancement. THE BALLOT has been ac-
cepted by the Lower House of the British Parliament.
It matters little to us, comparatively speaking, that
the majority which last evening welcomed the motion
of the Hon. Member for Bristol was merely five in
a House of 167-86 to 81—the fact of that majority
is what we are principally disposed to regard, that fact
we consider as something more than an encourage-
ment, we congratulate the country upon that fast
as upon an augury of the ultimate success of
this great measure of political i►nprovement. THE
BALLOT, we repeat it, has been accepted in the Lower
House of the British Parliament. Nothing can alter
the accomplished fact of the majority of yesterday
evening—not all the phlegm of the Administration,
not all the rage of the Opposition, neither the bilious
indifference of Colonel Sihrhonr, nor the atrabilious
common-places of Lord John RussELL. It must be
remembered that the Commons have not been sur-
prised into a division. They were fairly warned—
they were fairly consulted—they were fairly counted
out into the lobbies; and the result has been a majo-
rity in favour of the long-projected, and long-calum-
niated system of the Ballot. It is precisely at
such a moment as this that the inimitable
Catechisms of Colonel Thompson tell so ad-
mirably with the population—dissecting a Ques-
tion, as they do, to its minutest ramifications—
placing, line by line, the tough threads of argument
—the cartilaginous fibres of truth—the very nerves
of the logic of an investigation. We shall look for-
ward, therefore, to the appearance of a Catechism on
the Ballot, and with the more confidence as we re-
cognise a half-promise of such a pamphlet in the
last letter (published in this evening's impression of
The Sun) addressed by Colonel PEURONET TH0311"
SON to the Secretary of the Bradford Association.

Of course we do not for an instant regard yester-
day's
decision as conclusive. In 1810, as well as in
1848, the Ballot was favourably received in
the House of Commons, and yet the Bal-
lot has still to accomplish its triumph over
a fastidious opposition. What principally causes
our exultation is the naked circumstance that
the motion of the Hon.F. H. F. BBRICELET was suc•
cessful. The extravagant demands of Mr. FEARGUS
O'CoNNon, backed as they were by a brawling rab-
ble and an obscure petition, had received all the at-
tention they deserved ; that is to say, they were
treated with the ignominious derision of Parliament.
The manly attempt of Mr. Rusin to cleanse away all
the corruption and rottenness of the Constitution, by
one vigorous gust of Reform was scarcely a jot more
fortunate. It is true that the endeavour was wit-
nessed with the respect due to the Honourable
Member for Montrose and his distinguished sup.
porters ; but it is no less true that the motion
of the Radical Reformers was negatived almost
as unanimously as the motion of the more
ambitious Chartists. The coincidence was too re-
markable to pass unobserved. A suspicion floated
across the imagination of some of those sincerely de-
voted to the cause of the popular movement. It began
to be conjectured that nothing was gained in the way
of political improvement simply because too much

was attempted ; and the results of that conjecture

were first the motion of Sir Jour; HARMER, and
secondly the motion of the Hon. F. H. F. BERKELEY.
Both had reference to the security of the indepen-
dence of constituencies ; both tended towards the
diminution of the bribery and intimidation practised
with such gross and flagrant effrontery throughout the
general election of 1847; both were projected as in-
stalments of Parliamentary improvement—the one for
the punishment of the offence, the other for
its prevention—the one for the better exposure of
boroughmongers, the other for the better protection
of the constituents—the one against the nominees of
aristocracy, the other for the honest but dependent
voters. It will not have been forgotten that the motion
of the representative of Flint merged into a Govern-
ment measure, having been adopted by the First
Lord of the Treasury. The motion of the repre-
sentative of Bristol has, on the contrary, been ex-
posed to the direct antagonism of the Prime Minister
himself, and yet, in defiance of the opposition of Go-
vernment, it was accepted last evening by a majority
in a House of 167 Members.
Government would do well to meditate upon the
occult and yet obvious meaning of this occurrence.
They would do well to recognise in it an assurance
that the rational demands of a great and enlightened
nation are not to be rejected incessantly with impu-
nity. Deny the popular rights time after time;
remain stubborn in your contempt for required inno-
vations ; throw petitions under the table as waste
paper; and cough the popular advocate down as a
bore, if he attempts to encroach upon your conveni-

once by his exposure of humbug and his demands for
reparation—•and what is the upshot? Will demon-
strations like the 10th of April be of frequent recur-
rence ? Will rebellions in Ireland and brawls in
London be put down as easily as they were only yes-
terday ? Will the demagogues of Bishop Bonner's-fields
be exercised on the treadmill without exciting sym-
pathy beyond the walls of the Penitentiary ? Or
will the rebels of Boulagh Common be incarcerated

in the gaol of Kilmainham without one finger wag-
ging for their rescue ? No. AU confidence in the
Executive will have evaporated, and then—farewell to
the awe of the State and the obedience of the popula-
tion ! It is scarcely necessary, towards the close of
the summer of 1848, to lay down as a newly dis-
covered axiom that High Pressure Governments, as
well as High Pressure Steam-engines, are liable to
explosion. Neither is it necessary, after the
grand bouleversement of February, and the
successive catastrophes of Berlin, Milan, and Vienna,
to insist that those political explosions are as bewil-
dering as they are tremendous and destructive. Let
the Administration remember the glorious demon-
stration in favour of law and order which was made,
on the 10th of Aprilan the streets of this metropolis ;
let them reflect upon the noble devotion to the Gm-
stitution which 'nas recently crushed the rebellious
anarchists of Ireland, and let them respond to the
confidence of the population. The dire alternative is
before them, an alternative which is at this moment
oscillating upon the patience of the million. Let the
Government act, but let them bear in recollection
while they act that the people are not prepared to
kiss for ever the grinding heel of Finality.

Every day's experience furnishes us with additional
evidence in support of the proposition of which we more
thantwoyears since enunciated, and the truth of which
we have on various occasions endeavoured to impress
on the public ,mind—that the whole system of the
law of lunacy is " a mockery, a delusion, and a
snare." In another part "of The Sun of this after-
noon will be found a report of a case
which came on for hearing before Mr. Baron AL •
DERSON at Chambers, on Monday last. It was an
application made at the instance of the Alleged Luna-
tics' Friend Society for a writ of habeas directed to
Dr. HENRY HAWES Fox, the keeper of the North-
woods Lunatic Asylum near Bristol, directing him
to bring up the body of Mr. GEORGE WILLIAM
DIXoN, an alleged lunatic, and return the authority
and cause of his detention. It appears
that some time in the month of June last
Mr. DIXON, who has an income of 3001., was visited
at his lodgings at Bath by Sir GEORGE PREVOST,
his cousin, accompanied by a Dr. WATSON. Two
days after a keeper from Northwoods Asylum,
called on Mr. Dixox, and, after a fruitless attempt to
induce him to quit his residence by false pretences,
he sent for Dr. WATSON, who declared that he had
given a certificate that Mr. DIXON was insane, and
that that was a sufficient authority for his removal.
" Mr. Dixon, however, refused to go, and the keeper
went away, but returned the following day with. another
keeper, and produced an order signed by Sir George
Prevost, one of the keepers stating that they had had
the night before to send twenty miles for another certi-
ficate, and ultimately Mr. Dixon was forcibly removed
to the asylum.
" information of these circumstances having been for-
warded to the Alleged Lunatics' Friend Society, their
solicitor, Mr. Bolden proceeded to Bath and Bristol, to
inquire into the circumstances attending the case, when
the irregularity in the certificates, as required by the
statute of 8 and 9 Vic., cap. 100, haring been discovered,
the application for the writ of habeas corpus was made
on the 17th July, and granted by Mr. Baron Alderson;
but the irregularity having on the 15th of July been
communicated to Dr. Fox, on the 17th July he wrote to
the solicitor, stating that ' Mr. Dixon was sufficiently
recovered to be discharged, and he was no longer his
patient.' Mr. Dixon not having returned to his lodg-
ings, application was made to Dr. Fox and Sir G. Pre-
vostfothrahtism.
adrdpreisxs,onburtarsefsutsileie
dpatndpritivathteelnybceoinng
evi-
dent
On the 28th July last the writ of habeas was served on
Dr. lox.

"The ease now came on, on the return to the writ of

habeas corpus, from which return it appeared that since
the former application, only four days before the writ
was lodged, Sir George Prevost had signed another
order, and obtained two other medical certificates of Dr.
Watson and Dr. Symonds, upon which the alleged luna-
tic was now detained in the asylum, having been taken
back there on the 25th of July."
We will not go into the other facts of this most
instructive case, but will confine ourselves to the
question of the certificates, for the purpose of demon-
strating how worse than useless is this certificate
system as a safeguard to the liberty of the subject.
It appears from the affidavits that the parties
were well aware of the necessity that existed
for two certificates, inasmuch as when the
keeper seized Mr. Dixon, he said that he had
had to ride twenty miles the night before for
the other certificate, but he does not say that he pro-
cured it. If he seized Mr. Dixon without the second
certificate, he ought to be prosecuted; if with a cer-
tificate, that certificate ought to be produced, and if
found to have been signed by a medical man who had
not seen Mr. DIXON immediately previously to the
granting of such certificate, the Commissioners of
Lunacy will be guilty of a gross breach of duty if
they'do not immediately order the prosecution of the
person so signing. But it i 3 admitted that at the
time of Mr. DIXON'S final removal from Bath, the
second certificate had not been given, but that he was
removed to Dr. Fox's private residence, attached to
the asylum, where he was seen by a medical man,
who gave the second certificate, authorising
his incarceration. Knowing these things, Dr.
11. Fox was perfectly well aware that he bad
no answer to the writ of habeas, and
that the Judge would order the immediate discharge
of the alleged lunatic. He, therefore, states to Mr.
BOLDEN, the solicitor for the alleged Lunatics'
Friend Society, that Mr. Dixon was so sufficiently
recovered that be had discharged: him, whereas it
appears Mr. Dixon was during the whole time
kept under strict surveillance and restraint, the
object being to enable the parties interested to
obtain fresh certificates, upon which they hoped
to be enabled to sustain their return to the writ.
'Was Mr. DIXON really recovered, or was he not, at
the time that Dr. H. Fox represented to Mr. BOLDEN
that he had been discharged as such. If he were
so, why was he kept under surveillance ? If he were
not so, why did Dr. IL Fox represent to Mr. BOLDEN
that he had been discharged as recovered? The public
will look to the Commissioners of Lunacy to institute
a strict investigation into the conduct of Dr. Fox in
this matter, and they will also expect that no Com-
missioner who has been in the habit of living on terms
of intimacy with Dr. H. Fox shall be entrusted with
the charge of conducting the investigation.
The whole affair is another proof of the utter
worthlessness of the abominable certificate system.

entering Milan in triumph. But all that was done was
to assemble the pretence of an army along the Alps, and
to remain inactive. To Charles Albert, who devoted
himself to the defenee of Italian liberty, was exhibited
the greatest 000lness. The aid which was shown near
the Alps to Northern Italy was not for Charles Albert
and his army, but for the scattered favourers of the Re-
public in Italy. The fall of the King of Piedmont was
waited for, and the birth of three or four Republics
to then intervene by negotiation or arms. But these
hopes were not realised ; the little Republies were not
established ; no insurrection overthrew Charles Albert ;
Austria inundated Upper Italy with soldiers, and re-
gained the advantage. Thus the favourable moment
was lost. Is not the negotiation spoken of at present
too late ? Will it not be attended with insurmountable
difficulties?"

' The Havre Journal of Monday thus describes the ar-
rival of the State prisoners:—" Three convoys of insur-
gents arrived this morning at Havre to be embarked for
Brest, on the steam-frigate Ulloa' on board of which
the necessary measures had been taken for some days to
receive them. The first convoy, consisting of about 180
insurgents, arrived at the station of the railway between
six and seven o'clock. Each carriage contained 18 ir-
surgents and 12 keepers. A number of gendarmes of the
department of the Seine occupied the first and last car-
riages of the train. At brief intervals two other detach-
ments of insurgents also arrived, and the total number
embarked on the Ulloa is at present 441. The neces.
sary arrangements for the maintenance of order were '
taken in the town by the authorities. The troops, the
National Guard, the Garde Marine, and the Pompiers
were on foot to escort the insurgents from the station to
the basin of La Floride, where the Ulloa is anchored.
To prevent the confusion and inconvenience of too great
an assemblage of curious, the bridges Vauban and of
the citadel were successively raised after the passage of
the detachments ; so that the conquered of June were
able to be taken on board the Ulloa without being ex-
posed during the passage to the regards and observa-
tions of the crowd. In order to prevent any attempt at
evasion, the insurgents ware attached by the hands, three
by three; the Gardiens of Paris and the Gendarmes of
the Seine, who are to accompany them to Brest, remained
by their side. The embarkation was effected with the
greatest order. The hold of the frigate has been divided
into compartments, each destined to receive fifteen insur-
gents. The Ulloa, as we have said, goes out to Brest,
where the insurgents will wait on board the definitive
destination which will be indicated. Among them are
remarked—bourgeois, soldiers, Guards Mobile, National
Guards, still in uniform, workmen, old men, and chil-
dren. Some seem profoundly discouraged, after having
accomplished this first stage of the voyage which is
about fo remove them for ever from their native coun-
try; the faces of others express only resignation or in-
difference. The careful dress of some contrasts with the
negligence, disordered hair, and uncultivated beards of
their companions of exile. In the ranks figure some of
the illustrious of the emeute ; Th6tisassin, the getter-up
of the banquet of 25 centimes, Gaetan, and several Ita-
liansleave s andfßo
or
Brestu Polesßs wEnh_eoxptplayedA tide."Ri s a prominent part. The Ulloa
TUESDAY, AUG. 8.
THREE o'Ceocc —The Bourse was exceedingly agi•
tated to-day. At the commencement matters appeared
very black. The rumour of the armed intervention of
France was currently believed, and it was even stated
that General Oudinot had marched; but, upon a contrary
rumour, and a report that M. Bastide had announced in
the National Assembly a pacific mediation, in com-
mon with England, a rise was produced, which continued
to the end of the Bourse. The Loan Certificates, which
were at one time as low as 1,200, rose to 2,300. The
Bourse was exceedingly animated, and a great deal of
business was done. For the Account, the French Three
per Cents. have risen lf.; the Five per Cents. have risen
to the same amount. Loan closed at 2,300. For Money,
the Three per Cents. have risen 75c.; Five per Cents.
have risen 50c. Bank of France Shares have fallen sr.
Belgian Bank Shares not quoted. Belgian 5 per Cents.
have declined 4 per cent. Spanish Funds not quoted.
Roman are the same as yesterday. Rothschild's Receipts
have declined per cent. Exchange on London (30
days), 25 224. Exchange on London (90 days), 25 274.
Railway Shares for the Account, settling of May 15:—
Nothing quoted. Fur. Money—Rouens. Versailles,
Strasburgs, Bales, and Bordeaux, have fallen 2f. 50c.
each; Northerns, Orleans, and Marseilles, are the same
eaascyh'e.sterday; Viersons and Lyons have gone up 2f. 50c.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE. Aua. 8.
Boulogne and Amiens, 614 Dutch Rhenish. Via—ltalian
and Austrian, %—Paris and Lyons, 4,B—Sambre and
Meuse, 2%.

Milan will be defended by an entrant hed Camp at some
distance from the town, and a part of the troops are
already encamped on the site. His Majesty arrived yes•
terday morning at the gates of the city, coming from
Melagnano, and has taken up his quarters at San
Giorgio, outside the Roman gate. From the other
places where our army is the news is satisfactory."

THE WAR IN ITALY.
(From the Times.)
We have received by this express letters from our
correspondent, dated Head quarters of the Piedmontese
Army, Milan, on the 3d inst., which supply the defi-
ciency to be observed in the intelligence thence published
in Paris and above given. The line of the Adda had
been abandoned on the preceding night, and the whole
army marched from Lodi to Milan. There the King
was engaged in throwing up entrenchments before the
city, and there he determined to give battle. He had
with him 50,000 men, the infantry
.much demoralised,
but the cavalry and artillery in good order. Mr. Aber-
crombie had seen Marshal Radetzky near Cremona. and
his request for an armistice of a sew days was decidedly
rejected. The Marshal said he was determined to enter
Milan, and be would do so at all hazards. The officers
near Radetzky said the Austrian force amounted to
55,000 men, but our correspondent thinks that number
is very much exaggerated.
The Austrians had entered Pavia.
No barriers were erected within the city of Milan, nor
were the inhabitants detained to defend the city, in case
Charles Albert changed his mind and retired beyond the
Tessino. Several families had left, and nearly all the
ladies of rank. The populace prevented workmen and
gentlemen from accompanying them. The deciding
battle would be fought on the sth or 6th inst. under the
walls of Milan.
The folio -sing are the letters of our correspondent:—
" HEAD -QUARTERS OF THE KING,
" LODI, Auc. 2.
"I am in bed to-day broken down with fatigue, and unable
to hold a pen or to collect ideas. A Savoyard gentleman,
who understands English, kindly acts as secretary, and with
his aid I give you the last news.
" Mr. Abercrombie our Minister at Turin, accompanied by
the French Minister of the same place, after two hours' in-
terview with the King, started for Cremona with the inten-
tion of seeing Marshal Radetzky, or of going to any other
point where the Austrian head-quarters may be.
" The King's arrival on the classical ground of Lodi has
been saluted by three discharges of artillery, sweeping the
ever memorable bridge. The salutes were replied to by the
same number on our part, with no other eflect but that of
killing an unfortunate Lussar. Later in the day the bridge
was burnt. by the order, it is said. of the officer commanding
the Lombard troops. Many, persons in the Piedmontese
army disapproved the step.
" I am sire the King has made up his mind to go to
Milan ; his retreat thither, too, indicated a march on Pavia,
and the celebrated fortress of Alessandria ; but it is pro-
bable that the negotiations will be conducted at Milan, and
that it is necessary to consult the Previsional Government.
Believing that the campaign is now at an end, and that
diplomacy has taken the affair in hand, I might retire to
morrow on Milan, for the purpose of being at the political
head-quarters."
" HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE KING.
" MILAN, Auch 3.
" Unable to leave a sick bed at Lodi, I was prevented from
giving the result of Mr. Abercromby'a interview with Field-
Marshal Redetzky. lam now in a condition to state
authoritatively that the Marshal, in place of granting a six
day's truce, refused to give one single hour, and that he
stated firmly, but most corteously to our Minister, his in-
intention of following up the Piedmontese army to the
gates of Milan, and of entering that city. I believed he
named this very day, or to-morrow, as a conqueror. I
understand,
:from a person who chanced to be near at hand
when Mr. Abercromby arrived at the Austrian head-quar-
ters, that he found General Welmoden employed in throwing
a bridge over the Adds, at a place, the name of which has
escaped me, not many miles from Lo The same autho-
rity tells me that the Austrian staff presented a brilliant
appearance, all being in high spirits at such rapid and un-
expected success, and that the troops were in excellent
order, having been amply supplied during the advance with
provisions by the municipalities and towns that allow the
gallant Piedmontese to sink exhausted for want of food. I
am likewise told—and I now believe the fact—that at Cre-
mona the Austrians were received with a flattering address,
bands playing, a present of 100 oxen, and a large sum in
ready cash ; and that at Codogno, where I was but the day
before yesterday, the troops as they defiled through the
town were saluted with prolonged vivas. You are to judge
whether these cheers proceeded from love or fear. I only
record the fact.
"The King, on hearing from Mr. Abercroinby, who ar-
rived at Lodi yesterday, the result of his interview with
Radetzky, instantly abandoned all idea of defending the line
of the Adds, and resolved to concentrate all his troops before
Milan, and there decline or accept a final battle with his
enemy. The order to march was given, and the road to
Milan was soon covered by the long train of artillery,
cavalry, infantry, and luggage. The Brigade of Savoy
was left to watch the bridge of Lodi, still on fire, and to
close the retreat. The King and the Royal Dukes
abandoned Lodi at ten o'clock at night o and whether it
be in accordance with a declaration made in the open-
ing of the campaign that he would not enter Milan but
as a conqueror, or for the purpose of encouraging the troops
by sharing their quarters, I cannot say, but the fact is,
Charles Albert has not yet passed the gates, and he is
lodged in a small house a little removed from the Porta Ro-
mana. Mr. Abercromby arrived in the course of the night.
He has had more than one communication to day with the
new military authorities that have superseded the Pro-
visional Government, but for what purpose I cannot pretend
to determine. I believe he received a courier from Turin,
it is said with information important to the Italian cause.
All I know is, that our excellent and intelligent Minister
returns to his post at Turin immediately, regretting, I have
no doubt, extremely, that British influence tailed to induce
Marshal Radetzky to consent to an armistice of even a few
days. It would seem as if the old Marshal was desirous
of restoring the "status quo ante helium," and of occupying
Lombardy to the Po and the Tessin, before the French
troops, said to be on their way, could possibly arrive, and
thus of converting them from an auxiliary into an invading
force. I have no doubt that it is the principal motive influ-
encing the Field-Marshal, but I think, in addition to it, there
is a little vengeance at the bottom of his heart, and a strong
desire to retaliate on the Milanese the injuries inflicted on
him and his troops during the celebrated five days. Whether
he will have reason to repent his obstinacy in refusing so
slight a favour to the representative of the British Govern-
ment, a few days will determine. Ile may winter under the
walls of Milan—an event very possible, if the King takes
the proper means of restoring the mural of his troops—or he
may have a French army tumbling about his ears, and libe-
rating Italy from Austrian rule. I think the Marshal has
been ill advised, and that if he had listened to Mr. Aber-
cromby's advice, the settlement of this question would have
proceeded honourably for all parties. tie would treat on no
other condition than that Charles Albert should evacuate
Peschiera, cause Venice to surrender, and that he and the
whole army at once crossed the Tessin. On these terms he
would treat, because they restored the statum quo, and se-
cured the object he has evidently in view, of depriving a
' French force of the character of auxiliary; but they com-
prise the whole question; and how could Charles Albert,
with Peschiera provisioned for six or twelve months in his
hands, and with an army still with 40,000, if not 50,00 j men,
accept them?
" I was unable to move for Lodi with the army last
night, and this morning when I arose, a little restored by
the kind care of the family where I lodged, I found the Aus-
' trian videttes were in the town, and that, for the second
time, I ran the risk of having my correspondence cut off. In
vain I sought for horses at the park—in vain I tried all the
inn-yards for a conveyance. No one would consent to ac-
company me, I was giving the matter up, and was preparing
a. letter for Mr. Abercromby, who, no doubt, would have at
once procured me a free exit, when a lucky chance offered,
and by the aid of a few dollars I secured it. I lost no time in
bidding farewell to the city, and in a quarter of an hour I
was beyond the reach of Austrian pursuit. I confess that to
get the horses and carriage I had to resort to an artifice only to
be obtained in time of war. I engaged them for a short
' distance from Lodi, and when I arrived so far and found a
few Piedmontese bayonets to support me on the road I cotn-
' Pelted the driver to proceed the whole way to Milan. The
rear of the march of even a victorious army is a source of
much disorder, freed for the moment from the restraints of
discipline. I was therefore not surprised in finding the road
dotted with bands of Sardiniaris, many of them, no doubt,
bad characters, bent on mischief, with numbers of sick and
' wounded, crawling along with the hope of escaping an
• Austrian prison. I saved the life of one of those poor fel-
lows, by taking him into the carriage and bringing him to
Milan. I soon came up with the main body of the rear
guard, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and in
an atmosphere of dust which obscured the view at ten
yards distance slowly pursued our course. On our ar-
, rival at Melignano, a borough of 3,000 inhabitants, I
was astonished at seeing every house closed, and finding that
the population, en masse, had run away. Even the toll-
, keeper of the bridge had deserted his post, and not a bucket
of water was to be found to wash out the horse's mouth.
After meeting with many difficulties, I was enabled to join
' the line of march, and, on presenting an order, was permitted
to make my way to the Ports Rowena.
I find that the Provisional Government has given up the
, ghost, and that an administrative] council, consisting of Ge-
neral Angelo Olivieri, the Marquis Massimo Montezemolo,
find Signor Gaetano Strigelli, have been appointed by the
'King. Under their orders, an entrenched camp is being formed
in advance of the city, extending trent the Porta Orientate to
the Porta Romans, and then the army as it arrives is collected,
,and there Charles Albert has made up his mind to fight. I
am glad to see that no barricades are made within tee city,
-and that no idea of defending it exists among the inhabi-
tants, should the King change hisonind, as he did at Cremona
'and Lodi, and abandon positions he had apparently
determined to maintain. The few citizens who are
left act wisely in coming to that determination, for,
excited as Radetaky4 and the Croats are against the Mi-
lanese, you may depend the city will be abandoned to
a general pillage, if any resistance from within be
, made. I hope a battle delivered by the Sardinian
army befor the town will not be considered as an hostile
act on the part of the people ; for, in case of a defeat
' Heaven help the Milanese should the conqueror view it in
that light. A great number of families have gone away,
but in many instances the ladies only were allowed to es-
' cape, the mob absolutely compelling the gentlemen to return,
and more than once taking the horses from the carriages.
I find Milan quite another place to what I left it four months
ago. Tue public temper has been soured by disappointment,
public spirit has given way, confidence nu longer exists in
the Piedmontese allies, and, above all, comes the terror of
the Austrians overshadowing everything, and prostrating
the energies of all. I believe the Milanese are as ready to
fight now as they were during the five days; but the sub-
' lime enthusiasm is wanted—the sacred fire which supported
500 men in their struggle with SAO Austrian bayonets.
The Piedmontese army, the truth must be confessed, is
' terribly demoralized. Officers and men are homesick, and
all wait with impatience for orders to cross the Tessin. Still,
their courage is so high, their attachment to the King's per-
' aim so great, that it he takes but the proper means to revive
their march they will rise up like giants against the enemy.
They are now well fed, well supplied with wine, and they
will have to-night full twenty-four hours' repose. Let
but the King pass them in review, and call on them not to
abandon him, and I am sure the appeal will be answered
by an unanimous " Viva." About 50,000, including Lom-
bard levies, have been got together. The artillery consists
of 125 pieces of Admiralty artillery, with, I believe, some 20
or 30 more of Lombard contribution, and the cavalry will
number perhaps 3,000, This is a very respectable force,
and, if properly handled, I am certain it is more than equal
to any that the Austrians can now produce. The estimate
given by some of the officers when Mr. Abercromby was at
the camp of the Austrian army was 50,000. Ido not sup-
pose it exceeds in reality 30,000 men. That force, with
Verona or Mantua to retire on in case of defeat, was for-
midable; but here the case is changed—the Piedmontese
have now a large city full of resources in their rear, whilst
the Austrians are in advance of all their supports, and they
must, in case of defeat, retire in Placentia or on Cremona. I
am told an Austrian column has entered Pavia so as to cut
off that road to Alessandria; but I say the more the Pied-
, montese army is hemmed in the better it will fight; and I
am surprised that Radetzky has not, instead of closing
every avenue, left all openoin order that the Lombard ter-
ritory should be the sooner cleared of the Sardinians.j jA
bridge of gold, it was once said should be built for the retreat
of an invading army. But Radetzky will Listen to no ac-.