The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-15 00:00:00

A VISIT TO NAPLES.

An Italian gentleman, who left Naples on the 7th
inst., gives the following curious picture of the state of
that country at the present moment. He is a Neapod-
tan ; he is not a refugee, he has not been mixed up in
politics ; he merely paid a visit recently to his native
country after a lergthened absence, and he now returns,
not to France or England, but to another more distant
country, where he is engaged in business. During his
stay in Naples he visited the provinces. He comes,
therefore, full of information, which is of value, inas-
much as it proceeds from a person quite capable of form-
ing an opinion on the real state of the country, and of
expressing it impartially. It would appear, according to
this account, that the Neapolitan revolution continues
to be directed by -- (the names of the persons are
omitted for obvious reasons), and the other chiefs of that
party. They are no longer either Bourbonites or Uni-
tarians—they are Federalists. They prevent the explo-
sion of the revolution, for they do not wish to trust to
the chances of street fighting the moral revolution which
is already effected. In truth, the Neapolitans are no
longer the gay and noisy people travellers knew them
not long ago. They are become serious, speak little, and
in a low voice, but whatever they do say they say it
without fear. The terror which hung over them no longer
exists ; you hear them speak of the incompatibility of
Ferdinand 11., of the Constitution, and of liberty, without
apprehension or disguise. One would suppose they are
anxious to go to prison, but the police dare not gratify
their wish. They seem to wish that the police should
commit excesses; but Bianchini does not venture, or
does not wish, to gratify them. Bianchini is respected
and honoured as a❑ honest man ; his police are tolerant,
and even civil. The police are now divided into two
parts—the old and the new ; and these last detest the
,excesses of the agents of Mazza. Neither Morbeil, nor
Campagna, nor Creffi is now seen in the streets. They
have disappeared, and are now afraid to show themselves
in public. The King earnestly desires to get rid of Bien-
chini, whom he detests, but he dare not brave public
opinion so far as to remove him. Much distress exists.
Since the departure of the French and English Ambas-
sadors thousands of strangers have left Naples, and
none arrive. Hotels and houses are empty, and several
shops of the Toledo-street are shut up. Commercial
affairs are at a stand, and solitude and distress are on
the increase. The moral revolution is very nearly com-
plete ; except a handful of Lazzaroni who inhabit the
quarter of St. Lucia, the whole population detest the King,
his Government, and his .system. The Lazzaroni of the
other quarters of the city, who are part armed, are for the
deposition of the Bourbons and for liberty. An employe
under Government is designated by the epithet of Fog -
nottista —that is, a poor wretch who cares for nothing
except for the bread he earns. The Swiss have, as it
were, disappeared ; shut up in the castles, with the mis-
sion of exterminating the people and bombarding the
city, hardly one is ever seen abroad, and the few families
who hitherto received the S wise officers into their houses
now exclude them. The Steiss at Naples are now pretty
much on the same footing with respect to the inhabi-
tants as the Austrians at Milan. The troops are dis-
contented, and since the King has nominated his 24 now
generals the discontent of the officers has increased. The
King fears the native troops and despises them. Foreign
papers and proclamations are circulated everywhere. At
Naples conversation is very monotonous. If yen happen
to see two or three persons speak together in an eating-
house you may be sure it is to this effect—" Ferdinand
11., impossible ; his son, we don't know him, but they
say he is brought up by the priests and is ha.f an idiot.
What we want is a Constitution like that of Belgium."
Reforms or amnesties no one seems to care about.
In the Baguio of Ischia there were 42 political
convicts. It was intimated to them that they should
demand their pardon of the King. One demand only
was made, and two days after the person who made it
was found dead ! When the King passes in the streets
few salute him. If the Queen nod the children pass
the people turn their backs on them, and no one. touches
his hat. An amnesty is spoken of as on the point of
appearing. Most of the persons included in it are un-
known. Those most known are the Duke de C
and B---. The Duke of P--, who debased himse.f
in order to obtain his return to favour, is despised and
avoided by every one, both Liberals and Rs•actionists.
Mazza, whom the King had named member of the Con
sults, has been obliged to demand of the President not
to give him any more work to do to avoid attending, as
no one would-speak to him, and he was shunned as if he
had the plague. The relations with Sicily are completely
interrupted ; little was known about the revolution, and
but little was expected from it. Tne courtiers are com-
pletely down-hearted, and the ministers discouraged.
The officials dread the English ; the Liberal party, that
is to say, the majority of the nation, look upon theta as
their liberators. The population are armed, but they
will not have recourse to arms, except at the last extre-
mity.

The public mind in the provinces is still more decided
than in the city of Naples. The people will no longer he
content with half measures. Neither reforms nor amnes-
ties, nor compromises, nor reconciliations between this
man and that, nor concessions made to the demands ol
France and Ei gland are now valued ; and they declare
that Naples should not e worse off than Piedmont. The
hereditary Prince himself is discontented ; he is hated
by the Queen, and turned into ridicule by the King ; he
is prohibited from reading the newspapers, which, how-
ever, he feels the greatest anxiety to see. He is only al-
lowed to see and converse with the priests. The aristo-
cracy, sceptical and inept heretofore, no longer conceal
their aversion, and have courage enough to speak their
sentiments. In a word the people of Naples appear as if
they were desirous of being thrown into prison. Society
is in a state of dissolution. Filangieri, who perhaps
might have been received three years ago as Minister of
War, is now for the people only the bombarder of Mes-
sina. The same may be said of Cariati and Ischitella, who
would serve as a point of junction with the brutal despo-
tism of past years and of a new era. The education of
the people is nearly effected—they know what they wish
for. Their moderation is a proof their force and of their
resolutions. General Martini gains ground, thanks to the
Queen The symr a by for Piedmont is hurtful to Russia.
When Poerio was transferred from Montefusco to Mon-
tesarchio, before the prison door were found elegant
carriages to convey him to his destination. Tiaey were
the carriages of the proprietors in the province, who dis-
puted among themselves the honour of conducting the
prisoner. Such is the description given by my informant
of the present state of Naples, almost as literally as he
has expressed it.

The events that have recently occurred in Sicily and
Naples bring forcibly to mind the observations of Count
Cavour at the Paris Congress, that unless some remedy
was applied to such a state of things Italy would be a
permanent source of revolution and danger for the whole
of Europe. Whether the movement be really put down
or not, these remarks have not less force and truth. As
long as the same (Ames subsist, so long we may expect
the same effects. Repres•Aon will not conjure the danger;
the Italian provinces will still be in a state of agitation
until such time as the great question which concerns it
is definitively solved.

COMMITTAL OP A MOTHER FOR THE MURDER
OF HER CHILD.

A most revolting instance of unnatural and cold•
blooded cruelty on tne part of a mother, resulting in the
death of her child, has just been discovered at the little
town of Nantyglo, in Glamorganshire, and has led to the
committal of the murderess to take her trial up .n the
capital charge at the next county assizes. Tho name of
the wretched woman, who is married, is Elizabeth Oram,
and the deceased, George Williams, was her illegitimate
son, about 10 years of age.
It appeared from the evidence adduced before the
coroner that the little fellow has been fora long time
subjected to barbarous treatment,
being
at tim beaten
kept on nn-
es
wholesome and insufficient food,
and
eating been
with dreadful severity. The poorb
boy
yha
and
d often
seen by the neighbours picking up garbage
et).ngto the pigs'
it to satisfy his hunger, and
trough and devouring eagerly evensncii refuse as the pigs
had not eaten. Some of the neighbours at times had
been induced to strip the child and examine his person,
when his emaciated body was found to pre•ent a shock-
ing spectacle, from the excoriations and bruises with
which i. was covered. Commiserating the child's '
unhappy condition the neighbours used occasionally to
give Lim pieces of bread and meat, and would gladly
Lave continued to do so, but that the mother, whose
desire seemed to be to get the boy out of her way,
began a few months since to keep him in the house
altogether, excusing his non-appearance abroad, when
asked respecting him, by saying that he was not well.
Upon his death becoming known, a communication was
made to the coroner, and the deputy coroner (Mr. W.
H. Brewer), commenced an inquest at the Cyclops Inn.
Evidence was soon adduced to justify a criminal charc,
against the mother, who was wrested as she was com-
pleting her toilet to attend the funeral of the boy. The
jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder again t
Elizabeth Crain," the mother, and the coroner at once
issued his warrant for her committal to prison,