The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-19 00:00:00

SICILY.

The Malta Observer of the 13th inst. contains
the following extract from a letter from Marsala,
dated July 11:
" You will be glad to hear that the Lombardo—
the large steamer that brought Garibaldi here, and
which was sunk at the entrance of the port, has at
length been saved, and was towed round to Palermo
the day before yesterday. She will require a deal
of repair and fitting out, in consequence of the Mar-
salese having stripped her even of some of her
planking. Garibaldi ought to make the Marsalese
pay for putting her to rights again.
" You will no doubt have
.heard that Major
Ascenso has been nominated Military Governor of
Trapani, and that he has been promoted to the rank
of colonel.

" There is capital communication between Eng-
land and Palermo via Genoa—there being a regular
line of steamers running direct between these two
latter ports—and there is another line between
Leghorn and Palermo. I believe they now get
letters from England in five days. We had the
Benjamin Franklin here last week on her first trip
round this part of the island.
"The price of wine keeps up, and I should not
be at all surprised to see it still higher one of these
days, as the appearance of the vines and prospect
of the coming vintage are anything but cheering,
the grape disease having commenced and pro-
gressed considerably, notwithstanding all the
sulphur that has been used—which is a bad look
out and no mistake.

" The Argus is fixed to remain at Marsala, so that
we now feel quite safe—indeed you cannot imagine
the salutary effect the presence of one of her Ma-
jesty's ships has on the evil disposed."
The Malta Times of the 12th of July publishes
the following intelligence from Sicily :
" Our Messina correspondent writes :
" Messina, July 10.

" ' Very little of importance has taken place here
during the week. On Tuesday last two Neapolitan
frigates passed through the straits on their way to
Trieste. They had on board the Queen-Mother
and all her family, besides about 30 of the Court
attached to the Bourbons. It was reported
that Garibaldi had been at Naples, and that
on his leaving he had sent a printed
pamphlet to the King, informing him
of all that he had done during his stay in that capi••
tal. This is not very likely to be true.
" A large number of Italians are arriving at
Palermo. The Intrepid, that came in on Saturday,
the 7th inst., brought the news that four steamers
were continually running between Genoa and Pa-
lermo, crammed with men. Young Garibaldi has
arrived in Girgenti with several officers, to establish
order in that place, and a regiment of Italians were
on their way there.
" Melazzo, a place near Barcelona, is to be

attacked during this week. There were about 1,000
men there, but the men and officers are deserting
fast. Yesterday evening the commandant of this
place despatched the French transport Bresil, with
the Ist King's Regiment of the Line, as a re-
inforcement. Colonel Medici, shortly after his
arrival at Barcelona, went to Melazzo to
reconnoitre, and said that two hours' work
would he enough to take the castle there.
I suppose in a day or two we shall have the
Royal defenders of that place returning here in
driblets without shoes or arm& Several Royalists
have received orders to quit Messina. Telegraphic
communication between Messina and Catania is
interrupted.'
" Another letter from Messina of the same date
says that Garibaldi was within twenty miles of
Messina, and confirms the statement made above
that Melazzo was to b e at once attacked. Gari-
baldi on the 4th of July completed his 53d
year, and the day was observed as a koliday in
Sicily. The desertions of the Royal troops con-
tinued, and a proclamation of General Medici, call-
ing upon the garrison of Messina, to make common
part with:the patriots, was circulated throughout
the town.

" A letter from Palermo, dated July 7, says

" Here we remain in statu quo, strong rein-
forcements coming in almost daily. At Naples
the plot seems to be thickening and her Majesty's
ship Hannibal leaves for that port to-day. We hope
that matters will speedily be settled, and enable
things to retura to their normal condition. We
hear of a brush between the Neapolitans and Sar-
dinians, under Colonel Turr, at Scaletta, near Mes-
sina, in which the former were worsted. The troops
seem to be very much demoralized, and desertions
are of daily occurrence—so much so that the Nea-
politan General has issued a decree, which condemns
to death any one aiding or abetting the desertion."

The Opinion Publique publishes the following, of
which a telegraphic summary has already appeared :
"A telegram of our private service brings us
serious news from Messina, under date of the 15th
inst.

"On the 14th Garibaldi joined Medici with
3,000 men. On the next day (15th) General Bosco
marched out of Messina with 4,000 men and three
cannon, and took the direction of Barcelona. An
engagement and the attack of Messina are conse-
quently imminent.
" The French consulate at Messina is crowded
with persons asking to be allowed to find a refuge
on board the Descartes. Our consul, whoss energy
is knoNvn, has already protested against the born-