The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-10 00:00:00

e

LETTER FROM NAPLES BY A MAN

OP PEACE.

(Rom the Scotsman.)

The following is a letter from a venerable but
restless friend who, accompanied by Mr. Edwin
James and other Englishmen, went to " see the
fighting" in Italy. Although, however, he is so
fond of that sight that he has long had a knack of
turning up in camps in all quarters of the globe, to
the dissatisfaction and embarrassment of the per-
sons there in authority, the reader will recognise
from what is written below, that our friend is not
at all a bloodthirsty person, but rather excites ad-
miration by exhibiting, amid scenes of strife and
slaughter, a most pacific and retiring disposition :
"Naples, Sept. 29.
" Mr. Edwin James and myself started from
London together, and arrived at Turin on the 31st
of the last month. On the road we picked up a gen-
tleman of the Bentinck school, who jarred all our
sympathies by his anti-Garibaldian prattle; but
luckily for our tempers there was an antidote to
this bane. In the coupe of the diligence was a young
man smoking hard, and half military and very
Scotchy in his appearance, but whom, addressing
himself to no one, we took for a' swell,' I was de-
puted to speak to him and try his manners, and
soon found that what we took for grandeur was
simply diffidence. Captain Davidson was the per-
son, a proprietor. Scotland, near Edinburgh, who
having belonged to a disembodied corps of artillery,
was proceeding to join Garibaldi, to help the great
cause, as well as to keep his soldier 3 in hand. He
had written to Garibaldi previously to offer his
services, which had been gladly and graciously ac-
cepted. Mr. James having abundance of introduc-
tions, and 7, having started at two hours' notice
from him. being without any introductions for my-
self, called with his letters upon Count Cavour at
Turin, to make an appointment for my fellow-
traveller. Count Cavour was standing at his own
door talking to half-a-dczen people in the street;
but he did not keep me waiting three-quarters of
an hour for an audience, like many of our Ministers
of State at home. Stout he is, but by no means
short or diminutive, as he is generally represented
to be. Captain Davidson was sitting in the carriage
while I was speaking to the great man. I said,
' Count Cavour, we have brought you a recruit for
the cause.' e laughed and said, Truly very
acceptable.' Mr. James having presented his
letters of introduction and explained our objects
to the Count Cavour, he, without more ado, imme-
diately responded by telegraphing the Sardinian
admiral at Genoa, who was just starting for Naples,
to detain his ship until we should arrive, and to
give us a free passage. Just as we were going on
board, Mr. James discovered that his servant had
left all his clothes, overcoats, &c. behind, at which
he was so much disgusted that he vowed he
would go back. We persuaded him to go on
board to look about him; and, however un-
grateful it may appear on the part of one who
had obtained a free passage to say it, I think had
he observed the state of the ship and the accommo-
dations therein, he would have bolted back again.
But luckily the night was dark, and he could see
nothing on board. We here found Colonel Baker,
Capt. Godman, and Evelyn Ashley, a true Garibal-
dian, and one after my own heart. The voyage to
Naples was, after all, pleasant as well as prosper-
ous, all but the two nights in a close cabin four feet
square, seven people enclosed.
" Sept. s.—Arrived in harbour, when the Sar-
dinian Admiral Persano came on board. Most civil,
and gave us the same ship to go at 4 o'clock next
morning to Salerno, where Garibaldi was reported
to be. We landed for the night, perhaps the first
party that ever put foot on Neapolitan ground
without passports being demanded. The sail along
the coast is much like that from Balaklava east,
only, if anything, more beautiful. Landed at Sa-
lerno; Garibaldi not arrived; but said to be at
Eboli, about 16 miles further back.
" Sept. 6.—Our party took a carriage and arrived
at Eboli at mid-day. Found Garibaldi just starting
a
with his staff for Salerno. Mr. James illYntged
letter to him, had an interview, and Whaiss express
with our party to accompany him i.nAshley and
train on his entry into Naples.
I were introduced. Garibaldi seemedr
quite at his
ease. When Mr. James went into his room he
y. glass combing
was standing quietly before
his hair, all his staff standing by
"Sept.- 10 o'clock a.m. for
7.—Started about_,n. One continuous
Naples by the express train.
ovation the whole distance.
rtsha re
yAuofstrtihaensNeanttiettdy
Sept. B.—ls the anniversary naigvoe
of the Virgin. 130 yearnquerors. Garibaldi chose the
Naples on this day
entrance an omen. Called o
sco.as -
Hannibal, with Col.llPeardday for his entre
Ad-
miral Mundy, 11. m.
and Messrs. James and Ashley. It is but justice
to say that, whilst the admiral has not exceeded
the power of interference entrusted to him by the
Government (Which power, by the way, in my
humble opinion, is much too limited), Yet he has
manifested a most cordial sympathy with a noble
cause, and with the hero appointed to carry it out.
it must make every true Englishman rejoice that
such a person is on the spot to represent the
feelings of his countrymen. What a contrast to the
conduct of the French admiral.
" Sept. 15.—Hearing that Garibaldi's troops had
possession of Caserto and Santa Marie (the latter
within about five miles of Capua, which latter
place was stilliheld by the King's troops) we—viz.,
E. James, Vizetelli, Captain Davidson, Ashley, Col.
Baker, Capt. Sa.rsfield, and myself—agreed to go
to Caserta the same night, to be ready for the ex-
pected fight,in the morning. We started at nine
o'clock, everybody warning us that we should be
attacked by brigands on the road, and never was
there a better chance for them ; all the revolvers,
however, were ready, except mine, which always
hung fire. All at once a whistle was heard, seem-
ingly in the wood by the side of the road—revolvers
all up—it was only Davidson on the box; but as
Col. Baker and Mr. Ashley had been fired at the
night before on the same road, we thought it as
well to be alive. We arrived at Caserta about two
o'clock, and sent to the general for billets, but non:
were to be had for love or money ; the place w ,
crowded with troops. Baker, James, Davidson, and
a
s
a
myself tried to sleep in the carriages
well as mosquitoes) ; Captain Sarsfield and
Ash-
ley preferred the hard ground in the 'square of the