The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-21 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 16th have arrived.
Some of them state that the extreme democratic
party or a fraction of it participated in the recent
Montemolinist insurrection: In corroboration of
this they assert that a proclamation of Count de
Montumolin praising universal suffrage was seized;
and that Ortega, after his arrest, repeatedly asked
for news of the " movement in Andalusia." A Car-
list band had been defeated and dispersed at Ondio,
in Biscay, and its chief, Otaola by name, had been
captured. Another Carlist band which had ap-
peared in the mountains of Toledo had dispersed.

STATE OF AFFAIRS AT MESSINA.

The following letter was received at Lloyd's
to-day from their agents at Messina, dated the
14th April :

" This town was declared in a state of siege on
the morning of the 9th, by a manifesto dated the
Bth. For several days previous rumours had been
in circulation that it was the intention of the
Military Commandant to avail himself of the first
plausible pretext to declare martial law, and that
to ensure the fidelity of the troops they had been
promised that the town should be given
up to pillage. Few persons of intelli-
gence were found to credit so extraordinary
a report until last Sunday, which, being Easter
Sunday, the concourse of people drawn together by
the festival and the fineness of the weather, ren-
dered it an easy matter to create confusion. The
military fired, and the place was immediately oc-
cupied by the troops at every point without the
least opposition. Although things continued per-
fectly quiet on the Monday and Tuesday a procla-
mation was issued on the Wednesday, which threw
the town into consternation and dismay. The
citizens, who the day before had returned
from the country, prepared again to leave
for it with accelerated speed. A warm remon-
strance from the foreign consular body, however,
caused the commandant to issue a second order of
the day more consonant with civilized usages ; but
little pains appear yet to be taken to conciliate
the citizens or to revive confidence, in spite of the
complete tranquillity of the town, and the general
conviction is that the alleged promise made to the
soldiers will be fulfilled, and that when it is to take
place, is but a question of time—unless some power
ful influence interferes before it can be accom-
plished.

It is computed that fully two-thirds of the inhabi-
tants have left the city. The rest would willingly
follow but for want of means, if only to escape the
provocations of the troops. The property in the
stores and magazines is immense, but it is not
possible to remove it on so short a notice.
We are happy to say that the shipping is nearly
all hauled out of port, and we think it in safety.
It affords us great pleasure to say that Comman-
der Marryat, of her Majesty's ship Intrepid, on the
station here, has done everything in his power to
render assistance to British residents amidst the
universal panic. The British Vice-Consul has also
shown himself most anxious to protect Britishin-
terests on this occasion.

A CHILD BURNT.—Yesterday morning a distres-
sing accident occurred at the residence
Compton-street, Old Kent-road, which unhappily ended in
the death of his child, aged four years. It appeared that
Mrs. Amelia Wilson left it alone for a few minutes, when
screams were heard. The parents ran on to the landing
and found it on the stairs enveloped in a mass of flame.
The child's clothes were soon extinguished, but not before
the accident had caused fatal consequences, as it expired
shortly after.