The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-26 00:00:00

SICILY.

The following letter has been received from Mes-
sina, dated the 16th inst. :
" I have at length found an opportunity of sending you
a complete account of the events which have taken place in
this town. On the 4th a report was circulated that an in-
surrection had taken place at Palermo. Great agitation was
consequently excited, but, unfjrtunately, we could learn no
particulars, as the telegraphic wires had been broken. We
were told, however, that the revolt had assumed great pro-
portions, and the first idea which occurred to each of us was
to raise an insurrection ourselves, in order to assist our
sister town ; but it was easy to comprehend that, without
chiefs, and without arms, and without any plan prepared,
in presence of a formidable garrison, the attempt
would be more injurious to the national cause than other-
wise. It was, therefore, determined to wait a better op-
portunity. Everything would have:passed quietly but for
the police and the lazzaroni, who evidently desired to create
a disturbance. It is even asserted that a number of vaga-
bonds were let loose from the prison ;.p.nd it is certain that
the mob appeared to obey a word of command to commence
an attack on the police. Another band demanded charity
in the most insolent language, and when refused they
showed firearms. They assembled in the most fre-
quented parts of the town, and insulted everybody.
This scandal continued to increase from Friday afternoon
until Easter Sunday morning ; and everybody foresaw a
omflict./2.A1l the respectable inhabitants ende t voured to
prevent the mischief. The Marquis Artate, the
military intendant, was requested to arrest the assassins,
but he replied that it was impossible, as 1113 police had lost
all moral force. Permission was then asked to organise a
civic guard to maintain order and to defend persons and
properties, but the different authorities refused, saying they
had no power to do so, At o'clock on Sunday the Intendant

Artate announced that he had received a telegraphic despatch,
informing him that the insurgents at Palermo had been de-
feated and dispersed by the Royal troops, and that the pri-
soner had been instantly shot. This news having been com-
municated to the troops and to the police, gave them courage,
and they commenced insulting everybody. On the 9th Gen.
Russo placed the town in a state of siege by a proclamation.
The citizens were next disarmed; and on the 10th all good
citizens were invited by a third proclamation to return into
the town, and that their lives and properties should be gua-
ranteed. At this time all the shops were closed, and a
sepulchral silence prevailed. The gates of the town were .
guarded by numerous battalions, supported by artillery.
On the night of the 10th volleys of musketry were fired from
the various military posts of the town, accompanied by cries
of ' Long live the King.' Cannon shots were fired from Fort
Blasco in the direction of the country. To explain this unac-
countable proceeding the soldiers pretended that they had
been attacked by rebels, and that the troops had been fired on
from the Convent of Porto-Salvo. It has been since proved
that no such attack had been made on the soldiers. Gen.
Russo published a notice on the 11th announcing that
the troops had been attacked during the night, and that if
such proceedings were renewed ho would fire on the town
frqm the citadel. Under these circumstances the Consular
agents, except those of Russia and Austria, who had fled,
leaving their countrymen without protection, assembled
at the house of M. Boulard, the French Consul,
and signed a protest against the conduct of General
Russo, making him responsible for the acts of van-
dalism committed. This document being signed, the
Consular body proceeded to the quarters of General Russo,
to whom they read the protest. The General, visibly em-
barrassed, pretended that he had received information
during the night that the rebels had fired on the troops.
Brigadier-General Riviera then spoke. He said that he re-
gretted what had been done, and hoped it would be forgot-
ten, and he requested the Consuls to assure the inhabitants
of Messina that they need not fear further violence.
'Nothing remarkable occurred until the 13th, when the sen-
tinels amused themselves by firing on the persons walking
quietly in the streets Five people were killed, including a
woman and child. The Consuls again met, and signed
a second protest ; but, a British subject having been wounded
in the leg, a second imprisoned, and subsequently released,
and the house of a third having been plundered by the
military and the proprietor threatened with death, the
English Consul lost patience, and, accompanied by the cap-
tain of the British ship of war, Intrepid, at anchor in the
port, waited on General. Russo, and told him that if any
further violence were offered to an Englishman he would
use reprisals. At first the General did not understand the
meaning of the term, but the Consul having explained, the
Generalliecame quite confused, and declared that he would
shoot the first soldier who committed any violence, even
were it towards a Sicilian, and that he would publish an
order of the day to that effect. This proceeding cooled the
ardour of the military. Yesterday 800 men and half a
battery of artillery left this for Catania. We expect a
squadron of lancers from Nal les to be sent into the interior
of the island."