The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-14 00:00:00

power, and shines Olt brightly in the undiminished
lustre of its renown. Why is this, but because it
represents the general' feeling of the country, and
thus strikes the chord k that awakens kindred sym-
pathies throughout the length and breadth of the
land. What is without intrinsic merit in itself
cannot last, and what is not genuine will never
impress. We all heard a ,Ireat deal about the
glory and grandeur of free-trade, and the attendant
blessings of peace that were to follow in the wake
of the French Treaty. It has :not needed for us to
wait till the last day of the session, which was to
have been celebrated in future history as the era of
such wonders, to find out that the golden fruit,
when tasted, turned to ashes. And again the
country was to be startled from its propriety about
Reform ; but those who brought forward the mea-
sure were not in earnest, and the desire abroad had
been exaggerated till it was called a clamour for
an indispensable boon to suit the purposes of agi-
tators. Far different with the Volunteer move-
ment, which was brought about by the general
desire of the people, and which was not created
to please despots, nor fabricated to suit dema-
gogues, like the vaunted treaty and the
levelling bills for the representation of the people,
the projects that were to have been received
with such applause and crowned with so much
It is, therefore, strange to find any
class or section setting themselves against
this plan, prompted by absurd prejudice or
influenced by petty motives. The determination
recently arrived at by the meeting at Wimbledon
will hardly redound to the credit of those who at-
tended that assembly. Amore unwise and ungra-
cious refusal could hardly have been made. It is
much to be regretted that the Rev. Air. HAY-
GARTH should have animadverted in such a style
about the immorality of rifle-shooting. If it were
not for the unfairness of the remarks they would be
amusing from their absurdity. It is never by setting
forward untenable arguments, and by representing
prejudiced opinions that any impression can be
made, and any influence exerted. The refusal of
the inhabitants to allow the practice of rifle-shoot-
ing on their common is not so much of a defeat to
the Volunteers as it is a disgrace to the neighbour-
hood. They cannot suppose their protest w ill
put down what has been called into existence by
the united wishes of the people, and
ratified by general approval. These learned folks
had better remember the ancient saying, Vox
populi, vox Dei, before they throw down the
gauntlet in the face of the country. What
must this exclusive band think of the
Earl of DERBY, who has consented to allow the
Lancashire Rifle Corps to have their review in
Knowsley Park next month. They must
either think him very weak or very wicked.
It is to be hoped that the inhabitants
of Wimbledon will reconsider their determination ;
but if not, they will be the losers in the estimation
of all impartial judges as having conducted them-
selves in a manner reason does not sanction in trying
to stem the current of popular opinion, and acting
in defiance to the public spirit and private enter.
prise of the country.

success.

THE SICILIAN INSURRECTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—I left Messina on the 2d inst., having been
with General Garibaldi throughout the campaign
in Sicily, and have come here in compliance with
his desire, entrusted with the following document :

" Melazzo, Aug. 2.
" Captain Edward Styles goes to England with my autho-
rity. His object is to render advice and guidatce to volun-
teers who may wish to come here to fight for the liberty of
this country. The noble and valorous conduct displayed
by the English who have shared with us the dangers and
glories of this campaign prompts me to intrust him with
this responsibility. " G. GARIBALDI.
" General Commanding the National Army in Sicily."

I am also intrusted with the expression of the
General's appreciation of the sympathy and assist-
ance which he has received from the British nation.
He thinks that assistance may yet take another
practical shape, as he believes that there are many
in this country who are desirous of taking up arms
for the cause of Italian independence, and who re-
quire only the information and advice which I am
empowered to give them. Among those who have
fought most bravely under General Garibaldi are
several English officers, including Colonel Dunn,
who took a prominent part in the hand-to-hand
conflict in which the General was lately engaged ;
Colonel Peard, known to the world as Garibaldi's
Englishman ; and Peter Cunningham' a British
sailor youth, who was first over the wall into the
Midst of the Neapolitans in the vineyards of Me-
lazzo. It is a heartfelt wish of the General to have
more of the countrymen of such men as these en-
gaged with him in the noble strife for Italian free-
dom. Having taken share in the battles of Cala-
tafimi, Palermo, and Melazzo, I can testify that
Garibaldi cares more for the lives and com-
forts of his followers than he does for
his own, which, indeed, he too rashly exposes.
Moreover, those who join him may be certain
of receiving all the rewards and honours to which
they may be entitled. This has been already suffi-
ciently evidenced. Much has been accomplished
within a short time by a handful of gallant men,
who have liberated the whole of Sicily, save one
small fort ; but much more still remains to be done,
and there will yet be an opportunity afforded for
distinction, fame, and promotion under him whom
you have so aptly termed "the Italian Washing-
ton." I shall be happy during the present week
to give all the necessary advice and information to
those respectable young 'men, especially Rifle
Volunteers, as well as to soldiers who have fought,
and may wish to gather laurels in the cause of
Italy, and to be able to boast in future years that
they, too, were of the heroic band that fought
under General Garibaldi.

The parting wish of the General expressed to
me was that he might have as many Englishmen
around him as possible.—l have the honour to be,
sir, your obedient servant,
EDWARD STYLES, Captain,
Aide-de Camp to General Garibaldi.
Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street.

This morning, Colonel Styles received visits from
a great many of the friends and admirers of General
Garibaldi, at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street.
The gallant gentleman merely received each
person in one of the drawing-rooms of the hotel,
and explained or answered the questions that were
put to him.
Many of the visitors consisted of Volunteer
Riflemen.

GARIBALDI'S EXPEDITION.