The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-23 00:00:00

ITALY.

The Cologne Gazette publishes a Vienna letter,
which says An Austrian note relative to Gari-
baldi's expedition will very shortly be forwarded to
the great Powers. This note particularly insists on
the consequences that would result from Garibaldi's
invasion of the kingdom of Naples, and adds, that
the revolutionary torrent would, in that case, take
the direction of Rome and Venetia. Allusion is also
made to the armaments of Sardinia, which can only
be intended against Austria. Count Rechberg de-
clares, in conclusion, that Austria does not meditate
a war of aggression, but is firmly resolved to defend
her Italian possessions at all costs.
The Official Gazette of Turin publishes a circular
from M. Farini, Minister of the Interior, to the
Governors and Intendants-General of Provinces,
enjoining them immediately to open registers in all
the communes for the inscription of Volunteers.
The concluding sentence of the circular is as follows:
—" The undersigned relies on the active and effica-
cious zeal of the provincial administrators, request-
ing them to encourage the generous young men of
the country to fleck in numbers to the inscription-
lists at the call of the king's Government and enrol
themselves in the corps of volunteers destined to
form au auxiliary force to the national army, thus
contributing to increase its strength for the defence
and greatness of the country."
" The Count de Trani, brother of the King,"
says a letter from Naples of the 16th, " has
this day taken up his residence in the quarters
of his battalion of riflemen, and he will command
it in person in the event of a combat. Another
brother of his Majesty, the Count de Caserte, who
is only nineteen years of age, is commanding a bat-
tery of artillery, and lodges with his men in their
barracks. The note addressed by Count Cavour to
the Neapolitan plenipotentiaries, on receiving the
negative reply of Garibaldi to the letter of King
Victor Emmanuel, has arrived at Naples. In this
document, every word of which is carefully weighed,
the Count, after implying that he blames the rash
enterprises of Garibaldi, declares that in his opinion
the refusal of that person does not put an end to
the mission of the plenipotentiaries, but that he
cannot undertake anything against the Dictator.
In consequence, both the extraordinary legation
and the Piedmontese Cabinet will await events."

The Espana of Madrid has a new article which
speaks with great violence of England, and which declares
that, notwithstanding her vessels, her Armstrong cannon,
and her volunteers, she will not be able to prevent poor
down-trodden Spain from regaining possession of the rock
of Gibraltar

T.HI4,INVASION OF CALABRIA.

A letter from Faro Point, dated August 13,

says :--

There is no chance here of getting a boat for love
or money, for the boatmen of this country are such
a cowardly set of fellows that at the first sight of a
Neapolitan cruiser, or at the first splashing of a
cannon ball in the water, they begin to scream like
children, and pull the boat ashore as fast as they
can. Yet one can scarcely help being amused on
hearing those fellows utter all sorts of prayers to
their Madonnas and saints as soon as they think
themselves in danger. It is net to be forgotten that
Sicily is perhaps the most bigoted country of
Europe, and its people the most ignorant. If
the Neapolitans have got the liquefying
blood of St. Januarius, the Messinese have
an autograph letter of the Holy Virgin, and,
what is still stranger, the inhabitants of Taormina
evince great devotion for a similar document,
written, as they assure you, by the hand of San
Diavolo. Where they have been able to find such a
saint I am not able to say; it is, however, a fact;
and this curious relic is thought very much of by
the people and clergy of that city. The consequence
of this mingled cowardice and ignorance is that no
man here can go to reconnoitre on his own account
the coast of Calabria if he does not belong to the
army; It was likewise difficult to join one of the
expeditions sent by Garibaldi to the other side of
the strait, for he does not allow any one to go
with him for curiosity's sake. A newspaper corre-
spondent must, therefore, depend upon the infor-
mation he may get from his friends in
the camp, and this is of course often erroneous.
It turns out that the sound of firing on the other
side of the strait, of which I spoke in my last let-
ter, was caused by Neapolitan batteries playing
upon a new expedition of 400 men, which Gari-
baldi had sent to attempt a landing between Del
Cavallo fort and Villa San Giovanni. This new
expedition, protected by the darkness of the night,
had sailed from here at half-past 12 o'clock, under
the lead of a Cala.brian patriot, who had arrived
from that country a few hours before. This man
pretended to know that there was a point of the
opposite shore which was not guarded by the Nea-
politans, and undertook to lead the men to that
safe spo. The expedition was ordered and set
out ; but when it got near the shore it was received
by a volley of musketry. The alarm was, there-
fore, given to the Neapolitan gunboats and bat-
teries, and a tremendous fire was opened upon it.
Here the usual difficulty of keeping the Sicilian
rowers at their places arose. Those fellows began
to scream like monkeys, ard, in spite of the
bayonets pointed at them by the soldiers in the
boats, some pulled up towards the shore they had
started from, and some left their oars and fell
down in the boats. The commander of the expe-
dition would have had them shot at once, but how
could he dispense with them ? Three Neapolitan
cruisers, alarmed by the firing, hastened towards
them at full speed ; and it was therefore necessary
that he and his men should make for the Faro.
This was done, and the expedition accord-
ingly failed. Garibaldi was not alarmed by
this failure, and said to the commanding officer,
who went to the Lighthouse to announce it,
"We shall have a better chance to-morrow ; go
to bed, make your men comfortable, and good
night."
Ner was this the only failure experienced by
Garibaldi during the course of yesterday. At a
later hour, being on board one of the Sicilian
steamers, he saw a Neapolitan steamer coming up
from Reggio towing two large transports. He im-
mediately sent orders to Castiglia to have 60 men
shipped in three large boats, one of which had a
gun, and try to capture the steamer. Castiglia
started at once, but as soon as the Neapolitan
steamer saw the little flotilla roving in its direction
it left the two transports, and steamed towards the
Calabrian coast, under the protection of a Neapoli-
tan battery. Although a certain distance separated
the steamer from the attacking party, Castiglia
would have had a fair chance of capturing her; but
no sooner was the danger which was hanging over
the steamer perceived by the Fulminante, a Neapo-
litan war steamer, cruising in this strait, than she
came up with all speed, and began to fire round
shot at Castiglia's boats. No damage was caused,
for Neapolitan gunners have proved on all occasions
to be very inexpert at ball practice, but the match
was too unequal not to induce Garibaldi's men to
return. This, however, was done at leisure, and
without the loss of a single man. Commander
Castiglia told me that at the first cannon shot from
the Fulminante he was obliged to point his revolver
at the breast of the rowers, for they seemed dis-
posed to leave off rowing, and begin their gesticu-
lations and prayers.
For the last few days I have taken up my quar-
ters at this place, where comfort and even necessary
accommodation is out of the question. In every
respect the Neapolitans on the other side are in
quite different and more advantageous circum-
stances. While our sick men have not a mattress to
lie down upon, and are literally without blankets,
the Neapolitans, being masters of the sea, are well
provided for. Except at Barcellona, whose mili-
tary hospital is under the kind and intelligent di-
rection of an English lady, Madame Mario, and at
Messina, there are no medical comforts here, so
when a poor fellow is ill the doctors are some-
times obliged to send to Messina for medicines.
This does not arise from any negligence on the
part of the medical staff, for it could not have
been in better bands than those of the chief doctor,
Ripari. But you must not forget that Garibaldi's
army has been organised within the space of two
months, and that the means at the General's dis-
posal are very small indeed. It is wonderful that
in such a comparatively short time such results
could be obtained. With all the riches England
possesses I am inclined to think that your Horse
Guards and War-office would have failed in or-
ganising nearly 30,000 "men as well as Garibaldi
did in two months, whilst he was actually carrying
on
.a regular war, and had the sea almost shut
up, or at least not free. The ambulance depart-
ment is however getting more comfortable every
day. Yesterday I had an opportunity of visiting
it, and found everything requisite nicely made up
in small packages, so that they could be carried on
mules' backs, and distinctly labelled, so that what
is wanted may be procured in a minute. I hoar that
Dr. Ripari has managed to get beds for about 300
patients in the hospital of Messina, and in different
houses.
The Calabrian who came here with the intention
of assassinating Garibaldi has fully confessed that
he was sent by the Count of Aquila, his Sicilian
Majesty's uncle. He, however, says that he had
accepted thek, money, 1,000 piastres, but that he
came not here to perpetrate the crime, but on the
contrary to warn Garibaldi of the intention of the
Neapolitan Court, so that he might be on his guard
for the future. The man is still under arrest, and,
as I told you, will be brought before a court-martial
either to-morrow or the day after.
That Garibaldi's intentions are to attempt some-
thing this evening is quite clear by the number of
men now under orders to embark. I should not be
at all surprised if he intends to attack Scylla or the
Forte del Cavallo. He must feel as the soldiers do,
that to remain in this precarious position is at the
same time tedious and dangerous. He has probably,
therefore, planned some decisive movement, and this
accounts for his sudden disappearance from this
place. Yesterday he embarked on board the Wash-
ington, and 'ae has not yet returned. His son
Menotti, who is one of the aides-de-camp of Gen.
Bixio, arrived here this morning from Bronte. I
hear that Bixio, having put things straight in that
quarter, has received orders to join the main army.
Medici's division is still at Messina to keep a close
eye on the garrison of the citadel.

AUGUST 14, 6 A.M.

Another more serious attempt to cross over to
Calabria was made last night, but the Neapolitans
kept up such a tremendous fire that it was impossi-
ble for one of the party to land. This morning I
saw a flag hoisted on the tower of the Neapolitan
fort at Pezzo, but I cannot make out whether it is
a Sardinian or a Neapolitan flag. They, as you
know, are much alike, the only difference being in
the escutcheon in the middle. In my next I shall
be able to give you more precise information about
last night's attempt. The action began at half-
past 9, and was continued till about half•past 12.
Lord Dufferin arrived at Messina this morning,
on his way to Constantinople.

7 O'CLOCK.

P.S. The news received this morning frem the
heights of Asizomonte is, that Missori and his fol-
lowers have abandoned Basilico, and taken up their
quarters at St. Angelo. Their number augments daily
in an extraordinary manner, and orders have been
received
from there this morning to send up pro-
visions immediately. Shots were exchanged at
Bagnara yesterday between the troops there and
some of Missori's party on the heights, but with no
other intent, it would appear, but that of giving
no repose to the Neapolitans.
From Monteleone there is the rather doubtful
news of the troops having abandoned the King's
cause, and established a provisional government.
This is the on dit of this morning. Villa San
Giovanni is seized with a kind of panic.
There are in the fort of Pezzo, 300 old Neapolitan
soldiers, who are acting like brigands. The (lay be-
fore yesterday there happened to sail down the
Strait a Neapolitan boat, the crew of which, when
challenged by the sentries of the fortress, answered,
"Amid Napolitani;" notwithstanding which these
ruffians shut up in the fort threatened to fire on the
Neapolitan gunboats if they did not open fire
against the boat. Fortunately the gunners, thirty
in number, pointed their guns in such a way as not

to hit the boat. Such are the faithful defenders of
Bourbonic tyranny.

MALTA, AVG. 17.

•
Garibaldi has 250 men, selected for being good
shots, armed with Colt's revolver rifles, which were
delivered in Sicily at 196 francs each, and are de-
scribed by an Englishman who has used one of
them as the very best weapon he ever fired out of.
He came to Malta to purchase arms, but found them
very much dearer than those sent from France and
Belgium, so could make no purchases, but sent to
France for the supplieS he needed. There has been
a good deal of lint and old linen purchased at Malta,
and sent over to the hospitals in Sicily.
There is a very strong desire among the men of
both services to go over and join Garibaldi, and
many cunning; devices have been resorted to to carry
out this wish, but generally unsuccessfully, for any-
thing leaving Malta can be so easily seen. Still
some have vanished, no one knows how. A man of
the 23d Regiment being missed, strong suspicions
existed that he had got on board the Dutch Com-
modore's ship, and the commodore was politely asked
if the authorities might search for him. This he
indignantly refused, and was much annoyed at the
suspicion. I understand that the missing man's
comrades have since had letters from him, and that
he is in Garibaldi's camp, roughing it, but delighted
with camp life and its excitements.
It appears that sailors make the best soldiers
with Garibaldi ; they are more ready at expedients,
happier, better foragers, and have more dash; and
sailors from our navy have always been foremost
in all Garibaldi's fights, A grey•headed old Scotch
merchant had made a fortune, and was living on
his means in Sicily, but the fever of fighting is
catching, and he could not resist its influence. At
Melazzo, to use his own words, he "he was old fool
enough to take his double-barrel and fight with the
rest." Old as he was, and unused to fighting, ho
was among the foremost, and got two wounds for
his pains. Garibaldi saw his daring, and after the
fight publicly thanked him. There is a free-
masonry among brave men, and they were at once
friends ; by the way both were masons.
The authorities have been pretty severe on tile
soldiers they have caught, and the sentence on some
that tried to escape from their regiments to Sicily
has been the loss of all claims for previous service.
Disgrace and 181 days' imprisonment must be
rather a cooler to their thirst for military glory.
With Garibaldi it appears that a man is valued
for his services, and that he has a fair chance, if he
distinguishes himself, of rising to any position how-
ever high.
By the French steamer from Sicily we learn that
the Calabrias are in open revolt against the King
of Naples and in favour of Garibaldi. • Several par-
ties of his troops from Messina have crossed over to
Calabria and effected a landing, principally at
Palmi, a little to the north of the Straits. _ _

The Neapolitan steamers, seeing they could not
prevent the landing, are reported to have returned
and anchored at Reggio. Garibaldi had left Mes-
sina in a fast steamer, but his destination was not
known.

The following is an extract from a private later
The writer—an Italian, and like his chief both sol-
dier and seaman—has staked everything on his
country's cause :

Palermo, Aug. 16.

Here all goes marvellously, although surrounded
by a lot of thieves and assassins of all nations who
rob us. What of that ? Let liberty come, and
Italy is rich enough to fill the mouth of these Cer-
berri, which invade us from all parts to devour dog-
like, with their ever hungry mouths, the small gains
of the poor artist and of the widow. Que voulez
vouz ? They are unavoidable things in times of
revolutions. When hereafter we shall no longer
satiate the foreign Cerberri, and when that which
we produce remains to us alone, we will forget the
misery and will revel in abundance. In a few days
hence will commence the second act of the most
divine tragedy, and a run on terra firma will restore
equilibrium to our legs now suffering from the un-
dulations of that sea which caused the ship Sicily
to roll and pitch. I trust very shortly to write you
from Naples, and shortly after from Civita Vecchia
(I making my journey by sea). However you can-
not imagine how much younger I have become
amongst these events. I can scarcely give you the
least idea of what I feel. Imagine that there fell
into my hands, almost to increase my frantic ecsta-
cies, the " Prophecy of Dante" by Byron. What
were poets but prophets ? Line.by line I see fore-
told what is now going on under my sight. Read
and judge—it is Byron who talks for Dante in the
end of the Second Canto of the Prophecies.
" When there is required but a single blow

To break the chain, yet—yet the avenger stops,
And Doubt and Discord step 'twixt thine and thee,
And join their strength to that which with thee copes ;
What is there wanting, then, to set thee free
And show thy beauty in its fullest light i
To make the Alps impassable; and we,
Her sons, may do this with one deed unite."

And in the other canto, 19th terzina, after having
said all that which an Italian would not dare to
say of his own country, adds (after enumerating all
the great men who were) (in regard of Garibaldi),
June 21, 1819: