The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-08 00:00:00

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a.« Are Picaotti stopping on the; road to firer:cif-7D

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TMKIK-114-api,c
Close to the Porta di Termini is the Vecchia;
er -mold niarket-pi ace. This was the first
poi aGariUaldi sec Toped One must know
these SicihaniToh ean is lea of the frenzy, scream-
ing, shouting, crying, and- hugging ; all would kir ;s;
his hand and embrace hi s knees. Every moment
brought new masses, which debouched in troops from
one of the streets, anxiou.s to have their turn. As:
the Ca,eciatori gradually. cleared the lower part of:
the town, most of the inhabitants came to have a
give g greeting
, to the Liberator of
look, and
Palermo and The entrance was effected
M., anal by noon more than
about half-past 5 a.
one-half of the town was clear of the troops.
But two hours before this was' effected, the citadel
had opened its fire on the town, at fir.;t moderately
enough, but soon after with great vigour, firing
large 13-inch shells, red-hot shot, and crtcry other
projectile calculated to th) the greatest possible da-
oage. About noon or so. the ships in the harbour
opened ”heir fire, and bedween the two they con-
trive,l to Aestroy a great. number of houses in the
lOwer ort of the town, killing and wounding a large
number (rf people of all ages and both sexes. Two
of the large silt lls were sent right into the hospital,
and exploded in one of the wards. Everywhere
you perceived ruins and conflagrations, daad and
wounded, not a few Of whom must have perished
among the ruins of their houses. It was especially
the part of the town near the Pial-za Bologni, and
some of the adjoining streets, which was ill-treated.
If the object of the Neapolitans was to inspire
terror, they certainly succeeded. Whoever' could
took refuge in whatever he thought the most b omb-
proof place,. and those who could not you. .saw
crying, praying, and wringing their hands in the
streets. It was a pitiable sight indeed, and it did
more harm to inoffensive people than to those who
might have retaliated. Before opening the fire the
Commodore sent a polite mßssage to all the men-
of-war which were in the way to get out of it, and
all the vessels which were moored inside the Mole
had to shift their berths and take up positions
outside.

PRICE 4D. STAMPED, SD.

tion of all his faculties on the sole aim he has before

The evening gun in the fort had been long re-
echoed by the mountains, and 1
,he moon had risen
clear and bright above our heads, giving a new
charm to this lovely scenery, before we stirred.
During this interval the Picciotti (youngsters),
as
the patriots are called, were put into some kind of
order, which, you will believe me, was no easy matter
in the comparative darkness which prevailed ; no
chief knowing his men and the men not recognising
their chief—every one acting for some one else, and
no one able to give an answer. With the exception
of the troops brought over by Garibaldi, all the rest
seemed an entangled mass, almost impossible to un-
ravel. However, by degrees those belonging to the
same chief found themselves together, and the
march began about 10 p.m. Either the Sicilian
chieftains had never looked at the Pass of Mez-
zagna, or else they have curious ideas of a road ;
the whole is nothing but a track among big stones
crossing and recrossing the bed of a mountain tor-
rent, following not unfrequently the bed of the
torrent, leading over smooth masses of stones and
across most awkward gaps—all this at an angle of
25 degrees, to be passed on horseback at night !
Even the men could only go singly, which made
our line of a frightful length, and caused continual
delays and Stoppages. The General vowed never
to believe another Sicilian rep9rt on the state
of a mountain road. However, in the end,
we reached the plain and came in among
olive trees below, with few falls among the sure-
footed horses. A halt was made until all the
columns had descended, and during this halt an in-
cident occurred which did not promise much for the
future behaviour of our Picciotti. The horses in
Sicily are left for the most part entire, hence conti-
nual fighting and considerable neighing, which was
inconvenient in a night expedition of this kind that
several of the most vicious steeds had to be sent
back. One of them still remained and began its
antics ; the rider lost patience, which made matters
worse. These nearest threw themselves back in
haste, and communicated the movement to those
behind. Those, many of whom had sat down
and began to doze, mistook in their dreams,
probably, the trees for Neapolitans, the
stars for so many shells, and the moon
for a colossal fireball ; at any rate, the majority of
them were with one bound in the thickets on both
sides of the road, several fired off their muskets in
their fright, and very little was wanting to cause a
general panic. Every one did what he could to re-
store confidence, but the effect was produced and
reacted as you will see by and by. Another incident
occurred, which might have led to the failure of the
whole expedition. The Sicilian guides who were with
the avant-garde missed the road,and instead of taking
a by-road which led into the main road we had to pur-
sue, they continued on the road near the hill-side,
which would have brought us just where the Neapo-
litans were in the greatest strength. The mistake
was perceived in time and repaired, but not with-
out considerable loss of time. At last the column
emerged on to the main road, which is broad and
skirted by high garden walls. As we had lost con-
siderable time with all these contretemps, and as
dawn was approaching, we had to make haste, but,
whether from fatigue or the impression of the night
panic, the Picciotti could not be brought to move
very fast. It was just the first glimmer of dawn
When we passed the first houses, which extend in
this direction a long way out of the town of
Palermo. The squadri, who ought to have known
the locality better, began shouting and " evvivaing,"
just as if we had been close to the gates. Had
it not been for this blunder, the avant-garde might
have surprised the post on the bridge of the
Ammiragliato, and probably penetrated into the
town without the loss of a man. As it was, the
shouting not only roused those on guard on the
bridge, but likewise gave an opportunity to the
Neapolitans to strengthen the force at the gate of
Termini, and to make all their dispositions for a
defence from the flank.
Instead, therefore, of surprising the post on the
bridge, the avant-garde was received by a well-
sustained fire, not only in front, but from the
houses in their flanks. At the first sound of the
musketry most of the Picciotti were across the
garden walls, but not with the view of firing from
behind them, leaving thus the thirty or forty
men of the avant-garde all isolated in the large
exposed street which leads to the bridge. The first
battalion of the Cacciatori was sent up, and as it did
not carry the position fast enough, the second was
sent after it soon after. While these were driving
back the Neapolitans, every one did his best to drive
the Picciotti forward. It was not so easy, in the
beginning especially, when the sound of cannon
was heard in front, although its effects were
scarcely visible. However, the Picciotti, who re-
mind me very much of Arnout Bashi-bazouks, can
be led on after the first unpleasant sensation has
passed away, especially when they see that it is not
all shots that kill or wound, not even the cannon
shots, which make so formidable a noise. They
could see this to perfection this morning, for al-
though the Neapolitan rifles are scarcely inferior to
the best firearms, I never saw so little damage done
by so much shooting.;:Every one put himself, there-
fore, to work to lead and urge on the Picciotti,
driving them out of the sheltered places by all
kinds of contrivances, and often by blows and main
force. After some trouble most of them were
safely brought through the open space before the
bridge, but the general tendency was to go under
rather than above the bridge, which is, like all
bridges over torrents, high, and was in this in-
stance exposed to a heavy cross-fire from the Piana
di Borazzo, where the Neapolitans had a loopholed
wall and some guns mounted, which threw a few
ill-aimed shells. While the General himself and
many of his staff did their best to make them leave
this shelter again and proceed, the avante-garde had
chased back the Neapolitans to the stradone which
runs down to the sea just in front of the Porta di
Termini. The Neapolitan fort at the gate, consider-
ably reinforced, opened a hot fire, which swept
down the long avenue of houses leading to the
bridge, while at the same time the two guns and the
troops posted at the Porta Sant Antonio brought
a cross fire to bear on the attackers. But this was
no obstacle to the brave fellows who led the way.
They did not lose time with firing, but rushed on
with the bayonet. The commander of the avant-
garde, Major Tuhori, a Hungarian, and three of the
guides were the first across the sandbag barricade
in the town, but the leader was wounded by a shot,
which shattered his left knee. Otherwise the loss
had been trifling. While the avant-garde and the
Cacciatori chased the Neapolitans from spot to spot,
the Palen-aliens began likewise to stir, but, justice
compels me to say, only :in the parts which the
troops had left.
The same scene as at the bridge was repeated at
the crossing of the stradone by the Picciotti; who
followed ha a straggling movement. And yet it
was important to get into the town, in order not to
be outflanked or taken in the rear by the Neapoli-
tans holding the Piana di Borazzo. In order to
avert this danger, the order was given to some of
the bands to get behind the garden walls which
line the road by which the Neapolitans might have
come down on our left. These diversions, and pro-
bably the dislike to fight in the open, were suffi-
cient to parry this danger until the greatest part
of the stragglers had passed. At the same time a
barricade was thrown up in the rear with anything
which could be laid hold of. This work pleased
the Picciotti so well that they began throwing up
a barricade in front likewise. At any rate, they
blocked up a part of the road before they could be
prevented.
But the most critical thing was decidedly the
crossing of the stradone, where the cross fire was
kept up, and all kinds of dodges were resorted to to
make them risk this salto, which they thought
mortal. I and one of the followers of Garibaldi
held out one of the men by main, force exposed to
the fire, which soon made him run across. It was
here, above all, that the bad firing of the Neapoli-
tans told.. I was looking on for some time, and did
not see a single man even wounded. In order to
encourage the Picciotti, one of the Genoese rifle-
men took four or five chairs, planted the tricolour
on one of them, and sat down upon it for some
time. The thing took at 145 t decidedly, and yoi,

THE PAPER DUTIES.

A public meeting in opposition to the course
,adopted by the House of Lords with regard to the
rep,qal of this tax was held last evening at the)
Londol'l Tavern ; Mr. James White in the chair.
The attendance was ,numrous, and among others
on the plaeorm were Sergeant Parry, Mr. Morley,
Mr. A. H. Dynaoild, Mr. Washington Cs ilk Mr.
Taylor, Mr. Fry, Dr. Challis, Mr. G. Thomp-
son, &c.
Communications were read from S:r James Duke,
M.P., Mr. E. James, M.P., and others; expressing
regret at not being able to attend, but con,nurring
in the objects of the meeting, as was a letter ,from
Lord John Russell.
The CHA 'ERMAN, in opening the proceedings, con-
sidered that the act of the House of Lords was a
aggressive measure against the declared wishes of
the representatives of the people. The Lords had'
passed the penny Income-tax, o.nd had refused the
repeal of that which was to have been the equiva-
lent—the duty on paper. Just before he came to
the meeting he had referred to Mr. Erskine May's
work on the forms and usages of Parliam,9nt, and
on turning to chapter 15, referring to the rid
of
the House of Commons, he found it stated that all
aids of supply must be given by the House of Com-
mons. This gentleman had been already examined
by tie Committee on Precedents, and he had no
doubt that his testimony would confirm his repu-
tation as a Parliamentary lawyer. If further con-
firmation was necessary, he might refer to the
Queen's Speech in opening Parliament. They
would remember that her Majesty told the House
of Commons, not the House of Lords, that the esti-
mates would be laid before them. Besides this, aIL
money bills in their attestation declared that they
were the sole gift of the House of Commons ; and
the Queen's Speech in closing the session acknow-
ledged the same principle ; and indeed it was ne-
cessary that it should be so, or all commercial trans-
actions in which duties were involved would be
cheeked,'whenever bills imposing or removing tax-
ation were introduced, until it was known what
course the House of Lords would take
concerning them. Having referred to a let-
ter from Mr. Cobden, which appeared in the even-
ing paper of that day, the chairman went on to say,
Mr. Cobden's letter drew his attention to the struggle
which took place 200 years ago on the subject of
ship money. It was argued 12 days before the
Exchequer, and 10 judges had decided that the
Crown had the power to levy it; while two, to their
immortal honour, decided against it. At the pre-
sent day he believed there were only two lawyers
who upheld the doctrine for which the House of
Lords contended—viz., Lords Lyndhurst anti
Chelmsford. He need not refer to the end of the
struggle he had just altuded to, but they would
recollect it terminated in a surgical operation in.
front of Whitehall, which, after all, he believed
was a most salutary operation,. (Question.) The
glory of the country was not in its enterprise or its
wealth, or its power, but in that ,liberty which we
inherited from our forefathers. (Cheers.) He
hoped the result of that meeting would be such a
declaration of the will of the people as would con-
vince the _Lords that there was no apathy existing
in the country on this subject. Then there would
be no occasion it: this country to say—
" 11l fares the land to wasting ills a prey,
When wealth accuNulates nal men decay." (Cheers.]
Mr. SAMUEL MORLE'Y said 11;4 had been requested
to move the following resolution :
" That it is the immemorial right of ,the British people
to be taxed only with their own consent, by and through
their own representatives in the Commons House of
Parliament. That the refusal of the Hotzse of Lords to
remit a tax abolished by the representatives LI the people
is in direct contravention of that right, and is, in fact, an
unscrupulous attempt to impose taxation on the sole autho-
rity of the House of Lords. That this meeting therefore
calls upon their countrymen to protest against flagram: a
violation of their constitutional rights.
He did not think any elaborate statement from hint
was necessary to satisfy the meeting of the impor-
tance of the question, and he would merely add his
protest to those which had been already made.
The Heitse of Commons had determined on the
remission of, the Paper Duty, and the House of
Lords had said it should not be abolished. He
would admit that a veto rested in the Crown, but
he also believed that if that veto were exercised it
would make thoughtful men anxious. He believed.
that Mr. Gladstone was prepared to assist in the-
adjustment of taxation on property, and also that.
the Earl of Derby was opposed to the reduction of
expenditure. It was his opinion that the views of
such men as John Bright would tell on the pros-
perity of the country and on the great mass of their
fellow-countrymen. In conclusion, he urged that
the people must depend upon thwselves, and then
they would know on whom to rely,
Mr. W. LEAF seconded the motion)
Mr. J. K. FRY having supported it, •
Mr. Niciroi, endeavoured to move an aznendment
apparently opposed to the wishes of the riaeeting,
as he was compelled to retire amid much noise and.
confusion.
Mr. PRICE and Mr. HICKS also endeavoured to
address the meeting in opposition to the views of
the previous speakers, but, on the question being
pit from the Chair whether they should be heard,
it was decided in the negative.
Mr. TAYLOR moved the second resolution :
" That the following petition to the House of Commons be'
Meted by the chairman on behalf of this meeting:—
That from 'time immemorial it has always been the
right of the British people to be taxed only with their own
consent, by and through their own representatives in the
Commons House of Parliament. That the refusal of the
House of Lords to remit a tax abolished by the people's re-
presentatives is in direct contravention of that right, and
is, in fact, an attempt on the part of the Peers to impose
taxation by their own sole authority. Your petitioners
therefore pray your hon. house to take effectual;measures
to resist so flagrant a violation of the privileges of your hon.
house, and of the rights of the people.' "
and referred to the attacks which, he said, had been
made on Mr. Bright, both by the press and in the
House of Commons.
Three cheers for Mr. Bright having been given,
Mr. THOMPSON seconded the motion, which was
agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. CONNELL, seconded by Dr.
CHALLIS, it was agreed that Lords Palmerston and
Russell be requested to present the petition.
The meeting separated after the usual compli-
lit to the chairman.

;7-