The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-25 00:00:00

NEAPOLITAN ATROCITIES IN SICILY.

A writer in a contemporary says :—Reluctant
though I am to enter further upon the subject of
Neapolitan outrages in Sicily—atrocities committed
under a reign of terror which is now in such a fair
way of being put an end to, yet sceptics and in-
quirers so overwhelm me that I would fain leave it
to your better judgment to decide on the propriety
of admitting these lines into your columns.
Three summers passed on Mount Etna, with fre-
quent visits throughout other portions of the island,
extending from Syracuse to Palermo, between the
years 1842 and 1851, afforded me some knowledge
of the people in that paradise of Europe, of their
amiability, of their sufferings, and of their naturally
indolent habits of life, though volcanic excitability
of temperament, all so admirably described by one
who has probably seen less of them, yet with far
more acute discernment—l mean your inimitable
correspondent there at this moment. _ _

In the year 1847 I had visited the crowded
under-sea dungeons of the notorious prison-fortress
at Ischia, led through them repeatedly by the
well-known and excellent Dr. Monti, who had
been more than 40 years the official M.D. there,
and beneath whose care and eventual cure I was
then taking advantage of the extraordinary vol-
canic baths of Cassamicciola. He there, with ill-
concealed though officially restrained disgust, called
my attention significantly to certain dark charnel
corners and mysterious appliances, all evidently so
arranged as to strike terror into the unfortunate
prisoners from whom it might be thought necessary
to extort political confessions. Such were the sights
which afterwards mada those chambers at Palermo
somewhat familiar to me, although my report of
them, even at the time, seemed scarcely credited by
some, and could be fully corroborated only by those
who had visited them in their first-opened, un-
touched condition; as, in fact, they had been hastily
bricked up and concealed when the revolution
took a sudden turn against the Royal cause in
February, 1848.
I was at that moment on a visit to Mr. Marston,
the American Consul there, whose influence among
the Sicilians was' almost equal to that of our own
venerable, talented, and highly-respected. Consul,
Mr. Goodwin, and adjoining whose house was the
prison into which we had seen the 48 sbtrri, the
hated spies and torturers under the Neapolitan sys-
tem of police, just then humanely brought to save
them from the raging vengeance of the infuriate
mob. With that gentleman I immediately joined
the returning crowd; curious to see the place where
they had been captured, which was at the distance
of some streets; and when we reached it we found
the excited populace venting their harmless indig-
nation by merely throwing from its windows the
papers, books, and furniture, until their attention
seemed to be drawn to a portion of the building
into which they had not penetrated—had not, in
fact, discovered any visible entrance. It was soon,
however, found and forced, as has been described,
and the scene then disclosed within excited such a
fresh outbreak of quite uncontrollable fury. as
threatened that foul and horrible outrage which
actually ensued, and which, for our own safe.ty,.
called us homeward, past the prison where the sbtryt
were secured, but not before we had time to realise
the astounding scene before us, which impressed us
with the idea that the ill-fated apologist for the
bodies affixed to the wall spoke false in the vain
hope of saving his life, inasmuch as they hung
there loosely, and crouching almost on the floor,
their flexible weight bearing them down far below
the points of suspension, in writhing attitudes such
as expiring sufferers might be supposed to die in,
and winch would not, we imagined, be the case
had they been nailed up as rigid corpses.
We noticed, moreover, that some of the rooms,
all opening into each other, appeared to have been
used as mere charnel chambers—not uncommon in
Sicilian houses and convents—their tiers of stone
shelves mostly piled with bones and rags ; others,
especially the largest, seemed adapted to living
subjects, for there stood vessels or the remains of
them, evidently used for food and water—sufficient
proof of what had been so long transacting there !
However, we hastened homewards, soon heard the
volleys of musketry which disposed of the wretched
sbirri, and met the .shrieking mob of men and,
alas ! women, triumphantly bearing on poles and
bayonets their bleeding heads and dissevered limbs,
with wild expressions of the most savage execra-
tion—admitting certainly of no palliation except
in the frightful provocation—the maddening, the
overpowering conviction that they were thus
avenging the blood of their own parents, children,
or relatives, who had so long been missing, and
whose fate had been till now a mystery.
I have reason to believe that the last sad act of
this frightful tragedy rather injured the immediate
cause of Sicily—so utterly disgusted some whose
high position might have enabled them to serve it,
and whose sympathies had hitherto been with the
revolutionists, but who had not actually witnessed
the intense provocation in those fearful chambers,
or visited them until they had been somewhat
cleansed from their foul contents and their worst

features so effaced, that their ears were thenceforth
almost closed against the popular report of them,
and their reputed horrors appeared only as one of
those hideous tales with which the streets of Pa-
lermo are confessedly too often rife.

THE NEW TAXATION IN INDIA.

The following exposition of the new taxes, for
the information of the natives, has been published
by authority :--
" From information which the Government have
received, it appears that much misapprehension
prevails among the people as to the nature of the
new taxes which are about to be imposed, espe-
cially the income tax ; and that many rumours
are flying about which have no foundation
in fact. The laws for carrying out these mea-
sures are under consideration of Government.
As soon as the details are settled the fullest
information will be given to the people; but
in the meantime, seeing that Government is
desirous that its loyal and faithful subjects should
know the exact reality of the new measures, and
should not be troubled with needless and groundless
apprehensions, it is ordered that the following brief
explanation be made known to all men :
" 11. When in February last Mr. Wilson pro-
posed new measures before the Legislative Council
at Calcutta, he promised that three things should
be observed in arranging the taxes—namely,—
" 1. That the taxes shall fall justly and equally
on all classes according to their means, whether
European or native, whether great or small, whether
servants of the State or not.
"2. That the unavoidable trouble or inconveni-
ence to commerce, or industry, or consumption, or
production, shall be as small as possible.
" 3. That every endeavour shall be made to avoid
offending the religious views and rites of the natives
of India.
" 111. Now, these promises will be most care-
fully and scrupulously observed.
" IV. The tax upon incomes and profits will in
no case exceed 4 per cent. per annum, and even less
will be taken if less should prove sufficient.
" V. In the management of the tax the following
detailed points will be attended to :
" 1. The an angements will be made through the
collector or other revenue authority to whom the
people are accustomed, and with the collector will
be associated other officers of proper rank and ex-
perience. There will be no new machinery.
" 2d. Each man liable to the tax will render a
return of his own income. If he cannot state it ex-
actly, he need not give any account; it will suffice
that he give an approximate estimate.
" 3. Any man who does not like to state his in-
come to the tehseeldar, or other ministerial revenue
officer, may give in his returns under a sealed enve-
lope to the collector himself, oz to some officer of
rank specially appointed for the purpose, and may
have his assessment made by such officer.
" No man will be required to take an oath as to
the amount of his income or profits.
"5. The statements of income and assessment
will not be read in a public office, nor made public
in any way, but will be kept under seal, so that
secrecy may be preserved.
"6. The assessment of the tax will not be in-
trusted to ministerial officials, who may practise
corruption and vex the people ; but the collector
and the English officers will themselves make an
estimate, after looking at the returns, according to
their judgment.

" 7: The books or accounts of people will not be
looked at, nor will balances be struck, nor will wit-
nesses be called, nor will questions be asked, nor
will any detailed inquiry be made, nor will any
affairs or transactions be exposed, nor will trouble
of this kind be given, provided that people commit,
no fraud and behave fairly to the Government. If,
indeed, any man shall of his own free will make a
statement, or produce a book, or adduce evidence,
then the officer will attend to the same ; but other-
wise the production of such books or papers will
not be demanded.
"8. The collector or other English officer will,
according to his own opinion, and with the infor-
mation he possesses, fix each man's tax. If no ob-
jection be offered by the taxpayer, then no inquiry
will be made, and the tax will be paid quietly.
" 9. The assessment on each man will be made
by the English officer, but not by Punchayet and
Choudrees, except in those places where such a plan
bmyent i
may be more convenient to the people. In such
cases indeed the assessment may be made
Pun-
chayet. But even when the general assess
made by the Punchayet of a place, any perm e

who prefers it may have his additional assessment
made separately by the English officer.
" 10. If any man shall desire to have his assess-
mmt settled at a fixed sum for a term of three or
five years, the collector will be authorised to ar-
range accordingly.
" 11. If any employe or Ministerial officer shall
unnecessarily interfere with the private affairs of
any man, or shall attempt extortion, or shall reveal
any particulars stated in the returns, he will be
severely punished.
" VI. Now, all men will perceive that when the
above conditions are fully and strictly. carried out it
is impossible that tyranny or oppression can arise,
or that the people can be put to unnecessary trouble.
" VII. Further, the very poor people of all classes
will be excepted altogether from the above income
tax; also all landholders and cultivators, except the
very wealthiest portion, will be entirely exempted.
All soldiers ofthe Queen's army, whether European
or native, below the rank of commissioned officer,
will be exempted. And all income which shall be
proved to be devoted publicly to the religion of the
people will be free from this tax.
" VIII. In short, the income tax will fall only on
, whether European or native, and.
the rich people
on those persons who are in comparatively easy cir-
cumstances. Since all the European officers and
gentlemen, including even the Governor-General
and Viceroy himself, are subject to this tax, it is
evident that the English people in India are willing
to share the burdens of the State, together with the
natives.

" IX. Lastly, as the income tax is to be levied
on account of special necessity and pressing emer-
gency, the term of the act will be limited to five
years.
"X. The licence-tax will have to be paid by all
artisans, traders, and professional people ; but then
a poor man will only have to pay one or two rupees
a year. And among the professional people liable
to this tax there shall not be included either the
minister of the religion of the people or the minis-
ters of justice, or the servants of Government, or
the officers and men of her Majesty's army, Euro-
pean or native.
" XI. Besides the three taxes which have been
ordered—namely, the income tax, the licence tax,
and the tobacco tax—the Government has no inten-
tion of levying any more imposts from the people.
" XII. The Government regret to be obliged by
necessity to levy these imposts; but the administra-
tion must be carried on in such a manner that peace
and security may be permanently maintained, and
that the life, honour, and welfare of all the people
may be preserved. For these purposes of good go-
vernment the money is absolutely required, and
must be levied, and there is really no help for it. It
is well known to every one that in time of need all
Governments do levy various special taxes from
their subjects, and the said subjects knowing the
necessities of the Government which protects and
cherishes them, always pay such taxes willingly.
This has been the ancient custom of India, and this
has been the practice of every king from the earliest
ages down to the time of the British rule ; and
after much reflection the British Government con-
siders that the above-mentioned taxes are those
which will be the justest towards all classes, and
which'in their operation willbe easiest and lightest
for the people. And from this explanation of what
has been firmly resolved upon all men will see how
anxious the Government is to nourish its people, to
consult their convenience, and to study their hap-
piness."

COUNTRY MARKETS.

STAMFORD-JuNE 23.

We had a middling supply of wheat at yesterday's corn
market. Buyers purchased cautiously, but full rates were
paid.

Wheat 54s to 59s I Oats.. 27s to 31s
56s to 62s I Beans 46s to 48s
BarleyW h t e d o •
...32s to 35s Ditto, old 46s to 48s

LEICESTER-JUNE 23.

There was a less supply of wheat to-day, but in fair
condition, and trade steady. White wheat, 57s to 62s
—red, 56s to 60s per 36 stone; a very heavy inquiry for
barley, grinding, 34s to 365; malting, 40s to 46s per qr. ;
oats, 28s to 36s per 24 stone. Beans—old, 51s to •—s,
new 42s to 46s per 38 stone.
Fine flour, 42s I Seconds, 38s J Thirds, 29s per 20 stone.