The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON TUESDAY EVENING, JULY' 10, 1860.

The Crystal 'Palace is not an ancient edifice, nor
are its walls as, solid as those of Troy ; but, since it
rose like an oxhale.tion, within the glassy fabric
have been gaithe red many assemblies that equalled
the entire pop elation of many a famous city, and
for many pa' :poses, most of them of a kind that
could not ha, ~e been attempted elsewhere. London
had long ouf _grown its places of meeting, if anything
called more than 3,000 or 4,000 together. St. Paul's
will not ,contain more, and the New Houses of Par-
liament- —our last great building of the old style—
will, pr obably, never contain half so many, at the
same time. The Crystal Palace is only the suitably
proportioned hall, or drawing room, to the dwell-
ling-place of our three millions. We want more
space—wider pavements, broader streets, quays to
the river—room everywhere :
" 'Tis space, still space, for which we pant,
More room, and fuller, that we want."
And nowhere have we obtained the blessing, save
in the Crystal Palace. We are becoming shame-
fully indifferent to this new creation now, and we
hear men talk lightly of it. It is called a bore to
get there ; it is often, we admit, a crush to get
back. But let any one try to imagine London
without it ! How did we manage in the old times
that were before us—say in the forties ? Where
did we go on great occasions—on the few holydays
of the hard-working London season ? We do not
know. There were the parks, always beautiful;
there was Exeter-hall, hot and gassy, with a speci-
ality for philanthropy and theology ; and West-
minister-hall—but that has been only the spacious
ante-chamber to the back parlours we call law
courts since the coronation banquet of George IV.
Her Majesty's invitations have taken many thither
since, but it is not treason to say that hospitality
is not the virtue involved in them. We can dimly
remember Chiswick and its fetes, generally wet,
and failures,—
" Where, half-starved amid the shower,
Dandy lions walk'd about
Seeking what they might devour.
See our lilies of the field, male and female, at
such fetes now ! How are they sheltered and fed
Delicate textures and gorgeous colours fear nothing.
The roof is transparent, yet impervious, and the
area, like charity, all embracing. London may send
down its thousands by tens, and scares, there is
room for all. The palace like the tent of the fairy
Pari-banou, in the Eastern tale, will accommodate
a snug dinner party, or a mighty host. It
has extinguished Chiswick, and superseded many
halls and places of meeting, Our fetes are
now there, and our national and international
celebrations. There only could we hear Handel
given gigantically; without it we should not have
heard the Orpheonists ; they would scarcely have
heard each other. It is our latest and grandest
opera; a palace of the people, with a garden that is
more than Royal in magnificence. And it is now
more than a recreation, it is the only hall in the
kingdom that would contain more than a " public
meeting ;" an assembly there may really be national.
A few years ago we were in this respect quite un •
provided. Our last great political agitation could
find no edifice larger than a theatre, and it was
considered a triumph to have filled it with a frac-
tion only of the numbers present at the Crystal
Palace yesterday. It is good to compare our past
and present condition occasionally ; from familiarity
with blessings we often verge on contempt for them.
If we think for a moment of our London public
rooms and the results of any unusual pressure of
numbers upon space therein, we shall be thankful
for what the Crystal Palace enabled us to do yes-
terday.
It enabled the originators of what will certainly
become a great national movement to close its first
effort with a grandeur and effect proportioned to
the importance of the work. The vast space of the
hall, with its transept and galleries, enabled many
thousands to see—and to see was to applaud—the
winners of the prizes of the week. And how many
'were there whom the spectacle would stimulate to
the same efforts? They could carry away with them
the distinct image, a living and actual memory, of
the men who have distinguished themselves ; it
produces much more effect than a mere name in a
list. And to the winners, the presence and ap-
plause of such a mass of their fellow citizens
must have been even more gratifying than the suc-
cess itself. The prize winners in this contest have
done a real public service, and the acknowledgment
should be as public as possible. The centre of the
Crystal Palace is exactly the place for such a pur-
pose. The orchestra platform is a stage with the
advantage of seating 2000 or 3000 spectators behind
;it, being alone about the number that a tolerably
huge theatre would contain. The area of the tran-
se,nt is a grand pit, and there are galleries, tier
above tier, as far as the eye can reach. The distant
poirats are beyond the range of most speaking voices ;
but on most similar public occasions, even in smaller
edifices, it is not so much what is transmitted by
the ear as what is addressed to the eye, that tells. It
was to see the prizes given, and to take note of the
winners, that the public gathered yesterday. The
scene from the platform had not, in itself, much that
was novel. The attractions of the palace on its
great days have made the public familiar with the
spectacle of the crowded area, the thronged
galleries, and the peopled arc of the orchestra ;
but often as it may be repeated it will always be a
magnificent sight; there is nothing in England
like it. The decorations are here subordinate to
the living portion of the scene. A few flags are
enough to introduce a little more colour into the
whole ; the decsrator's skill need not he tasked
.for much in addition to them. The lights and
hades that, unlike those in any other building,
v ary with every passing cloud, are sufficient to
prevent any feeling of monotony—and tl• at is the
great object of ornament. A few wreaths of laurel
in front of the platform, a statuette of Victory
behind the President's chair, and a very legible
motto, " Defence, not Defiance," in front of the
organ, were the more special and appropriate deco-
rations of the scene.
It was a thoroughly popular day—Monday, a
shilling, and gloriouS summer weather, sufficient of
themselves to draw a full attendance. The distribu7
tion of the prizes was an additional element of at-
traction. There were two publics present, the special
and the promiscuous ; but long before the proceed-
ings began both pressed in upon the centre. The
seats immediately behind the platform were occu-
pied by ladies ; the rising benches of the orchestra
by Volunteers, mixed up with black-coated civilians
and scarlet regulars. The winners were disposed
in two groups, to the right and left of the platform,
on the level of the floor, biding their time rather
pleasantly.
Soon after 3 o'clock the proceedings commenced.
The chair was taken by Earl Do Grey and Ripon,
who acted as substitute for Mr. Sidney Herbert,
the president of the association, who was prevented
from attending by business in the House of Com-
mons. The noble earl was supported by Lord
Etch°, Col. Bewes, Col. C. Kennedy, and Capt.
Mildmay, the secretary of the association. The
rifles of honour, the objects of so many hopes and
aims, were laid out, duly ticketed to the winners,
on a table, within easy reach ; the handsome silver
Cup, the prize of the London Brigade, gleamed re-
splendent on another. A very desirable number of
purses remained in the custody of the authorities
till the time fur producing them.
The President (Earl de Grey and Ripon) then
addressed the assembly. He said—
" In opening the proceedings of the day I have, in
the first place, to express the sincere regret felt by
my right hon. friend,
S. Herbert, that he should
be unable to attend on thristhocctasion.,havls g been pre-
vented by official duties, that his presence at
an early part of this
Commons, from presiding h oou in the House of
ere, as he had hoped to
d.. He has, therefore,etcrioenstaeldnme, as one of the
represent
te
him, though
vice-presidents of the
and his official deputy,
unworthily, on this occasion ; and he though
to
desired
me to assure you that it was with extreme
he found himself unable to witness the inte sorrow .
ceremony that has called you together to-day.
I need scarcely assure you of that regret, becauseut
all who know what is the cause that has brought
us here must feel that itis an occasion that cannot
fail to excite the deepest interest in the breast of
every Englishman. (Cheers.) Eighteen months ago
we should have had no right to say that the rifle
wits the national weapon of the English people, or

that rifle-shooting was a popular amusement among
us. But a complete change has taken place since
that time. By the efforts of the National Rifle
Association, acting as an exponent of public opinion,
in the short space of a year we have beeq able to
produce the scene that has been presented at
Wimbledon during the past week—(cheers)—in•
augurating a great movement throughout the coun-
try. The National Rifle Association, when it was
first formed, no doubt, had mainly in view the pro-
motion and progress of the great Volunteer move-
ment ; but the competition of the last week has not
been confined only to members of the Volunteer
corps. Many prizes were also " open to all comers."
Nevertheless, and mainly in connexion with the
Volunteer movement, this association has a right to
claim the public interest and the public support.
(Cheers.) Rifle-shooting is not its only object.
The volunteer cannot dispense with drill ; but, on
the other hand, drill will not alone suffice him.
And as the Volunteer force is, in intelligence, be-
yond the mass of other military forces, it is parti-
cularly needful it should exercise that intelli-
gence in learning to use the weapon placed
in its hands by the Government, and
which the results of this competition have
proved is such an admirable arm. On this ac-
count it is that my right hon. friend the Secretary
for War felt he should not only discharge a duty,
pleasing to him as an individual, in becoming
the president of this association, but that he should
discharge a public duty by giving a sanction to its
efforts as a minister of the crown. This association,
however, is not dependent on the Government ; it
does not look to Government funds for assistance ;
it prefers to rely for aid on the British people—
(cheers)—and, sanctioned by the Government, and
consecrated by our Sovereign—to the British public
it must look for support and maintenance. This
occasion is one of deep national interest and im-
portance; it has pointed out that in the future this
English nation will be a nation trained to the use
of the rifle. Every man before long will be able to
wield that powerful weapon. But the occasion has
also a deep interest and a peculiar character for
another reason. There have been present at Wim-
bledon, contending, and contending successfully,
for some of the prizes about to be distributed many
gentlemen from Switzerland. (Cheers.) Allow nie
heartily, to congratulate you on that circumstance.
' The Swiss in their rifle practice, and we in ours,
have one common object. Neither seek to train their
people to the use of the rifle for aggressive pur-
poses ; but both of us believe that a training of this
description, intended only for the national defence,
is in reality one of a peaceful character. It is the
best security for the continuance of peace. As ani-
mated, therefore, by a common object, we heartily
welcome the Swiss gentlemen who have come over
here •, we desire no rivalry with them, except the
friendly rivalry of the shooting-ground. We are
heartily glad they have been able here to vindicate
their ancient reputation, while we, who have just
begun to follow this noble pursuit, have not been
found unworthy rivals of those who have for many
years made the ride their favourite weapon. I
will no-longer detain you from an interesting
scene—the presentation to the winners of the
prizes that have been so worthily gained. I con-
gratulate the winners in connection with the Vo-
lunteer movement on the events of the last few
weeks ; on those events every man will look back
with satisfaction, whether it be the serried files that
marched past her Majesty on the 23d day of June,
or the remarkable competition of the last week,
Both events call for our warm congratulation. But
this should be remembered—they are only the com-
mencement of a great movement, and it rests with
you, the people of this country, to determine whe-
ther or not you will render it of real national im-
portance by fulfilling the hope expressed in the
motto adopted in the National Rifle Association—
Sit perpetua."
The presentation of the prizes immediately fol-
lowed his lordship's address.
Lord Elcho read the list ; every winner was
called upon the platform separately, the Volunteers
and regulars saluting in military fashion as they
advanced, the civilians with the less formal bow.
The prizes were handed to the President by Col.
Kennedy, and given by the President to the win-
ners, who then crossed the platform, and descended
on the opposite side. They were all cheered as they
passed, especially the Swiss, and of them more par-
ticularly MM. Peter and Knecht, who came and
went, and came again, each time for, or with, a
prize, till a good-natured laugh blended with the
cheers at each re-appearance. The very first name
called was also that of a Swiss winner, M. Thorel, of
Geneva. The complete list of the prizes, their value
the winners, and the number of points, is given
below, and presents all the results of the week in
one view. The names were called in the reverse
order to that in which they stand, the last name in
each list being called first when there were more
than one :
No. 1. A Wnirwonrii RIFLE, given by Mr. Fairbairn,
shot for by the Swiss at 500 yards, 5 rounds with any
rifle.
Won by Thorel, of Geneva. The winner shot with a Whit-
worth rifle.. .. .. • . .. 9 points.
No. 2. Swiss RIFLE, given by the Swiss, and shot for by
the Volunteers who competed for the Whitworth Rifles
(the 40 who shot for her Majesty's Prize excepted), 5
rounds at 500 yards.
Won by Dear, 9th Middlesex .. 7
No. 3. PRIZE OF £5O, given by his Greco the Duke of
Wellington, for Rifles shot from a rest at 1,000 yards,
5 rounds ; to which was added, as a second prize, a watch
given by Mr. Bennett, value £35.

Points.

Duke of Wellington's Prize, won by Lieutenant Archi-
bald, Instructor of Musketi y, 58th Reg'iment. The
winner shot v,:th Westley Richards' breeeh-loader.
Mr. Bennett's Prize, won by Knecht, of Zurich, with

a Westley Richards' breech-loader .. • . 3
No. 4. Mr. GTE'S PRIZES FOR VOLUNTEERS, 5 rounds at
300, 500, and 600 yards, £2OO distributed as follows :
Points

Ist Prize, £lOO, vvm by Whomes, 4th Kent Rifles .. 20
2d Prize, £25, won by Sandford, St. George's)
Volunteers .. • . .• ; Ties 19
3d Prize, £25, Robinson, 10th Perth ) 19
4th Prize, £25, won by Dove, 91st Lanark .. Ties { 1S
sth Prize, £25, won by Mu rray,lst Pcebleshire 18
No. 2. IhrKE or CAMBRIDGE'S PRIZE of £5O for Breech-
loaders, 5 rounds at S)0, and 5 rounds at 1,000 yards ; to
which were added Three Prizes of Rifles, value £3O, £2O,
and £ll lls., given by Mr. Westley Richards

Points.
Duke of Cambi idge's Prize, won by Knecht, of Zurich 10
Mr. W. Richards' £3O, won by Lieutenant Lacy, 12th
Regiment.............. 9
Ditto £2O, won by Turner, let Berks 8
Ditto £ll lls., won by Edwards, 4th West

The whole of these prizes were won with Alrealey
Richards' breech-loaders.
No. 6. ALL COMERS, FIRST SET, 200 YARDS, 5 ROUNDS.

Points,

1. Given by Lord Vernon, Whitworth Rifle, won by
Piece, Geneva .. .. 12
2. Given by the National Rifle Association, £2O, won
by Newman, Royal Marines .. 12
3. Ditto, £2O, won by Ross, 7th North Riding 11
4. Ditto, £2O, won by Knecht, Zurich .. 11
5. Ditto, £2O, won by Peter, Geneva .. 11
6. Ditto, £2O, won by Chessex, Vaud .. 11
7. Mr. Turner's Rifle, won by Mauler, Neuchatel .. 10

Points,

No. 7.—VOLUNTEER PRIZES.-20 Whitworth Rifles and
Silver Medal of the Association, given by the Associa-
tion, shot for with long Enfield, five rounds, at 300, 500,
and 600 yards.
WINNERS IN ORDER OF MERIT.

Points.

1 Sharp .. .. 9th Sussex .. .. 17
2 Henry .. .. City of Edinburgh .. 17
3 Bainbrigge .. Ist West York .. 17
4 Collinson .. .. 6th North York .. 16
5 Pout • . .. sth Kent .. .. 16
6 Burgh .. .. 10th Glocester .. 15
7 May .. .. sth Sussex .. .. 15
8 Baker .. .. Bristol .. .. .. 14
9 Lord Fending .. • F lintshire .. .. 14
10 Jackson .. .. 32d Kent .. .. 14
11 Jenkins .. .. sth Glamorgan .. .. 14
12 Cocks .. .. St. George's .. .. 11
13 Wood .. .. Edinburgh 14
14 Caiger .. .. 2d Middlesex ties 14
15 Phillips .. .. Ist Shropshire 14
16 Plasket .. .. 21st Middlesex .. 13
17 Wylie .. .. Ist Lanark .. .. 13
is Blackburn .. Edinburgh .. .. 13
19 Russell .. .. Edinburgh .. .. 13
20 Ross .. .. 7th North York .. 13
HER MAJESTY'S PRIZE, £250 and a gold medal of the As..
sociation, open to the 20 winners as above, and 20 next
best shots, at 800, 900, and 1,000 yards, 10 rounds at each
distance with Whitworth Rifles. .
1 Ross .. .. .. 7th North York .. 24
The presentation of the prizes occupied rather
more than an hour. Most of the winners were
congratulated by the President, the Swiss gentle-
men receiving marked attention. They appeared
much more excited than the English victors ; some
of them could not resist a flourish of the prize-rifle
over their heads as they carried it off—most of the
Volunteers shouldered the arm, and disappeared at
the marching step. The succession was onlybroken
twice ; one winner did Rot appear when called,
having deputgd a friend to receive his prize ; and
Mr. Egan's rifle, in the fourth set, awarded to Cor-
poral Hodder, of the Grenadier Guards, had not ar-
I rived, or was not among the weapons on the table,
Mr. Ttn.s, the winner of the Royal prize, was no
stranger by the time Lord Elcho arrived at that
announcement. He had appeared and taken off
two minor prizes. When called to receive the
Queen's prize of £250, the band struck up " See
the Conquering hero comes," and the applause that
had greeted him before was redoubled. He bore
his honours with great quietness of manner, re-
ceiving the prize as coolly as he shot for it. He is
tall, slight, and very youthful in appearance. He
was congratulated on his skill and success by the
President, the different members of the Council, and
a knot of friends—among them was his father, the
famous deer-stalker. Mr. Ross was called on to
show his gold medal, and, finally, to put it on ; he
held it up to the spectators, but did not comply with
the other request—the medal had " no fixings."
It was announced by Lord Elcho that her Majesty
has expressed her intention to make the prize she
has given an annual one as long as the Association
exists. He explained also that though Mr. Ross was
put down in the official lists as belonging to the
7th North York, and the President had flattered
himself that the grand prize had been won by a
Yorkshireman, the winner was really much" fur-
ther north" than Yorkshire—he was a Scotchman.
If the English volunteers next year allowed a Scotch-
-1 man to take the gold medal, it would be a disgrace
to them. To this the President rejoined, that if
it took a Scotchman to win the prize it had re-
quired Yorkshire to train him, which Lord Elcho
rebutted by asserting that the youthful Ross had
been trained by his father, the deer-stalker, con-
siderably north of the Tweed.
The proceedings were closed by a short address
from

Lord ELcHo, who, before the assembly broke up,
wished to saw a few words on behalf of the Asso-
ciation. The expenses at Wimbledon, in conse-
quence of the previous inclemency of the weather,
and the unexpected work they had had to do, had
been enormous. The number of members of the
Association was comparatively small. The Swiss
nation could every two years raise £lO,OOO for their
Tir Federal, and it would be a disgrace to England
if it could not raise every year a similar sum. The
Government had done all in its power to aid the
Association, and the -volunteer riflemen were now
popuiat that, if tLe A aanrintio. rpquirod i 4, lip
believed an appeal to the House of Commons for a
grant of money might be made. But the Associa-
tion wished to be independent of the Government,
and the only way to insure it was by the public
coming forward and joining the Association, mem-
bership of which was open to ladies also.
The spectators then quitted the Palau, and dis-
persed through the grounds ; the fountains played
at five o'clock, and a hurdle-race and some other
games were commenced, which continued till twi-
light. The scene in the gardens during the whole
evening was magnificent.

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION.

The Council of the Association entertained at
dinner last evening at the Crystal Palace the Swiss •
riflemen who had competed for the prizes at Wim-
bledon, and those gentlemen composing the School
of Musketry at Hythe who had assisted in carrying
out the arrangements during the past week. Lord
Elcho presided. Among the company present were
Earl Spencer, Colonels Kennedy and Hewes, M. de
la Rive, the Swiss Minister, the Swiss officers who
accompanied the riflemen to England, Capt, Archi-
bald, 58th Regt., and Lieut. Lacy, 12th Regt.
All the speeches were delivered in the French
language. Lord Elcho proposed the first toast—
" The Queen" (La Reine, la premiere carabiniere
d'Angleterre), which was followed by " The Health
of Prince Albert, the Patron of the Association."
Lord Elcho then proposed " The Health of their
Swiss Guests," expressing the very great pleasure
they had had in welcoming them to England, and
of meeting them that evening to bid them farewell.
Had time permitted the Crystal Palace might have
been filled with an audience desirous to do them
honour. Lord Elcho dwelt upon the sympathy
which existed between England and Switzerland,
both alike the homes of freedom. The association
had in their first experiment endeavoured to carry
out the Swiss model, which had made every man a
skilful marksman and every citizen a soldier, and
had caused Switzerland to be respected throughout
Europe. It had given him great pleasure to see
that their worthy friends had succeeded in carrying
off prizes, at the same time they had an opportu-
nity of seeing the superiority of English weapons,
although they had maintained their ancient repu-
tation by the way they had handled them. He
trusted their visit would encourage arepetition next
year, and in far greater numbers. (Great applause.)
M. WEssEL responded on behalf of the Swiss, in
a speech remarkable for taste and good feeling, ex-
pressing their sense of the high honour that had
been done them. He could not express the delight
they fell at their reception, and of what they had
seen in England. At Wimbledon they had seen a
shooting-ground unequalled in their own country,
and they had fired for the first time with arms which
had astonished them. Such weapons used with skill
would make any invasion hopeless. M. Wessel
spoke in eloquent terms of the proud position of
England and.of the hospitality they had experienced
as evidencing the true sympathy which existed be-
tween the two countries, and in proposing the
health of Lord Eteho he thanked him for the cour-
tesy and kindness he and all his companions had re-
ceivedfrom his Lordship.

Lord ELcuo returned thanks.
M. DE LA RIVE proposed " England, and the de-
velopment of her military spirit." To accomplish
this only two things were wanted—men and arms.
Of English courage, and endurance, and energy it
was unnecessary to speak, and when the country
could produce Armstrong and Whitworth guns and
rifles there was no fear but that England would
maintain her pre-eminence among the nations.
The company separated soon after 11.

[Airmarszmr.NT.]—liolloway's Ointment and Pills.—
Weekly Mortality.--Measles, whooping-cough, smith-pox,
scarlatina, and diphtheria have caused many deaths during
the past week. These and chest complaints almost alone
embrace the Registrar's weekly report. How many of
these fatal cases might have been prevented had H o
tsllowso say's
y's
Ointment been well rubbed over the affected par
as disease discovered itself I Upon the neck, back, and
chest this preservative Ointment should be diligently
rubbed every night and morning ; it will soon overcome
these terrors of the nursery; it will avert anxiety, and
spar? life. In pulmonary diseases, as asthma, bronchitis,
and influenza, it will be found equally efficacious in saving
the sufferer from consumption and expelling from the blood
the cause of that melancholy malady.

THE INSURRECTION IN SICILY.

(From the Special Correspondent of the Times.)
ALIA, JUNE 29.
You must have a good map of Sicily to find out
where I am. In order to facilitate your search, I
must tell you that I am writing to you from one of
those picturesque towns in the interior, nestled on
the side of the mountain, 46 miles from Palermo,
close to the high road towards Caltanisetta, Catania,
and Girgenti.
As there were no events of importance to report
from head-quarters beyond the daily work of pre-
paration and organisation, the details of which,
however important for the national army, offer
only moderate interest to your readers, I thought a
trip to the interior of this terra incognita would be
welcome to them. It is not more than three days
since I left Palermo, and I have scarcely travelled
one fourth of the length of the island, yet I can see
already that it is not until you get into the interior
that you are able to judge of the whole Sicilian
movement.
As you know, there are three columns which at
this moment are on their way through the island—
one which, proceeding by the seashore tends to-
wards Messina; the second, which passes right
through the heart of the country, by Caltanisetta
to Catania ; and a third, which traverses the island
in a southerly direction from Palermo to Girgenti,
and then will unite with the second. Behind these
three columns is Garibaldi, organising new divisions
and new reserves at Palermo.
The middle column, the nucleus of which con-
sists of the Cacciatori delle Alpi who came with the
first expedition, was the first to start. Its compo-
sition was the work of less than a fortnight. In this
time the cadres had to be made of the Cacciatori,
\Sicilian volunteers had to be enlisted and brought
into shape, all had to be clothed, the greatest part
1 of them armed, artillery prepared, the departments
se." the intendance, ambulance, and transport orga-
nized; in one word, all that machinery which is
required fora column in march had to be got ready
and made to work.'
With regular routine organizers the attempt to
work this wonder would have been hopeless ; not
so with Garibaldi and his coadjutors, who seek
unity and organization more in the spirit of activity
and the .energy of every one than in the dead forms
of routine. The difference between the two is just
that between a complicated machine which cannot
work, unless all its parts be perfect in the begin-
ning, and which gets invariably out of order when
the process of cleaning and oiling can no longer be
attended to, and a living organism, which has a
small and simple beginning, growing and develop-
ing itself by its own internal vitality.
This difference has never, perhaps, been better
illustrated than in the present case. Garibaldi,who
knows no rest himself, urged the speedy departure,
his idea being that the soldier wants but little if he
is penetrated by a good spirit ; he is impatient with
those who speak of impossibilities. Besides being
anxious not to lose time, according to his idea the
important thing was to make a beginning. Start
with whatever you can get together, and then pro-
vide for the rest on the way. This is his maxim,
in which he was strengthened by the consideration
that it was necessary to win the soldiers from the
" otia" of Palermo.
He could not have pitched on a better man to
second his views than General Turr, who was
charged with the formation of the First Division
and the command of the middle column. In spite
of all obstacles, the want of men cognizant of the or-
ganisation of troops, the difficulty of sobering down
the noisy enthusiasm of the Sicilians sufficiently to
make them enlist as volunteers, and the poverty of
Palermo in all articles required for soldiers, were
all overcome, and, in less than a fortnight, the
column departed from Palermo.
If one of the routine soldiers had seen the column
start he would have prognosticated dissolution in a
few days, and utter inability to proceed. Linen
blouses, trousers in great measure ad libitum, shoes
indifferent, not to say bad, " intendance" inexpe-
rienced, great longing for the fleshpots and other
attractions of Palermo, a tendency in the volunteers
to go Wick ‘v aids aua ehees rather than +n reneepa
forward, and ultimately to fight—verily these were
serious drawbacks, but the essential thing was done
—the column started. At Misilmeri the column
halted for three days to supply, as far as possible,
what was wanted, and then continued its road to
Villafrate. It would be untrue to say that all the
volunteers remained, that all was got right, or that
nothing more was wanted ; but the column was at
least twice as well organised when it left Misilmeri
as at its departure three days ago, and every
day since a considerable improvement has taken
place. The reminiscences of Palermo are becom-
ing weaker; the volunteers get a taste for cam-
paigning in a beautiful country ; well received
everywhere and feasted, the organisation works
better and better every day, and all are beginning
to look forward instead of backward.
There has only been one drawback hitherto,
and that is the illness of General Turr, the com-
mander, to whose activity and energy the formation
of the Division was above all owing. Still suffer-
ing from the effects of the wound received last year
in the plains of Lombardy while with Garibaldi,
General Turr was nursing his'shattered health at the
baths of Aqui when Garibaldi summoned his friend
and follower to come and help the Sicilians in their
struggle. General Turr did not hesitate for one
moment to respond to the appeal. Named Adju-
tant-General of the force, he exerted himself to get
the expedition started from Genoa. It was owing
to his management that the expedition, which had
to leave with very little ammunition, supplied this
want on the road, and at the same time obtained
four guns in the most unexpected manner. He was
the first to set foot on the soil of Sicily, and has
been foremost in all the actions which led to the
taking of Palermo and the evacuation of that place.
Named Inspector-General of the National Army in
Sicily, and charged with the organisation of the
First Division, he undertook and completed the
work, but at the expense of his health. During
the last few days of Herculean labour, in spite of
strong symptoms of serious illness, he exhausted
his remaining strength, and the very first night of
his departure for Palermo a violent inflammation
of the chest, with convulsive cough and spitting of
blood, declared itself Despite of the urgent advice
of all the medical meti of the division, he would not
abandon the post confided to him, and persisted in
proceeding to Villafrate, ''here he arrived dange-
rously ill. ' Another more violent crisis forced him
at last to give in, and allow himself to be tran-
sported back to Palermo. The morning of the day
before yesterday the officers and many men were
assembled at daybreak before the house occupied
by him in Villafrate, anxious to have another look
at their chief, who, although a Hungarian, is one
of the most popular men in the force, with whom
he has shared weal and woe. Many a hardy Cac-
ciatore had tears in his eyes when the carriage
rol led off.
His column has since been proceeding on its double
mission, military and political. Theinterior of Sicily
has at all times had the credit of being the most un-
manageable part of the island—wild, poor, unculti-
vated ; and this is not an opinion entertained alone
by foreigners, but it is one which you hear constantly
repeated by people who have large property in the
island. As with all unknown things, there has
been a great deal of error and misrepresentation in
this respect. I have seen but a small portion as yet,
but at every step hitherto things become better in-
stead of worse, and in every respect.
I find that the feeling improves at every step.
Misilmeri, only eight miles from Palermo, was cool
in the reception of the troops. When they arrived
at night nothing was found prepared ; the bread
was not ready, the stores had to be fetched from
outside, and every face was of uncommon length.
On inquiry it was found that the conscription had
frightened them, &nd, above all, the women had
begun a strong opposition. Every one did his best
to explain the misunderstanding, and to make peo-
ple understand that only a small portion of those
liable would be taken, with all due regard to mar-
ried men, only sons, Sze. Frate Don Giovanni, a
brave Franciscan monk, who acts as chaplain and
agitator-general of the force, made a long sermon to
persuade the women, and thus by degrees people
thawed, but, on tie whole, the temperature never

cause.

passed a moderate degree. When asked about the
progress in the National Guard, there was the com-
plaint about want of aims, no one to organise, the
harvest, and other reasons, which did not allow
people to do anything in 013 matter.
At Villlfrate, the next station, there was already
a little more warmth. Everything was found pre-
pared ; the reception was fair, illuminations, and
goodwill, but still little initiative. The National
Guard lists were made, and about 50 of them armed,
but the whole thing not yet brought into working
order. On the other hand, complaints were begin-
ning about excesses committed by stray squadre,
which after their return were still said to be disposed
to follow their trade of living at the expense of the
country, although there was not the excuse of de-
fending the country against the Neapolitans.
As chance would have it half a dozen of these
squadre, with a small cargo of chickens, passed
through the town, at their head a man of the neigh-
bourhood called Santo Meli, who had been a month
ago arrested at Renna for exaction. The oppor-
tunity seemed good for an example. They were
arrested by the order of General Turr, who then
still commanded, and placed before a court-martial.
The interrogatory began, when, to the utter aston-
ishment of every one, not less than 25 witnesses
declared that Meli was a good man and that they
had nothing to complain of him. However well
disposed the court-martial may have been to make
an example, after this strange result nothing re-
mained but to send the prisoners to Palermo to be
tried for the offence of which they had been ac
cused before, but for which they could not be tried,
having contrived to escape during the advance on
Palermo.

There can be no doubt that the squadre have had
the habit, and probably still retain it a little, of
living at the expense of the country ; but one ought
to be just. It is they who kept the insurrection
alive, and not those who complain now. While these
latter remained snug at home, and the towns
were satisfied with making demonstrations, these
people carried on the guerillu warfare. They took
very likely often more than they ought to have
done, but, 011 the whole, it is found that even in
this respect there is a great exaggeration. Now,
they are sent home, and requested to become peace-
ful National Guards, or enlist ; no wonder that
some have some difficulty in doing this, and that
here and there they find means of getting some
scudi out of the wealthy. These are small incon-
veniences which cannot be remedied in a day, and
it is just for that that the organisation of the Na-
tional Guard must be urged on, so as to give some
strength to the authorities.
But that it is mere fear and imagination which
invent and magnify these things we have proof
every moment. Thus, while the column was at
Villafrate the news came in that a place about ten
miles distant calledyrizi was threatened by a band.
A battalion was despatched to see, and, instead of
-finding bands, found an enthusiastic reception, with
balls, dinners, illuminations, and general festivities.
Yesterday morning the column arrived at Rocca-
palumbo. The magistrates met it before the town,
and did everything to make the soldiers comfortable.
There was great talk likewise of the fear from
bands, but not a single fact on which to proceed ;
nay, during the stay of the column a brother of the
man arrested at Villafrate came to ask for a certi-
ficate of probity. Enthusiasm, National Guard, and
levy go together, and in the last station the first
was considerable, the second already in formation
and almost entirely armed, and the third ready
when called out.
The reception at this place, where we arrived
last night, surpassed by far that at the preceding
station. More than a couple of miles in advance
we were met by a detachment on horseback, with
the tricolour flag, which was a proof of goodwill,
but had the inconvenience of creating considerable
excitement among our horses. Other detachments
of people nearer to the town came out on foot,
shouting and cheering. At the ascent to the town
we were received by a band of music at the entrance.
The muni&pality and clergy were waiting to wel-
come us. Bonfires were lit on all the heights, the
town was illuminated. Meat and wine were offered
+l,O cif the town to the men, and the offlocia
were feasted by their landlords. No doubt, the
joy has something to do with the fear of the
squadre, but there is no doubt that the more we
advance the greater is the participation in our