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

THE INVA

A letter from Faro Point, dated August :13,

says :
There is no chance here of getting a boat for le.ve
or money, for the boatmen of this country are such
a cowardly set of fellows that at the first sight or 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 not 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 Calabrian 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 spot. 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, and, 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."
Nor 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 rowing 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 en 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 hands 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 hear 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 the money, 1,000 piastres, but that he
came not lire 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 Ca,vallo. 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 from the
heights of Asl,romonte 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 live brigands. The day 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,
" Amiei 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