The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-05 00:00:00

ADDRESS FROIII IRE PRO-DIC7ATO.R

OF SICILY.

The following letter has been addressed by the
pro-Dictator to the Secretaries of State :
PALERMO, Oct. 22.

" Gentlemen,—As the time of parting with you
draws near, I feel it my duty to address you a few
words of affection and gratitude.
" You have been my faithful companions, my wise
counsellors, in one of the most arduous missions
which history could record ; and it is in a great
measure due to 3 ou if I have succeeded in conduct-
ing public affairs to a happy issue.
" Sincerity of intention, frankness of speech,
together with the love of conciliation, conveyed by
constant care from words to facts, and unremitting
exertions in promoting the public weal, were the
only expedients which I conscientiously pointed
out, and which you diligently followed.
" Now that an admirale, universal concord binds
to one single object all Sicilian minds and hearts—
now that all have a claim to victory, and none
need fear defeat—it is now more than at any pre-
vious time that we can appreciate the dangers we
have incurred, the difficulties we have surmounted,
congratulate ourselves on the present, and with
confidence cheerfully look forward to the happy
future of this our dear island.
" The only thing we may regret is the stern
swiftness of time, which has not allowed us to
accomplish the glorious task left us by Garibaldi.
At all events, no consideration whatever has hin-
dered us from boldly undertaking the work of a
great social and civil reform in behalf of a land
destined by nature to the most flourishing civilisa-
tion, but which the iron hand of tyranny liAs too
often contrived to hold in a state of abject barba-

rism.
" But although we were necessarily compelled
from the beginning to abandon the gratifying idea
of perfecting the reorganisation of the State, we
have, nevertheless, found in our hearts and in our
convictions sufficient strength to avail ourselves of
a rare opportunity for establishing at least and
practically introducing some great principles of
civil government. We have accordingly scattered
by handfuls and without hesitation the fruitful
seeds of the improvements requirAl by the present
conditions of Sicily, trusting that the Government
of Victor Emmanuel would with alacrity continue
our work, which, however, is to be finally sealed
by the great National Parliament.
" We have provided for equality by destroying
the last relics of undue privileges, for fraternity by
rendering pardon the noble instrument of civil
restoration on the one hand, and of internal secu-
rity of the State on the other, for authority for
reorganising governmental administration in the
provinces and districts, reconstituting magistracy,
placing upon a solid basis the institution of royal
carbiniers and of guards of public security, for
popular education and public instruction, by endow-
ing them largely, founding asylums throughout the
island, ordering the formation of schools for boys
and girls in all the communes, and academies, lyce-
ums, institutions of arts and. sciences, agr
the three
icultural;
nautical, veterinary, and the reform of
Universities of Palermo, Catanio, and Messina. We
have provided for their material well-being
dbeyerdeies--
o
burthening the communes in der tai
gradually
open the way to the suppression
on
ofthethce poorer
classes duties,' which weigh heavily
.o.h
te
saleo f
of h
society,
te landed property
abolishingby
of
tithes,
the
State,
leasing (an inestimabluentdreerastuhree)guaildl
ameeoertogfagthede
Public economy, br
pe
or
no
np
de retsyt ,
persitno.obi iisehei nog; ,
a bank of
discount, of emission, and circulation.
" We have effected all this in the short space of a
month without taking into account private probity
and public honesty, which we have highly honoured
and esteemed as the pivot of civil administration,
without referring to our national regard towards
our glorious brethren wounded in the immortal
battles of liberty, for whose future wants we have
provided by granting them promotions the most
legitimate and pensions the best deserved ; without
r:lerring to our acts of public beneficence, visiting
with affectionate care the numerous establishments
which derive their name from it in Palermo, and
helping and relieving unmerited poverty wherever
we could discover it.
" There is likewise an act of Government which
I must not omit calling your attention to—l mean
the creation of an extraordinary and temporary
Council of State charged to investigate and repre-
sent to the King's Government what in the consti-
tution, of the great Italian family should be the
orders and institutions dem'anding special attention
as best suited to meet the peculiar exigencies of
Sicily, harmonising at the same time with the
general requirements of the unity and prosperity
of the Italian nation. Now, it' the Sicilians will
listen to me, I believe I have offered them in the
extraordinary Council of State such an argument
of concord, such a field for fraternal industry, such
an advancement towards a better future, as cannot