The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LO NDO Y. SATURDAY EVENING'', NOVEMBEtt 23, 1867.

measures of defence ! It goes on : "No sure in-
formation of movements could be obtained in the
city—no one knew anything." It would not be
easy to.assign the precise meaning of the first part
of this very vague sentence. What are " move-
ments "in the abstract ? Perhaps the corres-
pondent's sapient correspondent had arrived at the
conclusion of a wiser than he,

that nothing can be known ;"
and in that philosophical frame of mind rejected
every impression which struck his sight ; for never
has there been a time when there has been more
to know, or when it has been more easy to know
what was going on. The " movements " of both
Garibaldian and Roman troops have been chronicled
most minutely, day by day, in the Roman papers.
There is "no one" but has many friends in the
army from whom he might hear them again de-
tailed and discussed. Every " movement " has
been followed by an eager and enthusiastic crowd,
and it has been impossible to take a walk or
drive abroad without seeing which way the tide
of popular interest set ; the whole Papal territory
is so small, that it is easily traversed, and every
point of operations has been the object of a ride
on horseback for all who care about contemporary
history.

" Even this intelligence," the letter proceeds,
" only describes what was the state of the interior
of the city several days since ; for, as to what is
going on without, the Romans know nothing more
than is communicated through the Diario." Poor
fellow ! I wonder where he picked this up, and
what the Diario is? As most of your readers are
aware, it is a very useful little calendar published
once a year, intended to inform pious people of
the times and seasons of various special services,
&c. ; but giving foreign intelligence never entered
into its composition any more than into that of
" Poor Richard's Almanac." What a pity when
charming correspondents write about what they
don't understand !

When, however, he confines himself "to his
last," and tells us of what falls under his own ken,
he becomes instructive. " Here " (Naples), "as
elsewhere, soldiers and sailors absent on leave are
being called into service, and I need not say how
fruitful a source of discontent it is, and how in-
jurious to the trade and agriculture of the country.
Were the masses animated by an enlightened
patriotism, there would be no occasion for fear;
but when a people seek, above all things, their
own individual and immediate good, I see breakers
ahead." Why this waste of fine words ? why
not confess that the Neapolitans have ever hated
the new Government imposed on them, have
always resisted it in every way in their power,
and have resented none of its measures more
violently than those for forced service in its de-
fence? "Trade and commerce are depressed;
provisions are nearly double the price they were ;
paper money is all that can be obtained, and
even in the payment of that, for the smallest pur-
chases, an agio of five per cent is demanded." No
wonder the Pope's subjects are not ambitious
to be reduced to this condition, and so stead-
fastly refuse all inducements to fraternize with
those who would bring them to it.
While " our own correspondent " puts down
these two facts, however, one after the other, he
forgets to add them up and tell us how, with all
these men called back into the service, the ex-
penses involved by the measure are to be met.

It has been calculated that this so-called Gari-
baldian expedition has cost the Italian Govern-
ment 100 millions of francs, and that the present
call of all classes back to arms cannot cost less
than 150 millions more. Where is all this to come
from ? Not from the spoliated ecclesiastical pro-
perty, for that has never produced but 24 millions
and in most parts of the country no one will come
forward to bid for it at all.

One result of keeping the readers of the Times
so much in the dark as to what is going on has
been that " F. E. Tripp," grandiloquently styling
herself " Secretary of the Ladies' Committee in aid
of General Garibaldi," only trips on to the scene
on this same 4th of November, with her appeal in
favour of the Garibaldian wounded, when "the
movements" are all over, and the so-called volun-
teers are mostly safe back under their own rooftree.
Here, where forgiveness of injuries is practised as
well as preached, the wounded prisoners have re-
ceived the same care as the wounded troops—
tended by Sisters of Charity in other wards of the
same hospitals, visited by the same surgeons, and
assisted, besides, by the most charitable of the
Papalini themselves. I was speaking to-day on
the subject with a noble lady belonging to the
highest and most " retrograde" family in the State,
and she expressed herself with the greatest kind-
ness in regard to those she had visited ; while, of
course, some continue hardened and obstinate, she
assured me the penitence of the greater part was
most touching ; that numbers of mere boys, with
no opinions of their own, lamented that they had
been led away by the misrepresentations of bad
companions, and bitterly regretted that by such
means they had been induced to shed their blood,
and endure so much in a bad cause.

44 F. E. Tripp " may rest quite easy that they
will want for nothing, and Catholic charity will
probably provide them better than Protestant
sympathizers. Among those who have been fore-
most to see into their needs has been the Queen of
Naples, who, I am told, went to visit them imme-
diately on her return to Rome.

Perhaps, however, the withholding of true news
is a less evil than the fabrication of false, for
sensation purposes, in which the Pall Mall Gazette
and the Telegraph have been indulging.
The moderation and courtesy of the Gensdarmes
have been acknowledged by all who have had to
come across them in the exercise of their most
difficult and arduous duties, and none who have
had the opportunity of watching their manners will
believe, in the ipse dixit of the Pall Mall Gazette, of
the 7th inst., that any one of them would present
his piece at " the Telegraph correspondent and a
couple of friends as they leant smoking out of
the window overlooking the Corso," without some
justifiable provocation or previous ground of sus-
picion. What on earth is meant, too, by " the
window overlooking the Corso ?"—some thousand
windows, probably, overlook the Corso. " The
Marchese Spina, a faithful Papist," continues the
Pall Mall Gazette, " was looking out of his window
before retiring to rest ; forthwith four Gens-
darmes, stationed in the shadow of a house„ oppo-
site, fired a volley at him ; happily they missed their
aim." Why not invent something probable at
least ? Who but the most acharne compiler of sensa-
tional fiction could have conceived the folly of a
party of Gensdarmes being stationed in ambush
to fire on one of their own supporters. It is
strange how anything so preposterous could be put
in print ; unfortunately, however, it would appear
that no such person as Marchese Spina exists in
Rome. But those who can persist in calling the
finest, freest, and most disinterested body of troops
in the world " mercenaries," can say anything that
is untrue and unfair, and they are not worth setting
right.
General Kanzler's official report of the action at
Mentana, as presented to the Pope, has been pub-
lished. It is so similar with the accounts I have
already sent, that I do not think it worth while
to translate it entire. The following passages,
however, will be read with interest, being from so
authentic a source :

" We passed through the Porta Pia at 4 a.m.,
directing our march over the Ponte Momentana,
along the road leading to Mentana.
" As soon as we had crossed the bridge, I gave
orders to Major de Troussures, of the Zouaves, to
take three companies of his regiment along the
Anio, on the Via Salara, and, advancing with cau-
tion, to effect a useful diversion, while I led the
attack on the opposite side.
"The enemy had taken the field strategically
awaiting the attack, and rather than thinking of
retiring, the forces were so disposed as to admit
of concentration at Tivoli. Informed by their
scouts of the movement of our column, they pre-
pared to show fight. The barricades subsequently
found at Mentana, and at Monte Rotondo, and the
position of their outposts showed that they were
entrenched to await us in a strongly fortified posi-
tion.

"About three-piaxten of an hour after midday,

and at four kilometers from Mentana, our advanced
guard came upon the first Garibald ian outposts,
stationed in most favourable posit ions on the
heights commanding the road along v rhich we were
marching.
" Without an instant's hesitation, our Zouaves
threw themselves on this first line of the enemy,
with which, by little and little, the= whole regiment
of Zouaves was soon engaged. In this first en-
counter not many shots were ex( :hanged, for the
enemy, rapidly charged at the point of the bayonet,
was soon driven from this to the neighbouring
height. In this first attack fell a glorious victim to
his impetuosity, Captain de Veaux, who received
a ball through his heart as he W4S leading on his
company. _ _ _

"The Zouaves were supported in this more than
impetuous attack by the battalion of Carabinieri
esteri, one company of whom tool the left of the
road, while the others bore along the right. During
the same time two companies of the' Roman Legion,
with a well-directed fire, drove the Garibaldini
from a neighbouring wood, whence they were wor-
rying our left flank.
"Driven in disorder from all his original posi-
tions, the enemy formed again. in strong masses
under cover of the walls of the Vigna Santucci.
But with resistless ardour the Zouaves rushed upon
them again, took the enclosure and house by as-
sault, and very soon made themselves masters of
the place.
" Lieutenant Colonel de Charette, who headed
this attack, had his horse wounded with three
shots ; and Colonel Allet, during the whole action,
in moderating the fire of his too impetuous sol-
diers.

" From the beginning, the combat had been se-
conded by the discharge of a piece of artillery
situated on a height to the left of the road, whence
it could fire down into the thickest of the enemy,
as they tried in vain to reform in the Vigna
Santucci, until the rapid advance of our infantry
into their midst rendered it dangerous to continue
the fire.

. . . It was now about half past three p.m.,
almost the whole of my reserve had been called
into action, for Colonel d'Argy of the Roman
Legion, who sustained the whole charge of watching
over our centre, had but a small force left; it was
then that I invited General de Polhes to support
both our wings. The French, who had watched
our progress with impatience up to this point,
instantly, with their habitual valour, threw them-
selves on the enemy's column, which had made as
though it would attempt to surround us.
. .

" Colonel Fremont of the Ist of the Line, with
his battalion, and supported by three companies of
Cacciatori, not only arrested the enemy's column,
but having arrived at the extreme left of the Gari-
baldini, opened upon them such a murderous fire,
that he forced them to give way in all haste. He
had, further, the boldness to go round behind
Mentana itself, up to within a short distance of
Monte Rotondo, where he would have entered be-
fore the Garibaldini, but that he found himself too
far isolated from the rest of the force. .

" . . . There came up also, most opportunely at
this juncture, Major de Troussures from the mission
on which I had sent him, and who, with only three
companies of Zouaves, had, by his able manoeuvres,
contributed in great part to intimidate the Gari-
baldians, and to paralyze their attack on our right

wing.
" . . . Having observed that the principal ob-
ject of that day's battle was attained, for the
enemy, driven out of all his positions after suffer-
ing tremendous losses, had retired behind the bar-
ricades of Mentana, dispirited and demoralized ;
and the night coming on apace, it was agreed to
put off any new attack till daylight, the rather
that there being no way out of Mentana open to
them it appeared evident to me they would rather
surrender than await an assault which could but
end in their destruction. . . Due precautions
having been accordingly taken against surprise,
the night was passed in the open field without
incident. The morning proved the correctness of
my expectations, for at four o'clock a proposition
was sent in to propose the surrender of Mentana,
on condition that the enemy should be allowed
to retire with arms and baggage ; all conditions
were, of course, refused. Major Fauchon, of the
59th Line Regiment, had, in the meantime, made
a great number of prisoners in the houses of the
suburb of Mentana, and, added to the other takes
of prisoners in the course of the day, began to
create considerable embarrassment, and it was
reckoned preferable to let the remaining defenders
of Mentana retire beyond the frontier, leaving their
arms behind.

" . . . The allied troops marched on into Monte
Rotondo without striking a blow, and were hailed
vociferously by the people as their deliverers.
" Garibaldi, who, with his sons, was present at
the action of Mentana, never showed himself in
the front, and it has been reported to us that when
he saw his men give way, driven back by our
valiant soldiers, he retired in all haste into safety
at Monte Rotondo, whence, in the early hours of
the night, he gained the frontier, thus changing
his impious cry of Roma 0 morte ' into a Sauve
qui peut.'
"At the same time it must be confessed that the
movements of the enemy were well-directed; and
that relying on their superiority in numbers and in
advantage of position, they defended certain points
with great vivacity, fighting well from behind walls
and barricades.

" Our loses amount in all to 30 'dead and 103
wounded, of which number 24 and 57 respectively
are out of the Zouaves. The French had 2 killed
and 36 wounded, and 1 not accounted for.
" According to intelligence received from the
people of Mentana and from the prisoners, and
arguing from the thousands of stands of arms that
have fallen into our hands, there must have been
about 9,000 engaged against us, of whom above
1,000 were put hors de combat in killed and wounded,
and 1,398 taken prisoners. Many hundreds were
escorted to the frontier, and the remainder escaped,
throwing away their arms, and leaving their one
cannon in our power, so that the victory was the
most complete that could have been effected.
"The humanity of the allied troops has been only
equal to their courage. For soldiers of all arms,
worn out with a long march, and four hours' hard
fighting, set themselves the very same evening to
seek out the wounded, carrying the Garibaldini as
willingly as their own companions to the ambu-
lances. . . . _

" It is a duty of gratitude to note the cordial co-
operation, the valour, and ability of General de
Pothes, to whose name I may be allowed to add
that of Colonel Fremont." _

He then goes on to mention other French officers,
and speaks of the difficulty of naming in particular
any of his own men, where all fought so bravely.
Among those so distinguished, however, are the
young Due di Caserta, the third brother of the
King of Naples, " who placed himself at my disposal
at the very beginning of the invasion, praying to be
allowed to serve wherever danger was greatest,
and who was remarked several times during the
day of Mentana not only for his courage, but also
for his discernment and soldierly qualities." Also,
Colonel Sonnenberg, Commandant of the Swiss
Guard, who rendered good service as officer of the
staff."
The Osservatore quotes the following from the
Gazette de France:—" The greater number of the
Garibaldian dead, wounded, and prisoners had on
trousers and accoutrements showing them to be-
long to the regular Italian army, many of them
betraying thus the very number of their regiments.
Most of them had about them libretti nzilitari, on
which were noted that the bearers had extraordi-
nary leave of absence given them for special pur-
poses, and in others plainly, '• Leave of absence to
enter the army of Garibaldi."
General de Failly had the honour of presenting
the officers of the French army in Rome to the Pope
on Wednesday. He received them with his usual
affability, and pronounced his benediction on them,
their families, and their country.
The Pope has decided on the distribution of a
medal to record the campaign of 1867 to all the
soldiers, both Pontifical and French, who have had
part in resisting the Garibaldian invasion. It is to
be in the form of a Greek cross, and is to be hung

from a blue ribbon. 'On one side it will bear lithe
effigy of Pius IX., with the legend, Fidel et virtuti ;
and, on the other, the reversed cross of St. Peter,
with the words Resurget fulgentior.
It is said that in return General de Failly has
applied to the Emperor for several decorations of
the Legion of Honour for Pontifical soldiers who
distinguished themselves specially at Mentana. It
is also said that General de Failly sent to inquire
if the Duca di Caserta would accept the Cross of
Commandeur of the Legion of Honour, and that
the duke, after consulting his brother, Francis 11.,
replied in the affirmative. The King of Naples
has conferred the grand cordon of the Order of St.
George on General Kanzler, who commanded in
chief the allied troops at Mentana.
Various subscriptions are going on here for the
wounded, and for the peasants who have suffered
loss in the late encounter. Cardinal Reisach offers
18,000 francs as treasurer of the Sacred College ;
the religious orders have sent in more or less con-
siderable sums ; private persons are likewise joining
according to their means ; lists are published every
day.
On the 18th, 19th, and 20th the triduum of public
prayers prescribed in the last Encyclical, will take
place in all the churches of Rome.
The approaching marriage is announced of
Princess Doria with Principe Somaglia, of Milan.
Rome is beginning to fill fast. It appears to be
the Americans who have the courage first to take
up old habits in the teeth of the late rumours of
war. We shall not want for defenders, at all
events, for, besides the French, the numbers of
Zouaves who keep pouring in from all parts of the
world to offer themselves for enrolment is sur-
prising.
The funeral office of Count Carlo Bernardini of
the Dragoons, whose loss at Montana I mentioned
last week, took place this morning at the Church
of the Lucchesi, and was well attended by many ad-
miring friends.
The Roman princes give a grand public dinner at
the Palazzo Barberini to all the lately returned
prisoners belonging to the Pontifical army.
You will be sorry to learn we have just heard
from Florence that our banker, Mr. Cholmeley,
has met with a somewhat serious accident, having
been thrown out of his carriage on the way to
Fiesole ; it is, I fear, likely to keep him laid up
some days.

* The Fenian circular, published in the Daily News,
admits this whilst urging the right of the Fenian Govern-
ment to retaliate by assassination. That right they possess
in common with every individual and precisely in tho
same degree, which is, that they take a position of outside
the law, wage war on society, compelling society either
to annihilate them, or be itself demoralized.