The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-28 00:00:00

THE ROMAN QUESTION.

[Tho following appeared in our LAtest EliFion of S:ttnr.
day evening.]

FLORENCE, OCb. 23.

In accordance with an invitation placarded about
the streets yesterday sonic 200 or 300 persons as-
sembled yesterday at 11 a.tn. upon the Piazza della
Signoria for a manifestation.

Although it was raining heavily the niunbers
present were soon swelled by many inquisitive
people. Cries of " Viva Roma Capitole !" " Gari-
baldi ally Capitole !" were frequently uttered, and
the meeting at. last resolved itself into a procession,
marching with a flag to the Ministry of the Inte-
rior. Here a deputation, with au address demand-
ing Rome for the Italian capital, waited upon
Signor Rattazzi. The Minister replied that the
sentiments of the Government would be found in
the Official Gazette, with_ which answer his visitors
did not seem particularly pleased.
Rejoined by the deputation, the procession
marched to a house in the Piazza Santa Maria
Novella Nuova, when a halt was called, and loud
shouts of ". Viva Garibaldi I" testified to a know-
ledge of at least some of the party that the General
was to be found within. Garibaldi, in fact, pre-
sently came out upon the balcony, and made the
following speech :
" Italians, you see me once more among you. I
am about to unite all my efforts with yours to crown
finally the work of our country's redemption, and
to prove to the world that we have no need of
foreign tutelage.

" With the fraternal aid of the army, the people
will soon enter into possession of that Roman land
which has only been too long sullied by the
foreigner. As for me, I guarantee to you that
I shall do my duty unto death. I close
by reminding you that your brothers are at this
moment fighting in Rome against the sbirri of the
Pope. Do not forget them. Brave people, I salute
you."

Very shortly afterwards the General left for
Florence by a special train. It is rumoured, but
the statement must be received with caution, that
during his stay in Florence Garibaldi had an inter-
view with the President of the Council, some say
even with the King. It is added that his object in
going to the frontier is to persuade the volunteers
to return home. If so, it is at any rate strongly at
variance with his speeches and proclamations. Im-
mediately after the General's departure two placards
were put in circulation, one signed by Garibaldi,
the other by the Central Aid Committee. The first
runs thus :

"Italians, our brothers are raising barricades at
Rome, and since last night they have been fighting
against the sbirri of the Papal tyranny, Italy hopes
from us that each man will do his duty.

" GARIBALDI."

The Central Aid Committee's proclamation says :
"Italians,—Rome has revolted. Our brothers
are fighting to restore to Italy the capital which
reactionary conspiracy disputes with her. Shall
we abandon her? No, despite the threatening bra-
vado of Foreign Governments who insult our brave
army by imposing upon the country the cowardly
retraction of its right. Do not hesitate. The hour
awaited for ages has struck. To Rome ! to Rome !
Let this be our only cry and object

" THE CENTEAL COMMITTEE."

The itiforma publishes the following as the text
of 12,000 Roman Senators to the Senator of Rome,
the authenticity of which has been denied :

"To His Excellency, Marquis Cavaletti, Senator

of Rome.

" Your Excellency,—The situation of the country
has become so serious that it no longer offers
guarantees to any one. Imprisonments and domi-
ciliary visits continue, the threat of a state of siego,
the preparations of the military force, in place of
calming, only increase the irritation of a people
already tried by so many hardships. The
numerous insurrectionary proclamations published
within the last few days, and above all, that
of the 16th inst., cause everyone to foresee immi-
nent revolt.

" The undersigned citizens, exceeding 12,000 in
number, ardently desirous of preserving Rome from
great calamities, address themselves in full confi-
dence to your Excellency, in order that, rendering
yourself the interpreter of the wishes of the popn-
lation to his Holiness, you may implore an effica-
cious remedy, which, henceforth, could only be
found in an intervention by the regular troops of
the kingdom of Italy.

,1 Your Excellency, the citiz3ns of Rome, of
whom you are the legitimate representative towards
the Holy Father, feel certain that you will be wit.
ling to interpose, in the universal interest of the
country, which never has failed and never will fail in
respect towards the common Father of the Faithful
whose authority will be weakened by bloodshed,
from which the Church recoils.

"Your Excellency, the tines are serious, aul
some instant arrangement is indispensably neces-
sary. Every delay would be fatal to us all."

[The signatures follow.]
The Rifonna also appends a letter with which
it states Signor Giraud locum tenens of the office of
Senator in the absence of the Marquis Carveletti,
accompanied the above address in transmitting it
to the Pontiff. It says :
" Most Holy Father,—An address has been re-
ceived by Romati magistrates, said to be furnished
with 12,000 signatures. Allusion is made therein
to the very serious position of Rome, and arrange-
ments or measures arc asked for. In the absence of
the Senator, the magistracy considers it its duty to
lay this address at his Holiness's feet, while per-
fectly ready to ca-operate in carrying out the reso-
lutions of its Sovereign.... "F. GIRAUD,

"Councillor temporarily fulfilling
the duties of the Senator."

SMITHFIELD CLUB.—The Ist of November will
be the last day on which the hon. secretary of the Smith-
field Club can receive entries of live stock for the coining
show.

DARTMOOR PRISON.—The return published by
the Directors of Convict Prisons shows that 936 prisoners
were disposed of at this establishment during the past year,
and that at the end of December there was a total of 58
inmates. The total annual cost of this prison now :tumuli ti
to .E 21,563, but a great deal of useful outdoor and.othe
labaur is performed, the value of which amounted in 1866
to £2,949. The workmen are divided into gangs of smiths,
masons, plarry, cud cart parties, stonecutters, carpenters,
painters and rs, plumbers:nil ; and the average
earnings vary from Is. to 2s. 81. vir mart per day. The agri-
cultural gangs performed an amount of work during the
past year valued at £1,751. Indoor occupations, as the
making of baskets, shoes, mats, &c., realised a total sum of
£2,238, the farm produce realising £1,631, and the peat gas
works £663. The prisoners at this establishment work 121
hours daily in summer, and 1J hours in winter, the gnater
proportion
of which is spent •in outdoor labour. It is re-
ported that the "aid societies" have been specially useful
to persons discharged from this prisim, no less than b 5
having derived assistance from them during the past year.
The farm work appears to proceed satisfactorily, and at the
annual sale for live stock disposed of realised £420, Con-
victs are sent to this prison if able to perform ascertain
amount of outdoor labour, but the district is very bleak and
cold, and the medical officer says in his report :—" I would
beg to point out the unfitness of this climate for all ad-
vanced cases of chest disease, as well as for rheumatic cases
—many of the former never leaving their beds after their
reception, except fur the grav,, or On- the• expiration of
their sentence."