The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-21 00:00:00

THE CITADEL OF MESSINA.

General Fergola, the officer whom Francis 11.
placed in command of the Citadel of Messina, is
hitherto undaunted by the fall of Gaeta, and has
refused to surrender, declaring that he will defend
the fortress to the last extremity. Admiral Per-
sano's squadron has consequently embarked Gen.
Cialdini and a body of troops for Messina; and
active operations will immediately be undertaken
for the purpose of reducing the citadel. General
Mezzacapo has likewise left Gaeta with some
troops for Civitella del Tronto, as the Bourbonist
Commandant of that fort persists in declining to
.surrender.

THE OPENING OF THE ITALIAN
PARLIAMENT.'

The following is the speech of King Victor
Emmanuel at the opening of the Italian Parliament.
An abridgement has already been published :

44 GENTLEMEN SENATORS, GENTLEMEN DEPUTIES I

"Free, and nearly entirely united, by the won-
derful aid of Divine Providence, the concordant will
of the peoples and the splendid valour of the armies,
Italy confides in your virtue and wisdom.
" To you it pertains to give her common institu-
tions and a firm foundation. In endowing with
greater administrative freedom peoples that had
various usages and institutions, you will take care
that political unity, the aspiration of so many cen-
turies, may never be diminished.
" The opinion of civilised nations is favourable to
us ; the just and liberal principles, now prevailing
in the councils of Europe, are favourable to us.
Italy herself, too, will become a guarantee of order
and peace, and will once more be an efficacious in-
strument of universal civilisation.

" The Emperor of the French, firmly upholding
the maxim of non-intervention---a maxim eminently
beneficial to us, nevertheless deemed it proper to
recall his envoy. If this fact was a cause of grief
to us, it did not change the sentiments of ear grati-
tude nor our confidence in his affection to the
Italian cause.

" France and Italy, having in common their
origin, traditions, and customs, formed on the plains
of Magenta and Solferino a bond that will be
indissoluble.

" The Government and people of England, the
ancient country of freedom, loudly took part for our
right to be the arbiters of our own destinies, and
they had lavishly bestowed on us their good offices,
the grateful remembrance of which will be im-
perishable.

" A loyal and illustrious prince having ascended
the throne of Prussia, I sent to him an ambassador
in token of respect for him personally, and of sym-
pathy with the noble German nation, which I hope
will become more and more convinced that Italy,
being constituted in her natural unity, cannot
offend the rights or interests of other nations.
" Gentlemen Senators, Gentlemen Deputies, I am
certain you will be anxious to supply my Govern-
ment with the means of completing the armaments
by land and sea. - Thus the kingdom of Italy, put
into a condition of not fearing offence, will more
easily find in the consciousness of her own strength
a reason for opportune prudence.
Once my words sounded bold ; it being as wise to
dare in season as to wait in season. Devoted to
Italy, I have never hesitated to expose my life and
crown, but no one has the right to risk the life and
destinies of a nation.

"After many signal victories the Italian army,
increasing every day in fame, acquired a new claim
to glory by capturing one of the most formidable
fortresses. I console myself with the thought that
here will close for ever the mournful series of our
civil conflicts.

" The fleet has proved in the waters of Ancona
and Gaeta, that the mariners of Pisa, Genoa, and
Venice, are revived in Italy.
" Valiant youths, led on by a captain who has
filled with his name the most distant countries, have
made it evident that neither servitude nor long
misfortunes have been able to weaken the fire of
the Italian peoples.
" These facts have inspired the nation with great
confidence in its own destinies. I take pleasure in
manifesting to the first Parliament of Italy the joy
I feel in my heart as King and soldier."