The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-08 00:00:00

THE VOYAGE OT THE NEAPOLITAN
. PRISONERS.

(Awn the Diary of One of the Exiles.)
MONTESARCHIO, Jan. 14, 1859.
A commission, composed of Signor Rodrigues, of
the Marine; Dagmy, of the Gendarmerie; Salvati,
of the Police; followed by other officers and by
many gendarmes, attended the departure for
America. Among the twenty-five political pri-
soners condemned to irons in the prison of Monte-
sarchio were Poerio (he is now in England), and
Pironti and Nisco, of whom I shall speak in
another place. Early on the morning of the 15th,
after being subjected to a rigorous examination
of our persons and effects, we came out of our
tomb of so many years, and, instead of going to
Naples, as we were promised, we were taken to
Pozzuoli. The commission took from us every in-
signia of the galleys, as they said they wished us to
forget the past. But who can cancel the past ? The
brands of our chains, the injustice of our sufferings,
will follow us everywhere, nor will leave us in the
tomb. The road was lined with soldiers, and three
gendarmes sat in every carriage; the great object
was to prevent us holding communication with any
living soul, and brief time was given for the last
farewells in the evening. I renewed my promise
to the unfortunate sons of Dono never to leave their
father, as I had sworn never to sever myself from
the dear and venerated Poerio. To him the
best cabin on board the Stromboli was given.
At Nisida we increased our company by 26,
among them seven priests, and there we left
Tironti, who, was unable from an incurable malady
to undertake the voyage. At Procida we again
added 16 to our number, and, against the pledged
word of the commission, behold us en route for St.
Stefano, without being able to arrange our domestic
affairs or procure the needful to go to New York.
Thus we -rook a last farewell of our unhappy coun-
try. On the 17th, 16 more, taken from Ergastolo
joined our company—among them Setterebrini and
Spavento. 'Of the 91 exiles mentioned in the decree
of the 27th of December, 1858, we have collected
sixty-six, fourteen have been dead for a long time,
and the others are ill, decrepit, or at' Brindisi.
How miserable are those among us who have
passed the age of sixty or seventy, or who
have left families without bread or assistance.
Two wretched' children and a wife follow their
father into exile. On the 17th Poerio's old com-
plaint began to torment him. The captain and the
doctor were. most kind and affectionate in their
attentions, and I was obliged to put a guard at the
door to prevent the anxious exiles from entering to
see him. On the 21st he was well enough to leave
his bed, and we made this day a festu. On this
day we perceived the coast of Spain; the sea was
covered with vessels bearing the flags of all nation:-
the Piedmontese saluted us. The snowy crests of
the Spanish mountains reminded me of the insuf-
ferable cold of -Montefusco and Montecarchio, which
froze for seven years. At Algesiras great precau-
tions were taken to prevent our having any com-
munication with the Spaniards. On the 24th our
letters were consigned to the Neapolitan Vice-
Consul.
FEB. 26, CApiz.—An officer of the Neapolitan
Vice-Consulate comes on board the Stromboli, and
assures us; on his word of honour, that he had
made every possible effort to induce the Spanish
Government to permit us to,, and, but without
avail. We protest, and Poerio adds strong argu-
ments against the decision. The officer promises
to renew his efforts and to return, but he never did,
leaving us in doubt as to whether Spain was in.
hospitable or our Government had so ordered.
Every precaution taken to prevent our communi-
cation with Spaniards.

FEB. 27.—Pica, Spavento, and Settembrini go
on board the Fieramosca to request permission to
land, to provide for their necessary wants. The
commander refuses, on the ground that it had been
so arranged with the Spanish Government from the
moment in which we were condemned to exile.

FEB. 28.—We send a request -to"-the commander
to permit Poerio, so distinguished among us for
every virtue, to land on account of his illness. As
soon as the invalid knew it he sent to the com-
mander to say that he could accept no boon ; that
he would never separate his destinies from those
of his companions, whose griefs and hopes he had
shared for eight successive years. I wept at his
answer.
MARCH I.—Poerio ill.
MARCH 2.—Some sugar was sent to us, wrapped
in some torn journals. We seize them with
avidity, and read that Signor Rozaga has made
'some generous inquiries in our behalf of the Go-
vernment.

MARCH 5 AND 6.—Poerio still suffering ; passes
his time in reciting the verses of his noble deceased
brother Allessandro.—(Pell in action against the
Austrians in 1848, a young man of great promise.)
MARCH 7.—After treating with the captain of a
Dutch and a Spanish vessel, the commander finally
arranges with an American vessel, which bears
't David Stewart, Baltimore„" on the stern, to take
us to New York. Poerio a little better ; he lives
on ass's milk. We are all affected by the bad food.
MARCH 9.—We protest against the bad treat-
ment. The officer of the Neapolitan Consulate
comes on board, and we none of us speak to him,
being too much disgusted at his violation of his
promises. All is ostentation, while every effort is
made to conceal the fact of our departure. The
obscurity and mystery of Montesarchio surround
us.

MARCH 10.—We are informed that a contract
has been made with an American vessel to take us
to New York. The contract will be communicated
to us three days before leaving, and a copy given to
Poerio.

MARCH l I.—Poerio better. A blister applied to
him, as there had been another a few days before ;
leeches also applied.
MARCH 12 AND 13.—An officer comes on board
the Stromboli, and announces himself as the son of
Settembrini—he is sent immediately on board the
Fieramosca, without being permitted to see his
father. A few minutes after Settetnbrini is called
on board the frigate, where he remains an hour
with his beloved child, whom he had not seen for
10 years. We all join our tears with theirs. The
young sailor assures us that the journals of Europe
Make great remonstrances against our exile—that
our names are repeated everywhere—and that
everywhere we should be welcomed.