The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-19 00:00:00

STATE OF NAPLES.

A letter from Naples, dated Aug. 13, says :
We have seen but little as yet of Cialdini except
in his military character. The following rescript,
however, directed by him to the Secretary-General
of Grace and Justice, shows in what manner he

deals with civil affairs, and is worth translating :
" Journalism has complained lately of an excess
of delay in terminating criminal processes. The
hand of justice punishes the more sharply in

proportion to the celerity with which it actE. More-

over, the accused has the right to demand that

the interval between the accusation and the sen-

tense shall be as short as possible. If he be de-

dared innocent, who will offer an indemnity for
the wrong which has been inflicted ? I earnestly
beg you, therefore, to ascertain if there is any
ground for the complaint which has been made ;
and it is my intention, in the event of it being
established, to punish severely those who are guilty
of such negligence, which not only offends the laws
of duty imposed on the magistrates, but violates
those also of humanity. To active magistrates
proffer, in my name, words of praise ; to those who
have been negligent, censure without pardon. Re-
mind all that the Government of the King has a
right to have functionaries who find motives for
executing their duties, not only in the command of
the law, but yet more in the love of the great
Italian country, for the liberty and redemption of
which no zeal can be too great. I beg you to ascer-

tain from the magistrates of this city the state of
the penal actions which have been instituted, and
in the provinces where you deem it opportune to
send intelligent and active functionaries to verify
such facts immediately. Report to me afterwards
those who from their zeal are worthy of special
consideration, and those who from negligence merit
censure," &c.

It is not often that I can report rescripts or de-
crees in full, but the one I now send you seems to
merit attention from its being a kind of negation of
the former policy of the Government, and from its
presenting a fair view of the energy of Cialdini.
From timidity, or Bourbonism, or, worse than all, a
conciliatory spirit, political and other causes had
been suffered to lie over, and the Duke of Cajanello,
among others, has been lying untried in prison
since April last. A new system is to be adopted
—one marked by promptitude and legality, and I
shall shortly have to report to you some political
causes. You will observe the homage which Cial-
dini pays to journalism ;—he despises no influence,
neglects nothing, and I should be wanting in my

duty if I did not confess that he displays an energy
which, if it had been shown earlier, might have
saved the country from a thousand ills. I trust '
that it is not now too late. What a system of
mingled empiricism, incapacity, and neglect has
been hitherto adopted! In the same spirit in which
the rescript is expressed the Attorney-General has
sent a circular to all the Royal judges. I must now
give you some fuller information on facts which I
communicated in my last letter, and first as to the '
persons who have been arrested. I have obtained
an official list of them, which is as follows :—Mar-
shal Giovanni Rodriguez, Marshal Fergola, Marshal
Tabacchi, Marshal Ajace di Rivera, Brigadier Ser-
gardi, Brigadier Luvera, Brigadier Antonelli,
Brigadier Dorgemont, Brigadier Palumbo, Major
Quantel, Captain Dupuy, Lieutenant-General
Sigrist, Captain Sigrist, First-Lieutenant Sigrist,
General Colucci, General Polizzi, Lieutenant-
Colonel Guillamatte, Captain of Artillery di Rivera,
Colonel, of Artillery di Rivera. Priests :—Maresca,
vicar ; Mirichino ; Pica, " Penitenziere ;" Parluto,
parish priest ; Taja, " Economo del Forte Nuovo ;"
Rotondo, parish priest. This last-named person
has been set at liberty on account of old age and
infirmities. ;These persons were arrested on the
7th and Bth inst., and have since been sent off to
Genoa. No overt acts on their part have been dis-
covered, but it is ascertained that they had relations
with the reactionary committee in Posilippo in the
house of Frisi, and had frequent interviews in their
own houses with suspected persons. With regard
to the priests, there are documents to prove that
they had formed a well-combined conspiracy, and
consequently they will be put upon their trial, and
that without delay.
I have already spoke of another plot which was
discovered a few days since in Milano, the details
of which, as in other cases, I have been compelled
to reserve until I could verify them. Prince Casta-
pieta and a Signor Gubitosi, formerly Chancellor of
the Tribunal, have been arrested on the charge of
providing a certain bandit chief called Rajacco with
funds. This man, who was greatly favoured by
the late Government, seems to have had communi-
cation with the reactionists of the neighbouring
towns, and, having induced a great number of the
inhabitants of Miano to join them under the pro-
mise of paying them four carlini a day, it was re-
solved to assault and disarm the National Guard,
and afterwards plunder the houses, on the fete of
St. Gaetano, the patron saint of the place. The
cold-blooded barbarities resolved on remind me of a
common proverb with The nearer the church,
the nearer the devil ;" but our conspirators would
shelter themselves under another---" The better the
day, the better the deed." St. Gaetano has, how-
ever, very fortunately, been defrauded of the honours
intended for him; for the Commissary of Police at
Capodimonte received informationother
winitthe time, andaid o
af
small body of the rifles, together
the National Guard, succeededoNem
in apprehending
and puttingehendingthe
principal promoters of the movement
havethem beenin taken prison.in the city.
to
the
Allp thoserecau htiwonso wcouldhich
be counted on in a disturbance have been removed
haveoved
—that is to say, 800, if not 1,000, convicts
been sent off to Fenestella, and, as I have told you
before, upwards of 100 high prisoners of State,
who will be confined, it is believed, in the for-
tress of Alexandria. These latter were sent off
on Friday night and the former on Saturday
morning, and it seems to be the intention, as I
have already told you, to empty the prisons of the
rascals whom the Bourbon and the Pope, under
the protection of the Emperor, have employed to
perpetrate so many horrors. The convicts who it
is ascertained were implicated in the conspiracy
were promised their liberty and the plundering
of the city, so that you may well conceive what
barbarities were in reserve for us to-morrow,
the day which had been fixed upon for the
attempt, had it succeeded. As another mea-
sure of precaution, the guards in the Royal
Palace have been doubled and cannon prepared in
lease of necessity, and an especial line of military

observation is laid down from the Museum to Castel
Ovo. I have been informed that this, as well as the
Castel Elmo, have been armed ; into the latter can-
non have, I am assured, been introduced recently,
and none but Piedmontese or regular troops are on
guard. The old custom is again introduced of not
permitting any one to approach ; even those who
work the telegraph on the top are accompanied by
a guard both on leaving and entering the Castle,
and, in the event of bringing any package with them,
they are relieved of it by the guard.
On Tuesday last, in consequence of intelligence
that the house of Liborio Romano was to be as-
saulted by some ruffians, a detachment of soldiers
was ordered down for his protection. All those
precautions, taken by express order of Cialdini, in-
dicated great apprehensions, not in the least exag-
gerated ; but I must tell you that Cantelli, his adla-
tus, General Cosens, and De Blasio, the Secretary-
General of the Interior, do not share his opinions.
I do, and I think that Cialdini is acting with a
most laudable prudence and energy ; it is the affec-
tation of indifference which has ruined us.
The third and last review of the four remaining
battalions of the National Guard took place on Sun-
day in front of the Palace, and it is impossible to
describe the enthusiasm with which Cialdini was
received. Well he merits it, and may Heaven
accompany his efforts with success. Leaving now
the city, I have to tell you that General Pianelli
has been ordered off to Benevento, where the Reac-
ionists, it is said, 4,000 strong, have joined toge-

ther, and perhaps had been destined to march on
Naples. The principal head-quarters are at Collis
and thence they could march on Naples in eight
hours. Three hundred Reactionists attacked the
regulars near Cancello a few days since and repulsed
them, the latter being in very small force ; having
been reinforced in the evening, they rallied and
dispersed the enemy. One or two other cases of
repulse of the regulars, under similar circumstances'
have taken place in other directions.
. .

As you know, her Majesty's ship Exmouth is at
Castellamare, and, as I have several times told you,
Captain Paynter is always exercising his crew,
whom he has brought into a high state of discipline.
Last Friday, however, we had something extraor-
dinary. At half-past 4 o'clock a.m. nearly 500 of
the crew were landed in seven companies, with field
guns, and marched in the cool of the morning two
miles up the mountain, where they bivouacked
under the trees, and then moved down again into
the town. If there were any brigands lurking near
they will have profited by the sight, and will per-
haps refrain from coming into the city as they have
threatened for some time. The landing was effected
in half an hour, and the men moved with great pre-
cision, not a word being spoken in the ranks. Of
course all Castellamare was at the windows to see
the novel sight, while on their return the whole
population were in the streets, apparently astonished
to see the movements of this well-trained body of
men, all armed with rifles. As a manoeuvre it spoke
highly as to the discipline of the men, and as a de-
monstration, I think, has assisted the inhabitants,
who tremble at the prospect of the descent of the
enemy from the hills. Admiral Martin is expected
to-day, and the Exmouth will probably then go
over to Naples to coal. I believe I may state, now
that the fleet, or a portion of it, is withdrawn
from the Syrian coast, that a large force will come
up here. It may as well be here as elsewhere,
and there are obvious reasons why it should be
here, if we mean to back up the kingdom of
Italy with our moral force. If France supports
brigands on the frontier, why should not England
support Victor Emmanuel in the Bay of Naples ?
At all events, such a move will obviate the neces-
sity of any more killing kindness from our Impe-
rial and beloved cousin in Southern Italy. Many
who have watched the course of events here, and
I confess myself to be among the number, are of
opinion that confusion has been promoted here in
order to furnish an excuse for offering assistance.
Deliver us from our friends.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.-CROYDON, AUG. 17.

(Before Mr. Justice Willituue and a Special Jury.

PAWLE AND OTHERS V. GODING.

This cause commenced on Friday, and it was of
rather an extraordinary character. The plaintiffi
are Messrs. Pawle, Belpage, and Co., solicitors, and
the action was brought by them against Major
Goding, the defendant, to recover a sum of £9O, the
balance of a sum of £126 money, which was alleged
to have been supplied by them to Catherine God-
ing, the wife, and Evelyn Blanche Goding, the
daughter of the defendant, for their support and
maintenance.
_

The defendant pleaded that he was never in
debted, except as to the sum of £36 35., which he
paid into court, and he also pleaded that the said
Catherine Goding was not his wife, but the wife of
one James Dickinson, who was still living, and that
the said Evelyn Blanche Goding was not his lawful
daughter.
Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., and
Mr. Butler Bigby, appeared for the plaintiffs ; Mr.
Bovill, Q.C., Mr. J. Browne, and Mr. Freeman
were counsel for the defendant.
Before the cause commenced, Mr. Bovill applied
for a postponement; on the ground that Mr. Dickin-
son, whose evidence would be necessary to prove
one of the pleas of the defendant, was too ill to at-
tend. If, however, he said, his learned friend would
admit that the lady had been married to that gen-
tleman, he was ready to proceed.
Mr. Chambers said he should admit nothing.
Mr. Bovill having consulted with his client, said
he would go on without the witness to whom he
had referred.
Mr. Chambers then proceeded to open the case of
the plaintiffs, and he said it was one of the most
painful investigations that was about to be entered
into that he ever remembered in his experience, and
he had hoped to have been spared from stating in a
public court of justice the most distressing circum-
stances under which the plaintiff, Mr. Pawle, was
compelled to bring the present action. The whole
amount originally sought to be recovered was about
£l2O, but a sum of money had been paid into court,
and the amr unt that remained in dispute was only
about £9O, but he thought it right to inform the
jury that the money was not of any consideration,
but the real bhject that was sought for by the
plaintiff was to induce Major Goding to do what
was right to his wife and daughter. The defendant
was a man of position and fortune, his income,
as he was informed, being £2,000 a year, arid it
appeared that he had resided for a few years
past at the Manor-house, Barham Wood, near
Elstree, and there would be no doubt that he
had lived with the lady, whom he now chose to
say was not married to him, for a great many years,
and that he had introduced her and her daugh-
ter, who, he was instructed, was a most amiable
and accomplished young lads, to the neighbouring
gentry, as his wife and daughter. He would not
enter further into the position of the family during
their residence at Barham Wood, than to state that
it was to be feared that Mr. and Mrs. Goding lived,
latterly, very unhappily, and that in the beginning
of February in the present year the two ladies left
their home, and proceeded to London. They were
at this time quite penniless, and it appeared that a
son of the defendant, who had left his father's house
some time before, in the first instance, assisted his
mother and sister, and he subsequently introduced
them to the plaintiffs, with whom he had been in
communication in reference to some reversionary
property to which he was entitled. Mrs. Goding
made a statement of her case to the plaintiffs, and
it appeared that in the first instance it was contem-
plated that proceedings should be taken in the Di-
vorce Court against the defendant, and he was com-
municated with by the plaintiffs, and they were
referred by him to his solicitor, Mr. Chapman.
During these proceedings the plaintiffs had advanced
different sums of mony to Mrs. Goding, amounting
to £36, and when the plaintiff had an interview wit h
that gentleman he informed him of this fact, and
different communications took place with a view to
obtain some settlement for Mrs. Coding and her
daughter. These negotiations, however, were not
successful, and at last the plaintiff was compelled
to bring the present action to recover the money he
had paid to that lady and her daughter, almost to
save them from actual starvation ; and then, as it
appeared to him, the terrible point of the case was
this, that the defendant had caused a plea to he
put upon the record, by which he stated that
the woman who for more than twenty
years had
ifeh,eanldiadhis
dhaeld ughtoeur,t
iwthoornthiele
hwaodrldintraos.
duced to persons of the highest respectability and
position, clergymen, and others in that capacity, had
no right to those titles. He could not conceive
anything more dreadful than the issue that was
thus raised by the defendant, for he not only in his
plea asserted that the lady who had for so many
years lived with hiin as his wife was not so in
reality, but was the wife of one James Dickenson,
who was still living, but that the said Evelyn
Blanche Goding was net his lawful daughter. He