The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-20
Our foreign Correspondence.


RoME, June IA, l649
Mail communications being suspended, send this
by private hand to London. Within mile and
half Of the eternal city stationed five and twenty
Thousand French soldiers, occupying, in five d'vl-
sons, posts opposite to the five principal gates and
by heavy batteries. Fourteen days of
hard fighting have enabled them TO win these posi-
tons. The loss of the Romans in killed and
wounded is officially reported at 400 men, The
French loss we have no means Of ascertainng
Saving slight advance of the invaders, the posi-
ton of parties has changed little since the renewal
of hostilities Successful resistance thus far has
inspired the Romans with confidence, and given
them the moral advantage over their enemies
Such are the prevailing harmony and enthusiasm,
and so rapidly increasing in the Republican cause,
that | cannot but regard the permanent establish
ment Of the existing government as highly proba-
ble provided always, that the Powers which have
interviewed on the Roman question are disposed to
regard the sentiments Of the Roman people. The
spirit of antique Rome lives again. Daylight finds
the towers, churches and domes crowded with an
anxious multitude, eager to hail every gallant
plot with animating shouts, and the evening de-
scends upon them unwearied with the days excite
ments The conduct of the Romans of the nine
teenth century is indeed worthy the most glorious
days of their old history 1t would seem that they
were inspired by the traditions Of the past, and the
voices from the tombs of their fathers
With unremitting toll they prosecute their de-
fences The roads leading from the gates are rem
dered impossible to cavalry, by being planted with
iron spears. The neghborng houses are pierced for
musketry, and the gates are commanded by can
non, planted on the neighborng bastions. Should
the enemy force the gates, they will be received, in
all the streets through which they must pass, with
showers of stones and boiling oil, which are or
dered to be provided in every house to be cast from
the windows. So thorough are the preparations
for defence, and SO uncompromising the spirit ex-
hibited, that cannot doubt that the people can
clude or destroy the French army. Since the au
tack of the LIST instant, the National Guards have
been unable to preserve order within the city, and
the work Of pillage and assassination has been
commenced. Many lives have been taken. Five
priests of the class known as retrogrades were
murdered night before last, and none who hold
anti-repubcan doctrines are safe. So large is the
number, within the walls, Of alien robbers and vag-
abonds that the respectable portion of society are
kept in state of perpetual alarm. Many of Them
| am told, have sought from our legation the pro-
lection of the American fag-the descendants of
fam lilac ,ll,,Str h. l. -
President of the Assembly himself is said to have
sought this protection; fact emphatically demon
strative of the deporable condition of the city.
No egress from the city is permitted, and all
classes are beginning to suffer from the proracted
hardships Of the siege. No vegetable food can be
procured; the supplies Of the last two days having
been cut off by the French cavalry. This is
severe blow to the poorer residents, whose diet is
chiefly vegetables. Butt still more severe calamity
is impending-the threatened deprivation of water.
The aqueducts leading from the Sabine hills, by
which the chief reservoirs supplied, have been
sundered by General Oudinot. In the quarter of
the city where the coliseum stands where the Skin
mishes have been the frequent, pestilence is
apprehended from the exposure of the unbured
bodies and the inhabitants, by order of the Gov
too crowded for the accommodation Of their resi-
dents. No one can fail to be impressed with the
spirit and fortitude manifested by the
Romans under all these painful and disastrous cir
In their eyes all other evils sink into
compared with the ignominy of sub
hitting to the dictation of foreign arms
The armed Intervention Of France is now every
where admitted to be political blunder and crime
Thus far it has been fruitful only of humiliation
and disgrace. Repulse has followed repulse.
However the. European powers may regard the
new Roman Republc--and whatever may be its
has thus far been virtuous enough to
resist the subtle Establishments of diplomacy, and
brave enough to repel the severest assaults OF
arms. Whether they fail or succeed in their ex-
petition, il is difficult foresee in what manner the
the embanassments Of their position. The sickly
season is fast approaching when the accmated
herdsmen Of the Campagna perish of pestilence, or
lake refuge in Rome, seeking shelter under the
portcoes Of the churches and palaces. 1t is the
inhabitants Of the Campagna who gil the Roman
hospitals during the months Of July, August, and
Already the malaria has appeared
'mong the French troops, and stricken its many
victims. There is but one course left for France,
consistent with honor and prudence, and that is To
retrace her sepsto recall her troops, and to leave
he solution Of these questions to Rome, as far as
hey are Of exclusively Roman interest, and to
Italy as far as they belong to the Italian powers
France can afford to do an act of magnanimity.
The Roman question, which has hitherto been
'ne Of merely political interest, is rapidly taking
spiritual complexion. The struggle is no longer
,ne Of armies or Of classes. II embraces the whole
;ircle Of religious hope, faith, and duty, and is
bringing within it's influence interests that may
lfect the destinies Of generations Catholicism
otters to it's foundations under the shock Of this
Intervention. The faith Of thousands has been
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