The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-12-18

But whom the silence which reigned over the waters
Of the lsgunes, had been for many days unbroken
BY sing hostile gun, on Sunday the 3lst of July,
ct midnight, when the lower classes we're quietly
reposng in their beds, and the higher and .gayer
mated Piazza OF st. Mark, or seated under its ex-
tended balconies, carelessy slipping their coffee or
putting their cigars, no sooner had the bell 10 the
tower Of St Mark tolled the hour Of twelve, and
announced the fact that the first of August had sp
peared than they found themselves in the midst Of
shower 0f, red hot shot, more terrible than the
Eruption Of Vesuvius on Pompeii, and covering at
once nearly three fourths Of the city. In a moment
all Venice was alive The streets were crowded
with the residents Of tn. invaded section-men,
women, and children, all hurrying toward the Cas-
tile and the public gardens, where the projectles
through those narrow ways, amid the shot and rub
bish, broken chimneys, and severed cornices, that
were, every step rafting down about their heads
Yet not complaint was uttered-not tear shed.
The people Of the exposed districts quartered them
selves upon the occupants Of the other sections, with
as much composure as II they had been members Of
one family; and nothing was heard but imprecatons
ready and willing to receive them, attempted to
force capitulstion upon the tswn, by routing the
women and children from their beds, in hopes,
through their screams and tears to accomplish tn at
which their personal valor had been unable to
effect.
The torrent of balls which continued to fall in
cessantly, night and day, had NO other result than
works Of architecture and sculpture. On the Grand
Canal nearly every palace was perforated, and
some, particularly those of Moeenigs, (Which Lord
Byron occupied,) Bsbi, persioo, &c boast of hav-
ing received as many as thirty or forty balls each
A number of tho churches, viz the Frari, the
Scslz San Giovanni Paolo, &c., with their splen-
did marble and statuary, suffered severely.
The means by which the Aastriaus succeeded at
length in throwing their projectiles into the eitya
point which they had endeavored in vain for months
to accomplish-was BY mounting, ut San Giulano,
pieces Of eighty pounds and Paixhans guns of the
considerable elevation; the balls then, in describing
the parabolic curve, would descend and fall within
the city; where as, discharged on level, or aimed
directly at the object as had previously been done,
in distance of Eve or six miles, the balls invaria-
bly, fell short of their destination and sank without
effect, beneath the waters
On the lst OF August, the day upon which this
awful bombardment commenced 1000 Venetians
made sally from Brondolo, and after capturing
few hundred oxen, retired. During the evening the
tidings Of that expedition reached Venice, and
while the population Of that gay capital were quietly
seated in the magnificent Fenice, under the shower
of redhot shot (or the theatre was IL the invaded
distric), enjoying, as composedly as though no.
thing had happened, the performance Of" William
Tell, the enthusiasm which the narration Of this
slight success created was so great that the contin-
uaton of the drama was dispensed with, and the
occasion converted into a national festival.
Day after day, unceasingly the cannon sding con-
unues; at many points the bombs set ire 10 the
buildings, but these are soon extDguished without
much injury; and as the balls seldom if ever pene-
trated further than the roof and one story, the po-
pulation are unconcerned. Provisions become
weeks longer and yet the people very quietly say,
ave will hold out until we have nothing more 10
eat and then the Croats may come and do what
they please"
Teadd to the horo IS ftheir stu ation the cholera
broke out among the inha bitants in its most dread
full aid malignant form, its ravages, doubtless. in
creased by the scanty and unwholesome food upon
which they had been for some time compelled to
fubsist; and yet amid all these disasters, the ctyre
manned traEquil-the Place of st Mark was as
much frequented as ever, ard the countenances Of
the Venetians as bright as though enjoying the
sunshine Of the palmiest days of the republic.
On the 18th of August Marshal Radetzky, aware
Of the state to which the city reduced renewed
his Efforts to induce IL to capituate, by Offering
nearly the same terms that had been previously re-
jected Strange that now, when ANN uniton, food,
medi nne, drink, even water was failing, when to
the general misery and squaor the cholera is ad lei
carrying of from eighty to hundred day, ia
I Venice and Chioggia, families without bread, with
out roof. in search of shelter and vctuals, old
men, women, and children, crsmmed into the public
st0 houses, under the naked SKY exposed TO all
the nclemencies Of the weather, and all the bombs
and balls OF the Austrians, these terms, quite as
moderate as could possibly have been expected,
were again rejected
! On the 18th, the President Of the republic,
warned by the rapid progress Of public danger that
longer resistance was impossible, in consultation
With the commandant of the French squadron aud
the French Consul, it was decided as the only and
last means Of safety, to send Venetian deputation
to the Austrian camp with an offer of capitalization
| Gen. Gergowski, comman der the Austrian troops
before Venice, received the depu.aton on the 18th,
and In reply to their application stated that he had
no power 20 treat but that he would i'm nedi stely
forward their note to Milan, and that during the
time necessary TO receive q reply from Marshal
Radttzky, he would consent to slscken his FIRE on
the city and further, that Venice might confde iu
h. ii sws. xI a. e. L..
enlightened and liberal spirit Of his government
The deputation, compre bending the exact value to
be attached to such phrases returned detected and
discobsolate to Venice.
Time rolls on, the reply from Milan is hourly ex.
Peeted, the destiny Of nation hangs on the ba-
lance, and day becomes an age. The FIRE OF the
enemy somewhat slackened on the 10th and 2lst, Is
renewed on the night Of the latter with as great
reply from Milan What terms will an eli power
full and org provoked enemy infict upon an utterly
weak and proera'e foe
No one knows, but all fear they will be rigorous
IN the extreme The republic approaches It's end,
Venice has but two days provisions left, and those
OF the worst kind The progress OF the cholera Is
frshtful The absolute and unconditional sur
render Of the city within two days IL inevitable.
The I'D Of August arrives. and with 1t the answer
Of the Field MsrshaI. That octogenarian com.
marder, as magnaimous as renowned has affixed
terms are accepted by the municipality Of Venice,
In whose favor the provisional goverpme Mt and the
National Assembly have abdica.ed their powers,
the firing has ceased on both sides, and the rspuo
\ lie Of Venice "a no more.
Her defence stands alone-like her marb o palaces
and her renowp, in the midst OF and the ages
OF the world, she falls she has lived, free from
excuses, free frem violence; and whilst enduring
incredible pfystions, has never yielded 20 archy
Ovepowered by superior forces and yielding t. the
weight Of events which IL was impossible to With
stand ruined in every thing but spirit Venice falls
battling heroieally for ancient and long cherished
| independence.
/ ----------=
The Tbrssher Letter.
correspondent Of the N. O. Picaypa<, writing