Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-06-16
Progress of the Insurrection in Sicily.

Progress Of the Insurrection in Sicily.
The Fail Of the City of fhiermo- H,sfory Of the
Hace--L ateresfing Facts in Relation 10 the 7too
.Sicilies de-, dc. s##fe#s 0-s4...s.-..
Tho foreign news published yesterday TINT Pal
ermo had fallen that Garibaldi had entered the
city and established his headquarters therein after
n fierce combat that the royal palace had been
taken by the populace from the royal troops and
burned, and that the bonbardment OF the city by
the Neapolitan forces still continued at last ady
ces. naturally excites intense interest. aud whets
the appetite for further particulars"
The city ct Palermo the chief Of Sicily Is one
of the most picturesque in Europe. Its situation is
admirable for commerce. and under liberal fos.
tetine government, it would become one Of the
most i,n portant points in the Mediterranean. Its
population is about IFS, 600 and i, contains many
extensive manufacturing establishments. TWAS
well fortified and garrs0ned by troops.
Palermo has had m eyentful history, having
heen founded by the Ph9uicians. when they were
the grea, coonizing and trading people Of the Me-
d,erranean aud the world. Carthcscneains. Ro-
MAINS. Gotbs. Sarucens, Nptmans. Germans, French
and Spaniards have al yurious times held II, and
with or.y every change there was terror and
bloodshcd Tho scene OF ihr somewhat mythical
massacre known Us The Sieiliau VeperJ' was in
Palermo and this event, whether truth or fable,
still after the lapse Of nearly xix centuries nparts
n strange interest to the leaotiul city. But Of all
tho borrors that Palermo has endured ia the
of many centuries, scarcely any SURPASSED
those of 1913, when it was bombarded by the forces
of Ferdinand III. 1t was for the a,rocity Of that
act thai the world nicknamed him King Bonn
ba.' lis son. who inhorits the cruelty and hiso-
ty Of King b, mba,i likely TO suffer f,r his faith
ers and his own crimes hy the loss o, the iairer
part II his doninons if not d his throne itself.
Tie Kingdom of the Two Sicilies-- more COIN
monty known ny the Kingdom vi Naples--is near
ly large n area as the State of New York. and
contains nearly thrice rs many inhabitants. The
Continental portion alone has an area of 3 500
squate milss, whilst tho Island Of Sicily will add
about one third # that moro to the kingdom
The mainland part of the Two Scilics contains,
by The last census OF 1886, $3.50 030 inhabitants,
wllile The iasular or island portion has popua
TIN ot 2,.Jl ,V3O. Tho receipts from various i'm
perts III 1886 wore, for the whole kingdom, 81
62o.3G9 dneats. The dueat of Naples is not equal
10 our dollar. The expenses every year smce
lhJ6 must have gone many millions beyond the
receipts. The total debt Of the country IL now
m9ie than one hundred and forty millions Of dol
hes. But the resources OF the Two Slcilies are
sa great that, under liberal government, the
whole debt would soon be wiped away.
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean.
twhere Garlbald Is now operating is separated
from the southern extremity OF Italy by the
straits OF Messna, and surrounded by several
groups Of small islands. II IL about lsS miles in
tho largest part-that is, from east to west WI
RES from 81 10 lO9 miles in width is 3lJ miles
round, and l6,S75 square miles in super6tes
Sicily IL divided into seven Provinces Palermo.
Messina, Cnntaua, Syracuse, Caltanisetta. Cir
genti, and rrapnni. The first three. the most i'm
paitant III military view. nre united by road
which runs along the northern coast Of Girgent
and which VIII one duv be extended around tho
wholc coast IT the island. Palermo, the chief
town, il the residence Of tho Governor General of
Sicily. atd Is the seat oi tho government. 1t liz
handsome t. WI, about five miles round, contain
lux some line monuments, and is protected by
strong l1ithealiont. among which are the !u:ts ol
Castel l.utp and CaStollanara 1t is situated ut
the bottom ol III gull bearing its name. and On
banks oi the Oscto IT'S population being about
10000 souls. Mcssua, situated on gulf of the
same name, possesses the best port IN tho Mcdite-
rnnenn 1t is defended by formidab4 ipriifca-
ti"ns, among which are the Citadel, Fort St. Sal
yaorc, and the Bastiun Real Alto, completely
commanding tho entrance If the port. On the
heights, at less than one thousand yards from the
ctnlrl. are the forts Of Gonzagne, Cascl Lucio
aud Capucn Tho Straits of Aiessina separating
Sicily from the Kingdom If Naples are more than
four miles across in the widest part, and upwards
of one mile in the uarruwcst. The cxtrauce To
them is dconlel by u number Of batteries, well
situated and well armed The town Of Mes,ina
s the mast important military position III Sicily,
and. in Iact decides the possession Of the whole
island, Warlike operations are difficult in Sicily.
Cavalry and artillery cannot be easily moved, and
very strouS i"Ice of infantry is requisite to at
tack the numerous fortified placcs.
The fate OF tho country must be decided in the
| provinces of Palermo. Trapani aud Mcsslna es,
pceially the lattcr it is there that the enemy must
employ the greatest efforts and there are the prin-
cipal s,ratcgIcnl points. \ Decentralization ,iiec.
ted On any other parts of the coast would not uru-
dnce amy result: an enemy might maintain him.
self Ter long timc in the south or in the interior
! of the island, but would be wasted in detail
without obtaining his object. In the wars and
instructions Of which Sicily has been the theatre
ut dhcrcut periods. entire bands in the Interior
have persisted of hunger. Sicily cannot be ut
tackled with success without the cooperation Of Il
! navy, the commnud of the sea giving it's defenders
u vast advantage.
The population Of Sicily are Catholics They
are Intelligent, gay and witty; possess brilliant
lmaginations strong passions. entertain an ardent
love et their country, are very fond of rcligious
spectacles, and much attached to their religion
| Their patriotism makes them consider themselves
| superior tn other nations: among themselves,
moreover, they are Engaged in a conflict for pre-
emnence; and this conflict is particularly strong
between Messina and Palermo In addition to
ITS natural advantages, Sicily. by it's situation in
the Mediterranean, is military position of the
first order.
WASHINGTON ITEMs.-The extension of the ses-
sion OF Congress beyond Monday is generally con-