Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-07
A STRANGE STORY OF ITALIAN BRIGAND-
AGE.

A STRANGE STORY UF ITALIAN bhlGAND-
AGE.
A Naples letter in the Union" gives the fol.
lowing Intelligence The Piedmontese Govern
ment having acknowledged itself wholly unable
10 deliver the two Englishmen captured by Giar.
dullo in the province of salerno, the English
Consul had to occupy himself directly with the az
fair and to put himself in communication with
the brigands Having succeeded in getting speech
with them, lie demanded what price they set on
the delverance. Twenty thousand ducats, they
replied. The Consul uttered an exclamation Of
astouishment and broke off the conference. He
sent for frigate doubtless to intimidate the
brigands while the Piedmontese soldiers. on their
side, took the field against them. These means
producing no result, the English representative
reopened negotiations with the chief oil the Dand,'
Giardullo. How much will you really take for
the ransom of your prisoners was demanded.
Forty thousand ducats replied the brigand; 1T
is the last word. Make haste II you do not wish
to pay more for provisions are dear with US, and
it costs something considerable to feed an Eng.
lishman. Above all guard against sending for
another ship-of-war, for in that case the ransom
would be tripled.
aTbe English Consul saw that he had resolute
fellows to deal with, and that he must come to
terms with them at once. After comforting with
the IL alan Government It was ARA 1ged tn Sc the
con ditions should be accepted, and that twenty
thousand ducat3 should be given by the Province
of Sslerno, and the other twenty thousand by
England. Word was sent to the brigands that
their proposition was accepted, and the place
and time of redeeming the captives were agreed
upon. Giardullo insisted upon a double sale
conduct for his envoy. At the appointed hour
the Consul arrived at the place Indicated, escorted
by twenty Piedmontese soldiers. The brigand
came alone. After the interchange OF lew WORDS
the money was counted out to Giardnllos envoy.
The Consul having made some remarks on the
enormous sum which had been exacted, the Drl-
Qand, who had no doubt been well instructed what
TO say, replied TO him in q rather bantering tJne
Abbiate patienza, Signor Consule calm yourself,
sir, it was ycu who fixed the sum- : How IL
Certainly; you cannot have forgotten certain
shin named the Cagliari manned by revolution
lists, and intended to revoutionize our country.
sThe ship was taken and confscated, and the
volunteers, among whom were two English, were
put in prison. Then England was Indignant,
threatened our King Ferdinand H. and, ABUSING
her strength, compelled him to restore the sup
lawfully captured, to set at liberty the TWO Eng
llshmen, and more than that, to pay them as IN
demnity for their lost liberty, sum equivalent 10
eighteen thousand ducats. The price OF ransom,
therefore according to the English tariff, is eigh.
teen thousand ducsts for suppose that England
does not estimate the liberty OF one honest man
AT less than That of dishonest ones. Add the diff
ference in the value of money eight years ago,
and the expense incurred for your compatrlot
while with ma and you will find, Signor Consule,
| the exact equivalent of the twenty thousand du-
cats originally demanded. As to the other twenty
tbousapd. they are the consequence of the pres
ence of your ship-ofwar at Salerno; for con-
timed the brigand, with naughty gesture, we are
mot children who can be frightened, nor from
whom anything is obtained by fear."