, 1866-12-28
The Austrian Evacaatioa of Venice.

Ol our ndtueT ana OOu. .' %
= '.r.
The Austrian EVacdatioa of Venice.
There was a trAmpliug Of feet along the mar
row passage beside my hotel at o'clock this
morning. As the foothills grew fainter, there
was hoarse word Of comnand, aud hurrying
forward of the rearmost files Then there was
dead silence again, aud We have had the las
Of the Ausirians in Eenice. At o'clock l
forud' the National Guard in possession Of ST.
Marks, the field pieces at the corner Of the du-
cal palace had been taken away, and group Of
shiyering spectators had collected under the
colonade, where not a sign of the iron railings
could now be detected. ..
It was very cald-cold evcn for an October
night in England-but there was clear starlight
overhead, aud promise of fine weather during
the festival. How well that promise was full
filled, and how the first day of freedom was as
bright aud cheerful as the most sauguine could
have hoped, Venice will long remember By
o'clock the city WAS partially decked with tri-
colored flags, for public impotence would not
be restrained, aud by $3.50 there was an mS
meuse coucourse Of people assembled on the
Place of st. Marx, with every eye bent upon
the tall red flag of the old Republic. A space
had been cleared Immediately around their ped
estals, and a hollow square formed by the Na>
tional Guard kept open this space At the foot
Of each flagstaff was n huge tri-color b'aring
tue Cross of Savoy and royal crown upon its
center and ready bent for hosting. More and
more people came the minutes were couuted
with breathless eagerness.
Now there was a murmur and clapping of
hands. The first stroke Of 9-the second. In
the name Of United Italy, hoist away. "Bravo
bravo Thank God p cry the people near me.
"Our martyrs are with us this morning" said
a white-halred gentleman, turning aside to con-
ceal his sobs, whilst the boys throw up their
caps and shout, "Long live the king u As at
Verona, it is the Old folks who are most affec-
ted. Wave out upon the breeze, stately flag,
and assure them that it is not a dream. But
they need no assurance. An exultant thunder
of human voices has drowned the sound Of the
music, and presently those antique palaces,
which are awakng to renewed life, echo back
the sull louder thunder of artillery. may be
fanciful, but l seem to the winged lion with
less of quaint grimness about his aspect as he
watches the arrival of an Italian fleet and the
departure Of the last remaining barbarian keels.
An Italian fleet is steaming up the harbor
right gallanty. Flash after flash issues from
the dark sides of the vessels, and white smoke
goes curling up to their gay caparison of strea-
mers. Could anything be better timed than
this arrival 1t raises the popular enthusiasm
to a frenzy of delight, and promises ample pro-
lection to the commerce of the city. Every
one betakes himself to the water 'front.' cheers
ring long and loud when the cannon has ceased
to fire, and flags are dipped in token of salute.
One by one the vessels cast anchor, aud condos
las decked with tri>coor bunting glide round
them as so many spirits of the lagoon welco-
ming the mghtier spirits Of the sea. My gou-
dolier is very happy. He surveys the vessels
critically from stem to stern aDd mods his salts
faction. They will do, they are fac craft, and
there is no lack of fine fellows on board them.
He ought to know something about that, for he
has fought against the Italian fleet.
against them p said [. "Were, you then,
at LISA ?" u
ayes, signore unhappily was"
Ny gondolier looks grave for moment, but
continues with pleasant smile to tell how he
was pressed into the Austrian service, and how
little he liked it. The Venetian couscfipts
were sorry to see their couutrymen beaten, but
it was the case OF bullet through the head for
any one who fIltered. There were military
creatures on board who knew nothing of salt
water, or of any water at all for that matter,
and they kept guard over the sailor men," He
was glad to be safely out OF such service, and
hoped that his brother would soon get home.
Seven years in an enemy's ship was DO slight
penance.
The Grand Canal, at one o'clock this after>
noon, presented a scene which you might search
over the world ia vain to equal. The varied
architecture of the palaces on either side, with
flags, carpets and tapestry hung out from the
windows, enhanced the effect of the procession
which passed between them. GondOlas of every
size, dirting forward in as many c1lored squad
rons led the way There were crews in carni-
val costume-red and blue and green-With
straw hats, laced jackets, and white panIaloons.
There were red sashes and blue sashes, velvet
cans and silken streamers, tri-cOor cockades,
and velvet cushions trimmed with silver lace
The oar blades glanced in the sparkling Eater,
and thasmooth, sharp bows appeared scarcely
to dis nsurface. Tnns passed the head OF
m n, and handkerchiefs were waved
ant [hg out in honor OF so fne show.
Then there was interval of sllence until
the main body hove in sight, and then the hand
kercbiefs were waved with redoubled energy.
The cheering swelled into continuous roar
from window, wharf and balcony. Venice was
receiving her invited guests. The man body
onsisted of heavy bIrges crowded with Italian
soldiers, which were towed and Puntel very
slowly from the railway station to ST. Marx $.
The band of the N4ticnal Guard came first, tol-
lowed by a detachment of the same corps, by
bersaglieri. and bv infantry of the line. "Long
live our soldiers p was shouted from the shore.
aI,n0 live the Venetians was answered from
the barges Flowers were thrown by TAR nan as
which often could not throw them far enou gh
And the soldiers cheered, and the oHicers oowed
profoundly, as some bright housefFont showed
even more than usual OF waving or naheker'
chiefs, or of flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.
Now the procession passed under the orldge
of the Rialto, aud the crash OF many 49, 49,
was yelhnigh deafening. Now It was wateG
| for nv the light squadron in advance, Wnlen had
outstrpped it by quarter of a mile. The IRON
bridge was passed, and there was struggle
against fresh head-wind as the procession
emerged into the open harbor. How oeauliiui
was the water front of free and happy Nen'ee'
with tri-coIors everywhere displayed, and Eltn
s.1,Id stand to see the soldiers land. The fegs,
tbs sunshine and the motley crowd were worthy
of the by-gone Dodge's procession. On1fen
hsiIs GLANCED aud trumpets sounded shrill, WINE
strange as it may seem, the people had orsAtn
enough to cheer.