The Sun. — 1848-12-01 (London, England)

HARCOURT." (Second Dispatch.) " Rome, Nov. 17.  " Monsieur le Ministre,—l have had the honour to give you the account of the murder of M. Rossi. Yesterday we had a continuation of these excesses, which will make you regret, perhaps, not having given at a certain time some support to the Sovereign Pontiff. It would be difficult to witness a more sad spectacle for the nation, than that of which we have been ocular witnesses. Towards two o'clock a rather large crowd of the people went to the Quirinal with a programme, known beforehand, and which issued from the presses of the Popular Club. This programme demanded the dismissal of the Ministry, the formation of another, the formation of a Constituent Assembly, a solemn declaration of war, &c. There are in the interior of the Quirinal 100 Swiss, who are alone charged with the personal guard of the Pope, with a. few gardes du corps. When the Swiss saw this hostile demonstration, they closed the doors and prepared for a defence. The diplomatic corps had time to eater the palace and offer to the Pope its moral support against the violence that might be attempted against him. The assemblage as first uttered menaces to obtain admission, and seeing that their desire was not complied with, they endeavoured to burn down the principal door. A few musket shots from the Swiss, and their decided t attitude, soon forced the aggressors to retire to a distance. Up to this time only the populace had interposed; the attack, therefore, did not last long, and the populace were beginning to disperse, when we witnessed, to our great surprise, an unexpected spectacle. The civic guard, the gendarmerie, the line, and the Roman legion, to the number of some thousands in uniform, with music and drums, came and ranged themselves in order of battle on the square of the Quirinal, and were there joined by a few of the people who had remained, and began to fire at the windows of the Palace. Some balls penetrated into the apartments, and one killed a prelate who was in his chamber. As the Swiss continued to display a bold attitude, and it was thought that a determined resistance would be offered,cannon was brought to bst:er down the doors of the Palace of the unfortunate Pope, who is mildness itself, and who had only a hundred Swiss to defend him. It is generally thought that there were only a few hundred plotters (meneurs), who had laid the plan of this conspiracy. There were near the Pope during the whole of the day only the diplomatic corps. The Pope, all this time, showed much sang froid and firmness; but as it was impossible to oppose re:istance—and, besides, as he was less able and disposed than anybody to shed blood—it was necessary to do whatever was demanded by his own troops, who besieged him in his palace. Negotiations were entered into, and a list of Ministers was proposed to him, at the head of which figure MM. Mamiani, Sterbini, Galetti, &c. This he accepted, protesting, however, against the violence which was practised, and declaring that he would refer to the Chambers the other measures which were demanded of him. The authority of the Pope is now absolutely null. It exists only in name, and none of his acts will be free and voluntary. "