Italy. 15 September 1848
Italy.
* The Neapolitan troops, which landed a stretch south of Messina, have not, as yesterday’s reports from Paris alleged, been repulsed, but have opened the fight against Messina on all sides. At 6 o’clock in the morning of 3 September, the bombardment of the city began from the citadel and the squadron. The city returned the fire with vigour. The Sicilians are said to have silenced a part of the citadel, which was manned with 40 cannon. At the departure of the French mail steamer, the bombardment was still continuing. A few hundred men had arrived from Palermo as reinforcements. On the other hand, the Neapolitan troops are constantly receiving ammunition and reinforcements from Reggio across the straits. In Messina, everyone, young and old, women as well as men, is taking part in the fight. The Sicilian government issued the following proclamation on 31 August: 15
“Sicilians! We must announce to you a joyful tidings. He who was your tyrant, since he has no hope of strangling our freedom and independence with his diplomatic snares, is making one last attempt. He is equipping a new expedition against this land, still red with the blood of his mercenaries and still echoing with our victory cries. The government is resolved to show itself, by energy and prudence, worthy of the people it leads. It is assured of the support of the Chambers, the National Guard, the army, and finally of the whole people, of that people for whom this message is a joy, because it announces new dangers and opportunity for new victories. Sicilians! Our revolutionary cry has found an echo throughout Europe. It has awakened the sleeping, dismayed the wicked, and made tyrants tremble. Sicilians! Men of 1 September, of 12 January, of 22 February! To arms! To arms! Concord, self-denial, sacrifice! May every house become a fortress, every man a soldier, every piece of iron a weapon. Let the cowards come! The storm of the people’s fury will instantly cast them to the ground.”
Signatories: Ruggiero Settimo and all the Ministers.

A letter from Livorno of 4 September contains the following passage:
“The barricades have still not been dismantled. On the contrary, those damaged or destroyed by cannonballs are being restored and strengthened. A dispatch from Cipriani to the Grand Duke has been intercepted, in which he demands immediate reinforcements of infantry, cavalry, and cannon, as well as the mobilisation of the National Guard. The Grand Duke was to place himself at the head and advance against Livorno.”
A proclamation to all National Guards summons them to assemble around him with all speed and, under his supreme command, to march against the republican revolution in Livorno. The well-known democrat Guerrazzi (a lawyer) has gone to Livorno and repeatedly harangued the people there, calming their fury to some extent. A deputation was sent to Florence with the people’s demands. The government, however, refuses to negotiate with the revolution. It has applied to France to lend it the Algerian Foreign Legion for one year, as it would otherwise be unable to deal with the republicans. General Torres is the commander of the insurgents. On 5 September, an agreement was reached with the Grand Duke’s military authorities, according to which the forts are to be evacuated by the troops and the latter moved back into their barracks. The government has declared to the consuls that it is no longer in a position to protect either persons or property in Livorno; it therefore demanded that the foreign warships intervene, land their crews, and march against the city. This demand has not been complied with; for in Livorno, despite the uprising, persons and property are safer than before.

In Turin, a society has been formed under the chairmanship of Gioberti, having as its aim: the establishment of a federal Italian state. It has issued its programme, consisting of 9 articles and signed by 23 committee members, among them Perez from Palermo, Malmusi from Modena, Sanvitale from Parma, etc., in which the organisation of the society throughout Italy and the means of achieving the aim are laid down.