Italy. September 22, 1848
Italy.
* After the adjournment of the Neapolitan parliament, the royalist Lazzaroni rose up with triumphant shouts for the absolute king. These were confronted by the constitutional party of the Lazzaroni, and they were joined by a number of liberal-minded citizens. The dispute became so violent that the military intervened. The result is that Naples again finds itself in a kind of state of siege. With the capture of Messina, the arrogance of the reactionary party knows no bounds whatsoever. In Sicily, they are preparing the levée en masse of the people. When the opening of hostilities was communicated to the chambers in Palermo on September 3, deputies and senators rose as one man and swore to sacrifice everything for freedom and never again to tolerate the rule of the Bourbon on the beautiful island. Upon the proposal of a deputy to grant dictatorial powers to the ministry, the latter declared that it had no need of such power. It wished rather to rely entirely on the patriotism and the assent of the chambers. Furthermore, a loan at 7 per cent is resolved upon, and all silver and gold plate, as well as all other valuables of the churches, monasteries and other religious corporations, are designated as security for it. In Palermo alone there are 30,000 well-armed and disciplined Sicilians; 100,000 volunteers are also provided with weapons. King Ferdinand may do what he will: he will never reconquer the island with his own forces.
Charles Albert finally arrived in Turin on the 14th inst. In a proclamation he thanks the National Guards, in whose protection he left his family, for their worthy conduct, and concludes with some fine phrases about his infinite love for Italy’s freedom and independence.