Italy. 23 September 1848

Although calm has been restored in Leghorn and is greater than in the period before the last revolution, although the municipal authority has been recognised by the government, the military camp near Pisa is nevertheless not being broken up and communication on the railway is not being reopened. Everything indicates that the government, in a thoroughly Jesuitical manner, is again seeking to provoke the Livornese, in order then, as it hopes, to strike a blow that will satisfy its vengefulness.

– The Lombard Consulta, now assembled in Turin, has officially protested against the armistice, considered as a political fact, and declared that the fate of Lombardy and Venice is inseparable, that the union with Piedmont, freely approved by the people, shall be sustained, and that any mediation, unless it wishes to violate international law, must have as its foundation the absolute independence of the whole of Italy.

– When Garibaldi arrived in Nice, although provided with a regular passport, he was turned back by the police brigadier on the grounds of higher orders. He would probably have fared like the republican de Boni in Genoa. But soon the news arrived of the energetic manner in which the Genoese had opposed the resumption of the old police tyranny, how they had stormed the police building, had forced de Boni’s return, etc. This had an excellent effect. The “higher” orders had vanished and Garibaldi was able to enter his native town unmolested.

The representatives of the citizenry of Piacenza protest against the war contributions imposed on the city; Count Thurn replies that he trusts to their “patriotism” (!!) that they will immediately raise the monies etc., he “invites” the “worthy” authority to do so and threatens at the close very unequivocally, should the authority persist in its protest, with the general plundering of the city. Since they persisted in the protest, Thurn transferred the entire city administration to the Podesteria and appointed it the provisional government. The inhabitants of Piacenza have, on account of this act of violence, appealed to the Turin ministry for help, from which they will get, at most, words.

Genoa, 13 September. Many of the persons publicly attacked as spies, Jesuits and Austrians have sought to justify themselves to the public by placards. For some days now, similar placards have been appearing from the most notorious prostitutes of the city, in which they most respectfully assure the public that, although their professional business has compelled them to bid farewell to feminine modesty, they have not renounced the other civic virtues, and therefore request their patrons, without fear of espionage, to continue to honour them with their custom.

– Yesterday, 400 men of the Italian legion in Africa arrived here from there. The troops were unarmed, but wore the French uniform of the African line troops, which gave rise to the surmise that they were French auxiliaries, so that within a few minutes all the streets of the city resounded with the wildly joyful cries of “the French! the French!” The troops were remarkably fine, robust and young.

– Manin has repeatedly written to the Genoese for monetary support, without which the city, fallen into the greatest distress, can no longer hold out.

(Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung)

Naples, 7 September. Today, 2 regiments were led against that section of the Lazzaroni which had so unexpectedly gone over to the liberal party, but were forced to retreat by the latter. Soon, however, fresh troops arrived and the hand-to-hand fighting began anew.

Naples, 7 September. The excitement and embitterment against the military rule is great. There is considerable fermentation among the people. The Lazzaroni of almost all quarters are now said to have suddenly gone over to the side of the constitutionalists. Today again there has been more than one clash between them and the troops.

– The state newspaper announces the dismissal of the two heads of the police; likewise the once adored, now so detested Bozzelli resigns from the Ministry of the Interior and takes over that of Education. The Minister of the Interior from the absolutist times, Sant Angelo, has returned from Malta, to which he had fled in his time. Only del Carretto is still missing! Of the feast of the Madonna of Piedigrotta, which falls tomorrow, the chief festival of the Neapolitans, there is of course no question. The King does not dare to show himself in the city.