Italy. July 29, 1848

* Mirandola, 18 July. Throughout the whole of last night we heard an uninterrupted cannonade from the direction of Mantua. Both Mantua and Verona are blockaded. Everything leads us to expect that something important happened yesterday. We await the courier with impatience. In Modena, on the news that the Austrians were advancing, Messrs. the reactionaries began to carry their heads and their flag high. To their misfortune, the report proved false, and, as a reward for their insolence and long-practised schemes and disgraceful machinations, these gentlemen of the reaction and of the duchy “by the grace of God” have been thoroughly drubbed.

* Florence, 19 July. “The Russian troops,” says l’Alba, “have crossed the Turkish frontier and will not be calling a halt any time soon. The intentions of Turkey and Austria are still a riddle. Will Austria perhaps oppose the Russian conquests? But who knows whether she has not already bound herself to neutrality by a secret treaty? And could she offer resistance if she wished, given the revolutions at home and her war against Italy? And if she remains neutral, will she not find in Russia a support for her designs in Italy? Once Russia is in possession of the new provinces, she would strengthen Austria against Italy and lend support to Prussia against the democratic movement in her provinces. Russia, Austria and Prussia could easily form a coalition against France. In the European struggle then flaring up, France, England and Italy would have common interests to defend.” From Bologna we learn that the prolegate there, on the strength of news from Ferrara, immediately formed a war committee composed of reliable and liberal-minded men, who are to take appropriate measures for the defence of the city and the mobilisation of the militia. Deputies from all the towns of the Romagna have arrived to consult with the Bolognese on the extraordinary circumstances and the steps required for the defence of the country. The Gazzetta di Bologna reports that the Austrians, in their retreat across the Po, left behind a detachment of 400 men on this side, which is plundering the villages in the neighbourhood and committing brutalities of every kind. In Ponte Lagoscuro they have arrested several persons as hostages.
Yesterday a Neapolitan courier passed through here on his way to Turin, bringing, it is said, a protest by the King of Naples against the election of the King of Sicily.

× Rome, 18 July. The Chamber of Deputies here yesterday occupied itself with the regulations for mobilising the National Guard. The debate on this law will require much time. But before proceeding to the order of the day, Montanari put an interpellation to the Ministry regarding the invasion of Ferrara by the Austrians. The Minister of Police answered by communicating the contents of a dispatch just received. Meanwhile Mamiani enters and gives more detailed information about the events. He adds: “It seems to me that Providence wishes to make us very keenly aware of the inestimable value of independence, and that this independence will yet cost us much toil, blood and tears! But we shall achieve it; however it is necessary that you make great exertions. It is no longer a time to believe that the war is near its end, that our state is the Eden of Italy. If you do not support the government with all your might, our action will be perpetually crippled. I can give you the good news that our arm has gained a greater moral power since indignation and the assistance of a high personage have supported it” (Applause).
From these words it is evident that the Ministry again feels itself consolidated, and that the Pope, for the moment, has been restrained from the step of dismissing the Ministry. The reconsolidation of the Ministry is also evident from its latest circular, which calls upon all authorities to energetically restore tranquillity and suppress all disorder. On the evening of the 16th a great torchlight procession was brought to Minister Mamiani; half Rome seemed to be on its feet; the Piazza di Spagna, where he lives, was so full one could barely move, and the cry went up a thousandfold: Long live the Mamiani Ministry! The latter appeared at the window and gave his thanks. Then the whole mass of the people cried out as from a single