Italy. 7 September 1848

* In Sicily a new ministry, which in its programme promises to maintain the policy of the previous ministers and, with regard to “a detested and perjured dynasty”, to enter into no compromise of any kind. Prince Petrulla, a Sicilian who accompanied Count Ludolf, Ferdinand’s emissary, to Paris and London, has been declared “infamous” and a “traitor to his country” by parliament. Father Gavazzi, who gave rise to the uprising of the Livornese, arrived in Bologna on 26 August, according to the “Dieta Italiana”. The inhabitants prepared a reception for him as for a triumphant conqueror. The Duke of Modena, who with consummate dissimulation sought to make himself popular, has, in accordance with the proverb “The cat does not leave off mousing”, not been able to conceal his own nature for long. He has restricted the publicly proclaimed amnesty by means of secret circulars to the authorities in such a manner that no one is granted amnesty other than those against whom no participation in the revolutionary events can be proved. He has probably had a copy of the notorious amnesty decree sent to him from the Land father in Baden, and has modelled his present circular upon it. In Rome the Minister of War, pressed by interpellations, makes patriotic phrases, speaks of negotiations leading to nothing and of the mass rising of the people being the only last means of salvation; but in practice he gives the lie to his own words. In Florence the ministry demanded of the Chamber of Deputies full powers to disarm Livorno, to make preventive arrests, to suppress the revolutionary journals and pamphlets, to dissolve dangerous associations, etc., etc. It received these full powers, but with the reservation that the civic guard, with a few exceptions, must not be disarmed.

The Chamber further decided, on Trinci’s motion, to mobilise the National Guard throughout the whole country and to march it against Livorno. The Senate likewise gave its consent. The Livornese have elected as president of their provisional government the deputy Guerrazzi, who is in Florence. The number of the other members is 14. Civic guard and people fraternised; the former under pressure, after the latter had stormed and emptied the arsenal and the powder magazine. The gates are shut. No one may go in or out without permission of the provisional government. The railway is still interrupted. The troops have been disarmed. General Zuccheri, greatly hated from the times of Gregory XVI, went to Bologna to take over the supreme command, though he well knew how much the people abhorred him. He counted, however, on the troops and – miscalculated. He was arrested and is guarded by the people in the Ferrari house. Charles Albert issued a proclamation to his soldiers from Alessandria (dated 28 August), in which he puts on a very bellicose air. “While,” he says, “the period of the armistice is running out, my government is energetically providing the means to begin the war anew. From all sides new brothers, new comrades-in-arms (in order to be betrayed yet again!) are streaming with voluntary speed to those colours which were already once unfurled on the banks of the Adige. …” Charles Albert finally orders all officers of the army and navy, as well as all soldiers, to swear allegiance to the constitution, in order “to render the character of citizen inseparable from that of the soldier.”

A correspondence of the Frankfurter Ober-Post-Amts-Z., dated Rome, 26 August, reports that on that day the Chambers were adjourned until 15 September. Thus the ministry has cunningly evaded all embarrassments regarding interpellations. It now has time to carry through its reactionary measures undisturbed. At least, so it hopes. To judge by the mood in Rome, Bologna, etc., this hope is likely to be dashed to pieces before long.

From Milan the Neue Zürcher Zeitung writes under date of 28 August as follows: Here they continue to increase the number of barracks, so that every district, every main street has one. To this end the Austrians unceremoniously make use not only of the gymnasia, lycea and communal schools, but also of private houses and palaces. Numerous waggons with wounded arrive here daily; they are said to come from the heights of Varese, where several engagements with Garibaldi took place. Garibaldi, with the comrades he