ITALY.

Otago Witness, Issue 626, 28 November 1863, Page 8

ITALY.

A glance at the Italian journal! will convince any one that brigandage has recently assumed proportions hitherto unknown. If, thanks to successive amnesties, political brigands who make a trade of robbery and murder have become much more uumeous, and are now regularly organised. Some of the bands consists of 80 men, others of 60, and they 'are constantly engtged in conflicts with the troops and the National Guards. One of the bands, in the neighborhood of Accri, carried off the Bishop of Tropea and a canon who accompanied him. A report from the Prefect of Benevento states that the band of Caruso had committed in one month 93 murders, fired -22 farms and massacred 5000 head of farmstock. The government, feeling itself powerless to put down this evil, has just addressed a circular to the Italian bishops requesting them to recommend the parochial clergy "to give their parishioners a true account of the crimes committed by the brigands, as much to inspire them with horror for these crimes as to prove to them that by their cessation alone oan the - provinces become tranquil and enjoy the benefits promised by the new order of things, sanctioned by the national vote, and manifestly favoured by Providence. The brigands taken from the steamer Aunte were handed over on Monday 11th to the Italian gendarmes at Mont Cenis on the frontier. The brigands of the province of Basilicata, who were expected to surrender in consequence of the safe-conduct granted to them, have commenced giving themselves up. Some chiefs, among whom is the notorious Tima, have appeared. Despatches received from Melfi Potenza, and Caserta. announce the surrender of numerous brigands with their chiefs Much rejoicing prevailed among the people on this account. Murders, robberies, rapes, incendiarism still make up the tale of Neapolitan brigandage. Bat a few weeks since a priest was taken from the altar at Tornecu'O, when the women rose, rang the bell" and called the men together. Within the town there was hard fighting, and one brigand was shot by a woman from the house of a gentleman called BianchL On the 6th September, this gentleman with two others were en route to Beneventnm, escorted by twelve soldiers and nine National Guards, when on a sudden* they were attacked by the band of Caruso. Four soldiers and a sergeant fell from the first shots, and all the others were taVen off prisoners. The soldiers were dismissed ecot free, but the Nationals were all shot. The gentlemen, under escort, were taken into the mountains, and one liberated on paying 2000 ducats. Bianchi remains as a hostage, and feats are entertained for his life. A few days ago a band of brigands, of from forty to fifty men, being pursued by a strong detachment of troops, took refuge in the district of Castle veterp,. near Beneveuto. There, finding eighteen peasants, both men and women, tilling their fields, they murlered them all for having atttempted to take to flight. Two of the women killed were enceinte. While Caruso was superintending this butchery ha was heard to say—' 5 The National Guard of Castelvetere will learn what it is to pursue us." A strong force of the line and National Guard has been sent after him, but hitherto with little success. In someoases of brigandage it cannot be demaL-tßaf the National Guard do not cut a brilliauHtgure* Witness the case of a lieutenant and seveH National Guards: fired upon a few days ago tjyflVe brigands near Sisca, One of the tormer waaJaHed, two ran away, and the * remainder succeeded^in sheltering themselves in, a' 'Church- One. would think that under these oirou'a- . stances the five National Guards must be more than a match for the five brigands. By no means. Tbe ;latter besiege the church, oblige their adversaries (0 ,give up their. arms through the window, and to open • the door ; then tie them hand and foot, shoot two of them, and wonld have shot the others, had they not been obliged to take flight in consequence of the arrival of succour. At Rionero, on the 7th Sept., the brigand chiefs Crocco, Dinco Nanco, and Fortora presented themselves to tha oommandfint of the Italian troops, requesting a safe conduct for 250 other brigands who had promised to give in their submission to,, the government. The chiefs left Rionero for Lagopesole with cries of " Viva Victor Emanuel J" and display* , ing the national flagl , . „ , .-.},;

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