THE NEAPOLITAN EXILES.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 167, 27 May 1859, Page 3

THE NEAPOLITAN EXILES.

Thm public were startled on the Bth of March with the news that Poerio and his companions, 69 in number, had entered Cork harbor in the David Stewart. It may be remembered that the King of Naples sent those exiles against their will to Cadiz in a Neapolitan frigate. There they were put on board the David Stewart bound to NewYork. " They consisted of illustrious statesmen, gentlemen, lawyers, priests, medical men, artists, soldiers, and mechanics. A small sum was to be given them when they reached flew York. A steam frigate towed their ship out to sea and left her on her route. At Cadiz the David Stewart had been joined by a young. man,. Raffaello Settembrini, a son of the patriot, one of the exiles. He signed articles as a seaman and kept his incognito. When the Stromboli departed the. exiles went to the captain and demanded to be carried to England, lie refused; his guarantee would be forfeited. The exile 3 insisted; produced Raffaello Settembrini, attired in the uniform of the Galway packet ships, declared that they had a navigator of their own; and practically took possession of tlie ship. The captain turned her stem towards England; the exiles set a watch upon the compass to see that he kept her head true; and after a voyage of 14 days the David Stewart anchored in Cork harbor: •, --r',V "As fast as possiM- -;'-- "««e Band gothemselves nn. —/«« ashore to Queenstown, and testiTiecrin the most lively manner their joy at being at last assured of freedom. The enthusiasm of some rose to such a pitch that they actually kissed the soil upon which they first planted fiaot as free men. • The Cork people were greatly astonished at the appearance of the exiles. Many, indeed, were arrayed in exceedingly commonplace garment^ and some even of the most distinguished -wore everyday countenances; but some of the groups, composed of tall, gaunt men, with the characteristic swarthy, but handsome, Italian features, arrayed in large wrappers, or burnou?, under the hoods of which little could be distinguished but the gleam of their black hair, or the flash of their big dark eyes, realised to our utmost satisfaction the ideal of conspirators, revolutionists, exiles, or whatsoever strange or terrible they might be considered. Some of them state that their sight has gro\yn dim trom the length of time they have been in prison; and some setrn to have grown rather prematurely gray; but as far as we were able to judge, there was not in their appearance anything to indicate their having endured peculiar hardships. During the voyage Poerio, whose health has been greatly enfeebled, used to get out of bed and sit on deck for a couple of hours daily. - On his arrival at Queenstown he caused himself to be removed to a private lodging. In appearance he is short, thickset, and rather good looking. His age is 55, but his looks would indicate that he is something older. He speaks but a few words of English,' though it is said he at one time knew the language well. The want of exercise in speaking or reading it, during the period of his long imprisonment, has almost obliterated it from his memory. Some further particulars which have been published shew that the course adopted by the exiles was no sudden thought. They'adapted legitimate means- When in Cadiz, harbor they were confined on board the Stromboli for 25 days. They endeavored to interest the Spaniards in their fate, and stated distinctly that they would take legal proceedings against any ship's master who carried them to New York against their will. ■ Captain Prentice incurred that liability. At sea they informed him in a touching memorial of the course they would pursue. They pointed out that they were free men on board the ship of a free nation; that they regarded themselves as under the protection of the laws of that nation ; and that they would appeal to those laws as soon as they set foot on shore. They pointed out that "for a price" Captain Prentice had rendered himself an.accoraplice of the King of Naples; and that the said captain was responsible for an act which resembled the slave-trade. They would respect the laws of the ship, but if Captain Prentice would not take them to Ireland he must take the consequences. Being "respected by the.officers and crew," the latter yielded, and the exiles reached Ireland. The Mayor of Cork and other; citizens have subscribed funds to relieve the distress of these injured men. [A committee has}, been formed in London for the purpose of appeal^; ing to-the public for. .funds to assist these exiled.' Lord "Shaffeslmry is chairman of the committee, and the Eivl of Zetland, Viscount Palmerston, Lord John Russell,. Mr. Gladstone,; Sir Benjamin' Brodie, the Dean of St. Paul's, Mr..EHice, Mr; j Heath, the Sardinian consul-general, and several other noblemen and gentlemen have consented to act on it. ■ The Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, M.P., acts as treasurer; and Mr. Panizzi, of the British Museum, as honorary secretary.]