ITALY AND GARIBALDI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1798, 29 November 1862, Page 5

ITALY AND GARIBALDI.

We have now details of Garibaldis rising. Our last intelligence gave th? simple fact that he had crossed over from Sicily to the mainland. It does not appear that bis reception at Calabria was quite sb enthusiastic as at Reggio, The following letter from Garibaldi himself, relating to the unhappy conflict at Aspromonte, will be read with the greatest interest : — " On board the Duke of Genoa, " September 1. "They thirsted for blood, and I wished to spare it. Not the poor soldier who obeyed, but the men of tbe clique who cannot forgive the revolution for being the revolution — it is that which disturbs their conservative digestion — and for having contributed to the re-establish-nient of our Italian family. Yes, they thirsted for blood ; I perceived it with sorrow, and I endeavoured in consequence to the utmost to prevent that of our assailants from being shed. I ran to tbe front of our line crying out to them not to fire, and from the centre to the left, where my voice and those of my aides-de-camp could be heard, not a trigger was pulled. It was not .thus on the attacking side. Having arrived at a distance of 200 metres, they began a tremendous fire, and tbe party of Bersagiieri who were in front of me directing their shots against me, struck me with two balls, one in the left thigh, not serious, the other in the ankle of the right foot, making a serious wound. As all this happened at the opening of the conflict, and as I was carried to the skirt of a wood after being wounded, I could . see nothing more, a thick crowd having funned around me while my wound was being dressed. I feel certain howevei, that up to the end of the line which was at my litter, and to that of my aides-de-camp, not a single musket was fired. As there was no firing on our side, it was very easy for the troops to approach and mingle with ours ; and when I was told that they wished to disarm us, I replied that the men might disarm themselves. The intentions of my companions were so little hostile, that I only by this disarmed in the crowd, some officers and regular soldiers. It was not so' on our right. The piccoiti, attacked by tbe regular troops, replied by a fire upon tbe whole line, and although trumpets sounded to cease firing, there was at that spot a smart fusilade, which lasted not more than a quarter of an hour. My wounds led to some confusion in our lines. Our soldiers not seeing me, began to retreat into the wood, so that little by little tbe crowd round me broke up. and the most faithful alone remained. At this moment I learned that my staff and Colonel Pallavacino, who commanded the regular troops, were negotiating upon the following considerations : first, that I should be free, with my staff, to withdraw where I pleased. (I replied, "On board an English vessel.") Second, that having arrived at the sea shore, the rest of my companions should be set at liberty. Colonel Pal- j luvicino conducted himself as a valorous and intelligent chief in all his military movements, and he has not been wanting in lespect or courtesy towards me and my people. He showed bis grief in having to shed Italian blood ; but he had received peremptory orders, and had to obey them.' My arrangements had been purely defensive, and I had hoped to avoid a conflict, seeing the very strong position that I occupied, and entertaining tbe hope that the regular troops had received orders less sanguiuary. If I had not been wounded at the outset, and if my people had not received tbe order, under all circumstances, to avoid auy collision whatsoever with the regular troops, the contest between men of the same race would have been terrible. Howsoever, far better as it is. Whatever may be the result of my wounds, whatever fate the government prepares for rae, I have the consciousness of having done my duty ; and the sacrifice of my life is a very little thing if it has contributed to save that of a great number of my fellow-countrymen. In the hazardous enterprise in which I and my companions had thrown ourselves, with heads bent, I hoped nothing good from tbe Government of Battazzi. But why should I not have . hoped for less rigour on the part of the king, having altered in nothing the old programme, and having decided not to alter it at any price ? What afflicts me most is this fatal distrust, which contributes not a little to the iDcompleiion of national unity. Howerer it may be, I once again present to Italy a serene front, assured of having done my daty. Once more, my unimportant life and the more precious ones of so many generous young men have been offered as a holocaust to the holiest of causespure from all vile personal interests. " G. G 4.RIBALDI." The Wanderer of Vienna publishes tbe following letters, which, it states, ha*e passed between General Garibaldi and the American Consul at Vienna ;— "To General Garibaldi, Spezzia, Italy. "Vienna, Ist September. " General,— -As it has not been practicable to you for the moment to accomplish the great patriotic work you undertook in the interest of your belored country, I take the liberty of addressing you the present letter, with the view of learning whether it would not enter into your plans to offer us your valiant arm in the contest which we sustain for the liberty and unity of our great Republic. Tbe combat iv which we are engaged does not interest us alone, but tbe whole civilised world. The transport and enthusiasm with which you would be received in our country, in which you have passed a portion of your life, would be immense ; and your mission which would be that of leading our brave soldiers to sght for the same principle to which you have nobly devoted your entire existence, would be altogether conformable to your intentions. I shall consider myself, General, extremely fortunate if I could receive your reply. I have tbe honor to be, &c, "Theodobe Canisius, "Consul of the United States of America.' The following was General Garibaldi's reply: — " Varijynano, 14th September. "Sib, — I am a prisoner, and dangerously wounded, consequently it is not possible for Jxe to dispose of myself. Still the moment that I have obtained my liberty, and that my wounds are healed, I shall seize the first favourable opportunity of satisfying my desire to serve the | great American Republic, of which I am a citizen, and which is now fighting for universal liberty. "I lave the honor to be, Sec, " Gaiubaldi."