ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 321, 26 August 1848, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS.

The following recital of the events at Milan, up to the 23rd, the Hay of their delivorance, has been communicated to the press by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs :—: — Milan, .March 23. — After the terriblewords — " It is too late," o! the 18th, the insurrection, spread on every band, the tocsin sounded from all the churches, and barricades were raised in all the streets. A civic guard was organised .under the orders of General Pechi. The troops, during the night; had t-eized upon the government and the municipality. On Sunday the 19th, the firing was resumed on both sides with a great degree of fury. The Austrian cannon swept several streets, but the .Milanese, although without arms, got the advantage on many points, and fought everywhere with the greatest courage. The city ,\vas. threatened with a bombardment ; the French consul called together the other consuls, and requested them to sign a protest, which he sent to Marshal Radetzky on the 19th, at six o'clock in the evening. During this ; time the people, under the guidance of some old officers, fought everywhere with fuiy. On every point taken from tie troops barricades were raised, of which some were formed of rich furniture, of wardrobes, pianos, secretaries, and damask sofas. In proportion as the ardour of the people rose, the courage of the troops appeared to weaken. On several points' important posts were taken almost without fighting. The Consul General of France,

having received no answer to his letter, demanded an interview with Marshal Radetzky, and obtained it on the morning of the 21st. He went to it. after having conferred with the municipality, which had not yet taken the title of Provisional Government. Marshal Rsdetzky listened to the energetic representations of the consular body, and begged it to charge itself with bis propositions to the municipal authorities for an armistice of three days. The municipality refused to admit that proposition, and demanded the delivery of some prisoners who were detained in the citadel. During this time the people had taken possession of the palace of the Viceroy, and of the cathedra), on the top of which floated from that time an immense Italian tri-coloured flag. The offices of the Director General of the Police also fell into the hands of the people, who had pillaged them from top to bottom. The family of the Director General Toiresano, and the famous Count Bolza, who is abhorred by (he Milanese, having been found in that hotel, were respected, and conveyed as hostages to, the Palazza Borromeo. The only place which remained in ti c possession of the troops was the hotel of the military commandant general, before which all the efforts of the people failed, in face of a terrible connonade. In the course of the night of the 22nd that hotel was evacuated, and the troops remained masters of all the gates of the city. On the morning of the 23rd, the reople seconded by the inhabitants of the neighbouring country, who flew to tlie assistance of the city, attacked the gates, but a formidable artillery repulsed all the efforts of the people. Nevertheless, the walls were scaled by emissaries, who informed the Milanese that Pavia and Brescia were in open insurrection, and that the Archduke, the sou of the Viceroy had been taken prisoner. By means of little balloons, which were sent away from the battlements, and which feli into the fields, proclamations were spread inviting the populace of the neighbourhood of Milan to take arms, and to come to the aid of the city. The proclamation also advised the public to destroy all the bridges on the road to Verona, Mantua, and other points, in order to prevent the arrival of* reinforcements of artillery, which it was probable that Marshal Radetzky would demand. They exhorted all the commuues of the Lombardo Venetian Kingdom to insurrection and the formation of National Guards. All the French citizens inhabiting Milan mixed in the struggle with admirable ardour and courage, and the residence of the Consul General, wbere the national flag-was hoisted from the first day, was the refuge of their families, and of many other foreigners. On the 23rd the combat re-commenced with vigour at the Tosa and Romana gates. The cannon did not ceast to thunder on that side, and on the side of the citadel. But in a short time the Tosa gate and the gate of Como were taken by the armed peasants, who had just arrived from Lpcco. At three o'clock in tie rooming of the night of the 23rd to the 24th, the citadel was evacuated, and the troops retired in two columns to Verona and Mantua. This finished, to the eternal honour of the Mi anese, that struggle of five days,' in which, after being engaged, without arms, without ammunition, without any military organization, against a ganison of 15,000 or 16,000 men, provided with everything, strong in a formidable artillery, of which it made great use, they have accomplished, without any foreign aid, and solely by their individual courage, which was only equalled by their moderation and humanity, whilst the Austrians appear to have soiled the last moments of their residence in the town by acts of cruelty and barbarity, which are really savage. V\ c do not know which to admire most— the courage of the Milanese during the combat, their humanity and moderation after their victory, or the incredible order which reigns already in the town after so many and such incredible events. We have seen with our eyes, and we can hardly believe it, some young men, without arms and ammunition, being the first to attack a numerous garrison, commanded by experienced generals and officers, and having every requisite to strangle the insurrection in its birth — we have seen them, I say, repulsing successively from all its positions an army that was provided with everything, and at length obliged to entrench itself in the, castle. Two days later we have seen the same people force the army to yield the castle, to fly disgracefully, and to evacuate in disorder not Milau but Lombardy. It is calculated that there are on the side of the Austrians about 700 killed and wounded, while the Milanese have only lost 250 men. It is said that the Austrians were guilty of some dreadful acts of cruelty before their departure. Marshal Radetzky has carried away a considerable number of prisoners as hostages.