ROME.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume v, Issue 421, 15 August 1849, Page 4

ROME.

The condition of the Roman states presents an almost unparalleled picture of anarchy, (error, and confusion. In Ancona, the capital of the Marches, the population, 30,000 in number, is ruled by about twenty ruffians of the lowest order — porters, wine sellers, &c, who are leading members of the Circolo del Popolo, and arrogate to themselves executive authority in addition to the direction of affairs. Any person rendering himself obnoxious to this body is doomed to certain death ; and upon a word in disap-proval'of'the-republican fraternity, carries out Us own decrees, and commits murder in the most public -situations, within sight and hearing of the " Corpoi de Guardia," with perfect impunity. Within 1 the last three months there is no exaggeration in stating that at

least 1 00 assassinations have been perpetrated in the town. The assassins are all known, yet walk at large, the government seeming either unwilling or unable to arrest them. To such proficiencj have they attained in the art of stabbing that the first blow rarely fails ; but when its effects are not fatal, and the victim is placed under treatment, the surgeons in attendance receive threatening letters, warning them to dread the consequences to themselves, should the patient recover. A most atrocious outrage occurred on the 31st ult., when.ten or twelve of the wi etches already mentioned entered the reading-room of the Casino, and rudely desired that the Bologna Gazette should be given up to them that it might burnt, for having brought the bad tidings of the total overthrow of the Piedmontese forces at Novara. To enforce their demand they struck the seven or eight individuals who were in the romm. One of these, the Marchese Nemdrini, roused by this indignity, offered some remonstrance, when he was surrounded and instantly stabbed to the heart. It is not certain whether this murder was premeditated or not, but it is generally supposed it was, as the poor Marchese had been in the habit of freely expressing his opinions, and was known to be adverse to the existing state of things. No one dreamed of securing the assassins; who, as if glorying in their deed, were seen next morning standing together in a group in the centre of the Great Piazza. On the same night four other assassinations took place, yet no effort was made to stem the torrent. It is impossible to convey an idea of the fear which paralyses all classes. Those persons who last year would have been considered ultra-Liberals are now denounced, because they have remained firm to their original principles, and have not embraced the tenets of the Red Republicans, whose reign will be chronicled in characters of blood. — Correspondent of the Globe.