ITALY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 433, 26 September 1849, Page 3

ITALY.

SEVERE LOSS OF THE FRENCH AT ROME. The French force before Rome has, in two attempts to enter that city, experienced, it is said, severe loss, and retired, according to their latest accounts, to St. Paolo, about six leagues from Rome. The Sentinelle, of Toulon, of the 4th instant, brings this news in two communication?, one later than the other, which we subjoin. The first communication says — " We have received news from Rome by the Veloce, which left Civita Vecchia on the Ist. The army set out on its march the 28th ult., and in spite of the obstacles which it met with on its way, arrived on the 30th under the walls of Rome. The General-in-Chief sent forward Captain Oudinot with a flag of truce, but he was seized and detained. Our soldiers then advanced and were received with firing from some houses in which a number of Lombards and other Italians had entrenched themselves. Our troops returned the fire, but, from the moment that a resistance appeared determined on, the General-in-Chief withdrew his troops towaids Castel Gelido, four leagues from Rome. He would not, perhaps, have advanced, had he foreseen the slightest resistance on the part of the Italians. He does not intend engaging in any undertaking before receiving reinforcements from France, and, above all, seige artillery. A rumour has been in circulation there that we have lost 600 men but this is incorrect. We have had one man killed and twenty-five wounded." The subsequent says-7-" By the Oroneque, which has arrived this evening (Thursday) from Civita Vecchia, which she quitted on the 2nd, at noon, we have received new details respecting the situation of our expedition. It appears that our troops, in greater numbers, made a second attempt to penetrate into Rome, and that they experienced a sharp resistance. A company of the tirailleurs of Vincennes, having advanced too far in a street, an attempt was made to extricate it, but this was not without loss. A company of voltigeurs of the 20th was entirely destroyed by a well supported fire from the windows. We have also to deplore the death of a captain of artillery, the aide-de-camp of General Oudinot. We reckon 180 killed and 400 wounded. Our army has retired to St. Paolo, six leagues from Rome."

The Roman correspondent of the Daily News says — Rome, April 29. The enthusiasm of the citizens and troops, intsead of flagging, is every hour rising with energy. The Nationil Guard passed in review before the Assembly and the triumvirs this morning, and all swore to defend Romp to the last drop of their blood. The lower orders are in a perfect state of frenzy, and brandish pitchforks, knives, and every imaginable implement, crying out for the infamous French invaders to come in if they dare. The Princess Trivulzio de Belgioioso is at the head of a committee of ladies, who are busy preparing bandages for the wounded and wadding for the cannon. All the bridges of the city, from Ponte Molle to Ponte Sisto and St. Bartolomeo are undermined, ready to be blown np. The Tiber is now swollen. The artillery staff are erecting batteries, and the engineers redoubts, at which the people work with zeal and alacrity. All the paving stones of the town are in heaps, and are being carried to the tops of the houses. The French were last night at St. Paolo, twenty-five miles off. Oudinot has received a deputation and hesitates to advance. He is said to have asked for an armistice of nine days, no doubt to allow the second division of his men to come from Toulon, This won't do now ; he is come too far to get back with honour, and a horrid butchery must ensue. In the sitting of the Assembly at Rome on the 27th, Mantecchi, Minister of Public Works, gave an account of his journey to Civita Vecchia, and confirmed the report made by Rosconi. The Assembly then declared that it persisted in the first decision that is to oppose the French. A proclamation was immediately put forth to the Roman troops, stating therein that the French had violated a free territory, but that they should not conquer the Roman people. By a decree of the triumvirate of Rome, also on the 27th ult., all members of religious orders were free to abandon them ; and those among them who wish to join the army and defend their country will be received with gratitude. On the 28th ult. the nuns of St. Sylvester were ordered to evacuate their convent, to make room for the Legion Garbaldi, which had just arrived.