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Colonist, Volume III, Issue 297, 24 August 1860, Page 3

The news-from Sicily, darkened as it is by horrors, may be set down amongst the greatest- marvels of this age of wonders. At the date of our last, Garibaldi was reported to have landed at Marsala; but. beyond that vague fact we had no reliable particulars. Now, we know that he has completely routed the King's troops, that he is master of Sicily, and that he has already organised a provisional government. Our -first intelligence came through Neapolitan official channels, and. represented Garibaldi, -as . having■ -been - defeated ignominiously, one official, statement going so far •as to say that the patriot general had ciit his throat in despair. Aud by way :of giving greater authority ;• to these falsehoods, trie besotted government actually offered up Te Dennis for thevictories of the royal troops, throughout a rapid campaign in which they were, day after day, suffering, a succession of ignominious defeats. What the wretched King, or his advisers, could have hoped to: gain by these attempts to deceive Europe passes all comprehension; but, we suppose, it must be accepted'as part and parcel of that inexplicable Bourbon mystery, which is now in its last stage. The manner in which Garibaldi won Palermo is an achievement almost without.'parallel. While he was fighting outside the town, the population rose against the troops within, and, after hours of close and severe fihting, Garibaldi, at the head of his gallant followers, with the national'flag in his hand!, appeared suddenly in the streets, and, drove the enemy before him into, the Castle, where they shut themselves up. . At this moment the Neapolitan ships and ttie surrounding forts opened fire iupon the town, and the mad. King of Naples has to add to the; long catalogue of liis, anjijnsj father's atrocities, the .heavy „ guilt of slaughtering his own subjects under circumstances wholly unexampled in the annals of war. The population were mowed down by this barbarous proceeding, and, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the Foreign Consuls, the bombardment, after the cessation of an hour, was unmercifully resumed. But it availed nothing to the remorseless Bourbon. The truth could not be concealed at Naples; and so great was the consternation, and so profound the conviction that the government had run out its last sands, that the ministers resigned in a body, and abandoned the inhumane tyrant to his fate. The final result is admonitory to all nations. The King who had so recently refused quarter to his subjects was now compelled to sue for mercy, by a formal capitulation. Garibaldi, generous in the hour of victory, consented to the embarkation of the Neapolitan soldiers, with arms and baggage—insisting, as an inexorable condition, .to which he, is on all grounds entitled as the head of tlie new. ; government, upon 'the..retention. of the treasury, containing a,large sum of money; Rein-, forcements have reached the: patriots in; various forms, men, subscriptions, and arms; but two vessels have been seized by the Royalists, cqatairiing; it 'is said, 500 volunteers, and 5000 muskets. - The Sardinian, government have demanded the restitution of these vessels; on the ground that they were bound for Genoa. The progress "'towards/the establishment of a government of order arid security has been as rapid and successful as we had a right to expect from the genius of Garibaldi and his memorable antecedents in Rome. He has. already issued several decrees organising all the; departments of the government, and directing active measures of defence and,fiscal arrangements. The local councils and thef .bid functionaries have been .restored all over the country; the public communal lands are to be distributed amdngst persons who have taken up arms in defence of the national independence; and,all the taxes imposed by the Bourbon rule are to be repealed. The country is aleady beginning to wear an aspect of hope and 'confidence—long stirange to its people..

Bat what is to come next? Garibaldi cannot rest here. He cannot stop at Sicily. Calabria expects him, and Naples is palpitating with hope. The Neapolitans have already established a camp at Reggio opposite to Messina. They evidently anticipate the movement which all Europe looks upon as inevitable. In the interval of suspense, .diplomatic agencies have been put in motion, but without result. The King of "Naples, who, crushed as he is, does not appear ashamed of his butcheries, has offered a constitution at last, and sent a minister with instructions to Paris and London to beseech the interference of France and England. France and Austria have both declared their intention to leave Naples to the fate she has so obstinately provoked; and Lord Palmerston has spared the Neapolitan ambassador the trouble of coming to London, by announcing in Parliament the

nature of the reception that wo.uld be given > (o his mission. The ambassador, consequently, has gone-back [to Naples, very much after the same manner of a dog lhat, 'having suffered ilia last humiliation to' which dogs'are liable, slinks away with a' pendulous tail-