THE 



MONTHLY MAGAZINE. 



Vol. I.] FEBRUARY, 1826. [No. 2. 



LIEUT. GENERAL SIR RICHARD CHURCH S PERSONAL NARRATIVE 

 OF THE REVOLUTION AT PALERMO, IN THE YEAR 1820. 



Having succeeded in establishing order and tranquillity throughout 

 the extensive provinces of Apulia, I was ordered to assume the com- 

 mand of the 9th military division in Sicily ; my head-quarters were to 

 be in Palermo, and the provinces included in the Val di Mazzara were 

 to form the division, in the command of which I succeeded Lieut. 

 General the Prince of Cuto. I was given at the same time to under- 

 stand, that I should have the general command of the troops in Sicily in 

 the event of the resignation or death of the Capt. General Bourcard, 

 whose age and infirmities made both these cases imminent. My 

 removal to Sicily formed a part of a new system of administration for 

 that kingdom, at the head of which was placed His Exc. Lieut. General 

 Naselli, Secretary of State, and Minister of the Interior and Marine, as 

 Luogotenente-generale in Sicily, an important post, and in every 

 respect equivalent to that of viceroy. The Chevaher de Tliomasis 

 occupied the first civil situation, and I was to hold the chief military 

 command. In consequence of these arrangements His Royal Highness 

 the Hereditar}^ Prince returned, in May, to Naples, which General 

 Naselli left for Palermo in the second week of the month of June. 



In the mean time orders were sent to the head-quarters of the 6th 

 military division at Lecce, commanding me to repair instantly to Sicily : 

 and these orders were followed by others indicating my route through 

 Naples. Wliilst these dispositions were carrying into effect, the general 

 orders announced the death of His Exc. the Capt. General Bourcard, 

 which took place in the latter end of May or earl)^ in June. 



In detailing events connected with revolutions, the most trivial cir- 

 cumstances M'ill be found important, when scrutinized by military 

 men, aware of the chain which not only unites military with political 

 theories, but upon which rests their successful development when re- 

 duced to practice. The late revolutions in Naples and Sicily (leaving 

 Spain out of the question) have fully proved how little reliance can be 

 placed on such military bodies, who, having lost all sense of subordination, 

 consider the oath of a sectary more binding than their allegiance. 

 Anxious, on assuming the command at Palermo, to take foreign troops 



M.M. \y^rc ,SV/7>.?.— Vol. LNn. 2. " Q 



