122 General Sir Richard Church's Narrative q/ the [Feb. 



o'clock I retired to rest, the town being perfectly tranquil, as it was the 

 only night without public spectacle during the festival. 



Early on the morning of the 15th, Marshal O'Farris brought me the 

 viceroy's definitive command in writing, to announce to the troops the 

 King's acceptance of the Constitution of Spain, with orders that the 

 troops should immediately adopt the tri-coloured cockade — the same, it 

 was specified, as his Majesty and the Royal Family at Naples wore. 



Upon the receipt of these decisive commands, I issued a general order, 

 announcing to the troops the King's acceptance of a constitution, and 

 the viceroy's commands to assume the national cockade ; thanking 

 them for their conduct, warning them of the necessity for a con- 

 tinuation of their strict discipline, and, finally, informing them that I 

 only awaited the necessary orders to quit the command. Had I said 

 more, the Carbonari, who abounded among the troops, would have given 

 out that I was leaving them to join the Sicilians : for any thing in such 

 moments answers the purpose of factious demagogues, and the views of 

 party spirit ; in fact. Marshal O'Farris, and other generals, told me that 

 I had spoken too plainly about going away. The staiF-ofiicers having 

 taken the liberty of giving out the general order without this last clause, 

 I sent an aide-de-camp to Marshal O'Farris to recall the orders fn- 

 stantli/, in order to add that paii. As my aide-de-camp passed to the 

 Marshal's house in an open carriage, several voices cried, " That white 

 plume shall be trampled on the ground to-night." Upon discovering 

 that Marshal O'Farris had kept back the latter partof the order, I instantly 

 recalled all the orders given out, that the article immediately relating 

 to myself might be added ; having previously, in company with Mar- 

 shal O'Farris, repaired to the viceroy, who read and approved the 

 order, which was finally transmitted to the different corps, and carried 

 into execution at about ten o'clock in the morning. 



On the 15th the Sicilians had adopted a. yelloijo 7-ibbon, worn at the 

 breast, as their badge of independence — instead of the four-coloured 

 cockade, which remained in the hat. The troops were quiet and 

 regular the whole of the morning, and the populace immense — the 

 patroles and guards attentive, and the 07ili/ guard not strengthened was 

 my own. 



In the forenoon, the general commanding, and all the general officers 

 in Palermo, together with a great part of the Sicilian nobility, accom- 

 panied the viceroy to church, where the customary grand service for 

 the festival of Santa Rosalia was celebrated. The viceroy was escorted 

 by a strong guard of cavalry, and received at the church-door by a 

 guard of honour from the infantry of the guards. The ceremony lasted 

 until between one and two o'clock ; the crowd in the church was con- 

 siderable, and the cries of " Viva Santa Rosalia /" " Viva Vlndepen- 

 denza /" " Viva la Constituzione di Spagna /" and " Viva la Trap- 

 pa !" were often vociferated during the service, both by those within 

 and those without the cathedral. The viceroy in returning to his 

 house was followed by the populace, reiterating these cries ; but I re- 

 turned with Marshal O'Farris to my lodgings without molestation. 

 At three o'clock Marshal O'Farris received from me his evening 

 orders and left me — the streets of Palermo being still quiet, though 

 crowded. 



From three to five o'clock I received a few visits, dined with the 

 officers of my family, and remained in the house till the hour for going 



