1825.] Revolution at Palermo, in the Year 1820. 123 



to tlie senatorial palace, according to established custom, to witness the 

 procession and fire-works, which usually conclude the festival of 

 Santa Rosalia, on which occasion the king or viceroy is always present, 

 with the principal authorities and nobility of Palermo. At the palace I 

 found a ievf nobles, and not many officers — the viceroy's court, and 

 that of the senate, &c. forming the chief part of the assembly. ITie 

 procession passed under the windows, followed by immense crowds, 

 crj'ing " Viva Santa linsalia," " Viva F Indcpendenza ;" and the scene wan 

 most noisy. Fire-works in the square of the senatorial palace suc- 

 ceeded, and then a pause of a quarter of an hour, the people having 

 mostly gone into the Cassero. The society in the palace seemed ill at 

 ease ; the viceroy still remained, and conversed with me at intervals 

 about the affairs at Naples — another boat having arrived that evening 

 with more detailed despatches from the new government. 



At about half-past eleven o'clock a great shouting was lieard imme- 

 diately under the windows, and the square was filled with people follow- 

 ing a procession, headed by a numerous party of non-conmiissioned 

 officers and soldiers of different regiments, chiefly the Guards and 

 Queen's, decorated with their insignia as Carbonari, exciting the mob 

 to riot, and shouting with them " Viva V Indepeiidenza di Sicilia .'" 

 " Viva la Liberta c Viva Robespierre!" The viceroy called me to 

 witness this scandalous scene, and said ; " Observe the infamous conduct 

 of those soldiers, mischief will certainly happen ;" to which I answered, 

 " that orders had been given to keep the troops in their quarters, and 

 that I hoped they would be induced to return there. " As soon as the 

 square was free from the procession of the Carbonari, soldiers and popu- 

 lace, who all passed into the Cassero, the viceroy returned home escorted 

 by his guard of cavalry. Most of the military officers, and even the staff", 

 who ought to have remained with the general conmianding, had also re- 

 tired, and Brigadier-General Coglitore, the commandant of Palermo, was 

 the only officer of rank with me. In a few moments after the departure 

 of the viceroy, the procession of the Carbonari, soldiers, and mob passed 

 again under the windows, stopping there, and renewing with increased 

 violence their former shouts, to the terror of the ladies present. They 

 then proceeded slowly, obliging the people in the houses to shout out 

 with them, and returned under the windows, and after repeating 

 the same scene, passed on to the Cassero, towards the King's palace. 

 The square was now cleared, and all eyes seemed fixed on me. 



In a few moments I had determined in my own mind that violent mea- 

 sures could not be resorted to (at least in the first instance) — the military 

 having been the principal instigators of the riot ; and as the great object 

 was to restore order without bloodshed, it would be ill-judged to com- 

 promise the small garrison with the immense population of Palermo and 

 the neighbouring towns, intoxicated with ideas of religion, liberty, and 

 Jestivity. The patroles and guards on duty were sufficient to restore order, 

 if this could be done by gentle means ; if not, the only feasible measure 

 was the formation of the whole garrison in order of battle on the general 

 alarm post. It was doubtful whether the troops could be depended on ; 

 but the hostile employment of them was the last resource, for blood being 

 once shed in such a critical position, no one could foretel the end of the 

 tragedy. The sympathy of the soldiers with the populace was already 

 evident, from the fraternal processions of the military Carbonari, many 

 of whom were Sicilians. It was also necessary to receive the viceiov's 



R 2 



