1836.] Revolution at Palermo, in the Year 1820. 237 



Having now clearly ascertained the state of Palermo, I became natu- 

 rally apprehensive for the safety of the troops whom I had ordered to 

 march from Trappani, not doubting but the American captain had 

 delivered my letters; I therefore determined to endeavour to recall 

 them, by sending orders to that effect, by land, to Trappani, if I could 

 find some person to undertake this commission. The fishing-boat, that 

 had been already employed to communicate with the gun-boats, was 

 still near, and it was resolved to propose it to one of the fishermen, who 

 agreed, and I immediately wrote letters to the Governor General 

 Anfossi, and to Colonel Flugi, commanding the 9th light regiTnent in 

 that garrison. In order to insure the fidelity of the courier, I promis ed 

 him six ducats for each letter, to be paid by the ofHeers to whom t he 

 letters were addressed, on his delivering them, either at Trappani, or 

 on the road between it and St. Vito. The letters ordered the imme- 

 diate return of the troops to Trappani, and the courier was ordered to 

 take the road upon which he was most likely to meet the troops, and in 

 the event of meeting them, to give one of the letters to the commanding 

 officer, and go on with the other to Trappani. I then gave the fisherman 

 a couple of dollars, and the man went off in his boat. In the mean time 

 it was perceived that the three gun-boats v/ere gently approaching in line ; 

 a feeling of uneasiness began to manifest itself among our crew. One 

 of my aides-de-camp immediately desired the captain to row our boat 

 out of the line of the others. I felt a conviction that the approach of 

 the gun-boats was with treacherous motives. The sailors of my boat 

 readily rowed a little out of the way. It was now observed, that the 

 sailors of the other gun-boats had called the fisherman (who was charged 

 with the letters) on board their boats, and had taken the letters from 

 him, abusing him by words and blovvs ; they were seen to open the 

 letters and then throw them, either into the fishing-boat in that state, 

 or into the sea, and they were still advancing towards our boat, in a 

 iTMinner that indicated hostility. My sailors had now seized their oars, 

 and muttered to one another the word " tradimento " (treachery) ; the 

 three gun-boats v.ere not more than forty yards from mine ; in which 

 • the alarm v.'as general, on perceiving a considerable uproar and appear- 

 ance of mutiny onboard the others, who now hailed us to stop (fermarsi) 

 or they would fire. This threat was accompanied by a torrent of abuse 

 and imprecations, and among others, " that if the boat did not imme- 

 diately come to them, they would cut in pieces every body on board." 

 ^Jever was the fidelity and courage of men ' put to a severer trial than 

 that of my captain and sailors. They were Sicilians, and on the point 

 of being attacked by their countrymen, who had a frightful superiority, 

 in number and artillery, and it might easily be conceived by these brave 

 men, that no blame could be attached to them if they surrendered to sach 

 a superior force. Their reflections might have also suggested to them, 

 that if they declined a combat and gave up the general, the business would 

 there end, and he alone be the sufferer. In fact, they might have found 

 endless pretences for joining their countrymen. It was an awful mo- 

 ment for myself and mj' companions ; nor was any time to be lost, as 

 the boats of the enemies (for so they might now be termed) were 

 pressing close on us. " Sonb scelerati, traditori, carbonari, Palerme- 

 tani," was the general cry from the faithful Trappani men : " rely on 

 our faith and courage, they shall cut us to pieces before we abandon 

 you ; they are traitors, villains and assasins ! we have better hearts than 



