juvenile insurrection. The commander, in advancing, called upon them to yield, but was answered by a shower of stones. The order to charge was immediately given; the feeble entrenchment was at once carried; and the unfortunate youths, feeling the bayonets at their breasts, fled in every direction. They are said to have been pursued with vindictive fury along the stairs, into the lecture rooms, and even into the chapel. It was remarked by their friends, that many of the wounds in ficted on this calamitous occasion were with the sabre, which shewed that they were given by officers. Twenty-five were carried to the hos pital; others, though wounded, were able to make their way home. This disturbance, which never had anything formidable in its physical character, left, however, deep impressions on the minds of many of the principal inhabitants, who were connected with the sufferers, and thus tended to heighten that effervescence, which so many circumstances had united in exciting. The mission of the Austrian Count Bubna gave rise to the report, that the cession of some fortresses was about to be demanded from Piedmont. Men's minds were worked up to a high pitch, and were evidently ripe for some desperate enterprize. According to the testimony of a personal observer," they silently watched each other, and asked questions with their eyes oftener than their voice, with a view to discover each other's sentiments." Several daring young men, immediately connected with the court and the ministry, had determined to take the lead in the impending revolution. Among these were Count Santa Rosa, the Marquis of St Marsan, son to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Chevalier de Collegno, equerry to the Prince of Carignan, and Count Lisio, commander of the light horse. They hoped to find sup port, and an ally, even in the royal house. The young Prince of Carignan, who, after the King's uncle, Charles Felix, Duke de Genevois, was nearest heir to the throne, was a young man of a popular and aspiring disposition. He was, indeed, only seventeen, and wanted the energy and steadiness necessary to guide him through any great political crisis. The conspirators, however, found it easy to inspire him with enthusiasm, at the idea of becoming the hero of renovated Italy. With the plan of making Piedmont a constitutional kingdom, they combined that of extending it over Lombardy, the inhabitants of which they trusted were ready to rise in support of any power which afforded the hope of delivering them from the hated yoke of Austria. The kingdom of Piedmont was to have become the kingdom of Italy, and, thus enlarged, would, in fact, have held an almost uncontrolled sway over that fine country. What we are now to state was necessarily secret, and rests only on the authority of a pamphlet since published, and understood to be from the pen of Santa Rosa. Everything having been arranged for a rising on the 8th, the Prince was told that his consent only was waited for. He gave it; Santa Rosa shook his hand; and this ardent enemy of Austria, this gloomy enthusiast in the cause of Italian independence, left the palace full of the most sanguine hopes. The evening of the 7th arrived, and everything seemed to insure the approaching success, when the report was spread, that the Prince had retracted his word. It was true; he had declared to Marsan and Collegno the failure of his resolution; or at least he was in such a state of confusion and indecision, that it was considered impossible to carry into effect any measure which depended upon his concurrence. Scarcely was the moment past, when the Prince appeared to repent of this indecision, and even reproached the conspirators with a want of courage in abandoning their purpose. Encouraged by the display of such dispositions, they renewed their plan, and fixed it for the 10th, though concealing from the Prince the precise period. Meantime, they learned with dismay that he was secretly counter-working them; that, at his warning, measures were about to be taken for rendering their designs abortive, and even for securing their persons. On this intelligence, they precipitately left the capital, and proceeded to Alexandria, Fossano, Pignerol, and other points, where they had influence or secret understanding. Fossano was the first point where a revolutionary movement took place. Its garrison began their march for Alexandria; but, before their arrival, the revolutionary standard was already hoisted in that city. The Count de Palma, commanding a company in the citadel, caused it to take arms and proclaim the constitution. The rest of the garrison making no resistance, he introduced a detachment of dragoons and federal volunteers. Ansaldi, lieutenant-colonel of the regiment of Savoy, quartered in the town, though able to prevail with only a small part of it to follow him, placed himself at the head of the insurrection, and constituted a junta. Meantime the revolutionary chiefs from Turin were busily at work. At Ferielli, St Marsan failed with his regiment, to whom he was scarcely known; but Lisio, accompanied by Santa Rosa, was more fortunate with his regiment of lighthorse, stationed at Pignerol. On his arrival, he sent for several of the officers who were devoted to him, and called the troops instantly to horse. The major attempted to procure some delay, but Lisio exclaimed, "No; we must depart this instant. Mount, my friends, mount, in the name of your king and country." Three hundred cavalry instantly set off, with Lisio at their head. They halted for a few hours during the night, at Carmagnola, where they drew up, and sent to Alexandria, a declaration, importing that they took arms solely to rescue the nation from Austrian influence, and to secure to it a just and honourable liberty; at the same time, that they would defend, against every enemy, the person of the sovereign, and the dignity of his crown. At Asti, they were joined by St Mar. san, and were received with enthusiasm by a vast crowd of the citizens. Passing by the house where Alfieri was born, they hailed it with acclamation; "they thought, in their enthusiasm, that the era of glory, predicted to Italy by the poet, was opening before them." On the morning of the 12th, they entered the citadel of Alexandria. Their arrival decided the governor of the town, De Varax, to enter into a capitulation, in virtue of which the troops which still adhered to him evacuated the place. At noon, the constitutional troops made their entry, and proclaimed the constitution in the great square, where it was hailed by the unbounded plaudits of the multitude, though sadness was impressed on the countenances of a few still attached to the ancient order of things. Alexandria being thus established as the head-quarters of revolution, while the royal party were still masters of Turin, these opposite powers were employed in considering how to overthrow each other. A royal council was immediately called, in which the plan of granting a charter similar to that of the French, was brought under consideration. Against this were urged, not only ancient engagements entered into with Austria, but the uniform professions of faith emitted from Laybach, which anathematized in the strongest terms every change originating in military interference, or which was not prompted by the spontaneous will of the monarch. Concession was therefore rejected. A proclamation was published, in which the King enumerated all the benefits conferred by him on the nation, and represented, that the change now demanded was impossible, without involving Piedmont in foreign war. An amnesty was, how ever, offered to those engaged in the conspiracy; an increase of pay was granted to the army; and the King declared his intention of placing himself at the head of the troops, to march against Alexandria. These troops could be little depend. ed on, either for acting against their comrades, or remaining steady themselves. Ferrero, a captain of light cavalry, having been sent to Carignan, stopped his troop, and, having gained them to his party, marched them back upon Turin. He entered the suburbs, was joined by a few students and zealous patriots, hoisted the tricolor flag, and proclaimed the constitution. The people were well disposed to second this daring movement, but durst not trust themselves to the slender means by which it appeared to be supported. A considerable body of troops was sent against him, but, fearful of contagion, hesitated to attack. The two parties remained for some time in presence of each other, when Ferrero, seeing no prospect of success, drew off, and marched to Alexandria. The Alexandrían patriots now be gan to move, with the hope of speedily inducing Turin to follow their example. Before they reached that city, however, all was decided. The garrison of the citadel, which alone constitutes Turin a military position, contained several officers who had warmly embraced the principles of the revolution. These, having made the previous arrangements, at one in the afternoon of the 12th, the day after the VOL. XIV. PART I. retreat of Ferrero, hoisted the tricoloured flag of the Carbonari, and opened the gates to a party of students and patriotic citizens. Desgeneys, major of artillery, making a courageous resistance, was unfortunately pierced by the bayonet of a soldier. A discharge of three guns announced the event to the population of Turin, which thronged in vast crowds to the foot of the ramparts. Soon, from the garrison and the multitude, was heard, mingled with the roar of artillery, the united cries of "The King!" "The Constitution!" "War with Austria!" The court, struck with alarm, sent the Prince de Carignan to treat with its mutinous subjects, and learn their demands. The officers of the citadel professed the strictest fidelity to the King, but declared that nothing could satisfy the nation but a change of counsels, the Spanish constitution, and war with Austria. The Prince, on his return, was accompanied by the crowd, eagerly entreating him to intercede with Victor Emmanuel to comply with their wishes. A regiment of cavalry, which was under arms in the Place Royale, with difficulty prevented the multitude from entering the palace. The court now felt itself called to deep and solemn deliberation. The commandants of corps, being asked how far they could depend upon their troops, replied, that they could do it fully, so far as regarded the King's personal safety, but no farther. The night was spent in deep debate. The Marquis of St Marsan, foreign minister, and just returned from Laybach, is reported to have taken the lead in opposing all concession to the popular party, though his son had placed himself at their head. The council closed, however, with a very different resolution on the part of the King, which was, to abdicate the crown, and appoint the Prince de Carignan regent Q in the absence of Charles Felix, his brother and heir. He reserved to himself merely the title and dignity of King, an annual pension of a million of livres, the right to all his private property, and liberty to choose his residence. Having put forth the act of abdication, in which these articles were contained, he departed without delay for Nice. He travelled slowly, from illness, and was viewed by his subjects with respect and regret. This measure struck the revolutionary chiefs with the deepest dismay. Most of them appear to have been personally attached to the Sovereign, and, with the desire of a free constitution, to have combined extensive plans for the aggrandizement and glory of the monarchy. All these vanished, when its only representative was a weak, volatile young man, not even the rightful heir. However, the career was entered upon, and could not be stopped. The multitude, with loud and confident cries, called upon the Prince for the Spanish constitution, which he seemed placed there for the sole purpose of granting. The Regent, however, paused. He held out, that he could fix nothing definitive, without the orders of Charles Felix, now King. Meantime, the impatience and irritation of the multitude daily increased, and the palace was with difficulty defended against their entrance. At length Crivelle, a physician, found admittance to the Prince, in the character of deputy from the people. As the Regent urged all the motives which put it out of his power to grant immediately the wishes of the people, Crivelle answered only, "But blood is about to flow!" Although this argument was repelled in the first instance, it gradually made its impression. The Prince agreed to receive a deputation from the municipality; and, in a council composed of them and of the ministers, it was at length determined to grant the Spanish constitution. At eight in the evening, this was announced from the balcony, and was received with loud acclamation. Illuminations, and every form of public rejoicing, terminated the day, which, notwithstanding its tumultuary and eventful character, had not been stained with any species of outrage. In the proclamation issued next day, the Prince pretty strongly expressed the reluctance he felt to change the fundamental laws of the kingdom, without know. ing the intentions of Charles Felix. The exigency of circumstances, the safety of the kingdom, and the common will, expressed with indescribable ardour, are the grounds on which he rather excuses than adopts the mea sure. The Prince now proceeded to organize anew the different branches of administration. A junto of fifteen, afterwards augmented to twenty-four, was appointed to exercise the functions of parliament, previous to its convocation. A new ministry was also formed, at the head of which was placed Dalpozzo, a man who had filled the first offices under the Imperial government. He was generally and highly esteemed; and, though not at all instrumental in bringing about the revolution, his appointment gave entire satisfaction to the constitutional chiefs. The next measure was a general amnesty to all who had taken any share in the revolution; but this term displeased the Alexandrian chiefs, who sent a deputation to say, that, far from considering their conduct as standing in need of pardon, they accounted it their glory. The expression was then explained, as having applied to those irregularities, which, in the tumult of so sudden a change, could not fail to have occurred. These chiefs were continued in their military commands, and employed themselves actively in spreading the range of the revolution. St Marsan marched on Novara, where La Tour, who commanded the garrison of 1500 men, agreed, after some discussion, to accede to the new order of things. The constitution was proclaimed at Novara, amid the acclamations of the troops and inhabitants, and La Tour was continued in his command, a measure of which they found afterwards reason bitterly to repent. The tidings of this revolution caused an extraordinary agitation in the north of Italy. To the inhabitants of the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, who were attached to Carbonaric principles, the moment appeared now come when their vows were to be fulfilled. Numbers of Milanese, and particularly of Pavian students, hastened to offer their services to the new government of Piedmont. The Vice-Queen, at Milan, had packed up all her effects to set out, though the alarm was allayed, by subsequent advices. In the junto of Sovereigns at Lay. bach, the Piedmontese revolution was felt as a subject of extraordinary alarm. The issue of the expedition to Naples was yet unknown; and there was probably no anticipation of the instant success with which it was to be crowned. To the hostile party there, the accession of Piedmont was likely to inspire extraordinary courage; and, in the present temper of men's minds, nothing less could be anticipated than the general insurrection of all Italy. Austria was, at the moment, without a field army; but the Emperor order. ed a body of troops to be formed by draughts from the Italian garrisons. It was placed under the command of Count Bubna, on the left bank of the Tesino, to guard that boundary between Lombardy and Piedmont. Orders were sent to reinforce it with whatever troops could be spared from the German and Hungarian territories, At the same time, Alexander sent or ders that the army on the frontier of Poland should put itself instantly in motion upon Italy. All the force of both empires seemed scarcely sufficient to put down a movement, which threatened to assume so formidable an aspect. In the Duke de Genevois, who stood now as King of Sardinia, the allies found a most determined adherent. Having received from the Prince of Carignan intelligence of all that had taken place, he readily, indeed, accepted the crown, but disowned entirely whatever had been done relative to granting a constitution, or calling a parliament, and declared all rebels who continued attached to the party at present in power. This proclamation being circulated through Piedmont, caused a deep dismay in the adherents of the revolution. The Count de la Tour immediately declared for Charles Felix, and placed at his disposal Novara, and the troops there stationed. Meantime, the military chiefs at Alexandria were by no means satisfied with the conduct of the central government. They complained, that, though the ministry contained able men, yet the two most efficient departments, those of war and of foreign affairs, were not filled, in consequence of the illness or the refusal of the individuals appointed; that the military preparations were on no scale adequate to the emergency; that the junto, though honest and well-meaning, were ill fitted to guide the vessel of the state through the midst of the tempest. They exclaimed, that the first step which should have been taken, was, to declare war against Austria, and to pass the Tesino; that this bold proceeding would have called out the Milanese, given new courage to Naples, and moved all the States of Italy. To attempt, by pacific measures, to soften that haughty confederacy, was altogether chimerical. Impressed with these views, the |