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—The shores are literally speckeled with villages and white
villas, the summer retreat of the Milanese nobility.
Taken altogether, it perhaps surpasses, in beauty
of scenery, and in the richness of its almost tropical
vegetation every other lake in Italy.

A few weeks devoted to his country, during which
the intrepid Garibaldi visited his mother and
children at Nice.—he was advised to make
preparations for his departure from Italy and
obeyed without a murmur. Now let us see what
a courageous resolution is capable of

In 1850 in one of the least frequented streets in
New York was a small candle factory in which
Garibaldi was actively engaged as if the days of
Monte Video and Rome had never glittered.
—At this period, one of Garibaldi friends arrived
at New York, and his first visit was to the illus­
trius captain, he found him with his shirt sleeves
turned up dipping wicks into a pan of boiling
tallow—"I am happy to see you," he said—
—and I should like to shake your hand but mind
the tallow. You have arrived at a capital
moment: I have just solved a nautical problem
that has bothered me a long time, how droll it is
that I should have found it at the bottom of this well of—
—tallow."

Page 82

A short time later and Garibaldi proceeded to
Peru. All the Italian were excited when they heard
that their illustrious countryman was about to land
at Callao—a deputation waited upon him and
he was conducted in triumph to Lima.

It is stated, that during his stay in south
america, from 1852 to 1854 he commanded
the Peruvian army and gained many victories.

—In the summer of 1854 Garibaldi returned to
Genoa and took an active part in the National
Society up to the moment when the hour of
deliverance appeared to him, to have struck.

We need not dwell upon all the events which preceeded
the the late Italian war or the vain efforts made by
the whole diplomatic body to prevent it. During
the diplomatic crisis however, Italy was
growing greatly agitated.

Austria was making formidable preparations
she had already eighty four thousand men of
all arms, in Lombardo-Venetia

In april Garibaldi had was nominated Major
General. As events hurried forward the English and
french nations began to display sympathy with

Page 83

As soon as hostilities commenced, Garibaldi left
Turin with three thousand seven hundred men, full
of enthusiasm which increased by the cordial reception
given them in every town they entered.

It had been Garibaldi's utmost ambition to be the first
to enter Lombardy and raise the flag of independence

Garibaldi had the report spread that he was proceeding
to Arona, even wrote orders to have provision and
bullets prepared and the churches turned into stables.
An hour later, the bugle sounded and his soldiers
each armed with two muskets marched on the Licino
and proceeded by forced marches on Varese.

The Austrians no sooner heard of the way in
which he had they had been tricked then they
prepared to punish him for his audacity.

For some time Como remained

Page 84

Scene 29

Austrians attacking Varese

Urban (the commander of the Austrians) stopped before
the gates of Varese and sent the following
ultimatium to the municipality.

""As a punishment for the reception granted to the
enimies of the imperial government, Varese will pay
a fine of three million Livres, on the following
conditions. The first million within an hour—
the second an hour after the first,—the third
an hour after that.—In case of refusal the
town will be bombarded and sacked by the troops"

On hearing these atricious terms all the inhabit
­ants who could, fled at once, and only the sick
and wounded in the combat of the 24th were
left behind.—When the messenger of the Austrian
General returned announcing the impossibility
of payment, he became furious, and ordered
the firing to commence. The barbarians
fired into the town 197 shells, destroying
and setting fire to houses and killing the
wounded in their beds.When the work
of destruction appeared to him complete,
Urban let his troops loose on Varese to plunder
as they pleased

Page 85

They carried of or destroyed everything. They broke up
furniture, threw the provisions into the streets, and
set the barrels of wine running. It was a mad and
cruel orgie, and when they retired—Varese was a
ruin.

Scene 30.

Austrian steamer shelling baggage waggons

There is not a regiment in Europe where discipline is
more severely maintained then in the volunteer comp­
anies. Garibaldi selects his men.

This body of volunteers, is composed of young men
belonging to the best families of Naples, of
Bologna, Parma, and before all Milan.
—Garibaldi is the implacable foe of the Austrians,
was more and more honoured and exalted.
The Victor Emannuel congratulated him on his successes
The whole country was in a state of insurrection.
All classes without distinction were prepared fo(r)
resistance. Garibaldi has the faculty of
animating all who are with him, his name is
in every mouth, engraved on every heart.
The rich, like the peasants posses his portrait
both are glad to have near them, the hero of the
day whose piercing eyes seem fixed on one point
and that the freedom of Italy—

Page 86

As his troops were passing the point represented
in the view and Austrian steamer ventured to fire
on his baggage waggons—a shell burst killing
several men and horses—but he soon
repaid that by capturing four of their steamers
on the Lake of Como.

Scene 31

Capture of Sans Fermo

For some time Como remained Garibaldi's
head quarters—the central point of action,
whence he performed his daring sorties, and dealt
those sudden blows for which he seems
to have the sole reciept. Our view represents
his attack on Sans Fermo, where he dis­
lodged twelve thousand Austrians. This was
a marvel of boldness. The enemy occupied
a steep mountain, their heavy guns sweeping
the only road leading to it, and yet after a
short contest, the Austrians broke and fled
in such confusion that they left all their baggage
and ammunition behind them.

One of Garibaldi's volunteers thus describes him:

Page 87

"

We all adore our chief though he speaks rarely and
is most incommunicative—So soon as we see
him we look at his cap: if it is on the back of his
head, it is a sign he is satisfied,—if on the
contrary, it conceals his face, and the [gap of 7chars]on
[gap of 6chars] , the situation is grave—we may ex­
pect something serious, and we get ready our
arms. These two signs never fail in their
effect—The other other day, the cap was
further back than ever.—The telegraph had
informed us of the arrival by railway of fifteen
hundred Austrians who were coming to Bergamo
unaware of our presence, our hearts beat
with impatience, minute succeeded minute
—but nothing came. The Austrians had gone
back at full speed when they heard of our
presence.—Sudden change of the cap's
position.—for nearly two days we were
unable to see even his face [gap of ]

This devil of a man exercises such influ­
ence, that I saw him in an action, send
citizen under fire, to whom he gave the
muskets of his wounded soldiers, and they
behaved most courageously—

Page 88

Scene 32.

descent upon Scicily
Departure of troops from Faro

The strategem by which Garibaldi threw a body of
men upon the coast on the night when the
first flotilla left the Faro was a proof in what
manner the general can overcome difficul­
ties apparently insurmountable.

It was an anxious night at Messina, when
the thirty two boats containing the first division
of the invaders were about to be taken across

The return Not only did this folorn hope
accomplish with consumate address to draw
of the attention of the enemy, but their imme­
diate taking up a position among the
mountains served to enlist the sympathies
of the people who swelled their ranks by a
large number of recruits, and established
a reserve force to await the arrival of
their chief.

A general must employ strategem sometimes
let me tell you of one at a place in China
called hong kong yang tang do you think
you can remmber that

Page 89

Scene 33.

Landing of the troops of the coast
of Calabria

The return of the thirty two boats with the good
news that they had landed their men was
scarcely expected. The news was recieved
joyfully after the profound silence and suspense
which elapsed from their departure, the
report of some musket shots and a cannon had
filled the spectators with alarm for the brave
fellows who had gone over. It appears that
the gun had been fired from the fort only
after the men had landed unobserved.

All that night and during the morning of the
next day some news of the devoted band
was hoped for, and the movements on the
other side were watched for with great
anxiety especially as some casual firing was
observed. At noon the report arrived that
the men had made good their retreat to the
mountains and it was determined to draw the
attention of the Neapolitans on the sea.

Page 90

(Scene) 34

Demolition of the Fortress of
Palermo

The ruins of buildings, the demolition of which
has marked a new era in the history of mankind
are always amongst the most interesting of monuments
especially if associated with some particular
place which has been throughout the national
history the scene of more than ordinary cruety.

Success crowned Garibaldi's enterpriseing attack
on Palermo one of the most daring perhaps recorded
in history—at this period it might be said
that Garibaldi was virtual master of Scicilly.
In this case as in numerous others, the
happy audacity of Genius triumphed
where a far more formidable expedition
would have failed. On the 27 of May
Garibaldi pounced upon Palermo the fighting
was the most aweful and bloody. The whole
of Palermo was baricaded and fortified.
Garibaldi had great numbers of men (grenadiers)
at his disposal, some of the Royal troops
went over to Garibaldi with arms and
ammunition—The force under Garibaldi's