The following correspondenoe has taken plaoe by the agency of
Mr. Goodwin, H. M. Consul at Palermo, between the Provisional Committed of Sicily and Lord Minto. Ma Goodwin repaired to the Committee to read the following letter from Lord Minto.
"Naples, 12th February 1848. " Sir—I send you the Porcupine, to -acknowledge the proclamation which es- tablishes a constitution in Sicily, pu
as hliehed, last 'night The proclamation in question talks only of one united Parliament, and is in other respects not in ac- cordance with the assurances .contained in my letters. I have therefore lost no time in repairing to the Government on the subject; and have received a satisfac- tory explanation of its intentions under the reservation stipulated in Amide 87, regarding Sicily. This decree is for the present to be considered as applicable only to Naples as far as the establishment of a Parliament is concerned. It is purposed, as I before wrote, to found a separate Parliament for Sicily; and there is every desire to consult the wants of each country on points of this kind re- lating to the organic institution of the two Chambers. I have also received re- peated assurances that the preamble of any decree for the creation of the Sicilian Parliament will refer to the ancient rights of Sicily, and to the constitution of 1812. I trust that this explanation will rename the unfavourable impression which the mere publication of the proclamation is calculated to produce. I must besides add, that the General Committee having expressed a desire for my me- diation, his Majesty has this day expressed the wish that I should undertake the office: which I am ready to do if it appear to the General Committee that an un- derstanding can be brought about on the basis which I have described; and in such WAD I am ready to embark for Sicily immediately on receiving this in- formation.
"1 must beg of you to communicate this letter to the General Committee; anti have the honour to be, Sir, &c. ilnexo." To this communication the following reply was returned to Mr. Goodwin. "Palermo, 15th February 1848." "Sir—The General Committee has read and taken a copy of the letter which Lord hliuto, her British Majesty's representative at Naples, has addressed to you, dated 12th instant, with thp request that von would communicate the same to the General Committee; and from which the following assurances appear to be given.
"1. That in virtue of the 87th article of the decree published at Naples on the - , sidered as applicable solely tO Naples, as far as the establiahment of a Pediment is concerned.
"2.- That it ia intended, as Lord Minto had declared in other communications to you, to establish a separate Parliament in Sicily; so that every disposition exists at Naples to =eider the wishes of this island regarding the organic constitution of two Chambere.
• 3. That the assurance has been renewed to Lord Minto, that any decree pro. claiming the creation of a Sicilian Parliament shallreeognize the ancient rights of Sicily and the constitution of 1812. "4.- That the King of Naples expressed to Lord Minto °tithe 12th instant the wish to use his mediation with the General Committee; and that Lord blink> is ready totaribark for Palermo on the notification from the Genend_Committee that the understanding may be come to on the basis laid down.
"This Committee, in the first instance, tender you its sincere thanks for this friendly communication; and begs you to undertake to interpret to the noble Lord the sentiments of the General Committee, and of the peopte at large, for the so- licitude which he has manifested for the rights of Sicily: The universal desire of the people of this island is, that a general Parlia- ment may be called at Palermo, to adapt to the times the constitution which was reformed under the influence of Great Britain in 1812, and .which of right we have never ceased to possess.
" Lord Minto's assurance makes its certain that the King,of Naples is ready to recognize the ancient rights of Sicily and the constitntion of 1812. "That reforms ought to be made in that constitution, adapted to the wants of the time, is an idea generally maintained. And if the reforms to which her Majesty's repreaeritativeidludes keep this object in view, assuredly Lord Minto's mediation (whose presence will ever be most pleasing to us) cannot but be received with great delight.
"Palermo, 14th February 1848. President, RUGGIERO Skrtamo. Secretary-General; Manus° STABILE."
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