'Sicily, it is said, is quieter, the population being afraid
of the military tribunals established in each province; but the ,disturbances have extended, as was expected, to the mainland, swhere the distress is nearly as great, and the tenure as 'unsuited to the people. At Riva di Puglia, in Barletta, for Instance, on January 8th, the public buildings were all burnt, and order was only restored on the arrival of troops from Bari. At Corato, again, in the province of Bari, the populace on January 9th assailed the Mayor's house, and resisted the troops sent for its protection. As Con- , tinental soldiers will not stand showers of stones, it was ultimately necessary to fire, and several were killed and 'wounded. The belief that the French are " fomenting " these disturbances appears to gain ground in Italy, brit it is a little difficult to know how the French can do it. They may, per- haps, have conveyed to the leaders of the movement that if -they should proclaim a Republic of the two Sicilies, it would be acknowledged, and possibly protected, by France ; but unless they had decided on war, and unless the Sicilians were enthusiastic in their favour, they would gain little advantage from that. So strong, however, is the suspicion in Rome, that on Tuesday a telegram was received in London an- nouncing that war was imminent on this ground between France and Italy. The French Cabinet, if it meant war, would choose a better ground than a rising which will annoy every property-holder in France.
