A paper on the subject of Sicily in "the Leading
Journal" is a mystification. The whole seems to be but a preface and prepara- tion for the announcement conveyed in the last line. The body of the paper is a criticism on that threatening but wavering me- diation which the British representatives have endeavoured to establish ; and which is correctly described as having fostered the hopes of the Sicilians that they were to have succour, until, at the very last point, when they were already on the verge of destruction, they discovered the neutrality of their seeming ally. Naples was not intimidated, but only irritated, and, we would add, reassured by what implied on our part fear of proceeding in the course that we had threatened.
The Sicilians have bitter reason to rue British intervention: We have renewed the treatment which they received in 1812-15. Lord William Bentinck found King Ferdinand, afterwards called the First of the Two Sicilies, an exile from his capital, taking re- fuge among the islanders; Sicily formed a useful point d'appui in operations against the French, and the inhabitants had the hearty sympathy of England. King Ferdinand was instructed by his patrons to concede a Liberal reform of the constitution which the islanders had preserved from ancient days. But as time ad- vanced—as Napoleon declined—as King Ferdinand recovered his possession of Naples, and Sicily became less useful—British sym- pathy grew less warm and active : at times Lord William Ben- thick did as he pleased, and then all went well with the islanders ; at other times he was curbed by the Government at home, and then the interests of the islanders were forgotten. Lord William was sincere ; but the effect to them was the same as if he had been a Statesman who excited their passions only to betray them ; and the practical result of our interference was, that the ancient con- ditution, which we helped them to reform, was altogether abro- gated by the traitor King. The late mediation has renewed that Vicious and disgraceful history. The enunciatory part of the paper in the Times consists of the last words—" We only aggravated by a simulated intimidation and a delusive succour the quarrel in which our mediation is at length more formally to be interposed." On what basis ? Is there to be more betrayal of the Sicilians ?
