The struggle of to-day is not altogether for to-day-it is for a vast future also. With a reliance on Providence, all the more firm and earnest, let us proceed in the great task which events have devolved

upon us.

Washington, December 3, 1861.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

CORRESPONDENCE respecting the renewal of Diplomatic Relations between Great Britain and Sicily, and the Internal Affairs of the Kingdom of Naples.*-1859, 1860.

(Extract.)

No. 1.-Lord J. Russell to Mr. Elliot.

Foreign Office, June 22, 1859. THE question of the renewal of diplomatic relations has been decided by the reception of Prince Carini, and the appointment of a Minister Plenipotentiary to Naples by Her Majesty.

Her Majesty is earnestly desirous that the King of the Two Sicilies may have all the strength which he can derive from the affection and gratitude of his people.

The grant of an amnesty, but above all the removal of the odious surveillance of the police, must be felt by thousands of families as a seasonable and long-desired relief.

Her Majesty is sincerely desirous to see the dynasty now on the Throne maintained and consolidated.

With regard to internal reforms, should the Prince of Satriano consult you on the subject, you will remind him that the Constitution has never been abrogated, and that the electoral colleges may be summoned at any time without a change of the existing law. But you will give no opinion as to the time and the mode of restoring animation to the existing Constitution.

In regard to the amnesty, you will observe that it ought to be large enough to admit the return of Baron Poerio and his companions to their country.

You will make particular inquiries of the Prince of Satriana as to the state of Sicily, and the measures intended for the benefit of the people of that island.

You will take care to avoid every appearance of dictation, but you will avow sincerely and openly that Her Majesty takes a deep interest in the welfare of the King and his people.

The Hon. H. Elliot.

Laid before Parliament, 1860.

J. RUSSELL.

[1860-61. LI.]

4 Q

No. 2.-Mr. Elliot to the Earl of Malmesbury.-(Rec. June 23.) MY LORD, Naples, June 16, 1859. I TOOK the opportunity, this evening, of pressing upon M. Carafa the urgency of taking immediate measures for the relief of the prisoners at present confined without trial in the various Neapolitan prisons; and I pointed out that it was vain for a Government to hope to inspire respect for the law if it persisted in itself maintaining a direct violation of it.

To my satisfaction, M. Carafa fully admitted the existence of the abuse I had alluded to, and the necessity of an immediate change. While he expressed his conviction that most of the prisoners were unworthy of sympathy, he allowed that they had a right to demand either to be brought to trial or to be released.

The Earl of Malmesbury.

I have, &c.

HENRY ELLIOT.

No. 5.-Mr. Elliot to the Earl of Malmesbury.-(Rec. June 23.) MY LORD, Naples, June 17, 1859.

I YESTERDAY informed your Lordship by telegraph of the publication of the Royal Decrees, granting an amnesty to the political offenders of the years 1848 and 1849, and announcing the pardon of the persons known here under the name of the "attendibili," who had been subjected to the surveillance of the police; and I have now the honour to forward herewith the copies and translations of the Decrees in question.

Too short a time has yet elapsed for it to be possible for me to ascertain exactly the effect produced by these first measures of the new Administration; but although it cannot be questioned that they will cause a general satisfaction, I will not withhold my opinion that this feeling will be mingled with a certain amount of disappointment.

The objection which with the greatest truth can be urged against the act of amnesty, is that it is not extended to the persons convicted of political offences committed subsequently to the years 1848 and 1849; but I am not at present able to say whether those who will thus be excluded form at all a numerous class. Another serious defect is the exclusion from its benefits of those who, like Poerio and Settembrini, were conditionally pardoned by the late King, by the Decree of December last; for, till the publication of the measure, which I can hardly doubt must soon be resolved upon, with regard to their return from exile, they will find themselves in a worse position than those who some months ago were not considered worthy of the indulgence granted to them. The omission, likewise, of all mention of the persons kept in prison without any trial is also unfavourably commented upon, although their position is so peculiar that they could hardly have been included in the same amnesty; but

the language which I have already reported M. Carafa to have held with regard to them, gives every ground for the hope that they will not be much longer neglected.

The act which will be hailed by the country with the greatest satisfaction is undoubtedly that which applies to the "attendibili," but even this has not been received without some hostile comment; for it is objected, and with a justice which cannot be called in question, that the pardon granted to these persons implies that they have hitherto been legally guilty, whereas, no law could be quoted to justify the treatment they have received. This objection to the "pardon" now granted, is certainly keenly felt by some of the "attendibili" of the capital, where there are comparatively few of them, and it will no doubt be shared in by some of those in the provinces; but of the 40,000 or 50,000 persons of whom the class is supposed to be composed, it may, I believe, be safely assumed that by far the greater proportion will learn with unmixed satisfaction that they are released from the detested supervision and disqualifications which they have been subjected to, and that they will not be disposed to find much fault with the words of a Decree to which they will owe their improved position.

The other Decrees, which are likewise inclosed herewith, relate to the shortening of the terms of punishment of some ordinary offences, and to the redemption by the Government of articles of small value, which had been placed in pawn by the poorer classes. I have, &c.

The Earl of Malmesbury.

HENRY ELLIOT.

(Inclosure.)-Decree, granting an Amnesty to Political Offenders. (Translation.) Capodimonte, June 16, 1859. FRANCIS II, by the grace of God, King of the Two Sicilies, &c. Wishing to mark by acts of clemency our accession to the throne which Divine Providence has committed to our care, we have decided on trying the effects of extending our sovereign grace to all those still undergoing the respective punishments to which they have been sentenced, viz., of irons, confinement with hard labour, banishment to an island, and imprisonment, for State offences committed in the years 1818 and 1819, and who were not included in the Decrees of Grace of December 27, 1858, and of the 18th of March last.

Following, therefore, our Royal impulse, we have resolved to decree, and decree as follows:

ART. I. All those condemned to irons, confinement with hard labour, banishment to an island, and imprisonment, for political offences committed in the years 1818 and 1849, and who were not comprised in the above-named Decrees of December, 1858, and

March 18, 1859, as inscribed on the lists possessed by the Ministry of Grace and Justice, are released from the remainder of their punishment.

II. Our President of the Council of Ministers, our Provisional Director of the Department of Grace and Justice, &c., are charged with the execution of the present Decree.

PRINCE OF SATRIANO, Councillor,

Minister Secretary of State, President of

the Council of Ministers.

FRANCIS.

Decree, removing Disabilities for Political Offences.

FRANCIS II, &c.

Capodimonte, June 16, 1859.

Wishing to mark by an act of clemency our accession to the Throne of the Two Sicilies, and to take into our kind consideration those of our subjects who, in consequence of the political troubles of 1848 and 1849, are included in the lists of "attendibili," we have resolved to decree, and decree as follows:

ART. I. Henceforth, the "attendibili" above mentioned are relieved from all impediments in the way of their obtaining travelling passes, and the credentials necessary to enable them to rise to Doctor's degrees; they are, moreover, eligible for public offices. II. Our President of the Council is charged, &c. PRINCE OF SATRIANO, Councillor,

Minister Secretary of State, President of

the Council of Ministers.

Decree, commuting the Sentences of Criminals.

FRANCIS II, &c.

FRANCIS.

Capodimonte, June 16, 1859.

With reference to our Decree of this day's date:

Being desirous that those condemned for ordinary offences should participate likewise in our sovereign clemency;

We have resolved to sanction, and sanction the following Sovereign Act:

ART. I. The term of punishment is reduced by 3 years for all those sentenced to irons, whether in bagnes or in garrison, imprisonment with hard labour, transportation to an island, and to the police punishments of confinement in a house of correction, and of banishment within the Kingdom.

II. The fines are remitted.

III. All those sentenced to short terms of imprisonment, domiciliary arrest, and fine, for misdemeanours, are pardoned.

IV. This sovereign indulgence extends to all those whose sentences to the punishments above enumerated, have been pronounced up to the present date.

In cases where the sentence or verdict should not have been irrevocably determined, the condemned will nevertheless have the benefit of the reduction or remission of punishment, unless within the term of one month they declare before a competent magistrate, and in the legal form, that they prefer, in their own interest, to have the matter of the charge discussed before a court of appeal.

V. Are released from their penalties all those convicted of simple contraventions, punishable according to Article XXXVI of the Penal Statutes, and for offences which are of their own and primary nature punishable with the two degrees of confinement with labour, with banishment within the Kingdom, and police banishment, or fine, provided that the offences have been committed before the present date.

VI. Are excluded from the benefits of this act of clemency all accused or convicted of robbery, forgery, according to the cases contemplated by title 5, book 2, of the Penal Law, simple or qualified fraud, simple or fraudulent brankruptcy; likewise all those guilty of offences for the second time.

VII. All our Ministers of State, &c., are charged with the execution of the present Decree, as regards the portion of it which concerns each.

PRINCE OF SATRIANO, Councillor,

Minister Secretary of State, President of

the Council of Ministers.

FRANCIS.

Decree for the Redemption by the Government of Articles pledged by the Poor in the Mont de Piété.

FRANCIS II., &c.

Capodimonte, June 15, 1859.

Wishing the necessitous classes of our most beloved subjects to participate in our sovereign munificence on the occasion of our accession to the throne:

We have resolved to decree, and decree as follows:

ART. I. All articles of woollen stuff, and cloth, and of ordinary metal, up to the value of two ducats for each person, which have been placed in pawn up to the 15th June instant in the "Mont de Piété" of our Royal Bank of the Two Sicilies shall be paid for, with interest, by our Royal Treasury and are to be returned gratis to those who pledged them.

II. Our Director of the Ministry of Finance is charged with the execution of the present Decree.

PRINCE OF SATRIANO, Councillor,

Minister Secretary of State, President of

the Council of Ministers.

RAIMONDO DE LIGUORO, Director of Finance, &c.

FRANCIS,