then, the exiled patriots! onward will go the
nation that owns them! The wish of every one who is compelled to remain
behind is that the army, that the volunteers, that the fleet, should all
cooperate, and that they should, one and all, land on Venetian ground, to
seek for a great battle, to give the army back the fame it deserves, and
to the country the honour it possesses. The king is called upon to
maintain the word nobly given to avenge Novara, and with it the new
Austrian insulting proposal. All, it is said, is ready. The army has been
said to be numerous; if to be numerous and brave, means to deserve
victory, let the Italian generals prove what Italian soldiers are worthy
of. If they will fight, the country will support them with the boldest of
resolutions--the country will accept a discussion whenever the
Government, having dispersed all fears, will proclaim that the war is to
be continued till victory is inscribed on Italy's shield.

As I am not far from Borgoforte, I am able to learn more than the mere
cannon's voice can tell me, and so will give you some details of the
action against the tete-de-pont, which began, as I told you in one of my
former letters, on the 4th. In Gorgoforte there were about 1500
Austrians, and, on the night from the 5th to the 6th, they kept up from
their four fortified works a sufficiently well-sustained fire, the object
of which was to prevent the enemy from posting his guns. This fire,
however, did not cause any damage, and the Italians were able to plant
their batteries. Early on the 6th, the firing began all along the line,
the Italian 16-pounders having been the first to open fire. The Italian
right was commanded by Colonel Mattei, the left by Colonel Bangoni, who
did excellent work, while the other wing was not so successful. The
heaviest guns had not yet arrived owing to one of those incidents always
sure to happen when least expected, so that the 40-pounders could not be
brought to bear against the forts until later in the day. The damage done
to the works was not great for the moment, but still the advantage had
been gained of feeling the strength of the enemy's positions and finding
the right way to attack them. The artillerymen worked with great vigour,
and were only obliged to desist by an unexpected order which arrived
about two p.m. from General Cialdini. The attack was, however, resumed on
the following day, and the condition of the Monteggiana and Rochetta
forts may be