statement of the
occurrence. After alleging that hitherto they had considered the
unpleasant event of too small importance to deserve notice, they proceed
to give the following narrative.

"On Monday, the 19th instant, in the course of the afternoon, the
revolutionary faction proposed to make a demonstration in the Corso
against the Pontifical Government, by an assemblage of persons hired
for the express purpose. On the discovery of these designs, fitting
arrangements were made in concert with the French police; and the
French troops, as well as the Papal gendarmes, were drawn up, so that
in case of need they might suppress any disturbance whatever.

"In fact, about five o'clock in the afternoon crowds were formed in
the streets, directed by leaders, and amongst these leaders were two
hide-tanners, whom the gendarmes arrested with promptitude. The
crowd, thus raked together, then began to hoot at and insult the
gendarmes, and at last attempted to rescue the prisoners. Not
succeeding in this attempt, the rioters, whose numbers had now been
swollen by a lot of idle fellows from the vilest rabble, crowded
together into the Piazza Colonna, and continued to outrage the
officers of public justice with every kind of insult. Thereupon a
handful of police advanced courageously against the rioters, and
proved quite sufficient to disperse and rout them.

"The friends of order applauded the gallant gendarmes in the execution
of their duty. In less than an hour the most perfect quiet reigned
around, and in the affray a very few persons were injured, whose
injuries have proved to be of slight consequence."

Throughout the whole of this document the _suppressio veri_ reigns
supreme. It is ludicrous describing the _emeute_ as an event unworthy of
special mention, when rewards and praises have been heaped by the
Government on the heroes who distinguished themselves in the suppression
of this contemptible fracas. In a city like Rome a crowd which filled
the whole Corso's length cannot be described as a faction, while the
occupants of the aristocratic carriages which lined both sides of the
street are not likely to have had two hide-tanners for their leaders. The
size of the crowd disposes at once of the idea that the persons who
composed it were bribed to be present; and the attempt to identify the
action of the French troops with that of the Papal gendarmes,