From Colburn's New Monthly. GARIBALDI-HIS LIFE AND TIMES. THE eyes of Europe have, during the past month, been fixed eagerly and hopefully on the progress of one man; politicians of all shades, from the most ultra of our Conservatives down to the most captious Liberal, agree for once in recognizing in Garibaldi the hero of the hour. Twelve months ago and many were disposed to believe the glozing tales of the priests, and regard the future liberator of Italy as a brigand; now that he has been recognized by the general of an established power, terms sufficiently strong can hardly be found to sing the praises of his chivalry and generosity in the hour of victory. Admiral Munday, (all honor to him for it,) in a recent dispatch, described in burning words the atrocities committed by the royal troops in Palermo, and offered a brilliant contrast by his remark, "The conduct of General Garibaldi, both during the hostilities and since their suspension, has been noble and generous;" but from the hour he awoke to the consciousness of his manhood, Garibaldi has never behaved otherwise. Nor can we account for the popular enthusiasm in his behalf by his successes in Sicily, for, though they are very wonderful, they are, after all, as nothing compared with the feats he achieved during his ever-memorable march from Rome upon Venice. We are disposed, therefore, to regard the present excitement about Garibaldi as arising from the circumstance that people see in his success a prospect for the settlement of the Italian imbroglio, which will restore peace to the Continent, and, at the same time, prevent any further annexation tentatives on the part of the great European Marplot. That Garibaldi will succeed in overthrowing the odious tyranny of Bombino there is no doubt, after reading his past life-history, which we purpose presenting to our readers in the ensuing pages, such as we have been enabled to compile it from the best authorities. A really authentic life of the hero is among the desiderata of the day, for there is so much of the marvelous mixed up in the narrative, that it is a matter of difficulty to draw the line. One of the best accounts of him, however, based on information supplied partly by himself and partly by his friends, was recently published from the pen of Charles Paya, and it will serve as the basis of our article.* Giuseppe Garibaldi was born at Nice on July 4, 1807, the descendant of a family which had long devoted itself to seafaring occupations, for which the lad also evinced a decided inclination. We know but little of his school-days, save that he displayed a remarkable aptitude for mathematics, and even at that early age revealed his contempt of danger by saving a party of his fellow-students, who were capsized by a sudden squall while sailing in a pleasure-boat to Villafranca. Garibaldi swam out to them, and saved their lives at imminent risk of his own. Soon after he entered on board a merchantman trading with the Levant, and during one of his voyages put into Civita Vecchia, and paid a flying visit to Rome. The abuses he witnessed there aroused the latent spark of patriotism, there can be no doubt, but it was not till the age of twenty-six that his political sentiments began to exercise a material influence over his fortunes. The accession of Charles Albert to the throne of Piedmont in 1831 excited the hopes of the patriot party, led by Mazzini, for, as Prince of Carignano, the new king had been a liberal, if not something more. The conspiracy was detected, and Garibaldi, who appears to have been mixed up in it to some extent, started again for the East. While his vessel was lying at Taganrog, he met with a young Italian, who was initiated in the designs of Giovane Italia, and Garibaldi became a conspirator. On his return to Piedmont, he joined in Mazzini's abortive descent on Savoy in 1836, and had to fly again, this time to bid a long farewell to his fatherland. Disguised as a peasant he made his way to Marseilles, and obtained employment as captain of a French vessel trading with the Levant. the hands for two hours, and to the present day he suffers terribly from the injury. After some months' further imprisonment he was set at liberty, without any trial, and returned to Rio Grande, where he was received with open arms. He was at once appointed admiral of the republican navy, which consisted of only two or three wretched coasters, armed with guns of light caliber. At the same time commenced Garibaldi's marvelous exploits on land. Attacked at Camacuan by one hundred and twenty of the enemy, he cut his way through at the head of eleven men, and remained master of the field. He had already begun those marvelous arrangements which cause his followers to follow him through fire and water, for they are certain of victory so soon as they come within bayonet-reach of the foe. But the young man soon grew wearied of such a peaceful life; and we next find him sailing in an Egyptian corvette to of fer his services to the Bey of Tunis. He was, however, soon disgusted with the supineness which is the rule in all Eastern establishments, and he resigned his com mand. In 1836 he resolved on seeking his fortunes in the New World, and proceeded to South-America, where a brilliant though painful career was awaiting him. With the aid of his compatriots he purchased a small coaster, in which he traded between Rio and Cabo Frio; and letters written by him at the time prove the despondency to which he fell a prey. The next year, however, a republican movement broke out in the province of Rio Grande, and Garibaldi was invited to join. He eagerly assented; his small ves-publican vessels. Garibaldi, with his wife, sel was secretly equipped for fighting, and no sooner out of port than the republican flag was hoisted. Forced by the imperial fleet to take shelter in the port of Laguna, Garibaldi occupied his few moments of leisure in winning the heart of a young Creole girl, Anita, who, became the inseparable companion of all his dangers. The honeymoon was a short one; for, two days after the marriage, the imperial vessels entered the port, and began bombarding the re was the last to leave the ship: he leaped into a boat with her and gained the shore, after firing his own vessel, which explodAfter capturing several Brazilian vessels ed with considerable injury to the Brazilof considerable tonnage, Garibaldi castian fleet. Of twelve officers engaged with anchor beneath the walls of Monte Video, him, Garibaldi was the only one that surhaving been persuaded that the city was vived. favorable to the republican movement. He was speedily undeceived: a gun-boat attacked his vessel, and Garibaldi himself received a bullet under the ear, which stretched him apparently lifeless upon the deck. His terrified companions hoisted all sail, and steered for Gualegay, where the vessel was seized, and all cast into prison. Fortunately for our hero, he was allowed to leave prison on parole, and the generous attentions of the Spanish family with whom he resided, restored him to his old vigor. Presently, however, he learned that the authorities were about to break their promise to him, and throw him into close confinement, and thinking that this relieved him from his pledge, he escaped by night from Gualegay. After wandering about the country for two days without food and shelter, Garibaldi was tracked and led back to Gualegay, when the commandant suspended him by Not long after, and Garibaldi's new vessel was chased into a lagune by the enemy, and as a last resource he ran his bark ashore; then, mounting his two guns on an elevation, he maintained such a sharp fire that the enemy was forced to retreat out of range. When they proceeded to renew the attack in the morning, however, Garibaldi and his vessel had disappeared. He had dragged her off the sand-bank during the night, and passed unseen through the Brazilian fleet. On a subsequent occasion Garibaldi was less fortunate. The Brazilians forced the entrance of the Lagoa dos Patos, where the Rio Grande fleet lay at anchor, and felt certain of victory, owing to their great superiority. But Garibaldi was not disposed to surrender. Ordering his men ashore, he blew up his vessel, and escaped to land on a dining-table. Thus deprived of his vessels, Garibaldi lost no time in organizing his sailors as a land force, with which he necessarily beat up the enemy. On one occasion, Annita, who always accompanied him, was taken prisoner by the Brazilians, but, roused to madness by the rumor that her husband was killed, she escaped during the night and rushed to the battle-field, where she eagerly sought for the remains of the man she loved. At length, convinced that her fears were unfounded, she proceeded in her flight, and had the delight of rejoining her husband after two days of perilous adventure. After the birth of his first son, Garibaldi resigned his command, for the war was no longer one of principles, and embarked for Monte Video, where he supported his family for a time by giving lessons in geometry and algebra in one of the principal schools of the city. But this did not last long. The dictator Rosas was determined on regaining his hold of the Oriental republic, and his general, Oribe, was intrusted with the odious task. At the head of his terrible Gauchos, he spread desolation around, and finally appeared beneath the walls of Monte Video. The foreigners resident in the city determined to fight for their lives and property. A French legion was formed, but, as danger menaced from the sea, Garibaldi was invited to take command of the naval forces, which consisted of a corvette, a brig, and a cutter. His first exploit was unfortunate: he forced the entrance of the Parana, and tried to ascend that river, but he suddenly found his vessels aground on sand-banks, and in presence of the Brazilian fleet of six ships. For three days he carried on the contest; but, after firing every thing he had on board in the shape of projectiles, he blew up his ships and gained the shore in safety. Hurriedly forming his men, he broke through the enemy's troops sent to cut off his retreat, and regained Monte Video, where he was eagerly expected, for Oribe was preparing for the siege. Garibaldi at once took the command of a body of eight hundred Italian volunteers, and kept the enemy at bay. On one occasion, at the head of one hundred and eighty-four men, he fought for eight hours against a force of fifteen hundred without yielding an inch of ground. When night fell, the guerillero had thirtyfive killed and fifty severely wounded of his little band. We have had instances in history where commanders deserted their wounded for the sake of their own safety; but Garibaldi was not a man of that stamp. He carried off every one in the face of the enemy, and succeeded in rescuing them. For this brilliant exploit, which cost the dictator five hundred of his best troops, the government of Uruguay made Garibaldi a general; but he refused all pecuniary reward, though at that time his family were compelled to live on his rations, and were obliged to go to bed for want of candle. The minister of war hearing of this circumstance, sent Garibaldi a present of twenty pounds, but he would. only except half, and bade the messenger give the remainder to a poor widow he named; for, he said, "her necessities are greater than mine." It would lead us too far were we to attempt to describe all the exploits Garibaldi performed in South-America. We will, therefore, pass on to that annus mirabilis 1848, when he, like so many of his countrymen, allowed himself to be deceived by the false promises of Pio Nono, as if it were possible for a pope to be liberal. He at once offered his services to the papal nuncio at Rio Janeiro, who, however, returned an evasive answer, and he at length decided on taking farewell of SouthAmerica, and returning to his country, where his strong arm was so much requir ed. Subscriptions flowed in, and the gu erillero was enabled to equip one hundred of the bravest of his legion, and charter a vessel for their passage. In June, 1848, the little band and their intrepid chief' landed at Nice. At this period Charles Albert was throwing away all his chances by settling down to invest Mantua. Garibaldi, seeing where his services would be most needed, hastened to Turin; but the coldness with which he was received by the ministry was a great blow to him. They declined the responsibility, and Garibaldi hastened to the King, who received him very courteously, but vacillated, and when urged for an immediate reply, referred him to the ministry. Garibaldi hesitated no longer, but proceeded to Milan, where he placed his sword at the disposal of the committee of public defense, and three thousand volunteers, attracted by the prestige of his name, was soon enrolled under his banner. On the signature of the capitulation by Charles Albert on August ninth, 1848, Garibaldi, disdaining to lay down his arms without striking a blow, threw himself were compelled to fall back on Civita Vecchia. into the mountains round the Lago Maggiore, where he hoped that the disbanded Lombardese would join him and enable On May the second, news reached him to carry on a guerilla warfare, till Rome that the Neapolitan troops had inoperations on a more extended scale could vaded the territory of the republic, and, be arranged. But the Austrians were too on the seventh, that the Austrians and quick for him: menaced by a corps of five Spaniards had followed their example. thousand men under General d'Aspré, General Oudinot consented to an armisGaribaldi had no resource but to fall back tice, during which fresh French troops on the Piedmontese frontier, and reassem- were poured in, and Garibaldi, with his bled his column in safety at Arona. Con- hands thus liberated, directed all his envinced that all further resistance was hope- ergies upon expelling the Neapolitans. less, he disbanded his legion, and himself On the tenth of May he came up with proceeded to Switzerland, where he fell them, twenty thousand strong, under dangerously ill of the Lombardy marsh command of the King himself, at Velletri, fever, which had carried off so many sol- and in half an hour they broke and fled. diers on both sides. On his recovery he They could not face the terrible red devil, proceeded to Genoa, where a high com- as Garibaldi was christened. Ferdinand of mand in the Sardinian army was offered Naples fled ignominiously, and had a narhim, but he declined it, for it was his in- row escape from falling into the hands of tention to proceed to the aid of Venice, the republicans. Garibaldi was preparing which city was then closely invested by to carry the war into the Neapolitan terthe Austrians. Leaving Genoa with about ritory, when he was recalled by the news two hundred and fifty volunteers, he sail- that the French had denounced the ared up the Adriatic, when the news of the mistice, and were marching on the Etermenacing state of things at Rome reach-nal City with an overwhelming force. ed him, and he decided on proceeding at once to that city. The French, fearing lest the Austrians might anticipate them, had offered their intervention to restore the old state of things there was a chance for obtaining a foothold in the peninsula, and the chivalrous nation, par excellence, was even at that time fond of taking up arms for an idea, if there be any prospect of a tangible result. Cavaignac, in November, 1848, landed three thousand five hundred troops at Civita Vecchia, and the Roman Assembly could only protest by convening the Constituent Assembly, to which Garibaldi was elected as deputy for Macera ta. The republic was proclaimed, and our hero at once set to work to protect the frontier against the Neapolitans. Dur ing the winter he labored incessantly in drilling the volunteers, and they were quite fit to take the field when the decisive moment arrived. This was not long delayed; the news of the defeat of Novara was the signal for France to stifle her sister republic in a Judas's embrace. The French, under Oudinot, were ordered to advance, and Garibaldi hurried back to the defense of the threatened city. On April thirtieth, the French opened the attack in two columns, but were vigorously opposed by Garibaldi, and after an obstinate fight, lasting seven hours, The combat was long and obstinate, but the French gradually advanced. To add to the perils of the republic, Mazzini entered into an unseemly dispute with Garibaldi, which compelled the latter to resign his command for a time. Urged by the populace, however, he agreed to return to the combat, and offered a brave though hopeless resistance to the French, who, on the morning of June thirtieth, forced their way through the breaches they had formed. On the second of July, Garibaldi, after performing wondrous feats of bravery, and exposing his life a hundred times, sent an aide-de-camp to the triumvirate announcing that further resistance was impossible, and they undertook to treat with General Oudinot. On the afternoon of the next day, the banner of St. Peter again floated over the castle of San Angelo, but Garibaldi was no longer present to witness the humiliation. He quitted the city on the night or the second with four thousand infantry and about eight hundred horse, with the intention of making his way to Venice. He reached Terni in good order, but, on leaving that town on the eleventh of July, his troubles began. His men deserted by hundreds; the dragoons sold their horses to the enemy, and committed excesses, the criminality of which was unjustly thrown on the Garibaldists, who remained |