There has been a great deal of braying this week
against the Aus- tralian Colony, by those who, from the Tines down to Comer; have not taken the pains to become acquainted with the plan on which it is to be founded. Next week we shall have something to say on t? is subject.
In common with our contemporaries, we solicit the attention of our readers to the case of some unfortunate Italians, about a hundred in number, whom the " Citizen King," by an act of diabolical ferocity, lately expelled from France. They were literally dragged in chains, like criminals, and transported, against their own will, to our shores,— as if Old Englund were the Botany Bay of Lotris Pinup. These vic- tims of the Jesuitical policy of the French Government are now in our Metropolis, suffering the most appalling misery and want. A concert was given some days ago in their behalf; but it met with very little suc- cess. The appeals made to the public in their favour have been answered, we are sorry to say, with a disgraceful indifference. Yet the Spaniards and the Portuguese are now restored to their native countries ; the Poles are provided for by act of Parliament ; and this handful of Italians alone remain unassisted. Why should not something be done to relieve them? Why this cruel exception ? If Government will not give them any assistance, let some of our influentia: men call a meeting or form a committee to sustain our national character. A considerable number of our relatives and friends are now spread over Italy, some for their own pleasure, some for the improvement of their health, and others for the cultivation of the fine arts. What reception can we expect them to meet with in that, ill-fated country, if we allow such a small number of her hest sons to perish in the streets of our Metropolis, while the refugees of other nations, suffering for the same cause, are gene- rously supported ? We hear that, in the midst of this disgraceful apathy, their countrymen, who are in less unfavourable circumstances, have made arrangements for another concert in their behalf, which will take place at the King's Theatre on Friday evening the I Itle in- stant. We are pretty certatn, from what we hear, that it w ill be better attended than the first : but however successful it may be, we fear it can go a little way only towards bettering their critical circumstances. It is therefore indispensable that a subscription be made immediately. Let those who feel any sympathy for the undeserved misfortunes of these unhappy foreigners, hasten to send their mite to Messrs. COCKS, ThoDuLrit, and Binimmro, Charing Cross.
Previous page
