Rassegna storica del Risorgimento

La vigilia del 94B
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a skinnish ensued between them and the Modanese troops, which residted in some hloodshed. The Grand Duke of Tusoany protested against this hasty and injudicious movement on the part of the authorities of Modena, but matterà ttanaining stali in a very unquiet and disordered State, he has stibsequently and by the last accounts been obliged to issue a proclamation to restore if possible the public tranqirillity.18)
The disturbanees which occurred a short time sirice in the city of Milan and alluded to in my last despatch seem stili to exist, as severa! assassinations of Austrian soldiers have recently taken place in that city, in the sanali posta located at such a distance from each other as to render such crimes praoticable. **)
The subject of the greatest interest here at present is the civil war in Switzerland. The town of Friburg, a considerable post of the Sonderbund, being attacked by a force of about 20,000 troops of the Federai party, has just capi-tulated.20) Smali engagements have taken place at St Gothard and at other points which have resulted in the loss of about 300 killed.2l) The troops of the Diet or Federai party are computed at about 80,000 in ali, whilst those of the Sonderbund or seven eantons do not number more than 20,000. Considerable force are being sent from Berne towards Lucerne, the most important city of the opposition, in the neighbourhood of which, it is presumed, the decisive action will take place, and of the news of which we are in daily expectation. Beyond doubt the forces of the Diet, from superi ori ty of numbers must prevali and will enforce the adoptìon of their principles, npon the seven revolting eantons. The governments of Austria and France, although clearly sympathising with the Sonderbund, can not openly interfere. The ambassadors of both countries have wdthdrawn from Switzerland, but having located themselves on the immediate frontiers are anxionsly watching and reportìng the events which transpire. Austria, I have understood, has contributed a million of florins22) to the cause of the Sonderbund and is freely furnishing passports to such of her subjects, as are willing to go there, and enlist in their defence. Prince Sehwart-zenberg,23) son of the late distinguished Marshall, who commanded the allied
I8) Sopra la questione complicata di Fivizzano cfr. C. SPELLANZON, op. *., voi. Ili, pp. 308-315.
J9) Accennando ai presunti assassini dei soldati austriaci, Stìles riportò come vero ciò che non era che voce non provata.
20) Sulla campagna contro Friburgo, arresasi il 14 novembre 1847, vedi ERWIN BUCHER, Die Geschichte des Sonderbundskrieges, Ziirich, 1966, pp. 256-282.
21 Queste cifre riportate da Stiles e forse accettate a Vienna sono esagerate: tutte le perdite del partito federale non furono che settantotto morti e duecentosessanta feriti; men­tre quelle del Sonderbund ammontarono a cinquanta morti e centosettantacinque feriti. Cfr. VALENTI GITTEBMAN, Geschichte dar Schweiz, Thayngen, 1947, p. 472. Per quanto riguarda gli effettivi delle due armate, le truppe federali erano circa centomila, mentre Fesereito del Sonderbund ammontava a cinquantamila; cfr. WILLIAM L. LANGER, Politicai and Social Upheaval 1832*1852, New York, 1969, p. 135.
22) Non è improbabile che i diplomatici stranieri a Vienna credessero che l'aiuto austriaco al Sonderbund raggiungesse la cifra di un milione di fiorini. Quest'aiuto, invece, comprese solamente un prestito, senza interesse, di centomila fiorini. Vedi ARNOLD WINKLER, Òsterreiclts materielle Hilfe fùr den Sonderbund, in Anzeiger fiir Schweizerische Geschichte, a. LI (1920), pp. 158-216.
23) Il principe Friedrich zu Sehwarzenbcrg (1800-1875), figlio maggiore del feldma­resciallo Karl Philipp zu Sehwarzenbcrg, servi nell'armata del Sonderbund in qualità di consigliere militare.