Memoirs Of The Freemasons Of Naples.

the wolf , all kings and tyrants . They declared that Jesus Christ hacl been the first and most illustrious victim of tyranny , and declared they avenged his death in the destruction of tyrants . * These , then , were the Carbonari , whose existence has been attempted to be proved sprung from Freemasonry ; but in the present daywhen a Mason is respected all

, over the world , the idea is simply absurd . Even those who are not members , are aware it is a Freemason ' s duty , not only to submit to , but to execute the laws of his country ; to obey all their ordinances , and perform all their precepts ; to be faithful to the constitution of the realm , and loyal to his sovereign , and to act uprightly

in all things , in that station of life wherein Providence has placed him . In the year 1811 certain French and German Jacobins arrived at Naples , and asked leave of the police to propagate their doctrines in the kingdom , as a means of civilisation to the people , and a support to the new rulers .

A Genoese of the name of Maghella was then minister . He had risen to poiver during the revolutions of Italy and France , had been some time resident in France , and was there initiated a Mason . They represented to him that the lodge they wished to establish should be entirely upon the principles of Freemasonry ; he

therefore proposed to Murat a recognition of the society . He at first refused consent , but at length yielded not only to the recognition of this society , but of the Carbonari in Calabria , ivho now amalgamated into one general society , ' whicii increased rapidly in numbers and in power , and many of thc public officers enrolled themselves as members . There was scarcely a government office that had not a Carbonari in their employment . Joachim Murat was a Freemason ; initiated in France

in 1798 , he soon became a highly respected member of that order , but afterwards , becoming connected with the Jacobin clubs , he was less respected by the older members of the French Craft than , formerly ; and now finding that the doctrines he had encouraged in Naples were inimical to his throne , became alarmed at their

increasing numbers , and began to regard them with jealousy , whena despatch arrived fromDandolo , Councillor of State to the Italian kingdom , who wrote as follows to King Joachim— " Sire , the Carbonari arc spreading in Italy ; deliver your kingdom from them , if possible , for they are the enemies of thrones . He soon proved the

truth of this assertion hy their breaking out in open rebellion against their sovereign to protect the Pope . Joachim , with his usual impetuosity , became furious , and proscribed the society , persecuted all belonging to it , and denounced them as the enemies of the government . The spurious lodges of Freemasons now disowned tho

Carbonari , and they held their meetings as before , being patronised by thelviug . Joachim had a firm beliefintheir faithful sincerity , and occasionally attended their lodge meetings . The members oftheoldlodge , however , amongst whom was Luigi de Medici , refused to connect themselves with the new societiesbut many of them were

hihlre-, gy spected by Murat , and often consulted upon important matters . Though they did not disguise their affection for the deposed sovereign , yet were the } ' ever ready to assistin carrying out the new forms of government which , to do justice to King Joachim , tended greatly to the moral and religious improvement of the nation . Institutions

were established for the education of the people . Just laws were enacted , and arbitrary power in a great measure abolished ; public and oral evidence succeeded secret information and torture ; and thought as well as religious

conscience recovered full freedom . Doubtless these regulations were very incomplete , but a stepping-stone was placed which might have accomplished the reformation of the people , viz ., " moral and religious instruction . " But King Joachim ' s reign was of short duration . It is not our province to speak of the political changes that took lace ; Ave will onlobserve thatin 1815 Ferdinand

p y , , again reigned in Naples , and Joachim Murat was an exile . He now placed confidence in his former friends and brethren in Calabria , and gathering several of his associates to him , he determined upon making a last appeal to his subjects , and , on the 22 nd of August , 1815 , he sailed ffrom Toulon in an open boat , accompanied onl

y by three stanch old friends . After many difficulties he succeeded in landing at Pizzo . It was Sunday , and Joachim went immediately to the market-place , where were assembled a number of persons , according to their usual custom . No one recognised him ; they looked upon him with mute astonishment . The

ex-King , however , es 25 ied an old sergeant whom he remembered as a Mason , and who had served in his guard at Naples . He walked straight up to him , and putting one hand on his heart , he placed the other on the shoulder of the sergeant , and exclaimed— " Tavella , do you know me ? " Receiving no reply , he added " I am Joachim

Murat ! I am your King ! Be yours the honour of shouting , ' Long live King Joachim ! ' " The ex-King ' s suite took up the cry , and shouted it loudly forth . But the Calabrese , amongst whom there seemed a growing feeling of discontent , remained perfectly mute . The King , turning again to Tavella , said" Well , then , if you will not cry' long life ' to me , at least find me a horse , and 1 will instantly make you a captain . "

Tavella immediately turned away and left the spot , and locked himself in his own cottage . Scarcely had he left the market-place than the mob increased , and a young man named George Pellegrino , suddenly appeared , armed with a musket , and began shouting , " To arms ! to arms !" The crowd echoed the and in another moment

cry ; every one sought his dwelling , and armed himself as best he could . On the arrival of Captain Trehta Capelli , of the gendarmerie of Cosenza , who happened to be ' at Pizzo , and whom Pelligrino had gone in search of , he found two hundred people in the market square bearinodifferent weaponswhoon his lacing himself at their

, , p head , immediately gave chase to their ex-King . Joachim's party consisted of only twenty-five friends and sailors that had travelled with him from Toulon . I'he ex-King , seeing the mob approaching , ordered a halt , and addressing Trenta Capelli , who was their leader , cried : —

' •' Will you exchange your captain ' s epaulettes for those of a general officer ? If so , cry'Long live Joachim ' . ' and follow me with your brave band to Monteleoni . " ' Sire , " quickly replied the other , " we are the faithful subjects of King Ferdinand . We come to seize , not to accompany you . Surrender yourself , therefore , and prevent the "

unnecessary effusionof blood . " Eesistance was impossible , and thus , by leaping down a precipice , with three faithful friends he hoped to reach the boat they had left behind them ; but just as he was putting his foot on board he was seized , and two of his friends shot .

Henow returned a prisoner over the same ground he so lately hoped to tread as a king . They tore off his epaulettes , and ivould , doubtless , have murdered him on the spot , had not Trenta Capelli and Pellegrino rescued him from the savage mob . He ivas thrust into the common jail , among assassins , thieves , and other malefactors , who