The Imperial Government has actually been beaten in the Corps
Legislatif by a majority of one. Sixty-eight years ago, in 1796, Joseph Lesurques, respectable citizen of Douai, with 600/. a year, was accused of murdering a courier for the sake of his mail-bags on evidence arising wholly from a mistake of identity. Lesurques was executed ; but four years afterwards a man named Dubosq, mentioned by one witness at the trial as extraordinarily like Lesurques, was arrested and executed for the same offence. The family endeavoured therefore to obtain restitution, but failed, and the widow went mad, the son perished as a common soldier, one daughter went mad, and the other committed suicide. Only a granddaughter remained, but she fought up against the family fate, moved heaven and earth for justice, and at last the Corps Legislatif, by 113 to 112, has voted that the price for which Lesurques' farms were sold shall be restored to her. Senti- ment is the antiseptic of France ; touch it, and even Im- perialism is powerless ; but the case is one more illustration of the iniquity of the law under which, all over Europe, because Jacques Bonhomme is a criminal, the Governments plunder his children. Sir George Grey has nothing to do this Session. Why does he not remedy that oppression ?
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