29 AUGUST 1846, Page 8

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FRANCE.—The trial of Joseph Henry, for firing at the King, on the 29th July, commenced before the Chamber of Peers on Tuesday. The arrange- ments were the same as those adopted in the case of Lecomte. The pro- ceedings excited little interest out of doors. The prisoner was respectably dressed, in a black coat, black satin waistcoat, and black stock. He is described as a downcast, mean-looking man. His man- ner was altogether pusillanimous. During the trial he indulged largely in snuff. The proceedings an with an examination of the prisoner himself. In the course of it, he made the following statements. When asked why he had fired at the King, be said that he bad been urged to it by great misfortunes which had fallen on him: for six rears he had struggled apiarist ideas of suicide, and not being able to make up his mind to kill himself, he sought to do something which would cause him to be put to death. He once thought of firing at a Marshal; but pre-, fined the King, as in that case there could be no "extenuating circumstances.' He had chosen the day of public rejoicing, in order to appear more criminal. He

had no against the King. He had for years thought of suicide without ever being able to resolve on it, and so he determined to get himself put to death: he was the more inclined to this course thinking that he should make his death useful to humanity, by giving a severe blow to the law which punished with death ! He did not tire at the King when on guard at the Tuileries, from un- willingness to disgrace his company in the National Guar& On being asked the meaning of the words found in his handwriting amongst his papers, " I must therefore seek out some high personage and kill him," the prisoner appeared troubled, and entered into a long explanation, declaring that he wrote this with- out paying any attention to his expressions, as he never intended to kill any one.

On being asked how he explained the inconsistency in the declaration found amongst his writings, that explained

should be put to death, but should still regret life," with his present allegation that he desired to die, he replied, that when be wrote that be bad not become altogether disgusted with life. His assertion that

he did not intend to kill any one had not been made to save his life, but because it was the truth—because he never bad any intention to be criminal. He threw doubts even on the point of the pistols having been loaded with anything but powder; for though he affirmed that they were loaded with bits of metal? he added, that if he wished he could easily make a statement which would save his life, but that he feared death less than any secondary punishment. When asked to explain his ideas relative to criminality, the prisoner replied, that it depended on the means taken to effect a purpose: that if the leader of pa body of troops forced a military post, and put to the sword the men defending it, he should consider such a person criminal; but if the same leader became master of the fort by cunning and killed no one, he should pronounce him quite guiltless of any harm. Several witnesses were then examined. Jean Joseph Legros stated, that on arresting the prisoner he said, " It is not I." Louis Lecomte was standing by when the arrest took place, and heard him utter the same words. The prisoner seemed piqued at this reflection on his courage, and declared to the Court that he had made no denial of the kind. Other witnesses, however, spoke to the same fact, and described his demeanour as the reverse of heroic. The pistols were pronounced by Captain Minie to be of the very worst description: one always bore to the left, and the other to all sides. The morose, fanciful, and desponding disposi- tion of the prisoner, were deposed to by other witnesses. A few of the descriptive phrases and statements may be quoted—" He was always talking. of his misfor- tunes "; " he was anxious for a wife, whether deformed or otherwise, who could bring him a fortune of 25,000 francs"; "he expressed a wish to die "; "his words and ideas appeared to be somewhat incoherent "; " his theories were per- fectly his own"; he was too pusillanimous to commit suicide "; " he was con- stantly employed in devising means for improving the condition of workmen"; " he entertained the best feeling towards the person of the King." In the course of the examination of witnesses, the prisoner made a statement: The person who had caused all his misfortunes was Caroline Bacquet; a woman of some substance, who lodged in the same house that Henry lodged in. She pro-, mised to lend him 25,000 francs; he signed a bill for a smaller sum; but payment was demanded when he could not meet it. It was Caroline Bacquet who was hie real accomplice; she drove him to despair. On Wednesday, after an address by the Procureur de Roi, M. Baroch, who was requested by the Court to conduct the defence, contended that the prisoner's at- tempt could not be regarded as a serious one: it was an act of folly, prompted by desperation, combined with a desire to be spoken of, and to get rid of the burden of existence. M. Baroch endeavoured to show that the pistols were not even loaded; otherwise the bullets" must have been found. The crime of regicide had of late descended very low, and would descend still lower after the senseless attempt of the man they were called upon to judge. He demanded for that miserable man, that he should be treated with contempt. .

The rise in the price of corn has created the utmost discontent throughout France; and serious riots have taken place in the provinces. In the iniddlet: and East of the kingdom the discontent has assumed the most alarming shape; incendiary fires multiplying, with riots here and there. In Burgundy and on the banks of the Loire, the fires are daily increasing. A letter from Saulien, of the 19th, says that on that day they could see on the one hand a conflagration that destroyed a great portion of the village of Nain-sons-Thil, and on the other hand a great fire at Chazelles l'Echot, a farm belonging to Count Perrot de Chazelles, one of the King's Aides-de-camp. " Sanlieu and all the coun- try round is in consternation. An armed watch patrols the country night and clay,. and the people are in a state of the greatest excitement and exasperation. The people, in their phrensy, accuse the Government, the priests, the nobility, and the rich, of wishing to starve the poor. The absurdity of these rumours does not pares: vent them from being believed by the ignorant, especially as the crops are below an average. At the moment I write, I learn that the village of Villenenve-sotis- Charney was burnt last night. The burning of the whole of these three neigh- bouring villages is attributed to malevolence. On the 17th, the domaine of Boese, in the department of the Cher, belonging to the Countess Montalivet, was set fire to and a large building in which there was a great quantity of corn destroyed. The damage is estimated at upwards of 30,000 francs. The supposed culprits have been taken. At Chauffailes, in the department of the Saone and Loire, a serious riot took place, in consequence of a rumour that a company of corn-merchants had resolved. to purchase up all the corn at market, at whatever price; but by the firmness of the authorities, and by the moderation of the gendarmerie, who, though severely handled, had the prudence not to attack the people, the riot was quelled.

The Marquis of Normanby presented his credentials, on Monday last, as Ambassador from her Britannic Majesty to the Court of France. The Mar- quis and suite were conveyed to and from the Tuileries in the customary manner—that is, in state carriages, sent for them by command of the Ring.

The Count of Paris completed his ninth year on Monday last. He is delicate in constitution, but is in good health, grows tall, and takes kindly to his studies: he speaks fluently in three languages—French, German, and Italian.

The Moniteur publishes intelligence to the 14th April from Tahiti, of a more favourable character than the accounts previously received. Captain Bruat announces that the French troops and their native allies had been successful in repelling the attacks of the natives; and winds up with stating that the French establishments were in the enjoyment of perfect security. In the absence of something more engrossing, the Tahiti question had been fallen back upon by a portion of the Parisian press, and the Anti- English cry again raised. The Coumier Frannie, adopting an inflam- matory article from the Portefeuille, says-

" We should first of all observe, that the review informs us that the question is finally arranged. M. Guizot opened, in London, negotiations which have ended in a magnificent result—viz. that the French protectorate is to be maintained in a part of the Archipelago: as to the other islands, Huahine, Bora-Bora, Ragateia, and Maupiti, they are decidedly not included in this protectorate; they are re- stored to the sovereignty of Queen Pomare, or, in a word, delivered over to the ab- solate dominion of England, in whose hands, as is well known, Pomare is but a mere instrument. The convention adds, indeed, that these islands cannot be given up to any European power. But this is an impudent mockery."

Soatht.—The marriage of Queen Isabella the Second is again the subject of active discuision among the high personages at Madrid. Lat,e on the evening of the 17th instant, a meeting was held, at the Queen's Palace, which was attended by the Ministers, several Prelates, the Presidents of the

two,Chambers of the .Cortes, ,and the Councillors of State. The object of the meeting was to deliberate on the choice of a consort for the young Monarch; and three candidates, namely, the Count di Trapani, Don Fran- cisco de Assiz, (eldest son of Don Francisco de Paula,) and Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg, were brought on the tapis. The first bad no supporters; the second had a majority of the meeting; and the third bad a considerable number: but ultimately the meeting adjourned till the 22d, at the sug- gestion of Queen Christina, who wished for farther time for consideration.

Rom.—Letters from Rome, of the 18th instant, state that the Sacred College offered every possible oppaiition to the measures of reform con- templated by the Pope and Cardinal Gizzi His Holiness, however, was not to be deterred from-his purpose; and various improvements in the civil administration and the organization of the municipal councils, long claimed by the population, were in progress of preparation. One of the Cardinals having observed to the Pope, that if he did not alter his system the people would demand a constitution, " And why should I not accede to their de- sire," replied his Holiness, "if a constitution were necessary to the welfare of my subjects? "—Times.

Austere.—The Frankfort Journal publishes a letter written at Lem- berg, on the 15th instant, which announces the detection of a new con- spiracy—

" The plan has been formed by the malecontents of Gallicia and the Polish emi- grants in France. Three French emissaries have been arrested, and brought to this place. Many important papers were found on them; and among the rest, a proclamation in the Polish language exciting the peasants to revolt against the Government for refusing them the rewards which they merited for their late -conduct."

GERMANY.—The Second Chamber of the Grand Dutchy of Baden, in the sitting of the 21st instant, affirmed the report of a committee in favour of the emancipation of the Jews, by a majority of 36 to 18.

TURICEY.—Some incidents of importance are communicated from Con- stantinople.

On the 18th July, an occurrence took place at Erzeroom which threatens to widen still further the differences between Turkey and Persia. A Persian soldier connected with the Embassy was accused of perpetrating an outrage on a Turkish child, two years and a half old. Every effort was used to induce the Turkish soldiers to resent the crime; but their officers interposed. On the fol- 4owing day, the mob took the work of vengeance into their own hands, and at- tempted to get possession of the offender by breaking through the roof of the house in which he lodged. The Persians fired in retaliation; this exasperated the Turks to the utmost; they armed themselves; and a sanguinary conflict was only prevented by the Persian Minister's thrusting out of the door a victim, who was instantly torn to pieces: it is believed that this man was not the criminal. An6ther servant and a secretary, who attempted to escape, were mortally wounded. On the 4th instant, the Honourable Mr. Wellesley despatched the steamer Blood- funind from Constantinople to Trebizond, with a 'Turkish Commissioner, appointed to investigate the affair. An insurrection has broken out in the pachalic of Trebizond. Two steamers with troops, under the command of Omar Pacha, quitted Constantinople on the 6th,for the disturbed districts. The revolt had its origin in the resistance of the inhabitants to some enactments relative to recruiting and quarantines.