INTERNATIONAL JURISDICTION.
Brantwood, 10th August 1853.
Sm-I observe that within the last few days an English Magistrate has committed a French subject to Newgate for having stated that he intended to attempt to assassinate the Emperor of France.
Your readers will recollect the case of Mr. Bower, the Englishman who did assassinate another Englishman, and who, escaping to England, was said to be " out of English jurisdiction," because the murder was done in France.
I am not about to question the legality of the course pursued by the Eng- lish authorities in either of these cases. I am well aware that-as one of our judges , lately most judiciously remarked-the greatest absurdity may be
sound law.' The question I would put is one of consistency and common sense. How comes it, if we have not jurisdiction over the Englishman who has murdered an Englishman in _France, that we have jurisdiction over the Frenchman who only "intended" to murder a Frenchman in France? I am, Sir, yours faithfully, W. J. LDITON.
[The lawyer would find his accustomed facility in answering Mr. Linton. It is a question of territorial jurisdiction : Raynaud avowed his criminal pur- pose in England, that is within British jurisdiction, and was called. to AC* count accordingly. Bower committed his crime in Paris, that is within French jurisdiction, and was absolved. If Mr. Linton should say, it results that in England we are stern even upon the intention of crime, whereas in France they are indulgent on the commission, we must leave the defence of French ethics to French ingenuity.-En.]
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