The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-15 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

(nom oua owa

PARIS. SUNDAY LIMCING.

The polemic in the French journals touching
the abduction of the boy Coen is very mild on the
part of the official and officious press, but suf-
ficiently vivacious in the clerical journals.
As you are most likely aware, this little
Israelite was taken away from his parents
on the 25th of last month, and shut up in a
house of catechumens (maiaon du caticAunthies)
at Ghetto. The lad was apprenticed to • cobbler
of the catholic persuasion, and was taken from his
master's house by a Neapolitan priest, who pre-
tended that be wanted the young Jew to accompany
him home in order to carry back some shoes which
required mending. He never returned ; and his
afflicted family have not been able to see him.
The protection of the French ambassador was
sought, and M. Sartiges at once reclaimed the boy
from the Roman authorities, and advised the father
to demand admission to his son. The poor father went
to the house of the catlehumenes with two witnesses,
but was refused admission ; the door of the house
was closed, and the sorrowing father was addressed
from a window and informed "that his son was
well and happy, that his family need be under no
misapprehension, as be was well cared for and had
been visited by two illustrious persons (cardinals,
no doubt), who had declared that in • few days
the lad might be baptised." The father was little
comforted by these words, which he duly reported to
the French minister, who in his turn again wrote to
the Cardinal Antonelli, but without any result. A
detailed report has been forwarded to Paris, and
the action of the Emperor in this case is expected
with much interest. The bigoted Monde, alluding
to this incident, writes as follows :

The revolution wishes to make a noise and give • repeti-
tion of the Morten affair, but it will h►ve its labour for its
pains. Pius IX. will maintain his rights to the last ex-
tremity, and the young Coen will no more be restored to
his family than was the young Mortara, who is still in the
hands of the clergy, in spite of the intrigues at London and
Turin, the originators of which have already several time,
hired cutthroats to carry him off. Let the whole press
giee vent to its fury, and let diplomatists in their turn
present their observations, Pius IL will resist with that
indomitable energy which he bas already displayed against
incredulous Europe and official Europe united together ;
he will defend and save the soul of young Coen.

This is not the place to discuss the point
whether the more than questionable means adopted
will end in "saving the soul of young Coen,"
which wicked sectarians may doubt, although the
Monde has no misgivings on the subject. But
these "brave words" of the champion of child
stealing recall another episode of Roman tyranny
which occurred under the rule of Gregory XVI.
la that case, as in the one just recounted, a little
Israelite was abducted from his parents by Roman
priests ; the French Ambassador, then, as now,
demanded his restoration ; the Pope replied, "M.
l'Ambassadeur, do not forget that here in our own
states we are masters, and will never
yield to the menaces of anyone." M.
Guizot was then Minister of France, and after
vainly exhausting all reasonable efforts to obtain
the restoration of the child, he addressed the foi-
-1 lowing laconic and conclusive note to the Roman
government :
The government of Francis, which owes equal protection
to the lives and liberties of its subjects. demaads from the
pool-dies] court the immediate delivery of the Jewish child.
In ease the government e his HOUDIN= should riot comply
with this just dem►nd, I acquaint your eminence that •
small fleet, conveying four regiments, have been ordered to
Meowed to Finnusoo. You will QM be forced to restore
the Infant which belongs to us.

Six hours after the delivery of this note the
little Jew was in its father's arms. The Moude
must know that history not unfrequently repeats
itself.

La France and other journals are considerably
chafed on account of a sentence in she Km:: Zei-
tun', which oracularly and pompously declares
that " it is no longer in London and Paris that the
destinies of the world are decided, but in Berlin
and Vienna." This is very flattering to the worthy
Germans, and very offensive to the " great