The Press.
London, England, 1857-02-07 00:00:00

fortign Correspontente.

BRUSSELS, February 3.
THE crime of Verger has led to a singular
discussion in the Chamber. It may be said
to have been important in more than one
sense. Attention was directed by M. Ver-
haegen to an article in the Journal de
Bruxelles asserting that information of the
murder of the Archbishop of Paris had been
given at the Prefecture of Police five hours
before the deed was perpetrated, and which
was explained by the fact of the assassin,
when at Brussels, having intimated, in secret
conclave, his intention to commit the crime.
The Journal de Bruxelles is the organ of the
priest party. M. Vilain XIV. repudiated the
existence of secret societies in Belgium ; and,
although centemning the source from whence
the report emanated, mentioned having re-
quested the Minister of Justice to take cogni-
sance of the matter. It was aptly pointed out
by M. Vilain XIV. that where open discussions
are allowed by the laws of the country, secret
societies lose their calling. The conduct of
this Minister towards political refugees in
Belgium has been characterised by its usual
frank solidarity. He assured them, on ac-
cepting office, that any attempt at conspiracy
against foreign countries would be punished
by exile ; and, being a man of determination,
his caution had its due weight. But there is
one word to be said on this matter. There
are two secret societies that have extensive
ramifications throughout Europe—the Repub-
lican and the Jesuit. They are based upon
opposing principles with a unity of object—
the subversion of the existing order of things.
Unlicensed communism on the one hand,
and on the other spiritual despotism, each
being equally adverse to constitutional
monarchy. The committee of the Republican
Triumvirate in London has subcommittees
or agents at Brussels and Geneva; that of
Rome has its secret alliances at Vienna, Paris,
Madrid, and Malines. For example :—When
the Emperor of the French visited the Queen
of England, a person at the Bricklayers' Arms
Station advanced and presented a petition to
the Emperor. His sudden movement, with
extended arm, having the appearance of an
hostile attempt, he was arrested. At seven
o'clock of the same evening telegraphic intel
ligence of this supposed attack upon the
Emperor reached a secret society in Brussels,
and the servant of a foreign Minister, in inti-
mate relation with the conspirators, imme-
diately conveyed the report to his master.
This is a known fact. It was related by THE
PRESS at the time. Under truly free Govern-
ments, such as England and Belgium, it is
almost impossible to prevent secret associa-
tions. The liberty that encourages virtue
cannot extinguish vice. Every means of pre-
vention, however, that just laws, an en-
lightened Government, and an able Minister
can offer will surely be employed by Belgium.
And they are necessary, for both the Republi-
can and the Jesuit, in their work of darkness,
have no scruple in outraging the benevolences
of hospitality, moral propriet►es, or the laws of
God. The triumvirate of sacerdotal assassins,
Moreno, Verger, and the later Neapolitan,

129

march " pari passu " with Pianori, Melano, and
the murderer of Rossi. It is well to know
that Mazzini and the General of the Order of
Jesus have a weapon in common
The Neufchatel difficulty, which threatened
to bring about open war, has subsided into
comparative nothingness. On their part the
Swiss continue to show a reluctance to disarm.
An indulgence of republican bravado has
stimulated their pugnacity, so that a vent
thereof is necessary ; and, having argued them-
selves into an insane state of self-importance,
it is not improbable that the more inflammable
of the mountaineers will join any revolu-
tionary movement that may break forth in
Europe. At Geneva " Mort aux Rois " is the
spirit of the political effervescence.
Since the subsidence of the Neufchatel dis-
pute, the questions of the Danubian princi-
palities and that of Italy have become more
prominent. Redschid Pacha, after the convo-
cation of the Divan "ad hoc " had been
arranged, gave a fête at his palace of Emir-
ghian to the Ministers of France, England,
Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Sardinia. There
were also present the European Commis-
sioners, MM. de Talleyrand, Perigord, Sir H.
Bulwer, Baron Koller, M. Basin. the Baron de
Richtofen, and the Chevalier Benti. On the
30th of March the Principalities are to be free
from the presence of a single Austrian
soldier ; and on the Ist 'of April the plenipo-
tentiaries will take up their official residence
in the country, and the elections will com-
mence. Every precaution has been taken to
prevent the action of sinister influences. The
boyards, the landed proprietors, the farmers,
and the higher peasantry elected as repre-
sentatives, are to vote in classes and in equal
numbers. The Roumains occupying Moldavia
and Wallachia, and numbering four (millions,
have the same language, the same religion,
the same history, the same locality, and the
same interests. A union, therefore, of the
two provinces, with an established indepen-
dence under a European protectorate, is all
that is necessary to develope the agrarian and
riverain advantages that they possess. This
union and independence existed under the ad-
ministration of General Kisselef, in 1829 and
1834; and the organic arrangement of 1832,
guaranteed by the Porte as Suzerain, and by
Russia as ally and protector, remains in force
at the present time, no other law having ever
been promulgated to nullify this constituted
agreement. Under the later government of
Prince Bibesco, in 1846, the system worked
advantageously for the united provinces.
Political justice and political interest are
equally interested in the furtherance of this
union.

The state of Naples is frightful and alarm-
ing. This general inquietude and consterna-
tion has been increased by an officiating priest
attempting to murder the Archbishop of
Matera whilst giving the benediction. The
prelate was saved by a canon, who arrested
the blow; whereupon the assassin priest drew
out a Dist oi and shot the canon in the head.
When the Archbishop found himself safe, he
tucked up his robes and, with the mitre on his
head, ran through the streets "up wind '' to
his palace. He was followed by a crowd of
lazzaroni, shouting and laughing, who were
ignorant of the cause of this strange race.
Upon an average there are a hundred arrests
daily. As the prisons are incapable of con-
taining the number, some of the deserted
palaces of the nobles have been hired for the
purpose. To get rid of this supernumerary
cargo, a contract has been entered into, and
signed on the 13th of this month, with M de
Buschental, Minister of the Argentine Repub-
lic, whereby the King of Naples undertakes to
supply the Republic with a colony of Neapo-
litan rebels, so called: and the sail colony is
to be enlarged from time to time with fresh
recruits from the prisons of Procida, Ischia,
Capri, and St. Elmo, a3cording to convenience.
It is said that no prisoner is to be expatriated
without his consent.

The intelligence of the warm reception given
to the King of Sardinia at Nice and Genoa,
and throughout his dominions, offers a plea-
sant contrast to the Neapolitan news.
C. 4. it