The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-27 00:00:00

INSULT TO A BRITISH FUNCTIONARY AT

NAPLES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
NAPLES, Ave. 20.

I have for a long time been chronicling tho perse-
cutions of Neapolitan subjects. Nor is Othello's own-
patio@ gone; day by day, and hour by hour bring
to light some fresh enormity, though for the moment
I suspend my enumeration of them to detail an insult
offered to a British subject, and the first °nada of the
British Legation at Naples. Hitherto the forms of
courtesy have been exercised towards diplomatic
agents; unmistakeable indications of the worst possi-
ble feelings have been manifested it is true, but they
were not of an overt character, and prudence has
hitherto dictated an abstinence from soy oondoot
which might give occasion for offence to a great and
powerful country. Even this caution, however, has
ceased to be practised, and as though he had become
over bold through the impunity with which be has
desolated the land and tormented its population, the
Director of Police has now been trying his hand on Mr.
Fagan, the first affaelfi to our Embassy in this king-
dom. The particulars are soon told enders briefly these :
Mr. Fagan bad been directed by his minister to com-
municate with Prisms Setriano, the superinteudent'of

theatres, and request a benefit for Signora Paressa,
an English subject, now singing in Naples. Mr.
Fagan, therefore, waited oo the Prince in his box at
the Teatro del Fondo. Just opposite was the direc-
tor for the Minister of Police, who on the instant be-
came extremely exasperated, looked across most in-
sultingly, and made many menacing gesticulations.
The Primo was utterly at a lose to explain what all
these furious demonstrations meant, but in the morn.

jog he wu sufficiently enlightened, u the director
then sent for Sig. Attenssio, an employe of the
superintendent of theatres. To him, he uttered the
lowest Junks against fiatriano for having received
such a nu is his box ea Big. Fagan, who

was denounced am an enemy to the King,
a " bithentk" and as assassin. At length.
be wound up his furious address by ordering the
olifoierf to inform Prince Satriano that be was pro-1
hibited from ever receiving Signor Fagan again
his box. On this statement I can depend. I have
heard it added, an apparently good authority, that,
on Mr. Fagan's entering Batriano's box, the director
levelled his glass at him very markedly—a oompli-
mint or otherwise which was returned ; on which the
minister sent round to ascertain who that impertinent
fellow was who dared to look at him. A message was
returned that be was the first attache of the British
Embassy, and that he therefore could not be turned
out as the Director bad ordered; on which Mane,
ienyiog the statement, and speaking of Mr. Fagan
is the strongest and most offensive terms, ordered him
to be turned out. The Prince repeated that he was
his guest, and he could not turn him out, but that the
Director, if resolved, mast come round and execute
his own order. There, for the night, the matter
rested, but in the morning, acoordiog to this statement,
the same facts occurred which I have already detailed.
Whether the additions are strictly true I cannot vouch
for; at all events, they are not inconsistent with the
first statement. Here, then, is a case of gross insult
offered to a British functionary by, at the time
being, the virtual lord end master of Naples. Will
it be tamely submitted to or not, and be added
to the long catalogue of insults which have been
heaped in various countries upon the English since
1848 with comparative impunity ? If so, the Eng-
lishman may well be ashamed of his name, and
doubtful of his position beyond the shores of his own
country. It is said that Sir W. Temple has taken
the matter up very warmly ; but it is to be hoped that
the press will not withhold the strong expression of
its feeling, and that the home government will sup-
port the resident minister in demanding the most
prompt and the most satisfactory explanations.