The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-10 00:00:00

THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.-THE LOAN.

In the sitting of the Cortes of the 4th, M. Nicolas
Revere.* motion in favour of the absolute liberty of
the press was taken into consideration by a m jority
of 112 against 44, notwithstunding the opposition of
the Minister of Grace and Justice. A motion by M.
Moreno Barred., proposing that none of the laws,
voted by the Assembly before the promulgation of the'
constitution should require the royal assent, was ne-
gatived by 144 against 68.
On the 4th a great meeting of capitalists was held,
M. hevillsno, the Finance Minister, in the chair.
About thirty bankers and merchants were present.
The Minister announced that he had convoked the
meeting to explain the terms of the loan of 40 mil-
lions. He offered 5 per cent, interest, at which rate
he said money might be easily found in the market.
The meeting at once appo:uted a committee to con-
sider the ministerial offer, and in a short time the
committee made a report, stating that in their
opinion the loan ought to be negotiated at
8 per cent. After some discussion, M. Sevillano
agreed to fix 7 per cent., and at that rate 23 millions,
oat of the 40 were at once subscribed, of which 10
millions were subscribed by the Bank, and 6 by
Rothschild. It is thought that the remainder will
be eagerly taken by the public.

ITALY.

THE PROPOSED SUPPRESSION OF CON-
VENTS IN PIEDMONT.

The following is an abstract of the bill now before
the Piedmontese Chambers for the suppression of
convents:

By Art. 1, all monutical establishments of whitener
denomination are suppressed, and cannot be reconstituted.
Exceptions are made in favour of the Sisters of Charity,
end those orders which are specially destined for hospital
service or public, instruction (we may remind our nadirs'
that the Jesuits are excluded from the Sardinian States).
The names of these are to be arranged in a list, and ap-
proved of by a royal dieree, to be published at the time of
the promulgation of the law. Art. 2 declares that the num.
her °remembers of each commuaity allowed to exist is to be
fined by a royal decree. The roles to be observed by them are
to be prescribed by the kiog. Art. 3 regulates the future civil
condition of the members of suppreued convents. Art. 4
topmasts the chapters of collegiate churches and the sim-
ple beaetleas in the state not connected with any religious
duties to be performed by those who enjoy them. Navel,
tholes', some collegiate chapters may be preserved in the
principal cities of the kingdom in virtue of a royal decree.
By Art. 8, all the property of the suppressed establishment.
and collegiate churches Is annexed to the domains of the
state, and is to be applied, Ist, to the payment of pensions to
monks and nuns of suppressed convents; 2ndly, to inertias.
ing the salaries of curates whose incomes are inferior to
1,000 fr.; Srdly, to payment of indemnities to the clergy of
the island of Sardinia for suppression of tithes; 411117,
to other matters relating to the church. By Art. 7, the re-
ligious duties connected with certain portions of the pro•
party 'Waded to, are to be regularly fulfilled. Arts. 8 and
9 grant pensions to the members of the suppressed
chapters, and lay down the rules relating thereto*
By Art. 10, pensions of from 210 f. to 800 f. are granted to
members of suppressed convents according to their ages.
By Art. 19, such members se retain comities are excluded
from the benefit of Art. 10 ; as also foreigner,, and those as
are not residing in the country. Art. 14 declares that
monks and nuns, who have paid • sum to be admitted into
one of the convents suppressed, are entitled to restitution.
liy Art. 16, the following taxes are laid epos church pro-
perty : abbacies, canonical and simple benefices, sancta*,
rim, &e., 5 per cent. epos incomes not exceeding 6,0001.
12 per cent. upon incomes not exceeding 10,000 f.; and 2S
Iper sent. upon larger income,. Pthoebial beneficial exceed. ,
hag 2,000 f. income in the same proportios. Ecelesiutioth !
seminaries shoes incomes earned 10,0001., but do sot
exceed 15,000 f., 6 per cent.; not exceeding 2.5,000 f , 10 poi i
sent. ; beyond that income, 15 per cent. Archbishoprics
and bishoprics, sue third of their income, exceeding 18,000 f.
for the former, or 12,000 f. fcr the latter. The other ,
articles relate to administrative details. ,

A letter from Turin of the 4th, published by the'

Conttautionttel, states that M. Bon-Compagni, the
president of the chamber, has set down his name, to
speak in favour of the bill; and M. Brofferio, the
orator of the Mountain, sill support him. MM.
Della Margherits, Costa de Beauregard, and all the
notabilities of the right are preparing to oppose it
vigorously, although every one is persuaded th,t it is
not in the chamber of deputies that its adoption can
be impeded. As to the senate, nothing can be pre-
dicted u to its decisions; certain journals menace
that body, and give it clearly to understand that the
rejection of the bill will be its death-warrant.
- - -- -
THE FOLEY-PLACE TRAGEDY.

THE CORONER'S INQUEST.
Yesterday forenoon, at 10 o'c!ock, Mr. Wakley,
coroner (or Middlesex, and a highly respectable jury of is
of the parish of Marylebonr, of whom Mr.
Ole-
meet George, parochial churchwarden, was foreman, &seem-
I bled at the Devonshire Arms, Duke-street, Foley-street, for
the purpose of investigating the circa:as:ems attending the
death of Mr. Joseph Latham (otherwise Lambert), aged 41
years, who died from the effects of a pietel.slint wound,
fired by Luigi Butanelli, an Italian valet, on the morning of
Sunday last. as already reported is this journal.
The Interest excited by the inquiry was very great, and
the vicinity of the house whets the inquest was held was
crowded with spectators long before the coroner arrived.
The natural curiosity excited by the details already pub-
lished was at the same time greatly increased by a report
that the name of the deceased person had not been correctly
disclosed, and that his position in life was that of a gentle-
man of family, and a man of very considerable property.
These rumours were presently resolved into facts, and our
reporter ascertained the name of the at hapey man to be
Joseph L.-tham (though latterly passing under the as-
sumed named of Lambert). It was further ascertained that
he was the eldest son of Mr. Joseph Latham, a much re-
spected member cf the Stxk Exchange some quarter of •
century aiaoe. His father has been dead 20 years, but his
mother still heel, having attained the veuerable age of more
than 80 years. The deceased, it appears, was not broutcht
up to any profession, but many years ago received, through
the interest of his father, an appointment in the store-
keeper's department of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich.
This office he fulfilled for a long period, and something less
than 20 years ago he married the e:deet daughter of a
wealthy physician, resident for many years at Chaim lord.
The lady's father ha/ died shortly previously, leaving an
ample fortune to his widow, who resided at Chelmsford with
her two daughter,, an only son iollewing the profession of
the bar, of which he is now an eminent member. The de-
ceased gentleman was only 21 yeus of age when he married.
His wife was several years his senior. They resided toge-
ther for 10 years, moving in the best society in the neigh-
bourhood of Greenwich, and occasionally receiving company
at their own hoes'. They lived together " happily enough,'
as the world goes. Ten years since Mr. Latham applied to
the authorities of Greenwich Hospital to snow him to retire
from the service, and his request hunger been granted, he
was awarded a pension of 2601. per annum, which, with
his own property, inherited from his father, proved
quite sufficient for his comfort in retirement. His
wife's ample fortune waa settled upon herself. Mr. and
Mrs. Latham, who had no family, travelled for some
months, and ultimately settled in Jersey, but retirement
from active duty does not appear to have suited Mr. La-
tham's disposition, and family differences of a very unim-
portant character having occurred, a separation was agreed
upon—Mr. and Mrs. Latham mutually agreeing to reside
apart from each other, the wife retaining the whole of her
own fortune,and Mr. Latham living upon Lis own property
and his pension. In proof of the amicable character of the
separation between this lady and gentleman, it may be
mentioned that the brother of Mr. Latham, and the brother
of Mrs. Latham, were co-trusters to the deed under which
it took place. Mr. Latham lived among his family for some
time, but a few years since appears to have met in London
the unhappy woman with whom he was residing when he
met his death in the shocking manner already described.
The circumstance, of course, soon became known, and for a
long time lie was urged by his friends to give up the illicit
anuli-in he had formed. He frequently promised to do
so; but being a man of secant's (cuing, expressed Lis in-
tention to furnish • house, and place tree female in question
in a position to obtain her own livelihood before leaving her.
This promise bad been made to an old friend only very
recent:y. He said he had found another female with whom
he proposed to place hie friend in business, and that, atter
taking a house for her, he should go abroad for three or fear
years. li.ere is little doubt that the house in Foley-place
had hien taken by the unhappy deceased with a view of
providing a future home for the woman he had cohabited
with, and it seems more than probable that, had the
assassin delayed his cold-blooded attack a few weeks
longer, Mr. Letham'es future career might have been
more in accordance with the wishes of his family and her
own welfare.
Mr. \Utley arrived at ten o'clock, and immediately
proceeded to empanel the jury. Among the persons in
the inquest room were Messrs. Nicholay, Soden, and other
well-known local authorities of Idaryletione, who appeared
to take • deep interest in the melancholy inquiry.
Mr. Carter attended on behalf of the family of the de-
ceased.

The jury having been sworn, proceeded to view the body,
. which remained much in the same position as when first
discovered. The deceased presented the appearance of
great muscular development, with a prominent sternum,
bold and regular features, and must have been a fine min.
Oa the return of the jury to the inquest room,
' Henry Turner Lathan), brother of the &ceased, and also
a tine and powerful looking man, was the first witness ex-
, ansined. He was affected during the first two or three
questions put to him. He said—l reside at Erith, and as
• clerk in the stork-office of the Bank of England. The
deceased was my brother ; his 'lame was Joseph Latham.
Ile was 44 years of age. He was in no business or employ-
ment for many years. Ile was last employed in therm-
sr ids Hospital. He was living independently. I have seen
the body, and min identily it as that of my brother. I know
nothing touching his death except from what I have seen in
the public papers. My brother has been married about
20 years. He was living apart from his wife t I think about
Bor 10 years. 1 never visited him at his present residence.
He paced by the name of Lambert, and did so for many
years. I don't know the real name of the female. She
passed by the name of Mrs. Lambert.
To a juror.-1 don't think his wife ever troubled him. I
don't think he allowed her anything. 1 have done some
business for him in stock. I rim one of the trusters. I
,ton's know if he held Dutch stock. The wife's property
was settled upon her. lam not aware that there was any
ill-feeling between him and his wife. He had no family.
To Mr. Clement George, a juror—I don't recollect his
living in Deaa-street witn Mrs. Lambert.
Mr. Alexander Bridge examined—l am a surgeon re-
siding at 19, Langham-place. I called to see deceased about
twenty-five minutes put nine o'clock on Sendsy morning
last. When I arrived at 6, Foley-place, I aaw deceased
lying on a bed in the back room of the ground-floor. I
ea. no lite in the deceased. There was a temple with him.
Mr. Thompson, a surgeon, :here interposed, and suid he
thought it right to inform the coroner that he arrived at
No. 6, Foley-place, atir' had been examining the body when
Mr. Bridge arrived.
The Coroner—l have not got your name before me as one
of the witnearea

Mr. Bridge said be walked into the room almost with Mr.
Thomps)o, and might have pushed him aside if he tattoo
incLued.

Mr. Thompson said he only thought it right to let the
con ner know that he had been first with the deceased.
Mr. Bridge then proceeded with his evidence. 1 saw •
great deal of blood on the deceased proceeding from •
wound. The wound was nearly opposite the fourth
Taubman the right side. The deceased was lying on his
left Ma with his back towards the door ; his shirt was die-
imiesred iss if from powder. I banded the female who was
with him oat of the bed. She had blood on her arm. I
have seen her this morning. I em not attending
her. She is attended by Mr. Norman. I made u
post motive eternisation of the deceased. The cause of
death was the passage °tilde ballet (produced) through the
first and seeund vertebrte of the neck. It passed completely
through the spinal marrow. I have the ballet here. It is
completely Battened on one aide. It lodged egain4 a pro-
cess of oae of the bones. The brain was uninjured. Tha
division of the spinal cord we. the cause of death. The
neck was quite discoloured with powder. There was
alight laceration near the shoulder. The shoulder of the
shirt was singed. The female said nothing to me. dhe was
very much amassed.
Mr. H. C. Letbam here interposed and raid, I wish to
observe, Monter to avoid any misunderstanding, that them
was nothing like gambling ' ' • -
my brother. They were cf
The Coroner said he Is-

answer relative to the stock.
Sophia De Velez was •
Ns. 6, Foley•pisee, on S
previous Friday, having ...
days, Mn. Lambert being
nine o'clock on Sunday inn
went and opened the door.
he wee, having seen him
.oaths. He said, when

ibling in the stock tr..Lractions a
re of s perfectly legitimate chtracter.
i had not taken down the
itock.
is neat ezezeined ; t a
.. \
ay Sund last. I w h'" • -14 ,1,
•-• . ,
g been mimed u it !2,:
sing without one. . - 1 •.-... . l'
r morning the kite, .'' ''' 4 4 :p.
foor. I let a man ' - , ' • 'r'i
im often before d • 7 "ik •,"" kJ ;,n I opened the dos
~.
~ ; ' ..:7
,He ii, not up yet.' • • --1.0,1
..ja - ,i 1 I "t
but." I replied, 1.13 h ..” , -. ,
4,
, .r. .„
bete le Yrs. Willlais "10 iii ''' .
mime his great-out and a • .st • -
them down to the kitchen, sod before
dein I heard the report of a pistol.