The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-25 00:00:00

DISTURBANCES AT MAYENCE.

COLLISION BETWEEN THE CITIZENS AND
PRUSSIAN SOLDIERS.

On Sunday a collision took place between the Prus-
sian soldiers stationed in the fortress of Mayenee and
the citizens, aided by the Burgher Guard. Six of the
Prussian soldiers were killed and about sixty woundt d,
whilst on the part of the citizens the numbers killed
were four, and about twenty wounded. The soldiers,
who had been for some time annoyed by the
abuse which they heard on all sides of the present
King of l'russia, becoming excited by drink, drew
their swords, and attempted to take possession of the
Caserte of the Burgher Guard. It was in this
attempt that the coeflict occurred, and the milli
was the defeat of the l'eussian soldiers, who had to
fly to their barracks. The governor, General Von
Hum, knowing that the inhabitants are mostly
republicans, and apprehensive of their committing ex-
cesses, issued, at ten o'clock on Sunday night, by
beat of drum and torch-light, a proclamation de-
claring the town of Mayenee in a state of siege, and
threatening to bombard it in case the arms of the
citizens were not delivered up in two hours.
Upon the representation of the burgomaster and
other authorities, the governor we, subsequently in-
duced to postpone the period fixed for bombardment
till 12 o'clock next day ; but he had the railroads
stopped. as well as the steam-boats, so that no means
were affordad to the citizens of either obtaining aid
or of procuring provisions, all the gates being beset
by soldiers.
Such was the state of things in Mayence on Mon-
day morning, when the burgomaster had the go-
vernor's proclamation printed, to which he appended
an address, in which he said that it was plainly the
interest of all the inhabitants instantly to deliver up
their arms at the town-house, and to follow implicitly
the commands of the governor, as alone on these con-
ditions could the miserable condition of the the tows
be put an end to. The proclamation and the address
produced their desired effect. The citizens saw that
they were locked in a town the bombardment of
which was inevitable. The Burgher Guard was dis-
solved ; all the arms delivered nearly at the time
prescribed ; and by half-paid one the governor Issued
orders which permitted the communication by the
railroads and the Rhine to be re-opened.

•
The state of exasperation prevailing between the
Prussian garrison and the people of Mayence, the
subjects of the Grand Duke of Hew Darmstadt, con-
tinues. It was stated at Biebrich (on the Rhine), on
Monday last, by a passeager from MaTence that day,
that in the course of Monday morning, whilst the
siege continued, a citizen, venturing to approach the
fortress, was deliberately aimed at by a Prussian
soldier from the walls, and shot dead on the spot.

ST. JAMES'S BENEVOLENT AStiOCIATION FOR THE
PROPAGATION or vita GOAPEL IN FORRION PARTIL—A
, meeting of the members and friends of this society was held
yesterday, in Willies Rooms, St. James's. The Bishop of
London presided, and opened the proceedings by ebserving
that the society was the most ancient almoner of the church
in dispensing spiritral consolation in different parts of the
world. The Church of England was essentially in its nature
a missionary society; and the duty of propagating the Gospel
being incumbent on the church it was equally the duty of
every individual to carry out the principle. Ile considered
that by supporting the society they would but show their I
gratitude to the great head of the church fur the preserva-
tion of their natioual privileges while other countries were
losing their own; and the same reason increased a hundred
fold the obligations of this country to eupixtrt the cause of
Christian missions.—Gad Lyttelton moved the first
revolution, which was to the effect that the
spiritual destitution existing in the colonies, and
the increase of emigration from these shores, tailed on the
Christians of this country to make increased efforts to obtain
for their countrymen in other parts of the world the means
of grace. His lordship dwelt upon the present condition of
the colonies with respect to religious instruction, considering
them to have been greatly neglected by this country, in
being considered merely as a medium of commercial ad•
vantage, which was not the true object for which they should
have been established. He alluded particularly to Australia
and Ceylon. To the latter place a bishop had recently been
sent out ; but up to that time it had been annexed to the
enormous diocese of Madre.. The North American posses-
sions of this oountry had also been most unjuuly treated, the
government having for a series of years refused the este.
elishment of a bishopric there, notwithstanding the
urgent solicitations which were made for that object. With
regard to the financial condition of the society, he was hippy
to say that though its income had not been increased its ex-
penses had been brought to some extent within the amount.
--The Rev. J. Anderson seconded the resolution, which was
a3opted unanimously.—The Bishop of Madras proposed the
next resolution, which was to the effect that this country,
being calle I on to head dominion over 120,000.000 of
heathen idolaters, is hound to use its utmost exertion to
disseminate among them the faith of the Gospel. His lord-
ship d. scribed the mode of life pursued by the Muasulman
population of India to be most degrading, profligate, and
revolting to Christian feeling; and why was such the case ?
Because this country did little or nothing to correct the evil.
Contrasted with the heathen population the native Christians
present d a picture which WAS truly a matter of congratula- '
tion ; and this was mainly attributable to the labours of the
society—which only need d increased means to enable it to
render increased blessings. At prevent they were only ena-
bled to employ 22 missionaries fur the whole of southern
Indic —Sir J. Kirkland seconded the resolution, which was
also carried ; as well as another revolution calling on the in-
habitants of the parish to support th, society, towards which
a collection was made at the doing.

DEMONSTRATION AT BRADFOItD.—On
Tuts lay evening a preconcerted demonstration of the chartist
forces in that neighbourhood was made at Bradford. by the
assembling of a very large meeting of the unemployed opera.
tiers anduthers, in Peekover's Walk, in the eastern suburbs
of the town. Shortly before six o'clock, the hour appointed,
considerable bodieaof men marched into the town from Bow-
ling, Ilvrton, White Abbey, and the adjacent districts.
They marched in a sort of military array, with tri-colour
flags, and grey n banners. One body had a black flag edged
with white fringe ; another had a band of music ; a third
had a flag inscribed "Down with the Aristocracy;" and in
the several processions might be seen many men bearing
long spears, and pikes, and weapons resembling the ancient
battle-axe. It was estimated that upwards of 12,000 per.
sons were assembled. Each of the speakers addressed the
meeting as " Brother Guards." John Shaw, of Leeds,
having spoken in a declamatory style, Mr. Lizht-
owlet delivered a violent address, recommending the
employment of physical force as the only means of ac-
complishing their ob,tet.—Aftcr several ether speeches of a
similar character, three cheers were given for the national
guard, and the several sections left the ground as they at,
riv.d, in military array, a little before nine o'clock.
TIIE IRISH BRIGADE IN AMERICA.—Our Irish
citizens haver been for some time past engaged in holding
me. rings, collecting money, and enrolling volunteers for an
Irish brigade, which, we are told, will assume the tack of
liberating Ireland from the dominion of England. How this
little pi, cc of business is to be accomplished by this Irish
brigade, even if it ware really contemplated to form an armed
force of such d, scription here, and even if its formation did
not contravene the laws of nations, we have not been able to
learn; for England, as low as she is, has yet a little strength,
and, besides, possesses a few vessels of war in her seas which
this Iri,h brigade would rind it impossible to escape. The
fact is, that this tempest in a teapot never did amount to
much and never will. A few hundred dollars have been
collected, and when it is expended in battle by the Irish
brigade, it will be in a sortie on oysters, roast duck, and
champagne, in one of the fashionable eatinK.houses, at which
no blood w.ll be spilt or lives lost, unless the brigade drink
too freely of the ammunition and get to fighting with fisti-
cuffs among themselves. Loud-mouthed patriotism has
always been Ireland's curse. It was by eternally talking of
patriotism that O'Connell succeeded so well in leading the
Irish wind and collecting the Irish pennies on the promise of
procuring repeal, and we are sorry to find parties attempting
the same game here.—/Veto York Bored.

MADRID, MAY 18.
An express arrived the day before yesterday tram
Seville, with aceounta of a revolt of tho troops stationed
there on the 13th.

Shelley, the Captain-General of Andalusia, is said to bave
pursued the revolted troops, overaken 'hem, and come to a
decisive engagement, in which he entirely routed them, and
took a great number of pti.oners. The common soldiers
carurid were immediately tried by a drumhead court-
martial and decimated. The Akers were, at the entreaty
of the Infante, placed under arrest till the pleb ore of the
government could be known. N would hens of no
mercy, and wrote back, so I understand, to shoot them all.
Sonic say that Genoa was the only officer taken. Mean-
while a letter to the lieralito gives the following account of
the Mainers: "Sv.vit.LE, MAY 14.

" Last night, at half past nine o'clock, a battalion of the
regiment (I understand the whole regiment) of Goode-
lemma raised the cry of rebellion in this city, and marched
upon the extramural cavalry barrack. There they were
joined by some soldiers of the latter arm, and, after shutting
up the officers in the guardroom, the rebels retutned to the
town and attacked the l'rincipsl, where the political chid,
was stationed. After a quarter of an hour they were bedew
beck, many of the revolted soldiers returning to the loyal
ran km and affirming that they had been deceived.
"The insurgents, commanded by the son of General
Omura then got out of the town into the suburbs of Triana,
from whence they were dislodged and put to flight by the
loyal troops,
"The Captain-General Shelley sallied out in pursuit of
them with a considerable force. No civilians had joined
the revolted. The cry of toe latter was, Viva le Repub-
lica !' "

Ktme of these particulars were announced in the Popular
of last night, which appends to them • scandalous libel on
Sir Henry. Bulwer, in which tin epithet of insult or outrage
is spared, imputing the seduction of the Commandant Ocana
to the English minister, and accusing the latter of having
employed for this end a mediation, the supposition of which
sacrifices the reputation of an honourable family in order to
deal a blow at the character, both political and domestic, of
our representative.
The Senora de °cans, accompanied by her two sisters,
repaired yesterday evening to the palace, and throwing
themselves at the Queen's ieet they implored with tears and
passionate supplications the life of their brother. Some sup
pose that thin unfortunate Oliver had already suffered the
extreme penalty. In any case his life, if not yet sacrificed,
ha. Ittie hope of being spared.
Tht• Infanta took re:uqe on board a steamer in the Ouadah
quiver, where she paused the night.
The d ty of the prommenimenfo was the King's birthday,
in coast gutnee of which a besantanes had been held at the
Altus tr.

A friend of mine bee received a private letter informing
him of the death of three artillery officers, two of whom were
colonels, one Colonel Aguilar, whe were fired at by the in-
surgents as they were retiring, attended by their ayadantee,
from the levee. The same fri, nd tells me that the greater
part of the two revolted battalions escaped. They took the
rood to the port of Huelva by Nieblas. No accounts.un
which the least reliance can be placed have arrived of the
amount of casualtiu. _

The cavalry in the cars mural barrack appears to have
amounted only to a small part of the regiment of the In-
(ante. The insurgents appear to have attacked the palace as
well as the Principal.
The other news is of lota importance. Gen. Iriarte and
Col. Gwadar& are said to have offered their services at
IlAyonne to the Carlin General Elio in favour of Count
Moutemolin.

A party of insurgents, amounting to some hundreds, who
had appeared upon the confines of La Mancha and the
Sierra Morena, ns said by the government journals to have
surrendered to the command inte general of Jaen.
A decree appears in the Gazette giving a more efficient
organisation to the preventive service and cwahineerv, the
customs having exhibited a great falling off since the aboli-
tion of the custom-houses of the interior by Salamanca. A
second decree prolongs the term given Carina officerffito
swear allegiance fir another month. A third cashiers Bri-
gadier Amettler from the army, for his flight from Badajor.
A longish document was sent with the passports of Sir II
Bulwer firming the reasons which had actuated the govern
mint in takiog that step. These reasons were mostly the
very calumnies for which the ministers would have apolo-
gised till symptoms of dieunh.n appeared among the whiga.
lie was accused of conspiring with members of the pro-
gresista party, who found refuge in his house. These gen-
tlemen, being invited to the embassy for that purpose , for-
mally denied, in the presence of Sir llenry, and all the
secretaries and attachis of the emban. , that they had ever
given the least reason for inch a charge. Finally, it was
said that such was the state of excitement which prevailed
among the inhabitants of Madrid and all loyal Spaniards
against the British minister, that the government was unable
any longer to answer for his safety, and was obliged to send
him his passport to calm the agitation which reigned.
The following passage from a government paper will, per-
haps, best express the sense of this document :
" It is not only the coincidence that the Commandante
Portal, who revolted with his battalion in Seville, enter-
tains this or that connexion with Mr. Bulwcr—it is not only
the fact that this diplomatist has used this or that language
in notes passed to the government under critical circum-
stances—it is not only this correspondence' and the debate
in the English parliament thereupon, with the lights thrown
upon the subject by the speeches of English ministers—it is
not only that Mr. Bulwer happens to have despatched an
officer, attached as it appears to the embassy, with instruc-
tions to withdraw, as we understand, the moment he ascer-
tained the unfortunate result of the Seville insurrection—it

is not only the fact of two ships, bearing English co-
lours, freighted most certainly with arms and ammunition,
having sailed from Gibraltar, and appeared off Denis, ma.
nasurring suspiciously—it is not only what the public says,
what in all parts is heard, and from all persons, respecting
the belief, almost unanimous, that Mr. Bulwer agitates,
abets, end pays the revolution; receives, protects, and hides
fugtives, and those sought for by the authorities as revolu-
tionary penrms—there exist a thousand other motives, a
thousand other reasons, for the government having taken
the resolution to give Mr. Bulwer hie passports."
I learn to-day, from better authority, that the reports
which I sent yesterday, as to the success of Shelley at
Seville, his pursuit of the insurgents, victory, and the deci-
mation of the prisoners, are false. The rest of my intelli-
gence was correct. The accounts of the government puh-
lished in the Espetgna and Herald() are of course not to be
relied upon; and there are no others printed. I hear, how
ever, from a private letter received by a friend to-day, from
Seville, that although the government troops remained
masters of the fiefa, they had by far the worst of the fight-
ing. It is not true that Portal (or (leans) was the only
offic.r ; there were, as I hear, five others with him. The
affair broke out in this way 3—Accounts had been received
in Madrid of the disaffected f the regiments of Goa-
datums and the Infante, and in consequence it was deter-
mined to break the six officers above-mentioned. Portal,
getting inf irmation of this, although perfectly well-dis-
posed previously towards the government, saw no way of
saving himself but by joining the revolt, ofd his companions
followed his example. It is not true that he has been taken
prisoner. His mother contacted a second marriage with
General Ocana, who was lately promoted from the rank of
brigadier to that of mariscal de campo, through the same
influence which the government journals calumniously
sup-
pose to have been employed by the British minister for the
purpose of seducing the son from his allegiance.

l'Al.Enmo, May IO.—A ateameriafnet on the point of
star ins for Malta, and we avail ourselves of that opportunity,
the communication with Naples being still uncertain.
Prompt parcels of sulphur are scarce, the demand brisk, and
prices look ng up; first quality, 3?. 151. per ton on hoard.
The oil crop thus far promises abundance all over the island.
Palermo ore, 40/. 16s. per ton on board.
A LABOURER KILLED BY A FARMER.—An imbe-
cile old man, named Barnes, living at Checchi, on the bor-
ders of Worcestershire, has met his death at the hands of a
fernier, named Luke Bull. An inquest was held on Tuesday,
at which a great number of witnesses were examined, the
chief of whom were Mr. and Mrs. Cole, in whose cottage the
violence upon the person of the deceased was committed by
Bull. Mrs. Cole deposed that a few evening. before the de-
ceased's death, Barnes came to her husband's cottage on his
way home from work, and brought with him a hedge stoke,
which, it appears, he had taken out of a hedge on Mr. Bull s
farm. Deceased sat down in Cole's cottage for a few minutes,
at the expiration of which he was followed by Mr. Bull, who
charged him with taking the stake out of his hedge. Before
a reply could be made to the charge it was followed up by
Bull seizing the stake and striking Barnes repeatedly with it
across the arms, legs, and body. He then left, taking the
hedge stake with him.—John Cole, husband to Mrs. Cole, an
old man almost blind, corroborated his wife's testimony, and
added that the deceased was 50 years old and affected in his
intellect —The stake was p:oduced by the parish constable
It was a formidable-looking weapon. —Other witnesses
proved that the deceased had lingered for nine days, when he
died Irom the erysipelas brought on by the injuries received
in the violent beating he had had from Mr. Bull.—The jury
found a verdict of manslaughter against Bull, who was com-
mitted to take hie trial at the next assizes.

NEARLY a HUNDRED CHILDREN WERE POISONED
on Tuesday at Bristol by rating some berries which were
strewed upon the quay, having fallen there front a druggist's
package. When the young creatures began to sicken, much
consternation was created in the city. The infirmary was
crowded with applicants for relief, and private surgeries were
equally besieged. Although much suffering was caused, it
appears by the account furnished by our correspondent that
none of the cases are expected to terminate fatally.
THE PROPERTY QUALIFICATION.—The absurdity
of any property qualifieation was, says the Glasgow l'ose,
hurnourowly illu.trated by Franklin, when the question
was under discussion in the United States, by the categorical
course of reasoning which the great American statesman was
famous for. "You would have a qualification based upon
property, would you %" said Franklin to an opponent with
whom he.was discussing the bases of the franchise for the
state of Pennsylvania. "Yes," was the reply. " Then you
would consider an ass property," said Franklin, " and you
would enfranchise the owner ?" " Most certainly," was
again the rejoinder. " Well," said Franklin, "a voter is
enrolled with an ass as his qualification, the ass dies and the
man loses votes, consequently it was the fin and not the
man that wee represented." This view of the case is unan-
swerable, and the project of representation based on a house
is very much akin to the ass representation thus so success-
fully ridiculed by Franklin.

IRELAND.

DtinuN, MAY 24.—A placard has been posted in
this city, and through several of the neighbouring
counties, calling upon the people to march upon
Dublin, and see that Mitchel gets a fair trial ; and, if
condtnincd, to avenge him and themselves.