The Express.
London, England, 1865-07-17 00:00:00

TO TNT IDITOI OF TIIT LEPERS.

Sla,--(;treat misapprehension appears to exist in
the public mind as to this most distressing affair, awing to
the icoonect accounts published by some of year ecelens.
porsrisa One leading journal has adopted as true an
aboard story published is the Union omtinental paper,
while a writer iD a minor weekly publication, apparently
ignorant of the situation of Pastern and of ell connected
with it, treats with vulgar levity the terrible misfortune
whirls has [ante an Mr. William Norm.

Hiving bad excellent opportunitissof becoming acquainted
with all the facie of the ease, I restore to seed you a short
statement, which will I hems enable you to understand the
preseet state of affairs.
The brigand chief who captured Mmes. Ansley and
Moans, on the 15th of May, on the high road neer Pienum,
Islamised Mauro. Giamlulto, who was captured the other day,
never bad anything to do with the two English gentlemen.
Maus° has snob been joined by two other chiefs, °eels° sod
Quad, and their mated beads amount to about forty per-
sons, of whom Eve an women.
The sum originally demanded for the ransom of the
two gentlemen was 50,000 duvets, or 8,600 t. It was settled
between the captives by lot that Mr. Ay asley should go to get
the Tanana, Mr. Monte remaining as honer la the hands of
the brigands.
The Italian government his been making the most
streonous exertion; to capture the brigands, or to eta**
them into surrender ; but to those who knew the nature of
the country—which is faithfully described is Coast Mallets
book, lately reviewed is your colonies—it is by no mesas
surprising that the brigands continue to bale their par
pers. But though the severe measures at present peso.
timid by the military and civil authorities la the province of
Salerno have hitherto failed to bring about the capture of
the brigands, they have placed Mimeses di/Beanies in the
way of Mr. Moses' Minds communicating with his metres.
Notwithstanding those ditsoulties, however, Mr. Mane
Mends ham succeeded is paying a ;roe sum of
mousy to the brigands, who rill bold out for
the sum originally demanded, and they now sem
another opportunity of paying such further sum as it is in
their power to pay. It must be remembered that the
mosey has to be paid is gold, at the time and place ap-
pointed by the brigands— that their memseger can only
carry a certain amount, and that he has to page through
the cordon of troops surrounding the dinriet. at the risk
of hie life—that the brigands themselves ere frequently
unable to meet their ransomer, owing to the vigilance of
the troops; and that, whirs so baffled, they rascally dis-
appear from the neighbourhood for a thetaight or se, after
which nothing can be dose till they make another ap.
poiatment.

Oar last news from Mr. limns wan dated the 29th ult.
His position was then very critical. He wrote himself de-
scribing his sufferisgs, and the threats held out by his
captors to enforce the speedy payment of more money.
We can only trust that these wild mu, knowing that their
prismar's friends are e:e•tis( themselves to the
utmost to pay the mosey sod to mitigate the severe insa.
sores taken by the military sothorities, will refrain front
carrying into executioa the awful threats which they bare
uttered from time to time. But apart from this, the most
terrible datigor of his position, the miseries and hardships
which Mr. Moen has undergone &Wag the last seas masks
are sedicient of themselves t 3 emus the deepest anxiety to
him frissde, should his captivity be much farther peolseged.
—I am, ha, A FRIEND OF THE CAPTIVE.
Balerso, Jay 5.

We find the following in the Ballarat Evening
Poet received by to.day's mail :—" A specimea of what
private enterprise can accomplish io the way of acelimatim.
Moe, oo omapared with the costly, sad elitist prodtlese
data of geiremmeat, bias bras afforded by the retells of a
bating whirl' took plass at Bareee.perk lost week, in which
no ism than twisty cock obsolete were shot. Pomo roe.
ammo of the birds whirls tame bean brought to blelbearee,
and especially a Ince Weeded for preeentatioa to bis
Excellsocy Sir C. Darling, bare been sees by many meow
familiar with the she end appearance el the same bird in
Bail ad, sod is. believed by mob pumas to be separior in
balk wad wale* sod sot inferior ie bawdy sad preftwire of
phase" to the hest al the aid imardep. Mr. Austin
may well be paced of baring secissofelly habadneed them
'obi' bids to tits colony, and we bare with peat pleasure
that his bares are now with closet the ewe
rapidity se their feathered somosidena"
Oarerax PALM= Flue SHELLING DAY...
BATUNDAY, JOLT 15.—Adesioiona es 11,762;
late by imam tithe* S.M.—Ted,7D 211.'R