The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-30 00:00:00

EXECUTION OF A MURDERER AT GHENT.

Leopold Lachacrt, the man who was recently con-
demned to death by the Calm of Assizes of Ghent, for the
murder and robbery of a collecting.clerk, named Van-
damme, was executed on Saturday, in that city. An im.
mense crowd assembled to witness the execution, and a
great number of them, to be sure of good places, passed the
whole night on the ground. After his condemnation, La-
chaert became very penitent, and frequently expressed his
hope to ern rit the pardon of Heaven by his Christian death,
But he often said to his keepers, " Men are not executed
now-a-days, are they ? " On Saturday, the chaplain and
chief turnkey went to him at an early hour,
'and told him to prepare for death. At first he
would not believe what they said, but on its being re.
peated, he rose murmuriry, " Let God's will be done "
He then asked if be could be pet mitted to see his family.
Ilia brothers were sent for, and a meat painful scene took
place, all weeping bitterly ; but the condemned seemed
firmest of the three. He demandtd their pardon it the
dishonour he had brought on them, and for the danger to
which he had exposed them by causing them for a time to
be suspected of being his accomplices. He often sobhtd
" poor father !" After his brothers bad left, he heard mass
and received the sacrament. Ile then partook of food, sad
remained in communication with the chaplain for about an
hour. Shortly after the magistrates arrived, and the papers
relative to the rejection of his appeal to the Court of Cessa-
tion, and to the King for pardon, were read, but he paid no
attention to them, appearing absorbed in prayer. It was ex-
pected that he would make revelations compromising his
brother Grancis; but he declared that he had nothing to say
except that he merited the punishment he was about to receive.
When the executioner proceeded to cut off his hair, he
made no remark, but when he was told to place his hands
behind him that he might be bound, he refused, saying,
" What is the use ? I shall make no resistance." But on
a remark of a turnkey, he yielded. After this he appeared
to pay no attention to what was taking place, but continued
to pray fervently. OL, however, being placed in the cart,
he thanked the keeper and the turnkeys of the prison for
their attention to him ; and his face assumed a smiling ex.
pression. lie ascended the steps of the scaffold without
assistance ; but on seeing the knife suspended above his
head started with horror. A moment after, however, he
fell on his knees, and murmured a prayer. A priest then
gave him a crucifix to kiss, and pronounced his
absolution ; after which he was placed on the
fatal plank, and the knife fell. it was noticed that the
majority of the spectators were women, and that many Of
them were carrying their children on their shoulders.

APPOINTMENT OF NATURALISED CITIZENS TO
Outer: —A correspondent of Le Republic:Jen, the evening
French paper in New York, says that M. de Lamartine has
written a letter to one of the cabinet at Washington, eulo-
gising the policy of President Pierce in sending naturalised
citizens as diplomatic envoys to European courts, thus
" demonstrating that, under democratic institutions, neither
rank, nor fortune, nor social position, nor political ante-
cedents, can prevent a man of energy and talent from
arriving at the highest dignities; that the republic esta-
blishes nu distinctions between men, and that, whether
native or of foreign birth, they are equal in its eyes."
WEATHER IN PARIS.—The cold was very :severe
in Paris on Tuesday. At six o'clock in the morning the
thermometer marked 12 deg. 1-10th below zero of centi-
, grade (101 of Fahrenheit), and the Seine was full of error-
' mous blocks of ice, and in many parts frozen hard at the
edges. There was, however, a great change next day. At
seven o'clock the thermometer stood at only 1 of centigrade
, (about 49 of Fahrenheit.)
SERIOUS CHARGE OF MURDER.—The Wolverhamp-
ton magistrates have committed John Quarlter, an Irish
labourer, for trial, charged with Me wilful murder of
Thomas Price, butcher, of Little's-lane, in that town, who
died on the Bth of August, 1852, and whose death was
occasioned uuder the following circumstances:—On Satur-
day night the 19th of June, of the same year, he was
returning home from Nurth•street, through Tin-alley,
when he saw a woman and a young child ill-treated by two
or three men, and he interfered, upon which he was attacked
by three Irishmen, who professed themselves aggrieved
by Ms interference, and was being so much injured by them,
that he begged for his life. Before he reached home,
however, they attacked him a second time, and early on the
Sunday morning, he was found by his wile lying at the door
of his house, with Isis clothes saturated with blood, a jaw
bone broken, his right eye destroyed, with a severe cut on
the back of the head, and other marks of violence about his
body; and he died of the &tete of the injuries. During
his illness he gave a description of the man by whom he was
mast severely assaulted, and the description corresponds
with that of the prisoner, who is identified by Margaret, the
wife of Miles Roden, as one of the three men who en the
night in question knocked down a female friend of her;,
who, with a child in her arms, was scolding an Irishman
she called her husband. The three men, after they had
assaulted the woman and child ran into the alley where
l'rice said that he was first attacked. Quarlter absconded
immediately after the time of the attack upon Price, and was
n.it seen agaAi in Wolverhampton until Sunday, the Ilth
inst., when he wit; apprehended by Seigeant Cordon in the
public house in North-street. At the inquest upon Price a
verdict of manslaughter against an unknown person was
recorded. The prisoner denied all knowledge of the occur-
rence.—Worcester Chronicle.

Al
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WINDSOR. Dzc.29.

Her Nlajesty held a I'rivy Council at three o'clock
tiwarnneen. l're 'sot . Praise Albert, Earl Granville, I
Lord Privident ; Lone ("cannonli, Lord Chancellor; the
tie ‘,l AN Wren, Field bird of the Treasury ; Lord Job',
the the Bight Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Chseicedor of
Esehrquer ; Sir J.,snes Graham, First Lord of the
Aders,te ; the night lion. Sidney Ifeebert, Secretary-:a-
ttar. sod Lied Ernest Youce, vies Chamberlain (officiat-
e-
-1111
tot the Lord Chamberlain).
At th.
Par,iatoent WS% orderedto be further
",aagaid Irons the 3ril of .1 y until Tues4ey, the 31st
Jeciviry, lb-st, and a proclamation was issued summoning
Politest to meet os that day, far the despatch al public
of
'nut neon of Committee of the Lords of the Privy
coused on the petition from the States cf the Island of
Jerzy SW submitted ti and approved of by her Molt:sty in
per rd.
The lien. W. Bathurst was the Clerk of th? Council is
Waiting.
Quen gave audience, to the Earl of Aberdeen, Earl
arroviliee, mist 'he Lord Ch ireellor.
The Earl of Li.enee: and Mr. It. Ormsby G Jrst were the
Lent and Groom in Waiting.
'the 1 Vowing h the honor of diming with her Majes
otatelddy —Lol4loadl.l Lady John Rowell and Mt. 01.A.S.ty
The head of the let Life Guards attended iu the Castle
asnez Otani r, sad ytepd the follow Caiteee
Saxe. arawy,an Meteii by the awed' over.
twer;err,te histlites Washer les WWI-
.*
ogenoetoth der PeirhiseT Linke of tee Chbourg.
nets del it. atm. nos"
s "Istinnetii"
hlamore.ele Corricen Brothers" Punta.
tea. ronviesat ^
Hvr )(suety's private hand afterwards attended, and
sired the batwing composi,lows
osaeti.re, selection Mares seeds" .... Asher.
g 4,00 ths .ett%Ttio. sad Motels) Methirren.
Irrinee Albert, with the Prince of Wales sad Prinee
A:tred, *Virile.' by the Gentlemen in Waiting, that, rt on
the me en the Huse Perk this morning. fitver.il officers of
the regiments gartered et Windsor had the honour of
*aloe royal !eighteen.
.ni, i area, seemepen.el by Lord sod Lely John Ras-
sea, waited down to the we, and remained • considerable
bac
Lord Hagler has been invited and is expected to-day.
'the E en' of Aberdeen, the Lord Cranceelor, Sir James
Graham, the Chaorellir of the Exchequer, Earl Gran-
ville., the Hight Iloa. Sidney Herbert, Lord Ernest Brace,
sad the lion. W. Betharst, travelled from London to attend
the Privy Council by a special %rale, on the Great Western
Railway, and arrived at the. Castle soon after two o'clock.
luticheun was served to the noblemen and gentlemen soon
atter their arrival.
M half-put tour o'clock the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of
Aberdeen, Lord Ernes! Bruce, Sir J. Graham, the Right
Boa Sidney Herbert, the Ch mettle)! of the Exchequer, and
the Hon. W. llithuret, took their departure, and returned
to town by a special train on the Great Western Railway.

A deputation from thr Lertner Trade had an interview
yesterday with the Right. Has. E. Cardwell, at the Board
of Trade. The deputation wingienid of Mr. hoses Poadt.
Mr I...matcher. Mr. T. Lavpi Mr. T. Hepburn, Mr. W.
H. tux, Mr. James BoylesMy midi Mr. T. Powell.

sm7ll sTAITOnDsIIIRE ELECTION.

S

Lord I'aget, the candidate for South Staffordshire,
in the course of hi, canvass, which he is punning with great
va.tour, visited Birmingham yesterday. Has visit was not
of • public nature, but merely to the electors resident in
that town, by whom be was most eourteous'y received.
Bo lordship was met by Mr. B•slton, of Wolverhampton,
and Mr. W. J. Beale, of Birmingham, solicitors, and by
Hr. H. Serle, of Stourbridge. His reception was extremely
gratifying, and little doubt is entertained by his friends but
that his return for South Staffordshire will be most nines-
inapt. The great strength a Lord Paget lies in the in-
crease of the constituency since the last contest for South
Staffordshire. Lord Ingestre, his opponent, has nut yet
arrived from North America, but is daily expecta.d. Both
parties are providing the sinews of war (for it is under-
stood that neither candidate will be subjected to the pay-
ment of expenses), and a sharp if not a close contest may
be expected.

The Hon. Arthur Wrottesley and William Mathews,
Bee., are already fixed upon as the proposer and secooder
of Lard Paget, who met his preliminary central committee
last week, and afforded generil satisfaction by his frank and
mealy conduct. The canvass, as far as it has at present
proceeded, is distinguished by very favourable results, and
the supporters of the noble lord, who are takiug time by
the forel9ck. anticipate the reward of their exertions by the
seems of his lordship's candidature. Contemporary prints
published in the district and advocating the interest of
Lord Ingestre, have attached much and undue importance
to the alleged support of the great body of ironmasiers.
The following list of some of the large iron sad vial wirers
who are heartily co•operating with Lord Paget, will show
that the all. gation is open to contradiction : W. C. Foster,
Esq., Stiurtou Castle; British Iron Company, Messrs.
Barker and P. Foster. W. Mathews, Gesch, M.P., and
Cochrane, Blackwell, Messrs. Chante, Dimmack Thompson,
Messrs. J. Jones, Messrs. Even sod Co., B. Gibbons, Shut
Red; B. Gibbons, jun., ; Geach, Walker, Wednes-
bory ; Spittle, West Bromwich; Joseph Klieg, Joseph
Purser; Sully, Tipton; Hunt, Brides; Messrs. Lee Bro
then, Kismet Works; Holl, Holeruft, and Co. ; Ward and
Co., Gorge Attwood, Mes►rs. Fin:atone, Geo. Bennett
sad Co . Messrs. T. and B. Williams, Whittington Iron
Works; George Bat! and Son, William Mills, Rowley;
Lloyd, Wertnesbury ; Harrison, Brownhills. Besides the
oboe, Lied Paget can count upon the firiendly influence
sad cordiil support of the iollowiag amongst others of the
nobility and landed proprietors of the district • Duke of
Sutherland, the Marquis of Anglesey, Earl Grenville, Lord
Hatherton, Lord Wrottesley, Lord Calthorpe, Sir S.
Glynn', Bart., Earl of Lichfield, Lord Ward, J. H. 11.
Foley, Esq., M.P., Sir F. Scott, Bart., Sir R. Peel, Bart.
Robert Scott, Esq., Rev. Barnes Floyer, Rev. W. B. Collis,
&C.... Wormier Chronicle.