The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-08 00:00:00

HEROIC CONDUCT OF A GIRL.

In the night of the 11th of August last, during a
violent thunderstorm, cries of distress were heard under
the walls of the ruined chateau of Galilee (Lot), then inha-
bited by three rustic families. The cries were " Help,
help ; my wife is murdered ; I ant a lost man • it is Albarel
that is lulling us." Albarel was one of the inhabitants of
the chateau, and was the terror of the district. The voice
of distress was that of another of the inmates, named Fan,
who, with his wife, had been prevented from coming home
till late by the violence of the storm. The third family
living in the chateau consisted of a man and his wife
,'lamed Barth*, end their dughter Victorine, a girl scarcely
turned thirteen years of age. At the sound of the dreaded
name of Albarel, who that morning only had threatened to
strike Victorine's nuttier, Barthe sad his wife were struck
dumb with terror, but little Victories jumped out of bed,
rushed to her parents' chamber, sad exclaimed, "Oh,
father ! take • gun and go out." Boeing that he hesitated,
she added, "If you will not, I will go myself ; it shall never
be said that • man was killed at oar door for want of help."
Stimulated by this appeal the father went out, but it
war too late. Fan was mortally wounded, and his wife
dead. Meanwhile Victorine hid herself in the corner of a
doorway through which Albarel, supposing him to be the
murderer, must pass to gain his own lodgings. She pre-
sently heard the mania approach with stealthy step. The
slightest movement, and her life would have bees sacrificed
to the fury of • desperate ruffian armed and reeking with
blood. She remained firm, assured herself of the identity of
Albarel, saw him creep into his chamber, and instantly went
in search of the officers of justice. Upon her evidence
Albarel was sentenced to hard labour for life. The Emperor
on hearing of Victorine's courageous action, sent a watch to
the Minister of Justice, and wrote with his own hand upon
the envelope enclosing it, " For Victoria, Barthe, to be
presented to her in a solemn sitting of the Court of
Assizes." Formant to the Emperors desire • solemn
sitting of the Imperial Court of Calton was held on Feb. 27
last, Victoria@ was conducted by the usher to the witness
seat in the centre of thelesurt, and there, in the presence of
the prefect of the department, a full bench of judges,'
the amiss Puy, and • large assemblage of the gentry
of the department, the watch wee presented to her
by M. Joly, the presiding judge. M. Joly, is the course
of a long speech, said that heroism had in all time been the
natural production of the department of the Lot, and enu-
merated a long list of worthies born in the province from
the time of the Romans downwards. After the delivery of
this speech the prefect presented Victorine with a medal
of honour of the let class and • purse of 150 f. on the part
of the Minister of Justice; and at the conclusion of the
ceremony the jury requested that the speeches of the Pre-
sident Joly and the prefect might be printed, and that each
of them might be allowed to have a copy.

SEIZURE OP AN Enos Arr SHIP, AND DETENTION
OF Tall PASSENOIRS.—Yesterday, Mr. Member, messenger
of the Court of Bankruptcy, came up to town, and reported
that he had succeeded in seizing the emigrant ship Babette
at Portsmouth, under the follovrin; circumstances :—On
the 23rd of February lut, a petition in bankruptcy was pre-
sented to Kr. Commiurioner Goulburn, against Joseph
Henry Donne and John Venable', of 9, Craven-street,
Strand, shipowners and merchants. It appears that the
parties had purposed going out to Port Phillip, the former
as passenger and part owner of the Babette, and the latter
as the muter and part owner. They had been previously
arrested for debt, but had obtained their liberty. At the '
latter end of last month the Sabena left the London Docks
In charge of Wm. Hay, the chief officer, with a valuable'
eargo on board, and about thirty emigrants, but on
going down the Channel he lost an anchor, and was
obliged to pat in at Portsmouth to get fresh anchors. In
the meantime Venable.; and Dunne joined the vessel, and a
warrant was granted, and put in the hands of Mr. Member,
who praoesdod to Portsmouth, and found that Venables
had been arrested and lodged in Winchester gaol by a
sheriff's officer, who met him in company with a lady in
Portsmouth. His whiskers had been closely shaven off,
and he wore a cap drawn over his face to con-
ceal his features, and he was otherwise disguised.
Mr. limber immediately proceeded to Winchester
gaol,
and searched Venable*, from whom he took a valuable gold
watch and chain, and a number of letters, disclosing the
intention of the parties to elude their creditors. The