The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-29 00:00:00

Er

• 4

SUPERSTMON AND CRUELTY.

ATTEMPTED SACRIFICE OF AN ENGLISH
CHILD.

own ova owe ooniesrowevirm
ROME, Jan. 23.
Although the science of demonology and the prela-
te* of witchcraft ere nearly abolished in countries
boasting of Christian civilisation, or but faintly
represented by the modern accomplishments of table-
turning and spirit-rapping, some lingering remake
of the black art, in its legitimate medieval darkness,
are occasionally breeght before the notice of the
erctensatical authorities in this country, more espe-
cially those appointed to take cognisance of such
mysterious matters, by whom their authors are
rigorously prosecuted as guilty of jetfrechierie and
itregonerte. A striking and almost incredible exam-
ple of the invocation of diabolic aid, under circum-
stances which betray • great degree of avarice
and cruelty, has recently occurred on the shores of
the Adriatic in the proving of La Maras.
A lady of some property residing generally at
Acqua Santa, in the Papal dominions, but bordering
an the Neapolitan territory, in which she also has
property, has become possessed with the strongest
conviction that in some part of her estates there is a
hidden treasure of enormous value; but that all her
attempts at its discovery are systematically opposed
by evil spirits. Having been informed 'by some
trustworthy old woman, who bears the reputation of
beings strega, or witch, that nothing can allay the
spite of these hostile spirits, and lead to the dis-
covery of the treasure, except sacrificing to them a
male child of good parentage and under 6 years of
age, this treasure-seeking signora has been for some
months in quest of a child adapted for her purpose, and
not too closely guarded for her kidnapping intentions.
About a month ago she cast her evil eye upon a fine
little boy belonging to an English lady residing at
Porto di Fermo, and skilfully watching her oppor-
tunity, contrived to entice the child away whilst
rambling with its mother, and playing about on the
seashore. The consternation of the mother at the
child's disappearance may be easily imagined. Her
husband being absent from home at the time, she
slot a young man, her son-in-law, in quest of the
child, and of the treasure-seeker who had inveigled
him away. Towards night the young man succeeded
in tracing the fugitive to a solitary house at • con-
siderable distance, into which he endeavoured to
obtain admittance, bat was repulsed by the
hostile demonstrations of a body of armed
retainers. He then proceeded to the neigh-
bouring town of .Ascoli, to procure the assistance
of the police, with a sufficient force of whom he re-
turned to the solitary house, but too late to arrest
the kidnappers, who had decamped with their vic•
tim. Meanwhile, the father of the child returned to
his home, and having learnt the catastrophe, came
out likewise in hot pursuit, which resulted, after
several days' research, in the discovery of the hiding-
place of the lady and child, at • curate's house in
the Neapolitan dominions.
During this interval the lady's house at Acqua
Banta was subjected to a judicial search, and evi-
dence was obtiuned that the child was to have been
sacrificed there on Christmas-day. An altar had
been prepared, with wax torches and all kinds of
accessories, to immolate the boy to Satan ! An am-
buscade was established around the dwelling in con-
sequence of this horrible revelation, and a party kept
constantly on the watch, in case the lady should re-
turn to her habitual residence.

In the meantime the father, having come up with
the fugitives, demanded his child from the curate
who harboured them ; but the priest refused to
comply, except on condition of a fuU pardon to the
lady. Unwilling to per over so heinous a transac-
tion, the infuriated father appealed without delay to
the bishop of the diocese, who took instant measures
to rescue the child, and to arrest the lady, who is
now undergoing a trial for stregoneria, or witch-
craft, and will most likely be punished accordingly.
The Pops takes the greatest interest in the pro-
ceedings, and is punctually informed of every point
dintereat developed by the examination. The child
was absent from home about five days, during which
time the mother nearly lost her senses, and has
hardly yet recovered her tranquiUity. She is the
sister of an English gentleman, who has been for
many years engaged to one of the banking establish-
ments of Rome.

So much for witchery. With regard to events in
the ordinary course, or, rather I should say, ex-
traordinary, the only thing worth mentioning is the
sensation of alarm and horror produced here by the
news of the attempt upon the French Emperor's life.
A grand Te Delon is to be sung in the French
church of St. Lotus to-morrow for the Emperor's
escape.
The Senator of Rome has declared war against
bulldogs, and ordered the extermination of the
whole race, with their concomitant craws, in the
reof eight days. It has been asserted that
laceration of a pair of purple-stockinged pre-
lates calves has given rise to this wholesale slaugh-
ter. But this may be a joke, as others state that a
child was seized in the Corso by a bulldog, who was
obliged to be killed to make him leave his hold.