The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-16 00:00:00

ASSASSINATION OF THE

EMPEROR.

(nor ova owx

PARIS, Tlit7RBDt; MrDimar.

A most determined and skilfully-planned attempt
upon the Emperor's life was made this evening, as
his Majesty, accompanied by the Empress, was
going to the grand opera in the Rue Lepelletier. It
was known in the day-time that their Majesties
were going to M. Massol's farewell benefit, on
which occasion Madame Ristori was to play in two
acts of Marie Stuart. The wail preparations were
made for their reoeption ; the front of the theatre
was brilliantly illuminated, and there were illumina-
tions at Duaautoy's, the tailor's, at the corner of the
Rae Lepelletier, and in the windows of several
other shops on the Boulevard. At about 8 o'clock
their Majesties and suite, occupying several court
carriages, went to the theatre in considerable state,
escorted by Lancers and Gerdes de Parisi Chirral.
The gay cortege passed along the Boulevard des
Deans, which, the weather being mild,
was crowded with after-dinner promenaders
and people taking their coffee outside the cafes.
The line of tags borne by the Lancers, and preceded
by the court carriages bearing many ladies of the
court in fall evening dress, was scarcely seen to
wheel round the corner of the Boulevard towards
the Opera-home, before a tremendous explosion was
heard--an explosion so load as to throw the whole
quarter into a state of alarm. It was heard die-

uncuy throngliout the wawa 11110 of the toulevard
des Italians, and startled the inhabitants of the Rues
Lepelletier, Laffitte, Grange &tellers, Taitbout,
Chauchat, and even the Ras de Provence. Just as
the imperial carriage drew up to the peristyle of the
Opera a large hand grenade, thrown, it is supposed,
I from one of the houses opposite, fell upon the pave-
ment within a few inches of the vehicle, burst with
terrible forte, and flung deadly projectiles in all
directions. Two or three seconds afterwards
another shell of the same kind strack the
roof of the imperial. carriage before the Em-
peror and Empress had had time to alight.
A third quickly followed, launched with deadly aim,
and bursting as effectively a. the former two. This
closed the murderous campaign. Their Majesties
escaped—and their escape is almost miraculous—
with the slightest possible scratch from splinters
of broken glass ; they have each a little mark on the
nose. But the Emperor's hat wee knocked to places
by the projectiles, so that he was literally within an
inch of his death. General Roguet, one of his
Majesty's aides-de-camp, who was in attendance, re-
ceived a wound on the neck. One of the horses of
the imperial carriage was killed on the spot, end the
carriage itself was very much battered. A great
many persons—the accounts vary from 16 to 30—were
wounded, and many of them seriously. There has cer-
tainly been some loss of life, but I have no accurate
information as to the extent. An eyewitness told
me that he saw a priest administering extreme
unction to one poor man who evidently bad
not many minutes to live. There is good evidence
that at least two or three others are dead. It was
reported in the course of the evening that the coach-
man who drove the imperial carriage was killed, but
I have heard this contradicted. A Lazar had his
lance cat in two, and one of the Gerdes de Paris was
seriously wounded in the thigh.
The consternation which this dreadful event must
have occasioned among the Court party and the com-
pany on the steps of the Opera-house may be con-
ceived. Besides the noise of the explosion, there
was the rattle of the broken glass which fell like
hail both inside and outside the house. At least two
hundred panes of the glass doors must have been
broken. Some of the ladies stepping out of their
carriages found their white satin shoes steeped in
pools of blood.

The Emperor and Empress, who, I am assured,
both showed admirable presence of mind throughout,
resolved at onoe not to cause additional alum by
countermanding the performance. They proceeded
to their box, and in a few minutes the curtain rose
as if nothing had happened. The news spread like
wildfire through the town, and in the course of the
evening many high officers of state called at the
theatre, and had audience of the Emperor in the
ante-room of the imperial box.

PARIS, FRIDAY EVIURNO.

The hurried aocount of the attack on the Emperor
which I wrote last night from such materials u I
could collect from my own personal observation and
enquiries, is confirmed in all essential particulars by
the Moniteur and the evening papers. I subjoin
some further details :

After the explosion of the first shell their
Majesties attempted to get out of the carriage
al uuur, bat Fro-matt.' by tlao loom otiok-
ipg, and the officers in attendance had consi-
derable difficulty in getting it open. The manager
of the Opera, who, as usual, was in attendance,
offered his arm to the Empress to support her,
but she graciously declined the proffered
assistance, saying, "Let us show them that
we have more courage than they have." The
Emperor mixed with the crowd in front of the
theatre, and gave orders with great coolness. He
afterwards showed himself at the balcony In front
of the house. lam told by a person who Deems to
feel sure of the fact, that the third grenade or shell
did not explode till after their Majesties had left the
11 carriage, and that it was this one which did great
damage to the vehicle. My informant adds that,
had they been in the carriage when the
third shell exploded, they would probably
have been killed. I do not, however, find
any confirmation of this statement in the journals,
Among the wounded are General Count Roguet,
M. Lanet, Commissary of Police of the section of
the Opera (three wounds, one on each thigh, and
one on the faoe, the projectiles not yet extracted),
M. Hebert, peace officer (wounds in the leg and
head); M. Hebert, inspector of the chateau of the
Tuileries; Mdlle. Elise Richard, Rue Lepelletier,
7, (dangerously); a pastryoook of the Passage des'
Panoramas, and his wife; M, Deluloye, Rua Buf-
fault ; M. Migneret, peace officer ; M. Decker,
tailor, Rue Lepelletier, 31 (wounded while looking
oat of his window) ; M Dumay, check-taker at the
Opera (slightly) ; M. Fame], play bill met-