The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-15 00:00:00

111711AORDINARY ACT OF BRIGANDAO3

If:SLR BOMB.

A letter from Rome in the Univers contains the
following extraordinary Ode:—" In the cathedral of Fel-
letri, near Rome, was an image of the Virgin, nearly covered
with gold, and decked oat with necklaces, rings, and jew-
ellery, and it was held in great veneration by the people. In
the Holy Week it wan, according to custom, screened from
view by a curtain, and on Holy Thursday some person con-
trived to steal it. On Good Friday the archpriest of the
cathedral received a note thus conceived I, the under-
signed, know the thief, and the spot in which is deposited
the Image of the Madonna, and I will make revelations on
three condition►—impunity for myself, the release of

my brother, who is condemned to death, and a
pension of ten crowns a month.—Vendetta.' The
archpriest having ascertained that the image really had been
abstracted, communicated the strange epistle to the delegate,
Mgr. Giordani. Instead of seeking at once for the writer of
the letter, this dignitary applied to Rome for orders, and the
Pope, fearing the total loss of the image' and the erect that
would be produced amongst the people, directed that the first
condition of the bandit should be accepted, but that the other
two should be rejected. Vendetta having learned this reso-
lution, spread amongst the people of Velletri the news of the
robbery of the imp, which the clergy of the cathedral had
kept mad, and he wrote to the clergy that he would be con-
tent with impunity for himself and with five hundred
crowns paid down. On Saturday the people went en mane
to the church, and waited with anxiety for the arrival of that
part of the service in which the crucifixes and images are
uncovered; but the veil which had covered the image of the
Madonna was not removed. On Sunday the people again
went to the church, bat es the image was not displayed, they
became excited, and murmured ; and at length some of them
got on the altar, and tore down the curtain. The rumour
was then spread by Mends of Vendetta that it was the Jesuits
who had stolen the Madonna ; and the excited people believing
the falsehood, broke into the convent occupied by the Jesuits,
which is adjacent to the cathedral, and with cries of La
Madonna nodes!' completely sacked it, and ill-treated the
reverend fathers. Shortly after the suffragan bishop ascended
the pulpit, and exhorted the people who remained in the church
to be calm, but they would not listen to him. There is no
garrison except ten or twelve veterans in the town, so that
no opposition could be made to the mob. When the bishop
descended from the pulpit a seireely credible scene °muffed ;
the brigand Vendetta, seined with a poignarcl, ascended it,
and thus addressed the people Be patient I The good
fathers are innocent I It is I who stole the Madonna! But
I will only restore It when the government, to whom I grant
• delay till Monday evening, shall have consented to the
compact I have proposed to it. Be calm, therefore, and
shout no more I I warn you, in conclusion, that my com-
panions are armed aswell as II ' Wh'al followed that
harangue we have not yet heard; but • deputation of the
municipality and chapter of Velletri have arrived here, and
have had an interview with the Pope. Orders have been
issued to despatch a troop of gendarmes on horseback and
a company of Striae infantry to Velletri to establish order."
From other sources we learn that Vendetta has been trans-
ferred to prison in Rome, where he will probably men with
no great indulgence. Fifty or sixty of the most active rioters
hays been arrested at Veiled, and that town will continue
to be occupied by the military until judicial proceedings us
completed.

BEER Acr Ananntourr.—Lord Goderich had an
interview on Tnetday, at the Chamber of Commerce, Leeds,
with the Committee of the Association for procuring an
amendment in the kw of tkensing Beer-houses. There
were gent Denton Lupton, Req., the president; John
Gott, ~ J. G. Maiskal4 Esq., the Rev. Edward Jackson,
Maws. . Hafer, B. Baku J. Role, John Jowl", Jan.,
B. Eddiar4sN W. G. Joy; the Rev. A. F. Woodford, Swil-
lint= ; W. Z. Forster, Req., of Burley ; and the Rev. Dr.
De Willis, and Mr. Walker, of Bradford. Lord Goderich
wee anxious to learn the opinion of the meeting u to the
peewit upset of the question, and the best roams to be
permed fa furtherenco of its object. A strong and unani-
mous ("ham wee sneered in favour of adhering to the
Bolus, which was felt to be the most vital peti-
t:ill:tie MINIM Jai:educed into the Howe of Com-
mons bat modes, u well as the most atonal check to the
evils readelag Gem the preen" unrestricted system. Va-
tins mama were ccaorrted for furthering this object.
and Lard Goderieh expreinsd his deep interest in the move-
ment, and his wfillageses to support it in
way. Mr. Gott moved, sod the Rev. A. erWorl iferdbh
smoaded, a vote of thinks to his lordship for his judicious
used, end his readiness to art upon the wishes of the
asseoletion.—Leels Noway.
Pringie, agent for the Scottish Licromd Vic.
Wailers' AllSorlatios, tressected business at the Home•ofiloe
yesterday.