The Express.
London, England, 1857-09-16 00:00:00

THE ASSASSINATION OF THE BRITISH

MINISTER AT LIMA.

A private letter gives further and more authentic
details concerning this sad affair. Mr. 8. E. Sullivan
was not dining alone when the deed was committed,
but was in the company of another gentleman,
whom account of the transaction is si follows :
" Lima, August 12, 7 am.
" The whole of Lima and Callao has been thrown

into a state of utter consternation by &most dastardly
attempt to assassinate my friend Mre Sullivan, in h.L
own house, last evening, a little before seven. I
fear it is en assassination, for the doctors give
no hopes of his recovery. We were dining
comfortably together, when the steward rushed
in through the bedroom, followed by the assassin
into the offices, shouting, and upon our jumping
up and going to the door, we were met
by the villain, who, without saying a word, placed a
blunderbuss close to Mr. Sullivan's stomach, and
discharged it, and immediately started off the way
ho came, without taking a single article. Mr. Sur-
liven staggered back into my arms, saying, ` He's
killed me.' Three pistol balls were taken out of his
stomach, and an half-ounce ball was cut out of the
fleshy part of his hack, below the ribs. As you can
judge, we have passed a dreadful night, attending
upon the sufferer, preparing him for the worst, and
doing what was necessary as regards his last wishes,
in case the wounds are mortal. No reason can be
assigned for the foul deed, for he had no personal
enemies, and the general opinion is that it is a poli-
tical affair of the Vivaneo party, at present in arms
against the Castilla government. Several individuals
have been seized, but it is not yet known whether
they are of the party. The servants state
that three other men remained in the back
Pam,r during the affair. I have to be thankful
that I myself escaped injury most miraculously ;
I for if the shot had been made a yard or two off, some
I of the bullets must hare touched Inc. The ex-
citement is naturally very great here ; fur, after this
instance of cold-blooded murder, no one considers
himself safe. It remains to be seen whether title
• will not be made a government question between
• Great Britain and Peru."
- The gentleman who gives the above account is a
; merchant of considerable standing in Limn, and had
r frequently acted as secretary to Mr. Sullivan, with
r whom he was on intimate terms.

HEALTH GP LONDON DURING 111 E WEEK.
—•—
The present return indicates an improved oondi.
tion of the public health. The death., re,,:etered in London
during the week that ended on Sam-day (September 12)
were 1,023. Daring seven previous weeks they rose in
three instances above 1,200, and the lowest weekly number
wee 1,064. If the average rate of mortality, derivrd from
deaths by all mows (except the cholera of two epidemic
mesons) am they occona in corresponding weeks of the
ten yam 1847-66, had prevailed last week, the number of
deaths would hays been greater by 128 than that which is
actually retmaed.
Diarrhoea continues to decline, and Let week the decrease
WY more of adrd than it has recently been. The desire
from this di. MIN which in the two previous woks wars
198 and 181, have fallen to 144. During the last fortnight
the mean weakly: temperature was about 60.6 deg.,
being less by 6 deg. and 6 deg. than it bad been in the Lase
Ulf of August, and leas by 8 deg. than It had been tis
the cgrtureat heat of July. Of the 144 deaths from
diarrhea, 115 occurred to children ; and of nine
deaths from cholera or "choleraic diarrhoea" all occurred to
vary young children, except one. Eight deaths are referred
to dyeentay, and thew also, with one exoeption, occurred to
young persons. The deaths from scarlatina rose to 44; end
of these 11 occurr 1 in the west disti:cts„ and 9 on the GE.
traL Of 39 from typhus and common fever none °camera
In the central districts. Small-pox was fatal in only 2 cries.
One person died of intemperate" one from want of food, ens
from grief, one from a wound received in dimection ;• to at
(in the Dreadnought ship) from scurvy. The deaths of Iva
nonagenarian. are included in the returns—viz., two WORM
who died at the age of 90 years, two widows at the age ef
94, and a ~piaster who died in Bow, at the age of 97 years.
Last week the births of 813 boys and 762 girls,
1,675 children, were registered in London. In the ten cor-
responding weeks of the year. 1817-66 the average rarebit
wee 1,443,
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of
the barometer in the week was 29:542 in. The greatest
barometric preemies was 29:76 in. on Monday. The man
temperature of the week wee 60.5 deg., which is 2:9 deg.
chive the average of the same week in 43 years (ao deter-
mined by Mr. OLisher). The thermometer was at He
highest point in the shade on Sunday, when it was 751 dig.;
it fell to its lowest point on the day following, when it wet
514 deg. The thermometric range of the week was therm
fore 24'3 deg. The mean daily range was 16 deg. Ths
mean dew-point temperature was 56:4 deg., and the daimons
between this and the mean air temperature was 41 deg. The
wind had on every day, or on part of every day, • south-
westerly point. Rain fell to the depth of 2:24 in., nearly all
of which fell on Tuesday and Friday. On Friday the
amount was 116 fu. Rain fell almost inceseently from 10
o'clock on the evening of Thursday till 3 o'clock in the after-
noon of Friday.
St. Pancras Regent's Park.—At 42, lishert•street,
Hampstaad-road, on sth September, a surgeon,liged 34 years,
" necusia (6 days), epileptic mimes (3 days), erysipelas of
the side of the thorax, the result of • puncture of the finger,
incurrederysi when opening the body of a man who had died of
Islington : West—At the workhouse, on 2nd September,
the wife of • surgeon. aged 70 yeses. " diambigs, brought
on by privation; subsequent fever; exhaustion."
Strand : St. Clement Dsnom.—On sth September, the wife
of a light porter, raged 63 years, " grief and other mental
canoes (3 years) ; atrophy."
Whitechapel: Goodman's-fields.—At 2, Johnson'rehange,
et 4th September, the wife of a dock labourite, aged 47 years,
from the effect of severs blows received in a weft six

weeks age; hawooptysis, fee."
Gmenwieh : West.—At the Dreadnought horpitst thip, on
let September, a ship boy, merchant wok., aged 13 yeatt,
irritation of twain and nervous system, with anoorla from

&amides lambrimidea"
In same ship, on 9th September, a hum, egad 26 years,
" scurfy end 6eNlity."

ROYAL LEGITIMACY IN PERSIA. "According
to the last amounts from Persia," says the ledipendence of
Brumele, "an event of great political importance has just
taken place at Teheran. It is well known that polygamy is
permitted in Persia„ and the Shah, as well as his subjects, can
therefore have several wives. It is, however, the custom is
the East for sovereigns only to marry princesses of the blood
royal. The Shah has departed from that custom, and became
warmly attached to one of his seraglio, who, although
not belonging to a princely family, premed greet
Intelligence and powr of mind. She therefore be.
came his favourite sultana. She gave birth to a son, who
from a very early age was distinguished by such remarkable
intelligence that the Persian people were pleased to condder
him as the heir to the throne. Their wishes have just been
gratified, for the presumptive heir having died last year, the
Shah has ekeignated the young son of his favourite sultana
es his successor. A ceremony, conducted with extraordinary
pomp, attended this announcement. As a natter of course
considerable jealoney was excited in the seraglio by this mea-
sure, but the people have been unanimous in the menial=
of their joy at the choice made by their sovereign."
PRAYER MEETINO FOR THE SUFFERERS IM
bates.—The Above Bar Chapel, in Southampton, wee
crowded on Monday night. in consequence of an united prayer
meeting of the different dissenting SODSWIFIItiOIII in the tows
being held there for the sufferers in India. The Ree.
Messrs. Adkins and Roberts, of the Independent denomina-
tion the Rev. WWI.. Pugh and Methuen (Baptista), and
the Rev. Mr. Trestrail, and other Wesleyan ministers, were
present, and took part in the service. The Rev. Mr. Hay,
the American missionary, who escaped the TIVISS4CTOS LS
ladle, was also present. He wee the only one who deli-
vered an address, the others engaged only in prayer and hi
reading the Scripture.. Mr. Hay alluded,in affecting terms,
to the numenuts greetings at Calcutta es the boats cause
down the Osage., bringing together persons who bad
thought seek other dead. It seemed as if men had received
their friends back from the deed. Mr. Hay erpremed gnat
fears that the mutiny would extend to the Punjsub.
He
mentioned a singular feet to the meeting, that three menthe
ago he was in Allahabad, where the wells were placarded
with notices calling upen Mahnmedans to attend prayer
meetings to pray for the deatroation of the flritish.
THUNDER STORMS IN FRANCE.—This month has
been remarkable for the number of thunder storms expe-
rienced an Paris and in the departments. On Friday lot the
city of Lyons was visited with thunder and lightntng, width
continued the entire afternoon. A heavy of rain th.
lowed daring several hoar. At 2 o'clock the woe dews
thunder soma was experienced at Valence, wbkh feetwastelgr
caused bat little damage. The town of Pefiffusns "In"
fortunate. The rein and bail converted the rivulets WO
rapid stream, and the high wind levelled chimneys. M'
roofed houses, and uprooted tree*, both In private orchards
and in the public promenades. The aged elms of the seem
et Tourney were especially ill-treated. The promenade le
blocked up with their ruins. Such was the fury of the Werth
that some trees were split down aleriila lightnthe ing
. cross an
h Psf"
Hon of therailway terminus was and
the dwell of St. Frost was twisted. A hUIftESSO were
hb-
wise experienced at Strarktvg on Friday evening, Oki
raged fur WV= hours, and than crowed the Rhine, treacle/
great &dilution.