The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-04 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, FRIDAY &Imo.
The Bishop of Perpignan has written a letter to
M. Grandguillot, chief editorof the Constibitionncl,
in answer to some observations of this latter, and
has summoned that journal by huissier to in-
sert the communication in eztenso, under pain on
refusal of having an action at law commenced.
The writer in the Censfitationnel affirms that no

obligation whatever exists to render the publi-
cation imperative, and that a refusal could be justi-
fied fully ; however, looking at the sacred charier
ter of the right rev. prelate, and being above
all things desirous of acting in moth a manner as
to exclude all suspicion of unfairness, the journal
has determined to publish the letter. At the seine
time, K Grandguillot prefaces the document with
the following observations

We have retracted nothing because we had nothing ton.
tract We rid, and we repeat it, that the doctrine which
allows asmasination to be regarded as a manifestation of the
justioe of God—"a justice which has many different ways
of striking guilty sovereignties"—is a regicide doc-
trine. We said, and we repeat it, that the treatise of Juan
de Marinas (de rage et regis instil otiose, liGra tree), written
after Jacques Clement, and burnt by the executioner on the
Place de Grin, after Ravaillac, does nut contain a more
=pride= proposition. But have we gone too far?
Have we ever 'spawned any envision of the
private sad panned intentions of lige the Bishop
of Revive*? Have we given it to be under-
stood that it was with deliberate intention, with
calculation, and in the expectation of a speedy remit,
that he drew the pompano= between Victor Emmanuel and
King Chilperic ? If such had been our idea, we should hays
observed the strictest silence ; for the affair no longer
regarded us, but the Procureur,General. No, what we have
opposed, and what we shall continue to oppose, is the writer
and his doctrine ; what we have respected, and what we shall
continue to respect, notwithstanding his virulent attacks, is
the man and the bishop.

Prince Napoleon has arrived at Geneva from
Paris, on his way to his estate near Nyon.

ITALY.
-.--

(now ova on

NAPLES, Ann 27.

A great event has taken place here this week—
an event which, if considered in all its bearings, is
one of the most important which has occurred in
the wonderful interval which has elapsed since the
commencement of the revolution of Southern Italy.
The first case of a trial by jury came off on Thurs-
day last in the Grand Criminal Court of Naples,
and constantly as that court has been the scene of
illegalities and ferocities, a description of the inci-
dents which marked the case that was decided on
Thursday last will, I am sure, be of great public
interest By decree of Garibaldi trial by jury was
first ordered to be introduced ; but it was not put
in execution. This decree was confirmed by an-
other sigued by Victor Emmanuel, and now it has
been brought into action, at least for cases of
libel. From the lists of those who are eligible,
50 persons are chosen every month to serve,
and from these again 12, or rather 14 (two
being supplementary for exceptional circumstances)
are chosen by lot. A majority of seven are
required to form a verdict.

There were not many people in court when I
entered, but all were of the most respectable clans.
Gradually the galleries filled, and a pretty bage
crowd assembled at last round the benches Of the
judges. The jury, having been chosen and called
over, took their seats on each side of the President,
and the proceedings then began. The President
was Signor Tofani, Minister of Police in 1848, and
one, I think, of the same ministry of which Poerio
formed a part. As to S' or La Francesca, the
Attorney-General, of whom I can never speak in too
high terms, he was one of the advocates for the
defence in the great Cagliari case, which, as you
will remember, I reported for you. The great
courage which he displayed on that occasion
must ever command the respect of all honed
men, and it was with the greatest Retie-
faction that I welcomed as Attorney-Gene-
ral of the Grand Criminal Court of Naples
him whom I had known as an intrepid defender of
unfortunate men in time of peril, and afterwards
as a sufferer for his courage and his honesty. The
President having called the accused and his counsel
into court, then addressed the jury on the im-
portance of the new institution which he said the
English called the palladium of their liberties. In
rather a long speech he described the difference
which existed between the duties of the judge of
law and the ju4e of fact, combated the arguments
which were urged against the institution, alluding
to the example of the English amongst whom it
flourished, aud by whom all the d utiee of the high office
were performed with so much calmness and dignity,
and then expressed his opinion as being unfavour-
able to our practice which demanded the unanimous
agreement of the jurors to constitute a verdict,
adding that one man miOt possibly decide
a case. " Grand and bnutiful," he said,
"is the scene which I am permitted this
day to witness, and I can almost say that I have
lived long enough to witness line triumph of
freedom. Hitherto we have administered justice
whilst surrounded by the sbirri of the police, and
have spoken and acted under the menace of im-
prisonment and ruin. We have trembled under the
despotism of perjured kings, but now let us be
thankful for it, we speak and act our honest con-
victions under the government of a loyal and up-
right Prince. Italian citizen% let me urge upon
you the wise and moderate exercise of your high
privileges, and you' gentlemen of the jury, prove
yourselves worthy of the high account in which
you are held, and administer justice with the
strictest impartialitq." Whilst speaking the Pre-
sident was several, tames so overcome by his feelings
that he could scarcely proceed. The sensation in
court was greater than I have ever witnessed, and
alternate tears and rounds of applause, in
which the jury joined with the audience, ac-
companied the conclusion of the President's speech.
The jury were then called upon to take the oath,
the most material part of which was as follows
" I swear before God and man to exercise most
scrupulously the admiuistration of justice." The
President, standing, presented the formula to each
of the jurors, who approached in succession, and,
touching it, said, "I swear." The Attorney-
General then, having been called upon by the Pre-
sident, rose and said, " I accuse A. B. (the grant
of the Pietro infernak) of indecent attacks on our
holy religion, on good morals, and thereby of
offending against the statute." The clerk of the
court read over the indictment and the articles of
the journal which had given rise to the prosecution,
and the Attorney-General opened hie case in a most
eloquent speech, and very un-Italian, inasmuch as
it was abort. Declaring the sentiments of satisfac-
tion and gratitude by which he was overwhelmed,
be congratulated his fellow-cities= on the triumph
of liberty which they that day enjoyed. He
drew a powerful contrast between the present and.
the past government, under which they had all so
cruelly mallard, and exhorted his audience to a
moderate and legal enjoyment of their freedom.