The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-09 00:00:00

benefit of her testimony if favourable, ncr could he
be prejudiced by it if injurious. But she was ar-
raigned along with him, and, therefore, her un-
corroborated statements, made privately to her
mother, and also to the Superintendent of
the Surrey Police, without any caution as to the use
that might subsequently be made of them, when her
husband could give no explanation or contradiction,
were brought forward nominally against her, but
really against him, and it was solely by means thereof
that he was convicted of the crime laid to his charge.
It should not be forgotten that this confession or
statement was not injurious to the female prisoner—on
the contrary, if credited, it would, and most probably
did, lead to her acquittal. Her able and talented
Counsel (Mr. CHARNOCK) largely availed himself
thereof, and showed that, if true, she could only be
considered an " accessory after the fact," for which,
in consequence of the nuptial bond between them, she
could not be made amenable to justice. The state -
ment, therefore, although nominally put in against
her, was actually in her favour, and it was only
against her husband—the unfortunate convict—that
it really operated. Was this correct ? Was it in ac-
cordance with the constitutional law of the land ?
We believe not, and we are satisfied that it only re-
quires that the attention of the HOME SECRETARY, a
sound and experienced lawyer, should be directed to
the question to ensure a wise and judicious decision
on the subject, on which the life of a fellow-creature
depends.
We feel greater confidence on this point, inasmuch
as the Right Honourable and Learned Gentleman
has already acted upon the principle in the case of
two other men—KEAMISH and AYERS—who had
been convicted of murder at Winchester during the
late assizes. We believe that the clemency extended
to these parties was not cwing to any doubt
as to their participation in the offence, but
in consequence of the unsatisfactory nature
of the evidence against them. Had it been
otherwise, if any reasonable question could have ex-
isted as to their guilt or innocence they would have
received a free pardon, in place of a commutation of
punishment. But in their case the evidence was
fairly admissible, and should be considered by the
jury for as much as it might be worth, whereas on
KEENE'S trial the inculpatory statement should have
been altogether dismissed from the minds of the
urymen.

We are not the opponents of capital punishment in
every instance. There are cases of wilful, premedi-
tated, and deliberate homicide, in which, according
to our views, the extreme sentence of the law
should be carried into execution. We know, how-
ever, that many amiable and estimable individuals,
differ from us in this opinion ; we only now allude
to this point to show that it is not owing to what
has been—we think very improperly termed—a
"sickly sensibility" or " morbid feeling" on the sub-
ject of capital punishments, that we have put forward
these views, in which we trust we shall be supported
by many advocates for capital punishment in extreme
cases, as well as by its conscientious opponents, so
that the result may be the preservation of the unfor-
tunate youth now enduring the anguish necessarily
occasioned by the contemplation of the terrible
tragedy in which he is to enact the leading part at
Horsemonger-lane Gaol on Tuesday morning.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The memory of " the bravest of the brave" is at
length to receive a testimonial of national honour.
50,000 francs have been granted by the Government
for a monument to the most brilliant soldier of the
Empire—the gallant and ill-fated NEY.
The distribution of prizAs at the Grand Cattle Show
at Poissy took place on Wednesday. The Minister
of Agriculture and Commerce presided, and opened
the business of the day by a speech, which, after ex
pressing the warm interest which the PRINCE PAESI
DENT of the Republic took in the prosperity of the
agricultural interests of the country, and recapitulat-
ing the different measures which had been adopted by
him and his Government to promote those interests,
and complimenting the different exhibitors on the re-
sult of their efforts, he concluded as follows :
" Thanks to this ensemble of ameliorations, and to
those which the Government have still in contemplation,
there is reason to hope that agriculture will henceforth
proceed with a firm and rapid step in the path of
progress. This show, at which so great a number of
breeders have disputed for the prizes, and where such
remarkably fine animals have been exhibited, proves to
what a degree of perfection France has already
arrived in what we may call pastoral industry; a
branch of industry worthy of the highest encou-
ragement, for it is by it that not only the soil
to increased in value, but that the nourishment of the
people is decreased in price, and rendered more sub-
stantial. Receive, then, all you who are animated with
so noble an emulation for the agricultural destinies of
the country, the expression of the gratitude of the Go
vernment. Be assured that it will not fail in its mission ;
be assured that agriculture will always find in it the
most lively and the most constant solicitude. And you,
gentlemPri of the juries, who have displayed so much
x:al and impirtialtty in the accomplishment of your la-
bours, accept the thanks of the Government for the part
which you have taken in this solemnity."
We read in the Patric.

"Several of the English journals continue to be pro-
digal of insults and calumnies on the Government of the
President of the Republic. Among other gross false-
hoods they affirm that entire departments have been de-
populated, and their inhabitants sent to Cayenne and
Lambessa. It will suffice to mention such allegations
to enable the public to judge of the honesty of those who
make them, and who thus play upon the credulity of
the English pe ,ple."
A letter from Orleans states that, among the libe-
rated convicts who have been ordered to fix their re-
sidence in that city, 16 have voluntarily inscribed
their names to be sent to Cayenne. Several others in
the same category, but who are not under the sur-
veillance of the police, have solicited to be sent to the
new penitentiary.
We find the following in the Constitutionnel:-
- -

" A number of the fundhold, re who had demanded
reimbursement appeared to be much at a loss what to do
with their money. A certain number among them, be-
fore receiving what was duo to them, asked the clerks at
Treasury whether they might be allowed to withdraw
their demand for reimbursement, and submit to the con-
version, and they appeared well satisfied on receiving an
answer in the affirmative. Others, before leaving the
Treasury, invested the money they had received in
Treasury bonds, at half the interest of the security they
bad refused, and so great was the demand for those
bonds that it was found necessary to keep the office open
two hours later than usual. Others repaired with their
cash to the caisse des rctraites, the payments into which
have lately considerably increased."

General CANROBER-T, one of the Extraordinary
Commissioners sent out by the PRINCE PRESIDENT'
of the Republic, has just applied measures
of clemency to upwards of 60 individuals in the ar-
rondissement of Nevers, and to six in that of Chateau-
Chinon, all condemned to various degrees of trans-
portation. In most instances, in place of the punish-
ment to which they were condemned, surveillance
will be merely exercised over those persons. In the
departments of the south, M. Q11E147114 BAUCIIART,
another of the Extraordinary Commissioners, has also
been actively engaged in using the powers conferred
on him by the PRESIDENT of the Republic. At
Montelimart, out of 71 prisoners, 40 were pardoned;
and at Crest, out of 185,78 were sat at liberty.
Wednesday was the first day of the Longchamps
procession. The weather was remarkably fine, and
the turn out of equipages unusually striking.
A letter, dated London, has been found (according
to the Times' correspondent) in the house of a So-
cialist in the Marne, and was handed over to the
Mixed Commission in that department. Its contents,
which we give with a few unimportant omissions,
breathe the spirst of fraternity and philanthropy :
~ Aly dear Friend only this day heard the unfortu-
nate result of your trial, and I regard it as a sacred duty
at a distance it is title, a cordial and fra-
ternal givena l eh oaulroi'ey ofd dear
re
friend. hand. IA conviction
pity, you,
stß°dkeessiPreiedrrethetehme amlleain-
prece-
cpwlaahtioimohneeds
ttohn:on3 renownnpnvet
nhilenniodtyte'
d:haenidsgrencrant
magnificent
dent. As long as our poor race of pigmies
will insult the shade of that giant we shall remain
tion
in a degraded position, and the Revolution will be
"miens° as regards us. We must not suffer the odious
tirades
of the wri-Actied beings of the present day against
our fathers of 1793 to pass without a vigorous protest.
was the emancipation of the world and the main-
tenanceAett,_o(6re,hti:erteherweas
woreno crime committed
ncoohmlemiatntedd
saitthlitinhant
aogtlioornios.....us
ll'lc,Ft uer itself to. be stopped—so much the
worse for those
endeavouringrsenfich n. atio.nality. The car of the Revolu-
themselvca to
arrest its progress I Their blood be on
time. I have seem-
who are crushed under its whrels whilst
I ium„di
honourltolhu,
to the last letter that you did me the
Ledru.noni,:toy communicated to my noble friend,
forthwith, addressand to me; he promised me to reply to it
duced him to d------ here, and I have even intro-
movement in
ani-
mated, I believe, trust th.tt his reply will arrive in
ru Rollin. Ile is a good fellow,
that ho does not with excellent intentions; but I fear
and what influence d What do you say of him,
. . . I trust that 73 he poesess in year country
France, understand the revolutionary
and devote myself • shall, soon return amongst you
Then we will forget at 11:t of
again
cialist ideas—the onl to the propagation of sound &-
Will forget thew after (1" ignotlle persecutions; we
haying taken yogeatice NT Shed],
which I am ambitions.