The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-12 00:00:00

The French in China,

The Itlonileur de la Flotte publishes an interest•
ing letter from a correspondent at Saigon, the capi-
tal of the French colony in Cochin-China, dated
the 30th of January. The colony is said to eejoy
perfect tranquillity, and the rivers were never so
safe, thanks to the energetic measures adopted
against the pirates who infested them. The last
harvest was most abundant, which, perhaps, is one
of the causes of the tranquillity that prevails. In
consequence of the great number of merchant ves-
sels which have arrived at Saigon the price of rice
is well maintained, a fact which will dispose the
natives to remain at peace. At the date of the letter
there were 20 foreign merchant ships loading rice
at Saigon. A great number of Annamites are
demanding grants of land from the French eutho-
rities, others are seeking employment. Euro-
peans are beginning to establish themselves
outside of Saigon, and they are treated with
great kindness by the natives. The land is culti-
vated in every direction, fresh gardens are planted,
and the Saigon market is well supplied with vege-
tables. Although the population of the lown has
tripled within 12 months the price of provisions has
diminished, and it is expected to fall lower. The
Annamites are delighted to find that the French
authorities render justice gratis, and the custom of
giving presents to the native magistrates is gradu-
ally losing ground. It is the intention of Admiral
de la Grandiere to build a gunboat at Saigon ;
hitherto the largest vessel completed was a whale
boat. A naval arsenal has like tvise been commenced,
and several workshops covered with thatch are
already occupied. The Annamites are industrious
workmen, and excel in imitating the work of others.
The Annamite seamen likewise continue to render
good service. The Admiral Governor is about to
send several boys to France, as he expects that on
their return they may be very useful as interpreterF.
The Forbin has taken three; the European will take
as many, and great numbers offer themselves for a
similar voyage.

A New York Tragedy.

(From the New York Times, February 23.

It seems that Mr. Frederick Eicheler, a German,
residing in New York, some months ago proposed
to a young German widow. The only obstacle to
be encountered was the fact that Eicheler had then
a;veife living somewhere in this country. He assured
the widow that for good reasons he had commenced
a suit for divorce against his wife, and that there
was an excellent prospect of a speedy and
favourable result. In that event the mar-
riage was to take place at once. The law's
delay rendered the fair widow impatient,
and when a fellow-countryman, named John
Maen, proposed for her heart and hand she
consented to become his wife, and five weeks ago
they were married. Since that time the husband
and wife have resided at 60, Division-street. When
Eicheler became cognizant of this fact, he was at
first highly indignant, and subaequently very
gloomy and dispirited. Last Wednesday morning
he visited the place, and had an interview with
Mr. and Mo. Maen. He told the latter that he
did not care to live any longer now that she was
the wife of another. Late the following even-
ing Eicheler returned to Maen's residence, and
said that he was going to enlist in the army the
next day, and had come to bid them both good
bye. He took out his pocket book and offered
some money to Mr. Maen, at the same time urging
the latter to go out and get two bottles of wine,
with which to take a parting drink. Maen declined
to go for the wine, and Eicheler thereupon welt for
it himself. Subsequent events showed that
Eicheler's motive was to get Maen oat of the room,
and during his absence to murder the wife. This
is the only conclusion to which one can come, judg-
ing from what immediately followed. He returned
with two bottles of wine and three tumblers. In
each of the tumblers he bad secretly placed a
quantity of arsenic. Wine was poured into the
tumblers, and all the persons engaged in the affair
drank of it. Maen was, however, suspicious that
all was not right, and drank very sparingly of the
liquid. Eicheler was noticed to be very much ex-
cited during the drinking of the wine, and left hur-
riedly immediately after. Mrs. Maen soon became
alarmingly ill and remained so for many hours.
Just as Eicheler was leaving Maen's rooms he sud-
denly rew a revolver from his pocket, placed the
muzzle near Maen's head and fired. He missedlis
aim, and the ball lodged in a wall behind his in-
tended victim. This was late on Wednesday night
last. The next we learn about Eicheler is that he
was found dead on Friday in his room at Clark'a
hotel, Death was the result of arsenic or some
other poison. It is the opinion of the doctor, from
all the circumstances of the case, that deceased
_ died on Wednesday night.