The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-29 00:00:00

THER3IOMETER.

This morning
This day at Two o'clock 74
Barometer-30.02.
Wind—S.; fresh, and fine.

Wit ‘,..t;:oalt,Kke

LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1863.

The acquittal of the editor of the Marseilles
Semaphore by the very liberal and enlightened
tribunal of Marseilles is one of those great facts
which become landmarks in the path of progress
This decision will constitute, notwithstanding al:
Government opposition, an indubitable and inevit•
able precedent in the history of the press in France.
The charge brought against the Semaphore was of
publishing false news calculated to disturb the
peace. A very serious charge, if capable of
due substantiation, but the Marseilles authorities
exercised a very wise and deliberate discrimination
in the matter. They go so far as to say that they
do not consider a Ministerial denial of any piece of
intelligence a sufficient proof of the truth or falsity
of that intelligence, inasmuch as " such news is
likely to be avowed or denied, is accordance with
the political exigencies of the moment and the cul-
pability of an honourable citizen, whose good faith
there are no grounds to suspect cannot be made to
depend on those daily fluctuations which policy may
command, but which the tribunals do not accept
as a rule of their judgments." Furthermore they
declare that the republication of any immaterial
rumours cannot come within the definition of " pub-
lishing false news." It is impossible to " recognise
in any such ephemeral and virtually unimportant
publication, the offence of publication or reproduc-
tion of false news, such as it is likely to suppose
that an intelligent legislator and protector of public
liberties desired to reach and to punish." Hence they
freely acquit M. BARLATIER, the accused editor of
the Semaphore. As HENRY IV., exulted in being
the Sovereign of a Judge who dared to enforce the
laws, and the father of a Prince who submitted to
°ley them, in like manner the Liberals of France
may rejoice in having not only some few journalists
who dare venture to assert a spirit of independence,
but above all in having some enlightened tribunals
before whom that spirit of independence is not re-
garded as a crime. It is rumoured that
the Government Prosecutor will attempt to
get this decision of the Marseilles Tribunal
reversed. We are hardly inclined to believe that
the Government will venture upon so impolitic a
step. The Marseilles authorities may have brought
themselves into disfavour in high quarters, but they
have earned golden opinions from all true friends of
liberality and the independence of the press—terms
which are indeed synonymous and identical. Far
otherwise has it fared with the Courrier de St.
Etienne. That unhappy journal has ventured upon
some critical remarks respecting the elections, and
the conduct of the Mayor—whether correct or un-
truthful we have no means of becoming
informed, as the proceedings of such
trials are not allowed to be published in
France, but, judging from the result, we should
surmise that the charges are not without
foundation, on the principle the greater the truth
the greater the libel ! The unhappy Courrier de
St Etienne is suppressed. Its principal editors, M.
ROBIN and M. HYEME, are subjected to heavy fines,
and the one is condemned to be imprisoned for
fifteen days, the other for no less than a whole
month! We will hope, for the sake of French
justice, that the libel was really most unfounded
and severe, otherwise the French law respecting

the Press is likely to receive even greater damage

from. such a victory as that achieved over the hapless
Courrier de St, Etienne than from the yet more

remarkable defeat it has sustained in its attack upon
the now triumphant Semaphore of Marseilles.

The news brought by the Eastern mails is, on the
whole, of a satisfactory character. India is peace-
ful and prosperous, and the principal subjects under
discussion are points of civil government. The
recent change of Aaneers in Affghanistan has as
yet produced no disturbance, although the present
ruler is said to be bitterly hostile to the English.
He is brother to AR.Rxit.
KHAN, whose name was
well known in our old Indian wars, and appears to
share his sentiments of animosity towards us. How-
ever, internal factions and intrigues seem likely to
keep his attention centred at home, and rivals near
the throne will give him enough to do in his own
dominions, if he is wise, to prevent him from rush-
ing into certain destruction by provoking quarrel
with us. Of the intentions of Persia nothing is
known in Calcutta; and the Anglo-Indians content
a watchful aye on her
themselves w:th kceping
pr,x,edins„, expensing 10 be more fully enlightened
befor“ long. With regard to the supposed NANA
SAHIB, wiioSe capture w.:s the most prominent fea-
ture of last month's news, the conviction that we
have indeed secured the veritab:e criminal is in-
creasing in Calcutta. Official opinion as to his
identity with the prisoner now in detention is, we
aro told, unanimous. An English sergeant-major,
who had often seen the Nana at Meerut before the
mutiny, is positive on the matter. It seems, accord-
ing to the account now given, that his present cap-
ture is owing to a feeling of revenge. A Brahmin
of Bithoor, whose village had been pillaged and his
relatives murdered by the Nana's troops, had vowed
revenge, and, with the cunning and vindictiveness
peculiar to Eastern minds, he has long been watch-'
jog his oppottunity. A year ago he obtained in-
formation that the object of his search was ia.;