The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 3, 1863.

CARACCIOLI.

A Monsieur le Redaeteur-en-Chef du Times.
MONSIEUR LE REDACTEUR,—J'apprends que dans le
limes, du 16 Mai, votre correspondant de Turin, vous ecrit :
Que les aventuriers qui out fait cause commune avec
les brigands out ete traites d'une fapon trop douse. Si le
Comte de Christen efait attache a la meme chaine qu'un
malfaiteur ordinaire, a comnzon malefactor (c'est-i-dire un
voleur ou un assassin), on doit se rappeler que ce memo
malfaiteur n'etait qua le complies du Comte, et que tour
deux ont fait ensemble une expedition de brigandage, &c.
Le fait set, que messieurs de Christen et Bishop sont traites
comme des gentilhommes: pour leurs compagnons de cap ti-
vite le bagne est trop bon."
ne peut y avoir de doute sur la personae que l'on a
voulu designer par ce mote—un malfaiteur ordinaire, a
common malefactor. C'est le Chevalier Achille Caracciolo
des Ducs de Girifoles. Il fit en effet avec le Comte de
Christen la campagne des Abruzzes, riatiment appelee par
votre correspondant, one expedition dc brigands, quoiqu'il
n'ignoro pourtant point que cette campagae a eu lieu pen-
dant le siege de Gaete, et que ces soi-clisants brigands oat
fait capituler a Banco, un des meilleurs generaux Piemon-
tois, le General de Sonnaz a la tete de sa division.
De plus, M. Caracciolo juge avec M. de Christen dans le
memo proses, condamne avec lui it 10 ans de travaux forcel,
enferme dans la memo cellule a Santa Maria Apparente,
fut au bagne attachd ala memo chaine. Ainsi que l'attesta
Lord Henry Lennox, dans son eloquent discours, quand, en
parlant de sa visite au bagne of Nisida, it dit avoir eu de la
peine a reconnaitre attachds ensemble par de fortes chaincs,
Monsieur de Christen and Monsieur de Caracciolo.
II est done evident, Monsieur le Redactear, que votro
correspondant n'a pu avoir en vue quo le Chevalier Carac-
ciolo quand it traitait de malfaiteur la personae qui await
ete attaché it la memo chaine que la Comte de Christen, et
qui auparavant s'etait battu avec lui. I 1 y a certaines in-
suites qui partent de trop bas, et s'attaquent trop haut,
pour qu'elles puLssent arriver a leur but : elles n'eclabous-
sent que ceux qui les lancent, et ne meritdat qua la dedain.
Mais j' attache trop do prix a Popinion de la libre nation
Anglaise pour garder le silence, quand je vois que les servi-
teurs du Piemont, cherchent a l'abuser par d'aussi groissiers
mensonges, et que, non contents d'applaudir aux fusillades,
its cherchent encore a salir da venin de la caloranie les plus
nobles caraci eres.

Ignorant les faits je n'en doute pas, vous avez donne a
l'insulte, monsieur le redacteur, la,publicite par votre jour-
nal; a ma reponse vous dev,z cette memo publicize.
Beau-frere de M. Caracciolo et ami do M. de Christen
j'ai le drcit de l'exiger ; mail j'aime mieux m'en rapporter
a votre loyaute, certain qu'elle vous fera un devoir de
publier ma iettre. Votre correspondant s'est garde de nom-
mer la personne qu'il insultait, c'est toujours en se cachant
ainsi quo marche la calomnie. Aussi pour la dernasquer et
pour toute reponse n'ai-je vouiu quenommer celui que I'on
eppelle un malfaitcur, le complice du Comte de Christen!
Oui, ils etaient complices Jun de l'autre, complices pour
faire leur devoir de soldats I Officier de l'ancienne armde
Napolitaine, M. Caracciolo n'abandonna pas eon drapeau,
et c'est pour etre reste fidele a son serment et a son roi
qu'il gemit aujoud'hui, avec son noble compagnon. M. de
Christen, scus les verroux Piemontais. Mais, aussi eons
la veste et le bonnet rouge du bagne, sort honneur de gentil-
hmatre etait intact, et it ne cessart pas au moins de porter
noblement son nom.

Un dern:er mot, monsieur, votre correspondent pretend
que Messieurs de Christen et Bishop sent traitds comme des
mais que pour leurs compagnons de cap-
ileae le bag ne est trop bon. J'ignore comment soot traites ces
infortunes, je sais seulement que M. de Christen est encore
le compagnon de cellule de M. Caracciolo dans la fortress&
d'Alcxandrie oil M. Bishop est aussi detenu.

Je n'insiste pas, monsieur le redaeteur, pour vous de-
mander d'imerer ma lettre dans le plus pr °chain numero de
votre journal; je sais qu en Angleterre, a queique parti
qu'on appartienne, on respecte les valuate, et toutes les in-
fortunes noblement eupportees,—Agreez, monsieur, le
redacteur, &c. VISCOMTE DE LUI'E.
Nuits COte d'Or, le 29 Mai, 1863.

Je duis vous prevenir, monsieur, que j'adresse one
copie de cette lettre a plusieurs journaux et que je lui don-
nerai la plus grande publicity en France et a. l'etranger.
[Translation.]
understand that in the Times of the 16th ult.
your correspondent at Turin wrote to you:—" That the ad-
venturers who have made common cause with the brigands
have been treated in the gentlest manner. If the Count de
Christen was attached by the same chain to a common
malefactor (that is to say, to a thief, or an assassin) one
ought to recall to mind that that same malefactor was only
the accomplice of the Count, and the two of them had
together embarked upon an expedition of brigandage, &c.
The fact is that Messrs. de Christen and Bishop are treated
like gentlemen—for their companions in captivity, the con-
vict prison is too good."
No one can possibly have an instant's doubt as to the iden-
tity of the person intended to be indicated by these words, a
common malefactor—viz,, the Chevalier Achille Caracciolo
des Dues de Girifoles. He, it was in effect, who made with
the Count de Christen, the Campaign of the Abruzzi,
politely called by your correspondent, an expedition ot
brigands, although he could not but be perfectly well aware
that that campaign took place during tne siege of Gaeta,
and that these so-called brigands had compelled to
capitulate at Banco one of the ablest of the Piedmantese
generals, General de Sonnaz, at the head of his division.
More than that, M. Caracciolo, tried in the same cause
with M. de Christen, condemned with him to ten years'
incarceration with hard labour, shut up in the same cell
with him at Santa Maria Apparente, was attached with the
same chain to him at that convict establishment—all which
was attested by Lord Henry Lennox (very recently in the
House of Commons) during the course of the eloquent
speech delivered by his lordship when, describing his visit
to the convict prison of Nisida, he spoke of having had the
pain of recognising fastened together by the same strong
chains Messrs. de Christen and Caracciolo.
It is thus evident, sir, that your correspondent could not
possibly but have had in view M. the Chevalier de
Caracciolo—when he designated as a malefactor the person
who had been attached to the same chain with the Count
de Christen, and who had already been associated with him
in the same warlike enterprise. There are certain insults
which emanate from a source too low, and are directed
altogether too high, to render it possible that they should
ever reach their aim. They bespatter only those by whom
they are hurled—and they merit only disdain. But I attach
too much value to the opinion of the free English nation to
remain altogether silent when I see that the sycophants of
Piedmont endeavour to delude it (that Public Opinion in
England by any such monstrous misstatements as these—
and that, not satisfied with applauding fusilaed!, they strive
to sully with the venom of infamy the noblest characters.
Ignorant, I doubt not, of the facts here stated, you have
given to this insult, sir, the publicity of your journal. To
my reply, therefore, you owe that same publicity. As the
brother-in-law of M. Caracciolo, and as the friend of M. de
Christen, I have the right indeed to demand this. I prefer,
however, on the contrary, simply to appeal to your sense of
courtesy and generosity, feeling assured that you will
hasten, in discharge of an honourable duty, to publish my
letter.

Your correspondent, it is observable, carefully guards
himself from mentioning the name of the person whom he
insults. It is always thus covertly in fact that calumny
advances to its end. And now, also, in order at once to
unmask it, and as my sole and sufficient response, I have
wished to do no more than simply to name him who is called
a malefactor and the accomplice of M. de Christen I Yes—
they have been accomplices the one with the other—accom-
plices, that is, to do their duty as soldiers ! An officer of
the old Neapolitan army, M. Caracciolo, would not abandon
his flag—and it is precisely because he remained faithful to
his c ath and loyal to his king, that he has to lament to.
day, together with his noble companion (and accomplice !)
M. de Christen, under the Piedmontese prison-bolts.
Yet, as under the vest and the red cap of the convict
prisoner his honour as a gentleman remained intact, he is
still none the less enabled to carry his name nobly and
unsullied.
Ono word more, sir : your correspondent pretends that
Messrs. de Christen and Bishop are treated like gentlemen,
although for their companions in captivity the convict pri-
son is too good. Now, lam ignorant certainly as to how
those unfortunates are treated. I only know that M. de
Christen is still the companion in captivity of M. Caracciolo
in the fortress of Alexandria, where Mr. Bishop is also
detained.
I now only urgently request you, sir, that you will pub-
lish this letter of mine in the earliest possible number of
your journal. I know well that in England, no matter what
political party one may belong to, respect is always shown
to the vanquishei, and always accoraed to misfortunes that
are nobly endured.--Accept, sir, the assurance of, &c.,
VISCOUNT DE LUPE,
P.S.—I think it but right to apprise you beforehand, sir,
that I shall address a copy of this letter to several other
journals, and that I purpose giving it the greatest possible
publicity in France and generally throughout the Continent.

TUE LOUVRE.—The Museums of the Louvre were
raised by Napoleon I. to a high degree of splendour.
Louis XVIII. further enriched them with 111 paintings, at
a of Antiquities.
s reign that the
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to also t
hdeu;ii
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uhmi
Charles X, purchased 24 paintings for 62,790 f., and com-
pleted the Museum of Antiquities, which bears his name.
Louis Philippe purchased for the Louvre only 33 paintings,
at a cost of 74,136 f. Since the accession of Napoleon 111.
the New Louvre has seen several new galleries formed.
Thirty master-pieces of the highest order of merit have been
bought, at an expense of nearly 1,000,000 E, among them
being "Toe Conception," by Murillo, for which 615,300 f.
were paid to the heirs of Marshal Soult ; also, two pieces by
Velasquta, two Hobbemas, and oue a beautiful Denuer.
Several invaluable pieces of sculpture have also been ob
tained ; and, fast of all, the Campana collection, which cist
4,000,000 f. The Apollo Gallery is now terminated, deco-
rated, and furnished. The Emperor is organising the great
museum which is to bear his own name, and that of the
French school of painting, on the right and left of the
Pavilion Denon, the first floor of the Now Louvre. Napo-
leon 111. has contributed more largely to the splendours of
the Louvre than any other Sovereign since Francis .
Galt:qnani.

EARLY BIRTHDAYS ;—Then came the time when,
inseparabie from one's own birthday, Was a certain
sense of merit, it consciousness of well-earned distinction.
When I regarded my birthday as a graceful achievement of
my own, a monument of my perseverance, independence,
Olympia Squires became in-
volvedto that degree, that I
Squires was most
beautiful
at
b in o
(o t'
and good sense, redounding greatly to my honour. This
was utteteohueranniversary.se ),
period
andl
o whenlv
Olympia
her
used to be obliged to get out of my little bed in the night,
about
expressly to exclaim to Solitude," 0, Olympia Squires !"
Visions of Olympia,.clothed entirely in sage-green, from
which I infer a defectively-educated taste on the part of her
respected parents, who were necessarily unacquainted with
the South liens;ngton Museum, still arise before me. Truth
is sacred, and the visions are crowned by a shining white
beaver bonnet, impossibly suggestive of a little feminine
postboy.—atarles Dickens in " An the Year Round."