The Sun.
London, England, 1837-08-01 00:00:00

TRAGICAL EVENT.

Recent letters from Sardinia speak of a tragical event
of which that island has lately been the theatre. The de-
scendant of the ancient Sovereigns of the island, a young
man, about twenty years of age, the last scion of the illus-
trious house of Villa Hermosa, had, it appears, conceived
a passion for a young girl of plebeian extraction. He had
for some time continued his assiduities to her, and rumour
began to ascribe to him better chances of success perhaps
than he really possessed, when one morning his servants
brought him the cloak of a fisherman which had been found
fixed in the pannel of his door by the blade of a poniard.
The young Nobleman understood the signal—it was a ven-
detta, of which fair warning was thus given him, and his
grandfather, with whom he resided, prevailed on him for
some day s not to leave the house unattended. Tile young
Count of Villa Hermosa, however, was too brave and proud
long to submit to these fatiguing precautions. He declared
his determination to go out in the same unrestrained manner
as formerly, and he did so. At night he met the rival who
had planted the poniard and mantle at the door of his hotel.
What passed between them is not known, but it has been as-
certained that the body of the fisherman was carried by the
Count to the beach, and there concealed under a heap of
stones. The Count now paid his addresses to the young
girl as freely as before, to the astonishment of those who
knew the history of the poniard, and who fully expected
some signal act of vengeance. Meanwhile the family of
the fisherman who had disappeared, entertaining some
suspicions of the truth, began to search for the body. It
was found, and, among the stones under which it was
concealed, was also found a seal-ring, on which were en-
graved the arms of the Count. The ring had probably
slipped from his finger while he was engaged in his deed
of darkness. The body was immediately conveyed to the
house of a magistrate, and the ring which had been found
was produced. An investigation commenced, and the
proofs against the Count were so strong that he was found
guilty of murder, and condemned to death. The sentence
was submitted to the King for confirmation. Charles Al-
bert was anxious if possible to save the last scion of a
royal race, and accordingly caused a communication to be
made to the grandfather, that if he applied for mercy it
would probably not be withheld. The answer of the old
Spaniard was, that, having to choose between justice and
his own blood, he could not hesitate to decide in favour of
the former. The young Count de Villa Hermosa has since
been beheaded.

NEW POOR LAw.—l have no hesitation (declares
Lord Western in the letter we noticed on Saturday) in saying
the direst necessity existed for the adoption of such a measure
as the New Poor Law Bill, and that in principle, and I be-
lieve in most of its enactments, it was the best and wisest mea-
sure that ever emanated from any legislative assembly. It has
redeemed society from a state of demoralization and degrada-
tion in which it had sunk to a formidable degree, and was
sinking still further and more rapidly ; all the best feelings of
our nature, the noblest motives to action, were undermined by
the old system ; all those incitements to honourable, generous,
and independent exertions were falling fast under the baneful
influence of the old poor laws ; the dictates of prudence and
forethought, which are instinctively planted in us, were in pro-
gress of being eradicated. To speak of this or that provision
in detail, which nay operate more hardly in some cases than
was expected, is perfect nonsense ; where such occurs, is it
possible to believe that a remedy would not be adopted with
pleasure by every advocate of the measure—not, certainly, an
acquiescence in every project which the enemies of the law
and of the Ministers put forth to defeat the Bill, but every re-
lief requisite and practicable would be hailed with delight.
Upon this important topic let me make an observation, or ra-
ther draw an inference decisive of the calumnious charge
against Ministars, of a tendency to democracy and subversion
of the monarchical and aristocratical powers of the Constitu-
tion_l say it is a foul, because an unfounded charge, and this
measure proves it ; instead of courting, deceiving, flattering,
cringing to the lower class of the people, they have shown a
I determination to do everything calculated to benefit them, at
the hazard, aye, even at the certainty of displeasing a great
proportion of them, and at the certainty also of giving to the
iv minded of their opponents an opportunity of wielding a po-
pular sword against them.
We understand that the fishing has commenced on
the east coasts, with every prospect of an abundant take. The
Rosehearty boats, which, as usual have taken the lead, had
on Monday night last no less than 650 crans, being an ave-
rage of above fourteen crane to each of the forty-six boats
engaged. Some of them had as high as twenty-five crans.
The town presents an animated appearance, from the bustle
and activity consequent on such an abundant fishing so early
) in the season.—Scotsman.