The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-22 00:00:00

7HE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Again the past week shows a most decided fall-
ing off in the numbers of visitors as compared with
those for the same period in 1851. This is the
fifth week during which the balance has been against
the present Exhibition, though on this occasion the
diminution of numbers is greater than the diminu-
tion of the whole previous four weeks put together
—lB5l having a clear surplus of more than 40,000.
The returns on the two occasions are as follows :-
1851. 1862.
Monday (Is.) .
Tuesday (18,)
Wednesday (ls ) .. 53,767 47,866
Thursday (Is.) 58.600 47,415
Friday (2s. 6d.)
Saturday (2s. 6d.) 17,366 17,421

Total 273,330 236,421
A great deal of this falling off is undoubtedly due
to the announcement that the time for the closing
has been extended beyond the perild generally an-
ticipated, and of course that portion of the public
which has not yet visited South Kensington takes
advantage of the days of grace to put off still later
their intended inspection. This is taking the most
favourable view of the case, as an important mino-
rity maintain that the building has already seen its
best days, and that, with the advance of bad autumn
weather, the decrease of the daily receipts is likely
to become more painfully apparent as each week
of the autumn droops coldly away. Now that the
time of closing has been fixed, the next great
topic of interest to be decided on is the fate of
the building itself. Upon this point, however,
curiosity is likely t 3 remain ungratified for some
considerable time, as it is not at all probable that
any decision will be made public much before
the close of the present year. Of course, this will
be done by private arrangement, and will, if suc-
cessful, entirely result from the public-spirited
efforts of a few persons, who are anxious that a
building so admirably adapted to serve the pur-
poses of a great public museum sLould not be
causelessly destroyed.
The learned assailants of the fr g in the coal
will, we think, learn with satisfaction that this
fertile source of ridicule upon the scientific know-
ledge of our Exhibition authorities no longer
exists, inasmuch as the little reptile himself
ceased to exist on Friday last. Whether he died
from old age, which if there was an atom of
truth in the account of his finding would be
most likely, or whether, being a common field
frog, accustomed to air and exercise, he died from
his confinement in a bottle, is not stated. Dead,
however, he is, and unless some other enterpri-
sing coalowner sends up a live pony or a man
as having been dug out of his seams the open
court of the Eastern Annexe will lose all favour
in the eyes of country visitors.

CIRCULAR OF THE ITALIAN GOVERN-
MINT ON TILE ROMAN QUESTION.

The following is the text of General Durando's
circular note to the Italian representatives abroad :

TURIN, SEPTEMBER 10.

Sir,—The attitude taken by the King's government since
the attempt of Sarnico afforded ground for belief that Ge-
neral Garibaldi would thenceforward renounce enterprises
incompatible with established order and of a nature to com-
promise Italy in its relation with foreign governments.
This expectation has been frustrated. Led astray by sen-
timents which respect for law and a juster appreciation of
the state of things ought to have restrained, and top ac-
cessible to the incitements of the sect better known
by its victims than its successes, he did not quail
before the prospect of civil war, and wished to make him-
self the arbiter of the alliances and destinies of Italy. By
favour of the recollections left in Sicily by the events of
1860, he was enabled to assemble in tha, i,land some bodies
of volunteers, but the populations, divided between the
sympathy which a claiming (revendication) of Rome coull
not fail to awaken within them. and regret at seeing this
claim assume the character of a revolt, did not see him pass
through their midst without uneasiness and sadness. The
Parliament disapproved of his proceedings, and the King
himself, whose name he never ceased to invoke, called
upon him to submit to the laws. All was useless. Ho
traversed Sicily, and entered Catania. everywhere find-
ing a welcome lull of salutary warning, wnich, however,
he could not understand. From Catania he at length
passed over to the mainland with 3,000 men, thus
compelling the King's government to order an immediate
and complete suppression of his proceedings. It was then
that, met by a detachment of the royal army, he was
taken with his adherents.

The facts that I have just briefly recapitulated will

leave no other trace among ns than a painful recollection.
The harmony of the public mind, founded upon 3 unani-
mous attachment' to exalted principles, could not be

troubled. These facts have, however, a significance
which you will point out to the government to which you
are accredited. They are a testimony of the political ma-
turity of those populations whose freedom dates from
yesterday; of the desire of Italy to see its destinies ac •
complished by regular means, and of the indissoluble ties
which unite the nation of the coLstitutional monarchy,
the supreme expression of the will of the country.
They afford, besides, fresh proof of the fidelity and disci-
pline of the army, the constant and safe guardian of the
national independence. The European Cabinets must n.. 4,
however, misunderstand the true meaning of events. Law
has carried the day, but it must be admitted that the watch-
word of the if olunteers was this time the expression of a
want more imperative than ever. The whole nation claims
the capital; it has only lately resisted theinconsiderate im-
pulse of Garibaldi, because convinced the King's Govern-
ment would be able to accomplish the mandate which it
has received from Parliament respecting Rome. The pro-
blem may have changed its aspect, but the urgency of a
solution only becomes more cogent.

In presence of the shocks, daily becoming more and
more serious, which recur in the Peninsula, the powers
will comprehend that -Italy has made a supreme and final
effort in treating as an enemy a man who had rendered such
signal services, and upheld a principle which exists in the
mind of all Italians. They will feel that the Italians, in
seconding the Sovereign without hesitation in the crisis
which has just been passed, understood how to unite all
their strength around the legitimate representative of their
rights, in order that entia justice may be at length ren-
dered them. Atter this victory, obtained in some sort
over herself, Italy no longer needs to prove that her cause
is that of European order. It has been sufficiently shown
what sacrifices she is capable of making, in order to keep
her engagements, and Europe is notably aware that she
will keep those she has undertaken, and which she is still
ready to undertake relative to the liberty of the Holy
Bee. Henceforth, the powers ought, therefore, to assist us
in dissipating the prejudices which still exist to prevent
Italy from finding rest and reassuring Europe. The Catho-
lic nations, and above all France, who has so constantly
laboured in the world in defence of the interests of the
Church, will recognise the danger of any longer maintain-
ing an antagonism between Italy and the Papacy—the sole
cause of which is to be found in the temporal power, and of
tiring out the spirit of moderation and conciliation with
which the Italian people have hitherto shown themselves
nuimat d, Such a state of things is no longer tenable, and
would end by entailing extreme consequences upon the
GL;vernment of the ing, the responsibility of which could
not weigh` on us alone, al d would seriously compromise the
religious inteiests of Catholicism and the tranquillity of
Europe. * * * * Receive, &c.
(signed) DURAND°.
The Brussels Independance of Pe:idaY says :
Rumous, the echo of which come to us from Paris,
begin to credit the Italian Government with some faint
desire for energy. It is asserted that the Kattazzia Mini•
stry is preparing a series of important measures in order to
put France in a position to evacuate Rome. The Chain.
hers will be shortly convoked, in order to vote with urgency
two bills—one decreeing that every Roman citizen shall
have the right to claim the position of a subject of the
King of Italy ; the other having for its object the admis-
sion of Roman deputies to the Italian Parliament. The
presentation of these measures will be preceded by an ex-
plicatory and justificative note, addressed first to the
French Government, and then to the other European
Cabinets.

Count de Paris and the Duke de Cbartres, after
visiting Liege, Namur, and the field of Waterloo, arrived
in Brussels the evening before last, and were ct,nducted to
the Palace by d'Oultrement, orderly officer to the Duke de
Brabant. The Duke and Duchess were at the Theatre de
la Monnaie at the time, but the Duke, on learning the ar-
rival of his relatives, went to the Palace and returned with
them to join the Duchess at the theatre. The next morn-
ing Count de Paris and the Duke de Chartres visited the
King at Laeken, and breakfasted there.
The Union says :--" Every one knows by ex-
perience that the prices of articles of food have increased in
a considerable proportion during the last few years. The
following statistics show one cd the principal causes of that
excessive dearness :—Between the 20th September, 1861,
and 31st August, 1862, ware exported to England 9,200,000
pounds of fresh table fruit ; 3,000,0 0 pounds of dried or
preserved fruit; 2,400,000 pounds of nuts and almonds
1,012,000 pounds of fresh vegetables; 2,000,000 of dried
vegetables; 14,200,000 of potatoes; 2,600,800 of fresh salt
butter ; 5,000,000 pounds' weight of eggs ; 270,000
pounds of poultry ; and 24,000 of sweetmeats. Together
more than 40,000,000 pounds of provisions,"

THE GLASGOW MURDER.
The trial of Jessie M'Lach'an, for the murder of Jessie
M'Pherson, was commenced at Glasgow on Wednesday,
before Lord Deas. It will be remembered that on Monday
afternoon, the 7th July, it was discovered that Jessie
M‘Pherson. aged 38, servant to Mr. John Fleming, accoun-
tent, residing at 17, Sandyford-place, Glasgow, had been
cruelly murdered. The family were living at Dunoon at
the time, and the male portion of the household, with one
exception, had gone down on the previous Friday afternoon
to join the other part of the family, leaving old Mr. Flem-
ing and the deceased (Jessie M•Pherson) alone in the
house. At four o'clock on Saturday morning Mr. F err-
ing heard sounds proceeding from the sunk flat ; butr
thinking there was nothing wrong, he paid no attention to
it. The deceased was not afterwards seen alive; and on
Monday afternoon, when Mr. John Fleming came home/
search was made, and her body was found, fearfully man-
gled, with several deep gashes on the head, lying in her
own bed-room, the floor of which was covered with gore•
Immediately the most energetic and patient investigation
was mute into the whole circumstances of the ease.
Little light, however, was cast upon it for several days.
There had been some money and silver plate taken from
the house on the night of the murder, and this Ras
foiled the following Wednesday forenoon in a pawn-
office in East Ciyde-street, where it had been pledged
admittedly by the prisoner M'Lachlan, who was
apprehended in her lodgings on the Sunday folbwing.
Some days after, clothing belonging to the deceased, after
several journeys by rail, was given up to the authorities by
tl:e prisoner's husband ; at.d subsequently bloody rags were
found at Hamilton, which are supposed to have belonged to
the prisoner M'Lachlan. After three examinations before
the sheriff, the prisoner was committed for trial on a charge
of murder and theft. The prisoner, Jessie M'Lachlan, left
her home at Inverness about rake years ago, and came to
Glasgow, where she got employment as a domestic servant.
Atter having filled several situations she entered the service
of Mr. John Fleming, Sandyford-place, with whose family
she remained for several years. It was at this period that
she made the acquaietance of the deceased, Jessie M'Pher-
son, with whom she was then a fellow servant. The two
servants agreed admirably together; indeed much more so
than usual. The prisoner left that place about four or five
years ago, being married ou of the house to J. M‘Lachlant
who is a native of Greenock. She is described by these
who have known her best as a woman of unblemished re-
putation—even of a religious turn of mind, and especially
as a person of quiet and reserved disposition. Old Mr.
Fleming had remained in the house from Saturday morning
till Monday evening without taking any notice of the ab-
sence of the deceased, notwithstanding the screams be had
heard, and he was consequently the first person suspected
of the crime. He was apprehended on the charge, but vise
afterwards liberated. Several witnesses were examined on
Wednesday, among whom was old Mr. Fleming, who wee
in the witness box for two hours. He steadfastly declared
that no thought of foul play ever entered his head. Ue
thought the deceased had gone to visit some of her friends.
At nine o'clock in the evening the trial was adjourned.
The trial was resumed on the following day.
Several witnesses were examined, and various articles of
the prisoner's clothing identified.
Evidence was also given as to the despatch of the box to
Hamilton, and the prisoner's proceeding there.

lhe trial was again adjourned.
On Friday the evidence was against the prisoner, although
not to a very great extent, and yet exculpatory of old Mr.
Fleming. Dr. M'Leod, however, gave evidence to the effect
that some bloody footprints on the floor of the woman's bed-
room were not made by the deceased, nor old Fleming, but
might have been made by the prisoner, which had been 0"
amined.

It was also proved that the prisoner had been requirieg
money immediately prior to the time of the murder, and
that she was than in debt, but that she paid the day after
the murder several debts, such as would account for the
money she had got for the silver plate.

This concluded the case for the prosecution.
Mr. Clark then objected to the three declarations made
by the prisoner being put in and read.
Lord Deas overruled these objections, and the declarations
were accordingly read. The first was the most important,
and, after entering into particulars with which the public
are already familiar—as her name, age, occupat on before
marriage, and the name of her husband--stated that 8138
last saw the deceased in her (M'Lachlan's) house in Broomie"
law, cn the 28th of June last. She was not in or near Mr•
Fleming's house, in Sa•"dyford-place, on Friday, the 4th, or
morning of Saturday, the sth of July, and was not in all
way concerned with the murder or theft. She was in her
own house the whole day, till about seven at night, and
after going out twice returned finally about a quarter-past
eleven p.m., letting herself in by a check lock. She wept
to bed, and rose about eight next morning, her little
sr.n sleeping with her. She admitted having the plate, but
said she got it from Mr. Fleming, who told her not to tell
what she had done for him.
At the usual hour, the proceedings were once more ad•
journed.

THE VERDICT.
GLASGOW, SATURDAY, 3 P M —Lord Deas concluded
his charge to the jury at a quarter past two o'clock. The
jury then retired, and after an absence of twenty minutes
returned the verdict of guilty. His lordship, with the usual
formalities, then pronounced sentence of death.