The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-22 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Business
this day

Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa, performed
in the years 1850-51, under the orders and at the
expense of her Majesty's Government. By the
late James Richardson, author of " Travels in the
Great Desert of Sahara." 2 vols. Chapman and
It is greatly to be regretted that the author, who
has so ably compiled these accounts of wanderings,
and given to us the benefit of his travelled experi-
ence, should have been snatched away in the
midst of his labours. The principal object of his
expedition being to endeavour to substitute legiti-
mate commerce for slave traffic, unfortunately is
not yet realised, but it is to be trusted that the
exertions of the departed will not have been thrown
away, but that some of the many who admire his
actions " will go and do likewise." We are in-
formed in his own words of his motives for his
travels
"Since my return from a first tour of exploration in
the great Sahara, I had carefully revolved in my mind
the possibility of a much greater undertaking—namely,
a political and commercial expedition to some of the most
important kingdoms of Central Africa. The plan
- appeared to me feasible, and when I laid it in all its
details before her Majesty's Government trey deter-
mined, after mature consideration, to carry it out. Two
objects—one principal, but necessarily kept so.: ewhat
in the background—the abolition of the slave trade ; one
subsidiary and yet important in itself—the promotion of
commerce by way of the Great Desert appeared to me,
and to the distinguished persons who promoted the
undertaking, of sufficient magnitude to justify consider-
able sacrifices. Much preliminary discussion took place,
but the impediments and difficulties were gradually over-
come, and in the summer of 1849 it was generally known
that I was about to proceed by way of Tripoli, the
Sahara, and the hitherto unexplored kingdom of Akees,
to endeavour to open commercial relations, and con-
clude treaties with any native power so disposed,
but especially with the Sultan of Bornou. It
was not thought necessary, however, to surround my
mission with any circumstances of diplomatic splendour,
and it was still in the character of Yakot—a name already
known throughout the greater portion of the route in-
tended to be traversed—that I proposed to resume my
intercourse with the Moors, the Fezznees, the Tibboes,
the Tuaricks, and other tribes and peoples of the
desert and the countries beyond.'
"Before commencing the narrative of my journey, it
may be as well to introduce a few observations on the
commerce at present carried on with the interior by way
of Tripoli. There are now four general routes followed
by the trading caravansfrom the Barbary Coast, leading
to four different points of that great belt of populous
country that stretches across Central Africa—viz., to
Wadai, Bornou, Soudan, and Timbuctoo.
"Wadai sends to the coast at Beugagi a biennial cara-
van, accompanied by a large number of slaves. The
chief articles are elephants' teeth and ostrich feathers.
Bornae sends to the coast, by way of Tezzan, I am sorry
to say, chiefly slaves ; but a quantity of ivory is now
likewise forwarded by this route. Soudan exports
slaves, senna, ivory, wax, indigo, skins, &c., &c.
Nearly half Of the commerce with this important coun-
try consists of legitimate objects of trade and barter.
Wax began to be sent seventeen years ago, elephants'
teeth fifteen, and indigo only four years ago.
" Timbuctoo now forwards scarcely anything but gold
to the coast of Tripoli, together with wax and ivory, but
no slaves. The gold is brought by the merchants in
diminutive roughly-made rings, which they often carry
in little bags concealed in the breasts of their gowns."

Language. By C. Marcel, Knt., Leg. Hon., French
Consul. 2 vols. Chapman and Hall.
The mottoes of this work are, " L'etude des lon-
gues cst la premiere ct la plus indispensable de toutes
les etudes, and " Les methodes sout les maitres
des maitres." The author has endeavoured to
He considers
. andprecede
thinks
impress these ideas on the mind of the reader, and
has rightly entitled his work,,a " Mangy of anual the
teacher and learner of languages."
sttuhdey
mthoedmernost
languages
sve
should in
of o
ui
any,
thusth a
education Latin and Greek,
Re gives a close
analysis of the parts of speech, &e , and directions
for the acquisition a the powers .
of reading, speak-
ing, and writing, and in what dor er they should be
book cultivated. There is one bo
on " The Three
Great Agents of Education"_
and method. The d es and o
duties Iparents, teachers,
former are set forth qualifications of the
social position enfo
1, and the importance of their
and
re--, on the 't tion The
a, en .
author has entered fully, and
treats it in. aintohe subject The
complete
and skilful manner.
volumes
are likely to be of great service to all
students of a foreiern tongue, and an equal assis-
tance to teachers, in shower them clearly of what
Consequence it is that they should be well fitted for
their position.
The introductory chapter on edu-
cation in general is interesting and instructive.

IVIRTILOPOLITAN COMMISSION OF SEWERS.—A special
Court of Sewers was held yesterday at the Court-house,
Greek-street, Soho ; Mr. Jebb in the chair. The other
Commissioners present were Mr. G. Baker, Major Daw-
son, Mr. G. S. Smith, Sir C. Fellowes, Mr. J. Hawk_
shaw and Mr. T. F. Gibson. The court was summoned
for eleven o'clock, from which time till ten minutes to
twelve, when it commenced, every person attending on
business bad to wait, or suffer the consequence of non-
attendance. The great inconveniences and annoyance
arising from the habitual unpunctuality of the commis-
sioners have long been a subject of well-grounded
general complaint, and now that what it was charitably
hoped was an exception bas devel }lied into a poooli.,irfintatitvhih.:eae
rule, have become a public grievance of the most objec-
tionable, because of the most easily avoci(rleaiebnilveo,llvk3eid3n6d7.
spTurhemel
fuoi nirliantribioei svgeaosriiihoe
various
having
rdnoigsutgr
ibhec,etnst,h
oedfirslepc3o:slme9dionloe.fn,
;d3ath:
recommendations
a2l
adsoiev:ii.ass
rniktchC.e.f,
Surrey general
andcommittee
gent,
121. werfeorcotnhseideeroeudn.
Counter's
They,s
for the Ran erfloa gsre htwh,
ee9r
85, /
7170 t fors..io s.
Regent-street
ftoldirei
the
htereai
district,
tn,
division of Westminster sewers, and 9,0991. for
level,wW esesteniB Westminster
the Finsbury division. The recommendations were ap-
proved and sanctioned, with but one exception—of
3,2621. for 5,180 feet of brick sewer, 4ft. by 2ft. Bin.,
along the liornsey-road (on contribution of three-fourths
of such expense)—and in this case the proposition wai
postponed, but not negatived,

The History of the Holy, Military, Sovereign Order
of St. John of Jerusalem, or Knights llospi-
taliers, Knights Templars, Knights of Rhodes,
Knights of Malta. By John Taafe, Knight Com-
mander of the Order, and author of " Adelais."
Vols. 111. and IV. Hope and Co.
The two first volumes of this series appeared some
months ago—these complete it. Much ineeresting
and important knowledge is here met with concern-
ing that mighty fellowship of arms, which sustained
for so many years the glory of chivalry, and whose
memory is ever held in veneration by all lovers of
ancient honour and renown. One of these volumes
is devoted to the knights when at Rhodes, the other
desseibes their fortunes at Malta. Their sufferings
and calamities Were very great at Rhodes. Solyman
the Magnificent (as he was termed) completely
destroyed the island, as it is recorded :
" The renowned, splendid, beautiful island of Rhodes,
and its ancient and most noble capital, which the order
had acquired with so much generosity and boldness, and
maintained their state there. for 213 years, with mar-
vellous vigour, liberality, and gentleness, and mighty
expenses o gold, and defended with an infinitude of
blood, had now passed away beneath the Paynim's
harsh rod. ' Oh, my unfortunate Country 1 Oh, left to
what perfidious despotism ! ' exclaims Fontainez. L'lsle
Adam, the Grand Master' refused tq yield to the insult-
ing terms proposed by his conqueror, and his guud
faith and courage drew down the applause of his haughty
opponent, who, to do honour to devoted constancy,
raised the imperial diadem a little from his head, a
ceremony the Ottoman sovereign uses with none of earthly
kings, nor in truth, with any but in naming God
or Mahomet ;"
And he afterwards suffered him and his knights
to depart free of injury. Their troubles
were only suspended to be completed at Malta.
There the horrors of their fate were beyond bounds.
Valetta was the Grand Master at that time, and
afterwards had a city built, and " named with his
name," in honour of his heroic exploits. Solyman,
their old enemy, sent two pashas to overthrow the
island, but they were repulsed after repeated
attacks, and the loss they sustained was that of
thirty thousand men. Solyman letting fall the
dispatch containing the awful news, exclaimed,
"It is only in my own hand that my sword is
invincible." The knights and their followers,
with Valetta himself, fixed his head-quarters at
Boyo, and sent Colonel Ulas to defend St.
Elmo, at a little distance from him, but the Turks
cut off all communication between the places, and,
finally, they gained a brief victory at St. Elmo
thus the high-spirited Valetta was compelled to see
his followers perish in his sight, he not being strong
enough to make a sally in their behalf. But their
loss was gloriously avenged in a few days.
In the following manner he exerted himself in
emergencies :
" The Grand Master went to the infirmary where, sum-
moning into the hall o arms all the wounded who could
leave their beds, ;pia- bt Although I too am severely
wounded, yet contrive to continue my duty.
Other valiant knights and soldiers do the same,
though they are almost all wounded men, and
none, but are fatigued in the extreme, and
deprived of the greater part of their bodily strength,
has nevertheless stood unconquered in mind and full of
vigour. Too plainly do they see that things are at a
crisis, when it is better to end life valiant by fighting
with arms in their hands, than basely wait to be mas-
sacred in hospitals or houses, or undergo torments from
most cruel barbarians, firmly resolved not to spare a
single soul of them • and enough were theselew words
which penetrated like sharp darts into every one, and
drawing power from their very weakness, none remained
in the hospital except those already in the final agony."
The subsequent evil genius that attended the
order is traced through succeeding generations, till
we reach our own times, and then we leave it in
its retirement to dwell on the memory of its past
history which belongs to everyhistory of the world..

ASSIZ

'ENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT—KINGSTON, MARCH 21
CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Coleridge.)

This morning having been appointed for the.h m
trial of
the four Frenchmen who were charged with
arising out of a duel that took place in Octobert last at
Egham, considerable interest appeared to be created in
the proceeding, and the court was
the usual hour for commencing business. A great num-
ber of Frenchmen were among the spectators, among
them were M. Louis Blanc, together with a great many
-- of the French refugees.
At 10 o'clock the prisoners, Edmund Allain, 36, de-
scribed as a wine merchant ; Etienne Barronet, 46, not-
ary, Emanuel Barthelemy, 29, engineer; and Philippe
Eugene Mornet, 42, labourer, were placed at the bar, and
the indictment which charged them with the wilful mur-
der of Frederick Cournet, was read over td" them.
The prisoners all pleaded not guilty, and elected to be
tried by a jury composed half of foreigners. An inter-
preter was sworn to explain the evidence to them.
- Mr. Locke and Mr. Knapp were counsel for the pro•
secution ; Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., defended Allain ;
Mr. Parry and Mr. Ribton defended Barronet ; arid Mr.
Ballantine and Mr. Needham were counsel for Barthe-
lemy and Mornet.
The learned counsel, in opening the case for the pro-
secution said, that although the prisoners had exer-
cised their privilege of being tried by a jury partly
composed of foreigners, yet he was satisfied that
all the gentlemen who occupied the position of
jurors, would be actuated solely by the desire to
perform their duty, and to uphold the laW of the
country in which they lived, and that they would decide
the present case just the same as if four Englishmen
were placed at the bar instead of four foreigners. He
then proceeded to state that the prisoners were charged
with having caused the death of one of their countrymen
in a duel ; and he said that, by the law of England, the
killing of a fellow creature under such circumstances was
held to amount to murder, and, subject to the ruling of
his lordship, the only question, as it appeared to him, the
jury would have to decide was, whether the prisoners
were proved to have been concerned in the duel ; and if
they were, whether as principals or seconds, as they were
commonly termed, their offence according to the law of
England would amount to murder. If he should make
out this fact to their satisfaction, it would be their duty
not to shrink from returning a verdict of guilty ; the
punishment that would follow such a verdict would, of
Course, be left to other hands, and no doubt the clemency
of the Crown would be extended to the utmost in such a
case. The jury, however, had nothing to do with the
result, and he was satisfied that they would return a
verdict in accordance with the oath they had taken.
The learned counsel then proceeded to state the facts of
the case as they afterwards appeared in evidence, observ-
ing that the evidence would tend to show that Barthe-
lemy and the deceased were the two principals in the
affair, that Allain and Barronet acted as the seconds
to the deceased, and Mornet and another Frenchman
named Brisson, who had made his escape, had acted
in the same capacity for Barthelemy. He said that
there was one circumstance in connection with the trans-
action which would lead to an inference that there had
been some unfair play, which was that it appeared that
only one pistol had been discharged, and upon the pistol
used by the deceased being examined after the occurrence
it was found to have a piece of rag in the barrel placed
close to the breech so as to prevent the powder from ex-
ploding. He should not be able to prove by any evi-
dence how this rag got into the pistol, but it appeared
quite clear that it could not have come there by accident,
and it certainly appeared to be a very suspicious circum-
stance. He concluded by saying that he should lay all
the facts before the jury, and when they had heard the
evidence he should produce, and had heard from his
lordship the law with regard to the subject, he felt as-
sured that they would perform the important duty that
devolved upon them in a manner satisfactory to their
own.conscience and to the country.
The following evidence was then adduced :-
11. FranOis Pardigan said —I knew the deceased. I
last saw him at a quarter to eight o'clock at the Water-
loo Railway station on the morning of the 18th of Octo-
ber. I saw him dead on the following morning at the
Barley Mow at Englefleld-green. I know three of the
prisoners—Barthelemy, Barronet, and Allain ; the two
latter were with the deceased when I saw him at the
railway station. I also saw a gentleman of the name of
Brissot in company with the deceased on the morning of
the 18th, and I heard the deceased ask him if he " ac-
cepted." The deceased asked me to accompany Allain
and Brissot as an interpreter to hire a pair of duelling
pistols. We went to two shops, but they refused to let
pistols on hire. We asked for pistols that would fire
with precision—shooting-school pistols. We went at
last to a shooting-gallery in Leicester-square, and the
pioprietor consented to let us have a pair of pistols on
hire, and Allain and Brissot examined them. The owner
of the pistols said that they had been used the same day,
and they were not clean. M. Brissot took the pistols
away with him, wrapped in brown paper, and they were
taken to my lodging, where Allain and Brissot cleaned.
them. Allain and Brissot each cleaned one of the pis-
tols, and I gave them a piece of white rag for the pur-
pose. I took the rag from a drawer myself. It was
about the size of a pocket handkerchief. I gave them a
large pencil uncut, and they used that to clean out the
barrels of the pistols, after I had cut some notches in it
with a penknife. They tied the pistol to a small walk-
ing-stick, and by this means they cleaned the barrels of
the pistols ; and when they had finished, each of them
blew down the barrel of the pistols and put their finger
to the touch-hole, and then said it was well. As the
rag became dirty they tore off a portion and threw it
into the fireplace. After the pistols were cleaned they
were placed in an envelope, and Allain and Brissot said
it was necessary to seal them, and when they were
wrapped up in paper thirteen seals were placed upon
them, and they wrote on the paper, "Allain, thirteen
seals—Brissot, thirteen seals. ' Allain then put the
seal into his pocket, and the parcel containing the pis-
tols was given to Brissot. I recognise the paper, and
the seal now produced as the same made use of upon the
occasion.
By Mr. Chambers--I knew M. Barronet first during
the Exhibition in 1851. I saw him very frequently at
that time. I have always heard that he was a man of
very good reputation and character, and a man of hon-
our and a gentleman. He also had the reputation of
being a kind and humane man. From what I saw
relating to the pistols, everything was done with perfect
honour and integrity by both parties.
Re-examined.—l never saw the pistols from the time
I have mentioned until they were produced before the
magistrates at Chertsey.
Mr. 11. Hand said—On the 18th of October I was the
proprietor of an exhibition in Leicester-square, called
the Assault d'Arms. On the 18th of October I lent a
pair of pistols to three foreigners, and I furnished them
also with twenty-two bullets, about the same number of
percussion caps, and some gunpowder in a flask. The
pistols were afterwards returned to me, and I now pro-
duce them. 'When the pistols were hired, the parties
said they wanted them for practice. I can only recog-
nise the last witness. Ido not know any of the priso-
ners. The pistols were not clean when the parties took
them away, and I told them so. The pistols were brought
back to me on the 19th of October, and I paid them back
about 61. 15s. They had deposited Si. with me, and I de-
ducted 11. for the hire, and the remainder for the flask,
which was not returned. I examined the pistol, and
being told that one was loaded, I put a cap upon it, and
tried to fire it, but it would not eeplode. I tried it a
second time, but still it would not go off; and I then un-
loaded it by unscrewing the breach of the pistol, and
discovered a piece of rag between the powder and the
nipple, which prevented the former from exploding. It
was impossible to discharge the pistol while the piece of
rag was at the bottom of the barrel.

The witness produced the piece of rag he found in the
pistol, and M. Pardigan said it was of the same descrip-
tion as that used by the prisoners Allain and Brissot to
clean the pistols.

M. Denis said—l keep a coffee-house in Old Comp-
ton-street, Soho. All the prisoners were in the habit of
coming to my shop. On the 4th October I saw M. Bar-
thelemy there, and he inquired how my business went
on, and I told him that M. Barronet, M. Cournet, (the
deceased), and another gentleman boarded with me. He
then said he had a letter he wanted me to give to M.
Cournet and I gave him a sheet of paper and pens and
ink. He began to write, and in a short time he said he
could not complete it as he wished to look at one of the
last,. letters of M. Cournet. I asked him if he knew
13°111110., and he said he did not ; and I told him he was
a fine robust man. M. Barthelemy then raised his arm
as though in the act of levelling a pistol, and he said—
"At this I don't fear the first comer." He then went
away, and said that he should probaby return in about
an hour or an hour and a-half. M. Barthelemy slept at
my house on the night of the 18th of October, and he
went
g.out about a quarter past six o'clock the next
mornin
By Mr. Ballantine---4 have
tbieenEfingve years in Eng-
land, but I only speak a very ii
of nay customers are English. lish. Very few
and he
known Cournet
about seven or eight months, a
htiel breakfasted and
dined at my house, but did not slene
nob7.uot.cfieorbinegr .19
rarely came to my house. After tal:e there. Barthelemy
tap_ arrival Bar-
thelemy I frequently' heard Cournet
Jane Pettingall said—On the morning
I went down to Windsor upon business
o'clock train, in the morning. I was in a Zectehendtght
carriage. The train arrived at Windsor about ni-nlass
half-past nine o'clock. Three foreigners were in the
same carriage. Two of them were the Prisoners
Barthelemy and Mornet. They conversed together in
French during the journey. I understood what they
said. The name of Cournet was mentioned, and I heard
one of the gentleman say he would kick him and cane
him to death, and I saw Barthelemy take his right hand
out of his coat pocket and look at it, and say, "Je ne
suis pas agit6e.' M. Mornet had a cloak on, but I ob-
served nothing particular about his appearance.
Francis Farquharson said—l am a guide at Windsor.
I was at the station on the arrival of the ten minutes

past nine train on the morning of the 19th October, and
I saw six gentlemen, who appeared to be foreigners, get
out of the train. I believe the prisoners were some of
the gentlemen I saw. I afterwards saw the dead body
of a- man who was one of the same party. When the
six foreigners got out of the train they walked up the
street in two parties of three each. One party went '
into the Red Lion, and the other into the Adam and
Eve. I followed them, in the expectation of getting a
job. The two parties came out of the houses I first saw
tritheen'ilt,go into, and went to two other houses of entertain-
tl.l.l they soon afterwards came out together, and
all the SIX walked away i two towards Eagle
field-green, On thteo
.E2.l.poeafternoon three of the gentle-
men came backmoro
Windsor.
Idsor. Two of the prisoners
(Barronet and
know any of the others. recognise,• but Ido not
toodoeose threel goebnstel
away by the train for
rvemedellbewfoenret