The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-27 00:00:00

tion of office, and even refused to ask for a vacant I THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

assistant- barristership for a friend, which was generally
looked upon as within the patronage of the Attorney-
General for the time being. Every effort was made
to appease his justly excited feelings, and at length
he was prevailed upon to accept the vacant Barony of
the Exchequer, it being fully understood that the
earliest opportunity would be seized to repair the in-
jury that had been inflicted. When the Chief Barony
became vacant by the death of the Right Honourable
HENRY Jor, it was universally believed that Baron
RICHARDS would be compensated for the former
slight. He was, however, passed over a second time,
and Mr. WOLFE received the appointment. On the
death of Chief Baron WOLFE, scarcely a doubt re-
mained that Baron RICHARDS would be his successor,
but again was he doomed to disappointment, the
present Lord Chancellor having been gazetted to
the situation. Shortly afterwards Sir ROBERT
PEEL came into power, and Baron RICHARDS could
look for or expect no favour at his hands,
for he had ever been his steady and uncompromising
opponent. But on the return of the Whigs to office
it was supposed that he would receive tardy justice,
by being nominated either to the vacant seals, or at least
to the Chief Judgeship of the Court of which he had
long been one of the highest ornaments. His claims
and qualifications were, however, again disregarded,
and he was suffered to remain a Puisne Baron.

At length, we rejoice to say, some slight, although
inadequate compensation has been rendered. Baron
RICHARDS has received possibly the most important
situation that has ever been filled in Ireland. On
his administration will chiefly depend the regeneration
of his country. It will be seen whether English
capital can be attracted to Ireland—whether the
present embarrassed landowners can be replaced by
a solvent and wealthy proprietary, capable of dis
charging the duties incidental to their position, and
of fully developing the vast industrial re-
sources of the country. We believe that
all that can be hoped for will be fully realised under
the able superintendence of Baron RICHARDS and
his talented coadjutors. It must not be forgotten
that the appointment has been made but for a limited
period, and it is said that Baron RICHARDS, so long
as he retains his seat on the Exchequer bench, is to
receive but half the emoluments of the situation.
We regret that the length to which the preceding
observations have extended prevents us from alluding
to the professional qualifications of Professor LONG-
YIELD or of Mr. HARGREAVES, as we had intended.
They will, we doubt not, be found in every particular
fully competent to the arduous duties of the situa-
tion, and fitting assistants to Baron RICHARDS.

Our columns and those of our Contemporaries are
at present almost filled with details of murders, and
of the apprehension of murderers. Every new day
seems to bring forth fresh horrors. This species of
news, these most heartrending and revolting parti-
culars, possess for a vast majority of readers a peculiar
fascination ; they are attractive and almost pleasing
to that morbid taste which delights in the horrible.
Little as we sympathise with such a feeling, much
indeed as we deplore its existence and deprecate its
encouragement, there one of these calamitous cases
which we cannot but consider a fit subject for general

perusal. We allude to the death of an unhappy wife
by the hand of a yet more unhappy husband, the
' prisoner WARD. It is customary to say nothing
in reference to such cases before a public
trial has made manifest the guilt or inno-
cence of the accused ; by this most excellent rule
we shall practically abide. We shall say not one
word relative to the extent of the wretched prisoner's
guilt. We content ourselves with recommending to
public attention the evidence given before the magis-
trate. It contains a moral lesson more efficacious
than a hundred homilies. We listen to an exordium
on the evil effects of passion, we read elaborate argu
ments on the value of self-command, we, perhaps,
admit the excellence of the one and of the other, and
then turn away and forget them both. Let us, how-
ever, contemplate this catastrophe. The lesson it
teaches is written in letters of blood; few,
we should imagine, can peruse it unmoved, or, we
should hope, unbenefited. We have heard of murders
more appalling, and crimes more revolting in their
details, but we remember none, in the simplicity of its
horror, in the sad probability of all its circumstances,
more impressive and more effective than this. Fic-

Ition seldom equals truth either in tenderness or pathos.
No five act tragedy ever exceeded in mournful or ap-
palling interest this tragedy, this life's history con-
ri,....a into one scene. The husband returns home
at evening, the wife has been out to purchase his
supper; they sit together by the fire-side. A discus-
sion takes place, angry words follow ; on both sides,
perhaps, there is wilful provocation, or a disposition
to be displeased. So far is not the picture daily realised
in many a home ? How many can lay their hands
on their hearts and exonerate themselves while they
cast a stone at these ? Comparisons are proverbially
" odious," and such a comparison, to all concerned,
will appear especially so,—the greater the truth the

greater the libel. Nevertheless one good
consequence should be derived from such ca-
lamitous scenes, the benefit of a warning
example. Let none, therefore, shrink from the appli-
cation of such an example as this. Angry words have
passed between the husband and wife; w•e know not
what provocatory language may have trembled upon
her tongue, so soon to be stilled for ever ; we know
not what indignant impulse may have stirred his
heart, so soon to be rendered the home of very diffe-
rent feelings—we only know the catastrophe. The
wretched man seizes the first implement in his way,
and inflicts a blow which is death. If in the eyes of
HIM who readeth the heart a thought is as sinful as
the committed act, how many are morally as guilty
as this man ? 'We say this, not by way of extenuating
his offence, but merely as an evidence of how " in the
midst of life we are in death," and how insecure is
the happiness, and even the existence, of those who
give way to passion. " A soft answer turneth away
wrath," we all admit, although few condescend to
put their faith in practice. No housewife ever
treasured up a more valuable receipt than this ne-
glected proverb. Yet another scene of the tragedy
has transpired, one hardly less melancholy than the
preceding. The young child of the unhappy pair
comes forward, in a voice broken by sobs and choked
by tears, to recapitulate the sad details of her mother's
death and her father's guilt, and the father, as he
listens, covers his face and weeps aloud. Any com-
ment upon such a scene must seem tame and cold to
those who have already perused the detailed account ;

to those who have not we can only say, they need nol
seek in the pages of a novel for the source of tears

No heart, even the most callous, could contemplate
that young child's agony unmoved. This, then, is a

case which, terrible and tearful though it be, we
commend as a fit subject of consideration. The ca-

tastrophe is too appalling to be easily forgotten—the
warning too much required to be passed over without
notice.

EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPE OF A BURGLAR FROM
MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.—This morning the authorities
of the above institution were greatly surprised by the
discovery that a patient, named Frederick Peate, who
had been injured while escaping from the police on being
alarmed when breaking into the house of Mr. Rabies,
furrier, Regent-circus, had effected his escape. The
prisoner was brought to the hospital yesterday (Sunday)
morning week, on which occasion his companion in
crime, Henry Edgar Blackwell, was killed by falling
from the roof of Mr. Rabies' house. Since his admission
to the hospital the prisoner had been in the Clayton
Ward, on the ground floor, and attended by Mr. Clap-
ham, surgeon, who found the injury he had sustained
was dislocation of the right ankle. He was under the
surveillance of the police, three of whom belonging to
the C division detective were in constant attend-
ance on him, in turns of eight hours each.
About four o'clock this morning, Elliott, the night porter,
was informed by the constable who had been left
in charge of the prisoner on the previous night that
he had fallen asleep ond found, on waking, the prisoner
missing. Every search was immediately made for him,
but in vain, and on the other inmates of the ward being
interrogated they all declared they had not witnessF d
his departure. The prisoner, whose clothes were all
kept from him but his trowsers, there is no doubt,
assisted by some confederates, made his escape over the
back garden wall into Charles-street-mews. A young
man, walking Line, and without a coat, was about 12
o'clock seen to enter a public-house in Wells•street,
where, after drinking a pint of porter, he limped out and
was driven off in a cab, which at that moment drew up.
Every exertion to trace the retreat of the prisoner has
hitherto been unsuccessful.
THE EXTRAORDANAIV, CASE AT HORBURY.—OH
Monday last warrants were granted by the magistrates
at Wakefield, for the apprehonsio:
cildohfMr. and Miss
tChrea vpeanrtifcourlacrosneeoafliwn
concealing the
appeared
ebirth of
in our eatullmonrbsular3s7t
,
week. Mr. Higham, of Brighouse, attended oelwatch the
proceedings on the part of the accused.--Leeds ds Intelli-
gencer.

We have received the Paris papers of Saturday and
yesterday.
The Legitimatists are becoming every day more
and more bold ; they are now endeavouring, and in
the endeavour they will succeed, to get rid of the only
three honest men in the .Ministry, MM. DUFAURE,
PASSY, and DE TOCQUEVILLE.
The Assembles .Nationale, the organ of the DE
FALLOUX section of the parti pretre, says—" The only
consideration which may have tended to delay the
dissolution of the Ministry was the reconstitution of
a new Cabinet. That question appears now to be
resolved. M. MoLE will accept the Foreign Office
with the Presidency of the Council, and perhaps
the Presidency of the Council without portfolio.
M. TUIERS, who at first thought of the Ministry
of Finances, will enter that of the Interior.
It is positively stated that he himself begged M.
MOLE to accept the Presidency. M. DE FALLOUX
will remain as Minister of Public Instruction. It is
said that the PRESIDENT of the Republic thought of
demanding the co-operation of M. BERRTER in this
fusion, in this crusade in favour of order. Nothing
appears to have been yet decided on with regard to
the other Ministries, but nevertheless some new men
have been thought of."
The Constitutionnel of Sunday, in allusion to the
above statement, says, " our contemporary is de-
ceived and misinformed; the news which he pub-
lishes is without foundation." All, however, that
can be gathered from this contradiction is that M.
TRIERS " bides his time," because he does not consi-
der the pear quite ripe.
M. DE TOCQUEVILLE gave a soiree to the
members of the Peace Congress on Saturday.
The election for the department of the Soane-et-
Loire has terminated in the return of M. JOLT, the
Republican candidate, who polled 28,433 votes, whilst
his reactionary opponent, M. DAIRoT, only polled
25,697. In the department of the Cote d'Or, M.
LEMUTIER, the Ministerial candidate, has been
returned.
M. LEON FAucnEst has arrived in Paris ; his health
is completely re-established.
The Presse contains a statement to the following
effect :—" We are assured to-night that the two prin-
cipal clauses of the convention which led to the capi-
tulation of GEORGEY are-1. The integrity of the
kingdom of Hungary , • 2. A complete amnesty ex-
ceptingw i
ersofnosr,eiwgnhocohuonlvrez
The above had already
receivedpassportsforfu
statement,
orp
for
however, is not altogether in
accordance with the following, which appears in the
Evenement :—" Dispatches were received to-day
announcing that the Russian and Austrian armies
have marched to occupy the principal positions suc-
cessively abandoned by the Hungarians. BEM and
KOSSUTH have taken refuge in Turkey. The dispatches
state that it is intended to demand of the Porte their
extradition, in order that they may be tried by a
court-martial."
The National has the following just observations
on the conduct of the Governments of England and
France in relation to the affairs of Hungary and Italy :
—" What," it asks, "is to be done now, if Russia,
profiting by her immense ascendancy, acquired in
consequence of our inconceivable weakness, should
turn her attention from the East to Western Europe?
What is to be done if she should now begin to un-
dermine Hungary, Gallicia, and Bohemia, according
to her Sclavonic doctrines, as she has already under
mined Moldavia and Wallachia ? What is to be
done if, meddling in the affairs of Germany, she
should back Austria against the ambitious ascendancy
of Prussia ? What is to be done if we should see the
northern states of Germany quail before such a for-
midable alliance as that of Russia, Austria, Bavaria,
and Wurtemburg ? Why pursue these questions ?
Have we not already enumerated enough to give an
idea of the enormous complications flowing from this
Russian intervention in Hungary ? It is an iniquitous
act, for which we ourselves furnished the pretext by
our illegitimate intervention in the affairs of Rome.
We tolerated this iniquitous act; and here England
too is to blame. And we now suffer in our honour,
our influence, and our renown."
We read in the Patrie—" The differences between
M. DE CHALLAYE, the French Consul, and the Repub-
lic of Guatemala have terminated in an arrangement
highly honourable to the French Republic, thanks to
the firmness of our representative. After an address
of felicitation voted by the Congress, and expressive
of regret at the differences which had arisen, M. DE
CHALLATE again hoisted the French flag on the 15th
ult., and it was saluted with the discharge of twenty-
one guns."
The Debuts publishes the following communicated
note :
" Neither Piedmont, nor Austria, nor France are
ignorant of the preparations which are being made in
the Swiss cantons, on the border, and the designs of the
refugees collected together on that point."
The Debats goes on to say—
"lf this grave assertion were true much more would
be known about it in foreign countries than in Switzer-
land itself, where no vestage of preparation of that kind
is seen. Switzerland, in receiving the German refugees,
in spite of their number, has fulfilled a duty of
humanity, which she has endeavoured to conciliate
with the just consideration due to her neighbours.
For that object she caused all the insurgents to be dis-
armed when they entered her territory. Residence
within a radius of eight leagues from the German
frontier was interdicted to the refugees, who were dis-
tributed in the interior by small detachments, placed
under the special surveillance of the police. The arms
and other objects belonging to the German States, which
were in the possession of the insurgents, were or are
about to be delivered up to the respective governments.
The border cantons of the Grisons, the Valais, Tessino,
and Bale Town have no refugees; Geneva has about
200, mostly Germans, who await with impatience the
moment when an act of judicious clemency will permit
them to return to their country. There are amongst
them, in consequence of the foiled conspiracy of June
13, some Frenchmen, who would certainly be sent into
the interior the moment that they became a subject of
legitimate disquietude to France. The German leaders
being likely to cause uneasines on account of their pre•
vious conduct, their character, and the great number of
refugees whom they had under their orders, the Con-
federation adopted with regard to them a severe mea-
sure, that of their being sent out of Switzerland. That
measure, which is in course of execution, has only been
retarded by the numerous steps to which it was necessary
to have recourse to procure an issue to those leaders.
As to the other refugees, the Federal Council has not
ceased knocking at every door to obtain an amnesty. It
must be comprehended that it is important to it, more
than any other, to free Switz-rland both from the bur

den which the support of the refugees, the numb ,r of
whom exceeded 10,000, imposes on it, and from the dan-
ger which arises for her from the pressure of so many
propagators of socialist and demagogic ideas. In gene-
ral little is known in foreign countries of the difficult

position
in which Switzerland is placed by the insurrec •
tional attempts of her neighbours. The right of asylum,
which she has exercised for ages, without regard to
opinions,
is considered as a source of profit and satisfac-
tion, whereas it is almost always to her a subject of ex-
pense and annoyance. Complaints are made of the
number of refugees who assembled there ; and all the
Governments send, as if with emulation, everythini,
which gives them umbrage at home, in order afterwards
to establish against her a hermetical blockade. The
opinion, that the Swiss are the favourers of the re-
volutionary propagandism, is accredited, which is, on
the contrary, antipathetic to the immense majority of
the nation. In the sentiments of her ancient inde-
pendence, Switzerland, it is true, refuses to foreign
powers the right of interfering in her internal affairs ;
but she, on her side, does not seek to mix herself up iu
the destinies of other nations, without, however, conceal-

ing her sympathy for the cause of true liberty. Swit-
zerland sends refugees nowhere, and she would demand
nothing more than that others would act in like manner
towards her."

The PRESIDENT of the French Republic must
surely have forgotten that it was entirely owing to
the firmness of this very Swiss Government that

LOUIS NAPOLEON BONAPARTE was indebted for his

liberty at the time his extradition from Switzerland
was demanded by the Government of Louis PHILIPPE.
It is true that Louis NAPOLEON BONAPARTE abused
Swiss hospitality, and nearly involved those who
had given him refuge in a war, by his intrigues and
plotting!' against neighbouring states, but he should
not judge of all political refugees by himself—all are
not so entirely self-seeking as Louis NAPOLEON BONA-
PARTE.

The Five per Cents. were quoted in the Passage
de l'Opera at 89f. 40c. There was no business done.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, AUGUST 25.
Namur and Liege, s%—Northern of France, 314 dis.—
Paris and Rouen, 21 ex div.—Rouen and Havre, 9,4—
Sambre and Meuse, 2%.