The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-25 00:00:00

THE MURDER OF THE DUCHESS

DE PR &SLIN.

The announcement of s,..vcral of the journals of
ne arrival in Paris on Saturday of Marshal Sebas-
,iani was erroneous. The Marshal, it appears, had
quitted Geneva for Nice before the melancholy news
of the assassination of his daughter could reach him,
and, consequently, it was impossible for him to arrive
in Paris so soon as has been stated. The body of
the Duchess was removed on Sunday morning, at six
o'clock, to a vault under the church of the Made-
line. It was accompanied by her uncles, the Duke
de Coigny, and General Sebastiani, and two other
members of the family. A mass was performed
immediately after the body had been placed in the
vault. It will remain there until the arrival of
Marshal Sebastiani.
We read in the Debats—" The Duke de Praslin.is
said to be still suffering from his attempt to poison
himself. Three phials have been found in his chamber,
one of which was still filled with nitric acid,
another contained a white powder, which has been
ordered to be analysed, and the third had contained
laudanum, which it is believed the Duke had drunk.
Every possible precaution is taken at the Luxem-
bourg to prevent his making any further attempt
upon his life. Dr. Louis, his own physician, and Dr.
Rouget de Saint Pierre, physician to the Luxem-
bourg, are in attendance upon him."
Of the nine children of the unfortunate Duchess
de Praslin, the eldest daughter is alone married.
She is the wife of a rich Piedmontese gentleman,
with whom she lives usually at Turin. The second
daughter, aged eighteen, set out on the day of the
murder to meet her grandfather, the Marshal. The
four others have been taken to their grandmother,
Mdme. de Praslin. They are ignorant of the crime
imputed to their father. M. Edgard de Praslin,
brother of the prisoner, was, when the murder took
place, at the Chateau de Praslin, which has re-
mained the property of the eldest son of the family,
and where he this summer occupied a pavillion. He
has conducted there the three sons of the accused.
Mdlle. Sebastiani had brought to her husband in
marriage upwards of 100,000 f. a year, from the
mother's side. She afterwards obtained as much
more by the death of an aunt. M. de Praslin, on
his side, possessed about as great a fortune. They
had, in addition, to expect all the fortune of Mar-
shal Sebastiani, and of General Tiburce Sebastiani,
the uncle, who has no children, and their share in
the fortune of the Dowager Duchess de Praslin.
_ _

The following affecting account is given of the
manner in which the Duchess Dowager de Praslin,
who is nearly blind, has been made acquainted with
the death of her daughter-in-law, whom she loved
most tenderly. She was at first informed that her
unfortunate daughter had been murdered by rob-
bers. Upon this she desired that her son might
come to her, and they would mourn together. Ex-
pressing her extreme surprise that he did nit come
to her, it became necessary to make her gradually
and cautiously acquainted with the truth. Upon
this she sunk into a state of complete despair. At
the time of the marriage of the Duke de Praslin he
was twenty-one years of age, and Mdlle. Sebastiani
only eighteen. Her hand had been promised to the
Duke de Fitzjames, but a difference upon questions
of interest unfortunately put a stop to a union which
in all respects was most desirable.

SIR HARRY SMITH.—We learn from the subscrip-
tion paper which has been lying for a few days at the
Royal Exchange, Glasgow, that the sum of 3201. has
been subt,cribod for the purpose of presenting this dis •

tinguished officer with some testimonial from the citizens
d Glasgow, seeing that they are not to have the pleasure
of entertaining him at a public dinner.
SUNDERLAND DOCK.--On Monday at noon the
half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in this under-
taking was held at the Exchange-buildings. In the ab-
sence of Mr. Hudson, M.P., the chairman of the com-
pany, Mr. C. Bramwell presided. The report stated that
the execution of the undertaking was progressing rapidly
and satisfactorily. Since the last annual meeting in
February, Mr. Bendel' had made his survey and report,
in accordance with which the immediate execution of the
open basin, the half-tide basin, and the dock to the ex-
tent of 20 acres, has been determined on, and several
preliminary contracts have been executed, and the half-
tide basin and dock itself has been recently contracted
for. The financial report showed their receipts, to the
30th June last, to have been 21,6771. 18s. 11d.; their
aggregate expenditure 18,172/. 19s. 9d., leaving a ba-
lance of 3,504/. 19s. 2d.; but since that period nearly the
whole of the first call has been received.

FIRE AT Wuirree.—The cry of " fire" was again
heard in our streets, to the great alarm of the inhabi-
tants, on Saturday last, a messenger arriving soon after
one sou., requiring the assistance of the engines at the
Lordship Farm, Writtle, the property of the Right Hon.
Lord Petre, and in the occupation of Mr. Lucking. Be-
fore, however, the progress of the element could be
stayed, a cow shed, in which were four calves, and a
barn containing a small quantity of tares, with some
peas, were consumed, the animals perishing in the flames.
A haulm wall then took fire and a large haystack
ignited, the greater part of which was included in the
work of destruction. Fortunately there was little wind
during the conflagration or several large corn stacks
must have fallen a prey to the flames. The buildings
and stock are insured in the Essex Economic, and the
loss is; roughly estimated at 4001—Essex Herald.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.—Yesterday the trustees
obtained possession of all the houses required in Great
Russell-street for the erection of the east wing of the
Museum, iucluding the extensive bindings belonging'to
the Clerical, Medical, and General Life Assurance Com-
pany, clearing the ground entirely to Montagu-street,
Russell-square.
ORKNEY ELECTlON.—Thursday the 19th being the
day appointed for the nomination of candidates for the
representation of the combined counties of Orkney and
Zetlanti, the town of Kirkwall presented a scene of great
animation. At the hour appointed both candidates
made their appearance, each accompanied by a large
procession of voters alai others—Mr. Dundas, from the
house of Mr. Gold, Grainbank; and Mr. Anderson,
from M‘Donald's Hotel. The latter gentleman sported
blue banners—the former yellow and orange. James
Baikie, Esq., of Tankerness, nominated Mr. Dundas as
a proper person to represent them in Parliament, which
was seconded by W. Traill, Esq., of Woodwick. Samuel
Laing, jun., Esq., of Papdale, proposed Mr. Anderson;
seconded by Dr. Scott, of Melby. The two candidates
then severally addressed the electors, and, on a show of
hands being taken, the sheriff declared it to be in favour
of Mr. Anderson. A poll was demanded, which was ap-
pointed to take place on the 25th and 26th instant.—
Caledonian Mercury.
The apprehension of further disasters arising out
of those which have recently occurred was this morning
shown to have been well founded, by the announcement
of the suspension of Messrs. Castellain, Sons, and Co., a
firm of old standing, and one deservedly held in estima-
tion. For some days the position of the house had been
a matter of anxiety, in consequence of the heavy blow
inflicted upon it by the failure of Fraser and Co., of
Antwerp; but a general hope was entertained that it
might be able to surmoant the severe consequences of
that event. The liabilities are stated at 145,0001., and
the nominal assets at about 135,0001., although, of course,
these will show a considerable depreciation in the wind-
ing up. It may be added that there has rarely been a
failure which has caused more sincere regret, the mis-
fortune having fallen upon Messrs. Castellain, not from
any speculations of their own, but from misplaced confi-
dence in their foreign correspondents.—Times.
COMMITTAL OF A WOMAN FOR MURDER AT BIR.•
MINGHAM.-0a Monday night an inquest was held,
before J. B. Davies, Esq., borough coroner, on the body
of a female infant child, said to have been murdered,
and most inhumanly mangled, by its unfortunate mother,
a woman named Elizabeth Steadman. It appeared that
the prisoner lived as servant, the last two months, at the
Hope and Anchor, Caroline-street. Her mistress, hav-
ing suspicion that she was in the family way, questioned
her, but the denied the fact. On Thursday last, she was
taken ill, and went to bed, still persisting that she was
only labouring under a cold, for which she required some
warm drink. This was supplied to her, and in a short
time after she got better, and removed to another bed.
It, however, eventually turned out that the unhappy
being was delivered of a child, which was afterwards
found concealed in the privy of the house, cut up into
several pieces. The whole of the evidence, unfit for
publication, having been gone through, the jury, this
morning (Tuesday), at one o'clock, returned a verdict of
murder against the prisoner. Three of the jury refused
to sign the inquisition, but the prisoner was committed
to take her trial at the next assizes, for the murder of
the infant.
SHOCKING SERIES OF MURDEROUS ATTACKS BY A
MADMAN.--A man named Jean Thomas, formerly a
sailor, aged 41, ran through the streets of Bordeaux, on
Sunday,morning, lath a knife in his hand, stabbing
every person he met. This man had long been subject
to monthly epileptic attacks, and was once before guilty
of acts of violence on a woman who lived with him. For
a length of time, however, he has been quiet, until
Sunday last, when, after ill using a woman who prepared
his food, he snatched up a long knife, with which he left
the house. He then entered an omnibus, concealing the
weapon in his sleeve. Whentheveahnicdleetsathohpepdedh,imhe;
suddenly fell on one of the passengers
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. whowoman, Ii stabbed
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office, and her daughter, whose life
kiwseheiponms danger, ll d
aenger, and
several others. A workman named Roche at last ven-
tured to oppose the madman, and succeeded in taking
him prisoner, though not without receiving a slight
wound in the hand. The number of persons wounded is
not less than ten or twelve. The next day Thomas was
twice interrogated, and replied to all questions with
great sang paid.
FATAL CARRIAGE ACCIDENT.—Yesterday Mr. IV.
Baker held an inquest at the Queen Adelaide, Hackney-
road, on the body of Henrietta Phillips, aged five years,
daughter of Mr. Joseph Phillips, a clerk in a mer-
chant's house. Alderman Thomas Sidney, M.P., de-
posed that on Monday morning he was proceeding to
town in Alderman Copeland's carriage, driven by Isaac
Bails, at a steady pace, when the deceased suddenly
ran across the road, and before the coachman could
pull up one of the wheels passed over her body. Wit-
ness got out, and she was taken to a surgeon's, but not-
withstanding the means used she died in two hours.
Verdict—" Accidental death."

THE OCCUPATION of FERRARA

BY THE AUSTRIANS.

We reee'ved yesterday a7.uppl( mentary sheet of
the Corriere Livornese of the 16th inst., which sup-
plies the following interesting particulars relative to
the occupation of Ferrara by the Austrian forces :
" (From private Italian letters.)
"FERRARA, AUG. 13.
"To-day, at half-past one o'clock, P NI., the Aus-
trian troops occupied the posts of the grand guard
and the gates of the city. It now only remains for
them to occupy the posts of the prisons and the resi-
dence of the Cardinal Legate, who has loudly pro-
tested against this new act of hostility. The city is
deeply agitated.
" (From another letter.)
"At half-past one the Austrians took possession of
the posts of the Place Publique, and the four gates of
the city. The post of the castle remains in the hands
of the Pontifical Volunteers, and those of the prisons
in the hands of the National Guard. The occupation
was first demanded by an Austrian major, accom-
panied by two adjutants and escorted by a picket of
cavalry, in the name of the General-Commandant of
the Austrian forces in the city and citadel of Ferrara.
A similar requisition was addressed to his Excellency
the Cardinal Legate, in a manner very improper and
insulting to our Sovereign the Cardinal, and the city
itself. His Excellency refused to consent to the de-
mand, and only yielded to force, not without loudly
protesting against it. Words, however, are impotent
against fixed bayonets. Besides, the tighter the Gor-
dian knot is tied the more easily it will be severed.
If the invasion advances a little further, I believe that
the flames will burst forth.