The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-12 00:00:00

alleged that he entertained any vindictive feelings 7
against his master. On the contrary, they appeared '
to have been on the most friendly terms. Money
was missed, but no portion of it, not even a single
shilling, was traced to the possession of the prisoner,
and if he had taken any part of it, it is hardly
possible that he could have concealed it effectually.
It appeared on the evidence that a man, whom
the prisoner represented to have come in from the
street at the first alarm of the fire, and who assisted
him in breaking into the room to put it out, was
ob-
served to leave the house during the confusion, but
no one could tell afterwards who he was, or where
he had gone to. If any crime had been committed,
is it not more than probable that the person who had
thus left the house, and who neither came forward
or could be discovered, was the person who stole the
money, as he had an ample opportunity of doing,
if so minded ? The directors of the highly-respect-
able fire-office (the Dissenters'), at which the pre-
mises were insured, having fully investigated the
case, declined to prosecute, which proved that they,
at least, were by no means satisfied of the guilt of
the prisoner; and yet, with all these circumstances,
a verdict has been returned which consigns him to
the highest secondary punishment known to the law,
one only short of the sacrifice of his life. Is it not
manifest that if there was a tribunal of appeal the
case would most properly be taken there ; but as no
such tribunal exists, his fate must now rest in the
hands of the Home Secretary, who may be unable,
from the pressure of business, to give it
that consideration of which it is deserving
for some time at least. We moat heartily
commend the case to his notice, and are
satisfied that the exercise of the royal prerogative in
favor of the unfortunate lad would be received with
general approbation.
We may be pardoned here for again alluding
briefly to the case of M'CAfee, who had
been sentenced to death fer the Mirfield murders,
but which sentence lass recently been altered
to transportation for life. In the latter an-
nouncing this commutation, the Home Secretary
says, "that since the trial the case of has been
frequently under the consideration of the Judge who
tried the prisoner, and he is of opinion that APCABE
was a participator in the crime to some extent." For not
having regarded M'Clue as an innocent man—
for not believing him to be so, be-
cause REID before his trial made a " con-
fession" which neither inculpated nor excul-
pated his fellow-prisoner, a torrent of vituperation
and a series of the most pitiless attacks were directed
against the young and talented counsel who defended
Rein. What will the assailants of Mr. DIGBY
SEYMoUR now say to the fact, that with the knowledge
of ItErn's dying declaration, that "he alone was
guilty, that no human being was in any way
connected with the murder but himself," Mr. Justice
PATTESON, after frequent and mature consideration,
came to the conclusion " that M‘C..sue was a guilty
participator." We confess, that this case, also mate-
rially strengthens our desire for an appellate
jurisdiction—for, if guilty, the extreme penalty
should be inflicted—and, if innocent, or if any
reasonable doubt exists, he should be discharged
from any, even the slightest punishment.

A letter from Venice of the 2d inst., states that
the Volcano steamer had left that port, having on
board a number of men to complete the crews of
the Austrian fleet in the Adriatic. The object of
this movement had not transpired, the captain of the
steamer having sailed under sealed orders.

The Putria of Florence states that the French
Chargé d'Affaires at Turin has delivered a note de-
manding explanations of the proceedings of King
CHARLES ALBRRT. In this note, the French Go-
vernment, says the Patria, makes itself a guarantee
for the intentions of Austria, and declares that the
occupation of the Duchies of Parma and Modena had
no other object than the protection of Lombardy, and
that no intervention in the internal affairs of the
reformed Italian states is meditated-by Austria.
We read in a letter from Turin, of the 6th—" I
hasten to inform you of a very important deliberation
which has just taken place in the municipal body of
Turin. This assembly was convoked yesterday, the
sth, to decide on a motion that a petition should
be presented to his MAJESTY, praying for the insti-
tution of a civic guard. Scarcely had the discus-
sion commenced, when Count PIETRO DETROSSI DI
SANTA RosA said, in substance—' Such proposi-
tions might have been useful and important before
the events of Naples ; but at present they are not up to
the level of the great things which have been accom-
plished, and of the destinies to which the Italian
States are called. Cannot we address ourselves with
filial confidence to a King who acts like a father ?
Ought we not to supplicate him to crown the great
enterprise which he has so gloriously commenced
and maintained, of our political regeneration, by ac-
cording a representative constitution to his people,
comprising in it the institution of the civic guard ?'
The words of Count PIETRO Daaossi DR SANTA
Itos.i led away the assembly. His proposition
was put to the vote, and adopted by a majority of 96
to 12. In the course of the sitting a committee was
nominated for the purpose of drawing up, in conjunc •
tion with the syndics, an address to His MAJESTY.
The committee is composed of M. SINE° M. GALVAGNO,
Count DE BUONCOMTAGNI, and Count DR SANTA Ross..
It immediately set to work, its draft was adopted by
the council, and the syndics are charged to present it
on Monday next to the KING."

It is said that the Grand Duke of TUSCANY has
promised a constitution to his people.

Madrid papers of the sth have arrived.

The Herald() announces that at half-past two
o'clock that morning General ESPARTERO left Madrid
for Logrono. He was accompanit d by M. MURRISTA.
and Colonel Gummi.. The Senate met on the 4th,
but its deliberations were on measures affecting the
department of public works of not the slightest in-
terest.

The Eco del Comercio publishes another large
batch of congratulatory addresses to ESPARTIRO.
Recent letters from the Canary Islands announce that
the malady which had raged there for some months,
and which, at one time, excited considerable alarm,
had disappeared.
MADRID BOLSA, FEB. s.—The Three per Cents.
were done at 27i at 50 days ; the Four per Cents., at
16i for paper ; the Five per Cents., at 17, at 50 days ;
the Debt without Interest, at 51, for paper; and
the Coupons, at 12.

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
The discussion on the amendment to the para-
graph of the Address relating to the Reform banquets,
proposed by M. D'ARBLIT, took place on Thursday,
and was very animated. M. Guizor, M. THIERS,
and M. ODILON BARROT were the principal speakers.
An assertion on the part of M. GUIAOT, that with his
majority he might, if he pleased, smother all discus-
sion, produced an explosion of indignation from the
Opposition. The amendment of M. D'ARBLAV was
negatived by a large majority. The whole of the
Opposition abstained from voting. The discussion
was again resumed yesterday, on an amendment pro-
posed by M. DESMOUSSEAUX DE GIVRE, to omit the
words " agitation excited by hostile passions or blind
delusions." This amendment was supported by M.
LAMARTINE and M. ODILLON BARROT, and was op-
posed by M. Monny and M. VITET. The discussion
had not concluded when the post left.
It is said that the Ministry feel they have gone too
far, and would be glad of an opportunity of retracing
their steps if possible. The imprudence of M.
lIEBERT in his speech of Tuesday is universally con-
demned.

The whole of the troops in garrison in Paris are
kept in their barracks to be ready in case of emer-
gency.
The Reform banquet is fixed for Sunday next.
All the members of the Opposition have signified their
intention of being present.
The Prince and Princess D JOINVILLE arrived
at Avignon on the 8d instant, and left on the follow-
ing morning for Cette, where they were to embark for
Algiers.

Captain SABITIER, who has been Consul at Janina,
and who a few days since arrived at Paris, has just
set out for Egypt with dispatches for the French
Consul at Alexandria. This mission, it is said, re-
lates to the conditional establishment of ABD-EL-
KADER in the states of the Pecu.a.
The Constitutionnel says—
"lt has been stated that orders had been sent to