The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-21 00:00:00

SEDUCTION OF ENGLISH GIRLS IN
PARIS.

A case of a very painful nature, but of consider-
able interest, was yesterday submitted to the Tri-
buual of Correctional Police. A woman named
Mesmeurice, 48 years of age, and who stated that
she lived on her property, was tried on the ch urge
of what the French law calls " outraging morality,
and exciting girls under age to debauchery."
A police-officer said that in the morning of the
11th of May last, as he was on duty in the Rue de
la Pornpe, at Pas y, he heard cries of " Help,"
"Murder," in a house, and on entering he found
in a splendidly furnished apartment on the ground
floor a young Englishwoman, remarkably hand-
some, who complained that the mistress of the
place bad been beating her. He took both the
women before the commissary of police, and that
functionary, after hearing what they had to say,
had the elder taken into custody.
Tee President, addressing the prisoner, said,
"You are accused of exciting to debauchery ?"
"It is not true, sir." " Listen to me—you are
accu ei of having frequently received young girls
from England, of letting furnished apartments to
them, and of giving them up to men." "My ad-
vocate will explain, sir—l am so troubled." An-
swer my question. You occupied larger apart-
ments than your fortune or style of living justified
—you let part of them to young girls, who --."
"No, sir, Ido not let lodgings." "You did, and
I can tell you the names of some of your lodgers—
Cearlotte, Fernanda, Melly, and Sarah. Amongst
the girls was one of 16 or 17 years of age, Char-
lotte Balthazar by name, who will be called as a
witness, and this girl you introduced to a very
wealthy man, a Russian prince, it is said—be pay-
ing you liberally ?" "It is true that a Russian
prince sometimes came to the house, butit was not
I who made him known to Charlotte—they knew
each other before." " You are accused of having
brought this girl from England t. speculate on her
beatuy." " I did not go there to seek her—she
came to me." "Did you not go frequently to
England?" " I did, but it was en business.'
" What' business ?" "To seek money due tome."
" Due by whom !" " Sir, it was an old friend who
made me an allowance." " It is easy enough to get
over money from England, and you need not go
there to seek it." "1 lia,ve:nothing to do, and I
like travelling.,) And you knew how to make
your travelling profitable. We are told that Char-
lotte Balthazar received large sums from the Rus-
sian prince—on one occasion as much as 4,0001."
That is true, sir ; the foreigner gave a good deal of
money to Mddle. Charlotte, but I had nothing to
do with their conventions. When she came to me
she said she was an Irishwoman who had come
from England, and that she was in distress.' "
the girl," said the President ; " she shall tell her
own story." The girl then s'epped forward. She
is remarkably handsome, with a brilliant com-
plexion and black hair, tall and graceful. " Whet
is your name ?" asked the President. " Maria
Theresa Balthazar," said the girl. " Your name is
not Charlotte 1' "No, sir, that is a name which
Madme. Mesmeurice gave me." " What is your
age ?" " Seventeen." " What is your occupation?"
" I have none." " Tell us what you have to say,
but take care to state nothing but the truth." "I
was in England, where I lived with a cabinet-
maker." " You had then no parents ?" " I had
left them. In England a girl can quit her parents
at 14 years of age." " She does wrong to do so,
especitt'ly when she does it for the purpose of tak-
ing to evil courses—but continue." " I knew at
London a dressmaker, who often asked me why I
did not go to Paris, where I should be very happy.
1 always answered, No, no, 1 will remain in Eng-
land.' One day, however, she introduced me to
Mme. Mesmeurice, who had gone to London to seek
for., girls ; end Mine. Memeurice said that if I
would ace ampany her to Paris, she would, as I was
so beautiful find ma a prince who would throw him-
self at my feet, that she would make me marry a
prince." (The girl spoke Fri nth with great facility,
and with only a slight English accent.) And you de-
termined on corning to Paris ?" ' Yes, sir, I came
with her. But I soon repented of having done so.
She had promised me fine dresses, fetes, pleasures,
but was unable to ke-p her promise. At first, I
hail not enough to eat. She was in such distress
that one evening, not being able to give me any
dinner, she took me to Muserd's concert, and there
introduced me to a negro, frightfully ugly, who
gave me 20f. Afterwards, however, I had a prince."
Tee President said, "You have acted very ill, and
you "ilet return to your parents." " Yes, sir."
" Before knowing the Russian prince, did the
accused introduce you to other men ?" "Yes,
sir ; during a fortnight a good many came." "Did
she give you the money which she received from
those men ?" "No, sir ; I never had a sou, even
to buy a cake ; she kept all." "She lodged,
boarded, and clothsd you ?' "Yes, sir." "Now
as to the Russian ; he gave a good deal of money ?"
" Yes, sir ; 4,000 f. a month, without counting
present." "DA the accused give anything to
you ?" Nothing whatever." "Did you see any
other English girls at the prisoner's house ?" "Only
one, Nelly Bell ; but she had the luck to find a
protector, and went away." "You appear intelli-
gent, and yet you call that luck ! How old was
that Nelly ?" "Eighteen." "You saw no others
in her house ?" "No ; but the concierge told me
that she was accustomed to take French girls to
England, and to bring back English girls—that
that was her calling." "You affirm that all you
have said is true. It is true also that she beat
you 1" "Yes, sir. The Russian prince had to go
on a journey, but before setting out he sent us his
secretary with 4,000 f. The secretary gave 2,000 f.
to Mme. Mesmeurice, and 2,000 f. to me. When
he left, Mine. Mesmeurice made irie drink a good
deal, and .1 became intoxicated. On that day,
therefore, I could not occupy myself about my
money, but slept all day long. The next day, which
was a Sunday, +I
missed my 2,000 f., and asked for
it ; she got into a passion, abused me, and gave me
a blow on the mouth, which made it bleed. Th,::
next the - dispute recommenced, and she
gave me a kick, which hurt me a good deal;!
As I do not know the law of Penis, I
cried for help, and a policeman came, and
delivered use." " All that this girl says" cried
the prisoner, "is a tissue cf falsehoede" Three wit-
nesses were then examined • they deposed the
wouala Dituzeurice was iu the habit of keepiog

,‘
girls in her house ; that Mlle. Charlotte was th
favourite of the Russian prince, and used to drive
out every day in a dashing equipage, and that after
the donation of 4,000 f. by the prince the tiro
women quarrelled and fought. It appeared from
what one of the witno2ses, a journeyman printer,
said, that the woman before going to Passy had
lived in the Rue Pigalle, in the same house that he
did, and thit there she had with her "ladies who
had plenty of lovers." " Were these females Eng-
lish or French 1" asked the President. "English,
and all of them were young and pretty," was the:
answer. " Don't listen to this man,'' cried the.
woman, "he is a liar." [The Public Prosecutor:
afterwards pleaded in support of the prosecution,.
and M. Lachaud, advocate, defended the prisoner.)
The tribunal condemned the woman.to a year's im-
prisonment, 100 f. fine, and five years' interdiction
of civil rights.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, SATURDAY MORNING.
GALWAY AND AMERICA.

The people of Galway have had to endure an-•
other disappointment—only, however, a temporary
one. On a close examination of the Indian Empire
it was ascertained that some trifling repairs were
required, which, owing to the slowness of the work-
men, would, it was feared, necessitate the postpone-
ment of her sailing till this evening. The mail sent,
by this conveyance was very small—not 1,000 let-
ters, the average number being from 12,000 to
15,000. The somewhat sinister accident which be-.
fell the steamship on her first entrance into Gal-
way Bay has created quite a sensation here, and'
the result of the trial of the two pilots is looked for
with no ordinary anxiety. The following narrative,
of the transaction is condensed from the Evening
Mail:—
" She was boarded at Blackhead by two men red
presenting themselves as regular pilots, who under-
took to guide her safely to her moorings. ft was
night, but calm and cloudless' and in the twilight
of a summer's sky landmarks and objects at sea
familiar to the experienced mariner's eye were die.:
tinctly visible. Tee vessel was taken in by those'
men, whose bearing, however, was so little .zatis-'
factory or assuring to the captain that (contraty,-it is
said, to their advice) he slackened her speed to one-
third of the rate at which he had been steaming. It,
was well that he did so, for in less than half an hoar
they took the helm she struck upon a rock, and thert
remained for two hours before she could be relieved. Had,
she been going with all her steam up at the moment of .
the collision there can be little doubt that she would, at'
least, have received irreparable injury. Happily no ma-
terial damage was sustained, and she has this day de-
parted notwithstanding the omen, melioribus fates. The,
rock of St. Margaret, which was near being so disastrous
to the enterprise, is so far out of the usual course by
which ships approach or leave the port of Galway that
more than half a century has passed since any vessel
was known to have come in contact with it. Its place ie
well known on the charts. It is, moreover, marked by •
large buoy, so conspiouous that Capt. Courtney descried
it at a distance of a mile, and called the attention to it of
one of the self-styled pilots. But that trusty guardian
assured him it was only a small boat ; and then there
was scarcely time to order the engineers to back the
ship when she came bump upon the rock. Other indi
cations of wilful blindness have been mentioned, but we
content ourselves f ,r the present with those which have
been proved in a public court. They present a case full
of suspicion. A numerous bench of magistrates, coo'
prising men of all the varieties of our social and
.politie.all
state, have committed the two pilots for trial at the ap-
proaching assizes. There was no difference of opinion on
that subject. Whether it was through criminal neglects
or ignorance equally criminal, or from a still more nefa-
rious motive than either, that so untoward an event ce'
eured, we leave to the investigations of jup tie° toascer•
tai;. We hope that a strict and searching inquiry will
be made, aed teat neither pains nor expense will be
spared to trace it to the source."
Another Dublin journal (the Express) deals
more mysteriously with the conduct of the pilot/1" •
" It remains for a jury to decide whether they were .
guilty or not of the crime of intending 'to destroy the
steamer. It seems to be the general opinion in Galwal
that the facts cannot be accounted for except on the Pre:
sumption of their guilt. This, however, should be left
to the decision of a jury of their countrymen. If the,'
should be found guilty the crime is one of the foulest OS
record. But if they are guilty others are guilty too. '
If they did run the steamer on the rock intentionallfr
they were the agents of a diabolical conspiracy, whlob
should be traced out ; and, If the chief criminals can be
detected, no puni hment would be too severe for thews.
Suspicion points to Liverpool as the seat of this colt'
spiracy. The motives assigned are commercial jealous,.
and the self-interest of parties engaged in the Liverpool
shipping trade. Should this prove to be the case---•
which we trust it may not, for the credit of our civilisa-
tion and the honour of humanity—it would furnish the
strongest possible argument in favour of the enterprise
of Mr. Lever. If those who are most capable of plat
ing did not apprehend that it would be completely sue-
cessful—that it would at least attract all the Irish traffic' '
and especially all the Irish emigrants, and so interfere
materially with their own interests—they would_ not /
adopt such atrocious means to defeat the projeCt. Bo*
hcrrible, and execrable as the attempt was—assuming-
that it was made—it furnishes a mostsatisfactory auger/
of success, especially as it was so providentially and sc.
mercifully frustrated."
GALWAY, SATURDAY-
The Indian Empire sailed for Ame.ica at :12.1
p.m. to-day. -
•
fAeveRTISEMENTI —lt would be to some extent a neglrct ofthe duty which we owe to our readers, if we failed to allude ,
to the unprecedented mass of evidence that has 'reached ass
in proof of the remedial efficacy of Du Barry's Revalegte
Arabica Food, iu many disorders which, whilst most paialw
and distressing in their symptoms, have, at the same tia7!s
•
through their obstinacy and continuity, been inaccessible ,
medical skill. We have looked over some of the lists 0'
heartfelt testimony to the beneficial effects of this Food, is
various and complicated stages of disorder, includirg
pepsia (indigestion), constipation, functional irregularo'
obstructions, acidity, cramps, spasms, fits, heartballh
diarrhoea, nervousness, affections of the liver and kidney:ll:-
flatulency, distention, palpitation of the heart, nervous het,
ache, deafness, noises in the head and ears, giddiness, Pal"
between the shoulders and in almost every part of the bn‘lo
chronic inflammation and ulceration of the stomach, eruP;
tions on the skin, scurvy, fever, scrofula, impurities, Wet
of blood, consumption (if not beyond human aid) dropay
rheumatism,. gout, influenza, grippe, nausea and vomit
during p:egnancy, after eating, or at sea, low spirits, epleeiuo
general debility, paralysis, cough,l asthma, tightness across tb
chest, phlegm, inquietude, sleeplessness, involuntary Wilt
ing, tremors, dislike to society, unfitness for study, delusieo" •
loss of memory, vertigo, blood to the head, eihanstion, moll; 1
choly, groundless fear, indecision, wretchedness, thought'
of self-destruction, dm. One or two examples, from the ru2,,
THOUSANlSTestimoniais received by Messrs. Du Barry,
be interesting and useful. The Yen, Alex. Stuart, Ar°-
deacon of Ross, informs us that he has been relieved '
excessive nervousness, pains in the neck and left arm, gene'L,
weakness of constitution, and other a lments, rendering ;
life very miserable." • Mr. Hunt, barrister-at-law (a gentle-.
man 85 years old) certifies that he has been radically claw °,
paralysis of 60 years' standing, as well as of other afilictioee
and after a long life of comparative misery, he gratefully 10:„.
tests that he is now " a s ranger to all complaints, except
hearty old age." Major Edie states that, after " halrbe
suffered fearfully for two years from an enlargement of A
liver, and an inveterate diarrhoea, which had totally defter
most eminent medical aid, and had brought him to t°,
brink of the grave, being unable to lift h's arms from per
exhaustion," ho had recourse to the Food, and be Will g 4,13,
ou to say :—" The result of eating this delicious Food is
perfect restoration of my health within a month, and I take
peculiar pleasure in recommending all sufferers to follow,
example." But to pursue those testimonials would be an en
less task. Upon 50,000 authenticated certificates, we ha;
the " great" and auspicious fact that, for the first time im,:t„l,
history of pathology, an agent has been discovered
completely effects all that had hitho. to been fruitless
attempted by all the nauseous preparations of the labort!"_
tory. Not merely in its remedial, but in its preserl
tive capacity, as a protector, as well as a restorer
of
health, its efficiency is attested by the grateful evidence Ao„
those who have had experience in propria persona.—The 'ss •
cumstances brought to light in connection with its use of •
food for infants, show that whilst it prolongs the lives •
thousands of adults, it is calculated to cause many to rotcA,
maturity who would otherwise perish in early childbu7, 0,
Altogether, we confess to the pleasing conviction that Is,
extended use, amongst all classes, of Du Barry's Food, Ong,
produce a marked change for the better in the 51:.1
rage value of life, and in the sanitary statistics of ourf,!;-,
Supported by testimonials from the following celebrated ri.
fessors of Chemistry: Dr. A. tire; Dr. Shorland; Dr. aollf„,°':
Dr. Campbell ; Dr. Gattiker ; Dr. ' Wurzer ; Dr. IngrA—
Lord Stuart de Decks; the Dowager Countess of Castlest'
Major Gen, Thomas King, and many other respectable Pirpf
sons, whose health has been restored by it, after all nt..„';..
means of cure had failed. Suitably packed with full ;
tions, In canisters, 11b. 2s, 9d.; 21b. 4e. 6d.; 51b. 11
121 b. 225. The 121 b canisters are sent carriage free on
ceipt of Post-office order. Barry Du Barry, and C0.9,.L.
Regent-street, London. Important Caution against the "'Sifr
fal dangers of spurious imitations.----The Vice-Chancellor Pbc
William Page Wood granted au Injunction ou the 10th 31,11)a
1854, against Alfred Hooper Nevin for imitating
Barry's Re valenta Arabica Foed."
—.400

BIRTHS.
~,11-
ELLWOOD—On the 16th inst., at 2, GothicTillas,ll°,llri,
park, the wife of Mr. Edward Ellwood, of a datigu
Nor.
PEARSE -On the 14th inst., at Gaywood Rectory, ll.
folk, the wife of the Rev. Robert W. Pearse, 0'

diughter.
PEDLEY—On the 16th inst., Stubbing Court,
Chesterfield, the wife of T. 11. Podley, Esq., of .

MARRIAGES.
,ebt
CAY—RANYING--On the 17th inst., at Christ Char•
Ramsgate, Lieut. Robert Barclay ay, R.N., son
B. Cay, Esq., solicitor, Vale, Ramsgate, to Augase
Del'Hoate Ranking, daughter of Robert Ranking, °'
Val-, Ramsgate, late of Hastings.
DEATHS.
.01
Coos--Oa the 18th inst., ut 22, Budge-row, 31r. h'e
Cook, aged 60. ". s,toDt
FO LARD -On the 17th inst., at North-street, 15riS
D. M. Folkard, Esq., aged 66. 3,
MONTEFIORE—On the 17th itiat.t at his residenv-,1
--re, P`i.'

Awpton-plac?, Gray's-inu-road, Moses Montefiore, -
agod 73.
SCOTT-On the 16th inst., at 2, Warwick-villas, aad
road, Kensington, W., suddenly, Robert Scott, x's' -
late Madras Medical Service, aged 70.

_ a
LONDON: Printed and Published by MITRDO Y°llllo
a No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tle Sun OBicesty
U 2, Strand, in the Preoinct of Lila Savoy, in,
of Ifithiloses, duo' 1604