The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-05 00:00:00

THE CASE OF DR. SMETHURST.

The greatest anxiety appears to exist in the
public mind as to the ultimate fate efDr. Smethurst,
but, of course, no determination has yet been coma
to upon the subject, and probably will not be for a
considerable time, all that is at present known
being that, the execution of the capital sentence
having been respited during her Majesty's plea-
sure, the life of the culprit will undoubtedly be
spared, and his fate is entirely in the hands of the
Home Secretary, or rather of the advisers of the
Crown in these matters.

It would seem that the reprieve was quite unex-
pected by the gaol authorities, and that the prisoner
himself, although he still continued to exhibit a
good deal of that confident demeanour that he has
shown throughout the entire proceedings, evidently
had some misgivings as to the result. It was ex-
pected by himself and those who have taken an ac-
tive part in the proceedings to obtain a respite that
if a reprieve was granted it would not be delayed
beyond the middle of the week ; and when that pe-
riod passed over, and Thursday and Friday arrived
and no communication was received from the Go-
vernment, the hopes of the prisoner and his friends
became fainter, and it was the general impression
up to the afternoon of Friday that the sentence
would be carried out. So strong was this impres-
sion upon the minds of the officers of the prison
that on Friday morning orders were given that the
scaffold and the drop and all the apparatus con-
nected with the gallows should be carefully exa-
mined to see that it was in proper order to perform
its dreadful task. It has not been used for several
years, and the whole of the framework is kept is
the entrance-lodge of the gaol, and, having lain by
so long, it was thought that possibly some of the
joints might not be in working order, and there-
fore the precaution was taken to have it examined,
and this was done, and a report was made to Mr.
Keene, the governor of the gaol, that the scaffold
would be ready if required, and all the different
portions of the erection were laid ready to be put
up on Tuesday morning.
During the early part of the week Dr. Smethurst
appeared in extraordinary spirits. It has already
been stated that he is watched day and night by
two warders of the prison, who take it by turns to
perform this duty. He converses with these men in
the most friendly manner, and has frequently joked
upon different subjects. With the chaplain, the
surgeon, and every official connected with the pri-
son he has always appeared most anxious to con-
verso.upon the subject of his alleged crime, arguing
with great apparent earnestness and sincerity upon
the folly of it being supposed that he should com-
mit such a dreadful murder for the sake of obtain-

ing a few hundred pounds, when he had an ample
sufficiency for all his wants, and besides which, the
deceased would have willingly given him the money
if he had asked her to do so. He has all along ap-
peared in extraordinary spirits, and it was not until
the week wore away and the day fixed for the exe-
cution of the sentence became nearer and nearer
that his appearance and demeanour were at all al-
tered, and then only to a trifling extent.
The Rev. Mr. Jessopp, the chaplain of the prison,.
remained at Horsemonger•lane Gaol considerably
longer than his ordinary time for attendance on,
Friday, in the event of any communication arriving
from the Home-office, that he might make it known,
to the prisoner, and he left the prison under the e
full impression that no respite would be sent tha .t
day. Shortly afterwards, however, a messenger ea ;-
rived, bearing the reprieve, which was addressed' to
the governor, and Mr. Keene immediately proceeaed
to the prisoner's cell and communicatd to him the
welcome intelligence, at the same time explain ing
to him that it was not a respite for any particu lac
period, which would still render his ultimate f ate
uncertain, but that the effect of a reprieve during
her Majesty's pleasure was that his life would cer-
tainly be spared. Dr. Smethurst did not betra .y so
much emotion as might have been expected Li, ider
the circumstances, but he shook hands with th
vernor, and in an earnest manner asserted his tire
innocence of the crime for which he was eon& n 2 sued
to die, and added, " What a dreadful thing it r could
have been to die an ignominious death for a I crime
that was never committed!"
There is very little doubt that the friends of the
prisoner will exert themselves to procure 8, tc
,tai re-
mission of punishment, on the ground Vimt as the
Government, by refusing to allow the -ear i_tai sen-
tence to be carried out, admit that there a re doubts
of his guilt, the prisoner ought to hr.ve tl Le benefit
of those doubts, and be altogether ?iisehar ged from
punishment.

DOG KILLED BY AN ADDER.-011 1 Ntam Natty
last a little terrier dog belonging to Neil Mat heson, ' fisher,
Ellianerrad, island of Mull, was stung by an a
,dder, wl ►ereby
it received so much injury that it died in al )out six) hours,
althouab every means were tried to say, s it.—G 'asgotO
Herald.

QOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY.
ki DEPARTURE OF THE GREAT EASTERN STEAM
SHIP.—The Great Ship is expected to leave her moorings,
off Deptford, to-morrow about 7 a.m.
Extra trains will leave London for Greenwich as often as
may be required after 6 a.m.
Additional trains will also run to Woolwich, Erith, Green-
hithe, and Gravesend after 7 a.m., affording passengers an
opportunity of witnessing the ship pass down the River to
the Nore.
C. W. EBORAL, General Manager.
London Terminus, sth Sept., 18.59.

THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING the performances will commence with
THE HAPPIEST DAY OF 3IY LIFE.
With THE CONTESTED ELECTION.
Followed by HE WOULD BE AN ACTOR.
And IdALLOWE'EN. . _

Commence at 7.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborough
THIS EVENING, THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN
EGGS.
And TO PARENfS AND GUARDIANS.
After which, TRYING IT ON.
Followed by THE VERY LATEST EDITION OF THE
LADY OF LYONS.
Commence at 7 o'clock:

VERDI'S OPERA. OF MACBETH. The
whole of the first Act of this Opera, now produced
for the first time in this country (the remaining three
the acts
being in course of rehearsal), is sung nightly at CAN-
TERBURY HALL CONCERTS.
THE DELEPIERRE FAMILY,
consisting of three Juvenile Violinists, viz., Jules, Juliette,
and Julia Dclepierre, aged, respectively, FOUR, SIX, and
EIGHT years.
The perfect execution by these Lilliputian Artistes of some
of the most difficult and brilliant Solos, Duets, and Trios ever
written for the violin, has excited mingled wonder and admi.
ration in Continental Musical Circles, and drawn forth enthu-
siastic tributes of praise from the Public Journals of France
and Belgium.
They will perform TWICE EACH EVENING, in addi-
tion to the usual Entertainments.

THE WEATHER.—SIIN OFFICE, SEPTEMBER 4.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
67—highest since noon yesterday.
53—lowest this morning and during the night.
65—this day at noon.

BAROMETER-30.05.
Wntn, North•Weeterly ; light, with mild weather, bul
dull. Very fine in the afternoon.

SEPT. 5.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
66--highest since noon yesterday.
52—lowest this morning and during the night.
61—this day at noon.
BAROMETER--30.20.
WIND, North-Westerly ; light, with very fine weather.

niGn WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
TIM DAY,—Morning, 7h. 14m.—Afternoon, 7h. 47m,
To-Moscow-Morning, Bh. 29m.—Afternoon, 9h. 15m,

The cause of Italian Independence progresses
with sure and steady step. There is no tumult—
no effervescence now save that of cordial good will
among a united people. Everything is conducted
with a solemnity worthy of a great and national

cause.
On Saturday last the deputation from Tuscany
arrived at Turin by noon to tender their allegiance
to the King. They were received with marked re-
spect by the Municipal body and Members of Parlia-
ment. Great popular enthusiasm was manifested to
welcome their arrival, and a grand illumination
took place in the evening in their honour.
• The deputation were received by the King shortly
after their arrival, when Signor GEIERARDINA, a
member of the Commission, addressed his Majesty
as follows :—" If the wish of Tuscany for annexa-
tion with Piedmont only served for the aggran-
disement of your Majesty's State, we should enter-
tain doubts as to the acceptance of our wish by your
Majesty. But our wish being inspired by the love
of Italian nationality, we hope that the thought
of Italy will decide your Majesty to ac-
cept it." The King replied in a strain of much
feeling, but with subdued policy. He thanked
them cordially in his own name and that of his
people.. "We have received your wish as a solemn
manifel:tation of the will of the Tuscan people,
who, having made the last vestige of the foreign
domination in Tuscany to cease, desires to contri-
bute to the constitution of a strong kindom, which
shall defend the independence of Italy. But the
Tuscan Assembly will have comprehended that
the accomplishment of its wish can only take
place by negotiations which are about to begin
on the alTairs of Italy. I will second your
desire, becoming myself strong by the rights
which are given me by your wishes. I will support
the cause of 'Tuscany before the Powers in which
the Assembly places its hopes, and especially before
the magnanimous Emperor of the FRENCH, who
has done so much for the Italian nation. I hope
that Europe will not refuse to practise towards
Tuscany that work of redressing grievances which
it has, under less favourable circumstances, prac-
tised towards Greece, Belgium, and the Danubian
Principalities. You.r noble country gives an admi-
rable example of moderation and concord."
His MAJESTY concluded by impressing on the
Deputation the exercise a that virtue which ensures
the triumph of all honest undertakings—namely,

perseverance.
It will be seen with what dexterity King VICTOR
EMMANUEL contrived to avoid giving offence to the
Deputation on the one hard, while he steered clear
of putting a sword into the hands of Austria in the
present temper of that already- mortified and too
jealous power. A Congress seems now to be inevi-
table, if war is to be averted. The " situation" is
clear in one sense but very complicated in another.
Much will now depend on the spirit in which the
proposed object will be entertained by the Emperor
NAPOLEON. We sincerely hope that, sinking all
pers9nal feeling,he will add to the debt of Italy by
cordially seconding the wishes of that people.
The vote of the Duchy of Parma, respecting its
proposed annexation to Piedmont, is in unison with
the devotion of the Tuscans. There were 63,403
votes in favour of annexation, and only 506
against it ! After this strong manifestation of
public feeling what hope is there for the
return of Austrian despotism ? Indeed, the
:same feeling pervades the rest of Italy. The in-
habitants of the Romagna have expressed their
o_?inion in the following resolution, " that they will
ni-Y longer submit to the temporal government of
die POPE." And as for Modena, the precious
'hike has settled that question with and under his
Ow, 'n hand, much to the satisfaction of the people.
Since writing the above we now learn that the
Pi iris journals of this morning contain articles,
pr aising very much the speech of the King of SAE-
DL !ZIA. They conclude that it is almost certain a
cot tgress will be assembled. This augurs well.
'T here seems to be a dearth of news in Paris, and
trace, commerce—in short, everything but plea.
sure- —seem at a sort of standstill as if the Confe-
rence a t Zurich had set the dreamy example. The
Mims' k lorresp on dent says that certain difficult
pointer of the negotiation, such as those relating
to thi restoration of the Grand Dukes, have
been ti )uche'd in a variety of tones, but whether
with :u such ,or little hope, with much or little
inte nti,,:m of promoting it, is open to doubt.
The amnesty, too, has once or twice been the
suf diect o f conversation on the part of the Plenipo-
ten Aiarie sr ; but the Confederation has not yet been
treated. It is affirmed in Paris that the limitation
ant I the di !bt questions are disposed of, though doubts
are expre seed if they have been so definitively,

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THE SUN.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1859.