The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-07 00:00:00

THE STATE. OF MILAN.

The _Debate of yesterday printed the following
letter :

" MILAN, San, 1.
" The heW year has commended. in this City in a
very singular manner. The Milanese themselves
seem stupified, and both people and garrison appear
this morning to be asking each other if it was all
a dream. Midnight had scarcely sounded, when
numerous bands began .to perambulate the city,
including in their songs all the cries of the Italian
patriots—' Vive Phalle !" Vive Victor Emma-
nuel !' ' Vivent les Trois Couleurs ! ' At 2 o'clock
in the morning the traffic was as • animated as in
full day, and the uproar was so great that sleep
was altogether out of the question. The bands, in
passing before the military posts, began instantly
to hiss, when, extrabrdinary to state, the soldiers
joined the party, and instead of drawing their
sabres, cried in emulation,: Vive l'ltalie I my-
self observed a group of twelve officers in the Corso
Franceso fraternise with a band of twenty persons,
throw their caps into the air and cry, Vivent les
Italiens.' The gendarmes on horseback, who pa-
trolled two and two, and the guards of police drew
up quietly as if in obedience to a command, and
there was not the slightest breach of the peace. If
the garrison had acted differently, we tremble to
think of what the consequences would -have been,
for the crowds who filled the streets from midnight
to five o'clock consisted of the most determined
individuals, and those best capable of opposing an
energetic resistance to an armed force. Happily
the very number of the promenaders prevented a
conflict."

The Nord of yesterday morning gave a telegram
from Genoa, which says that the agitation increases,
and that a report -continues to be circulated to the
effect that Garibaldi is about to organise a corps of
volunteers, or is preparing to play some very
active part.

The Mediterranean Extension Telegraph Com-
pany have despatched Mr. Frederick Webb to discover the
break in their cable betvi,een. Malta and Cagliari, and to take
the necessary steps for its repair, the Elba steamer, now at
Malta, having been chartered for the purpose.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY PROVIDENT SOCIETY.
—The seventh annual ball in- aid of this deserving society
took place on Wednesday evening last in the Town-hall,
Oxford. -There were between four and five hundred persons
-present, among whom -were the Mayor of Oxford, several
members of the corporation, W. Brunner, Esq., coroner for
Oxfords &c. The directors, with their usual kindness,
granted special trains for the occasion, and by these per-
sons were conveyed from London, 'Birmingham, Slough,
Reading, and other places on the line.
MERSEY DOCKS AND HARBOUR BOARD.—The
first meeting of the newly-elected members was held at the
Board-room, Liverpool, yesterday. Mr. Charles Turner
was unanimously re-elected chairman, and a sub-committee
was appointed to arrange the various committees, and to
report to the General Board. The meeting was then ad-
journed until Saturday.
IRISHMEN IN INDIA.—A citizen of Dublin has
received a letter from his son, Mr. Richard Vicars Boyle.
one of the gallant defenders of Arrah, stating that Govern-
ment has authorised a grant to him, of lands to the value
of £l,OOO per annum British, for life, free of all charge,
with a reversion to the value of £5OO per annum to his.
heirs ; accompanied with a recognition of his " very valu-
able services" rendered in his fortified house at Arrah, in
July, 1857.
CELEBRATION OF THE BURNS CENTENARY IN
LIVERPOOL.—The arrangements for the soiree musicale and
ball in the St. George's-hall have been completed by the
committee. The soiree is to commence with an oration com-
memorative of the great Ayrshire bard, to be succeeded by a
concert of Scottish music, chiefly selected from the songs of
Burns. The proceeds, if any, are to be devoted to the Cale-
donian Schools, ragged schools, and Liverpool Infirmary.
BURNS'S NIECES.—The following letter has been
addressed to the editor of the Ayr Observer, by Mr. Thos.
Carlyle :—" Chelsea, Jan. 2, 1859. Dear sir,—l very much
approve your and Mr. Milnes's motion about the Misses
Bogg, and I hope you will not fail to get it executed with all
the energy and skill that are possible, and with correspond-
ing success. Could all the eloquence that will be uttered
over the world on the 25th next, or even all the tavern -bills
that will be incurred, but convert themselves into solid cash
for those two interesting persons, what a sum were there of
benefit 'received and of loss avoided to all the parties con-
cerned 1 I think at least the question ought to be everywhere
put, pointedly,'yet with due politeness, wheneverin Scotland
or elsewhere there is an assemblage of men met to express
their admiration, tragic pity, &c., for Burns, what amount
of money they will give to save from indigence these two
nieces of Burns ? The answer, virtual answer, which this
question got in 1842, threw a rather dismal light to me on
such assemblages ; but they ought to be tried again with
more direct emphasis ; and very shame will perhaps force
them to do something towards saving indigent merit on the
one hand, and saving on the other what is too truly a fright-
ful (though eloquent) expenditure of pavement to a certain
locality we have all heard of.—ln much haste, I remain,
yours truly, T. CARLYLE."
FATAL FALL DOWN A COAL PIT.-011 Monday
morning last, between five and six o'clock, an accident oc-
curred at Messrs. Bennitt and Taylor'spits, Round's Green,
formerly known as Robin's Top pits, by which a banksman
named T. James lost his life. Decetised was about to put
the " log" on, in order to allow the men to go down the shaft,
when, owing to the dense fog which prevailed at the time, he
missed his footing, and was precipitated down the shaft, a
distance of about 190 yards. The unfortunate man uttered
the most piercing shrieks during his descent, which were
heard at the distance of 300 yards. He was afterwards found
at the bottom of the shaft, literally smashed to pieces, his
head having to be tied in a handkerchief to keep his brains
from escaping. An inquest was opened on Tuesday, before
R. Docker, Esq., at the Union Inn, but it was adjourned for
a week in order to allow of the attendance of the government
inspector. Deceased has left a wife and two children.—
Birnzingham Daily Post.
An account was given in September last bf a
young man named Lethiec, a prisoner in the House of Cor-
rection at Nantes, having, on leaving the prison chapel after
vespers, stabbed a fellow prisoner named Lanneau three
times in the back with a largo knife, and inflicted wounds
—of one of which he died in less than half an hour. As he
gave the stabs he cried, " Scoundrel, I have long wanted to
be avenged on you," and when he was confronted with the
dead body he admitted with the greatest calm that he had
long premeditated the murder, because the deceased had
made reports against him and got him punished. Threo
days ago he was brought to trial before the Court of Assizes
of the Loire Inferieure. The crime having been committed
in the presence of severalturnkeys_ and numerous prisoners
was clearly proved, and the man made no attempt to deny
it. The president expressed some surprise that he had been
able to obtain possession of a knife. It was stated that
though not yet 20 years of age, he had been in prison four
times for robbery or vagabondage. One of the times was at
Caen, and there he made the acquaintance of the two
assassins Graft and Pascal. After his release he was
caught by a police officer in the act of throw-
ing chemical matches over the prison walls to
them, and he was turned out of the town. The day after
he came back, and as it was supposed that he might at-
tempt to communicate with the two murderers, he was
arrested and detained until the end of their trial. The jury
declared him guilty with extenuating circumstances, and
the court sentenced him to hard labour for life.
SUICIDE IN ST. JAMES'S PARK.—Yesterday
morning a determined act of self-destruction was committed
by a man, name at present unknown, who shot himself in a
place for public accommodation recently erected in an
enclosure of St. James's Park, opposite Marlborough House.
It appears that about half-past 12 o'cldek, a lad, named
Walters, going into the place mentioned, found the de-
ceased lying on the ground, deluged with blood, through
which his face was scarcely discernible; a discharged pistol
lying at his side. Assistance having been procured the
man was found to be quite dead, his lower jaw having been
completely shot away, and the upper part of his face fright-
fully mutilated. A stretcher having been procured he was
conveyed to St. Martin's Workhouse, to which, although
there is a dead-houseuttached, the porter refused to admit
the body, telling the bearers to carry it to the church vaults
To the sacred office they accordingly repaired, but could
only get access to the portico, on the stones of which the
stretcher was placed without any covering to the body be-
yond a handkerchief over the head, the traffic of St. Mar-
tin's-lane being consequently completely stopped by hun -
dreds of persons who assembled on hearing of the shocking
occurrenee. At length the son of the beadle having been
communicated with, deceased, under his direction, was
taken to Charing-cross Hospital, where the inquest will be
held. Deceased seemed to be about 45 years of age, 5 feet
3 inches in height, stoutly built, sandy hair, bald forehead,
and small whiskers. He was dressed in a dark green cut-
off coat, brown mixture trousers, black waistcoat, black hat,
and leather side-laced boots. In his pockets were found
the ticket of a watch, pledged the previous day in Alders-
gate-street, for £2 10,5., in the name of J. Weekley, Norway,
street, a farthing, a pair of brown worsted gloves, a knife,
a tobacco-box and pipe. He wore a clean white shirt with
the inititials A. W. The pistol, which had a plain cow-
mon veneer handle, was single barrelled. Information of
the occurrence has been forwarded to Mr. Bedford, the
coroner.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL -RAILWAY COMPANY. A
meeting of this company was held yesterday, Mr. G. Mof-
fatt in the chair. The proceedings of the deputation at
New York were detailed at length, and it appeared that
after a full investigation of the accounts the only irregularity
discovered consistttf% payment of calls by three directom
with their notes-of hand. These engagements, however,
are being punctually met. The company in its present
position requires about £200,000 to meet liabilities, of which
some will mature at an early period of the year; and the•
principal question discussed at . the present meeting was as
to the mode of raising this sum, whether by making a call
of 5 dols. a-share, or by negotiating a loan. The first course,
it was argued, would place the company in a stronger finan-
cial position. On the other hand, it was contended that
the effect of a call would be the ruin of the weaker share-
holders, from their inability to pay, while the rich pro-
prietors alone would eventually reap the whole profits
of the undertaking. It was also urged that the pre-
cedent of other railway companies, which pro •
seeded. by spending their share capital first, and
then having recourse to loans, did not apply in this case,
the Illinois Central being rather a gigantic land company
than a railway. After considerable discussion, in the
course of which it was mentioned that the land belongino-
to the Illinois Central has been tested, and found as fertile
as that of the Carse of Gowrie, said to be the most produc-
tive in Great Britain, and that the line is in first-rate order,
with double the rolling stock required, it was resolved on a
division, to leave the question of a loan or call to the com-
mittee. The committee appear in favour of the former
course, the preliminary negotiations for raising a sum of
money having already been commenced by them. Mr.
Osborn, the chairman of the New York Board, has re-
signed.

-Miss PARDOE.—We observe with pleasure that
a new work, entitled "Episodes of French History," by
Miss Pardoe, is just published by Messrs. Hurst and
Blackett. Miss Pardoe's well-known Lives of " Mary do
Medicis" and " Louis the Fourteenth" have already shown
her ability as an illustrator of the history of Prance, and
her new book will doubtless maintain her well-earned
reputation. The same publishers have also just issued Mr.
Leitch Ritchie's "Winter Evenings," a work which will
furnish much entertaining Christmas reading to the veteran
writer's numerous admirers ; and they also announce a new
fiction by Miss Jewsbury, the author of " Constance Her-
bert" and other popular books. It bears the title of " Right
or Wrong," and is said to be a story of great originality and
interest,