The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-25 00:00:00

RAILWAYS IN FRANCE.

A Bill has been presented to the Legislative Body
authorising the construction of 25 railways, of a
total length of 823 miles, which are to cost
£14,692,000. They are—the Paris girdle railway on
the left bank, to cost £BBO,OOO ; from Chateaulin to
Landernau, to cost £932,000; from Napoleon Ven-
dee to La Rochellee, to cost £700,000; from Roche-
fort to Saintes, to cost £380,000; from Saintes to
Contras, to cost £824,000; from Niederbronn to
the Metz line at Thionville, to cost £1,712,000;
from Louviers to a junction with the Rouen line, to
cost £60,000 ; from D'Annonay to St. Rambert, to
cost £280,000 ; from Dijon to Langres, to cost
£472,000 ; from Chatillon sur Seine to Chaumont,
to cost £442,000 ; from Chaumont to Toul, to cost
£908,000 ; from Bergerac to Libourne, to cost
£600,000; from St. Girons to the Toulouse line at
Tarbes, to cost £200,000 ; from Grasse to the Toulon
line at Nice, to cost £152,000; from Napoleon Ven-
dee to Sables d'Olonnes, to cost £268,000; from
Napoleon Vendee to the Angiers line at Niort, to
cost £728,000 ; from Napoleonville to St. Brieux,
to cost £662,000; from Auxerre to the Nevers line
at Chagny by Clamecy, to cost £920,000; from
Clermont to Montbrison, to cost £158,000 ; from
Commentory: to the St. Germain des Fosses line
to Clermont, to cost £688,000 ; from Port Vendres
to the Spanish frontier, to cost £440,000 ; from
Dieuze to the Paris mad Strasburg line near Rechi-
court, to cost £140,000; from Sainte Marie-aux-
Mines to Schelestadt, to cost £64,000; and from
Boulogne to Calais, to cost £60,000.
The expenses. upon railways up to the end of last
year have been by the State, £32,440,000, and by
companies, £152,000,000, making a total of
£184,440,000. On the Ist of January of the present
year the State had contracted to pay the railway
companies £7,870,000, and the companies had un-
dertaken works for railways already conceded to
cost £57,320,000; and for lines to be hereafter
conceded to cost £12,000,000.

ATTEMPTED MURDER.—A most murderous out-
rage was committed at Chatham at a somewhat early hour
on Saturday morning, by a convict named Burkett, a most
desperate character, on one of the wardens of the convict
establishment, named Cooper, who, but for the timely
arrival of some of the guard to his assistance, would, there
is little doubt, have met with his death at the hands of his
brutal assailant; as it is, however, the unfortunate keeper
has received such fearful injuries that, even if he survives,
he will be totally incapacitated for further service. In
describing the murderous attack it is necessary to state, that
for several weeks past the whole of the convicts have been
withdrawn from the dockyard and the other public works
at Chatham on n hich they were employed, in order that
they might be occupied in brick making, the authorities
having wisely determined on rendering the labour of the
prisoners more profitable, by employing them in manufac-
turing the bricks hich will be required in building the
large docks and basins about to be constructed at Chatham.
Early on Saturday morning the convicts were marshalled as
usual to commence their daily toil, each gang being under
the charge of a warder, who was furnished with means to
defend himself in case of being attacked. The gang of
which the warder Cooper had charge included the convict
Burkett, the prisoners being employed in preparing their
tools. At this moment Burkett, who had not received tho
slightest provocation, rushed at the warder, and dealt him
a terrific blow on the back of the skull with a spade with
which he was about to commence work. Fortunately, the
thick cap worn by the warder acted as a protection to the
head, or there is little doubt that the blow would have cleft
the skull in twain. As it was, however, the spade cut
through the cap and inflicted a ghastly cut, several inches in
length, from which the blood poured in a torrent. Before
the unfortunate warder could do anything to defend himself
his assailant followed up his first blow by another, which
knocked the warder down. From the marks on the body
of the injured man, it is evident that the intention of
Burkett was to murder him—indeed, he subsequently ex-
pressed as much—there being a severe cut on the shoulder
from which the clothes were torn, and also one on each
of the arms, all inflicted with the spade. The most
serious injury, next to the wound at the back of the
head, which Cooper has received is a severe cut on the
right hand, which is nearly cut in half across the knuckles,
his brutal assailant having " jobbed" the spade down on his
hand as his intended viclim lay on the ground. Should the
warder recover from tho effects of the injuries, he will never
again have the use of this hand. The cries of Cooper at-
tracting the attention of the ether warders and guard, they
hastened to his assistance, and having secured Burkett, the
injured man was removed to the prison infirmary, where,
owing to the character of the \rounds he had received, it
was at first thought he would not survive. On inquiring
at the prison yesterday, however, it was stated that he was
better. Cooper is described as bearing a most exemplary
character, and of a harmless, inoffensive demeanour. He
has been employed in the convict service a great number of
years. No reason whatever can be assigned for the mur-
derous attack on the part of Burkett, except that he is a
man of most brutal character. A short time since he at-
tempted to make his escape, for which he has since been
working in irons. He was also one of the ringleaders in
the late mutinies. Immediately after the occurrence on
Saturday he was placed in the cell and heavily ironed, to
await the directions of Sir Joshua Jebb, after which he will
be handed over to the civil power.
HUNSTANTON RAILWAY.—At the meeting of the
East Anglian Railway Company, the shareholders decided
that the proceedings of the Directors should be carried out.
The Railway is therefore safe. We are informed that Mr.
Le Strange has made arrangements for letting land adja-
cent to the shore on building leases, and it is certain that so
soon as the rail is commenced, -building will commence also,

LATEST NEWS.

FRANCE AND ITALY.
PARIS, JUNE 25.

The 111oniteur• of to-day says :
" The Emperor has recognised Victor Emmanuel
as King of Italy.
" In notifying this determination to the Cabinet
of Turin, the Government of the Emperor declare
that they decline any responsibility in enterprises
of a nature to disturb the peace of Europe, and that
the French troops will continue to occupy Rome so
long as the interests which caused their presence
there shall not be protected by sufficient guaran-
tees."

TURIN, JUNE 25.

The Opinione of to-day says :
" Baron Ricasoli will probably communicate to-
morrow to the Italian Parliament the note of France
and the reply of the Cabinet of Turin relative to
the recognition of the kingdom of Italy."

The IV ationalites affirms that the state of the
Pope's health is more precarious, and that much
uneasiness is manifested by the Cardinals on that

account.

NAPLES, JUNE 24.
The National Guard have arrested a band of
brigands on Mount Vesuvius.

ROME, JUNE 23.

On Thursday last, when Cardinal Antonelli was
officially informed by the French Ambassador of
the recognition of the Kingdom of Italy, he replied,
" This is where we have been led by the solemn
promises made by your Emperor at the beginning
of the wai."
The health of the Pope has improved.

BERLIN, JUNE 25.

The Crown Prince and Princess Frederick Wil-
liam, with their two children, left Berlin yesterday
evening by the express mail train, for Cologne, on
their way to London.

TURIN, JUNE 24.

To-day the Chamber of Deputies, after an ani-
mated debate, adopted the bill on the national
armament by 218 against 30 votes.

ST. PETERSBURG, JUNE 23.
Their Imperial Majesties returned yesterday
from their journey to Moscow.

THE HAGUE, JUNE 24.

Baron Sloet van de Beele has been appointed
Governor of the Dutch possessions in the East
Indies in the place of M. Pahud, who has resigned.