The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-08-31 00:00:00

FOREIGN 4^ 'COLONIAL INTELLIGENCE• permission from a high quarter tlidt the tDuc delPraslin
obtained the means of putting en .end -to his. most
AMERICA. wretched life. It is impossible, with every, desire to be
By the Royal 'Mail steam-ship Hibernia, 'Captain credulous, to attach much credit .to the statements, put-
Kyrie, which arrived at the Mersey at midnight on .Fri-. ' forth on authority, of the manner in,Whidi the duke coin-
day, we have advices from New York to the 15th, arid mitted suicide. Up till the account we publish to-day
Boston to the 16th instant. The Hibernia has 'brought it was generally believed that laudanum was the particular
seventy passengers. poison he had employed. He wasTepresented as having
The French steamer Missouri, which left Cherbourg on swallowed the fatal draught at his own house. The most
the Ist instant for New York, ran short of coal when eminent physicians in Paris were•callecl in to administer
fourteen days out ; and when near some dangerous shoals, remedies, but until yesterday evening we heard nothing
not far from Halifax, was boarded by a revenue cutter, of any doubt as to the nature of the particular poison.
and takn into that port on the 16th instant. Having More than this, no mention WaS made f this attempt at
taken ine a further supply of coals, she left for New York self-destruction until after he had been o
in the custody and
on the 18th. under the watch of the police. !On •Teferring back to-the
The Cambria arrived at Halifax at three o'elookon the accounts which we published from•day to day, it will be
morning of the 17th instant, and proceeded -the same found that there was no talk of poisoning at all until •the
'lay for Boston, taking, it is said, the mails and about duke had been put under careful surveillance. M. Allard
twenty-five passengers of the Missouri. and his agents are not men from whose vigilence it is easy
The Philadelphia left New York on the 15th instant to escape. The prisoner could not have moved or
for Havre. breathed without their connivance or permission. We
The American steam ship Warrington will not leave can have no doubt that the Duke de Praslin swallowed
New York for Southampton and Bremen until the' 24th poison on two occasions. The-first, time was at his ,own
fo September. house; and when he had been recalled to life by the
Our advices from the seat of war are uninteresting. efforts of the physicians it was necessary to call in, the
Owing to the activity of guerrilla parties on the route means were furnished him of repairing his first failure in
from the interior to the sea coast, communications of an his cell at the Luxembourg. We have but little doubt
authentic nature are cut off. It was rumoured that Gen. that on the first occasion the duke swallowed laudanum ;
Scott had advanced and taken possession of the .city of on the second arsenic. An explanation put forth by the
Mexico, after an engagement in which he is reported to Journal des Desbats, that after his arrest a phial was dis-
to have lost WO men. Later dates, however, contradict covered in the pocket of his dressing-gown,' which had
this rumour, and state that General Scott •was still at contained a mixture of •laudauum and arsenic, appears
Puebla, waiting for reinforcements. General Pierce had utterly incredible. Do men ordinarily commingle these
reached Perote with his troops, after experiencing much poisons ? No :it was necessary to explain away the
annoyance from guerrilla parties. General 'Taylor still laudanum in the first, and the.arsenic in the second in-
remained at 'Walnut Springs with '7OOO men. He 'would stance ; and, therefore, theidea-was devised that theduke
march upon San Luis as soon as reinforced •with ZOOO swallowed a mixture of the two poisons. In order to free
fresh troops. the Government from suspicion, pit has been further de-
As yet there does not seem any prospect of -peace. dared that the swallowing of this compound potion took
Despatches from the British minister in Mexico are said place at a period antecedent to the arrest of the duke.
to have reached the legation in Washington, explaining The facts, however, do not stand so, or all the accou, is
the total failure of Mr. Bankhead's efforts to procure a we have received hitherto must -be incorrect. With re-
peaceful settlement of the dispute between the two na- gard to the second dose (if a second dose was indeed
tions. taken,) it must hade been in the prison of the Luxem-
There was much sickness among the troops at 'Vera bourg, under the very eye of M. Allard, and his lynx-
Cruz.' eyed agents, that the potion was :taken. Can .we, then,
From New Orleans we learn that yellow fever was resist the conclusion that, in permitting the prisoner an
making fearful ravages. act of self-destruction, M. Allard was acting upon high
We have late but uninteresting accounts from Canada. authority ?
Fever was still making dreadful havoc amongst the poor If this be so, we much doubt whether the government
emigrants. have been well advised in permitting the prisoner to es-
cape from the sword of justice.
We extract the following from the Patric of Wednes-

SPAIN

. This country is again in :nnst disturbed and critical
position. The advices from Paris to the 19th instant,
•.-•

state t

ministry has be

xhibited in such a manner as to

demand their passports unless a satisfactory answer was
speedily returned to their note, calling on her faithful
Majesty to observe the 4th article of the protocal of May
21. This threat seems to have been partially effective, as
her Majesty sent for M. Fonseca, M. S. Carvalho, and
Count Lavradio. and invited them to take office ; she re-
fused to commission any of them, however, to form a Ca-
. .

binet, and signified her intention to choose her ministers
for herself. They declined serving on such terms, and
after some demur the Queen appointed M. Fonseca to
form a Cabinet, but has so crippled him with restrictions,
that it is quite impossible for him to do anything. 1n
this way does her most faithful Majesty laugh at the con-
ditions so solemnly entered into by her, and to which she
is indebted, doubtless, at the present time for her throne.
From an article in the London Times of Wednesday, we
make the following important extract:—" It was loudly
proclaimed at this fatal season of last year, that the sole
-object of the Spanish matches was to transfer the throne
of Queen Isabella and the dominion of Spain to the hus-
band of her younger sister; and it is now actually alleged
that the ministry of Madrid are on the very point of de-
claring their sovereign incompetent to reign, and of recom-
mending to the tortes the regency of the Montpensier
pair ! There is, indeed, no concealing or disguisingthe facts
already accomplished. It is too certain that the marriage
of last autumn, which, in spite of every suggestion of de-
cency and honour, was forced upon an outraged queen by
those most bound to protect her innocence and advance
her happiness, has resulted in the very worst evils which
were prophesied of its tendencies. A royal lady has been
repulsed from a legitimate source of protection and en-
joyment towards an attractive snare which was baited and
set for her especial capture. Her failings have been en-
couraged, aggravated, and exposed. Her friends and
relations have been seduced or detached from her sde.
Her natural protectors, after setting her on the wrong
path, have abandoned her to her wanderings. Her sworn
advisers are in the interests of her enemy. Without a
friend or a councillor, Isabella of Spain now sits in the
palace of Madrid unprotected and unattended, ready to
be cajoled out of the inheritance of her ancestors by a
protnise of independence, or to be bullied into the sale of
her birthright for an hour's repose."
By Madrid accounts of the 21st we are put in possession
of the fact, that it was known upon that day that Narvaez
had been summoned to Madrid, upon the suggestion of
Senor Pacheco, with a view to his forming a cabinet. The
Especiador has a strange article, which, sharply condem-
natory of the King's conduct throughout, concludes with
abroad hint that there existed reasons for concluding that
he (Don Francis) enter:ained doubts of the Queen's right
to the throne.

THE MURDER OF THE DUCHESS OF PRASLIN

The Paris papers of Sunday week confirm the account
of the attempt made by the wretched Duke of Praslin to
commit suicide. The vials were found in his bed-room,
-one containing nitric acid, another a white powder which
has not yet been analysed. and the third had contained the
laudanum swallowed by the Duke in the hope of putting
an end to his existence. Every means are now taken to
prevent a recurrence of these attempts. The agents of the
police never leave the room where the Duke is confined.
The Duke is still in a very dangerous state in consequence

vening

- - „
"The Duke of Praslin died in consequence of arsenic

journal. -It is not said who prepared_ and furnished the

it. Let us recapitulate, according to the authority wor-
thy of credit, the circumstances of the morning of ,the
ISth. The Prefet of Police and M. Allard, the chief of
the police de mirth; arrived at the Intel de Sebastiani
about half-past five in the morning. The commissary of
Police of the quarter and his agents were already iu th-
,h.rnhpr where the dead body was lying. The P

•ocurepr

General, M. Delangle, arrived about-six o'clock. The
Duke of Praslin was there, going and coming from one
room to another, and expressing his surprise at the mode
in which the murderer could have entered the house.
After M. Delangle had carefully examined the localities,
he declared in an energetic manner that the murderer
had not come from outside, it being most evident that he
belonged to the house. The Duke of Praslin grew pale
on hearing M. Delangle express himself thus. Some mi-
nutes after the Procureur-General addressed some ques-
tions to the Duke, which intimated the direction which
his suspicions took as to the author of the crime. The
Duke became then of a cadaverous tint, and his agitation,
his altered features, and his general hearing, showed to
those present who ought to be considered the murderer.
At the moment the examining magistrates apd the Pro-
cureur du Roi entered, the Duke of Praslin disappeared
immediately. He went to an upper floor on which was
his bedroom. It is thought, with reason, that it was
at this instant that finding himself suspected he swal-
lowed the poison. About three hours elapsed when the
Procureur-General had expressed a suspicion. From that
moment the complexion of the Duke became yellow ; this
was the result of the poison. The disorder in the organiza-
tion augmented visibly when the Procureur du Roi told
the Duke what overwhelming charges there were against
him, Confess that you are guilty,' said the Procureur du
Roi—' confess that you have assassinated your wife.' The
Duke looked at the magistrate, and concealed his face with
his hands. Do not assume the attitude of ajbreat, of the
assassin by profession. For yourself, if not for society, you
are bound to speak the truth ; the honour of your family
makes this a duty.' The Duke cast his eyes on the magis-
trate, and appeared as if he was going to confess his crime ;
but suddenly he turned round, and said, Decidedly ; I
cannot say that I have assassinated her—l did not do it.'
The Procureur-General persisted, but the Duke would not
reply a single word. From this moment the Duke was
rigorously watched. Dr. Louis and his habitual physician
endeavoured to combat the effects of the poison, which in
conseauence of the over-dose did not produce immediate

mortal consequences. It was discovered that it was not
laudanum that he had taken, but arsenic, and the first
physicians, MM. Orfila, Andral, and Louis, had not sus-
pected it. They gave him wine and ice ! The symptoms
of poisoning by arsenic are so little known that three
doctors could be mistaken. But after the 20th the Duke
improved. On that day he was in a state to be interrogated
by an examining magistrate, and on the 21st he was re-
moved to the prison of the Luxembourg. On the 22d the
Duke was much better. He was able to speak to the. Cha-
ncellor and the Grand Referendary, and conversed during
the whole day with his physician. This improvement

On the

2:-3d the vomiting.

of the laudanum

Lie Presse say

" By the side of the Duke was a pistol loaded with ball ;
but no one knows for what object it was charged, or if he
intended using it against his wite. In this last hypothe-

returned

10 so, on accoun

the report. He certainly struck his wife with the butt-
-end; to finish her, as has been proved. When interrogated
an the point, he replied that he desired to defend his wife
against a murderer ; but on its being represented to him
that there was no trace left of the flight of this mysterious
murderer' he remained silent, and hid his head in his
hands. The Duke is embarrassed to explain away the
scratches which are perceptible on his right hand, as well
as the contusion on the leg. It is gent rally telieved that,

as the Duchess was able io ring, she was first struck in
bed, during her sleep, but that it was after she had quitted
the bed that the decisive blows were given. The hairs
left in the hands of the victim, or fallen in the struggle,
were brought together by M. Orfila. At first it was sup-
posed that the hair in the Duchess's hand, and those on
the ground, fixed to the floor by the dried olood, were of
a different colour, but when M. Orfila had washed them,
it was evident that they belonged to the same person, and
the idea of different persons being engaged in the matter
was laid aside. This hair, besides, is altogether similar to
that of the husband. Some water tinged with blood was

found in a basin. The interrogatory of the Duke has as
yet furnished no information respecting the crime. He de-
clares he knows nothing of the guilty party. The gover-
11SS is of Italian origin; and belongs to a noble family.

still kept apart at the COncierderie. She allows that she was
much moved and annoyed at being obliged to quit the
Duke's family, and separate from the young ladies whose
education she had superintended. She explains in
this way the language of a letter written by her to the
Duke de Praslin, and seized amongst his papers. What
is certain is, that the Duchess took offence at the inter-
course subsisting between the governess and the Duke,
and without a high intervention would have demanded a
regular separation. The Duke, yielding to prudent ad-
vice, consented to the governess being sent away ; and the
Duchess, in acknowledgment of this concession, settled on
her a pension for life. It is said that some of the Royal
Family interfered recently to reconcile the Duke and
Duchess. The King, the Queen, and particularly Madame
Adelaide, had a great affection for the Duchess. The
Duke, who had been an intimate friend of the Duke of
Orleans, was intimate also with the Duke de Nemours,
who invited him to all his hunting excursions. They
thought the Duke and Duchess reconciled since Mlle. de
Luzzi's departure. Marshal Sebastiani, it is said, intended
to set out for Corsica only when assured that his daugh-
ter was reconciled to her husband. The rumour prevails
that letters have been seized at Mdlle. de Luzzi's which
prove her influence over the Duke and their illicit inter-
course. It is difficult to suppose that she is not compro-
mised in the dreadful charge hanging over the Duke. It
is also said that a warrant was issued against another mis-
tress of the Duke's residing in the Rue de Varennes, but
who was not found at her residence."

SUICIDE OF TUE DUKE DE PRASLIN

The Duke de Praslin died at five o'clock on Tuesday
last of poison. The event was announced in the Mani-
teur Parisien of Tuesday, night. The following are the
terms in which the National notices this anticipated de-
nouement of one of the most tragical affairs of modern
times :

-THE COST OF 'FATE WAIL -TO AMERICA.—Six months
ago, before the battles ofTera Cruz, the advance to Puebla,
-or the despatch of reinforcements, the costs of the war
were stated in Congress by a calculating senator to ap-
proach 30,000,000 of dollars. By the same estimate the
marketable value of-California was set down at 15,000,000.
The French colonies, seeing the rapid.strides public
opinion in the mother country is making in favour of
slavery emancipation, have resolved to meet the wishes of
their countrymen by, taking the initiative in the question.
The Colonial Council of Guadaloupe has addressed a pe-
tition to the King, in,which it declares that it is anxious
to join in preparing the way for emancipation, and that it
has appointed a committee to prepare a complete and safe
plan for the total abOlition of slavery.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT- GENEVA.—A most lamentable
event took place last week at Geneva. The Rev. Edward
Auriol, rector of St. -Dunstan's in the West, Fleet-street,
was on a tour through Switzerland with his wife and son,
a youth of about 17, of the most amiable disposition,
their only child. They arrived at Geneva in the begin-
ning of last week, and were planning an excursion on the
lake. The morning .after their arrival, the youth, with
his parents' consent, 'went out for a stroll before break-
fast. Unaware of the peculiar dangers of the place, he
got into a boat on the lake, was drawn into the current,
hurried down the rapids of the Rhone, and totally lost.
He was a youth of great promise, and obtained a scholar-
ship and the theological prize at the Midsummer exami-
nation at King's College, London, in the present year.
A Colombo Times, extra, of the 15th July, (Isle of
Ceylon,) contains a very alarming rumour with regard td
the relations of this country with China, and one which
derives considerable probability from the recent rash con-
duct of Sir John Davies, the governor of Hong Kong.
The report is, that the attack on the Bogue Forts had
roused a desperate spirit of hostility against all foreigners,
but especially the English, and had led to a general ris-
ing of the people of Canton against them. The repoft
further states that the consuls had been compelled to leave
Canton, and that the Europeans were preparing to follow
them. The above news is said to have been brought to
Colombo by the Haddington steamer, which received it
from the captain of a vessel who had been despatched to
Calcutta for troops, to reinforce the garrison of Hong
Kong.
PUBLIC TUANKSGIVING FOR A BOUNTIFUL HAR-
VEST.—Gottingen, Aug..lo.—A beautiful scene was pre-
sented in our fields on Sunday last. In the midst of the
greatest abundance of corn and other fruits of the earth,
many of our congregations, in the thankfulness of their
hearts for the extraordinary bounty of Providence, as-
sembled for the purpose of Divine worship under the open
canopy of heaven, to return special thanks to Almighty
God for the manifest proofs of Hs beneficence which sur-
rounded them on all sides. Wonderful, indeed, is the
change which has taken place here within the last few
months. The people who were then wandering, and in
vain seeking for employment, are now all full of life,
health, and activity, the reapers and threshers are every-
where at work, the mill going day and night, and an air of
thankful enjoyment pervades every countenance. Corn
has fallen ; wheat, which was .3 dollars and 20 groschen
above the average price, has now fallen to 1 dollar and 20
groschen below it. The remembrance of so much mercy
in the midst of judgment will, --we trust, lead the nations
lof Europe to a thankful recognition of the love and wisdom
of God, of the obligation to live up to their blessings and

privileges.
EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF ABDUCTION AT MALTA.—
A very singular case was tried on the 11th of August,
before Judge Grunge, at Malta. The plaintiffs were
Misses Sophia and Mary Ann Cannon, who keep a school
at Valetta, the defendant Mrs. Emma, the divorced wife
of George Savage Curtis, Esq., of Teignmouth, Devon;
and the action was brought to recover possession of Miss
Ellen Curtis, a daughter of the two latter. The young
lady, it appeared, had been confided with two sisters by
Mr. Curtis to the care of the plaintiff, with strict injunc-
tions that they should hold no communication with the
mother, the young ladies themselves signing a formal
document to that effect. On the 6th of August, one of
4,the plaintiffs, with the three Misses Curtis, were crossing
in a ferry-boat from Valetta to Sheina; to their astonish-
ment they were pursued by a man-of-war's gig, com-
manded by Lieut. Baker, of the Ardent, and which con-
tained Mrs. Curtis and her maid, who, it appeared, had
arrived under a fictitious name from Southampton two or
three days before. The crew of the gig grappled the boat,
and Miss Ellen Curtis, who is only 19, was induced to
step on board to see her mother, but said she would not
stay, when the boat set off.—After the case had been fully
argued by the counsel, and the fact proved that Miss
Ellen Curtis was a minor, the court, gave judgment in fa-
vour of the plaintiff', condemning Mrs. Curtis to deliver
up to them the young lady, to be by them re-conducted
to their dwelling, there to remain under their charge until
such time as. Mr. Curtis, the father, might think proper
to give other directions.—An appeal against this decision
was fixed for hearing on the 16th August.

RAILWAY AFFAIRS.
The Ulster Railway, from Belfast to Armagh, is expected
to be opened for traffic in October next.
The first sod of the Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and
Dublin Railway was turned on Wednesday last, by the Earl

of Courtown, Chairman of the company.
The Leeds, Dewsbury, and Manchester have announced
the consummation of their amalgamation with the London
and North-western. The balance of their receipts would
be distributed on the winding-up of their accounts.
ESTIMATES !—The contract for the great central station
in Neville-street, Newcastle. has been let to Messrs.
Mackay and Reed, for £92,000. The estimates, says the
Gateshead Observer, differed to the extent of £20,000.

On t-u iday a man jumped on the Newcastle and Car-
lisle Railway, and, before he could recover himself, the
iron plough in front of the Blaydon train swept him off

the line. by w

ife was miracul

[ously preservec

The opening of a portion of the Leeds and Thirsk Rail-
way wet', "Ivor' and Thirsk, is postponed from the end

P esent month to the

ieginning of

her, owing

a of the bridge over the Yore-