The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-11-04 00:00:00

DISGRACEFUL OUTRAGE BY A BARONET.

On Monday evening last a most respectable gentleman
of the name of Lawrie, belonging to and carrying on
business in Glasgow, took his place in a first-class carriage
of the London and Northwestern Railway, at Euston-
square, London, for the purpose of proceeding to this
city, and, shortly before starting, another gentleman,
who subsequently turned out to be Sir James Boswell. of
Auchinleek, in Ayrshire, seated himself in the same car-
riage, they being the only passengers in that compartment.
Shortly after starting they got into conversation, which,
on the part of Sir James, was kept up with considerable
animation, and to do him justice, it was not devoid of
talent. At Crewe they partook of brandy and water to-
gether, and shortly after resuming their seats and leaving
that station, they, by mutual consent, agreed to have a nap,
the civilities of " good night" being passed on the part
of both with much seeming friendly feeling. Alt this
time Mr. Lawrie was unacquainted with Sir James's
name ; and, though beholding in his person a strong, tall
athletic, cou.ntry-looking squire, about double his own
size and weight, he never had the least suspicion that
danger from these qualifications would result to him. In
this, however, he was mistaken, for eie he had well fallen
asleep he was awoke by a heavy blow on the forehead,
and, on rousing himself up, he found the baronet pummel-
ling away at his devoted face and chest, as if he had been
engaged in a wiz.) fight. What was to be done in the way
of defence he knew not. He tried to compose Sir James
by reminding him of their former interchange of courtesies.
He endeavoured to avoid his blows, but all to no purpose.
So, being afraid that he was about to ne murdered ont-
right, he opened the window, arid grasping an iron bar he
hoisted himself to the roof of the carriage, where he re-
mained for some quarter of an hour or twenty minutes,
the train proceeding at the rate of forty miles an hour.
till they arrived at a station, where he was relieved. Here,
properly speaking, Sir James ought to have been taken
into custody, but there being no policeman there at that
early hour of the morning, three o'clock, he was allowed
to go on, the gentleman finding a seat in another carriage,
and at the same time discovering that, in addition to
losing much blood, his face and nose had become black
and blue, and his lips and cheeks much swoln, in which
state he arrived at Glasgow. During the continuance of
the trip, Sir James, on stopping at several stations,
boasted of what he had done, described the method with
which he had boxed, and otherwise made himself suffi-
ciently communicative to establish a complete proof of
the cowardly and brutal outrage which he had committed ;
his only excuse for the same being that he conceived Mr.
Lawrie to have been a mesmerist, or a biologist, and that
he was about to exert his influence over him in the way
of his profession. Thus the disagreeable matter rests,
but in the meantime the circumstance is freely talked of in
our Exchange, and no small indignation is felt at so gratui-
tous and unaccountable an assault having been committed.
Sir James Boswell is the son of the late lamented Sir
Alexander Boswell, who was killed in a duel about twenty-
five years ago,. by Mr. Stewart, of Dunearn ; and grand.
son of Mr. Boswell who wrote the life of Samuel John-
son, the lexicographer, and who accompanied that cele-
brated individual in his tour through Scotland.—Glagyous
Advertiler.

After many negociations and failures, the French minis-
try has at length been formed. The following is the
(acisi list, as it appears in the Moniteur

M. Corbin, ProCUreur-Gcneral at
Bqurges
M. Turgot, ex-Peer of France ....
M. C. Giraud, Member of the

Thorigny, ox-Advocate-

Institute
M. D. de
General
M. Casablanca, representative
M. Lacrosse, representative
General St. Armand

M. H. Fc

oul. representative

Blondol, Inspector-General of

Financ

Justice

Foreign Affairs,

Public Instruction

Interior

Commerce.
Public Wo:ks

Marine

Finance,

M. Corbin, being absent, M. Giraud holds his portfolio
par interim. It is rumoured that M. Corbin refuses to
accept a seat in the new Cabinet.
M. Blonde 1 being also absent, M. Turgot takes his
portfolio par interem.
M. Maunas, Prefect of the Haute Garonne, is named
Prefect of Police in place of M. earlier.
It will be observed that only three of the new Cabinet
hold representative seats in the Assembly, which, there-
fore, cannot be nominated a parliamentary ministry.
The Constitutionnel, which professes to know something
of the forthcoming message, says that the President of the
Republic will recommend an appeal to the country at once
upon the subject of the presidency, as the natural sove-
reign arbitrator between the National Assembly, which
refuses revision, and the 2,000,000 petitioners, with the
80 general councils, which demand it. To wait till 1852,
it is contended, is only to prolong disquietude and uncer-
tainty, with all their attendant evils; and as the wishes of
the country will then be distinctly expressed, the Legisla-
tive Assembly will be able to amend the constitution in
conformity therewith. The statement has been denied by
the Pattie, another government journal ; notwithstanding
which considerable belief is attached to the article in the
first-named journal, because of its close connection with
the El ysee, and the general dependence that is to be placed
upon its demi-official announcements. A belief has gained
ground that there will be a compromise between the elysee
and the majority of the assembly ; and the funds have ral-
lied a little in consequence. There is, however, great
gloom as regards business generally.

HYDROPHOBIA IN PARTS.—About two months ago, the
son, aged only three years, of a retired tradesman of the
Faubourg Saint Antoine was bitten by a dog with which be
had been accustomed to play. The father in his fury shot
the animal. The wound, which was very slight, was
dressed, and nothing further was thought of it, until a few
days ago, when the boy, who had been ailing for some
time previously, suddenly said, " Hold me fast, father, for
I shall bite you as the dog did me !" and almost at the
same time he was seized with a violent attack of hydro-
phobia, which lasted some time. Other attacks ensued,
and two or three days ago the child died.

LOLA MONTES.—EXTRAORDINARY CH ALLENGE.—The
Countess of Lansfeldt gave one representation at Lyons
last week ; but her dancing, remarkable as its execution
is stated to be, did not excite half so much conversation
as the following extraordinary letter which the high-
spirited dame has addressed, through the columns of the
Salut Public, Lyons paper, to M. Veron, the editor of
the Paris Constitutionnel, for some strictures in reference
to Lola's reception, in Belgium, of a certain impressario
who had sought to engage her to show herself on horse-
back in his hippodrome :—" To A. M. Veron, editor and
proprietor of the Constitutionnel—Here are two occasions
within two months, on which your journal has made me
the subject of its articles. The first does not designate
me by name, but the least intelligent reader can perceive
that it is I who am meant; and to avoid the responsibility,
you stated that you had extracted it from an English jour-
nal. The English writers are not so perfidious. The
second article to Belgian counterfeit) bears my name, and
for this reason I require you to insert my reply to your
very ill-conceived sneers ; for I know not what I have
done to merit them. First, then, sir, Ido not know how
to swim. . . . You would be my master in politics.
Second, my correspondence with high personages . .

is worth considerably more than yours as a tragedian.
Third, as to poignards and pistols, I don't know the use
of them, but your journal posseses weapons still more
powerful—falsehood, ridicule, and perfidy; you will
let nothing pass to avenge yourself upon an unprotected
woman. This is neither frank nor manly. If you con-
tinue, sir, I will see myself compelled to send you my
card, with a witness, to put a stop to your contemptible
animosity ; but it is not to the pistol I shall appeal—l
shall act in a manner more germane in such a combat. I
will offer to you your choice of one—l taking the other—
of two pills in a box, one of which pills shall be poisoned ;
and you cannot surely refuse a duel with arms which are
so familiar to you. I have the honour to salute you.—
Lola Montes.—Lyons, this 17th of October, 1851.