Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-01-06
ALEXANDRIA,, ID. C..
7WuRsDaY MORNING, JaNUaRY 6. 1876
ONE WEEK LATER FROM EUROPE.


The packet ship John Jay, Capt. Holdredge,
from Liyerpool, has arrived at New York BY
this conveyance the Editors of the Conn ercal
Advertiser have received their regular supplies
of English newspapers, embracing London 10
the evening of December 9TH, and Liverpool OF
the 9Th.
The European papers are like thermometers
There tone is varied by every passing clrcum-
stance, as the mercury sinks or rises by every
change in the temperature of the air that sweeps
by it. At the date of our last advlces, all was
dependency and gloom. The Russian Bear
was taking the attitude salient and the Black Ea-
gies of Prussia were leaving the royal eyrie, and
screaming for the prey. A single week has
passed. and the bears aresquietly in their dens,
and the eagles in their nests. In other words the
general aspect of the intelligence by this arrival
is altogether pacific. The intelligent reader will
perceive, however, that real, substantial
change could have been wrought among the Cab
NETS of Europe, and the fact ascertained, within
that period. We thought ourselves, and so in
tmated, that the war excitement disclosed by
the papers last week, was much higher than the
circumstances giving rise to it warranted. We
are therefore not disappointed by the altered
tone of the advices before u.s. But our forebod-
ings as to the future, are unchanged. With these
raj abstract of the contents of the papers received
by this arrival.
The London papers Of the 4th, 9th and 9TH
ultimo, contain the reports made to the Chamber
of Peers upon the impeachment of the ex-Mlnis-
ters. and continuation of the dispositions Of the
principal witnesses against them. These reports
embrace the examination of Prince Polignac and
his colleagues. on the interrogatories put to them
Oh the 2Sth OF August, the Goth and 9th of Oc-
tober. and the goth OF November. The Morning
Herald of the 9TH Dec. says:
s.TEese new documents in no degree alter the
complexion which the case had before assumed,
as respects the unhappy prisoners actually IN
custody; but they bear materially upon the con-
duct of other parties, unfortunately tor the ends
of Justice, uotin custody with them. and tend to
show that the estimate which public opinion has
farmed of the guilt or innocence Of these parties
has been in one case too iudulgent, in another too
severe. Marnont, the simple and sanguinary
tool of party infinitely more vicious than him
self. is to be excused from all the responsibility
of rational being, and appears to have played
lust as insensate a part in the massacre of Paris
as the animal that bore this piece of machinery
from one place to another-and this he calls the
| honor of soldier But, upon the other hand.
what case does the deposition of Komerousk,
party in this country! THE Herald aludes to
claims to protection and federation which he had
before? Misfortune will always meet with re-
spect fIoma generous people, but is the case now
one of mere misfortune, or indiscretions'
| These examinations are too long for pcrusal
| this morning, nor can we decide at the moment
whether to abridge them, or to give them to our
readers IN eriensO.
| The first part of the report is excluded from
the London Courier, as it would fill an entire
| newspaper, and is little more than narrative Of
the events which preceded and marked the revo-
| luton of July; but the second part which treats
of the accusation against the Ex-Ministers, as in
stigators of the fires which have taken place in
France. Is OF considerable interest. The Cou-
| rier says:-
The Reporter goes through the evidence on
this subject with great impartiality and ability;
| and concludes, that in no case has the horrible
accusation been confirmed, although, up to this
hour, so deep mystery hangs over the orig in Of
these atrocities that it is impossible to obtain any
satisfactory information. The spirit of justice
with which the Investigations into this matter
have been cor Quoted by the French Authorities,
will rebound to their credit in historic recoec-
ton. If they had been anxious to crush the un-
fortunate men, against "nom the puD'ic PreJudiCe
was raised. not merely as political despots, but
also as instgators. for despotic ends. of midnight
incendaries, they would have found little diff
Guilty in preparing from the first dispositions of
various parties, case which would. in all proba-
bility. have proved fatal to the Ministers; bat
the persons charged with the investigation having
no malignant purpose in view. and bearing in
mind how many innocent men have been brought
to the scatfold bv State Prosecutions, examined
and re-examined the persons who at first were so
ready to swear away the lives of De PoIignac
and his Colleagues, until they became convinced,
from the contradictions Of the witnesses, and the
| facts which those contradictions elected, that the
Ex-Ministers were wholly guiitess of the charge
in question. Speaking of Berrie, the scoundrel
who volunteered his testimony againsl Polignac,
NJ. de Bastard says, "ln every part of his de-
clarations his falsehood has been established"
In concluding the second part Of his Report,
the third relates merely to questions of compe
tency.) NJ. de Bastard says:
s'Such. Gentlemen, is the result of the Iab,rs
of YOUR Commission relative to the fires. We
have not pretended TO give you complete his'o-
ry of the calamity which still exists. We have
only referred to The subject as far as it Was sup
al ., .H...t tb, l., N;,;o,.., -, $780,;