The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-18
From the London Spectator, Nor. IT,
uouRIHLE STATE OF AFFAIRS.

ranks of diplomacy; and two Of the attempts
have been fatal. Count Bresson, notorious
for his share in the Madrid marriages, has
killed himself at Naples He wished 70 De
sent as Ambassador to London, PROBABLY
hoping to remove unpleasant Impressions; but
instead of that he was sent to Naples, which
was not only post of less dignity but one
where he might again have become involved
in still lower branches Of the Bourbon IN
trigues. Count Mortier, the French Ann
bassader Of Turn, who was living at Paris
on leave Of absence, was seized BY the po-
lice in the act of exhorting his children to
perish with him, under hallucnation res
pectine his wiie's fidelity The third sui
ciae is the Count de Conner, who had been
ANONYMOUSLY convicted Of shooting at lit
lie boy trespassing ON his grounds.
Count Bresson had arrived at Naples only
on the 18th Of October; he had presented
his credentials on the 3lst, and had been
graciously received by the King. On the
ist Of November he paid number of visits;
went in the evening to the opera and
throughout the day showed no signs OF in
sanity, or even Of excitement. On reaching
home, however, at night, he was observed
to be agitated; his excitement increased, and
he was heard to pace his room till morning.
A heavy fall was then heard, and on enter
ing the room the Countess Bresson found her
husband lying with his throat cut, and ra-
zor close to him. He died before medical
aid could be obtained. The Count is. under
stood to have been deeply mortified at being
sent to Naples; he had tried to obtain the
British or Russian Embassy; and, It is said,
wrote from Naples Immediately on his arrl-
val there, requesting in very earnest Ian
guage that he might be sent back to Madrid.
In short, he appears to have felt degraded.
He had made his will and arranged all his
affairs before his departure, which occasions
surmise that he contemplated destroying
himself even then. Nevertheless, he APP
peared perfectly collected throughout his
Journey, and it is understood transacted i'm
portant business at Turin en- route.
Count Mortier, Peer of France and French
Ambassador at the Court OF Sardinia, has at
tempted to kill his children in fit Of mad
ness. The Count had been residing in Pa
rs on leave Of absence. The principal de-
fusion under which he labored was that his
wife was unfaithful to him; but it is univer-
sally agreed that there was not the shadow
Of reason for such notion.
For some time past, says a French Jour-
nal, M. Mortier had exhibited symptoms Of
this terrible malady, and committed, with
out any motive, acts Of the greatest violence.
On Sunday morning he fastened himself up
with his two children in the apartments
which he occupied at the Hotel Chatham. -
He then wrote letters to his wife and to one
Of his friends, announcing that in some Sc
conds he and his children would have ceased
to exist. The project Of police, who was
Immediately informed Of this, FASTENED to
the hotel, as did also the president Of the
Chamber Of Peers. NJ. Mortier remained
u the chamber which was m harr as
ed over his children, and threatened L
plunge into his person; while, at the same
time, he uttered the most frightful language
He was spoken to in friendly way, but re.
piled only by .incoherent phrases about death
and blood; and then, addressing himself tc
bis son, who was on his knees, he said tha
he must die.
The poor child, who is aged only elevel
years, cried that he would not die, and weep
and struggled. The Count then asked hi
daughter, who is aged only eight years, j
she would follow him and die with him
The poor little creature. replied in swee,
childish accents that she would willingly
die with her father, and it is believed that
he was preparing to accomplish this horrible
design The persons who. heard these
dreadful words were chilled with terror. A
word or a movement on their part might
cause to descend the arm which madness
agitated- and retained at the same time.
This dreadful scene lasted nearly three hours;
and the Countess Mortier, the Chancellor,
and the project Of police, were at the door
during the time in state Of indescribable
dismay. AT length access was obtained to
the room through condemned door, which
was opened without noise The Chancel-
lor and the project entered, and were for
.typate enough to drag the poor children from
: the room, and to give them to their mother.
M. Mortier still kept his razor in his
hand; nothing could induce him to quit It ;
ne maze al times the gesture OF cutting his
throat, and this scene continued for three
quarters Of an hour. He then complained
bitterly Of the persecution Of which he said
he was the object he accused the project
OF violating his house; the Chancellor of de-
priving him Of his liberty, and threatened to
complain to the keeper Of the seals.
The project recommended him to write to
the keeper Of the seals, and undertook to de-
liver the letter; his hope being that he
would lay aside the razor, which it would
have been dangerous to attempt to take by
force. The Count consented to write the
letter, but on the condition that the project
should remain at the other extremity Of the
chamber. The keeper Of the seals having
been sent for, begged NJ. Mortier to 90 and
talk with him on the matters of which he
had to complain. This he had consented to
do, and left the room. In descending the
stsircase, he closed lis razor and put il into
his pocket. In the courtyard hotel he was
seized and secured in the presence of the
Chancellor, and Immediately conveyed to a
maison de sante,
Count de Conner, who was condemned