Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-03-21
ROMANCE AND REvoLvERs.

The Emperor Of Russia has lately per.
formed an act of justice to a much injured and
honorable American family, which reflects the
HIGHEST credit on his Government. The facts
were given me by Mr.. Sala, the principal
writer for Dickens's Household Words, with
whom | had the pleasure to dine at London,
and who was an actor 10 the history | am
going to give you.
About eighteen months ago, a Miss Ward,
from one Of the southern States, was married
ut Florence, after a short courtship, to Polish
Count, whose unprononnceable name escapes
me at this moment. They were married be-
fore the American Consul, | believe. After
living with Miss Ward maritalIy for three
weeks, the Count took French leave one fine
morning, carrying off his wife's jeWelry as
booty. A letter left behind Informed Miss
Ward of a fact Of which she had been til that
moment entirely ignorant, to wit: that any
Russian subject not married according to the
service recognized by the Greek Church, and
the Russian Government, was invalid and not
binding, and that the service which had united
them resembling in no wise the one required,
they were as free as if no service had been
performed. The CONSERVATION of Miss WaId
and her family at this delectable piece of vii
lainy may well be imagined for on inquiry
they found that the Counts statement was
but too true.
Miss Ward and her mother remained a short
time in Italy, endeavoring to obtain some kind
Of redress for the base imposition which had
been practiced on them, but their efforts were
f~ruitIegs. They then came to Paris and spent
the winter here, where they were generally
known TO the Americans resident in the place.
AT the period of the coronation of the
Emperor of Russia, they went TO st. Peters
burg, It was here that Mr.. Sala made the
acouaintance of the family, by a letter Of in>
PRODUCTION from Paris. The family we're going
to demand Justice of the Emperor of Russia
against his scoundrelly subject. MIR. Sa!a
drew up the petition to the Russian Minister,
and in This petition Miss Ward demanded of
The Russian Government g the rehabilitation of
her honor by a lawful marriage with the
Count The document was handed TO Mr..
Seymour. the American Minister, and he
handed it to the Russian Minister Of Stale.
The moment the case was laid before the
Emperor, an order was issued to the Russian
Minister at Naples (where the Count was then
liYing) TO confer with The Neapolitan Govern
ment with d view to his arrest. The Neap0-
Titan Government, which was just then In great
favor with Russia, yielded al once TO the res
queat, The Count was seized by the Neapo.
Titan police, and at Russia's expense was
conducted to the Russian frontier; there he
was received by the Russian police, and.carried
to Warsaw. The Wards were already there
awaiting his arrival. The Count was marched
into the church by a posse of policemen, and
was compelled to stand up before the altar
and marry Miss Ward in due form. When
the ceremony was concluded, his wife, now
legally the Countess Of, made him a
formal bow, and babe him alden foryer. And
Sala, who was present, exclaimed, young
America forever! T. The Count, who was an
exile, was sent to Siberia, his property was
confiscated, the Countess retaining BY law one
third. The family Immediately left again fol
Italy, where they are spending the winter. The
father and brother of Miss Ward were present
at the marriage at Warsaw, with reyolvers in
their pockete, determined, If there was any
filnching upon. the part Of the Count to blow
bis brains ont for In view Of the fact that he
was destined for Siberia under any circum4
stances, it was feared that he might not At The
last moment pronounce the necessary word.
And thus was q high act or Justice ner-
formed by the Russian Government in a#boId
and rapid manner, and an act which does he,
the greatest honor.-PGris Correspondence d
she NeaO York Times.