The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-11-03
Curious Editorial Adventure.

French officer threatening to pistol tie editor OF
penny paper in Newcastle-on-Tyne. The affair
created q great sensation in the town, and has
even ELECTED an article from the London Times
which says: "a hectoring swashbuckler is 80
nearly an extinct creature in England" that 1--WE
should all feel the same dsagreeable surprise but
ipexpressible curiosity at finding ourselves IN
proximity with Sir Lucius D. Trigger, or Hec-
tor McTurk, as we should at finding an ichthy-
osaurus rubbing himself against our unprotected
skin while taking quiet swim of the beach at
Brighton"
The story, however, as narrated IN the English
journals, has, like all stories, two sides to it, and
its ludcrous features render it rather ridiculous
than terrific. 1t seems that municipal politics ran
high In tho town, and the Count de Maricourt, the
French Consul, was accused of interfering in the
election, and giving his active support to Mr.
VIM. Damn, . candidate for the ward in which the
French Consul resided. In making this charge,
the Northern Daily Express referred to the Consul
IL the following offensive terms: 'The agent in
this country Of that arbitrator and destroyer OF
his esuntry's liberty, Louis Napoleon-I mean the
French Consul" The next day, the Express had
leading editorial article upon the Consul, which
certainly equals in coarseness aud malignity any
thing We have ever seen on this side the water -
Besides being filled with abuse of the Emperor, it
has al inuendo a. to the private character of the
Count dc Maricourt, which could not have found
it, way into any respectable American paper, 1t
also iotimates that he is impostor. 1t says -
ssNow, there are two kinds of French Counts. II
'professor' Of anything, from language to ieger-
demaip, comes from America, the chances that
he 10 q Major, or something between that and Ge-
nsral--Americans affecting the military. If, on
the other hand, your ntcromancer or dancing mas.
ter, comes from France, be 10 pretty certain to be
q Count There are no doubt real Counts, as well
- piuchbeck; but whether NJ de Marcourt be.
longs to the one class the other, whether his
slluities connect him with the Count Montalem.
BERT the most eloquent Frenehman alive, or with
the Count Borromeo, the most impudent impos-
tor on the trsadmill-let him be the one or the
other, he 10 equally precluded from interfering
with the course of an English election"
The individual thus grossly assaied, il admitted
by the Times to be "an extremely modest and re
firing gentleman" and, it may be added, denies
that he inserfered in any way in the election.
On the day on which the assault upon the French
Consul Was published, according to the Express
editor, who publishes account of the affair
the following card, written by the Consul's son.
Was left at the Express office, after the editor had
departed for the night
~. do Maricourt, l1th Dragons, will do the |
editor the honor to wait for him at the smoking |
room Of the Exchange Hotel tomorrow morning |
at O'Clock. II the editor does not come, he will |
have the pleasure to chastise him at his own |
house."
This polite note did not reach the editor till the
next night, and not in fact. till after +. De Mari.
court, had reached him himself, but, on that oc-
oason the 'pleasure" promised by the courteous
Frencaman does not seem to have been recipro>
oal From the EDITORS narrative, We extract
the following account of the interview: 1
Sitting 10 my owu house 10 Ravenswortb terracs
3stsshsad, and engaged writing, heard knock at
he door few minutes past O'Clock. The ser
rant opened u, aud, without waiting TO be an
bounced, person apparently Is or &c years of
lse dashed In with Q bound, salutiug me in terro.
.ssivsly, "Monsieur ie redscteur du Northern
SAromsclss" corrected him, aud said Espress-
N which be broke out in u torrent of French.
,rticalating 20 vehemeutly aud fast that did not
stoh single word he said, aud could only sup
nee my visitor was q iunatic from the neighbor.
ps asylum at Bensham. At last caught the
Vord karioourt, and asked, "Ars you from the
,oupt do Msricourt?" He answered Ia the affrua-
i've. By this time had risen, and he again CON-
,sncsd . vehement volley of French, OF which the
aly words caught were too few to enable me to
opiecture his meaning. He observed that did
OF understand him, and said-enunciating slowly
) il feeling for his words-"I speak English.-
on insult Count de Msricourt--I kill yoa"-puli-
n ous Of his pocket small pistol cock Ing 1t at
10 same moment, aud bringing It round with bis
oyer on the trigger, to within few inches OF my
wn hssd. He exclaimed, Don't scream. Don't
AXE . noise. You're dead man" replied,
Am not going to scream; put down your pistol
ID tell ne What you want"
81 wsnt 70 I'LL you," be said. .s i
"NoN, do b. calm, and tell me why you have
me here"
II an cslm-I am calm" no repeated ~ fast a.
possibly could, his lips and the muscles Of his
eeks auiysriog conyulsiyoly: II am calEi, calm,
In, calm. kill you 10 sang troid." And forth I
ID be- burst into another torrent of rapid and I
listslDigibie French, Of which only caught the ,
vi secrassr" and the frequent exclamation, "Je
euasalp
rhsss 10 good deal more Of the same sort, In
lssh the editor represents himself - 10 consid-
lbls bodily apprehension, and the interview q
ally tsrninatsd By an adjourpment 70 the 9
- ceesars oMss. 70 which the editor ssys b
. ssaDsslsA % 70 upon threat Of being shot,
l. vhss thsrs. expressed be psgrss ifhs bad hnrt
Oooe01a Gnejtpeu. end hfe readiness 70 put the