The Sun. — 1852-09-10 (London, England)

FRANCE. Further experiments have been made as to the sailing 'and steaming qualities of the "crack" ship of the line, Napoleon, which is fitted with a screw propeller. On the 30th of last month the Napoleon sailed from Toulon, her steam up, and having on board the Marine Commission, with its President, Admiral Delasseux. She proceeded as far as the islands of the Hyeres, and returned to Toulon at a speed of 11 knots B.loths the hour. After having landed the Commissioners and made some alterations in the machinery, Captain Lugeol directed his course at full speed towards the harbour of Ajaccio. The distance, 119 sea miles, was performed in 9 hours 48 minutes. The name of the Napoleon procured for her an enthusiastic reception at Ajaccio, and crowds of visitors flocked on board. On her departure from Ajaccio the following day she experienced a heavy sea and a light breeze from the south-west. Her commander took advantage of those circumstances, the most unfavourable for a sailing vessel, to try her capabilities when deprived of steam. He tacked several times and with the lightest wind she came round in from six. to seven minutes without ever missing stays, thus establishing her reputation of a first-rate sailer. This arse stile was considered to be the more remarkable, ht have Napoleon is of unusual length, and it rill gseparated been apprehended that her screw, although from the machinery, would have impeded her manoeuvres. She returned to Toulon having only half her fires lighted, and burning onlya halfv!o tons of coal an hour, at a speed of nine and _ knots the hour. The Maritime Prefect of oulon hastened to submit those details tothe Minister of Marine, and to pray that the President of the Republic would make his triumphal entry into Toulon on board the Napoleon. Letters received in Paris by the last Mexican mail represent that a dissension had arisen between the French Minister in Mexico and the Government of that country. The circumstances, according to the Trait d' Union, a French paper published in Mexico, are these—A French workman, named Lafont, established at Orizaba, wished to marry Madlle. Louise Meyer, a young Frenchwoman living with her father in the same town. They applied to the ecclesiastical authorities of the district, but some difficulties having arisen about money, they determined to be married according to the French law. There being no Consul at Orizaba, they went to Vera Cruz, and were duly married by the French Consul at that place, with all the usual formalities. Shortly after their return home, Lafont was arrested and cast into prison, in virtue of an order of the Bishop of Puebla, transmitted through the Superior Tribunal of Jalapa. The young woman would have been arrested also if she had not taken to flight, and she bad to live in concealment during two months. After long detention, Lafont was taken before the lodge of Orizaba, and condemned to four years' imarisonment. He solicited the intervention of the 'French Minister ; and on the Bth of June that diplomatist demanded from the Mexican GovernInent his immediate release, that as indemnity should be granted to him, and that an inquiry should be made into the conduct of the judge at Orizaba. The Minister of Justice promised an investigation into the case, but after several weeks' delay, no anliwer was given. The French Minister thereupon presented new and energetic demands, and in reply to them the Mexican Government intimated that the judgment of the Tribunal of Orizaba was maintained. An article in the Pays, headed " A Sign of the Times," discusses the Sixmile-bridge verdict, which it regards as symptomatic of a general revival of religious discord, and of an aggressive movement on the part of Roman Catholics throughout Europe. Of the verdict itself the Pays says : " Whatever may be the result of the trial at the Ennis assizes, the historical fact will not the less remain that a coroner's jury of 18 Irish Catholics has been found, in the age in which we live, capable of accusing eight soldiers of murder, kn owing them all the time to be innocent, solely because they were Englishmen and Protestants. Thus, in the eyes of Irish Catholics Protestants are not Christians, and Englishmen are not men. Neither equity or humanity is due to them. Everything is legitimate against them. To send them to an unjust death is to do God a service.": In thus admitting the barbarous and frightful injustice of a verdict deliberately given in the teeth of ail the evidence, the Pays but echoes the opinions expressed by almost all the French press.