The Press. — 1855-08-11 (London, England)

THE REV. MR. BOYLE has recently brought an action in the French courts, against the newspaper L' Univers, with a two-fold object; namely, in the first instance, to compel the editor of that journal to place in the hands of a notary public the original letter, tl e translation of which was published in its columns on the 23rd of May, 1854, and which translation, subsequently published in this country, constituted the ground of action which the rev. gentleman brought against the Cardinal in England. The second object of the proceedings in France was to recover 25,000 f., by way of damages for the injury the plaintiff has sustained in his character by the publication of the said letter. The French courts decided against Mr. Boyle, who is therefore saddled with all the costs of the proceedings. L' Univers, in alluding to the trial, says :—" Our own position is clear in this matter. Personally we have no contest with Mr. Boyle; and, as our learned counsel said upon the trial, we were ready to comply with his wishes as to the production of the letter if he could have obtained the consent of the Cardinal to his demand. TI e cause tried at Paris presents no other interest then as an incident in the cause still pending (now i,tanding for trial at the present Croydon Assizes) in London, that trial being the third time the matter has been brought an& r the consideration of a jury in England." The Univers then goes on to say, " This time the evidence of the Rev. Mr.lvers, which at the last assizes was sufficient to lead to the loss of the Cardinal's cause, will have no weight on behalf of the plaintiff, on account of the affidavits which have been filed in the Court of Exchequer, completely invalidating the testimony of that witness." THE EXECUTION OF JOSEPH bIEADOWS, who was found guilty of murder at the last Worcestershire Assizes, took place in front of the county gaol, Worcester, on Saturday last, in the presence of an immense concourse of spectators. It will be recollected that the murderer Meadows formed an acquaintance with a young girl named Mary Ann Mason. The intimacy was discouraged by the girl's parents, who placed her in service at the Sailor's Return, beerhouse, at Kate's-hill, Dudley. Meadows paid her a visit on the night before the murder was committed, passing himself off as Mason's brother. Next morning, having possessed himself of his master's carbine, shot-belt, and powder-flask, he proceeded to the Sailors Return, and, while Mary Ann Mason was washing the floor of the room, deliberately shot her dead, in the presence of two men, who were sitting there. He assigned no reason for the act when apprehended, but merely said:—" I have had my revenge. Revenge is sweet; and now lam satisfied." He added, he was determined that, "If ho did not have her, no one else should." Since his condemnation the wretched convict has paid the greatest attention to the ministration of the gaol chaplain. Having arrived at the steps leading to the scaffold, Meadows whispered to Calcraft to " do it quickly," to which he received in reply, " 1 will not be a minute." During the whole cf the preparations, the culprit maintained the most remarkable composure, and walked firmly to the drop.