The Sun. — 1847-04-20 (London, England)

ISABELLA 11. bear this in recollection, or the paroxysm of love and gladness may be followed by a paroxysm of abhorrence and desperation. That tide in her affairs has arrived, which, " taken at the flood," may conduce to a protracted, prosperous, and glorious reign. Let not that auspicious flood subside without some corresponding movement. Let not the golden opportunity float past like a vision of the morning. Iberia is by no means freed from her relentless antagonists—from those enemies to her independent existence, who, by their hypocrisy, are more formidable than declared foes. As the Edinburgh Review observes, " MACHIAVEL would have admired the skill with which the game of the MONTPENSIER marriages was played by the French Government ;" and as it was such a masterpiece of diplomatic cunning, it requires more than one convulsion to be rid of its consequences. Like the system adopted by SINBAD the Sailor, the grape must be pressed, the juice fermented, and the potion imbibed, before the old:monster can be shaken off, and brained with his own calabash ! Unless the liberal policy of Queen ISABELLA be more fully developed, we shall infallibly see a disastrous re-action.  The attention of the House of Lords was last night directed by the Marquis of WESTMEATH to the painful scene which took place the other day at Bury St. Edmund's, where the extreme sentence of the law was carried into execution on the person of CATHERINE FOSTER, who had been found guilty of having poisoned her husband. In consequence of the unskilful manner in which the executioner discharged the dreadful functions of his office, the unfortunate woman was kept in such protracted agony that the feelings of the spectators were completely shocked ; and the most vehement expressions of indignation escaped the lips of the surrounding multitude, which amounted to several thousands. Even if the above were a solitary instance in which the extreme penalty had been put in force in a manner revolting to public sentiment, it could not be properly passed over in silence, because, as the end of public executions is to present a dread warning to the people that the deprivation of life will be the certain punishment of those found guilty of committing crimes of the highest magnitude, so is it of the utmost consequence to public morals, and with the view of rendering the solemn spectacle of an execution as efficacious as' possible as a salutary example, that, when the majesty of the law is thus vindicated, every care should be taken that indignation against the authorities does not usurp the solemn reflections which it is intended should be generated within the precincts of the scaffold. But these shocking mishaps have become too frequent of late not to require something more than a passing rebuke. When TAWELL was banged, for the murder of SARAH HART, his torture was said to have been unnecessarily prolonged through some defective management of the apparatus of death ; and very recently, when WELSH and MATHEWS expiated their crimes at bI orpeth, a most harrowing exhibition of protracted suffering took place, owing to the ropes placed round their necks being too long. The consequence was, the feet of the wretched men found a resting place, and in that position they ejaculated the most piteous cries, to the great grief and horror of the spectators. The executioner then lifted them up by the ropes, and, after some time, terminated their sufferings by sheer strangulation. We hope the Secretary of State for the Home Department will institute such inquiries connected with this painful subject, and provide such regulations for the future, that the public will be spared the repetition of anything similar to that which occurred on Saturday last at Bury St. Edmund's. Although we think that hanging is not an unexcepotinliovenoaafbrlaee nbsmethodheootttueplr:d ;e pbftaohurrete ,ddome ftpoorasi ltviri ensegtor substitutes,omcnri mleyni ud a 1 the heoef object oul inibfsees Ititotyhueel ti hgicalleowttee, which was last night suggested by the Marquis of