The Express. — 1849-12-15 (London, England)

PATKAS, OCT. 6 (0. 8 ).—The doings in unfortunate I Cephalonia are horrible beyond all precedent. It is hardly possible to believe that an Englishman can be the actor of such deeds of horror; nevertheless, the High Commissioner of the lonian Islands, Mr. Ward, has surpassed in atrocities even the barbarians of Persia. The lonian Press, and especially that of Cephalonia, dare sot to expose the deep misfortunes of the land ; let, therefore, the Greek press raise its vo:ce, and let that voice be a voice of thunder. For the sufferings of humanity, as well as that the sufferers are cur brethren, let our press make known to the world the ferocious doings of this Commissioner and of his court-martial. For the crimes of individuals they have proclaimed martial law over the whole island and placed it under siege or blockade! And why is all this ? In order to capture two malefactors, who probably are concealed in the caverns or rocks of the Wand. The punishments which the court martial, award are two—death and flogging. Death is Mil:cud in some cases by hanging, in others by shooting or beheading, according to the taste of these judges; so that these judges have per. fected themselves in a knowledge of the agonies of each of these kinds of death, that they may know the difference between the one and the ether method of infliction. The flogging is performed as follows : The victim is brought out naked in the public place ; the disgusting exhibition is announced by the ringing of a bell; and immediately an inetrumenr, composed ut seven straps of leather, with pieces of lead fitted on them at certain intervals, tears and lacerates both the skin and flesh from the back of the sufferer. From tole horrible punishment the greatest tart of the victims have up to the present moment died, and those who survive can scarcely be recognised by their friends. Up to the present time (October 17), about twelve hmen have been either abet, hanged, or beheaded, and 1 more than thirty have been flogged !• In addition to these horrible ieftetions, hear others that follow : the houses of all suspect,tel persons, or rather of whoever may he dissatisfied with the government, are pulled down, and the very stones are removed to six or eight hours' distance, at the ex, pause of the proprietor ; the casks of wine and oil are set running in the streets of the villages, they destroy and dig up the gardens and the currant plantations, and sink the boats and vessel's without any examination or formality. But, good God ! why is this ? Because the government cannot capture two brigands ! The commissioner Ward says in his proclamation, that he has sufficient force, and therefore demands from the Cephalonisas the der of the two assassins or he will continue the same murderous measures. Such atrocious acts were never before perpetrated in the lonian Islands, and we feel aexious to see what the Brit'sh parliament will say when the deeds of horror practised by their worthy commissioner shall come to its knowledge.  • Sir 11. Ward, in his speech to the atoembly, declares that twentyone persons have been put to death, but does not mention the number who have been dogged