The Express. — 1858-04-19 (London, England)

THE BERNARD TRIAL.  (711011 OUR OWN  PARIS, BintaAT Evnture.  It is impossible to describe the stupefaction in government circles occasioned by the verdict of the jury in Bernard's case. The Mutitear, which all tbe week has given full reports of the trial, now sulks in silence, and does not even publish the telegraphic news of the result. This abstention as to a matter of fact is childish in the extreme, but it is a very characteristic symptom of the " situation." Amidst the fury and vexation whirl the announcement prodsoed at the Tuileries, it was impossible to decide at once upon the way in which the matter was to be officially represented to the French public. Whether indignation, indifference, or expectation of help from the British legislature are to be exhibited is yet doubtfuL The surprise at the verdict is at least as great as the disappointment. The worst that was expected was that, after a verdict of guilty upon the facts, the fifteen judges would have declared that the Act of Geo. IV. did not apply to the case, and then the ministry would have had a fair ground for asking the parliament to supply a cases onaissus in legislation. But better than this was hoped for. A French government writer in the Nord of Brussels says, " If a verdict of guilty be returned, Lord Derby's government feels confident that Lord Campbell and the judges will find means to pass a capital sentence. Lord Campbell's zeal and loyalty in the matter are highly approved of." This is certainly a font libel upon Lord Campbell and the judges, and, I should hope, upon Lord Derby's government also. But the thorough independence of English courts and juries can seemly be realised by a French mind. However, in the present state of the case, the main ground for calling for an alteration in the law of England is cut away, The verdict of the jury shows that the presumed hiatus in our laws is not proved to have yet arisen. Oar legislators must look at any application for satisfaction on the part of the French government in precisely the same light that it would have done if Bernard had never been accused as an accessory to a I murder. Mr. Edwin James's speech is a great po, litical event. The home truths which he proclaimed under the sense of responsibility without rebuke by , the judges,will produce more effect in Europe than • thousand leading articles in newspapers. Frenchmen who can read English are flocking to-day to all the reading-rooms and cafes where English jburn•ls are taken in, for the purpose of reading the speech. Of course only a garbled version of it is given in the French papers. The Mkt, honestly says that the general tone of the speech is such that it cannot venture to print it at aIL The Indepsadonce Beige says:  We feel compelled to suppress a part of this eloquent defence, because we fear to bring ourselves within the purview of the recent penal legislation in our country concerning libels against foreign sovereigns.  The government takes excessive pains to have as little said about the elections., possible. The Sleds of this morning only ventures to say that it has sent to the prefecture to know the names of the candidates, and has not yet received an answer. The Debar does not in any way allude to the subject. The news which I sent you yesterday, that MM. Lionville, Jules Fevre, and Picard, are the three opposition candidates, is certain ; but it appears that the Presse was quite mistaken last night in announcing that General St. Amend and M. Lepel': were government candidates. The three government candidates mentioned by the  Pays and 71,,tr4 are those whose names you were long since informed of—General Perrot, M. Eck, and M. Ferret. The Presse of this evening not only abstains from correcting its own mistake, but does not speak of the elections at all. The Patric asserts that the candidates who have taken the oath, and complied with the requisite formalities are twenty in number. There is no confirmation in any quarter of this statement, which seems to me very improbable. The Patric mentions no names besides those already known.