The Sun. — 1861-04-19 (London, England)

THE FRENCH IN THE RED SEA.  (From the Bombay Gaiette.)  The ulterior object of the French ships of war at present in the Red Sea, we believe to be the occupation of a suitable part, which may serve as a coaling station, and otherwise facilitate the extension of the national influence in the quarter. and especially over Abyssinia. The immediate and avowed object, however, is to avenge the death of Mons. H. Lambert, who acted for a time as Vice-Consul for France at Aden, and whom the French Government believe to have been murdered by some Somalies or Arabs on board of a native boat between 'Leila and Tajoorra while on a voyage from Hodeida. The circumstances occurred in June, 1859, and the report which first reached us was confirmatory of the outrage. Subsequently, however, our correspondent at Aden informed us that Mons. Lambert's death was purely accidental that he and his servant had been drowned on the African coast while attempting to escape from a stranded bugla. As this information was based on an investigation instituted by Brigadier Coghlan, who despatched one of his Assistants to the spot in m.c. Furlong, we readily accept it, and have ever since been disposed to believe that such was the true version of the melancholy catastrophe. Circumstances, however, have lately come to our knowledge, which lead us to fear that Lambert was the victim of foul play. It appears, indeed, that the French government received accounts from Aden, simultaneously with the official report of his accidental death, declaring that he was murdered, and adducing sufficient grounds for the suspicion. Though somewhat tardy in their movements, the French have nevertheless not been backward in organising proceedings designed to elicit the truth and if necessary to punish the guilty parties. Commodore le Viscomte de Langle, with a fleet of four ships, lately reached Aden, and immediately requested the Assistant Resident in Charge to supply him with a copy of all the official correspondence which had passed on the subject of Lambert's death. Captain Playfair complied with the request at once, and as having been the officer deputed by Brigadier Coghlan to conduct the original investigation, at Tajoorra, he had an opportunity of stating his personal convictions on the matter, and of bringing forward any additional proofs regarding the manner of the unfortunate man's death. The French Commodore, however, was by no means satisfied that the case was as had been represented, and he went on to state that his Government was in possession of evidence rendering it probable in the highest degree that Lambert had been murdered. It appears that some portion of this evidence had been transmitted, either directly or indirectly through the Roman Catholic Chaplain at Aden, who, on being called before the Commodore and Captain Playfair indicated the parties among the Somalies who had testified to having seen Lambert stabbed on board the boat and cast into the sea. Thereon another witness was produced— a Mr. Grey, who had very lately been employed at Aden in the Income-tax Department—who affirmed that while at Tajoorre, he met an Arab in room, who,  pointing to a dagger on the wall, declared that to be the weapon with which he had killed Lambert and his servant, and that he had murdered them in his hatred towards the French, and in-revenge for their treatment of Shermarki, the old Somaly chief of Zeila.  Whether these charges will be proved remains_ to be seen. At the request of the Commodore, Mr. Grey was permitted to accompany him to Jeddah, whither the French ships have gone with orders to the Pasha to furnish them with 300 Turkish troops to co-operate with the Commodore in his investigations, and to carry out his decision. We understood, moreover, that similar orders have sheen issued to all the Turkish authorities in the Red Sea directing them most peremptorily to assist the French Commodore in every possible way, and aid him is bringing to punishment the murderers of Mr. Lam" bert and all their accomplices, in the event of their being convicted of the crime alleged against theca•