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Leader (1850-1860), 23rd January 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 76

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      very'sanguinary collision was anticipated . Mr . Pugta , a member of the United States Senate , has asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill to provide for the admission of Kansas into the Union . The bill was referred to the Committee on Territories . The New York Legislature met on the 5 th inst . ; but the Lower House failed to organize itself , three attempts to elect a Speaker having proved abortive . The New York Herald , in an article on the Atlantic telegraph , says : — "We understand that , in addition to the two vessels which have been detailed by the British Admiralty , the whole of the Channel fleet , consisting of some ninety or a hundred vessels , will accompany the telegraph squadron to mid-ocean , from which the work of laying the cable will be commenced . Next June has been decided upon as the most favourable for the purpose , so it is not improbable that the cable will be laid before the 4 th of July next . The Niagara will not leave for England before next March , to assist in the undertaking . "

      General Scott , at the last dates , was in Washington , planning the spring campaign against the Mormons . « Mr . Lettsom , the English Minister at Mexico , has been attacked by a band of robbers on a high-road near the capital . His horse and watch were taken from him , and he was slightly wounded by a pistol shot . His servant ' s horse was also taken away . The Mormons continue to harass the expedition sent oat against them . They have burnt all the grass , and the animals are dying at the rate of one hundred per day . All the passes to Salt Lake City are being fortified . Walker refuses to yield up the command of the Filibuster movement against Nicaragua . The President has transmitted a ' Message' to Congress on the subject of the arrest of the Filibuster . In this document he

      asserts the illegality of Commodore Paulding ' s course , while giving him credit for pure and patriotic motives ; and denounces the conduct of Walker in strong language , but expresses his opinion that it is ' beyond question ' the destiny of the people of the United ^ States ' to spread themselves over the continent of North America , and at no distant day , ' by means of emigration . A letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the commander of the steamer Fulton , dated October 12 th , has been published , in which the commander is told that his instructions do not authorize him to act arbitrarily or upon mere suspicion , but that , where he finds an American vessel manifestly engaged in carrying on an expedition or enterprise from the territories or jurisdiction of the United States against Mexico , Nicaragua , or Costa Rica , he will use the force under his command to prevent it , and not permit the men or arms engaged in it or destined for ft to be landed in any part of Central ' America or Mexico . Similar instructions were sent to Commodore Paulding .

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      THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF LOUIS NAPOLEON . It is long since any event in France has caused so much excitement , or led to so much unanimity of feeling , as the attempt , on Thursday week , to take the lives of Louis Napoleon and the Empress- All parties have agreed in execrating the design , and in congratulating themselves on the fact of the assassins being foreigners . The French and English papers have teemed with details of the event ; aiid from these we gather the chief points of interest . A feeling of uneasiness had prevailed in Paris for some time , and it would appear that , on the morning of the day on which the attempt was made , the police received information that some dangerous scheme was being

      concocted . Two or three Italians were arrested , and others would also have been seized had the authorities known where to find them . As it was known that the Emperor j » nd Empress would attend the Opera that night , an additional force of military and police was stationed on the boulevards , and the street in which the Opera-house is situated was lighted with an extra number of gas jets . A few minutes before the attempt , M . Hebert , an officer of police , met , near the theatre , an Italian named Pierri , who had been' expelled from Franco in 1852 , and had just come back under a false name , and with an English passport . Ha asserted that he was on Englishman , but M . Hebert recognized and arrested him . A revolver , a dagger , and a hand grenade , were found about his person . Having transferred his prisoner to other hands , M . Hebort returned to the theatre , and was just about to open the

      door of the Emperor ' s carriago when a hand gronado was thrown under the wheels of the carriage , and an explosion took place . There had boon two previously to this . Tho first bomb was thrown at the carriage just after it ""Htaa rewh ^^ twenty persons were wounded . Tho coachman then whipped on his horses ; but almost immediately a second bomb burst , and one of tho horses foil wounded to tho , ground . A alight delay in tho progress of tho carriage , owing to another being close beforo it , had apparently deranged the projects of tho conspirators , and caused them to do their work with loss oxportness . Tho third bomb full beneath the carriage itself , just as it drew up beforo the theatre . By this explosion , M . Hebert was wounded . In all , one hundred and nineteen people wore more or loss hurt—some very dangerously . Six persona

      were killed . * The Emperor and Empress had not alighte at the time ; and to this probably they owe their escape . The carriage was much shattered ; one of the horses was killed on the spot , and the other mangled so much that it has since died . The ground was covered with blood ; the gas lamps in front of the theatre were either extinguished by the explosion , or were purposely turned off to aid the plot ; the windows of the neighbouring houses were shattered , and the front of the Opera-house was dinted deeply with the iron fragments of . the shells . In the midst of these circumstances of horror , the Emperor

      and Empress alighted ; and it was then observed that the white dress of the Empress , and even her face , were reddened with blood . One of her attendants had been wounded , and it was probably from her that the blood proceeded . But the Empress herself seems to have been slightly scratched on the cheek , and Louis Napoleon was also just grazed . His hat was cut to pieces , and his cloak rent about the collar . The utmost consternation prevailed , and several persons rushed wildly from the spot . Some of these , there is no doubt , were the assassins . One of the men who thus fled exclaimed . " The

      Emperor ' s carriage is blown to pieces , and he is exterminated ! " In the meanwhile , the Emperor and Empress busied themselves with seeing that the wounded were properly attended to . Both behaved with great coolness and courage . It is said that the Emperor proposed to return to the Tuileries ; but the Empress suggested that tb , ey should enter the house . ¦ This they did , and orders were given that the performances should commence . The greatest agitation of course prevailed , and , on the appearance of Louis Napoleon and the Empress in their box , they were received with loud and prolonged cheering . The Emperor afterwards presented himself at the door , and in the balcony outside the theatre , and was greeted with another ovation from the crowds assembled in the street . The performances then commenced , though it may be supposed few paid much attention to them ; and the Emperor and Empress remained until the conclusion , which was about twelve o'clock .

      It is said that not less than twenty of the projectiles were intended for use . Four were flung under , or close to , the carriage , but only three exploded . At the moment of one of the explosions , a man was seen to rush to the carriage , armed with a dagger and revolver ; but he was caught by a sergent de ville , who , after a desperate struggle , in which he was wounded , secured the assassin . Another man was also arrested on the spot , carrying a carpet-bag , in which were pistols , daggers , and a small box . Two hundred and seventy francs in gold were in his pockets . A third man , well dressed , and wearing white gloves , was seen to raise his hat and wave it—it is supposed as a signal . He also was arrested . Some of the prisoners ( who are all Italians ) had only arrived in Paris the day before . The chief of the conspirators—a Count Orsini—was apprehended

      during the night . He was himself badly wounded , but contrived to escape to his lodgings . His servant , a roan named Antonio Gomez , went about , shortly after the explosions , inquiring in a very agitated manner for his master . At length , he entered a chemist ' s shop , where Orsini had had his wounds dressed , but here he was questioned so closely that he fainted . The police were sent for , and he then gave the name and address of his master , who was accordingly soon in the hands of justice . From eight to nine thousand francs in English gold and bank-notes were found at Orsini's lodgings in the Rue Monthabor . The Count confesses to having thrown one of the bombs . In the course of the night , some of tho Ministers , law-officers , and heads of police , assembled at the Prefecture of Police , and commenced investigations .

      Immediately after the horrible occurrence , " it was supposed , " says a writer from Paris , " that the authors of the attempt might have escaped into some of tho houses , or had oven prepared means of flight that way . A large body of police soon occupied tho Dinor do Franco , formerly known as the Dinor do l'Exposition . Meantime , of course , additional troops were sent for , and the Boulevards were soon occupied by cavalry , " From another source we learn that " detachments of horse cleared the Rue Lopelletior and the neighbouring passages , and some occupied the side paths to provont any one from slipping along . From the Palais Royal came Prince Jerome and his son , Princo Napoloon , and the Princess Mathilde , to assure themselves of tho safety of tho Emperor . " Immense numbers of persons flocked on the following day to the Ruo Lepolletior , and some

      few , who inndo comments which wore not to tho taste of tho authorities , wero arrested and sont away under a guard of soldiers . A great many arrests , indeed , took place all over Paris , and , according to tho Patrie , tho police-offices are literally crammed with prisoners . It l'lJS ! 5 PHSA jyi ftL . ik » . coJ 12 nl'raoy nac * ramifications in " the FauDourg S ' t . AntofnoT" It appears , " saya UfiXifj ^ nani'a Meaaeiiffer , " that tho projectiles omployod wero bombs made of oast-Iron , having sevorul tubes advancing slightly from tho outward surface , and provided with detonating caps , so as to explode either in falling , or by being trampled on by tho horses' foot ,, or by being crushed by the wheels of tho carriago , should tho shock Of tho fall not have proved sufficient to ignlto tho caps . Tho interior was entirely filled with old nails , pieces of

      iron , slugs , and bullets , which , when the explosion took place , were scattered with immense force in every direction . The technical name of such engines of destruction is , we believe , carcasse . " The projectiles have beon examined by a commission composed of artillery officers . It has been ascertained that they are charged with fulminating mercury . They each produce from seventy to seventy-five explosions . On the Imperial party leaving the theatre , the streets were still found " to be filled with crowds of people , who cheered vociferously as the carriage passed quickly

      along . The vehicle was surrounded by Lancers ; but the Empress ' s hand could be seen from one of the windows , waving a handkerchief in acknowledgment of the shouts . An empty carriage went first , and the whole cavalcade swept rapidly through the streets . A great many of the houses were illuminated , and the windows and balconies were thronged . By the time the Emperor and Empress arrived at the Tuileries , they found that the members of the Diplomatic Corps , and several other high functionaries and dignitaries had assembled at the palace to offer their congratulations .

      The people endeavoured , after the Imperial party had left , to enter the Rue Lepelletier , the street where the Opera-house is situated ; but the police kept them back . In the course of the evening , up to a very late hour , several persons attempted to gain admission to the theatre with tickets , but were repulsed by the authorities . Next day , the excitement was as great as on the previous night . The Bourse opened with loud cries of " Vive l'Empereur ! " and " Vive rimperatrice ! " There was no perceptible effect on the funds . The Emperor

      and Empress , in the course of the morning , visited the hospital to which the wounded had been removed ; and , at about a quarter to four o ' clock , they left the Tuileriea in an open carriage without any escort , and drove up the Rue de Richelieu and upon the Boulevards . It is needless to say that their reception was most enthusiastic . Political differences seemed to have been overwhelmed in disgust at the atrocious nature of the crime that had been committed , and in indignation at the fact of foreigners having sought to take upon themselves the initiative of revolution . ¦

      The Senate , the Legislative Corps ,, the Council of State , and the Municipal Council of Paris , waited on the Emperor on Saturday , to express their indignation at the attempt which had been made , and their gratitude for its failure . They were received in four rooms , through which the Emperor passed successively , attended by Prince Jerome , Prince Napoleon , and other members of the family . Of the Legislative body , Count de Morny was the spokesman . He said : — " Sire , —We have waited on you , that we may tell you how deeply we are thankful to Providence for having protected your life and that of the Empress ; but we have thought , likewise , that you might allow us to utter words dictated by legitimate indignation and

      profound attachment to your Imperial House . We cannot hide from you , sire , that the population with whom we have been of late in contact is appiehensive , on account of the effects of your clemency , which takes too much the goodness of your own heart for a standard by which to judge . When they see such frightful attempts prepared abroad , they ask themselves how it is that neighbouring and friendly Governments are powerless to destroy those laboratories of murder , and how the holy laws of hospitality are made applicable to ferocious beasts : Sire , your Government , which is founded on two principles—on authority and on the protection of

      honest people—must , at any price , put a stop to these periodical convulsions . You may bo sure of the cooperation of the Legislative body for attaining such a purpose . You are only attacked in this way , because you are the keystone of the vault of public order . And we entreat you not to follow tho inspirations of your courage only , and not to forgot that , in exposing your person , you expose the tranquillity of France . Siro , I am naturally tho organ of the deputies , but for tho sake of respect and observances , my words are only a feeble expression of their sentiments . " The other addresses wore to similar effect .

      To all tho speeches the Emperor made an appropriate reply , in which ho said that ho should mingle moderation with firmness . A To Down was performed on Simday in all tho churches . A similar religious ceremonial took place in London at the French Chapel , King-streot , Portman-squaro . Tho French Ambassador was presont , and Cardinal Wiseman officiated . A bill is about to bo presented to tho Corps Ldginlatif for granting pensions to tho victims of tho explosions , and to thoir familion .

      Tho Damqs do la Hallo have forwarded an address of congratulatioA _ tpj ] tioJ ^ i ^^ measures are to bo taken against tho Italians In x nns . Rigorous measures ngainst tho prosH , in consoquonco of tho attempt of Thursday wook , have already boon tukon-Tho licvue de Paria and tho Sjteotateur ( formorlj- the Aaaamblda Nationale ) havo boon suppressed . In his report recommending this arbitrary aot , M . Blllault , th " Minister of tho Interior , obsorvoH : — "As long as Iroo England foarod , for tho lumily which now roignu , iw attacks and tho Intrigues of tho friends of a P rotonclor , that liberty of which sho is proud gave way to moat rigorous moaBuros . Your Government , Siro , Is at tuo

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      76 THE LBADEE . [ No . 409 , January 23 , 1858 .

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      * This is tho official account ; but in some places it is stated that tho number of woundod is groutor .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 23, 1858, page 76, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2227/page/4/