The only allusion we have foundin the late
European news to the arrest of
Captain Semmes, of the
Sumter, is a brief telegram from
Madrid, dated February 25th, to this effect: ‘"The captain of the Sumtes has been arrested at Tangler, at the instance of the
American Consul at
Gibraltar and of the commander of the
Tuscarora, who sent to Tangter for that purpose"’
This news may be received with distrust.
The proceedings in the
British Partiament, briefly noticed by telegraph, have reached us more in detall.
We copy an account of the episode in the House of Commons on the 25th of February:
Lord Palmerston stated that, during the debate on the 21st ultimo, the
Secretary for
Ireland,
Sir Robert Peel, had used expressions which ‘"the O'Donoghue"’ had considered personally offensive and insuiting to himself.
The
O'Donoghue took no notices of the expressions at the time, but he (
Palmerston) was given to understand that results out of the
House might ensue.
As this would involve a breach of privilege, he wrote a letter to
Sir Robert Peel, warning him of the impending trouble, and cautioning him against making himself a party to the breach of privilege.
In the course of Saturday, the 22d, communications took place which led to a request that
Sir Robert Peel-would name a friend, At his (
Palmerston's) request he was that friend, but not, of course, with the design of arranging a hostile meeting.
He was subesquently called upon by
Major Gavin, the friend of the O'Donoghue, and explained to that gentleman that a breach of the privileges of the
House could not be permitted, and that it was his intention to state the facts to the
House and leave the question in its hands.
The Speaker called upon the O'Donoghue to express his regret for what had occurred,
Major Gavin explained his part in the transaction, and said that
Sir Robert Peel had refused to retract anything that he had stated.
The cause of offence was Sir Robert's allusion to the late meeting in the Rotunda at
Dublin — got up by ‘"Mannakin traitors,"’ and to which no one of respectability responded.
The
O'Donoghue, after some little pressure from the
Speaker, made the required apology to the
House; but in doing so, he uttered some insuiting taunts towards
Sir Robert Peel.
Lord C. Paget introduced the Navy estimates and entered at length into the position of naval affairs.
After some debate a vote of seventy-six thousand men and the required sum for their wages and maintenance was agreed to.
In the House of Lords, on the 25th, the Karl of
Derby gave notice that he should on Thursday put a question to the
Secretary of Foreign Affairs with regard to a proclamation of a most extraordinary character, which had been published in the
Neapolitan papers.
The proclamation sits forth that after a certain day no person shall set foot in a certain district, that all houses, hovels and cabins of every description are to be levelled to the ground, and that the inhabitants of every farm house in which ors than a day's food is found, shall be treated as brigands, and immediately shot.
Earl Russeil--I had received no information from the
English Minister at
Turin or the
Consul at
Naples, and asked for a copy of the proclamation.
In the House of Commons on the same evening,
Mr. Horsfall gave notice that on the 11th of March he would move that the present state of international maritime law, as it concerns belligerents and nentials, is undefined, unsatisfactory, and calls for the early attention of her Majesty's Government.
The discussion on the address war resumed in the Senate on the 24th ultimo, M Troplong exhorted the
Senators to preserve a conciliatory and moderate tone in the debates.
M. de Boissy regretted that
France had assisted
England in revenging herself on the Chinese.
He was of opinion that the money expended in the Crimea and in
Italy would have been better applied towards a descent upon
England.
M. Billault regretted the remarks of M
de Boissy.
Language of that description between two great nations, equally proud, equally sensitive upon the point of honor, was a misfortune.
He thought it useless to revive French animosity towards
England, when the policy of the
Emperor tended, on the contrary, to appease such feelings.
M. M. Shayer and
Charles Dupin spoke in favor of the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul.
The debate was adjourned.
On the 25th the discussion was continued.
Prince Napoleon protested against the expressions used by
M. de Boissy.
He said:--‘"In the Senate the standard of the younger branch has been raised in opposition to that of the older branch.
I protested last year against similar insinuations.
I now repeat that I wish to defend the constitutional and liberl empire.
That empire can endure liberty, but liberty must take its course in the order established by our Constitution.-- (Applause) It is possible that others forgot this; but I, who remembered it when
Napoleon was prisoner, or in exile, shall remember it all the better now when my duties attach me to the
Emperor and to his son, and that those duties agree with a devotion of ancient date, and an affection which will never change.
(Loud and prolonged applause) Against the insinuations that have been thrown out against myself personally, I have determined to answer them only by contempt."’
About two thousand workmen preceeded to the
Place de la Bastille on the 24th, but, when attempting to march round the Column of July, were dispersed by the police.
There was no resistance or outcry, and the mensought consolation in the wine shogs.
The French Government had authorized the
General Maritime Company to purchase steamers in
England for the line between
France and
Mexico, about to be established.
The
Moniteu, with Prince Napoleon's first speech, and an account of the tumultuous actions which it produced, had been posted on the walls of
Paris, and extensively and eagerly read by the working classes.
An Unpopular flag Moisted in Ireland.
[from the Nenagh (Tipperary) Gusrdian.]
Early on Monday morning last a large flag, representing the national banner of
America, was seen floating from the summit of the
Old Castle of this town, which is at present undergoing alterations to make it a belfry for the contemplated Catholic cathedral of Nenagh.
The disloyal and offensive emblem, which exhibited in large characters the Stars and Stripes of the
American Republic, was promptly seized by the police, and is at prasent in custody of Sub-
Inspector Reamsbottom.
It is due to
the Rev. Mr. Cleary, P. P., to state that the moment he heard of the occurrence he at once directed the removal of the flag, and it was by the man he sent to take it down that it was given into the hands of the authorities.
The outrage has been strongly condemned by all the respectable
Catholics of the town.
It is the act of a clique, of whom it is perhaps making too much to notice the cowardly midnight deed at all; and we feel we would not be justified in devoting even a line of our space to the record of the puny act of disloyalty were it not that at a distance the occurrence, being heard of, might be magnilfled into something serious, and an injustice be thereby done to the character of the town.
Foreion Cleanings.
Prince Alfred is expected to return to
England this month.
The young
Prince left the
West Indies for
Mexico, two days before the letter recalling him reached his station in those islands.
The Italian Free Masons have just introduced an important innovation in the status of the Society.
There are new sister Masons, venerable, and great mistresses.
The
Grand Duke Constantine, who has been for the last two years absent from
Russia, successively staying in
Germany,
France,
Portugal,
Italy, and
England, is expected immediately at
St. Petersburg.
A letter from
Rome says.
‘"The business agent of
Prince Joseph Bonaparte, his
elterege, M. Renazzi, has just been arrested by order of the
Pontifical Government All that is known further is, that the arrest is due to political causes."’
Mr. Latimer Clarke, the engineer for the
Red Sea cable, has tested the cable at
Suez, and finds the insulation perfect for one hundred and fifty miles. The arrangements for opening the
Jubal station are progressing satisfactorily, and the Pasha has given his cordial co-operation.
Lord Leigh, of
Stoneleigh Abbey, is appealing to the public for the distressed operatives of
Coventry.
His lordship says there are twenty-five thousand people there out of employment, and a committee has been formed to assist some of them to emigrate.
The
Vienna papers mention a handsome donation made by the
Prince of
Wales for the benefit of the sufferest by the innadations and unusually severe weather, which latter has greatly aggravated the misery of thousands of poor houseless wretches, driven by the waters from their homes, with the loss of everything they possessed.
A magulficent group of
Europe and the buil, of the size of life, found in the ancient Roman ampitheatre at Gortigna, in
Crete, has lately been exhumed, and has been brought to
England by her Majesty's ship
Scourge, and
has been deposited within the British Museum, side by side with the Carian and Cyrenate sculptures.
Gen. Garibaldi is stated to enjoy perfect health, and to be entirely given to agriculture.
Thirty-four peasants have been sent over to him, who are engaged in plonghing a large tract of land along the coast; and if this continues the
Island of Caprera will be soon completely transformed.
The General constantly receives addresses and presents from his friends.
He passes his evenings in reading the journals.
The Vlenna journals announce the death in that city of aliterary veteran, ignatlus Casteill, born on the 6th of May, 1771, and consequently, 91 years of age. He wrote the text of the ‘"Swiss family,"’ set to music by
Schlosser, and performed in
Paris with French words in 1825.
He was also the translator of numerous operatic and dramatic places.--Casteill has written his own epitaph, as follows: ‘"Here lies a man who was ever devoted to art and honor.
He was not of much importance when alive, and low he is nothing at all."’ He had a mania for collecting snuffboxes, and has left not fewer than 1,800.
The
Journal du Cher states that a painful accident occurred two nights since at the theatre of Bourges, during the performance of the fairy opera of the
Amoure du Liable. In the seventh tablean,
Madame Coste, the first cantatrice, had to sink through the stage, when, owing to some irregular movement of the trap, her foot slipped.
and she fell a depth of nearly thirty feet, and in falling struck her head against the edge of the stage floor, inflicting a rather severe wound.
Her other injuries are limited to a few slight contusions.
Of course, she was unable to appear in the remainder of the opera.
This is the second accident from which
Madame Coste has suffered at Bourges within twelve months.
A letter from
Rome, alluding to a late rumor which prevailed of the
Pope's death, says:
‘
"The
Mastai family, to which the
Pope belongs, is remarkable for its longevity.
He has two brothers and a sister older than himself--
Count Gabriel, aged eighty-two;
Count Gaetano, aged seventy-eight; and
Countess Isabella, seventy-five.
Count Jerome, father of
his holiness, died at the age of eighty-four; and the
Countess Catherine, his mother, at the age of eighty-two; while his grand-father, the
Count Hercules, lived to the age of ninety-six.
It may consequently be averred with truth that they are a long-lived family. "
’
There was a curious will case in the
Dublin Court of Probate recently.
James Port, of Ballygillan, county of Derry, was dying of fever, His brother and sister got a neighbor to draw his will, but, as the fever was infections, he would go no nearer than the barn to the testator — whither the sister conveyed his answers to the questions put to him as to the disposel of his property, the drawer of the will putting in a legacy of ten pounds to himself, without troubling the dying man about such a trifle.
When the document was completed it was read to the testator, who understood nothing that was going on; but they put a pen in his hand and got him to put his mark on the document.
He died shortly after.
The jury, without hesitation, declared that the document was not the will of the deceased.
The treaty between Queen Victoria and the
Grand Duke of
Hesse, relative to the marriage of the Princess Alice has just issued.
It consists of nine articles.
The expenses of the joint establishment are to be defrayed out of the appanage of the bridegroom, which is fixed at 40,000 florins a year, and the interest of the marriage portion of the Princess Alice, which is $30,000. Artioles four, five and six, provide for the investment of her Royal Highness's marriage portion, and for its disposal, in case of there being issue or otherwise.
By the seventh article her Majesty promises to secure to her daughter from the time of her marriage the annual sum of £6,000 to be received by commissioners named by the
Queen, for the sole and separate use of the
Princess.
The
Grand Duke of
Hesse engages, by the eighth article, to secure to her Royal Highness, in the event of the death of his son, a jointure, together with a residence at
Darmstadt, and the interest of her marriage portion.
Should her Royal Highness become Grand
Duchess of
Hesse, she is to receive the same allowance that former Grand Duchesses have enjoyed.
Letters from
Vienna mention that the nephew of
Count Dragenfeld,
Minister of War, had been devoured by wolves.
He was returning from hanting in a sledge, when he was attacked by two of these animals; he fired on them, and the coachman put his horse to a gallop to escape, but in doing so precipitated the
Count from the sledge.--The coachman was not aware of the accident for some time, and on returning found only the mutilated body of the
Count.
The legal journal
Le Droit, in reporting the sulcide of a gentleman in the
Rue de Provence, without any known reason, states that his immediate predecessor in the apartment, and the occupier before him, both-laid violent hands upon themselves, and upon the strength of these curious facts broaches the theory that suicide is often attributable to mysterious local influences.
In support of the doctrine if is said that Nepoleon I. ordered the destruction of a sentry-box, in which several soldiers had successively destroyed themselves.
A frightful story is current of two gendarmes meeting a young girl in the forest of St. Germain, who sought their protection because, she said, she had some money about her, and that she had come out to meet her lover.
The gendarms are reported to have murdered the girl and robbed her; afterwards they captured the girls lover, and accused him of the murder.
As they dragged him through the forest they met a poacher, whom they arrested.
He had seen the crime committed and denounced them, and the money was found upon them, with other proof of their guilt.
Mrs. Bradshaw, the once eminent vocalist, known to the eider generation of playgoers as
Miss. M. Tree, died on the 17th.
In the old days of English ballad-opera she stood in the highest rank of her profession, and in the musical adaptations of
Shakspeare's plays, which were common many years ago, she was frequently associated with Miss Stephens Her retirement from the stage, consequent on her marriage with
Mr. Bradshaw, occurred so long since that to modern amateurs of music she will seem to belong to a remote past, and to exist only in honorable tradition.
Thirteen years have elapsed since the death of
Mr. Bradshaw, and she has left one child, a daughter, who is married to
Mr. Langley, formerly of the Second Guards.--
Mrs. Bradshaw was the eldest sister of
Mrs. Charles Kean.
On the 14th,
Mrs Hudson, the wife of
Mr. Hudson, a shopkeepet at Burythorpe, was at
Mr. Waton's farm, at Birsdall, near Malton, where a corn-
threshing machine was in use.
Mrs. Hudson attempted to step over the ‘"tumbling shaft,"’ which revolves rapidly, and has a connection in the centre which presents sharp angles, and are very likely to catch and retain hold of a dress if brought in proximity.
It is thought
Mrs. Hudson's dress was caught in this way, and was instantaneously wrapped several times round the shaft, the wearer being, of course, brought down with it, and, to the horror all of present, whiried round and round with every revolution.
The machinery was stopped as quickly as possible, and when the unfortunate woman was extricated it was found that herknees were dislocated, and that she had received many wounds and very serious injuries.
Two cent maps are about to be published by the
French War Department, illustrating the campaigns of the Crimea and of
Italy.
They are to contain maps, plans, drawings and views of strategic points, for tresses, and the fields of battle on which the
French army distinguished itself.
The War Departments in other countries are likewise executing topographic works.
Spain is completing a map of the campaign in Morocco.
The engravings have been executed by artists attached to the staff during the campaign.
The chromolithography of the itinerary of the
Captain-General is said to be very remarkable.
The officers of the staff of the
Dutch army are actively engaged in preparing a topographical map of
Holland.
The staff of the
Grand Duke of
Baden are likewise preparing a topographical atlas of the
Grand Duchy of
Baden.
The
Journal of Avranches mentions the following curious story: ‘"A strange event occurred, a few days since, in a commune near Coutance, Manche.
A young man employed on a farm had married his master's daughter, and in so doing had carried off the prize from several other sultors, and the nuptials were kept with all the rejoicings usual on such occasions, In the evening a large house dog, chained up in the yard, was heard barking violently, and was at length set at liberty in order to quiet him. The moment the animal was let loose it ran into the house, and up the stairs to the door of the room prepared for the married couple, against which he beganscratching in a violent manner.
On the door being opened by the persons who had followed the animal, the dog rushed under the bed, and immediately a loud cry was heard.
On looking under, a man, who had been just strangled by the dog, was found, having in his hands two loaded pistols.
He was recognized as one of the defeated sultors of the bride, and doubtless meditated a sanguinary vengeance for his disappointment."’
