FOREIGN NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 239, 15 March 1865, Page 2

FOREIGN NEWS.

FRANCE. Funeral op the Emperor’s Secretary.—The remains of the late M. Mocquard were carried on Monday to their last home at the Montmartre Cemetry. The proceedings attracted large crowds of sympathisers and sight-seers ; for the genial old man whose corpse reposed in the coffin at the gateway in the Rue de Rivoli was much loved and respected by all who knew him ; and for the careless public, who knew nothing of the deceased, the luxury of woe displayed by the Pampas Funkires on the occasion was a sufficient attraction. The coffin was placed in the ports cooheres of the deceased gentleman’s late abode, which was converted into a chapelle ardente, surrounded by blazing lights, and priests praying around. The pall-bearers were Marshal Yaillant, Glen era I Fleury, M. Dupin, and Baron Lacrosse. The deceased’s son was the chief mourner, supported by his brother-in-law and other relatives. By order of the Emperor, all the Ministers were present in their official costumes, and every branch of the civil, military, and naval service was fully represented. Four companies of the 68th Regt. of the line followed the hearse to the Church of St. Roche, and afterwards to the Mocquard Mausoleum, in the cemetry of Montmartre. We English indulge in our speechifying propensities after dinner—a most inconvenient period, when we are full. The French get rid of their superfluous words over yet unclosed tombs. There are always speeches over the grave of every man of note in France, unless his political opinions were anti-Napoleonian, in which case the mourners are always sworn to silence. Marshal Yaillant made a long speech, which may be summed up by his closing words—“ He was the Emperor’s friend.” This was followed by an eloquent and fervid speech from the Yicomte de Lagueronniere; but he also enlarged upon the Emperor’s friendship as being the principal claim of the deceased to the respect of all present. The New Bishop of Yaeence, —The nomination of the Abbfe Guenlette to the bishopric of Yalence is a sign of the times. He owes his advancement entirely to the fact of his having waged war against Mgr. Drenx' Brezc, the ultramontane bishop of Mou!ins. His appointment, following

close upon that, of Mgr. Rimadie the new bishop of Perpignan, gives the Pope fair warning that the Emperor, seeing the error of his former wavs means now to support the “ Gallican” element of the church m France. If the Pope should be so blind as to refuse to “ preconise ” these two bishops, he will run the greatest risk of provokin'* the Emperor to adopt some radical measure against the concordat. The two bishops whose ultramontanism transcends that of all their brethren, Dreux Breze, of Moulins, and Pie of Poitiers, were made by Count de Palloux, at one time Louis Napoleon’s Minister of Public Instruction and Worship, but now his bitterest enemy.

Serious Charge against a Prett? Woman in Paris.— A young and beautiful woman, whose name is concealed, described as the wife of a high public functionary, was summoned before the Tribunal of the Seine et Marne for having defrauded twenty-two of her tradespeople by forging their signatures as receipts to the bids which they had sent in, but which remained unpaid The lady was furthermore accused of having “ troubled the repose” of all around her, by writing numerous anonymous letters to various persons of either sex. The twenty-two tradesmen appeared and swore that the lady still owed them the money, and that the pretended receipts were forgeries. The second charge was also proven, yet M. Lacliaud succeeded in persuading the Tribunals that a public functionary’s wife must be innocent. The twenty-two tradesmen mi«ht be mistaken, Csesar’s wife must not be suspected. The judges took this view of the case and acquitted the functionary’s wife.

A Liberal Thief.—Great excitement was caused on Sunday in the Rue Gregoire de Tours by a young man, who ran along the street scattering gold coins from a small wooden bowl, which he carried in his hand, at the same time crying out—“ Here is money for those who want it!” People at first thought he was mad, but cries of “Stop thief!” being heard in the distance he was arrested by two sergents de ville. It was soon ascertained that he had broken, with a blow of his fist, the plate-glass window of M. Gourdault money-changer, Carrefour de I’Odeon, and stolen a bowl containing about 200 napoleons. The thief, who was ascertained to be Jules B a workman, 19 years of age, was taken to the Prefecture of Police. ITALY. Victor Emmanuel in Tears.—A Turin correspondent, writing on Dec. 11, says :—“ The law for the transfer of the capital to Florence was signed this morning by Victor Emmanuel. I have been told that at the moment of putting his signature to the Royal decree tears came into the eyes of his Majesty, and that the Ministers could not help feeling moved. The Re Galantaomo, though true to the last to the interests of Italy, could not forget that the city in which he was born will be no longer the capital of that kingdom which chiefly through his courage and devotion may now be reckoned amongst the first of Europe.” ■ ' Alleged Conspiracy at Rome.—The Gazette de France states that it has received a letter from a correspondent at Rome, announcing that a conspiracy against the life of the Pope, the King of Naples, and Cardinal Antonelli, which was to have boon carried into effect on the Bth inst., has been discovered in that city, and that the persons directly implicated have been placed in the prison of San Michelino to await their trial. The news of the arrest in Rome of three brothers having in their possession prohibited arms, and who had arrived from Ferrara, is confirmed. As regards the details and the object of their conspiracy nothing is known for certain. The Pope and the Russian Ambassador.—A telegram from Rome asserts that the Pope had determined to forward a passport to Baron Meyendorf the Russian representative at the Papal Court, but had afterward# relinquished his intention. It is said that Baron Meyendorf will not, however, in future, be received at the Vatican. The environs of Bologna have been inundated by the overflowing of the rivers in the vicinity of the town. A Female Brigand.—Among the Neapolitan provinces which have to contend with the dreadful scourge of brigandage there is that of Cattanzaro, which possesses the advantage of having a band which is led by Maria Oliviero, an exceedingly handsome woman, not yet 30 years of age. Barbarity is her chief characterittic, and the sight of blood readers her as excited as that of a wild beast. She was the wife of the famous brigand Monaco, of the Albanian village of Spezzany, who was killed in an encounter with the Italian troops near Rossano. In this very encounter Maria was also wounded, but she continued to discharge her musket, kneeling on the dead body of her husband, with a firmness and a courage which even commanded the admiration of her opponents. Having at last been struck in the right leg, she fell into the hands of the troops, was brought before a court-martial at Cattanzaro, and was condemned to be shot. The sentence was, however, commuted to 30 years of penal servitude. While she was expiating her crimes in the prison of Cattanzaro the gaoler fell desperately in love with her. The cunning woman pretended to feel an equal affection for him, and one day she told him tliat while she was with her husband she had concealed in a certain place near Rossano a large sum of money, which had been paid for the ransom of a rich farmer. The gaoler went quickly to the spot and found the money. This fact had naturally the effect of making his love for Maria still more ardent, so that she hal no difficulty in convincing him that tender affections are better manifested in freedom than within the four walls of a dungeon. Before, however, making their escape Maria succeeded in sending word to her brothers, who are brigands, that on a certain evening she would be at an appointed spot not far from Cattanzaro, attired in man’s clothes together with her deliverer. Maria was punctual at the rendi Z-ouF, and her brothers also The unfaithful turnkey was killed out of hand, and the money he had found replaced in Maria’s pocket. Once free, this woman organised a baud of brigands, and began her operations in that tract of mountains which lie between the river Crati and Cattanzaro. The barbarities since per*.

petratsd bv Maria are almost incredible. The Tillages of Spinelli. Cotzenei, and Belvedere have been literally sacked by the band she commands. The dread which the name of Maria Oliviero inspires among the rural population of Cattanzaro is so great that the Italian Government has been obliged to send two battalions of the line to pursue the cruel fury. While the band , led by this woman is desolating the country of Cattanzaro we hear from Rionero that the bersaglieri have succeeded at last in capturing the famous brigand Saechitiello, together with the two still more famous mistresses of the brigands Crocco and Schiavone. The strangest thing about the capture of Saechitiello and of the two women is that they were taken in the house of the captain of the National Guard of the village, where they had been concealed since the month of July. This fact shows how difficult it is to get rid of the Neapolitan brigands, since in certain cases the commanders of the National Guard give them safe shelter ia their very houses. PRUSSIA. The King’s Bombastic Proclamation. —The following order of the day has just been issued by the King of Prussia : —“ The glorious war against Denmark is ended. An honorable peace has succeeded it. With a short but honorable interval Prussia’s arms have rested for nearly half a century. You, soldiers of my army, who were chosen to consummate the deeds of the last war, have renewed the fame of the Prussian arms. The days of Duppel and Alsen, are by your heroism, for ever distinguished in military history. My newly-founded fleet has worthily co-operated with the land troops, and in its first struggle was not so numerous as the fleet of the enemy. United with the brave troops of my august ally, the Emperor of Austria, you have everywhere conquered ithe foe. The blessing of Providence rested on you, because you feared God, were faithful to jour duty, obedient, and brave. But the other portion of my army has also earned my satisfaction. Considerable corps have, by hard service, protected the eastern frontier of the country against a threatening insurrection; the other divisions have, by patient drill; maintained our fame for being ready for war ; consequently the new organisation which I gave to the army has brilliantly succeeded. I look with pride and joy on my glorions united military power. In *xny name, and in that of the country, I make known to you all my satisfaction and my royal thanks. .May God graciously continue to rule over Prussia. —Wjlliam. Berlin, Dec. 7, 1%'4.’

Bismarck’s Grand Discovery. —Those simpleminded folks who fondly imagined that. Bismarck was pulling the ohesnuts out of the fire for the benefit of the Dukes of Augustenburg, JOldenburg, or any other prineipicate in quest of a kingdom, will have been disagreeably surprised on reading the papers. The great Bismarck—by a mere chance of course—has discovered that the rightful heir to the vacant throne of the Duchies is—no other than his august and most gracious master. King Wilhelm. This device is ingenious, but was it necessary ? It has for months past been perfectly evident that Prussia meant to annex the Duchies, and that there is no one Power in liurope likely to prevent her carrying out the ■design. Parchment barriers are no bar to Bismarck’s onward progress. It is actually considerate on his part to condescend to disguise his .designs under the fiction of a legal claim. AMERICA. Plot to Capture a Central American Steamer. —lnformation was received on the 25th ult, by the authorities of the Panama Railroad, that a' plot had been concocted for the seizure of one of their steamers plying between Panama and central American ports, by a party of Confederate pirates, and that a number of the principal persons connected with the undertaking, whose names were given, were passengers on the royal mail steamer Tamar, from St. Thomas, which arrived at Aspinwall on tfie morning of that day, and intended taking passages in the cempany’s steamer Guatemala, w hich sailed from this port on the same doy, with the intention of putting their designs into execution. The Guatemala having put to sea before the arrival of the Tamar’s passengers on this side, the plans of the pirates were for the time frustrated. As another of the company’s steamers did not leave before the 10th instant, the conspirators were obliged to remain in (his city till that date before an opportunity offered for them to carry oi. t their diabolical purposes. In the meantime information of the plot had been received from other sources, and the managers of the railroad fully matured their plans for the capture of the entire gang. The matter was kept a most profound secret until about noon on Tuesday, the 10th instant, when the steamer Salvador was ready to put to sea. The passengers were embarked as usual, apparently no suspicion being excited until all were placed on board the steamer. Immediately on coming on board the passengers were requested to enter the main saloon, all the other rooms having been previously locked, in order to have their tickets examined and berths assigned. A signal was then given to the commander of the United States frigate Lancaster, who with a force of armed marines was stationed on and alongside the P.M.S.S. Company’s steamer Sacremento, lying a short distance from the Salvador, that all was ready. Captain Davenport was soon on board the Salvador with the requisite force, and after announcing to the passengers that he had taken possession of the ship, proceeded to read the passenger list, requiring each person to respond to bis name and show his ticket. Several were soon recognised as the persons of whom information had been received, and on being examined letter of marque, commissions from the Confederate Government, handcuffs, and arms were found on their persons. The evidence being conclusive, Captain Davenport took the steamer to sea, accompanied by the Lancaster. The United States steamer Lancaster returned on the morning of Saturday, 12th inst., bringing as prisoners seven of the persons who had taken passage in the Salvador. On several of the other passengers suspicion was very strong but on investigation the evidence was not found sufficient to warrant their being taken to the United States. From all we can learn the plot must have been quite a gigantic affair—of pro-

portions sufficiently large, had it been successful, to have swept the United States commerce from the Pacific, and almost perfect in its concoction. From the orders of Mr Mallory, secretary of the navy of the Confederate States, to Captain Hogg, the leader of the party, and from other documents found, it appears that Hogg, acting according to instructions, sailed from Wilmington, N.O.,°for Havannah, and at the latter port enlisted his associates, the paper containing their names and the oath to stand by each other until death being dated at that place. Captain Hogg and his associates intended to take passage on the Guatemala, and when out at sea seize the ship. It is believed that they have confederates on the coast or on a vessel near by, who were then to join them, and there are also persons connected with the plot on both the Californiah and Central American steamers. The instructions were then to intercept the P.M.S.S. Company’s steamer Sacramento on her way to this port from San Francisco, take possession of the treasure, which amounted to over a million dollars, and if it could not be shipped safely across the Isthmus, to take it to Valparaiso, and there deposit it with some reliable British house, or ship it on board a French man-of-war, if one could be found that would take it. With the guns, &c, to be found on board the Sacremento, the Guatemala might have been made a very dangerous vessel. The Sacramento carries one 100-pound and four 20-pound rifled Parrotts, a large amount of shot and shell, some three dozen Sharp’s rifles, and other small arms. These, together with the two guns, 12 and 24pounders, and the supply of small arms already on board the Guatemala, would have given her quite a formidable armament. This, coupled with the facts that she is very fast, being able to steam 10J or 11 knots an hour, and can carry sufficient coal to enable her to steam sixty days, shows that she would have been able to have captured or destroyed almost any merchant vessel under the United States flag on the Pacific. The leaders, finding that the papers discovered had revealed everything connected with the plot, made a clear confession of the whole affair a short time before coming into port. The prisoners have not been placed in irons or close confinement on board the Lancaster. They are closely guarded on the gun-deck, and receive the rations of prisoners of war. The following is a correct list of the seven under arrest—T. E. Hogg, captain ; E. A. Swan executive officer; J. L. Black, paymaster ; Robt. B. Lyon, sailing master; John Hiddle, chief engineer; T. J. Grady, assistant engineer; Jos. Higgins, paymaster’s clerk. Captain Hogg states that ho is a Marylander, and hails from Baltimore. We understand he is an old hand at the sort of business in which he has just been detected. About four months ago he attempted to run the blockade at Wilmington in the Tristam Shandy ; he was then taken prisoner, but managed beforehand to throw his papers overboard. —Panama Star nnd Herald.