FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 526, 18 November 1857, Page 3

FRANCE.

The Italians Tibaldi, Bartoletti, and Grilli, charged with a design to assassinate the -Emperor, have been put upon their trial. The "act of accusation" may be taken as embodying the whole case for the prosecution. It begins by saying that "the revolutionary party has not abandoned its hopes and projects ; " that London is the dwelling-place of some of the most compromised demagogues, where they meet on the " common ground of their hatreds and passions," of which the Emperor Napoleon is the principal object. The "evidence" against them and their alleged accomplices —Mazzini, Ledru-Rollin, Canrpanella, and Massarenti—consists of letters, the confessions of the prisoners, and a quantity of arms. Three of the principal letters are said to be from Mazzini, who signs himself " Giu," " Joseph," and " Giuseppe." He is represented as advising that men should be sent to execute "the affair of Paris," — that they should go " two and two," to act independently of each other ; and the two men Bartoletti and Grilli formed one of these couples. Massarenti and Campanella were to judge of the fitness of these two men ; and as money would be required, they were to g*o to " James," " our friend at the brewery""—interpreted by the French authorities to mean " St. James Stanifield, a brewer." A letter to Campanella in the handwriting of Mazzini was seized at the Post-office, and some found on the prisoners, but they are quite as obscure. Bar-.. tolotti made a confession. When in London, he went to the house of Mazzini — " A Frenchman was present at this in-, terview, who is described by Bartolotti as being a tall stout man with moustachios/ whose name was mentioned in his presence, and which name he pronounces ..in *;his Italian accent c Rodrone Rolline.' Mazzini spoke of the affair before this Frenchman. He said to the prisoner Bartolotti, ( There will be two of you. You will watch the

neighbourhood of the Emperor's palace. One of you will keep on one side and one on the other. You will not leave your post, and you will let-me know whether tne Emperor goes out in the day-time and returns at night.' " Grilli is also said to have confessed—

At a time he was entirely without resources/ he met Massarenti in a tavern. Massarenti said to him, 'Mazzini will give you fifty Napoleons to assassinate the Emperor.' Grilli asked for two or three days to consider, and he afterwards said he would accept the offer. It was then that Massarenti went to York to look for Bartolotti. It was only at the second conference at Mazzini's that Grilli was present. Massarenti and Bartolotti were the only other persons there. The affair was then arranged, and instructions were given. Mazzini said to them plainly, 'You will acquaint yourselves with the Emperor's habits, and you will strike the blow whenever you find a favourable opportunity.' They each received from Massarenti fifty Napoleons in gold, and they left for Paris."

Tibaldi said that Grilli's story was a " tissue of lies." Grilli stated that Tibaldi had given him two poinards, and that he had hidden them in a certain place. They were sought, and when found, they corresponded with the arms discovered at the house where they had been left for Tibaldi.

The well-known French novelist Eug&ne Sue, died at Annecy in Savoy, on August 3, of disease of the brain. He was born in .1804, the son of one of Napoleon's physicians; his baptismal sponsors were Josephine and Eugene Beauharnais. He served as a medical man both ashore and afloat, and was present at the battle of Navarino. He early took to literature. In 1848 he manifested Democratic and Socialist opinions, and was elected in 1850 a member of the National Assembly. He went int6 exile after the coup d'etat of 1851.

Beranger, the lyric poet of France, whose death has been for some time anticipated, died on the 16th July, of " a protracted and cruel disease." Pierre Jean Beranger was bom at Paris, in 1780. His parents were humble; his earliest employments were humble. The victory of Marengo, it is said, first drew out the voice of the poet ; and from that time he has been the darling of France, though not always of the French Governments. He" was imprisoned in 1821 ; again in 1828; and Louis Philippe did not lend him that countenance which the Empress Eugenic afforded him to the last hours of his life. In 1848 Berang*er was elected a member of the National Assembly ,• but he pleaded old age, and the plea was reluctantly admitted as an excuse for his retirement. The departed poet was buried on the 17th, at the expense of the state, in order, as the ' Moniteur' tells us, "to honour the memory of this national poet, whose works have contributed so powerfully to maintain the prevalence of patriotic sentiments in France, and to popularize the glory of the Empire." The garrison were under arms, and thousands thronged the streets ; but" all passed off quietly."