FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 567, 10 April 1858, Page 4

FRANCE.

ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE EXIPEBOB. The second edition of the " Times " of January 16, gives the following particulars : — The following is the letter of our Paris correspondent, dated yesterday (Friday) 6 p.m. — " You will have received before this intelligence of the atrocious attempt made by some miscreants on the Emperor's life last night at the door of the Opera house in- the Rue Lepelletier;

"It was known some days previous that his Majesty proposed visiting the Opera last night. As is customary on such occasions, the entrance of the Rue Lepelletier was illuminated with gas stands, the house of the Court tradesmen that stands at the right hand as you enter from the Boulevards, and also the front of the theatre. As is usual, a crowd of people thronged the Boulevards and the streets to see the cortege. About 9 o'clock the Imperial carriage arrived, preceded by another with the attendants and followed by an escort of Lancers. The Emperor, Empress, and GeneralK-oguet, the Aide-de-Camp on duty, occupied the same carriage. On ar-

riving at the theatre, near which some groups of spectators were standing, a loud explosion was heard, followed at the interval of a few seconds by another, aud again a third—the last the loudest of all. A rush of the people on the Boulevards took place down the Rue Lepelletier, anxious to know what was the matter. For some minutes all was confusion, but the mounted guards on duty did their utmost to prevent the crowd from filling the streets. Itwas known that the Emperor had been fired at, and rumours flew about of something still more disastrous. So far as the Emperor was personally concerned, however, all apprehension was soon removed, and an immense and enthusiastic shout told those who were at a distance that Ids Majesty was unhurt. In order to tranquillise the people, the Emperor, on quitting his carriage, presented himself at the door and again on the balcony. On entering his bos, he and the Empress were, as you may suppose, l most enthusiastically cheered.

"The assassins had provided themselves rvith hollow projectiles of the most deadly description, and contrived to fling them on the ground under the carriage, where they instantly exploded, and spread destruction among the byestanders. One of the carriage horses was killed on the spot, the other wounded; the carriage itself was broken to pieces; General Roguefc, who sat in front, was wounded slightly, it is said, and the two footmen who s'ood behind dangerously hurt. A bullet, w fr^mer.t of the shell, passed through the Emperor's hat but did not touch him. Tiie

Empress was also untouched. At the moment of the^ explosion, which was tremendous, the vow of gaslights running down the front of the theatre, and those at the wings: were extinguished ;- for some time the place was in utter darkness; while the windows of three or four houses opposite were dashed into fragments." Further particulars state that the'course of the peri'unnaiK-c: went on as usual. On hearing of the event which had taken place, their Ira° perial Highnesses Jerome Napoleon and the Prince Napoleon, the Princess Mathilde, as well as Prince Murat, the Ministers, several marshals and great functionaries, the members of the diplomatic body, and the Prefects of the beine and of Police, and the Pro-ureur Imperial, their Majesties. The ' Instruction was at once commenced, "and several arrests were effected Their Majesties left the Opera at midnight. The Boulevards were spontaneously illuminated, and a vast concourse of people cheered the Emperor and the Empress most enthusiastically and tourhingly as they passed on their way to the Tuillt-ries." On arriving there their Majesties found a great number of persons, amongst them the ambassador

of England, the President of the Senate, members of the diplomatic body and several senators, waiting to offer their congratulations. The Emperor's lace is slightly scratched by fragments of glass. The conspirators are Italians ; four have been arrested. Ihey came from England, and belong to the "sect of assassins." Fifty-two persons were wounded by the three shells thrown at the carriage—some dangerously.