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znents , and , we must add , of our own , since he had the honour to escape the knife of a poor , fanatical , Hungarian tailor , on Friday , the 10 th . If we believe the Times , the life of Franz Joseph is more precious to Europe than liberty , and to strike him is not mere murder , but sacrilege . Here is the account of the veracious correspondent of the Times at Vienna , who , we suspect , is more Austrian than the Viennese themselves . Mark how solemnly he approaches his theme : " The circumstances connected with the vile attempt you are now about to learn . At one o ' clock p . m ., his Majesty , accompanied by Count O'Donnel , one of his aides-de-camp , was taking his customary walk round the ramparts . On reaching that part of them which is about fifty yards to the left of the city gate , called " Kftrnthner
Thor , the . Emperor and his companion leant over the parapet in order to look at some soldiers who were exercising in the dry moat . Such of your readers as have been in Vienna will probably remember that a few steps lead up to the ramparts from the end of the Karnthner-street ; from this staircase it appears the assassin advanced , and , rushing suddenly upon the Emperor , attempted to stab him in the neck with a large knife—" a kitchen-knife , " as people say here—something like those used by our shoemakers . Happily , the bljw was given so high that the weapon , striking upon that part of the skull which descends below the ear inflicted a merely superficial wound . Before the blow could be repeated , Count O'Donnel struck the villain in the face , and a citizen , who was walking by
with his wife , rushed upon him , and throwing his arms round him , confined his arms to his sides . " The name of the assailant , described as " a short , slight man , of about twenty-three , " is Lebcny ; he is a Hungarian , aod formerly a soldier , but for some years has been pursuing the trade of a tailor . It does not appear that he was at all alarmed at the consequences of his unsuccessful attempt . " Instead of putting him at once into a hackney coach ( continues the correspondent of the Times ') , the culprit , with his hands lied behind him , was conducted , by eight soldiers , from the ramparts , through the Spiegel ^ asse , to the police-office in the Spenglergasse . On his arrival at the police-office , the prisoner exhibited the greatest effrontery and recklessness . Without waiting to be questioned by the
commissary he declared that he had harboured his intent ever since the year 1850 , and had for the last three weeks frequented the ramparts in the hope of meeting with his intended victim . " My object was not to kill him , but only to give him a 'blessur' ( blessure ) . " It does not appear advisable to give the man ' s expressions literally ; but he loudly declared that he had acted solely from a patriotic motive , vehemently and repeatedly asserting that he was ffanz allein ( quite alone ) . He was then removed to the police prison , and interrogated , and his manner since his arrival is described as equally removed from fear and penitence . Of course the accounts have differed as widely as
the sources from which contemporary history is drawn always differ . One account represented that a party of Turkish Jews were passing at the time , talking Italian , and that as they approached to offer assistance , the Emperor thinking their intentions hostile , drew his sword . The Emperor is said to have behaved with perfect self-possession , and even to have desired to return to the palace through the city , but his physicians instantly ordered him to bed . The Times also favours the British people with an episode between that excellent woman , the Archduchess Sophia , and her interesting son . The Emperor sent for his mother , and told her that , his " neck was a little stiff , that was all . " The enthusiasm of the Viennese of all
classes ! for their beloved Emperor is described as little short of worship , the Hungarian regiments covering with their cheers even the native Vivats ; all of which wo are invited to believe . A solemn Te Deum was , of course , sung in the , cathedral . It is clear that the attempt at assassination was considered to bo part of a vast conspiracy , if wo are to j udge by the precautions exercised at Vienna . " As soon as tho infamous deed "—writes the correspondent of tho Times— " was known to tho high authorities , tho gates between tho suburbs und tho surrounding country were closed , domiciliary visits were paid f . o almost all tho hotels and lodging-houses , and tho extremities of tho fitreet in which tho malofuctor lodged were guarded by detachments of police , so as to prevent all egress . Tho
termini of the railroads were occupied by the troops , and no passenger trains left tho city last night . " There is no reason , however , to believe that tho attempt was anything but an isolated act , dictated by a strong- individual sontimeiit of hatred towards tho young hero of Austria , who , on tho day before his abortive deification , and out of tho fulness of his heart , dispatched a present of twelve thousand mot . of lead to his beloved and loving subjects at Milan . " Tho wound" ( now , wo Kuppono , a sacred wound ) " is about two inches in length , and if tho point of the knife hud not been turned ( benl ) by striking against tho bone , the blow must hnvo boon fatal , " says a perfectly well-informed person . Tho latest nccounts inform uh that hit ) Imperial Majesty is rapidly recovering ; , but that ho has Buffered considerable fever from the wound .
Accounts from Milan of the H ) f , h innt ., state that tho military authorities , believing that Mazzini wan still in the town , have taken the most , rigorous measures to prevent him from escaping . They oven opened the cofiiuH which were being carried to consecrated ground , to assure themselves that Muzzini was nut eoncoalod in 0110 of them . By ordnr of the Commandant all tho houses were illuminated on the 10 th , in rejoicing for tho preservation of the Emperor ' s lite . Orders lind been issued to tho householders to suspend , for tho purpose of lighting the town , a lamp fromtho firstfloor of every fourth house , which is to remain burning from six o ' olo ' dc in tho evening until daylight . Jn easo of disturbance , the householders are to clone their doors , and every man found In tho street is to be treated as concerned in the affray .
The inhabitants are forbidden to appear on tho bastions from six o ' clock in tho ovening till woven in tho morning . Tho Federal Council of Switzerland Iiuh decided upon tho inttiruoment of tho Italian refugees . I'oraonB c « mi > ro >
mised are to be expelled . Austria is to be requested to raise the blockade of Tessin . Father Kothann , general of the order of Jesuits , is on his death bed . He was seized by a sudden stroke of apoplexy . The " General" is a Dutchman . General Kalbermatten , ex-general of the Valais troops in the war of the Sonderbund , and employed in recruiting Swiss troops for the Homan army , bad been' ordered to leave the Sardinian States . - v The Academy of Italian Philosophy of Turin held a solemn sitting on the 14 th , in commemoration of Gioberti . The bust of the philosopher occupied a conspicuous place in the hall , which was hung with black drapery . A company of national guards volunteered as guard of honour . Count Mamiami opened the sitting with an oration .
Great excitement prevails in the principal cities of Hungary and Italy . Insurrectionary symptoms at Buda and Pesth have been met by Btrong reinforcements of troops in those places , and other unusual military
precautions . Vienna letters of the 19 th state as a rumour that the Austrian Emperor proposed to seize on tho property of a large number of emigrant Lombards , alleging that they were engaged in designs against his Government . The same correspondence reports the Milan arrests as having been 500 in number , and continuing every day . The number of individuals executed is said to be 17 . The last executions reported by the Italian papers , those of the 15 th , it may be remembered , brought the number up to 13 . Advices from Venice inform us , that on the night of the 14 th a number of persons were arrested as they were in the act of stripping the Avails of Eadetzky ' s proclamation . The blockade of the canton of Tessino is rigorously maintained . Even salt is prohibited .
Three thousand Tessinois who were turned out of Lombardy have arrived at Tessino . Marshal Radetzky has issued a fresh proclamation , announcing the confiscation of tho property of such persons as have connived in the late revolutionary outbreak . The Count Giulay , Austrian commander-in-chief at Milan , complained to the deputation of Milanese of the bad reception of the Emperor last year . ( At the time we were told by the Austrian Government journals that he was capitally received . ) Milan had to pay on the 18 th 40 , 000 florins ( 4000 Z . ) , and on every following Wednesday 30 , 000 florins ( 3000 Z . ) , till further orders , pour encourager les autres .
Accounts from Rome mention tho reinforcement of the French army of occupation by two regiments . The King of Bavaria has left for Naples . The Morning Chronicle correspondent writes under , date of the 13 th : — " A bad carnival and bad weather . The Tiber had overflowed its banks , and the Ripetta and Dell ' orso-streets , and the Pantheon , are all flooded . The most interesting news from those parts is the expected arrival of Mrs . H , ( why this mystery we do not imagine ; the name of Howard in connexion with Louis Napoleon is no secret , ) who repairs to Civita Nova , a little town situated in the province of Ancona , on the borders of the Adriatic , where the
Emperor Louis Napoleon has sorno property . These possessions are administrated by M . Casabianca , the brother of tho Minister , and he has received orders to prepare the Palazzo , which is to be placed at that lady ' s disposal . Mrs . H has five children with her , four girls and one boy—the latter five months old . She is accompanied b y Count Troili , a particular friend of tho Emperor Louis Napoleon , who resided at Homo with him in his early days . The count was formerly an officer in tho noble guard of tho late Pope Gregory XVI ., and having been exiled from tho Roman States , his return is not much relished , and a special passport had to bo obtained for him from tho Cardinal Secretary of State . "
This is tho sort of business with which " noble Romans , as Dr . Lompriero would say , are entrusted now-o ' -days by tho French Emperor : and this is tho way in which ho avnils himself of his " occupation" of Rome . During tho last few days ( writes tho Daily News correspondent from Naples ) the body of Maria Christina , tho first wife of bis present Sicilian Majesty , has bcon disintorrod after fourteen years quiet roposu in tho church of Snnta Chiara , and disinterred for tho purpose of verification , with a view to beatification . The remains of tho lato Qucon are believed to havo performed soino miracle which tho church has not thought fit , as yet , to publish to tho world . Tho late Qucon was , it mu . it bo raid , nn excellent woman , beloved for her goodnoss of heart and her unceasing charities . Sho was as deserving of a place among the saints as her widower is of a distinguished position after death among those who " believe and tremble . "
Tho Vatican has boon induced to institute tho preliminary investigations to ancortain what claims her Majesty ban to be numbered with tho oaiuta . Tho body having boon exposed , tho nuncio and city authorities were invited to visit and identify it , and this having been done , a committee of ecclesiastics , consisting of tho divines of the royal houHohold , aro now employed in tracing the miracles supposed to havo boon performed both before and after death —a very long process , if carried out according to the rule « of tho itomuu church . Such an event is not without it * political moaning , of course . The ignorant are thus taught
to dot . ho royalty with Divino attributes—to ascribe the bloHfiiiitffl ami tho gifts of ( Jod to thoir earthly rulers , until human or Divine Majesty become almost interchangeable p hrases , and royalty a sacred thing . As to the church , it lion everything to gain by such exhibitions . Who but they can solve thin difficult y ? and who but they are tho exponents of tho Divine mind p J ' rocul , procul , esto profuni . To the church thereforo it given new life and interest to perpetuate tho idea that ( by its will and decision ) Divine interposition in accorded to tho faithful . Queen Christina '* life will , however , bear investigation , and tho dovil ' s advocate will Boon bo floored . Sho was u sincere , good woman ,
who , had she lived , would have been a blessing to the country , disposing the royal will to justice and charity . English society at Naples has been saddened , and all gaieties arrested , in the midst of tho Carnival , by the death of the Earl of Belfast , after only a few hours' illness , from a cold caught ( upon incipient measles ) at a rehearsal of Victor Hugo ' s Marion Delorme , for private theatricals at Mr . A . Craven ' s . The Earl of Belfast was only 27 . He was known in society as a man of some taste and
accomplishment in literature and music . There is great talk again in tho semi-official journals of Austria and Prussia , of a " strong note" addressed to tho British Government on the subject of political refugees . It is even said that tho three Northern Powers have agreed upon a joint remonstrance . All the strong notes of all the despotic Governments in the world cannot alter English law ; and so long as there exists a free press in England , no Government would with impunity act as the spy , much less as the accomplice , of foreign tyrannies .
The Chevalier Massimo d'Azeglio , late Prime Minister of Piedmont , has left Turin for London , on a two months ' leave of absence from the Chamber . The correspondent of the Times , writing from Turin on the 21 st inst ., says : — ' It is believed that the visit of M . Massimo d'Azeglio to London is connected with the London refugees , and that he has been despatched at the instance of the Queen , who still remains in the Tyrol . " We trust this sinister rumour , congenial enough , perhaps , to the source from whence it springs , is incorrect , and that the Marquis d'Azeglio is not coming to London on so impracticable an errand . The following extract from the correspondence of the Daily JS ' eivs supplies , we hope and believe , the more probable explanation of M . d'Azeglio ' s visit to London , if indeed it be not , as the Morning Chronicle assures usa visit purely of leisure and recreation : —
, " Since the outbreak at Milan , the Austrian-disposed newspapers of Germany have daily contained predictions , some of them professing to be authorized , of a joint note to be addressed to England by the European Powers , demanding coercive measures against the refugees . With Piedmont and Switzerland a shorter process is , according to these authorities , to be followed . The Post Gazette published at Frankfort , the faithful exponent of Austrian ideas , announced on the 19 th that the Imperial Government will set to work ' to purge Switzerland and England of the revolutionaries : ' but omits to say how it will go
about the task . The reactionary Governments of Europe are still very sore from the effects of Lord Palmerston ' s note , which , with copies of Mr . Gladstone ' s pamphlet on Naples , they received two years ago from the Foreign Office , and would gladly seize an opportunity of recrimination . The semi-official Parlamento states that the relations of the Cabinet of Turin to that of Vienna are again very cold ; and another Sardinian paper connects the Marquis d'Azeglio ' s visit to England with a desire on the part of his Sovereign to draw closer the bonds of amity between this country and his own , in anticipation of possible
difficulties . Tho Morning Chronicle correspondent , in announcing the departure of M . d ' Aze ^ lio for England , continues in the following pleasant strain , which we would fain believe is not a mere mystification . The accomplishments of tho amiable hero of the paragraph are indeed well known and esteemed : — " This celebrated statesman , artist , and author , who played so great a part in tho political struggles of his country , and who has guided the policy of tho kingdom of Sardinia during the last five years—in fact , ever since the introduction of those liberal institutions which it at
present enjoys , and in tho midst of the most tempestuous times—jins now- retired to recultivato tho art of painting , his early pussion . The name of Azeglio needs not much illustration . In Italy it represents the banner of national independence . From tho times of Dante , Petrarch , and Boccaccio , literature , tho fine arts , and politics , havo conjointly distinguished the great men of Italy ; and down to this very day that character has been maintained by its inhabitants , and is no"bly represented by tho Chevalier d'Azeglio . Asa painter , Azeglio ' d name- ranks amongst tho first of Italy . His works aro highly prized , ami eagerly sought after . The Chevalier d'Azeglio purposes spending a few months in London , and has had his atelier prepared in tho studio of tho eminent sculptor Marochotti . " Hostilities in Montenegro have recommenced , and Orner
Pasha is proceeding to cruel extremities in las operations against ; the bravo defenders of the " Black Mountain . " Meanwhile Count Leinengen , the Austrian envoy , has arrived at Constantinople in a special steamer , and has presented a menacing and even insolent ultimatum ( to be replied to within eight days ) to the I ' orto , demanding categorical explanations concerning the Turkish armaments on the Austrian frontier , complaining that the Montenegrin !' struggle ha « become a religious war ; demanding the expulsion of Hungarian refugees from the Turkish army ; that the numerous complaints and demands of Austrian subjects should be an . iwored , and ( heir claims speedily adjusted ; and , finally , tho cession of the territories of Ivlcck and Sutorina . " The most-important part of tho note ( says tho correspondent of tho Times ) , is thai , referring to tho territories of Kleek nnd Hut . orina . These are the only points
of land where the Turkish territory of Jlerzegowina touches tho Aclrin ! ie . The Republic of Kagusa ceded these two places to tho Turks in order to be protected to tho north and south of their frontiers from their neighbours the Venetians . Since that time the Turks have never attempted to profit by this eessioii of territory , but havo Buffered all tho exports and imports of Ilerze owina , llosnia , and part of Borvia , to pass through Austrian ports , paying , of course , tho Customs' duties . Tho Turks now propose to open i > ortn at these places , which plan would inflict a heavy blow on Dalmatia . From her Heliports Austria draws all hor nuppheH for tho imperial and commercial navy , and the Bailors of that coast man all her ships . If Turkey establishes seaports on tho abovenamed territorittii , tlio whole of tho commerce- of this part of Turkey , which now pays toll , enriching Austrian cities
Untitled Article
February 26 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 1 "
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 26, 1853, page 199, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1975/page/7/
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