ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH ON HIS RETURN TO PARIS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 293, 22 August 1855, Page 5

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH ON HIS RETURN TO PARIS.

A desperate attempt to assassinate the Emperor Louis Napoleon was made in tbe Champs Elysees on tbe afternoon of Saturday last, the particulars of which are as follows :—The Emperor, accompanied by two of his household, Colonel Ney and-Col on el Valabreqne, in plain clothes, left tbe Palace of tbe Tuileries about five o'clock to take his usual ride in the Champs Elysees, and join the Empress, who bad preceded him, and was at that moment in the alley Dauphine, in the Bois de Boulogne. His Majesty on these occasions is never accompanied by an escort, and was only followed' by two grooms at some distance. The weather was fine, and tbe grand avenue of the Champs Elysees, through which he passed at his ordinary slow pace, as well as the side alleys, was thronged with people, who showed the usual courtesy, and saluted him respectfully. As be approached the Barriere de l'Etoile, and when nearly opposite the well-known place of amusement", the Chateau de Fleurs, a man apparently about thirty-six years old, of dark complexion, a little under the middle size, advanced forward from the throngs that crowded the pathway on the right, and approached to within five or six paces of the Emperor. He put one hand to bis hat as if to salute bis Majesty, who was in tbe act of replying to the compliment, when he drew a pistol from underneath his grey paletotVdeliberutely presented it at tbe Emperor, and fired. At the same moment Colonel Ney, who was on the Emperor's right hand, but riding a very little to the rear, advanced his horse, when tbe assassin, supporting bis pistol on bis arm, fired a second shot. At the first report the Emperor's horse shied a little, and it was probably that movement which saved the rider, together with tbe tremulous motion of tbe assassin's arm, occasioned by tbe failure of tbe first attempt. Neither shot took effect. The second ball is said to have grazed the Emperor's hat, or even passed through it, but this is not known with any certainty. The shots were very sharp, and the report loud enough to be heard on the third floor of the houses on. the side of the avenue. The assassin was at once seized by two masons who were working at a house hard by, and who had left the building to have a sight of tbe Emperor as he passed. He was thrown by them on the ground. A police agent named Alexander, a native of Corsica, whose duty it is to follow the Emperor when riding or driving without escort, leaped out of tbe small carriage be occupied, ran to the spot where the assassin was struggling with bis captors, and prevented him fiom drawing another pistol. The police agent took hold of him, and, as the other made the most violent attempts to shoot those who detained him, inflicted on him, in self-defence, two wounds with a pogniard cane. The sergeut-de-ville aiding the police agent succeeded in mastering and disarming him, but it required all their efforts to prevent him from being torn to pieces by the people. He was hurriedly taken off to the Octroi station at tbe barrier, which was not far distant, and there sheltered from the popular rage until a carriage could be brought, in which he was conveyed under the guidance of the police to the C«nciergerie. After tbe shot was fired the Emperor bent his head a little, either by an involuntary muvement to avoid tbe bullet, or owing to the horse shieing. When he taw the assassin in the hands of the people and his clothes torn, he called out-to spare him, and his words were.

" Eparqnez le — ne le tuez pas, le miserable .'" The Emperor did not lose his presence of mind for an instant. He gratefully and gracefully replied in frequently taking off bis hat and bowing to the thousand acclamations with which he was at once saluted as he still slowly advanced towards the Triumphal Arch. A messenger bad been sent on at a gallop to inform the Empress, who was at tbe Porte Dauphine (Bois de Boulogne), of what had occurred, aud to reassure her as to tbe safety of her husband. In less than half an hour the Empress returned from her drive in an open carriage, with tbe Emperor riding close by. The sight was touching in tbe extreme. Her Majesty was deeply affected ; her tears flowed in spite of her. she in vain essayed to- dry them, and she sobbed convulsively amid her efforts to smile with joy at her husband's escape from tbe murderer. Evidently she could not subdue her emotion; she leant back in the carriage, and relieved her heart in an uncontrolled burst of tears. Then, indeed, it was that the people who thronged the way gave full vent to the more generous feelings of our nature. The sight of the young and lovely woman unable to restrain the agony of her feelings, produced an instantaneous effect; the shouts at once arose from the thousands who beheld her, and hundreds of workmen who were employed on a row of bouses constructing near the spot from which the assassin fired, lined the half finished walls, the window sills, or clung to the poles of the scaffolding, and rent the air with their acclamations. Accompanied by these manifestations of popular feeling, the Empress proceeded to the Palace. In a short time the news was spread abroad, and the members of the Imperial family, the Ambassadors, the Ministers of the Emperor, the high functionaries of State, and the members of the household, besides a considerable uumber of other persons having no functions under tbe Government or in the Palace, hastened to present their congratulations. The Emperor had previously announced his intention and that of the Empress to be present at the Opera Comique on the Boulevards Italiens nearly opposite the Rue Lafitte. He and the Empress, notwithstanding what bad occurred were punctual to their word. They arrived at the theatre about nine o'clock, but long before thai hour an immense crowd had collected on the Boulevard from the Madeline to the Rue Vivenne, to manifest their sympathy at his -escape. It is calculated that there could not have been less than 200,000 people of every condition collected. The reception was most enthusiastic as the Imperial carriages drove up the Rue de la Paix and Boulevards until they stopped at the doors of the theatre; and on their Majesties appearing in their box the whole house rose and uttered the warmest acclamations. For a considerable time it was found impossible to commence the piece, and durinothe performance the audience, as if unable to keep down its feelings, rose three or four times to give vent to them. The Emperor and Empress left the house at halt-past eleven, and -even at that hour the multitude still lined tbe Boulevards; tbe shouting was enthusiastic as before, and followed them until they entered'tb? Palace of the Tuileries. The assassin, on bis arrival at the Conciergerie, was at once examined by tbe Prefect ot" the Police, and then by ihe Minister of Justice. The examination is kept secret, but it appears that the prisoner's real name is Pianori, and that he is thirty years of age. He had procured a passport "iii the name of Liverani. He is a native of Faenza, aud he served in the Free Lancers at Rome' under Garibaldi. Since tbe taking 0 f Rome by tbe French, he has principally lived in En-land" and it is stated that he belonged to tbe sect of Italians who renounced Catholicism. He lived in two well furnished rooms in the Faubour^ St Houore, tbe rent of which he had paid for a month beforehand. A considerable sum of money was found there. The report of the magistrate, containing the examination of Pianori has been' delivered to the Chambre de Conseil; this decided that the prisoner should be sent before the Chamber dcs Mi'ses en Accusation, convoked extraordinarily for that purpose, ami the court has issued its order hy which he is to be brought before the Assize Court of the Seine, on Monday next, to be tried in conformity with the law, as an ordinary malefactor. The congratulations of toe Senate on the Emperor's escape were offered on Sunday, when his Majesty made the following reply :—" 1 thank the Senate for the sentiments it has just expressed to me. I fear nothing from the attempt of assassins; there are existances which are tbe instruments of the decrees

of Providence. As long as I shall not have fulfilled my mission I run no danger." The Emperor aiid Empress took their usual exercise in the course of Sunday in the Bois de Boulogne, the Emperor on horseback, the Empress in an open caleche. They were everywhere received with marks of tbe warmest sympathy. The Moniti'ur says:—"The Emperor being well assured of the loyalty of tbe French people towards him, has given orders that the addresses being prepared by the municipal bodies congratulating him on his escape shall not be proceeded with. Providence having preserved him, and the general indignation expressed by all classes, official manifestations becomes useless." In all the principal towns of France Te Doums have been celebrated on account of the Emperor's escape from assassination.