THE EXECUTION OF TWO CORSICAN SOLDIERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 109, 11 May 1867, Page 3

THE EXECUTION OF TWO CORSICAN SOLDIERS.

The Paris correspondent of the Daily A*,,. -s thus describes the execution of the {i __. two soiuters at Vincennes : —

The two soldiers of the Imperial Guard, Ciosi and .Agostini, were shot recently at Vincennes, pursuant to the sentence of a Court-martial, for the murder in the wine shop at Champerret. The execution was a grand and terrible military spectacle. A company from every regiment of the army of Paris attended. The 2nd and 3rd Begiments of Volticeurs of the Guard, to which the unfortunate prisoners belonged, were on the ground in full force. General Soumain commanded the parade. The firing party consisted, of four sergeants, four corporals, and four privates, commanded by two adjutants. The men to whom the sad task was assigned were feelingly told by their officers, while loading their firelocks in their respective barracks, that they had not only a military duty to perform, but one of humanity, which required them to take good aim. The prisoners were warned at 4 a.m. that their request fjr the Emperor's pardon had been rejected, and that they must prepare to die. One of them, Ciosi, received the fatal news with a coolness and courage which be maintained to the last; but Agostini's nerve failed him. The priest in attendance effected a reconciliation between the two men. Agostini had spoken very bitterly of his comrade, and when at last he stretched out his hand to him, he said — "You know well enough that you alone are guilty." Before mounting the cellular carriage in waiting to conduct them to the place of execution, they were offered wine and bread. Agostini took some refreshment, but Ciosi asked only for cigars, which he continued to smoke to the end, The morning was terribly cold. At half-past 8 the condemned men stepped out of the carriage to the spot where they were to he shot. They were warmly clad in full uuiform, with military cloaks around them, and Ciosi had carefully put on white gloves. General Soumain exercised the prerogative which the military code gave him, of excusing the men from military degradation, and they were shot in their uniforms. When a French soldier is to be shot he is permitted, if he pleases, to refuse to have his eyes bandaged. Ciosi at first refused. Afterwards, at the suggestion of his confessor, he consented, but ultimately tore off the bandage, knelt down, and looked steadily in the face of his old comrades, who were to fire at ten paces. Looking at Agostini, who, though with his eyes bound, was not able to keep upon his knees with emotion, but fell down, he said in a tone of pity and contempt, "Poor Agostini!" Immediately before the order to fire was given, Ciosi, in a firm voice, addressing the firing party, said — " Dear comrades, lam guilty of the crime, but upon my conscience, I did not intend to rob. I beg pardon of God and of you. Adieu." Agostini, completely broken down by fear, was obliged to be tied to a post before he could be shot at. The criminals were fired at separately. One of them (the reports differ as to which,) did not appear to be quite dead after the volley, and one of the soldiers coming near him, blew out bis brains, which scattered about in a manner shocking to behold. According to the military regulations, all the troops present filed past before the dead bodies, drums beating and colors flying. Tbere was a great crowd of Parisians on the vast plain of Vincennes, attracted by the news of the execution, but all would-be sightseers were disappointed. The military kept all civilians outside their lines, and the spectacle of the death of the two Corsican soldiers was witnessed exclusively by the soldiers for whose example it was intended.

A series of returns have just been issued by the Board of Trade showing the acreage of land under crops, and in other agricultural districts, in the United Kingdom during the present year. In England and Wales, out of a total of 37-£ millions of acres 24-£ millions are under crops ofall kinds, of which 7,920,000 under cereals 2,800,000 under green crop, and the rest grass or bare fallow land and permanent meadow. In Scotland, out of a total average of 19,030,000 there were 4,158,360 under crops; of which 1,365.54.0 under corn, 663,000 under green crop, and the rest bare fallow, under grasses, or in permanent pasture. Another return gives the comparative statistics of tbe acreage and employment of land in Scotland and Ireland in 1857 and 1866 — showing that in both countries the acreage under corn decreased during that period, but in Ireland in much larger proportion; while in Scotland there was an increase under the head of green crops, against a decrease in Ireland.

On New Year's Day a shocking occurrence took place ou the Hooghly, a very short distance from Calcutta. Tbe East ludia Railway steamer returning from a fancy fair at the Botanical Gardens with more than its proper complement of 600 passengers, ran upon ODe of the wrecks made by the cyclone, and began to sink. It was dusk, and either I auk of the Hooghly was a quarter of a mile distant. Boats soon came alongside, aud all might have beeu saved with ease had there beeu one man iu the crowd of panic-stricken people, chiefly Europeans and East Indians, resolute enough to assume command ; but tbe captain was unfit for his post, the steamer was crowded on both decks, and shrieks and prayers arose from a surging mass. Many were pushed into the water by the eager crowd behiud, some were drowned in their haste to escape in the boats. The other railway steamer, which went to the assistance of the Calcutta ran on the same wreck aud sank beside her. In an hour, however all the passengers were got off, but all tbat night aud next day so many were missing, children, and even husbands and wives, that a most melancholy suspense pervaded the city. The GovernorGeneral and Lieutenant-Governor were most earnest in their inquiries and sympathy, aud the strand opposite the wreck was crowded throughout the next day by eager and mourning relatives. It is taken as certain that 26 in all perished. The captaiu, one Taylor, has been in custody before the Coroner, aud tbe evidence, so far, goes to show that if uot intoxicated, he was in such a state of excite-

ment at winning a boat race, and was so given to talking with the passengers, as to be quite uufit for his duties. He had no business so far out of the channel, and should have seen the very prominent buoy above the sunken wreck, which ripped up the bottom of the steamer He will be committed for trial in the High Court.