THE ALLEGED PLOT TO ASSASSINATE THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VI, Issue 278, 28 November 1857, Page 3

THE ALLEGED PLOT TO ASSASSINATE THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH.

TRIAL Or TIBALDI, BAUTOLOTTI, AND GRILLI. It has been known for some time that a plot against the Empcioi's life had been detected in Paris, and that some Italians were implicated in it. Beyond this rumoui nothing more transpired until the 22nd of July, when the following statement, which possesses official authenticity, appeared in the Monileur. For more than a month the police have had proof that a plot had been formed in London to make an attempt on the life of the Emperor. Three Italians, charged with the execution of this horrible object, were at Paris, and ai rested. The arms also which were to have been for the perpetration of the crime have been seized ; they consist of poinards, revolvers, &c. Brought to justice, the prisoners have already confessed their crime and revealed the names of their accomplices,

The Government, notwithstanding, suspended the proceedings against them, in order that the eclat of the process might not be legarded as a means of influencing the result of the elections which were about to take place. The pioceedings are now resumed, and an ordinance of the Juge d'lnstruction sends before the Chamber of Accusation all the prisoneis arrested, with their accomplices. Their names are Tibaldi, Bartolotti, Grilli (otherwise Faio), Mazzini, Lediu Rollin, Mazaieni, and Campanella. It should bo observed that, with the exception of Mazzini and Ledru Rollin, all the conspiiators aio Romans, and intimate friends of Mazzini. Another feature worthy of remark is, that most of the persons arrested at Genoa had Roman passports, regularly signed and in peifect order. The public trials of the prisoners will take place in France during the eaily days of August, and piobably the corresponding trials in Piedmont will occur at the same time. It is the intention of the Governments of Fiance and Piedmont to give the utmost publicity to the pioceedings of these political trials, in order that Europe may judge correctly of the aims of men who have long contemplated assassination and revolution for the triumph of doctrines which no modern society could tolerate. The investigations are going on both in France and Sardinia with the utmost activity, the Minister of the Intenor and the Police here, and M. Cavour in Turin, being occupied fiom morning to night in these affaiis. The coriespondent of the Times says that after the conviction of the paities, the Fiench Government will apply to the British Government, who it is thought will ask the necessary powers fiom Parliament, for surrendering the refugees. We learn from the Nord that a conference has taken place between Count Walewski, Lord Cowley, and Baron de Ilubner, concerning the means of preventing a recurrence of levolutionaiy attempts in Italy, and that it was impressed on Lord Cowley that England was the countiy that could rendei the most important aid by not giving so leady an asylum to political piopagandists. Respecting the plot against the Empeior, the Biussolls Independence gives the following paiticnlais: — The investigation into the plot against the Emperor is still carried on with gieat activity. The accusation appears to be concent) ated on two of the Italians in custody ; the thud appearing not to have known much what they were about. One of the two confesses — the other denies. The affair, the precise gravity of which has not been ascertained, seems decidedly to have fonncd part of the projects which have just come to light in Italy. The Pays says that the British Government has already communicated to Mazzini that he can no longer be pcimitted to piepare expeditions against foreign states on English soil j but this statement is not entitled to credit. It is not generally believed in England that Mazzini would commit the folly, to say nothing of the atrocity, of encouraging assassination ; and it is pioper to add, that one of the persons implicated exculpates himself fiom the chaige. The following is a note fiom Signor Campanellla addiessed to the Times :—: — " Sir, — I lead in an aiticle of the French Moniteur, reported in your journal of to-day, my name mentioned as an accomplice of a pretended plot against tha life of Louis Napoleon. I give a formal denial to such an absurd accusation. "PIIEDERICO CaHI'ANDLLA. " 2 Landsowne-place, West Brompton." Signor Campanella has also written to the Moniteur, frankly telling the official journal that its whole statement concerning him is a "lie." Ma/-arenti, anothei of the peisons implicated, and Ledrn Rollin, both of whom aie residing in London, have also publicly disclaimed al knowledge of the conspiracy. The official accounts of the alleged conspiracy against the Emperor of the Fiench appeals in the form of a long document, called the Act of Accusation. The true English teim for such a document would be to call it a leading article, for facts and comments are so mixed up as to make it, in this country, have a ludicrous appearance as an indictment. A perusal of this Act of Accusation will more than ever lead to the belief that the imputed plot is altogether an invention of a culpable character, made for political puiposes. It does not, by any means, read asifitweie tiue. From thispapei, we learn that the officials of the French Post-office are in the habit of opening all letteis which aie likely to afford evidence of political action, and the case against such men as Mazzini and Lediu Rollin is, that letters weie found which implicate them in mysterious doings that aie inteipieted to mean conspnacy against the life of the Empeior. These letters aie given in the Act of Accusation, and they ceitainly appear to bo ofaveiy vague and indifferent character ; but then follows the confession, as it is called, of two of the conspiiatois, Tibaldi and Grilli, who are supposed to supply the right interpretation of the seized letteis, and who very conclusively say that the intention was to kill the chief magistrate of France. But the queslion naturally aiises whether their testimony has not baen got up for the occasion, and whether it can be trusted. One thing looks bad, namely that the Act of Accusation leads nioie like a complaint against England than a complaint against the refugees who live among us, for it sets out with describing London as the chosen dwelling place of thedemagogues who are chiefly coinpiomisud The trial of the persons accused of this offence took place on the Ctli of August in Com d'Assises de la Seine. The accused weie Paolo Tibaldi, Giuseppi Barlolotti, and Paolo Grilli, (alias Faro) already in the hands of justice. The accused absent are — Giuseppi Mazzini, Alexandra Aguste Lediu Rollin, Gactano Massarenti, and Fredenco Campanolla. The indictment is — " For having by a resolution to act, concerted and agioed upon by themselves, formed a plot having foi its object an attempt upon the life .of the Empeior, the said plot having been followed by an act already committed or commenced to piepare the execution of it, which crime falls within the aiticle 89 of the penal code." The pioeeedings commenced by leading the act of accusation. Tibaldi upon being examined denied all connection with Mazzini and his agents ; and stated that he knew nothing of the letteis that had been identified. Grilli stated that Tibaldi had given him two poinards for the pmpose of killing the emperor, but that he never intended to use them ; he had also received lOOOir. in London. Baitolotti, the third prisoner, deposed that lie had been taken to Mazzini's by Mas.saicn.li, iiom whom he got 50 Napoleons to go to Paris and kill the emperor. After the examination of some witnesses, several letteis connected with the accused and the rovolu-

tionary party were read by the judge. The court then adjourned until the following morning, when the proceedings were resumed. At length the jury retired to consider their verdict, and after deliberating for 40 minutes, found an affirmative verdict on all the questions, but with extenuating circumstances in favour of Giilliand Bartolotti. The couit, in consequence condemned Tibaldi to transportation for life and Grilli and Bartolotti each to 15 years imprisonment. The condemned have tluee days left them to appeal. Tibaldi, Bartolotti, and Grilli, since their condemnation, have been kept in the prison Manas, and are placed, as hefoie, in separate cells. The formalities to be observed in the proceedings against Mazzini, Lodru Rollin, Campanella, and Massarenti, will occupy about three weeks, so that their case cannot be brought before the Court of Assizes until the first session of September. As in all chaiges against contumacious peisons, the proceedings will he very brief, and the decision will be given without the paiticipation of a jmy. It is said that Lediu Rollin intends to addi ess a long letter, oriather a species of memoirs to the president of the Court of Assizes ; but no account can bo officially taken of it. The Emperor returned from Plombicres to Paris on the 29th July. On his way he stopped at Clialon-sur-inanne, and reviewed the troops assem. bled there ; and when he arrived in Paris he dismissed a detachment of dragoons, provided as an escoit, and rode through the streets in an open carriage, attended only by outriders and grooms.