The New York Herald

A Paris letter contains the following respecting General Bem:

It is generally believed that General Bem has escaped the search made for him by the Austrian authorities. If he be captured, he will be shot without mercy—a fate for which he is prepared by the most extraordinary intrepidity. Perhaps the following facts, which illustrate his character, may not be unacceptable to you:—General Bem is the son of a German, but was born in Poland. His reputation as an artillerist stands high; it is, however, of his unflinching courage, and perhaps of his relentless disposition, that I am about to speak. Some five-and-twenty years since, he had a quarrel with another (Polish) artillery officer, whom he challenged to fight with pistols. They met. On the ground they tossed for the first shot, and Bem lost. His adversary took aim, fired, and Bem fell. The officer, believing him dead, prepared to quit the field, but Bem, who had received the ball in the right hip, turned over on his left side, raised himself on his elbow, and said, "Stop, comrade; it is my turn now; take your place." The officer did so, and in a moment fell, shot through the heart. Bem lingered long under the wound. The ball could not be extracted. During twenty years he suffered excruciating torments from its presence, and at last resolved on proceeding to London to consult the faculty there. He was told that the operation, to be successful, must be a very painful one. He at once said that he would submit to it. He was accordingly thrown by ether into a state of stupor, and the operation commenced. The circular saw had indented the bone round the bullet, when the intense agony roused the patient. The operator became alarmed, but Bem reassured him, called for his pipe, lighted it, and commenced smoking, while the operation was resumed, and was crowned with complete success. The ball was extracted, and Bem perfectly recovered.

[From the Oxford (Eng.) Journal.]

Some of our readers may probably remember to have seen walking about Oxford upon crutches, about twelve months ago, a gentleman of middle height, light complexion, and of foreign appearance. This gentleman turns out to be no less a personage than General Bem, who has recently been taking so prominent a part in Vienna as one of the three insurgent generals. He is a native of Poland, and took up his residence in Oxford last winter, for the double purpose of recruiting his strength, after having undergone an operation in London, and recruiting his purse; by giving lectures upon artificial memory. In the latter, however, he was unsuccessful, for his imperfect knowledge of the English language rendered his efforts of no avail. He continued to reside in this city until the French revolution of February, but the events which succeeded induced him to leave for the continent, and ultimately to enlist in the cause which has so signally resulted in his defeat.