The Press. — London, England, 1858-09-18 00:00:00

THE PRESS, SEPTEMBER 18, 1858. lortign dorresponbentr. PARIS, Thursday. IT was said a few days ago that the Emperor had determined on prolonging his stay at Biarritz to the end of the month. It is now reported that he will come back very shortly, and that several of his atten dants, with part of his baggage, have already arrived. s o me persons suppose that this early return has been rendered necessary by the occurrence of political events of importance. If, however, anything has taken place, or is on the tapis, it is thus far a secret to all but Sovereigns and their Cabinets. To the outer world, look where it will, matters appear as calm as they have been since the interview at Cher bourg. The only things that present an appearance of interest are the approaching establishment of a regency in Prussia, and the report that an attempt is being made to induce the King of Naples to abdicate, or, at all events, to alter completely his system of government, so as to enable England and France to resume diplomatic relations with the Two Sicilies ; but neither of these is of a nature to require the Emperor's presence in his capital. From an announcement in the Moniteur, it appears that, after the signing of the treaty of peace with Russia, the Emperor, " desiring to recognize the services of Count Walewski, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and to give him a special proof of satisfac tion," presented him with some extensive marshes (about 3,0(x acres) at a place called Orx, in the department of the Lander, and kindly undertook to drain them for the count at his own expense. The announcement says that the fact of this donation "is well known," but the truth is that the public never heard of it before. If anything were required to show the wonderful and almost incredible change which has taken place in France in late years, the Imperial gift to Count IValewski would show it. King Louis Philippe was bitterly assailed, and his downfall was in part hastened, for having, as was alleged (and untruly alleged too, I believe), cut down rather too many trees in the Government forests, the profits of which forests formed part of his revenue ; and yet the Emperor can give away thousands of acres of Government property in a distant province without exciting a word of remark. The vehement manner in which some Roman Catholic prelates and priests, and, above all, that furious organ of Ultramontisrn, the Univers, have of late assailed Protestants—combined with the pro hibitions to hawk about Protestant Bibles, and the obstacles thrown in the way of Protestant meetings for public worship—have created a profound sensa tion in the Protestant community, and have even caused not a few of its members to suppose that it is on the eve of a new persecution. The sensation is natural enough, but the fears are certainly exag gerated. l see that the Rev. A. Coquerel, the able and highly respected minister of the French Pro testant Church in the Rue St. Honore, has just published a sermon on the subject which he preached three weeks back. His opinion is, that the Ultramon tunes having, as they believe, silenced the Gallica° and Jansenist patties in the Roman Catholic Church of France, imagine themselves strong enough to assail Protestants; but he does not appear to appre hend that their attacks can do any horm to the good cause--au contraire. Fom some remarks iu his preface, M. Coquerel seems to think that in France there are, amongst the intelligent classes, a great number who conform to Catholicism without believing it, and who want but a little moral courage to declare themselves Protestants. Instead of assailing Protestants, the Catholic clergy would do well to occupy themselves in per suading their own people—those I mean who nominally belong to them—to attend church. The Parisians were never, it is true, much given to church going ; but at present the number of them who make a point of attending Divine service form a very small, I had almost said an imperceptible, minority of the population. Let any of your readers who happen to come to this city, go—not to the Madeleine or Notre Dame de Lorette, where there are grand theatrical displays and splendid singing, and where consequent l y t h e cur i ous t h rong —b u t to the churches which are situated in the populous quarters, such as St. Eustache near the markets, or those in the Rue St. Denis, the flue St. Martin, or the Rue St. Victor, and they will, I am certain, be astonished to see ie small, the very small, congre gations assembled ; and still more astonished will they be to notice that those congregations consist almost exclusively of very old women, who are un doubtedlyt little there because they have nothing else to o do, or girls of the parish schools, who arc there because they are made to go; whilst hardly a man —no not one—will be seen amongst them !To the Christian, whatever his creed, this scandalous neglect of public worship is very painful ; and it is calculated to fill the politician with forebodings as to the future fate of France, for what can become of a people which is without religion ? Prince Napoleon has just formed a sort of privy council to advise him on matters of importance in his new administration of Algeria and the Colonies. The once powerful and still famous Emile de Girardin, who has long been a personal friend of his Imperial Highness, was, I hear, most anxious to be admitted to this council; but thel Prince has very wisely declined to receive him, partly on account of his political antecedents (he was, just before the coup-d'etite, not only Republican, but Socialist), pertly owing to his imperious character rendering it difficult for him to act in concert with other gentle- men. In seeing such a man as M. Emile de Girardiu desiring to become an office-holder under the Impe • rial regime, we are warranted in assuming that the re establishment of the Republic at last appears decidedly hopeless even to those whom it would raise to greatness. Marshal Pelissier has not yet published his banns of marriage with the Countess de Paniega, a circum stance which has caused some surprise to Parisian gossips. But according to all accounts he is not likely to delay much longer. During the last few days public report has been giving in marriage another Spanish lady to another Marshal, the lady being a daughter of the Duke do Soto Mayor, the Marshal a Crimean hero—Canrobert. What truth there may be in this report I take not on myself to say. But really if Spanish damsels carry off many more of the great prizes of the French matrimonial market they will rouse the ire of the unmarried women of France. _ . About this time people generally begin to come back to Paris from excursions to the provinces, the seaside, and the German gaming-places ; but the weather has becom3 so splendid incomparably superior to what it was in July or August—that nut only is nobody coming back, but a good many ara going, away. The consequence is that the dulness which was complained of in previous letters sail con tinues. In spite of it, however, there are many English here, Paris even when dull appearing gay to them. Obituarg. THE MARCHIONESS (SARAH) TOWNSHEND died on Saturday last at Brighton. The deceased marchioness, who was daughter of Mr. Wm. Dunn- Gardner, married, 12th May, 1807, George, third Marquis Townshend, but separated in the following year, without issue by his lordship. Iu 1809 her ladyship was married at Gretna-green to Mr. John Margetts, her issue by whom were declared illegiti mate by Act of Parliament in 1843, her eldest son up to then taking the title of Earl of Leicester, and had a seat in the House of Commons. After the demise of the late Marquis Townshend, in December, 1835, her ladyship married, in the following year, Mr. John Laidler. The funeral took place on Friday, at Kensal-green Cemetery. THOMAS ASSHETON SMITH, EsQ., the proprietor of the rich and extensive slate quarries of Llanberis, expired at ten o'clock on the 9th instant, at his Welsh residence, Vaynol, situated on the banks of the Menai, near Bangor. He bad been gradually sinking under the infirmities of age for some tune. Mr. Smith was well known as the greatest foxliunter and most daring rider in England. Fur many years he was leader of the Melton Hunt, and his ambition was to have the best mounted huntsman and whippers-in in the kingdom. His keenness and prowess as a sportsman earned fur him the title of the " Btitish Nitnrod." His inimitable stud and celebrated pack of foxhounds were principally kept at his sea: at Ted worth, in Hampshire, where he passed most of his time ; but when in the principality be regularly visited the quarries and manifested the liveliest in terest in the welfare of those he employed. Although quick in temper he was equally prompt in warm and generous impulses, and his loss will be felt severely by many among the thousands of workmen he em• ployed. The political principles of Mr. Smith were of the old Conservative school, and he represented Carnarvonshire formerly for some years. He was the builder of the largest-sized and greatest number of yachts of any one private person in England. On the news of his death reaching Carnarvon the flag of the Royal Welsh Yacht Club, of which he was com modore, was hoisted half-mast high, and other tokens of respect shown to his memory. WILLIAM WEIR EsQ., the principal editor of the Daily News, died at his town residence, on Wednes day, after an illness of only a few days' duration. Mr. Weir was born in 1802, in North Britain, and having made the best use of the schools of his native country, completed his academic studies at the University of Gottingen. In 1826, having returned to these islands, he was called to the Scottish bar. He, however, soon exchanged a legal for a political and literary career, and for several years conducted one of tho most ablo and influential newspapers of Scotland. Removing 903 to London he at once took a high position in his profession, and joined the Spectator. On the establishment of the Daily News he became associated with the celebrated staff of that journal, and on the death of Mr. F. K. Hunt, in 1851, he succeeded to its principal editorship. COLONEL CHARLES H. SPENcE, of the 60th Rifles, died on the Bth instant, after above thirty years' service in that distinguished corps. He entered the army in 1825, and bad seen considerable active service in India. He served with the Ist battalion of the 60th Rifles during the second siege operations at Mooltan, including the siege and storm of the town and capture of the citadel of Mooltan ; after wards at the battle of Guojerat, pursuit of the Sikh army underßajah Shere Singh until its final surrender at %mut Pindee ; the occupation of Attock and Peshawur, and expulsion of toe A ff ghan force und e r 1 the Ameer Dost Mahomed beyond the Khyber Pass, for which he received the medal and clasps. His commission was dated as follows :—Se.cond lieutenant, April 20, 1825 ; lieutenant, Sept. 28, 1826 ; captain, May 24, 1811 ; major, Oct. 20, 1848 ; lieut.-colonel, Oct. 2, 1853. _ _ GENERAL THOMAS A. PARKE, C. 8., died a few days since, at his residence at Hythe, near Southampton, aged seventy seven. This gallant officer was present at Admiral Duncan's victory at Camperdown, on the 11th October, 1797. He commanded two companies of M.trine Artillery in Spain in 1812, and three companies in America from 1813 to 1810, including the attack and capture of the intrenched camp at Hampton; besides the above, he has been twelve times engaged with the enemy in boats and on shore. His commissions bear date, as cornet, 9th May, 1795 ; lieutenant, 23rd November, 1790 ; captain, 15th August, 1805 ; major, 12th August, 1819 ; lieutenant-colonel, 31st December, 1832 ; colonel, 20th April, 1838 ; colonel-commandant, 12th Feb ruary, 1842 ; major-general, 11th November, 1851 ; and general, oth February, 1857. He bad received the silver naval medal, and was in receipt of the good service pension for his active services, the good. service pension only having been given to him ou the 27th June, 1857. THE Rev. CHARLES MARRIOTT, 8.D., of 'Oriel College, Oxford, and late vicar of St. Mary's (the University church), died on Thursday, at St. Andrew's College, Bradfield, Berks, where ho had been resid ing with his brother for the last four years. He was known as the author of several voiutues of sermon:; and theological treatises. ,porting. DONCASTER MEETING..-WEDNESDAY. THE ST. LEGER. _ _ THE ST. LEGEII STAKES OI 2J SOVS. each, for 3- yr•olds ; colts, Bst 71b ; fillies, Bst 2tb. The second to receive 100 sovs. out of the stakes. St. Leger Course (1 mile 0 furlongs 132 yards). (138 subs.) Mr. J. Merry's Sunbeam, by Chanticleer, Bst 21b 1 Mr. T. Dawson's The Bst 71b Mr. J. Merry's Blanche of Middlebie, Bst 2lb . Lord Derby's Toxophilite, Bst 7lb . The following also ran :—Compromise, Prince of Denmark, The Farmer's Son, Longrauge, Volta, East Langton, The Courier, The Knight of Kars, Brother to B►rd on the Wing, Governess, Gilderanirc, Eclipse, Kelpie, and Mentmore. BETTING AT STARTING.-2 tot apt Toxophilite, 7 to 1 agst East Langton, 8 to 1 agst The Hadji, 12 to 1 each agst Volta, Longrange, and Knight of Kars, 100 to 7 agst Governess, 15 to 1 agst Blanche of Middlebie, 100 to 6 agst Eclipse, 20 to 1 agst Sunbeam, 25 to 1 agst Brother to Bird on the Wing and Gildermirt. DONCASTER CUP. This race was run yesterday with the following result:-- Vidette Saunterer Black Tommy Seven ran. Won easy. BETTING.-6 to 4on Vidette, 3 to 1 against Saun terer, and 6 to 1 against Fisherman. DONCASTER STAKES. Toxophilite .. Br. to Bird on the Wing Jordan Seven ran. IN THE COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL on Thursday a letter was read from the King of Sardinia, express ing his greet gratification at the reception which was accorded him by the citizens of London during his recent visit to this country, and inclosing a gold medal which he had caused to be struck in honour of the occasion. THE STRIKE OF THE COLLIERS IN THE OLDBURY DISTRICT resulted in the committal of two men and a boy for trial on the charge of maliciously wound ing a man who worked la,t week in opposition to the wishes of those on strike.