The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-09 00:00:00

PRESS, JANUARY 9,1858

Napoleon has always been most frank, courteous,
and loyal. Can as much be said for other eminent
characters? The French Cabinet is not, and has no
reason for being, jealous of that of England, either
as diplomatic or administrative statesmen. Indeed,
if one were inclined to be invidious, comparisons
between the two Cabinets might be drawn which
would not be very flattering to that of Lord
Palmerston.

Two great questions are now under discussion—the
negro free trade, and the Suez Canal. As regards
the negro free trade, the French Government, I am
assured, is acting with the greatest loyalty. She is
as opposed to the sale of slaves as much as England,
but she will not give way to vulgar abuse. The free
negroes from the coast of Africa put on board French
vessels, and carried to the French colonies, are
treated as free men, and are hired for a certain
period as any other labourer would be. The Empe-
ror is determined to carry out his project for the
supply of free negro labourers to his colonies, but
you may rely be will not permit the slightest infrac-
tion of the abolition policy.
As to the Suez Canal, it Is not easy to understand
either the determined opposition of Lord Palmerston,
or the vacillating conduct of Austria. M. de Prokesch
in his different conversations with M. de Thouvenel
speaks in high and favourable terms of the project
of M. de Lesseps, but at the same time he is using
all his influence to persuade the Sultan to withhold
the Orman until all the European powers have given
their consent. All the European powers means
Lord Palmerston ! If the secret manoeuvres and
intrigues brought into play to prevent the Suez Canal
scheme from being carried out weeo made public,
what a highly instructive picture they would offer for
the study of rising diplomatists ! The conduct of
the Emperor amidst all these disagrintens is pleasant
to contemplate. His temper is never ruffled.
In his reply to the Diplomatic Corps on the Ist of
January he indicated pretty clearly that he had no
fears for the future. His language, I am assured,
was most conciliatory, and fell of the conviction that
the peace of Europe would not be disturbed.
It is reported that the Count Petrulla, who lately
passed through Paris, is charged with the mission to
effect a reconciliation between England and Naples.
This morning the Emperor presided at a Cabinet
Council, in which the question of regulating the rate
of legal interest was discussed. His Majesty is in
the enjoyment of excellent health, and notwithstand-
ing the bitter cold weather drives out each day in an
open carriage. The Empress has completely reco-
vered from her late slight indisposition, and conse-
quently the ball at the Tuileries will take place on
the 9th. It was reported that the Empress was in
an interesting state, but this is not positively known.
It is said that General Lamoriciere and his family
will pass a few days in Paris previous to taking up
their residence at their country seat. Orders were
given by the French Government that the general's
baggage should not be examined at the Custom-
house on the frontiers. General Lamoriciere ex
presses himself in the highest terms of the kindness
shown to him by the Emperor.
You will already have beard of the death of Mlle.
Rachel, the celebrated tragedian, and probably have
read her biography. I will, therefore, only add that
it is not true that Mlle. Rachel had been converted
to the Catholic faith. She lived and died a Jewess,
and will be buried to-morrow in the Jewish cemetery
at Pere La Chaise, where her family possesses a
vault, and where her sister, Rebecca Felix, has been
buried. The popularity and talent of Mlle. Rachel
was so great that it is a curious fact that the amount
of money received at the Thi.fitre Francais on the
nights this tragedian performed, from 183 A to 1855,
amounted to the enormous sum of 4,394,231 francs.

I do not know whether you are aware that the
banker Tachmann, who lately failed at Berlin for
800,000 dollars, is the father-in-law of Miss Wagner,
the celebrated singer. It is said that in consequence
of this disruption of family affairs she has deter-
mined to return to the stage.
Baron James de Rothschild has given 60,0001b5.
weight of bread to be distributed amongst the poor
in Paris.

The number of letters distributed by the different
French post-offices amounted during the last year
to 252 millions.
The cold is very great, and the Seine, from the
Palace of the Archbishop to the lock of the Monnnie,
the Canal St. Martin, the bassins in the Tuileries,
and the lake in the Bois de Boulogne, are completely
frozen. They are daily covered with eager skaters.
Several elegant sledges have been seen in the Bois
de Boulogne. The weather is equally cold in other
parts of France ; the Loire and the Cher are com-
pletely frozen over. The inner basin of the port of
Havre is covered with a slight coat of ice ; the waters
of the Rhone and Saone at Lyons are very low.
It is reported that the typhus is raging with great
fury at Nice. The Grand Duchess Sterhanie, the
Duchess of Hamilton, and other illustrious visitors,
are preparing to quit it for other parts of Italy.

M. de Tallevrand Perigord, the French Comrni,..
sioner in the Danubian Principalities, is expected •to
reach Paris about the end of the month.

I forgot to mention that there is no truth in the
report that the French fleet now anchored near to
Hong Kong will not cooperate with the English in
the attack on Canton. The beat understanding exists
between Baron Gros and Lord Elgin as to the con.
duct and object of the Chinese war.