The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-11 00:00:00

IMPRESS FROM PARIS.

PLEB, Wswicanay EVINING.

The political journals continue to "ventilate"
the Danish question, and to speculate upon the fate
of the Duchies. Austria is regarded as the mere
tool of Prussia ; whilst the minor states of the
Germanic Confederation are counted less than
nothing. But it must be borne in mind that al-
though the Prussian minister has hitherto per-
formed the principal Idle in this miserable tragedy
of "Denmark and the Duchies," he has never once
thwarted the views of the great German party
represented by the National Verein. I say ad-
visedly—and it is a fact which is of immense im-
portance, but generally lost sight of—that the
National Verein have not yet been " snub-
bed" by M. Bismark. In truth and in
reality he has been playing their game.
The affair at Rendsburg and others of a
similar nature wounded most sensibly the military
susceptibilities of the smaller States, but the great
body composing the National League desired
especially and above all other things that Sleswit
Holstein should be wrested from Denmark, unite
qui mute. This has been done, and the Verein so
far have triumphed ; but he knows little of Ger-
many and the aspirations of its people, who
supposes that it is a matter of the slightest
moment which of the rival candidates ascends the
disputed throne. It is not their policy to create
new little kingdoms, they have higher and loftier
aims than that. But the time is not yet. The
German " National Verein" is a mightier power
than the public opinion of Europe supposes, and
there are men in its foremost ranks who
have learnt the lesson, and apply it with wisdom,
of making present concessions, without bating one
jot or tittle of their pretensions. They are pre-
pared to wait for a more convenient season for the
full fruition of all their hopes and views, but the
day will come when the princelings will be swept
away by the irresistible force of this very league,
which is the surest barrier against French am-
bition.

It is surprising that anyone can &seat that the
impression created by the late trial will pass away
in a week. It is true the outward effect may be
no longer visible, but the next elections will reveal
• different tale. The government of the Emperor
is said to be one of conciliation, and it is alleged
that his Majesty is sincerely desirous it should be
so. Hence there are rumours of a sacrificial vic-
tim
being immolated to appease the public wrath.
But the great fêtes must first take place, and as
they will be very brilliant and dazzling, it is hoped
they may create a salutary diversion.
M. Jules Favre's greatest effort is Mill the sub-
I jut of much remark. His more immediate friends
consider his highest triumph to have been the able
way in which he avoided the slightest reference to
those numerous points which separated him in po-
litics from those whom he defended, and especially
from Berryer and others of his legal brethren ea-
gaged in the cause. Not one word dropped from
his lips, even in his most impassioned momenta,
that was not hailed with delight by the men of all
creeds who surrounded him. M. Favre advised an
appeal against the judgment, so the case will be
beard again.
If I allude to a passage in the letter of
the Archbishop of Paris, published on Tues-
day, it is in no carping spirit, but only to
" point a moral." " Both the past and present,"
be says, " fill us with deep gratitude. The for-
tunate results of our arms with the prestige of a
Hundred victories, the moral ascendancy which
the whole world proclaims or submits to," arc., "ren-
der France the envy and admiration of Europe."
Now the moral ascendancy thus vaunted coincides
with a vigorous war of the critics which is not
yet ended. M. Jules Junin, irritated beyond
endurance, as well be might be, by the
extraordinary rapidity with which a vile pro.
duction, entitled " Memoir.. d'une Femme de
Chan,bre," ran through twelve editions, wrote an
admirable paper, lashing, in his own inimitable
style, the miserable volume--a true type, alas, of
the prevalent Parisian literature ; and it was hoped
by all whose " ethics " were not irretrievably cor-
rupted that for a time at least these immoral pan-
derers to a morbid apetite would hide their
diminished heads ; yet the ink which traced N.
Janin'e indignant diatribe was scarcely dry when
there was announced and issued the " Memoir,.
done Biche Anglaise"—a most revolting and
indecent production. Its success bas been in pro-
portion to its vileness. The immoral tone of Paris
is notorious, and it were far better that the arch-
bishop told then so. It is most likely he only