The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-21 00:00:00

THE PRESS, AUGUST 21,

which its resolutions are set forth. The conven-
tion, I am informed, contains fifty-six articles,
and the first of them proclaims in express terms
the suzerainty of the Porte over the principali-
ties of Moldavia and Wallachia. The others
enact that though there shall be a certain union
between the Principalities, they shall have sepa-
rate Ilospodars and separate flags. It is not a
little singular that whilst the proceedings of this
Conference have excited intense interest, and
even anxiety, all over the Continent, they have
attracted scarcely any attention in England. Yet
they have been of extreme political importance—
so much so, as more than once to threaten nothing
less than a rupture between the great powers,
and an entire remodelling of the system of
alliances. It will be gratifying to Englishmen
to learn that, thanks to the skilful manner in
which Lord Malmesbury has acted, he has
carried all the points which were considered
essential to English policy, and, though some of
them were not palatable to France,lwithout any
misunderstanding with her.
Some sensation has been caused by the Prince
Napoleon having suddenly quitted Paris in a
most unostentatious manner. As he announced
his intention of leaving to scarcely anybody, it
was supposed that something of extreme gravity
had occurred, and it was said that he had rushed
off to Brittany to consult the Emperor about it.
There is reason to believe, however, that he has
simply departed on an incognito trip to Switzer-
land. Some mischievous people say that his
object in going is not so much to see mountains
and lakes and breathe a new air, as to avoid for
a time Mme. I'lessy, the actress of the Th6atre
Francais, who, according to Parisian gossip, has
conceived a violent passion for him, and has
formed the audacious design of making him
marry her.

The Imperial Government, you are aware, is
very partial to grand enterprises, and executes
them, too. Witness the Rue de Rivoli and the
Boulevard de Sebastopol in this good city of
Paris, and the Bois de Boulogne just outside its
walls. It is now, if I am correctly informed,
causing to be examined a scheme of unexampled
magnitude which has been submitted to it—
nothing less than the establishment of an electric
telegraph from France right away into China!
Such a work would outstrip in grandeur the
laying of the Atlantic cable, and would cast im-
mense eclat on the Sovereign who should order
and the nation which should execute it. Its
success as a commercial speculation might, per-
haps, be doubtful ; but that is a mere secondary
consideration. Be not astonished, therefore, if
some dai before long you read in the Afoniteur
that a iranco-Chinese telegraph is to be set up.
Nothing could have passed off better than the
Emperor's fete on Sunday. The weather was
fine, the decorations pretty, the military panto-
mimes exciting, the music noisy, the greased poles
greasy, the dancing brisk, the illuminations
splendid, and the fireworks dazzling, whilst the
people, though they swarmed in all- the streets,
were, as French crowds on festive occasions
always are, full of joy and full of fun, but withal
polite and orderly in the extreme. I fear me
greatly that in these last respects the same thing
could not be said of the London population turn-
ing out en masse on a national merrymaking.
Oue thing was wanting to add eclat to the fete,
and that was the presence of the Emperor and
Empress. Without that presence there was no
grand reception at Court of military officers and
civilian functionaries in uniforms of every cut
and every hue, a sight which pleases the French
exceedingly, and makes the English greatly
wonder. But to make up for the absence of
their Majesties, the Imperial Prince, their child,
was made to hold a grand reception of the
officers of a regiment of the Imperial Guard at
St. Cloud. And in this reception a curious inci-
dent occurred—the little Prince, who ever since
his birth has figured on the muster-roll of the
Grenadiers of the Guard as a soldier, was solemnly
raised to the rank of corporal ; in return for
which dignity he expressed his Imperial pleasure
that the officers should be treated to champagne.
In French eyes, which much admire things mili-
tary, this little affair appears a delicate and
pleasing mark of respect on the part of the Em-
peror to the Imperial Guard; but to some Eng-
lish people it will no doubt seem grotesque,
whilst by those who are afflicted with Cherbourg-
phobia it will be regarded as a new cause for