The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-08 00:00:00

OUR PARIS LETTER.

THE "FIRST COMMUNION" OF THE
PRINCE IMPERIAL.
(nom ous owx coma:woman.)

PARIS, THURBDAT EVILNING.
The Prince ImperialrecejeaLhiamst soMiaaeam
fn the Tuileries Chapel at half-past 9 this morn-
ing. It was administered by the Archbishop of
Paris, and not, as I had been given to understand
it would be, by the Bishop of Adras. The latter
prelate only assisted at the ceremony and said the
mass. The chapel was profusely ornamented with
flowers and choice shrubs for the occasion.
Scarcely anybody was present but the imperial
family and the members of the household, but
these were almost enough to fill the chapel. One
semi-official journal says that it was " regretted" that
space would not allow of more invitations ; but
according to another authority of equal weight the
Emperor's desire was that the ceremony should
have an entirely private character, is order that
the young Prince should not be distracted from the
solemn thoughts befitting the occasion. The
Prince was dressed as all little bays in Paris are
for their first communion—namely, in a blue frock
coat, with a white scarf, and white waistcoat and
trousers. When he entered the chapel the Arch-
bishop of Paris offered him holy water, with which
he sprinkled himself, and a lighted wax candle,
which he carried very upright to the seat provided
for him in front of the altar. The court journals
say that the " pious attitude" of the young Prince
profoundly moved everybody present. As soon as
the Emperor and Empress took their sesta the
mass began. The Archbishop then made a speech
to the neophyte, which, we are told, found "an
echo in every heart." When the Prince received
the communion the corners of the cloth were held
by Prince Joachim Murat, General Frossard, the
Prince's tutor, the Bishop of Adras's principal
chaplain, and the Abbe Mullois, one of
the Enaperdr's chaplains. Prince Napoleon's
two suns, Prime) Napoleon Victor and
Napoleon Louis, had places in the chapel.
After the ceremony the Archbishop of Paris made
another speech, at which the audience was much
moved again. Young Conneau and some other
children who haw the honour of being playmates
of the Prince witnessed the ceremony from a
gal:ery, and when it was over they were permitted
to conic down and embrace him. At 5 this
evening the Princs received the sacrament) of
confirmation from the Archbishop of Paris.
It i. said that the Emperor and Empress have
entirely .abstained from business during the whole
of this day.

_
M. de Cormenin, a very old councillor of state,
died yesterday. He wan born in 1788, and became
an auditor of the Council of State so long ago as
Jan. 10, 1810.
The result of the elections for the two vacant
snits in the Academy is such as I anticipated yes-
terday. M. Autran obtained 23 votes against
9 given to M. Theophile Gautier, M. Claude Ber-
nard was elected by 21 against 7 polled by M. Ca-
mille Sonnet.

Yesterday, an attempt at murder and a suicide
was committed in the house of M. Kcenigswater,
a Jewish banker, formerly a deputy for Paris.
His valet, a German, who had been many years in
his service, fell violently in love with an English
girl. his wife's lady's maid. She gave him no
encouragement, and his master, hearing that his
attentions were annoying to her, called him into
his study, and told him he must let her alone.
The valet answered that he did not see that
his master had anything to do with' his
private affairs. Immediately on leaving M.
Keenigavrater's room he met the English lady's
maid. and pulling a revolver from his pocket fired
at her, and wounded her very seriously. He fired
a second barrel into his own heart and fell dead.

The Bourse was much depressed. Rents, though
less affected than any other securities, fell sc. for
cash, and 771 c. for account, closing at 69fr. 25c.
and 69fr. 22ic. Mobilier fell 25fr., closing
at 210 fr. Credit Fonder fell life. 25c. ; and
Italian, 15c.

OUTWARD INDIA, CHINA, AND JAPAN MAILS.-
GIBRALTIR, MAT 7.—The Nyanza, from Southampton
2ad inst., arrived at 7 a.m. to-day and left at 11 a.m. for
Alexandria. All well. She experienced foggy and un-
settled weather.

IIoMBAY MAIL. MAINEILLI4, MAY 8. —The
Pere arrived at 9 a.m. to-day. The mans leave for London
by the 11 a.m. train.

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.—EmiIy Johnson, s girl
only six years of age, the daughter of parents who reside
in Leeds, and • member of the ballet troupe performing
in the jcintomlme The Fair One with the Golden Loas,
now being produced under the management of Mr.
John Coleman, at the York Theatre, was on Wednesday
eight the subjecti of • frightful accident. The pantomime
bad advanced to • part where • "demons dance" is
introduce I by Mr. Royce, one of the effects brought to
bear on which is the lime light. The person who had
the management of this light had a candle placed near
hint at one of the wings at which Miss Johnson was
'trading. Her feet and body were in graceful motion to the
urine of the band,wben her muslin dress came into contact
with the candle in question, at once ignited, and en-
?eloped l.er in flames. The calamity was witnessed by Mr.
Royce from the opposite wing, and heat once rushed to her
reavie. He first seized the poor girl and rolled over with
lam and then be enveloped her in an old coat which
watt at hand, and extinguished the flames. This hew-
er''', not done before the child had been fright-
fully Imi nt about the arms, legs, back, and other parts of
her 'anion. Her cheat and face escaped. Surgical 'mist-
awe warn venia at hand, and the sufferer was removed to
York 'otuty hospital, where she now lies in • critical
Ft:itiou. Mr. Royce himself was also burnt from the
Ilion of an article called lieopodiam, which was on the
front of his red tight-fitting dress. His injuries are only
on the lower part of his face, and are not serious. The
circumstance, though not witnessed by the audience,
sweated some alarm smong them, but the performance
shortly after proceeded.