The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-04 00:00:00

OUR PARIS LETTER.

(ram ova (mug comespososarr.)
PARIS, FRIDAY EVININO.
_ _

The Appeal Court gave judgment this morning
in the case commonly called that of the "ten "
journals—but in reality, owing to the removal of
one defendant by a death, of nine journals—con-
demned by the Correctional Chamber of the First
Instance, as guilty of publishing "illegal reports" of
the debates in the Corps Legislatif. The superior
court has acquitted two journals only, the Temps
and the Union. The seven the sentence against
which is confirmed are—the Journal du Mats,
Journal de Paris, Acenir National, Opinion► Na-
tional, Interet Publtc, La France, and the Glancur
d'Eure et Loire.

The court, while admitting the right of the news-
papers to " discuss and appreciate" the debates,
says it is for them to reconcile this right with the
law which prohibits any " report" but the official
one. The " physiogomy "of a sitting such as it
appears to a newspaper editor, is what it is not
Lawful to give. The court in several instances
holds very unreasonably, as it appears to me, that
a short analytical summary of a debate is
criminal, for the single • reason that it is
a substitution for the official report. It
will be remembered that in the course of the
recent debate in the Corps Legislatif several depu-
ties argued, with much show of reason, that an
analytical criticism, so far from being a substitution
for the full report, was likely to induco many
people to read that full report at large who might
not otherwise have done so. The case has now
arisen for the fulfilment of a sort of pledge given
by M. Rouher, that if these judgments should be
confirmed on appeal the government would
get the law put on a more reasonable footing by
the Senate. These judgments are a redttetio ad
absurdum of the law as it stands, because, as M.
Thiers forcibly showed, it is utterly impossible to
criticise a debate without ipso facto giving some
sort of report of it.
Viscount de Kerveguen appeared to-day at the
bar of the Correctional Court, presided by Presi-
dent Delesvaux, to take his trial (pursuant to
leave granted by the Corps Legislatif) for a libel
on the journal des Debuts, Libet etc, Revue des Dour
3fondes, and Arenir National, which papers he had
accused of having taken bribes from foreign
powers. The defendant, in answer to the usual
questions, and he was a deputy in the Corps
Legislatif, and 56 years of age. He is a man of
unusually tall stature, with a bald head and very
long and rather neglected beard. M. F. Duval,
for the Debats, stated the case, the general features
of which are familiar to the public. M. do
Kerveguen had, he said, adopted without any
proof a libel of a foreign journal, the Finance ; and
when the falsity of the charge had been demon-
strated after the most painstaking investigation by
a jury of honour, half composed of his own
nominees, ho had maliciously adhered to it. M.
Etienne Arago, for the Avatar National, said a
worse case of defamation never came before a
court of justice. It is not thought that judgment
will be given to-day. The case is one of which
the beautiful French law permits no report.
The following paragraph, which I think of very
doubtful value, appears as " Latest News " in the
Liberte
It has for some days been rumoured as probable that
the Marquis de Moustier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was
likely to be superseded by M. Drouyn de Lhnys. Given is
this form the new, greatly wauts confirmation. It is true
that the Marquis de Measlier'. position is not considered
very stable, but the report that M. Dronyn de flays will
be his successor Gomm from a very untrustworthy source,
since it may be traced to friends of the esalieister, who
would be very glad to become minister again. According
to thins U. Dronyn de Lhoys would come into office
with a new set of opinions on the Eastern question widely
different from those which he held in 1854. He now
thinks that in consequence of tho great change in the
balance of power in Europe made by the battle of Sadowa
it is no longer the interest of France to prevent Rassis
from advancing towards the Bosphorus, but, on the con-
trary, to work as far as possible with Russia, so as to get
a full share at the proper time. Assuming these opin:ous
to be those of M. Drouyn de Lhuys, we think we may
safely my they have no chance of being adopted by the
Emperor's government.
The Magazin. Minis, a large establishment on
the Boulevard du Temple, which advertised that
all purchasers of goods would be shareholders in
tho profits and get their money back within
a short time, is to-day in the bankrupt list.
I remember reading an extremely amusing ac-
count of the foundation of this cooperative society
dent from the Universal
Efroxmhibyiotiuornof speciallas spotcosurremmern.

Ihearfrom what I consider agood source that there
is no ground for European uneasiness about the
Schleswig question, because France, England, and
Austria, have all declared that they will in no case
interfere to help Denmark, and, therefore, if she
cannot reconcile herself to accept with a good grace
the terms which Prussia may choose to impose,
the only thing she can do is to put up with
them and grumble, for she is utterly powerless to
resist the will of her conqueror.
M. de Maupas has been appointed reporter on
the Public Meetings Bill in the Senate. He is noto-
riously hostile to the measure. I continue to think
that the Senate's opposition will end in smoke if
M. Rouher gives orders to have the bill poised.
The Bourse was again somewhat weaker. Rento
fell 20e. for cash and 10c. for account, closing at
69fr. 250. in each case. Italian fell 45e., closing
at 49fr. 90c. ; Credit Fonder fell 6fr. 25c. ; and
2fr. 500.

With regard to the discussion as to whether our
probable wheat supplies will be sufficient to last until
next harvest, harms. Bturp and Co., of Birmingham,
remark that, supposing noisese proportion of the quantity
now ce purge for orders is diverted to Frame, they
seem reason to doubt that there will be esumeh,
se considerable shipments from the eastern *imam
of America may be anticipated, besi;tea the
quantity on the way from Califorais, ;sag maw
shipping from the produce of the iceeme bar.
vest in Chili. Australia, however. Is th'm year mete
likely to import than export wheat, and*.here is Ball Mu
meths tOSIBUIDI to bet dere much of or
seat COOP WA be 'ibe to •
• sat if the phut IS
ground continues to maw favourably Meese.
Naml assume. that literally as Br Aleh will be held over;
but lii Mull proportins e° , the Nome very Imp
sediels elm have been yet err Aid, they think preemie
peksitkl4l6l4.l7hgheto 4,,A,' ......a al tut win b. a-
-. AO While usually prevail it
126 gulmill 1.117 IL', by ok fer sum Use the elliwthltdl
lath* bus ibt by
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