The Express.
London, England, 1868-11-30 00:00:00

OUR PARIS LETTER.

(1,1031 OUN OWN

PARIS, SZINDAY Evayme.

Several pretectoral journals in the provinces an-
nounce simultaneously that M. Rouher bee caused
to be adjourned the projects that wore entertained
of an alteration in the laws concerning the press
and the right of public meeting. This para-
graph, which can only have Leen com-
municated by some member of the ministry
(probably M. Rouher himself) proves conclu-
sively that there is foundation for the rumours
of reactionary measures having been broached in
the councils of Compielgne, and that after a minis-
terial conflict on the subject, 31. Rouher's opinion
that a retrograde course would be impolitic has
for the moment prevailed. It would be in-
teresting to know which of the ministers
gave contrary advice. The Pays laments in
quite pathetic terms that the Emperor cannot
be induced to withdraw the license he
has given to his enemies ; and according to the
damaging admissions of the Jutirraai de r Empire
their name is indeed legion. Where, exclaims M.
Paul de Cassagnac, are the young men, ambitious
of a career, who should defend the Emperor and
God f (The Pays places the two words in this order.)
"There are none; the opposition monopolisee
them all." There follows a heartrending contrast
between the case of M. Gambetta, certain
to be a deputy for one opposition speech, and
that of himself, Paul de Cassagnac, whose devo-
tion to the empire, which his father took a part in
founding, confers on him a right to tender ad-
vice which no human power can deprive him of.
The Emperor has no right to allow himself to be
attacked and insulted, and M. Paul de Cassagnac
will not suffer it, however weakly tolerant the
Emperor may be. He professes not to
care a pin whether he offends Louis Napoleon or
not, but he will defend the Empire in his own
way. The task is, however, an ungrateful one.
If he recommends any progress be displeases this
or that minister, and when he counsels reaction he
" puts the Tuileries in a bad humour." Ho thinks
it quite likely that the Emperor is angry with him
at this moment for the abuse he lately lavished upon
M. Berryer. While his services to the crown aro thus
ill-appreciated, his name has become a bye-word
to the public, and if a revolution were $o occur he
knows he would be hung up on the first lamp-
post. Still he will go fearlessly on, believing
like the ancient Gauls that if tho Empire were to
fall he and his brother chevaliers would prop it up
with their lanced.

I am told that Roesini's villa at Passy is shortly
to be sold. The great beauty of this eta in orbs
is a boundless contiguity of shade." It is built
on apiece of ground that belonged to the Bois do
Boulogne before M. Thieve fortified Paris. The
earthworks of the fortifications now bound the
western side of the little park and garden
in which the house stands, and so far from being
an eyesore, aro extremely ornamental. A row
of fine chesnuts is planted at the base, and through
and above the branches one perceives a series of
terraces covered with turf as green as that of
the slopes at Windsor. The foliage of the Bois de
Boulogne is in the back ground. The Rossini
villa is enclosed by a high iron railing.
so thickly covered with ivy that a small
bird could scarcely got through. Tho
eastern boundary is the Auteuil Railway, but
the garden is so arranged that the line is not
visible from the house. Half way down the long
oblong garden is the liosque or summer-house in
which Reesini was wont to study in tine weather.
The little park in which the villa stands is planted