The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-19 00:00:00

OUR PARIS LETTER.

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PARIS, WILEGIIBDAT EVIItI2IO.
I cannot precisely say that the single franc which
I have just paid for the Emperor's new pamphlet is
• bad investment, because it contains in a com-
pendious form a number of documents which, how-
ever well known, it may sometimes be useful to
refer to. But there never was a greater deception
practised upon the public than to represent before-
hand with much ado that the work about to issue
from the imperial press was important. There is
really " nothing in it." The few introductory
and concluding lines which constitute the slight
framework of a compilation consisting of various
official papers, showing the rise and progress of
the Bonaparte family from the 18th Brumaire to
the present time, contains not a word of the slightest
interest so far as regards contemporary politics. It
is difficult indeed to imagine the motive for such
an inane and childish publication. The common-
place quotation, " Vox populi vox Dei," is the
motto of the volume for the purpose of
inferring that the successive plebiacitums
which have confirmed various dictatorial acts of
Napoleon I. and Napoleon 111. dearly show the
voice of God declaring that France belongs to the
Bonapartes. Hitherto we have been accustomed
to hear that Napoleon 111. was the elect of eight
millions of suffrages. The only new idea of the
pamphlet is adding up the " tottle of the whole"
of the polls commanded by the Napoleons at dif-
ferent periods, and then saying that the title of the
dynasty rests upon " thirty millions of votes." Why
the Empire feels it necessary at the present time
to insist, contrary to what thinking people will ever
admit, that • plebiscituto is an unanswerable argu-
ment and the sole basis and principle of good go-
vernment does not at all appear. Why should a
dynasty which reigns undisputed think it neces-
sary just now to provoke doubts (I do not say dis-
cussion, because discussion is not permitted) as to
the origin of its power 1 I cannot but wonder that
it did not think of a proverb more intelligible to
the generality of Frenchmen, and more to the
purpose than the Latin one in the title page, Qui
s'excese s'accuse.
The Prance says :

The most contra:notary rumours continue to armlet*
about Prince Napoleon. Some despatches announce that
instead of returning to Paris he is going to St. Petersburg.
This news is circulated with the evident intention of fur-
nishing • pretext for all sorb of political comments. The
truth is that the Prince has no settled plea, and travels
shoat entirelyunder &Walpole, of his ferny. Thiele soiree
that slier his:visit to Botha the Prince himself telegraphed
that he was coming beet to Paris directly, and the railway
company made preperstoea to receive him. But he sud-
denly changed We mind, and weut, as we )mow, to Dresden
and Leipsic.

It will probably not be the general opinion that
Prince Napoleon is such an unoommiasioned atom
flitting about in space as the Prance represents.
There is such an extraordinary mortality among
geese in France that M. Forced° de la Roquette,
the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, has
addressed a circular to the prefects on the subject.
The Bonne opened with some heaviness, but
ultimately the upward movement continued. Rents
rose sc. for cash and 10c. for account, closing at
69fr. 30c. and 69fr. 35c. Italian roes 75c., Mobi-
lier 10fr., and Credit Foncier, sfr. The money
article of the conservative France says :
It is impossible to believe that the rime of the last few
days is the result of purchases made by the public, and
that the market is not moved by some abnormal impul-
sion. We cannot but look with distrust upon a movement
with which the mass of spoonlater, have as little to do se
the investing public. The rise is too peat and too rapid
to be solid.

WEATHER RIPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

TIII726DAY, 1/ /ACM 19. I LX.