The Express.
London, England, 1868-10-29 00:00:00

OUR PARIS LETTER.

(fox Ova OWN

PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING.

There is no doubt now about the authorship of
" the " map of Europe, because it is cried in every
street as being " published by order of the Empe-
ror." Some librarians bang it out in front of their
shops, side by side with the map and placard bear-
ing the words La France satisfaite, but I do not
think this comment is authorised by his Majesty.
A more paltry piooe of quackery than the map was
never put forth under the patronage of a crowned
head. A Frenchman who is looking over it with
me while I write says—This production is below
criticism—it is enfantaloge(cluldishnass). Of course
the map itself tells nothing but what is already
known, but it does not oven tell that well or accu-
rately. It is a hasty sketch, and replete with
mistakes. The commentary, which must ere this
be before you, and which is understood to pro-
ceed from the Emperor's pea, is so jejune and in-
conclusive as to suggest that the object of it must
have been to provoke criticism, and to stimulate
the public to say that the map is no argument for
paste, but the contrary. This is precisely
what the Gaulois, a paper on the best
terms with government, does this evening.
In answer to the trivial boast that France " with
her unity and her 40 millions of subjects, inclu-
ding Algerians, has nothing to fear from any-
body," the Oatsluid obsorvos that the Arabs are
source of weakness rather than strength, and so
fur from being reliable auxiliaries for France in
case of war, will always occupy a large foroo to
keep them quiet. Then when the eotumentary
says that France is in u better position in 1888
than in 1831►, because instead of lowing on her
frontiers a Germanic Confederation with a popu-
lion of 80,000, she has a Germany split into

three divisions, the (kakis objects that this
reasoning is specious merely. There was no unity
for of • the cumbrous Con-
fed . a vigorous military
power ,aulpnented her means of
actienlfhe would be very good if
t lipid the view of a campaign on the Rhine;
bet if Empire doss not look to that, but merely
te stand on the defensive, "it is incontestable that
the destination of the Germanic Confederation
Las resulted in an secretion of the political
power of Prussia, which is, in vita of all
denials, a menace, or at least an ob-
stacle, for us." This is probably precisely
what the Emperor wishes the public to think and
say, in order that when the day of war oomes he
may put the responsibility upon his subjects.
The Petrie, ashamed of the map and the
glossary, says curtly, "We believe the bearing
and importance of this publication has been greatly
exaggerated."
The Asp, the leading war organ, says contemp-
tuously in an out-of-the-way paragraph :—" We
have seen the new map; it is a very handsome
one." Even this testimonial is not true, for it is a
wretched production, not intrinsically worth
house room in any library.
The Chateau Laffitte wine of 1811 (the comet
year), Put sold by auction at the chateau, fetched
the fabulous price of 121 fr. (nearly 51.) a bottle.
The purchaser, who was bid against by most of
the principal Paris restaurateurs, was M. Gre-
madly, of the Hotel des Princes et do la Paix.
Many other bins fetched 2/. and 31. the bottle.
The Bourse took little notice of the map, which
was regarded as a plaisantenie, but felt some un-
canna., at the report from Vienna that M. de
Benet had urged grave secret reasons, the force of
which bad been admitted, for raising the Austrian
army to 800,000 men. Bente fell 23c. for cash
and 20c. for account, closing at 70fr. 23c. and
70fr. 30c. The fall of in Consols increased the
heaviness of this market. There was, however, a
tendency to recovery at the close. At one moment
the Route was down as low as 70fr. 20c. Italian
full 23c. All other securities were lower.