The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-17 00:00:00

OUR PARIS LETTER.

(Mit DVS OWN

PAILLS, WIEDIIMIDAT Erssrme.

There is nothing certain about the Greek ques-
tion. I cannot help thinking the official language
of the Moniteur on the very eve of December 17,
when Greece must reply to the Turkish ultimatum,
a little cold.

The rumours of ministerial modifications, vaguely
current for a long while, find a more precise em-
bodiment than has yet been seen in the Journal
du Havre, which says :
On Saturday last M. Radler submitted to the Emperor
a ministerial list, in which figured : —Minister of State and
Foreign Affairs, M. Boiler ; Minister of the Interior, M.
Jerome David, who has been staying for three days at
Compligne ; President of the Council of State, M. do
Forcade de Ls Roquette, in place of M. Vuitry ; and M.
Hausmann, Minister of Public Works. As a sup-
plement to these arrangements, MM. Pineal,
Moustier, and de Saint Paul would be made
sen►tors, the latter at the same time being
entrusted with the prefecture of the Gironde. The Empe-
ror put M. Raabe?s list in his pocket, and ham not yet de-
cided anything. Ilia answer is looked for with a certain
impatience.
The Arend de Paris gar :

For several days past mysterious rumours have been in
circulation touching changes contemplated at Compiegne.
It would appear that about the person of the Sovereign
there are intrigues more orless personal, clothed with the
plausible pretext that it is necessary to restore to the go-
vernment that unity of action which it has not possessed
since the appearance of the famous letter of Jan. 19. It is
expected that within a few days there will be considerable
ministerial changes. We are assured that, pursuant to
suggestions made on Saturday last, the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs, of the Interior, of Public Works, and the
President of the Council of State, will be removed from
their positions. Whatever the truth may be, there is
already observable in several ministerial offices that vague
emotion which precedes the fall of a cabinet. Even the
door porters look excited and anxious.
I believe there is considerable foundation for
the above paragraghs, and that when the Emperor
returns from Compitlgne either to Puris or St.
Cloud this week there will be a shuffle of
ministerial cards. But I have no expectation
whatever of any such change as would indicate
that the Emperor sees the necessity of constitu-
tional government. On the contrary, the Maul
create among old imperial hacks would merely
show a desire to make the system of personal
rule work, if not a little better, at least • little
more successfully. M. Pinard, a Jesuit discovered
by the Empress, and made Minister of the In-
terior, ad majorem Dei glorious, has covered him-
self with ignominy in the eyes of every lover of
free government, but I have no expectation that
his successor will be a whit better. The " unity"
desired is a reactionary unity against the rashly
promised liberties now repented of.
Prince Napoleon has gone on a visit to Madame
George Sand, at the Chateau de Nohant, for the
purpose of standing godfather to her grandson, a
newly-born infant of M. Maurioo Sand.
General Cialdiui—not taking by any means the
shortest way—has gone through Paris to Spain ;
and the public is asked to believe that hi has no
mission, bat I. travelling merely on his private
affairs. It is impossible not to remember that
Prim's favourite candidate for the throne of Spain
is said to be the Prince de Carignan.
Timber of Paris has got up a subscription for a
monument to Beerier.

M. Paul de Cassagnse was yesterday endeared
to six days imprisonment for wooadiag Ids cousin,