The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-20 00:00:00

FRANCE.

• The following is an extract of a letter received
from Paris this morning : •
"Is the Emperor really going to the Crimea ?" '
"Has Count Fialin de Persigny succeeded in divert-
ingthelmperialmindfromthat unmeaningproject ?"
"Is his Majesty going, or is he not ?" These are the
questions asked by every one you meet, high and
low, gentle and simple, rich and poor ; and what-
ever
be the difference of views that may exist on
other points among these different classes, on this
there is but one opinion—that of strong condemna-
tion. Some may disbelieve the fact, but all are
unanimous in reprobating it. Neither as the
Sovereign of a nation, as a statesman, or as a
General, is there any pretext for such a
journey. If the Emperor's presence with the
army on the field of battle, where the fate of
an empire was to be decided, was likely to add
to the chances of victory, from the prestige of his
name, one could understand the generous impetuo-
sity, or the high resolve which prompted the ad-
venture. But the siege of Sebastopol is rather an
affair of engineering ; who can say that it will not
be taken before ho arrives Who can assure us
that even the magic of his presence may fail in
reducing that formidable stronghold ? If the mo-
ment of the attack be near at hand, the troops will
not mount the breach with less daring than they
stormed the heights of Alma, Balaklava, and Inker-
man, where no Emperor was present. His glory can-
not be increased by his being merely an eye-witness;
and the consequences even to him might be pregnant
with evil in case of discomfiture. By witnessing°from
some distant height the capture of Sebastopol, the
Emperor can hdrdly believe that he will be reckoned
among the great Generals of the age, and his pre-
sence will not give more force to his Government
at home, or impart to it more prestige abroad,
than if he received the news of the success
of his arms without stirring from the Tuileries.
It is, however, still uncertain whether his
Majesty will persist in what profane Republicans
would call a " wild-goose chase," but to which
others, out of regard for Imperial dignity, give the
more modified terms of a "swan-hunt." I am told,
and I hope it is true, that since yesterday the ques-
tion has, if anything, rather lost than gained
ground, and it is whispered that, iu a letter from a
great personage in England, the matter is amicably
discussed, but strongly disapproved. It is hoped
that a good effect will be produced by it. In the
meantime the Ministers themselves, or certainly
some of them, continue in rather an amusing state
of perplexity. They cannot say whether the
Emperor will or will not go. They fervently pray for
the latter ; and they trust to the chapter of acci-
dents, or to some superior influence in their favour.
A journey to Vienna, to Berlin, to the shores or
the waters of the Baltic, would not be much
minded ; but that distant and mysterious region
of the Crimea inspires misgivings, and makei the
spirit, whether it will or no, apprehensive or pro-
phetic of evil. All that can be said is that though
the journey is as much talked of as ever, yet there
still lingers a slight hope that it will not take place.
An aide-de-camp of M. de Wodell left Paris for
Berlin yesterday. It is believed he is the bearer
of the Treaty with Prussia, to be submitted to his
Majesty. With regard to its signature I have
learned nothing new of a positive kind. But I may
again repeat that it is considered in official quarters
as an affair definitively arranged and concluded ;
and it is not considered probable that, all vacillating
as he has proved himself, the King will disavow the
work of his confidential agent.

BOURSE, FHB. D.—CLOSING PRICES.
Cash. End of Month.
4i per Cents 94 75 91f. 65c.
3 per Cents 65 75 C 5 85

C;editMobilier 742 50 Roman
Credit Foncier — Austrian
Belgian Fives — Spanish Threes
Piedmontese B3 75 Home Debt

RAILWAYS—FOR CASH.
fr. c. fr. c.
1,165 ---Lyons ............ . ... 1017 50
Orleans..
Western 650 Rouen
Cette 595 Strasburg ..•.••...... 802 50
Mediterranean B9O Havre; .................. 552 50
Northern

A letter from Helsingborn (Finland), in the
German Journal of Frankfort, states that General
de Berg, the new governor of the province, arrived
at the above named place on the Ist. The arma-
ments were being proceeded with most actively
throughout Finland.

The Danube reports from Kars, of the 26th De-
cember, that Schamyl had intercepted a convoy of
1,500 Turkish prisoners, whom the Russians were
carrying off into the interior.

A letter from Berlin of the 16th, in the Consti-
tutionnel, says :—" The Prince of Prussia was
taken ill yesterday, and his departure for the
Rhenish provinces is again delayed."