The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-29 00:00:00

Extraordinary Trial in France.

A painful case of family litigation came before the Paris
civil tribunal on Dec. 21. The following summary of the
case is given by the Paris correspondent of a contemporary :
—" Tha parties were the two sons, both confessedly illegi-
timate, of the late M. Musard, the originator of the concerts
which yet bear his name, The plaintiff, Edme Musard,
was born in ]BlB. His mother, Madame Charlotte Suzanne,
is described as a rentiere, and must therefore be supposed to
have had property. It was not disputed that the plaintiff
was legally recognised by M. Musard as his illegitimate
child. But in 1819 there came to Paris from London, where
she had been living for several years as a married woman,
named Virginia Conne, the wife of a glasecutter, She was,
as it is alleged by the plaintiff, eneiente before she ever saw
Musard, but before her accouchement she became his mis-
tress, and obtained a great ascendancy over him. Her
child was born on March 1, 1819, in the Rue St Appolline,
but she omitted to register its birth in Paris, M. Musard
adopted the child, and brought it up as his own, and five
years afterwards this child was baptised at St Anne's,
Westminster, in the register of which parish for the year
1824 appears this ;entry Alfred, born March 1, 1819,
son of Philip and Virginia Musard,' In 1846, Musard, by
a notorial act, recognised Alfred Musard as his illegitimate
son. Madame Conne's husband lived till January 10,
1850, when he died in Londoc, and on November 12 of
the same year Musard married her. From the time of
his acquaintance with Madame Conne he neglected his son
Edme, who, however, received a good education from his
mother, Charlotte Susanne, but she dying and leaving him
an orphan at the age of 16, he found himself in a destitute
condition and applied to his father for assistance. The lat-
ter consented to do something for him, but on condition
that he should only call him uncle. Edme Musard seems to
have led a hard and precarious life, lie was first of all
bound an apprentice to an engineer, in order to be got out
of the way of his more favoured brother Alfred. Afterwards
he learned pianoforte making. and was for a long while in
the house of Sax. He married a woman who had money,
but unfortunately it was all invested in a firm which became
bankrupt. By the marriage he has a son, 16 years old, who
is now studying music at the Conservatoire. He wac always
treated as a pariah by the prosperous Alfred, who, in cha-
racter of his father's secretary, wrote him a very harsh
letter, which was read to the Court. At Musard's
death, in 1859, Alfred was found to be already in pos-
session of the greater part of his property. The
plaintiff alleged that fraudulent deeds of gift had
been made in order to exclude him from his legal
share; but the defendant answered that Musard was in diffi-
culties during the latter years of his life, that he (Alfred)
had paid his father's debts and taken his property as a
security. Shortly after the father's death, Edme Musard,
being in great distress, signed away all his birthright to his
brother for the sum of 300 f in ready money, Latterly
Edme Musard has endeavoured to give concerts in Paris,
but Alfred, so far from helping him, has, it is alleged,
always contrived to prevent his concerts from taking place.
On one occasion, when Edme described himself in his bills
as the " only son of the celebrated composer," the prefect of
police, on the suggestion of Alfred, made him strike out the
words, and the concert was a failure. The object of the pre-
sent action was to have it declared that the release for the
colourable consideration of 300 f was void, as having been
obtained by undue pressure, and to have an inquiry whether
Alfred Musard was not in reali'y the child born in the Rue
St. Appolline on March 1, 1319, of the married woman
Virginia Conne. The consequence of establishing the latter
fact would be to show that Alfred was the legitimate son of
Nicolas Conne, and that Musard's recognition of him was
null and void, The Court, however, held that Alfred
Musard had acquired by notoriety, by the baptismal entry
at St. 'Anne's Westminster, and by the notarial act of 1816,
the status of Musard's son, and that it would be against
public policy and the articles 335 and 342 of the Code
Napoleon to admit evidence to show that at the time of his
birth his mother was married to another person than Musard
It was also of opinion that there was no proof of fraud in
the release by the plaintiff of his rights for 300 f, and ac-
cordingly the action was dismissed with costs,"

Agricultural Prospects.

(From the Marl: Lane Express)

The week opened with a very heavy fall of snow; wind
E. to S.E.; some rain fell at night, but before the following
day a slight frost was experienced. On Monday morning
there was a dense fog, and this lasted for some time, as for
two hours it was thick and dark, the day proving of a very
doubtful character. On Tuesday a thorough thaw set in,
and the snow was fast disappearing, but no rain fell ; wind
S.E.I; thermometer 45 deg; barometer 29.70 in. Outdoor
work on the farm was in consequence completely stopped,
and the low districts would have an increase of water from
the sudden melting of the snow—but still we hear of farmers
having to fetch water from a distance and at great expense,
as it is probable that the ponds and wells will not be filled
until winter has gone by and much more snow experienced.
The wheat plant will have received a check from the cold
nights, but may be more benefited than hurt by this change
in the temperature. The sudden variations in the atmos-
phere are much against the threshing of wheat, greatly
affecting the condition, and whilst there is no encourage-
ment in prices, the less this corn is exposed to the air the
better. When the frost returns it may be in time to go to
work again, and after a while amelioration in condition and
value may be simultaneous, as foreign imports are and will
be very limited for some months to come. It is high time a
turn took place,,and the long monotony of the corn trade
ought to be nearly over, as with the coming year it is to be
hoped agricultural prospects will be more cheering than
they have been for a long time past. On Wednesday the
morning was damp and wet; wind round to the S.W. ;
thermometer, 40 deg; barometer, 30 inches; all against
condition and demand. On Thursday the wind had gone
to the N.N.E., and it became much coldee again; thermo-
meter, 35 deg; barometer, 30.20 inches, and steadily rising.
The morning was cold and dry, with 2 deg of frost, whilst at
Rotterdam 13 deg were registered, and a keen frost appeared
to be returning. Saturday morning was keen and cold; dur-
ing the previous night 6 deg of frost were registered, and
the atmosphere looked threatening, and some more snow
may not be far off, although the barometer was up to 30.50
inches. Without a covering this black frost may be too sharp
for the wheat plant, hardy as it is ; for sudden changes from
snow to melting moisture, and then to frost again, will try
it. This weather must cause a good demand for provender
of every description, and the farmyard will require and ob-
tain a considerable accession of cattle, as there is nothing
in the fields for them, and the homestead will be full where
there is plenty of stock kept, the most paying commodity
now'of any, and aiding the poor prices of corn of every de-
scription. The manufacture of malt, duty free, for the use of
cattle is likely to prove a failure ; in the first place, the price
is too high, for £l2 per ton cannot be afforded. One gentle-
man who has gone to considerable expense in erecting malt-
ings under the restrictions of the act, has found much
trouble in disposing of the manufactured stuff, and such
farmers who have complained of the price he has invited
to send him in wheat or barley to manufacture in confor-
mity with the provisions of the act. He has, however,
not had one application, in consequence of which he has
petitioned the Cornteissioners of Excise to allow him to
use the premises for the manufacture of malt in the usual
way and to pay the duty thereon, and the new system will
consequently be a mistake as far as regards their attempt
to bring it into notice. Others may be more persevering ;
but none, we believe, will be encouraged if the price re-
main as high as £l2 per ton. There is a superabundance
of barley suitable for this purpose at a very cheap rate—
and, one third wheat, one third barley, and one third lin-
seed cakes, will make the best provender for beasts, while
this compound is already being resorted to extensively in
many counties.

MR, SEWARD'S INDIGNATION-LETTER.—The
refusal of the American Government to allow money to
be transmitted from England to alleviate the sufferings of
the Confederate prisoners is very severely commented on
by:the Patric. The following is an extract from its ob-
servations on the subject :—" Mr Seward's letter is a mas-
ter-piece in its way--a master-piece of buffoonery, we
should say, if we could find in our hearts to indulge in a
moment's gaiety at the least incidents arising from Mr
Lincoln's deplorable policy. Mr Seward refuses the money
sent for the prisoners, because, says he in the first place,
the United States have ample means for the support of
the prisoners as well as for every other exigency of the war
in which they are engaged,' and also because ' the insur-
gents, who have blindly rushed into that condition, are suf-
fering no privations that appeal for relief to charity either
at home or abroad I' The Northern Government may
have the means to meet all the exigencies of the war, but
the subscribers had no intention to ruffle Mr Lincoln's
financial vainglory—they simply meant to perform an act
of humanity. To this Mr Sev and replies that the money
is insidiously offered in the name oi humanity, and (mark
well the words!) that it constitutes no large portion of the
profits justly supposed to have been derived from the in-
surgents, by exchanging with them arms and munitions
of war for the coveted productions of immoral and
enervating slave labour.' M• Froulhotume himself
could say nothing better. What lofty disdain,
and how well it accords with the conduct
of Mr Lincoln's Government. What I did not
the sums found on board the Florida, which the 'Wash-
ington Treasury has not scrupled to receive, also proceed
from immoral and enervating slave labour ? Have not all
the provisions which the armies in the field plunder in the
Southern States the very same origin ? Would Mr Seward
think of recommending the soldiers of Grant and Sherman
to die of hunger rather than eat the coveted productions of
immoral and enervating slave labour? Mr Seward adds
that he cannot accept the money offered as a compensation
fur the calamities caused by the war, and that the offer of
the English subscribers is only an ' officious intervention in
the domestic affairs' of the American people. Lastly, Mr
Lincoln's minister, who seemr conscious of the ridicule his
letter entails, attempts to escape it by declaring that he does
not think the insurgents hive become debased, although
they have sadly wandered from the ways of loyalty and
patriotism,' and he believes that, 'in common with all
Americans they will rejoice in being saved by their consi-
derate and loyal Government from the grave insult pre-
pared for them by Lord IA harncliffe and his associates
The end is worthy of the beginning I Who can help ad•
miring Mr. Seward's eagerness to defend, against an insult
from England, a people whom Mr Lincoln and his generals
are pillaging, oppressing, and persecuting."

gri
tr,
Mrnrt CrtnlZt

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dec. 28.

The Queen, accompanied by Prince Arthur and Prince
Leopold, walked out yesterday; and Princess Louise drove,
attended by Countess Blucher.

The Duke and Duchess of Somerset and Lady
Gwendoline St. Maur are expected to leave Stover Park,
near Totness, shortly after the 7th proximo, for the noble
duke's official residence at the Admiralty.

The Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe are enter-
aining a select family party at Floors Castle, near Kelso.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Hastings have
left the St. George's Hotel.
The Marquis of Bowmont joined the royal circle
at Sandringham a few days ago.
The Earl and Countess of Leicester will entertain
a distinguished party at Holkham Hall during the ensuing
week. Visceunt and V iscountess Powerscourt have joined
the family party from their seat in Ireland.

The EArl and Countess of Clarendon and Lady
Emily Villiers are expected to join the party invited to
Strawberry Hill next week by the Countess (Frances)
Waldegrave and the Right Hon. Chichester Fortescue,
M.P.

Lord and Lady Taunton and the Hon. Misees
Labouchere, since they-left Castle 'Toward, Yorkshire, have
been staying at their seat, near Taunton.

Lord Houghto❑ has left town for Broadlands,
Hants,

The Right Hon. Sir George Grey, Bart., M.P.,
and Lady Grey return to town the week after next for the
season.

Lifeboat Services in 1864.

It is gratifying to learn that during the year
which is just closing the lifeboats of the National
Lifeboat Institution saved 432 lives from various
shipwrecks, in addition to contributing to the
saving of 37 vessels. It also appears that, in addi•
lion to the above number 266 lives have been saved
during the same period by shore boats and other
means from different wrecks on the coasts of the
United Kingdom, for which services the institution
had granted rewards; thus making a total of 698
lives caved from various wrecks in one year alone ;
mainly through the instrumentality and encourage•
went of the National Lifeboat Institution. For
these joint services the society has granted £1,500
in rewards, and 22 honorary acknowledgments ;
including silver medals and votes on vellum. The
lifeboats of the institution during the past 12 months
have also put off in reply to signals of distress 48
times, but their services were subsequently not
required, the ships having succeeded either in
getting off from their dangerous positions, or had
had their crews saved by their own boats or other
means. It often happened on these occasions
that the lifeboat crews had incurred much
risk and great expense throughout stormy
days and nights. The number of lives saved either
by the lifeboats of the institution, or by special
exertion for which it has granted rewards, since its
formation, is 14,260, for which services 82 gold
medals, 742 silver medals, and £19,050 in cash,
have been paid in rewards. When we remember
that nearly every life saved by lifeboats has been
rescued under perilous circumstances, it will at once
be seen what great and national benefit has been
conferred by the Lifeboat Institution—not only on
the poor men themselves, but also on their wives
and children, who would otherwise be widows and
orphans. How inadequately, then, can words ex'
press the aggregate amount of misery•which the
saving of so many thousands of lives must have pre»
vented; it can only have been fully appreciated by
the parties themselves, and their relatives and
friends, whose expressions of gratitude for ouch
important benefits are often of the most feeling chap
racter, During the year now closing the institu'
tion has also expended £14,770 on its various life-
boat establishments on the coasts of England, Scot.
land, and Ireland ; and since its first establish-
ment the institution has also expended £12,000 on
its life-boat stations.