The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-27 00:00:00

SOLO GNE.

The President of the Republic left Orleans very
early on Thursday morning by the railroad for the
Sologne, and stopped at different places to inquire
into the wants of the localities and the means of im-
provement. At each place he made donations; at
Clermont (Cher) he gave 100 f. for the poor and 100 f.
for the church; at Brinon, 200 f. for the poor and
1,200 f. for the church, 1001. to an old soldier of the
Empire, 200 f, to another still older, and to a third
100 f.; to a cure met on the way 4001. for the poor ;
to a young girl who presented him with a bouquet
200 f., to be distributed among the poor of her com-
mune, and to another 100 f. He afterwards pro-
ceeded to the chateau of La Forte-Beauharnais,
where the father of Prince Eugene and the Queen
Hortense had withdrawn during the reign of terror.
As the owners of this property, who resided at
Orleans, had been informed of the intended visit, the
whole village, having heard the news, was on the
alert. Every part of it WU adorned with green
foliage and fllwers. The gendarmery, the municipal
council, and the authorities, were all in waiting to do
the honours of the park and chateau. The Prince
went through the park, accompanied by the authori-
ties, and on his return to the chateau decorated the
mayor of the village and brigadier of gendarmery.
The Prince left I,ooof. to the poor, and gave besides
200 f. to an old groom of Prince Eugene. He after-
wards passed in review the gendarmery, and ex-
pressed great satisfaction at their appearance. The
Prince then passed through Cbaumont-sur-Taronne,
where he left money for the poor, and arrived at La
Forte St. Anbin at the close of the day. A repast
was prepared here for the President, who asked all
who accompanied him to partake of the refreshments
which were provided. He left by special train at a
quarter to 8, in the midst of a crowd of spectators,
and arrived in Paris at 12 o'clock. _ _ ,

The following particulars relative to the Sologne,
which the President of the Republic has just visited,
may not be devoid of interest. The Sologne occupies
an extent of 1,250,000 acres in the departments of the
Cher, the Loir-et-Cher, and the Loire!'. The de-
plorable condition of agriculture in that exteeeive
district dates from the repeal of the Edict of
Nantes. The Protestants, then numerous in the
Sologne, were compelled to fly, and the land beicg
abandoned has become every day since more arid
and insalubrious. The general appearance of
fee country is mi3erable. The inhabitants, like the
cattle, present'an appearance of decay which is painful
to beholdeand the population is reduced to one-fourth
that of any district of equal extent in France. Of
the conscripts 22 per cent. are annually rejected for
under size, and 25 per cent. for physical infirmity. The
fourth of the surface is covered with briars, and
the swamps extend over 43,000 acres. Some
few proprietors have planted Scotch fir, which
has succeeded admirably; but Louis Na-
poleon considered that the isolated efforts
of a few proprietors could produce nogood result, and
having paid much attention to the subject he deter-
mined to visit the spot. The Sologne is watered by
three rivers, the Seuldre, the Beuvron, and the Casson,
which traverse it from east to west. Toe course of
those rivers having been totally neglected produces in
some places unhealthy swamps, and in others the soil
has become completely arid. To remedy this Louis
Napoleon proposes to cut two canals, one of which
shall intersect the Sologne in its fullest extent, and
the other connect the river Loire with the Cher.
This canal would, moreover, place the city of Lyons
in communication with the Loire, and supply Or-
leans with water from the Cher when the Loire is
not navigable. It is expected that a number of
minor canals will be constructed by private com-
panies, which will serve to drain the unhealthy
marshes, and be a means of transport to agricultural
produce. The Government undertakes the execu-
tion of the two great canals. They will entail a
considerable expense on the Treasury; but as the
expenditure will be spread over a long space of time
the weight will be less felt. The plan, after having been
long and maturely considered, has been submitted to
Iki. Lefebvre-Durufle, the Minister of Public Works,
under whose direction the works are to be executed.

PRESERVA TION of the CRYSTAL
PALACE.

REPLY OF THE SUB-CONINIITTEE TO THE
REPORT,OF THE TREASURY CO2MISSION.

The followiog reasons are subwitted to the considera-
tion of PT.riiament and the public, us proving that the
report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into
the cost and applicability of the Cryst3l Palace ought
not to be acted on. _ _ _

I. It is submitted that in that report the uses to which
the building could he put, and the question of expense
involved is its preservation and adaptation to these
Flies, are 411 treated from the disadvantageous and
isolated point of view that the whole is to be a Govern-
ment undertaking—worked out by Government machi-
nery, awl paid for by the public money.
IL It is contended that a properly-constituted Com-
mission would baye had power given to it to examine
evidence and report whether the Crystal Palace might
not be maintained for the recreation and instruction of
the people by other and less objectionable means than a
Parliamentary grant.
111. It u submitted, that the r of Commons having
by a distinct vote enipeedEd thelcu63
floo7 provision of the contract
for an immediate removal
.the building, the regular
and legitimate incde of , following up that vote is by a
Committee of Inquiry, ..ppennt.d by the House, in
which the interest „f the public would be fairly
represented. An ex-parte inquiry, instituted by
'
Govern-
ment, while' bound by e Pledge ter:movethebu ilding—
presided over by the head of tae DPtzne nt of Works,
who would naturally consult his official convenience and
that of the Government in the matter—
s
investigation. of the subject as either Par:tarnuat such an
nt or the
public can consider satisfactory.
IV. Taking the report as it stands, and waiving ail
objections founded on the source from whence
the
Coin-
mission is,tied, on the limited character of its
powers, and on other ff ~,r muds
.aff2eting the known
previous opinions of the Commissioners—int, which
we da not wish to enter—it is asserted that. that
report cannot be supported on the evidence given before
the Commission, and ought, therefore, to be rejected a 3
fallacious. For this assertion the fliowing reasons are

given:— • -
(a,) Only" sera witnesses wPre examined —tae- con-
tractor, Sir Charles Fox; the designer, Sir Joseph Pax.
ton; tvvo mrnabers of the Executive Committee, Mr„col,
and Mr. Dilke; the Duke of Stitheilanos gardener at
Trentham, Mr. FJ.:lssing; Mr. the owner of house
property opposite;. and Me. Hawkins, head of the Anti-
quarian Department of the British Museum: Of this
fiat, Sir Charles Fe*, Sir Joseph Ptixteh, Mr. Cole,
Mr. Mice, and Mr. Fleming- gave evidence strongly
in favour of reteie.ing the ; Mr. •Ktlik made
a statement most 6 4 amounting at private claim
for corepeneation,- has ever,
by Mwas utterly
denied
Cola ; and Mr. JILIWki[IS "5
examined a 3 to the applicability of the building
for portions of the British. Mauna] Collection, which
no one ever thought of reuloving there. It is confi-
dently asserted that the weiiht of the evidence-
thua generalised is not agl;:l..q, but'f:r the preservation
of the Crystil Palace.
(b.) Tho question of cost is that upon which the Com-
mission resini thiA releetion-o__evidence and-tho chief
consideration question
" Even a'

iniakioi these extensive alterations in the
present beiNiag, Sir Joarph..Paitton has admitted that
it wili not bee in ail retipectsi the heat adapted for itapnr-
pose; and ti Aa. for. the SUM a 150.00 C/., be could put
up a much finer, a 1120r9 ma ni ceflt, and mare so-
p7opriato strixture thAn the _Exhinition.huilding... --NVo
are not prenarill to say that tra stun of 150,0004
mlld cover tbe. orc.: Of , aciaptict; tho ' build-
mg to thn puroos(s of a gare)io—we shoald
think it, mate prod--r t to &same 200.000/, as the
expenditure which would he necesgaq for th,;:ge. works.
el!ving 1, • pedirttre (20 000/.)
sTilica "o, -ze finnan - • • •
for the rnainr. ran eor the
e gar-
e'n',oce .;It :,1114,,....14C3%"', 'JO It': tO the
to
imperfect." - t!;,:ra a plan admitted t.) be
To this state'xiLtikit,±
denies positiv,,qhitl),:iecte,i, that Sir Joseph Eaton
hii mouth. fAir,i,rs"„F,uru"3' of the evidenc,a put into
drawn from *frt. c.,i,4,7,4,;:a. can-sequence the irdevrce
for t,,'7.0 bui;iiii?; ;n, and all the advocates
ctlly clecincet.fra4l.• Ale area4ll'af"eneea eunbe I°l,
thcy are;i
'eh' ncorrediy stated
the grav•:• catar,,:h ae,ainst the"°7h Paxton brings
havicg withheld fizsua him •sibilv,, of Works, of
exarained by 'tha Cottimisaioro, krppo;!,ll the wicross,s
his evidence; though appied for t nit y;(74 revisitig
twice in persn; and (wee, again throug?l. 4 adrgently
frie
(c.) It is intmitted, that even 911p0w1,,,
structure and one b.tter adapted for the u3"'e„ 4t ?Fier
plated than tto Crystli Palace could he viva
f
150,000/., that 'VI no reason why the Palace ab -r
(Add cot