The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-13 00:00:00

TREATING FOR A THRONE.

The Gazelle des Tribunaux contains the following re-
port of a case tried on Saturday last by the Royal
Court of Paris. The plaintiff was a M. Lavignino,
the defendant, the Infante Don Francisco de Paulo :
" M. Patorni, counsel for M. Lavagnino, stated that
Don Francisco de Paulo, Infante of Spain, and brother
of King Ferdinand and Don Carlos, having had the
notion of making himself Emperor of Mexico, had duly
charged with his powers the Count de Crouz, in order
to treat with the persons then at the head of affairs, n
Mexico, and to constitute a government.
" We remarked in this singular commission, the ori-
ginal of which, however, was not read by M. Patorni,
the Prince's engagement to confirm all the sea and land
officers in their ranks, and the public functionaries in
their employments, and that no person should be am
uoyed on account of their political opinions. Furnished
with these powers the Count de Crouz chose his agents,
one of whom was M. Lavagnino, who made several
voyages between France and England on the Prince's
affairs.

" However," said M Patorni, " the Count de Crouz
was much occupied at Paris in forming the Ministry for
the future Mexican Emperor. Ministers of the Interior
and Foreign Affairs had already been appointed, each
with a salary of 40,000 f. (1,6001.) The Duke de
Dino was to fill the first office, and the Count de Tal-
leyrand the latter.
" M. Gonfil, a banker, was to act as a provisional
Minister of Finance.
" But win n Kng Ferdinand beard of his brother's
projects, wh;ch, with his legitimate notions, he con,idcred
as an usurpation, he ordered his brother to abandon aii
such ideas, and Don Francisco was obl:g-en to resign his
imperial pretensions.
Orders were then sent in the Prince's name to the
Count. de Crouz to cease his 'Ministerial organization.
•• But, as a Government cannot he formed tor nothing,
M. de Crouz had been at a very considerable expense,
tit M. Gonfii had already paid the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and the Minister of the Interior several quarters
of their salary. Moreover, there were due to M. La-
vognino the expense of his diplomatic voyages.
" Tie liquidation of this Imperial enterprise tweaine
I,•ress,try. It at cost the Prince 500,000 f. (20,0001.)
200,000;. (8,0001 ) he ,en' into France, and g.ive two
inlis—:we for 200,0001., anal the other for 100,000 f.
These bills at length became due.

They were not paid, the Count de Crouz de-
puted a person to go to Madrid for the purpose of
getting the first negotiated. The unfortunate envoye
had the misfortune to lose his passports en route, so that
on his arrival at Madrid he was sent to prison ; all his
papers
,(including the bill) were seized ; but at length,
after a great deal of trouble, he was released, but the
bill was retained, and all be could obtain from the
Minister of Police was a' written acknowledgment that
he had detained the bill.

" When the second hill became due M. Lavignino
pressed the Count de Crouz to pay him the Count
,iispatched him to Madrid to endeavour to urge Don
Francisco to pay at least some portion of the money
which had been expended in his service. No sooner
had M. Lavignino arrived at Madrid than he received
a police order to leave Spain within twenty. four ►ours,
and he was accordingly conducted by gendarmes into
France.

" This order was sent to M. Lavignino by the Di
rector of Police, who signs it, Your affectionate ser•

vast.'

" Circumstances having at length induced Don Fran-
cisco de Paulo to visit France, M. Lavagnino renewed
his entreaties, and the Prince asked him to make an
arrangement with the Count de Crouz. The. Court on
investigation declared that the Prince should pay M.
Lavignino the sum of 9,500 francs (3801.), 2,000
francs (801.) were paid by the Prince immediately ;
but M. Lavagnino has since vainly endeavoured to get
the remainder of the money.
.‘ He was therefore compelled to summon both the
Infante of Spain and the Count de Crouz for this sum
before the Civil Tribunal of the Seine.
" But the Prince pleaded that with regard to a bill
signed by a foreigner, for a foreigner's advantage (the
Count de Crouz living in England), the French tri-
bunals were incompetent.
"'this objection was admitted, and Lavagnino now
appeals for the reversion of this decision."
M. Patorni endeavoured to prove that the Count de
Crouz was a Frenchman, and pleaded that the tribunal,
was wrong in declaring its incompetence in this ques-
tion, as M. Lavagnino enjo%s all the rights of a
Frenchman.

But the Court having heard M.Verwoort, counsel for
Don Francisco, and on the conclusions formed by M.
Bresson, substituted for the Procureur-General, con-
firmed the former deci,ion.