The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-26 00:00:00

HEROISAI OP NAPOLEON 111,
- AND THE

Cowardly Attacks of Mr. Kinglake. '

(From the Paris Correspondent of the Times.)

Mr. Kinglake's work on the " Invasion of the
Crimea" is not much known in Paris. I have,
however, seen three copies of it, one at least of which
I know to have been procured in the usual way a a
Paris bookseller's. The French papers have not
noticed it, with the exception of one or two that
spoke of " ignoble calumnies," referring with natu-
ral indignation to the insinuations about the
Emperor's personal courage. I cannot affirm
that Mr. Kinglake's book is refused admittance
into France, bat I am pretty certain that
the Emperor would gaits immensely in public
estimation if his people were to know that the
very qaality for which, of all others, they have
always given him credit, and for the absence of
which none other in their eyes could ever compen-
sate, is now called in question, however timidly, by
the historian of the Crimean War. May I be allowed
to say that I have during the last 15 years seen
Louis Napoleon, as Representative of the people in
the National Assembly, as President of the Re-
public, and as Emperor of the French on occasions
the most trying. I have seen him thus probably as
much as any man in France, and certainly more
than Mr. Kinglske. I was close to him at Besancon
in 1850 on the night of his visit to the Halle,
when, separated from all his attendants, he stood or
walked alone in the midst of infuriated bands cone•
posed of the very dregs of the populace, who were
shaking their caps and their fists in his face and
shouting in his ears, " Vive la .Republique Demo •
cratique et Sociale !" and, as I thought, on the
point of tearing him to pieces. He looked as calm,
collected, and unmoved by this wanton outrage,
his countenance the same, as when he was a few
hours before reviewing the troops, end the mob
tell back before him while he walked slowly along,
for his wonderful self-possession extorted respect
even from them. I saw him a few days after-
wards penetrate almost alone into the Croix Rousse
of Lyons, the most revolutionary quarter of that
ret olutionary city. On his return from his tour
in the provinces, on that and subsequent occa-
sions, all Paris saw him, at a time when political
passion was at the highest, when men were roused
almost to madness, traverse the long line to the
Boulevards, from the Bastille to the Madeleine, and
riding alone at least 50 paces in advance of his Staff,
which he would not allow to run the risk he himself
was ready to meet. Tha way was no doubt lined
with troops, but there was nothing to prevent an
assassin in the houses, crowded to the roof, from
aiming at so good a mark as he showed himself.
Yet there was no sign of trepidation, no change of
countenance, not the slightest agitation, as he
bowed, hat in hand, in recognition of the few salutes
which greeted him. It would be no imputation on
the courage of any man to allow his escort to ride
by his side or to follow him, but Prince Louis
Napoleon did not do so.
I was near the spot in the Champs Ely sees when
Pianori took his stand a few paces from the Em-
peror and deliberately levelled his pistol and fired
two shots point blank at him, and I observed the
Emperor display the same calmness as if he
was in his private room at the Tuileries, salute
he bystanders, and ride on at the same
pace as if nothing had occurred. I was not tar
from the spot when the three shells of Orsini
exploded. I will not again describe the scene
presented on that terrible night, but if anything
ever occurred to make the heart quail and to
destroy all presence of mind, it was that murder-
ous attempt. The Emperor, not knowing in the
darkness and confusion whether he and his tvie'
were not still tracked or encircled by murderers,
stepped deliberately from his carriage, ascended to
the balcony, and showed himself to the people, who
gave vent to their feelings by enthusiastic shouts,
excited not merely by his escape from a horrible
death, but by admiration of his marvellous compo-
sure at such a moment. And the next day and the
day after every one saw him move slowly along the
Boulevards, and in the most crowded parts of the
city in an open carriage, unattended by a single
soldier. The man who passes through scenes
like these with unaltered courage, who encounters
without a change of muscle and with such complete
self-possession the worst the assassin can do, is not
one to turn craven on the field of battle, which he
seeks of his own free will, and amid the pride,
pomp, and circumstance of war, which tend to in-
spire courage even where it is wanting. If Mr.
Kieglake believes that the Emperor Napoleon is
not fearless, he is alone in that belief. For my part,
I have known his friends and partisans as well as
his bitterest enemies; but at no time, either of public
tranquillity or public convulsion, do I remember to
have heard from friend or foe the slightest doubt of
his courage. Whatever other chaiges may have
been brought against him on personal or political
grounds, that never was in the number.

THE THEATRES.

There will be a change of performance at most of
the London theatres at Easter.

At Drury-lane the Irish melodrama of "Peep
o'Day, or Savourneen Deelish," which had so pros-
perous a career at the Lyceum, will be revived in
a more attractive form than ever, the more ample
proportions of the stage at the national theatre af-
fording greater opportunity for the display of those
picturesque views and brilliant scenic effects in
which the piece abounds.
At the Haymarket, Miss Louisa Angel, an actress
of some provincial celebrity, will appear as Beatrice,
in " Much Ado about Nothing." The comedy will
be lellowed by a new piece from the pen of Mr.
Sterling Coyne, described as" an apropos dramatic
sketch," in the course of which will be introduced a
new panorama by Mr. William Te bin and his son,
illustrative of the tour of H.R.H. the Prince of
Wales in the East. With a view to the more accu-
rate execution of this panorama, bath artists under-
took a journey last autumn through Turkey, Syria,
the Holy Land, and part of Egypt.
At the Princess's will be produced a new extra-
vaganza of singular structure, by Mr, H. J. Byron,
founded in equal proportions on the poem of " Don
Juan," the ballad c,f " Lord Bateman," and 0,, le-
gend of " Lurline." It will be entitled " Beautiful
Hatdee ; or, the Sea Nymph and the Salee Rovers,'
and will include in its cast Miss M. Oliver, Miss
Hudspeth, Miss Helen Howard, Miss Murray, and
Messrs. Robby, Seytun, and Belmore.

At St. James's there will be a travestie of there-
cent dramatic versions of " The Heart of Mid.
Lothian ;" and the title suggested is " Circumstan-
tial Effie Deans." Mr. James Rlgers, late of the
Strand Theatre, and Miss Marie Wilton are to have
parts in it.
The Olympic will produce a classical extrava-
ganz t by Mr. F. C. Burnand, called " Acis and
Glatea," the principal characters in which Hill be
represented by Miss Latimer, Miss Hughes, and
Mr. Atkins. Mr. Tully will compose the music,
and the scenery will be by Messrs. Telbin and
Grieve.

The Strand will be furnished by Mr. H. J.Byron
with an extravaganza founded on the popular story
of " The Forty Thieves," and bearing the title of
" The Thirty-• Nine Thieves," a name which we are
assured is " designed to illustrate the author's
incorrigible propensity to take one off."
At the Westminster Mr. F. Lloyd, a comedian
who is held in high esteem at Manchester, will
make his first appearance before a London audience.
Neither at DL ury-lane nor at Westminster will
there b© any performance during Passion-week.

ACCIDENT AT THE HUNGERFORD BRIDGE CF
fIIE CHARING• CROSS RAILWAY. Yesterday an
accident which was calculated to have resulted in fearful
loss of life, happened at the Charing-cross Railway bridge,
which crosses the river on the site of the old Hungerford
suspension bridge, while the last-named structure was
being removed. The greater part of the bridge has already
been taken away, and in removing the chains on the east
side of the bridge, nearest to the Str,,nd, there was a sad-
len snap, and the chain gave way, and the men at work
-na it were precipitated to the ground with tearful violtrc,..
they were at once picked up and conveyed to the Char-
,ng-cross Hospital, where they were promptly attended to.
is.TOTIO of the iLjUtiOs are of a Aature to prove fatal.