The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-19 00:00:00

FUNERAL OF M. BILLAULT,

The funeral of M. Billault took place this day.
The religious service was celebrated at 11 o'clock in
the ancient Church of St. Germain l'Auxerrois,
with the solemn and imposing ceremonies usual on
such occasions. There was a large attendance of
senators, deputies, and functionaries of every branch
of the public service, and several members of the
Diplomatic Body were present. The inside of the
church was hung with black, and along the tapes-
try were shields with the cipher of the deceased in
the centre. The body, which had been lying for
two days in state in the hotel of the Minister, was
removed at 11 o'clock to the church, which is
close at hand, followed by those who had been
specially invited. At a quarter to 1 o'clock
the magnificent hearse, drawn by six horses in
black and silver trappings and lofty plumes,
left the church and moved along by the Rue
de Rivoli and Place du Louvre to the Boulevard de
Sebastopol, and thence to the Cemetery of Mont
Parnasse, on the left bank of the Seine. The
avenues in the neighbourhood of the Louvre and
the streetson its passage were thronged with people;
in the Rue de Rivoli troops and National Guards
lined the way. The funeral of the Minister, who
was Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour and
Senator, was the same as that accorded to a Field
Marshall. A large body of troops, infantry, ca-
valry, and artillery, with drums muffled and colours
veiled with crape, formed the cortege. Salutes were
fired from the Invalides at 7 o'clock in the morn-
ing, and repeated -every hour till the departure of
the procession from the church, and two salutes of
15 guns each, the frat when the cortege left the
church, and the second when the coffin was lowered
into the grave. The Emperor's carriage, with four
horses, and servants in state Liveries, immediately
followed the hearse, and then came a goodly num-
ber of mourning coaches and several private car-
riages. The Mounted Guards of Paris and Gender-
merit) accompanied the convoy, followed by the
battalions and the artillery ; the procession was
closed by a squadron of dragoons. No people show
more respect to the dead than the French. When
a funeral is met in the streets, however humble it
may be, and in whatever quarter of the city, every
one stands still as it passes, and uncovers. When
the hearse containing the remains of M. Billault
camein view, the crowds paid it their mute homage.
The pall-bearers were MM. Baroche, Rouher, and
Rouland, the colleagues of the late Minister, and
I. Alfred Leroux, Vice-president of the Legislative
Corps.
It is, perhaps, owing to a feeling of delicacy to-
wel& his late Minister that the Emperor has not
yet announced the choice he has made of a succes-
sor to M. Billault. It is most likely that the choice
has been already made, though the Emperor keeps
it to himself. The impatience of the public shows
the great interest they feel about the matter. All
agree both as to the difficulty of finding a man, and
the importance of the circumstances under which he
will have to meet the Chambers. The condition of
Poland ; the question of war or peace ; the expe-
dition to Mexico, so costly in men and money,
and prolonged beyond all calculation ; the intermi-
nable Roman question; the finances, and the Internal
administration of the country, to which the result of
the elections has given renewed interest—all these
will have to be explained, discussed, and defended
in presence of men, few in number, no doubt, but
strong in intellect and rich in experience, and sot
easily deluded or intimidated. It is useless to specu-
late as to the person likely to be chosen from among
the candidates in favour. The Emperor rarely com-
municates his intentions in these matters to any-
body ; he loves to take people by surprise ; he did
so in the changes he made after the late elections,
and he will probably do so now.

• DEATH OF M. DAVID WADDINOTON.—This
gentleman, who 4-as some years ago and for several
years chairman of the Eastern Counties, now the Great
Eastern Railway, died on Monday at the age of 53. after a
short illnessat his House at Bickley. Mr. Waddington was
a man of a strong active mind, and possessed an amazing
energy and an untiring industry in whatever he under took.
Ho was not what could be called an eloquent, but certainly
an earnest, energetic speaker. He seldom spoke upon any
subject with which he was not well conversant, and hence
he commanded attention, and was a powerful advocate and
a formidable opponent. Mr. Waddington had had great
railway experience and been connected with several railer ay
companies. He had been chairman of the Manchester and
Birmingham Railway, and at his death was chairman of the
Sittingbourne and Sheerness Railway, the state of whose
affairs he had ardently devoted himself to improve, and was
about to present a statement of, when his premature end
cut short his labours. His death therefore must be a serious
loss to the company. For some years he represented Mal.
don in the House of Commons.--llcrapath's Journal.
THE SEIZURE OF LAIRDS SHIPS.—A Cor-
respondent writes as follows : Notwithstand-
ing the sophistry of Sir Roundell Palmer and others, the
question is—Has the seizure of these vessels been legal ?
If legal, then the Ministers of the Crown have done their
duty ; but if illegal (as is the public opinion), they have
broken the laws of the country, and ought therefore to be
held amenable, No pest facto legislation can make right
what is wrong. If the Northerns can freely buy and ex-
port from our towns the material of war, why should not
the Confederates have the same privilege ? Vessels of war
can do no more hurt than Greek fire, Armstrong guns, or
other contraband articles of war. What, then, is the duty
of Englishmen ? Simply to follow the conduct of their
ancestors, and declare, in terms not to be misunderstood,
that their motto is, as of old, " Nolumus leges Anglia,
mutari," and that both Lords and Commons will carry out
this. There must be no cowering to Yankee bombast.
England must act towards the Confederate States as she
acted towards Belgium, Naples, Modena, and Tuscany,
when the will of the people was against their sovereigns,
as that of the South is against Mr. Lincoln.
HUDSON'S BAY I‘IONOPOLY,—A "Canadian" asks
the following question :--The public would be glad to learn
what are the rights of this company in British North Ame-
rica, and what lands they possess ? The Canadians claim a
large portion of the country, while the people of England
say that the company have no legal right to any part ex-
cept that toward the shores of Hudson's Bay. Can any of
your readers inform me on the matter ?
-I,ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.—Three elections took
place on Saturday. Sir Roundell Palmer, the Attorney-
General, and Mr. Collier, the Solicitor-General, were re-
elected without opposition for Richmond and Plymouth,
respectively; while Mr. G. Shaw Lefevre, a supporter of
Lord Palmerston's Government, was allowed to walk over
the course at Reading,
THE MAYFAIR MAGAZINE is the name of a new
illustrated magazine about to make its appearance in buil.
ary, quelor tllQ oclitorial charge of NiA5 Drathicia.