The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-02 00:00:00

THE FRENCH EMPIRE.

The Union has the following interesting article
on the Eastern question :
"The English journals affect to treat with the most
complete indifference and with sovereign disdain the re-
ligious question of the East. That is quite natural,
The Protestant pride and deep hostility which they bear
to Catholicism and France perfectly justify this conduc4.
But ought it to be imitated, even remotely, by tin,
French journals ? Let us consent to attribute this
strange anomaly to the account of ignorance and levity,
and let us rapidly bring forward some facts to prove
that the religious question is the principal one in all the
countries subjected to Mahometanism. It is useless to
say that all our influence is connected with the tradi-
tion of the protectorate exercised over us by the Latins,
and the most important object of which is the possession
of the Holy Shrines. It is useless also to mention the
solemn treaties which guarantee to us that high patron-
age. 'Within the last twenty years in particular,
thanks to the liberty which the Catholic religion has en-
joyed in the Ottoman Empire, our religious establish-
ments have been much extended there. At Constanti-
nople, the mission of the Lazarists, directed by the
Abbe Eugene Bore, has founded schools which propa-
gate the faith and knowledge amongst a multitude of
pupils belonging to all races and religions in Turkey.
At Smyrna, as at Constantinople and Alexandria, sisters
of St. Vincent-de-Paul have been established, and excite
the admiration of the disciples of Mahomet by their
Christian charity. The fathers of the society of Jesus
possess in Syria alone five considerable establishments,
namely, the residence of Our Lady at Beyrouth ; the
residence of Our Lady the Deliverer at Bicfaia ; the re-
ligious seminary and residence of St. Joseph at Ghazir ;
the residence of the Sacre-Cceur of Jesus, at Sahleh ;
and that of St. Joseph, a branch of the preceding one,
at Maalaka. These residences are at the same time re-
ligious schools and ordinary ones. Thus at Beyrout
there is a double school of Arab and of French ; it is
confided to the care of two French priests and two Arab
masters, who spare nothing to merit the confidence of
families. This school is alike frequented by the Maron-
ites, the United Greeks, the Armenians, the Syrians,
and the Latins ; even the schismatic Greeks often send
their children to it. Bicfaia is the residence of Emir
Haider, successor of the celebrated Emir Bechir in the
Government of Mount Libanon. It was at the invita-
tion of the Emir Haider that the Jesuits founded their
establishment at Bicfaia ; and he has aided them by his
encouragements, his alms, and his protection. The
Maronite clergy is composed of the Patriarch, nine
archbishops and diocesan bishops, six bishops in
partibus, and 1,200 priests, serving 156 churches.
The Catholic Church of the different rites possesses in
the Ottoman Empire twenty-five patriarchs and arch-
bishops, the residences of which are Jerusalem, An-
tioch, Constantinople, Aleppo, Alexandria, Antivari
(Albania), Babylon, Bagdat, Damascus, Tokat (Anato-
lia), Diarbekir, Durazzo (Macedonia), Scopia (Servia),
Smyrna, and Tyre. It was in the secret consistory of
October 4, 1847, that the present patriarch of Jerusalem
of the Latin rite, Mgr. Valerga, was re-established in his
see. It is well known with what fidelity and devoted-
ness, and at the price of how many struggles, privations,
and sufferings, this courageous and zealous prelate, as
well as the Franciscan brotherhood, keep guard over the
Holy Sepulchre. The protection and the alms of France
have supported, up to the present time, their devotedness
against the difficulties caused by schism, heresy, and
Mussulman avarice. If, which God forbid ! the influence
of France should happen to diminish, the Catholic esta-
blishments in the Ottoman empire would soon decline,
and perhaps succumb under the influence of Russia. We
know what Catholicism has become in our times, in the
countries subjected to the action of the agents of that
government. The schools founded in Persia by M.
Eugene Bore have disappeared, because they displeased
the Russian ambassador. The Greek schism is more in-
tolerant than Mussulman idolatry. As Catholics and as
Frenchmen, we have consequently every interest to pre-
vent the Ottoman empire from becoming the prey of
Russia. If, in the designs of Providence, that day is to
arrive, we ought to be in a position to ensure an efficient
protection to the Catholic establishments in Turkey, and,
above all, to those of Jerusalem. Let us never forget
that France is answerable to Catholicism for the guar-
dianship of the tomb of Jesus Christ."
The Moniteur contains a decree of the Emperor
founded on a report of the Minister of War, in-
creasing the pay of the two veteran companies of
gendarmes by 25c. a day, allowing them also the
increased pay for the chevrons, and an indemnity
of 50f. a-year for such of the men as cannot be ac-
commodated with their families in the barracks of
the places where they are stationed. Another de-
cree fixes the fees to be paid on appointments in
the Legion of Honour at the following rates :
Chevalier 12fr., Officer 25fr., Commander 40fr.,
Grand Officer 60fr., and Grand Cross 100 fr. Sub-
officers in the army and navy, and soldiers and
sailors, will be exempt from fees.
The Moniteur says—The receipts of the octroi to
the 22d ult. inclusively amounted to 81 millions.
If they continue in the same proportion they will
reach 38 300 000 fr. for the year, or 3,800,000 fr.
more than was set down in the calculation of the
Budget of 1853.
Several of the claims made by Frenchmen on
the American Government, on account of
vessels seized at California, have (says the Moni-
teur), just been settled. Indemnities have been
agreed to by the Federal Treasury in favour of
MM. Rolland, Briere, Gauthey brothers, Champion,
Demeuret, Berthon, Marie Dumel, Richardot,
Bureaux-Richardot, J. Vassieux, P. C. Clerisse,
Virt et Monmert. and Depierres, passengers and
shippers in the Edouard of Havre; MM. A. Civrac,
Dalidet, and Co., and Fauche brothers, shippers of
brandy by the Chili, Vaillant, and Rocker de Saint
Male, of Bordeaux ; MM. Viand and Allard,
Gardet, Schroder and Vandemer, Dufour, and
Arrive and Bouquet, shippers of brandy by the
Alcibiade, of Bordeaux, and the owners of the
Surprise, of Nantes, and the Ceres, of Havre.
The amount of these indemnities has been paid
into the Caisse des DepOts et Consignations, to be
distributed to the above claimants.
The annual ball of that most useful institution,
the English Charitable Fund, took place on Thurs-
day night, and passed off most brilliantly. The
large salle of the Jardin d'Hiver was tastefully
fitted up on the occasion with crimson velvet hang-
ings, the arms of England being placed aloft at one
end, and faisceaux of tricoloure flags ornamenting
the other. Rows of seats were arranged between the
pillars at each side, and in the intervals of the dance
presented such a show of lovely female faces as per-
haps no other festive assembly in Paris could
equal. The lady patroness and stewards arrived in
general early, Lord and Lady Cowley, however,
under whose patronage the ball was given, being
somewhat later thandhey had intended, in conse-
quence of having dined at the Tuileries with the
Emperor. About half-past 9 Strauss's band gave
the signal for the dance, which continued without
interruption until half-past 11, when the doors at
the further end of the ball-room were thrown open,
and showed the garden brilliantly illuminated.
This coup de thedtre excited great admiration, and
the cool refreshing air of the larger space was most
delightful after the heated atmosphere of the ball-
room., An additional and most agreeable surprise
also awaited the guests in the appearance of the
fine band of the regiment of the Guides, which
Marshal Magnan had had the gallantry to send, in
order to give additional éclat to the fete. In con-
sequence, such of the company as preferred prome-
nading about the garden to the pleasure of the
dance, were able to enjoy the fine pieces of military
music which these accomplished performers exe-
cuted for some hours. It is supposed that nearly a
thousand persons were present, the company in-
cluding not only most of the principal English resi-
dents in Paris, but a considerable number of Ame-
ricans, French, and foreign guests. Everything,
passed off most agreeably, and dancing was con-
tinued till 4 in the morning.
We read in the Gazette des Hopitaux :—" We
learn that Professor Paul Dubois, Dean of the Fa-
culty of Medicine, has just been named accoucheur
to the Empress. Every one knows that when the
king of Rome was born, it was the celebrated An-
toine Dubois, father of M. Paul Dubois, who at-
tended the Empress Maria Louisa."
The last elections for the renewal of the Chamber
of Commerce of Valenciennes have just been an-
nulled by the Minister of the Interior, on the
grounds that the members of it should be named
by the principal commercial men of the circumscrip-
tion.

M. p •
erichard who, a few days ago, was con
demned by Court-martial rt-martial to transportation for
having taken part in the insurrection of 1848, and
Revision a
who was accused but acquitted of having murdered
the Archbishop of Paris, has appealed to a Court of
The
patginst his sentence.
GoriaSeary: :—" Accounts have beenreceived
by the
neteam-frigate, bearing the flag of
Rear-Admiral
imuattDes'osses, commanding the
naval squadron
when the accounts left, Levant. The Gomer was,
given
the Archipelago, and was
looked upon the state of affairs
for the sailing of the
ignorant of the order
f a
announcesc t satisfactory."
Fatrecnoc
A telegraphic dispatch from"
e
nhstafineteitLapnlcie as
arrival iu that port of the Pre
perfectly
Bresteratis•
pine frigate, Capt.
Jugan, from Guadaloupe. At her departure
situation of the colony was satisfactory,
The Russian General Ogareff, Aide-de-camp to
the Czar, has lately been visiting the dockyards and
port of Lorient, accompanied by M. de Rayneval,
a French naval officer. He made the most minute
inquiries concerning the question of the transatlan-
tic packets.
The Moniteur contains a list of the prices of corn
per hectolitre in France. The highest price, 23f.
82c., is paid at Marseilles, and the lowest, 15f.
46c., at Hennebon.
A conflagration broke out on Tuesday morning
in the port of Bercy. The fire destroyed all the
storehouses, and 15,000 casks of wine.
At the Bourse yesterday the rise in Rentes ob-
tained on Thursday could not be maintained, and
these securities have gone down. For cash the fall
has been trifling) Lie, in the Three pex Cents.: