The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-03 00:00:00

THE FRENCH EMPIRE.

Vast crowds of persons still continue to visit
Notre Dame to view the decorations. At ono
period of the day the queue extended as far as the
Quai Napoleon. It is supposed that not less than
100,000 entered the cathedral in the course of the
day. Workmen commenced in the morning taking
down the decorations of the Hotel de Vine and of
the Rue Neuve de Rivoli. The flowers and shrubs
placed in the court-yard of the Louvre have also
been in part removed.
The brooch presented by the Emperor to the
Empress on her marriage, and which contained a
portrait of his Majesty, painted by M. Paul de
Pommayrac, cost 30,000 f.
The Emperor has ordered the parure of diamonds
offered by the Ville de Paris to be bought on his
own account, and the price (600,000 f.) charged to
the civil list. •

The municipal council of Amiens at its last sit-
ting voted a credit of 2,000 f. to be divided as a
marriage portion between three couple belonging to
the poorer classes of that city, in commemoration
of the marriage of the Emperor.
The manufacturers of Puy have forwarded a very
splendid present of choice lace to their new Em-
press, as a specimen at once of their tasteful pro-
ductions and a testimony of their devotion to the
Emperor.
The Emperor and Empress on Tuesday visited
the manufactory of Sevres, and were well received
on their way, both going and returning. On being
informed of the recent death of an artist of the
establishment, the Emperor gave 100 fr. for the
widow, and assured M. Regnault, the director, of
his interest.

Congratulatory addresses to the Emperor on his
marriage appear in the Moniteur, from the munici-
pal councils of Amiens, Clermont, Bar-le-Due,
Dijon, Strasburg, Metz, Montbrison, Bordeaux,
Melun, St. Etienne, Arras, and Napoleon (Ven-
dee), as well as from the Court of First Instance of
Nantes.

On Sunday last, the day of the celebration of the
religious ceremony of marriage, a marked and cha-
racteristic difference was observed between the atti-
tude of the Polytechnic School and that of the
Military School of St. Cyr. Several pupils of the
former establishment had sent round sheets of
paper, on which each of them should inscribe his
vote by yes or no as to whether they should cry or
not "Vive I'Empereur." It is stated that the num-
bers were 190 in the negative, and 14 for the
affirmative ; the result was that the school, drawn
up under one of the balconies of the Tuileries,
maintained complete silence. The school of St Cyr
on.the contrary manifested considerable enthusiasm.
At all periods the same strong difference has been
found to exist between the two establishments.
The Polytechnic School in 1830 was among the
first who joined the insurrection with ardour,
while that of St. Cyr appeared ready to march to
the succour of Charles X. After 1848 the Poly-
technic School was decidedly democratic, and almost
Socialist, while its rival figured on all occasions as
the adversary of the democratic party.
With reference to the health of the Countess of
Chambord, admitted to have been extremely deli-
cate, two different account 3 are given, and, cu-
riously enough, each proceeds from a person who
is in an excellent position to be well informed.
One is founded on a letter from Venice, received
yesterday, from the Duke de Levis, and which an-
nounces that the Countess is re-established, or
nearly so, from her late indisposition, and that she
had not incurred any serious risk. Other le:ters,
of a similar date and from the same place, received
by Legitimists quite as attached as the distinguished
person just mentioned to the Royal family, state
that the health of the Countess was not improving,
and that much alarm existed in consequence of her
spitting blood. Which of these accounts we are
to believe it is difficult to say.
The Moniteur states that the appointment of the
Baron Brenier to the embassy at Constantinople is
only temporary - and that the return of the Mar-
quis de Lavalette, whose services are highly appre-
ciated, is owing to no other cause than leave of ab-
sence in consequence of ill-health. On its restora-
tion, the marquis will resume !those functions at
the Court of the Sultan, which the Baron Brenie:
merely fulfils ad interim.
The wife of M. Bianchi, formerly editor of the
Messager du Nord, who had been . expelled from
France, was arrested on Saturday last at Roubaix.
She was accompanied by a child, who carried a
basket containing six copies of a prohibited pam-
phlet by Victor Hugo, and a copy of a political
work by M. Schcelcher, relative to the events of
the 2d of December. From discoveries made by
the police, they proceeded to Madame Bianchi's
residence, and there seized 3,000 copies of the pro-
clamation of Charms, and about a score of one of
Victor Hugo's most bnoxious pamphlets.
A most valuable coal-field has been discovered in
the forest near Douai. Four new veins of the very
finest quality of coals have just been commenced,
and from one of them alone, with a comparatively
limited application of labour, the produce has been
1,100 hectolitres a-day.
The approaching carnival in Paris has called forth
some very stringent regulations from the Prefect of
Police, which have been warmly applauded by the
sober portion of the Parisians, but are likely to be as
hotly contested by the classes who have heretofore
um wild with riot and disorder at the privileged
season. No person will this year be allowed to
carry any insignia tending to ridicule any character
exercising public functions, or to wear any ecclesi-
astical costume, or any other religious dress legal-
ised by the state • and no masks of any kind what-
soever will be allowed in the streets between the
hours of six at night and ten in the morning.
The Emperor returned to Paris yesterday for
the purpose of presiding at a Council of Ministers.
He was accompanied by the Empress. They came
to Paris in an open carriage and four, followed by
a second carriage with some members of the house-
hold, and had no escor

The Ministers had arrived at the Tuileries be-
fore the arrival of Louis Napoleon, but nothingis
of course known yet as to the result of the delbe-
rations.

It is thought, however, that, at this coun-
cil, two questions will be settled, which ex-
cite very considerable interest in France
one with respect to the fate of the exiled ge-
nerals ; and the second with respect to the modi-
fication of the infamous decrees of the 22d of
January, 1852, by which the Orleans family have
been despoiled of their possessions. It is credita-
ble to the young Empress that she has endeavoured
to make use.of her influence over Louis Napoleon,
to induce him to permit the exiled generals to re-
turn to France, and also to modify the Orleans
degrees. It appears that a few days before her
marriage, Mademoiselle de Montijo asked as a spe-
cial favour to herself that the four exiled generals
should be allowed to return to France. Louis Na-
poleon replied that they were quite at liberty to re-
turn, and that they themselves knew that the gates
of France were open to them whenever they might
choose to enter. Mademoiselle de Montijo left in
great spirits, thinking that she had gained her
object ; but on informing a gentleman who felt
interested in the fate of the generals, he explained
to the lady (who was evidently inexperienced in
such matters) that it was quite true they might re-
turn, if they would do an act of submission to the
present Government, but that in their position it
was impossible they could do so without dishonour-
ing themselves ; so that a condition of that kind.
Was equivalent to a sentence of perpetual banish-
ment. The lady then said she would ask the Em,
Peror to allow them to return unconditionally, and
she did so ; but hitherto her request (although the
first made) has not been acceded to. The efforts of
the younc, Empreis in favour of the Orleans family
have hitherto been also fruitless ; but, as we have
said above, the question, it is supposed, would come
Yesterday before the Council of Ministers, and it is
still hoped that something will be done. At all
events, the Moniteur will. soon show us whether
the influence of the Empress Eugenie is to be con-
siderable, as some say ; or null, as is maintained by
others.

that
We
the Gov r read in tnment hashe Patrie :
under—" It
conpsi is ?dsitraivteiloyn sta!bteilld
relative to the savings' banks, whiche will make
Rome modifications in the rate of interest, and in
the greatest amount of deposits. The esseltitl
conditions of the institution of savings'
banks ile in
security of investment, andin
facility o
with-
drawal, the rate of interest being considered but of
secondary importance. The reduction of the rate
of interest to 4 per cent., which may be regarded
as the normal rate for the savings' banks, is only
the natural consequence of a return to a regular
state of things. It is said that these considerations
will determine the Government to fix the interest
at that rate, from the Ist July next. The deposits
of any one person will not be allowed to exceed
200 f. per week, except for substitutes of the army
and navy, and for Mutual Benefit Societies."
More than six columns of the Constitutionnel are
filled with an article by M. Granier de Cassagnac
in continuation of his attempt to show that the
Principles of the revolution of 1789 were' not due
to the writings of the philosophers of the last cen-
tury. In his last article he contended that these
Principles were not the work of Voltaire ; he now
contends that the attempts of Rousseau were
failures. The most curious part of the article is
that in which M. Granier de Cassagnac quotes
from Voltaire to show the opinion. that he enter-
tained of Rousseau. He says :—‘, Rousseau was
the solo man of letters of importance who ap-
peared to separate himself from the common ideas
of philosophers on government, and wished to
Share power amongst the multitude. This

caused an immense scandal amongst the philoso-
phers, and they thought they could never protest
sufficiently against it. My letter to Mr. Hume,'
wrote Voltaire to Damilaville, 'is only an honest
and legitimate, though pleasant, justification against
the accusations of the paltry seditionmonger named.
Jean Jacques .Rousseau, who has dared to insult
the King and all his Ministers in all his works, and
who merits at least the pillory, if not also a lunatic
asylum.' Voltaire did not consider it sufficient to
condemn the politics of Rousseau—he refuted them.
Read, I beg of you,' he wrote to the Marshal de
Richelieu, this sheet which I detach from an En-
cyclopedia of my making—it is the commencement
of an article in which part of the absurd extrava-
gancies of Jean Jacques are refuted. I detest the
insolence of such a philosophy as much as you de-
spise it. The system of equality has always ap-
peared to me to be the pride of a madman.' And
as if these explicit declarations did not sufficiently
gratify the philosopher Voltaire, he added, I only
know Jean Jacques Rousseau who can be re-
proached with these ideas of equality and indepen-
dence, and all the chimeras which are ridiculous.'
In a letter to Damilaville, written on 25th June,
1762, he said, The Contrat Social, or insociable,
is only remarkable for some insults coarsely ad-
dressed to Kings by the citizen of the small town of
Geneva, and by four insipid pages against the
Christian religion.' "
The report is confirmed that the Governor of
Cayennehas been recalled, and Captain Fourrichon,
of the navy, appointed in his place. The ground
of his recal is] non-conformity with the general
instructions of Government, whose views with re-
gard to the unfortunate persons removed to this
penal settlement he could not be made to compre-
hend. Some letters of a character severely re-
flecting on the treatment of political prisoners in
penal settlements have appeared from time to time
in the Presse, and M. Emile de Girardin got great
credit for the courage of his remonstrances on the
subject, and if some better mode of treatment is
about to be instituted, as may fairly be supposed,
no small portion of credit will be due to the
able editor of the Presse newspaper. The Con-
stitutionnel has the following on this subject

" Some journals have talked of the causes which have
determined the Government to recal M. de Sarda Gar-
riga, the Commissary-General of French Guiana, and to
confide the direction of that colony to Captain Fourri-
chou, who proceeds there with the title of governor. We
have reason to know that in different important points
the Commissary General of French Guiana departed
from the spirit of the instructions which he had received
on his departure, as might be seen from the recital of
some episodes which hate taken
.place at Cayenne, and
which have been published in a journal of that place.
The direction which M. de Sarda Garriga gave to the
Penitentiary of the Salutation Island, was calculated to
compromise the result of the important and useful mea-
sure of the suppression of the Bagnes. Regretable re-
laxation of discipline, and serious infractions of the regu-
lations, tended to diminish the respect due to the autho-
rities among the convicts. The Government was called
on to correct this error, and it has done so. The new
agents designated by the Minister of the Marine and
Colonies, have already given proofs of experience and
capacity. Endowed with great firmness, they well
know how to again introduce into the Penitentiary of
the Salutation Isle that spirit of discipline without which
nothing can go on as it ought to do. An intelligent and
good direction given to that establishment will soon
make it fulfil the object of its creation."
" The Duke of Parma was absent (says the Moni-
teur) from his States when the Empire was pro-
claimed in France. As soon as his Royal Highness
returned to his capital, he hastened to have notice
given to M. de Gabriac, charge d'affaires in France,
that new credentials would be immediately for-
warded, accrediting him representative of the Court
of Parma to the Emperor of the French."
The Constituti9nnel gives the following contra-
diction to statements which have appeared relative
to some pretended violent measures of the Govern-
ment of Parma :—" We mention with pleasure that
from information given by the Piedmont journals
the acts which have been reported to have taken •
place in the State of Parma are perfectly unfounded.
There has been neither an expulsion of a French-
man from the Court, nor the imprisonment of a
lady in the service of the Duchess. Other charges
brought against the Government of Parma are
equally unfounded."
A letter from Brest of the 30th ult., states that
the electric wires to effect a communication between
Brest and Angers had arrived by a steam-boat at
IVforlaix. The Government proposes to extend the
system of electric telegraphs throughout the de-
partment of the Firisterre, and to place Brest in
communication with Paris, and likewise with
Quimper, Landerneau, and Morlaix.
A letter from Pontarlier of, the 30th ult., states
that a heavy fall of snow in that neighbourhood
had stopped the passage of all travellers or car-
riages. A number of operatives w ere engaged in
clearing the roads.
_

Some disturbances have occurred at St. Julien
le Capsagnas, in the department of the Gard.
Some of the Republicans arrested after the coup
d'etat in December, 1851, wished to celebrate the
anniversary of their incarceration. The gendar-
merie of St. Ambroix immediately repaired to the
place of meeting and arrested 15 of the most vio-
lent of the party. Having been reinforced by a
.letachment of the 16th Light Infantry, they
:odged their prisoners in the fort of Alais.

The Journal des Debats announces that the
oelebrated. writer Beer has become a convert to the
Catholic religion. His conversion was accom-
plished by Father Ratisbonne, who was himself
converted by " a miraculous vision."
The Bourse was more firm yesterday than for
some days past, and the price of public securities
rose slightly. The approaching change of Minis-
ters was spoken of, and it was stated that M. Car-
tier, former Prefect of Police, would take office
with M. de Moray. The Three per Cents. opened
at 79f. 50c., fell to 79f. 30c., rose subsequently to
TOL 65c., and closed at 79f. 60c. for the end of the
month. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents. closed
at 105 f. ; Orleans Railway Shares, 9901. ; Rouen,
9701. ; avre, 467 f. 50c. ; Bale, 310 f. ; Paris and
Strasburg, 745 f. ; Paris to Lyons, 8501. ; Lyons to
the Mediterranean, 720 f. ; Western of France,
655 f. ; Bordeaux and Cett, 557 E 50c. ; Caen to
Cherbourg, 595 f. ; Dijon to Besancon, 5171. 50c.
Shares of the Bank of Cr6dit Mobilier (issued at
500 f.), 7171. 50c.