The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-02 00:00:00

RAPOLEON AT WILHELMSHOE.

The special correspondent of the Telegraph sends the
followingfrom Cassel, dated December 20 :—The weather
here for some weeks past has been most severe. This has
not been without its depressing influence on events in the
Castle. Fewer visitors arrive there; and the reports we
hear of its doings are less numerous than formerly.
Count Bouville, formerly Prefect of Bordeaux,
and an attach 6 to one of the embassies—l know
not which—in Berlin, are the only strangers that
for some time have appeared at the Castle. Not-
withstanding the inclemency of the weather, the
Emperor daily takes recreation. Hitherto the only
forms in which he could do so were riding and walk-
ing,. The frost, however, has added one—and the
kindness of his captors another —means of recrea-
tion. - The Emperor went out to skate twice
during the past week ; and I can assure you from per-
sonal observation that his skill and agility in this
hazardous exercise are admirable. He, indeed, is a far
better skater than any of his companions at the Castle,
About noon on Christmas Day, Queen Augusta for"
warded to Napoleon a number of handsome sleighs for his
own especial use. He has been much pleased by this
kindly act of courtesy, and has sent to the Queen of
Prussia acknowledgments of his gratitude. From the
great cordiality with which he was at first received, I had
supposed that Marshal Bazaine would have been a con-
stant visitor at the Castle. Whatever the cause—.
whether, as some say, the Marshal is sup-
posed to have nourished aspirations of which
the Emperor could scarcely approve, or that
the Marshal is afraid too great an intimacy
with the Emperor might give some colour to the accusa-
tions of his enemies—whatever the cause, I say, the visits
of Bazaine to Napoleon are now few and far between.
Perhaps the real origin of this circumstance may be the
homely and simple fact that the Marshal's domestic cares
are now somewhat increased, his wife having very recently
presented him with a son. Dr. Conneau has just arrived
once more at the Castle. I neednot tell you that some mem-
bers, at least,of the Imperial retinue—as to the sentiments
of Napoleon himself I cannot speak—give but little
credit to the Republican Government for the gigantic
struggles France is at present making. They assert that
the credit of this is to be given not to Gambetta but to
Palikao ; that the Imperial Minister for War had made
the preliminary and really vital arrangements for
calling into existence the present troops of
France ; and that they would have been in
the field sooner, .not later, had M. Gambetta
and the Republican Government never had a hand in
the` matter. The Imperialist adherents likewise

claim for the late Minister of Commerce, 'M. Clhien
the merit of having provisioned Paris in sucl
a manner that she has been able to give so prolonged a
resistance. The Emperor's late pamphlet—published
under the name of the Marquis de Gricourt—has had a
great success. The attacks on Napoleon in the Indepen.
dance Beige have ceased to annoy. As to the
protests of the French officers, published in that
journal, the moving spirit of this anti-Napoleonic move
anent is said to be a man who held an important position
in t!le Imperial army, and who owes to the generosity of
the Emperor his frequent entrication from monetary em-
barrassment. He, however, is not the first—nor will he
bethel.. -to strike in adversity the man to whomin pros-
perity he was fawningly obedient.