The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-10 00:00:00

PARIS CORRESPONDENCE.

WEDNESDAY EVENING.
M. Ernest Picard is again the hero of the hour. He
has replied to M. Gravy's letter in his journal the
Electeur Libre, which also publishes a manifesto of the
Seventeen, and an article from its editor's ready pen.
The manifesto is naturally the most important of these
documents. It is very brief. The Seventeen declare
that, without intending it, M. Gravy has imposed on his
colleagues conditions which their dignity will not allow
them even to deliberate upon, and gives apparent cre-
dence to rumours whose falsity he is fully acquainted with.
The new party will never enter into any compromise
with personal power. That is not the ground of its diffe-
rence with the old Left. The difference is that M. Grevy
and his friends wish for a limited party. M. Picard and
his friends would throw open their doors to anyone who
fights for public liberty, on the ground occupied by the
Left between 1857 and 1869. The seventeen are still
members of the Left, but, faithful to its traditions, they
cannot unite with M. Gravy. M. Picard's note,
addressed to the public rather than to his cor-
respondent direct, asserts that the Left has
lost none of its number. The only change will be that
the gathering in the Rue de la Sourdiere will have
fewer members. The new party have never claimed the
title of Radical; they only wish to retain the name of the
Left, without any epithet attached to it. The article by
M. Picard is in a similar strain, and makes constant
reference to the antecedents of the party. M.
Nefftzer, of the Temps, in commenting on this cor-
respondence, says, sensibly enough, that it is not qnite
plain what the dispute has been about, lnd considers that
M. Picard has made the mistake of breaking with his
party withont sufficient motive.
M. Villemessant, of the Figaro, is enjoying his joke
at the expense of half Paris, and, I suspect,
of a good many English readers as well. His
device of issuing a Red Republican number of
the Figaro, announcing the change of ownership and
editorship, and imitating most successfully the style of all
the leading Republicans in prose and verse from Victor
Hugo downwards, has surpassed his expectations. It is
still the talk of Paris, and the town is divided between
laughter and indignation. Those who were not shrewd
enough to detect the imitation might if they had looked
closely at the fourth page have discovered the truth in
plain print. M. de Villemessant (in the Tuesday num-
ber) recounts that while dining with his collaborateur
Jules Richard, at the Lac d'Enghien, the idea
of a surprise number was mooted, and M. de
Villemessant recounted a conversation he had held with a
functionary high in office. " What is the difference,"
asked the official, "between a good and a bad paper ?"
"Monsieur le Ministre," replied the editor of Figaro, "if
you would like me to shew you through the medium of
Figaro you would be a good deal surprised." This con-
versation led to the elaboration of the scheme, the Figaro
staff was summoned to a breakfast at Enghien, and two
hours later they were back in Paris, each with his contri-
bution to the compound. It is analysed as consisting
of extract of Socialism, 13 grammes ; essence of
Atheism, 14 grammes ; corrosive sublimate of all
established power 30 grammes, syrup of falsehood 43
grammes, &c. Such is M. de Villemessant's explanation,
and he asks what would be the consequence if the
Figaro were actually transformed? Nothingless,certainly,
than the conversion of the most peacable citizens into
wild Bonnet Rouges. It is fair to tell you that another
version of the story says that the editor of the Figaro was
a little annoyed at a remark made at the Prefecture,and
claimed consideration on the score of the support he has
generally given the Government. Upon this the official re-
plied that the authorities knew no difference between agood
and a bad paper, whereupon M. de Villemessant put
their lofty impartiality pretty sharply to the test. The
stories told concerning the hoax are absurd enough. Figaro
itself publishes a host of documents, which, after Tues-
day's experience, we must accept cum grano salis. There is a
telegram from Rouen forbidding the manager to send an-
other number of his execrable journal, and declaring that
M. de Villemessant had made a melancholy close to an
honourable career. This furious message is, how-
ever, supplemented by an apology and a congratulation
in one, the writer having discovered the corner of
the fourth page ! Next in order comes a message from
the Duc de Luynes ordering a copy regularly on the
strength of the Republican numbers. Cernuschi was
thought to be the capitalist who had found the funds for the
sale,which was so readily believed in, and so universally de-
nounced. One subscriber declared he should prosecute
the proprietor for not having consulted him in the sale.
Altogether M. de Villemessant may rejoice in the success
of his literary coup d'etat.
M. Laboulaye has written a letter in reply to that of
the students, to which allusion has recently been made.
He offers them his thanks, and says that they completely
understand him. He has been receiving tokens of esteem
and sympathy from all parts of France, but not one has
touched him so much as that of his pupils. Time, he de-
clares, will do justice to him, and shew that in supporting
the Constitution he was in reality defending the rights of
the people. His only error, he considers, consists in being
in advance of his day ; but time would dispel all these
mistaken notions.

The law on the Conseils Gen6raux was voted by the
Corps Legislatif with scarcely a dissentient. It signalises
important changes and improvements. He ad-
mits the principle of open sittings for the Genera
Councils, and gives to these meetings the right of express-
ing political views. In consequence of this change, the
elections which will shortly take place, assume far more
importance. Politics will again be introduced into these
assemblies whence they have been too long banished.
Louis Blanc writes from London to the Temps on the
subject of the Universities Tests Bill, and says he differs
from the opinion expressed in the Times, to the effect that
the Church Rule in the Universities was over. He doubts
the House of Lords, and remembers it is not the first time
the Liberal party have thought the end was reached, but
proved mistaken.
The Rappel announces that M. Cernuschi has not been
permitted to re-enter France, but has decidedly taken up
his residence at Geneva, whence he will promulgate his
views through the medium of the Rappel.
There is some talk of the immediate introduction by
Government of a scheme of electoral law, but it is added
that there is no idea of an impending dissolution. The
proposal will increase the nnmber of deputies by about
260. Another rumour says that the Senate will not
regard the new law on the press with a favourable eye.