The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-27 00:00:00

THE FEELING IN PARIS.

The special correspondent of the Telegraph, in a letter
dated Pa ris, December 20, says :—After fifteen days of
the most complete inaction, the gates of Paris are again
closed to all non-fighters, and we are in hopes that some-
thing is to be June, and that at least an attempt will
be made to drive away these patient, obstinate, trouble-
some Germans. General Trochu has done wisely
in showing symptoms of preparations for action—
that is to say, presuming him to be desirous of
preserving his popularity and of maintaining public order
in the city. The Parisians were beginning to manifest
unmistakable signs of discontent and impatience ; and
invidious comparisons were made between the provincial
and the Parisian armies—the former, according to the
accounts received, having fought more or less for sixteen
consecutive days, whereas, after two days' action. we
fell back into a state of absolute tranquillity. A
sort of honourable emulation is felt not to be
behindhand in military activity, or in the sacrifices of
lives for the country. A whisper that Trochu was not
quite sanguine of success, and therefore shrank from use-
less sacrifice of life, was by no means well received. "Let
every Parisian be killed, butchered, or mutilated,
but save Paris, if possible," is the cry of the
masses ; " and let the awful responsibility fall
on the royal head of William, the devoted
monarch by right divine of Prussia." This is all very
noble and patriotic, doubtless, but sadly wanting in
common sense ; for the fact of every Parisian
being hors de combat, and the army annihilated, would
not render France less a conquered nation, nor
take away a single iota from the glory of victorious
Prussia. Far wiser and more politic is it
to act prudently and warily, as Trochu is doing,
and to look before leaping. At the same time it is possible
to err on the side of caution, and to wait too long before
taking the leap. Every day reduces our stores, and lessens
the enthusiasm of the army ; and it is better to risk a
little than to wait till our last loaf is eaten, and the men,
hungry and feeble, have become demoralised and indif-
ferent.

The correspondent of the Standard hears that Geieral
Chanzy has 60,000 men with him, and that he will be
reinforced by at least 100,000 from Le Mans.
It is said in Versailles that the passage of M. Tarbe, of
the Gaulois, through the Prussian lines, by means of a
safe conduct, has been confirmed. He had bought it of
a Swiss for 10,000 f. Since this has been discovered they
have refused to allow any one to leave.

The rough blocks of granite destined for the 16 mono-
lithic pillars of the Hall of Victory, which is to be erected
in the King'ssquare in commemoration of the present war,
have arrived at Berlin from Sweden. They are about 16
feet long and four feet in diameter, each block weighing
300 centners.

The Germans in Shanghai, Kingpo, and Hankow have
lately forwarded a new donation of £762 is. 2d. to the
Hamburg Commi4ee for the Aid of the Sick and Wounded
in the present war. This is only one proof among many
of the interest taken by all Germans resident abroad in
the military successes of their country.
- -

Many more French officers protest in Friday's Inde-
pendence Belge against the project of a Bonapartist resto-
ration. They give their best wishes to the Government of
National Defence, and their allegiance to the regime that
independent France may choose. Fourteen lists of thesa
protests have been published. The total number of signa-
tures must be over 2,000.

A letter from Amiens, in L'Ordre,
says :—" We have
been invaded by the whole army of Manteuffel, whc is
returning from Rouen. There was fighting all day on
the northern road, a league from Amiens. All day we
heard the sound of cannon. To-morrow a great
battle will be fought, for to-day we had only outpost en-
gagements. I saw the whole Prussian staff arrive, con-
sisting of five generals and 150 officers, with an escort of
500 horse."

The Prussian Government cont nues to exercise severity
towards the Press. A number of the Vossische Gazette of
Berlin was confiscated a few days ago for an unpatriotic
article on the war, and General Falkenstein has now pro"-
hibited, under pain of a year's imprisonment, the intro-
duction into the maritime provinces during the war of two
Copenhagen papers, his object probably being to prevent
their circulation in North Schleswig. •
Extract from a letter received December 21, from
Carentan, about two hours' journey, by railway from
Cherbourg, dated December 17 :—" There is an army of
nearly 100,000 already formed near Carentan, and more are
arriving every day. This day the passenger trains are
suppressed, to allow of the passage of the soldiers.
Carentan may be destroyed, but the Prussians will not be
able to get to Cherbourg. All the meadows are flooded
to the depth of three feet. The Prussians have not yet
reached Honfleur nor Bernay. They think to take Havre,
but it will be well defended."