The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-12 00:00:00

TflE SUN, LONDON, SATITWAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1870.

bers of the EMPRESS'S household at Hastings, and
proposed that the wife of NAPOLEON should, not-
withstanding the Paris revolution, still %yiaintain
her claim to the Regency and make peace. He at
first met with little encouragement. But a remarkable
ljunct in the shape of a photographic view of
Hastings was introduced into the negotiations, and
seems to have had wonderful influence. M.
Ri:oNiEn proposed that the PRINCE IMPERIAL
sli it'd write a few lines upon the photographic
w, with which the mystic "N" would start for
lhelmshohe. The writing would furnish a
ticLitious motive for the journey, and would be useful
iu procurinr an audience. The EMPRESS'S determi-
nation not to stir in the matter relaxed a little alter
the photographic proposal. The PRINCE IMPERIAL
WloW on the photograph :—" My dear papa,
1 send you these views of Hastings,
hoping they will please you. Louis NAPOLEON."
Two stereoscopic views were also signed. With this
treasure M. REGNIER departed, receiving a caution
from the EMPRESS not to attempt the execution of a
project which she had helped. to forward.
M. REGNIER proceeded to Ferrieres, and saw
Count BISMARCK at the time of the fruit-
less interview with FAVRE. The CHANCELLOR
of course did not compromise himself. He
understood the photographic device at a
glance, and pointed out the obstacles in the way :
the actual possession of power by the Republicans,
the inaction of the EMPRESS, the difficulty of finding
any authority who would admit the only condition
on which peace could be made. Count BISMARCK
added these words :—" Atter the taking of Sedan
a treaty ought to have been signed ; and a few
words that I dropped then in an interview at which
were present Messieurs de Castelnau and Pietri,
might nave, if they had been willing, given rise to
more serious poloparlers, but they appeared unwilling
'to understand them." However the Prussian states-
man was quite willing that M. REGNIER should do
what he could to find a power to treat wit'. M.
REGNIER accordingly started to bring about a scheme
of this kind : to induce the commanders of Metz and
Strasburg to surrender those places except in the Em-
PEnoit's name; to proclaim the convocation of the
Senate and Legislative Body for a certain day in a
certain town; and to declare that the Loft—those
wretched Republicans—had, by their violent seizure
of the Government, compelled the conclusion ofa more
unfavourable peace than might otherwise have been
obtained. On this pleasing and truthful mission M.
REGNIER started, with Count BISMARCK'S blessing
and a safe conduct.

Ile entered Metz in disguise. He proposed that
General BOURBAKI should assume his dress, go
through the Prussian lines by means of the safe con- '
duct, proceed to Hastings, and acquaint the EMPRESS
with all that had passed. "If everything were to succeed
as I have anticipated," says M. REGNIER, General
BOURBAKI was to declare his identity, and proceed
to a seaport town, where the Chambers were to
assemble, and where an army and fleet were
to be in readiness to defend the re-esta-
blishment of Imperialism. By the success of every-
thing according to his anticipations, M. REGNIER
meant the signing of a treaty, and the employment
of BAZAINE'S army to restore Imperialism, which,
with such assistance, would undoubtedly look hopeful
again. Marshal BAZAINE was delighted to guarantee
his share in the transaction. Everything was arranged,
and General BOURBAKI left Metz. Unfortunately
for M. REGNIER'S scheme and his own future great-
ness, nothing went well with the pleasant plot from
that time. General BOURBAKI explained nothing to
the EMPRESS, tried to return to Metz, and soon after
joined the Republicans. M. REGNIER returned to
Count BISMARCK with Marshal BAZAINE'S signature on
the photograph ; but was informed by the Chancellor
that something more than a mere signature was
needful to establish the powers of the perambulating
negotiator. A telegram was sent to BAZAINE asking
whether he authorised M. REGNIER to treat for the
surrender of Metz. A negative reply was returned.
REGNIER was then given to understand that he had
no mission at Ferrieres. He went to Chislehurst.
There he argued in vain with the EMPRESS, who
was influenced in her refusal to proceed further by
the double fear of ceding territory and of appearing
to be actuated by selfish dynastic considerations.
And so the affair collapsed.
It will be seen that the story is defective. No
doubt M. REGNIER has toned down some points.
But as it stands, it is scarcely calculated to advance
the fame, of anybody connected with it. The
EMPRESS is represented as disapproving of any
dynastic movement, and yet M. REGNIER specifically
states that she consented to the photograph arrange-
ment, on which the wfiole.scheme turned. M. REG-
NIER may have been actuated by unselfish motives,
but there remains reason for the belief that he tried
to re-establish a disgraced Government by a dis-
creditable pio6ss, with the view of becoming the
Rouher of the regenerated Empire.. He clearly pos-
sesses some Rouherian ability. The report respect-
ing Marshal BAZAINE intensifies the suspicions
that have been entertained of him. The
hypothesis that he trifled away his time in
political intrigue until it was
.too late to save
his army, gathers strength from this evidence. The
supposition that he sold Metz has yet to be
disproved. Decidedly, his action is the most dis-
graceful in the comedy, for, whilst entrusted
with the task of defending France, he meddled with
negotiations in which he ought to have had no share,
and contemplated, though he did not then carry out,
the surrender of a great French army in
order to defeat one political party and ad-
vance the prospects of another. An intriguing
general is always contemptible, and few
intrigues could be more discreditable than this,
which, at all events, resulted in the cessation of ope-
rations on his part just at the time when the chance
of success was grestest. The honesty
of BOURBAKI
appears established. He seems to have been deceived.
At all events, lie took care that the scheme should
prove innocuous.

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