The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-20 00:00:00

X 33,948,090
BANKING D,ePARTMENT.

Proprietors' Capi-
tal
ftwst
Public Deposits
(including Ex-
chequer, Sav-
ings' Banks,
Commissioners
of National
Debt, and Div.
Accounts 9,182,350
Other Deposits.. 15,906,908
Seven Days and
other Bills • 396,156

Governmt. Sem-
rities(including
Dead Weight
Aunuity) £.12,931,695
Other Securities 18.4M,344
Notes 10,719,915
Gold and Silver
Coin

£43,163,071

£43,163,071

PARIS CORRESPONDENCE.

WEDNESDAY EVENING.

We seem in Paris to be imitating not only your English
constitutionalism, but your English stoicism and in
difference. It takes a great deal to shake an Englishman
from his propriety, but the more excitable esprits of "the
airy and bright-minded city of the Seine are usually very
easily influenced. A Ministerial crisis* with, you is the
talk of the clubs and a topic for the newspapers, but with
us it ordinarily produces the most vehement excite-
ment. Nevertheless, so well are we learning the
lesson of solidarite that the transformations in
our Cabinet have neither excited enthusiasm nor displea-
sure, scarcely any surprise. The appointments, to con-
fess the truth, are not very popular. Neither M. Megc
nor M. Plichon are to be ranked among our political
celebrities. Moreover, M. Mege is looked on with some
suspicion in Liberal circles as the intimate friend of M.
Rouher, of reactionary celebrity. M. Plichon, I am
sorry to say, is a Protectionist, and will not con-
sequently strengthen the Government in that
respect. The Journal des Debats, while giving
general approval to the Emperor's selection, takes
care to reserve its opinion on M. Plichon's political eco-
nomy. The Temps, a very liberal organ, accepts the ap-
pointments as a compromise. The nomination of M.
Grammont was strongly desired in high places, while the
other two Ministers balance the scale between the Right
and Left Centres. The Gazette de France is aghast at the
selection of M. Grammont, which it denounces
in the name of the Catholics, the Conservatives
and the true Liberals. The Union satirically observes
that it was scarcely worth so much fuss to make such in-
significant changes, while even the Liberte (M. de Girar-
din's paper)' asks whether it was worth while to have
agitated all France, and even Europe, for eight days, to
effect such a movement. The Cabinet has already been
christened "Le Cabinet du 16 Mai," a name which will
probably last it out.
M. 011ivier, by his too frequent use of the pen, is
getting the same reputation for unlucky letters as Earl
Russell himself. The other evening, when the alterations
in the functions of the Minister of Public Instruction
were being discussed on the benches of the Corps
Ldgislatif one of the members remarked that with a
Prime Minister who was subject to an epistolary mono-
mania the Ministry of Letters was far from being a
sinecure.

The Commissions who are making up the official reports
of the Plebiscite are staggering under the weight of their
labours. Saturday will be the earliest day for the solemn
presentation of the vote to take place. Doubts prevail as
to the celebration of a "Te Deum " on the occasion.
The France, however, positively asserts that it will take
place, and that there will be a day of public rejoicing on
account of it.

Yesterday it was reported that Marshal 'Valliant had
died suddenly in his carriage, and, after the usual " Le ro
est wort viva le roi" fashion, men were already discussing
his crobable successor, when, lo ! the news arrived that
the Marshal was as well as ever he was, and there was no
vacancy to fill. It was General Goyon who had died
suddenly of apoplexy—so suddenly that he had not time
to speak one word. His coachman, who was driving him
home from the Senate, suspected nothing wrong, until
his attention was called to his master by the passers-
by. He was taken into a chemist's shop, but
life was quite extinct. The General was born in
1802, and, after passing with distinction through
Saint Ayr, he entered a cavalry regiment, and after rising
to the grade of general was appointed director of the
Military'School at Saumur in 1853, was subsequently
aide-de-camp to the Emperor, and in 1859 commander of
the French,troops in Rome.
A story is told of his differences with Cardinal do
Merode, Minister of War. Our general was a good
Christian, no doubt, but a good soldier first of all, and in
his hot altercation with the Minister of State he found
it difficult to remember the respect due to
the prelate. "If I did not respect your
robe," exclaimed he one day to the Cardinal, " I should
give you a souffiet. Consider, you have received one."
He was a favourite at the Tuileries, though the outer
world at one time suspected him of Orleanism, a charge
he indignantly denied.. He requested the Emperor to
allow him to retain his command at Toulouse notwith-
standing his age, which exceeded the prescribed limit.
The Emperor specially endorsed this request, but the
Council of State were too red-tapist to grant it. The
Emperor has sent a special message of condolence to his
widow.

The Con,stitutionnel announces that it will very shortly
publish in its " feuilleton " a hitherto unpublished work
of Lamartine's, entitled " The Manuscript of my Mother ;
a Family
,History." This work is, it is said, one of its
author's most exquisite productions, and those who knew
him personally, and could appreciate the warmth of his
domestic affections, will readily understand how tenderly
he would deal with such a theme,