The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-22 00:00:00

M. PREVOST PARADOL.

INI. Prevost Paradol has a good deal to bear in
consequence of his appointment as French Minister
at Washington. The old Imperialists say they have
been slighted in the selection of a writer who has
hitherto ranked as one of the Emperor's most
effective critics. The Liberals say that M. Paradol has
sold himself. It is found equally difficult to under-
stand why the post should have been offered, and
why it should have been accepted. M. Prevost
Paradol is an Orleanist. He is one of the warmest
adherents of Parliamentary Government. Whilst
his favourite system of rule gave place to personal
Government, he was most persevering in his attacks
upon despotism ; when something like Parliamentary
Government was established, he was most earnest

in his criticism of its defects. No Opposition
writer had greater influence than this able,
moderate, and practical man. It is true that he has
lately lived on better terms with the Imperial system,
but is a .few weeks' friendship, ask the disgusted
courtiers, to make amends for years of hostility? On
the other hand M. Paradol's friends in like manner
p-rofess to be amazed at his acceptance of the
office. He gets altogether about £4,000 a
year—a neat sum—but £4,000 a year, with per-
petual silence and obscurity, is thought a poor ex-
change for the high and rapidly improved posi-
tion of this fine writer. It may be as well
to explain the meaning of M. Prevost Paradol's
peculiar name. His father was M. Prevost, an actor
at the Francais, and his mother, Mdlle. Paradol, an
actress at the same theatre. The present Minister
at Washington united the two names, and became
M. Prevost Paradol.

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HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, June 21.

The Queen drovo out yesterday afternoon, accompanied
by Princess Louise, and attended by the Marchioness of
Ely.
Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Louise an
Princess Beatrice, went out in the grounds this morning
By command of the Queen, a State Ball was given last
evening at Buckingham Palace, to which a party of about
1,700 was invited.

The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Dulwich
Picture Gallery yesterday, and afterwards went to the
Dulwich College, where the Prince presided at the distri-
bution of prizes to the successful scholars.

FASHIONABLE ARRANGEMENTS TO-DAY.
The Duke of Devonshire's third assembly at Devonshire
House, Piccadilly.
Frances Countess of *Waldegrave's entertainment to their
Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales at
Strawberry Hill.

Mr. Benedict's annual grand morning concert, under the
immediate patronage of their Royal Highnesses the
Prince and Princess of Wales, the Prince and Princess
Christian, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Prince of
Teck, and the Princess Mary Adelaide of Teck.

At the Gun Club, Wormholt Scrubbs, near Shepherd's-
bush, the International Pigeon Shooting at 30 yards.
Commence at twelve precisely.

SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS TO-DAY.

The Geological Society, at 8 p.m., when the following sub-
jects will be brought under consideration, by the mem-
bers whose names are attached to them.—" Lower Por-
tion of the Green-slates and Porphyries of the Lake Dis-
trict," Dr. H. A. Nicholson : " Observatiovs on
some Vegetable Fossils," Mr. R. Brough Smyth :
" Plesiosaurian Remains, Bimmeridge Bay," Mr. J. W.
Hulke; " Geology of the Lofoten Islands," Rev. T. G.
Bonney; " Dorypterus Hofmanni, Germar, from the
Marl-slate of Midderidge, Durham," Mr. Albany Han-
cock and Mr. R. Howse.

The Society of Literature at 8.30 p.m., when Mr. W.
B. Cooper wjll read a paper on the "Greek Tablet
found in the Assasseef at Thebes."

SPIRIT OF THE PRESS-THIS MORNING.
MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY BILL.

The Times is not surprised that the law lords exhibited
their usual ingenious diversity of opinion in the matter of
the Married Women's Property Bill last night. The
measure has passed the Commons, where it has been pre-
ferred by a large majority to a rival measure less thorough
in its principle and less complete in the remedy it affords.
The change in the law would at once give a better posi-
tion to every woman, and not merely to the woman who
is sufficiently provoked and sufficiently strong-minded to
take an unusual and most hostile proceeding against her
husband. It would not supersede marriage settlements,
for the settlement is as much to protect the woman from
herself as from her husband ; but it would in thousands
of households give greater moral influence to the wife,
and tend to the happiness and prosperity of both her
husband and herself. Indeed, the right of women to the
possession and disposal of property being admitted, we
cannot believe, until it is shown by argument stronger
than any used in the House of Lords last night, that
the ceremony of marriage ought to " act on a woman
like a conviction for felony," and reduce a person of
independent fortune into a dependent on the bounty of
ane t her.