The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-08 00:00:00

PARIS CORRESPONDENCE

MONDAY EVENING.
Our political parties are still in a very unsettled state,
and while we talk about the majarity we should most of
us be very much puzzled to tell who holds the balance.
The Left Centre, after several changes; appears to have
reconstructed itself, and the division which at one time

was thought to threaten a general break up of the party
has ended in an amicable arrangement. The position
of tae Left itself is very different. The inde-
•penaezit action.of the seventeen under M. Picard cannot

be forgiven by the veterans of 'the gauche. M. Picard's
attempt at conciliation has only called forth an uncom-
promising epistle from M. Grdvy, There must, says the
older leader, be no misunderstanding between us. If w.e

agree we must act together ; if our politics differ, we
ought to keep apart, while maintaining outward co.ntesy
and good wishes, " This declaration," says the Debats,
`• however moderate in its tone, is, in reality, the open

acknowledgment of the schism in the Left." "The

separation," says the Bieck; "is un fait accompli
and the result of a mutual understanding." So we are to

have another faction in a Chamber that is already sub-
divided, and the Seventeen must be included in our future
castings of the political horoscope. The Constitutionnet,
which of course inclines to M. Picard, whose chief offence

in the eyes of his quondam allies is his inclination to coin-

promise with monarchism, considers that the Seventeen
have assunied the position of a Constitutional Opposition.
Henceforward they must be numbered among those Par-

liamentary groups which may in case of a Ministerial

change be called upon, without a great political convul-
sion, to assume office, should the country declare in favour
of their policy. In the Corps Legislatif, as it now stands,
the influence of the Constitutional Left will probably be
somewhat limited, but in the new Chamber it may very

possibly happen, says the ConstitWionnel, that it may gain

,he preponderance.
What will be the next move? is what everybody is

asking ; and the Sikle, as usuals finds something bitter to
say about the reconstructed Cabinet. Was the unanimous'
vote of Saturday, it asks, to be taken as a mark of appro-
bation for the past, or of confidence for the future ?
Neither the one nor the other. As for the Right Centre
Baron Jerome David has explained that their

vote gave little moral support to the Ministry.
The conduct of the Left Centre has been
made equally clear by M. Buffet, who admitted that the
present Ministry was the only one from whom a disso-
lutien of the Chamber might be expected. On this point
the Siecle considers M. Buffet and his friends mistaken,
and reiterates its frequent declarations that M. 011ivier
is too ready to accommodate himself to personal power to
fulfil the legitimate aspirations of the country. Baron
Jerome David's definition of the vote as a " fiction " is
therefore the true one, and, in forcing the question on a
reluctant Chamber, the 011ivier Cabinet has wasted its
last resources and shortened its term of days. Such, at
least, is the opinion of the Sitcle. You will see, there-
fore, that the first Minister of the Constitutional Empire
does not get very hearty support out of doors.
The Constitutionnel says that the sitting of Saturday
was rife with surprises, and the most inventive dramatist
never devised more sudden changes. It characterises the
vote on the order of the day as an expression of unanimity
which says nothing worth having, and a vote of confidence
which must be regarded with defiance. The result of the
sitting of the 4th of June has been to compromise once
more the most powerful Government weapon which
Parliamentary regime offers, that of a vote of confidence.
At this moment it would be as idle to proclaim the dis-
tress of the Cabinet as it would be to celebrate its victory;
it has not lost the battle, but it has, perhap3, lost its op-

portunity.
The Siecle says that the Corps Legislatif has no sooner
met than it adjourns. Delay succeeds to delay. Yester-
day it was on account of the Plebiscite ; to-day because
of the order of the day; to-morrow the nomination of the
Conseillers-Generaux will furnish an excuse. The liberal
Empire is generous ; it will allow the deputies to have as
many holidays AS they require, and if it could find a pre-
text to give them eternal leisure, M. 011ivier would not
make any complaints. _ _ _

The Temps says that the Potpie Francais was indeed right
the other day in saying that we were still far from parlia-
mentary regime. The truth of this remark was never more
clearly shewn than at the sitting of Saturday. The Corps
L6gislatif neither knows how to act nor to will, and in face
of a Cabinet question distinctlyput all its grand resolutions
vanish away. That the majority should do so is not sur-
prising, for they represent the policy of the official
candidature. But that men who are acquainted with the
policy pursued by that majority should have pretended
to form in conjunction with it a parliamentary Govern-
ment makes one doubt of their good faith or their political
intelligence.
The epidemic which has raged here with so much fury
has furnished a topic of discussion in many places. It is
worth considering the very different treatment which
smallpox receives in England from that which is adopted
in this country. Here the air is strictly excluded, and
doors and windows kept scrupulously closed ; while across
the Channel fresh air is regarded as the first of requisites.
It is to be hoped that the attention of the medical men
who consult on the subject will be turned in this direc-
tion, and that they will condescend to learn from their
neighbours.
The Constitutionnel has commenced the publication of a
posthumous work of Lamartine's, called "Le Manuscrit
de Ma Mere." It is distinguished by the author's usual
characteristics of style, and will probably furnish an at-
tractive subject of study. The Figaro asks if the Champ
de Mars is the property of Marshal Bceuf, and adds that it
is desirable it should be so, for in that case he would take
care of it. This immense place is never run over by
patrols, and is a regular trap for the passers by. Scarcely
a night passes in which some one is not attacked and
injured.

THE FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT OFF
HASTINGS.

Some further details are given of the exceptionally
melancholy catastrophe which took place on Monday
afternoon off Hastings. About a quarter to five on that
day the pleasure yacht Royal Albert capsized about a
mile off the port with fourteen or fifteen per-
sons on board, including George Wenman and
Thomas Stichborne, boatmen. The accident was caused by
a gust of wind. Immediately on the occurrence being
observed, numerous boats put off to the rescue, the first
result being that eight persons were picked up and
brought ashore. Amongst these were two boatmen.
The bodies of Mrs. John Chambers, Grange-street, Hox-
ton ; Mr. Richards, London ; Mrs. Maynard, Vale-place,
Hammersmith ; and of one person unknown, have
been recovered. Mr. and Mrs. Stoakes, of Hastings, are
missing. One of the persons saved was Mr. Archer,
jeweller, of George-street, Hastings. Amongst those
picked up were a lady and gentleman—husband and wife
—who took apartments in the cutter on the previous
night. Every effort was used by the medical
gentlemen in attendance to restore animation, and they
were successful in the case of the husband. Yesterday's
Sussex Advertiser says large crowds of people gathered round
the houses whither the bodies had been conveyed, and
the most painful sympathy was manifested both by the
townspeople and the visitors. The general impression
prevailing was that from fourteen to sixteen persons were
on board—indeed, it was stated by some of the spectators
that as many as twenty passengers had gone out to sea.
A large number of visitors had flocked to Hastings for the
day, amongst whom, it is needless to add, the terrible
catastrophe produced a most painful shock.
The Pall Mall Gazette says :—" The town, which is very
full of holiday visitors, is in the greatest possible commo-
tion, and ,friends and relatives have thronged the beach
and promenades in intense anxiety, not knowing
whether among the dead bodies recovered and
those that are yet missing they may not recognise friends
of their own. There appears to be no blame to be attached
to any one. The two boatmen who were in the yacht
are most experrienced and trustworthy sailors,
men who have been connected with sailing
and rowing in all weathers round this rocky coast
for many rears past. The efforts of the sturdy fishermen
were most energetic ; they pushed off' their boats with a
rapidity that was most remarkable ; and, as they brought
the bodies one by one to the shore, assiduously rubbed
them, and used such restoratives as were necessary until
Oho arrival 91 medical aid.