The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-05 00:00:00

THE NEW FRENCH MINISTERS.

The Temps, which is a little doubtful of the ultimate
success of what it calls a variegated Cabinet, observes that
there are three chief figures, M. 011ivier, M. Buffet, and
31. Segris. M. 011ivier's career is well known, and
has been everywhere cited; but the antecedents of
MM. Buffet and Segris are less known. M. Buffet was
formerly an advocate. At the age of 30 ho was elected as
representative for the department of Vosges,•his own
country. He sat on the Right In the Constituent
Assembly, and was one of those who declared that General
Cavaignac had deserved well of his country. After
the 10th of December he accepted the portfolio of Com-
merce and Agriculture, and left the Ministry the next
year, along with M. Odillon Barrot. He was Minister
again with M. Leon Foucher, and left office a second time
with his colleagues six weeks before the coup d':tat. From
1851 to 1863 there is an interregnum in the political
life of M. Buffet. He re-entered the Corps Legislatif in
1363 again for the department of Vosges, this time
returned by the Opposition. M. Buffet has an excellent
voice and a geed bearing; his language, is clear, ready, and
decided. The Chamber listens to him with favour, and
when the President's bell has hardly availed to still
the tumult of the assembly, 111. Buffet, when he rose.
could readily command silence. He is tall and thin, with
a slight degree of awkwardness in his manner, but is
sample and gracious when approached. His pourtrayer in
the Temi s ctusiders that he is not one of those who
change their manners in changing their seat for the Minis-
terial bench.

Of M. Segris the portrait painter says that up to the
last hour it was said, " M. Segris will never be able to
make up his mind." To take a decisive course seems to be
a task beyond the powers of the deputy of Maine-et-
Loire. Twenty times since he has been in the cham-
ber it has been thought that he would leave
the majority for the opposition, twenty times has he
drawn Lack at the last moment. He signed the famous
interpellation of the 116, and everyone was astonished at
the effort, but the responsibility on that occasion was
well divided. M. Segris is one of the best speakers in
the Chamber, certainly the very best of the old Right.
His voice is sonorous and of an admirable quality, his
speech is fluent, his diction energetic. He has plenty of
action in the tribune, and has an intelligent physiognomy,
which gains the sympathies of his audience. M. Segris is
59, and his hair is gray. Such are the new Ministers of
Finance and of Public Instruction.

The Figaro publishes two letters exchanged between 31.
Magne and 31. 011ivier on Saturday last. They run as
follows :—"My dear M. 011ivier,—I have reflected, since
yesterday, on the situation in which you are placed by the
refusal of the Left Centre. It is not possible for me to
form part of a combination from which an element I have
always thought important in the actual state of the
Chamber, is excluded. I would ask you, then, before
(taming to any conclusion, at least so far as I am concerned,
to make another effort with your colleagues.—Receive,
&c., MAGNE.—Saturday morning."

M. 011ivier's reply is dated Saturday evening r---" Dear
sir, I have followed your excellent advice this very day,
and the result of my long conference with my colleagues
is the commencement of an understanding which appears
sufficient to modify our arrangements of yesterday. These
gentlemen accept the portfolios I have placed at their dis-
posal, and attach no other condition to their acceptance
than your preliminary retirement. lam compelled by the
tenor of your note this morning to adhere to this basis of
arrangement.—l remain, &c., OLuvizn."

The Scotsman, quoting a private letter from Suez,
states that Mr. W. H. Gregory, M.P. for Galway, made a
pilgrimage recently to the real Cave of Adullam.
NEW YEAR'S DAY IN BERLIN.---The Inde-
pendance Beige says that an tacident occurred at the
New Year's receptions at the Court of Berlin which
contrasted somewhat with the pacific nature of the French
Emperor's discourses. In receiving Marshal Wrangel at
the head of the generals, King William recalled the
honours which had been conferred upon him by the
Emperor of Russia, and added, " It is to you, gentlemen,
that I am indebted for this favour to those who conducted
the army to victory." The Independance does not
think, however, that this speech of the King's indicates a
warlike policy for the future, but may be regarded in the
light of a compliment to his generals, to whom he is so
much indebted. The recognised organ of the Ministry,
the Provincial (Or) espondence, lays great stress upon the
peaceful character of affairs, and declares that the
Northern Confederation has so determined its Constitu-
tion that it is accepted as a guarantee for peace.
M. Oi.LIVIER AT HODIE.—M. Alfred d'Aussay con-
tributes to Figaro a minute account, in the American
fashion, of the private life of M. Emile 011ivier. His resi-
dence, 29, Rue St. Guillaume (the rent of which, we are
informed, is 2,500 f.), presents so modest an exterior that
the other day a high functionary who had occasion to
speak to the new Minister, after mounting a few
steps, turned back in great indignation that a person
of his rank should have been sent up tho servants'
staircase. The concierge had no difficulty in excusing him-
self—there was no other. Augustin, the only domestic
who serves M. Emile 011ivier, his brother, Madame
011ivier, and the Abb6 Liszt (when he is in Paris), acts
also as secretary in case of need. The walls of his cabinet
are literally covered with portraits of great men
whom 31. 011 iv ier admires, among them Bapheel,Descartes,
Bossuet, Mirabeau, Pascal, 31oW:re, Benjamin Constant.
Lamartine, and Dcak. There is also a portrait of the
older M. 011ivier, and a fine proof engraving of the Gircn-
dins. Over the chimney piece is a ramble bust elf a
charming child, Daniel 011ivier, now living at Saint
Tropez, with his grandfather, the wild Republican Demos-
th:me 011ivier, who intends to undertake the charge of
his education. The disorder in this cabinet is excessive,
but M. 011ivier, who is very near-sighted, can lay his hand
in a moment on any book or paper he requires. Ho re-
ceives his friends only at breakfast, goes out at half-past
one, and, when he dines at home, returns at seven. He
goes to bed early, and rises at six or seven o'clock. He
drinks nothing but water, never smokes, seldom goes to the
theatre, and only to hear music. He has never, hitherto,
gilll4 dinner P4IIION or soirees.