The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-06 00:00:00

UN,

LONDON,

customs of apparently the most homely and in-
significant character. Anything, consequently,
which we can possibly do towards securing
the amelioration of whatever is vicious or reprehen-
sible in these national habits and customs should be
welcomed with all imaginable cordiality by the real
philanthropist Trivial they may appear to the su-
perficial observer, but important they are in reality,
nevertheless—constituting, as they do, the very bone
and basis of the national character. Among the
minute advantages which are thus looked upon as
probable cannot be overlooked those which many are
just now anticipating with some eagerness in refe-
rence to the improvement of modern costumes. Very
'far indeed are we from regarding this improvement
as undeserving of serious consideration ; and it has
consequently been with satisfaction, as well as with
feelings of amusement, that we have watched the
growth of an enthusiastic indignation against various
articles of attire, and above all against the European
hat, an article of dress which has come at last to
be vilified by one infuriated antagonist as " that
stiff and nonsensical hat—that hat as hollow as the
head of whoever first put it on the heads of others—the
hat, imperious and unswerving, tall, dark, grim, and
dismal—the hat that scowls from above a pleasant
countenance—the hat that crowns all absurdity."
While changes of a desirable nature are being made
in other quarters we are sanguine that such as those
here indicated may not be set aside at this moment
from any belief i❑ their unimportance.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The procession of the Bceuf gras passed off quietly
on Tuesday. Since 1848 there has been no proces-
sion of a Bceuf gras in Paris ; in that year the pro-
cession, coming immediately after the revolution, was
a grand political demonstration, and with their usual
appreciation of the ridiculous the getters up of the
procession of 1848 called their fat ox Duchatel, after
the heavy, pompous, and over-fed fat ex-Minister of
the Interior, the colleague of GUIZOT and TESTE. The
following account of the procession of the present
year appears in Galignani s Messenger:—
" The ex was conducted by four sacrificators, dressed
up as,:savages, and behind it came a car handsomely
ornamented and drawn by four white horses, gaily ca •
parisoned. Standing on the highest part of the vehicle
was a female, dressed a fantique, to represent Ceres
holding a sickle in her hand, and at the four corners of
the vehicle children seated similarly attired. After the
car came the representatives of the different nations, in
appropriate costume, the whole cortege being preceded
and followed by mounted republican guards. The throng
of spectators was so great in front of the Elyilie when
the procession passed, that a man was thrown down, but
fortunately rescued in time to prevent his being
trampled on. The ox which figured in the day's show
bears the name of Libel.* and weighs 1,432 kilo-
grammes."

The Moniteur mentions that the four regiments
longest in Paris which are to be removed are to be
replaced by others, and that several other changes are
to be made with the view of allowing all the regi-
ments in garrison to take the duty in the forts and the
town in turn.

The Bourse was firm, with littlo business doing. The
Five per Cents. opened at 961. 85c., and closed at
961.90 c.; the Three per Cents. at 58f. 10c.; Orleans
Railroad Shares, 885 f. ; Rouen, 647 f. 50c.; Havre, 275 f.;
Great Northern, 4761. 25c.; Avignon, 190 f.; Vierzon,
4151.; Basle, 1591. 75c.; Bordeaux, 395 f.; Paris and
Strasburg, 370 f.; Tours and Nantes, 256 F. 25c..
BUSINESS DON E IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, MARCH 5.
Boulogne and Amiens, 9i,2—East Indian, 15%—Namur
and Liege, B%—Northern of France, 15% Orleans and Bor.
deaux, 334—Paris and Strasbourg, 10% ex div.—Tours and
Nantes, 5%.