The Sun.
London, England, 1869-09-20 00:00:00

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

Notwithstanding the favourable bulletins of the last
few days, it is affirmed on all hands that the EMPEROR
is suffering from a disease that must shorten his
life, and as he is now in his 62nd year, it is
considered that the end is near. At the same time,
the belief is nearly equally strong and general that
the Empire will collapse with the EMPEROR. There
is, sad to say, not one word of sympathy for the man
who, whatever his faults, has, according to his lights,
done the best to make France prosperous. On all
sides are dry eyes, stony hearts, and sardonic
laughter. The Figaro, writing recently with respect
to the elevation of the EMPEROR'S cousin to the
throne, said, " After the tragedy will be the
farce ; after CXSAR we shall have FALSTAFF."
It may well be that the fear of the
overthrow of his dynasty prompts the EMPEROR
to take some decisive steps to prevent it.
Coups d'etat are out of date just now—albeit, Paris
has been converted into a huge garrison, and Baron
HAIISS3fANN has been in league with successive Minis-
ters of War to place the capital at the mercy of the
army. There is not now, as there was in 1851, an
ignorant enthusiaSm for the name of NAPOLEON,
which made the peasantry pardon the murder of the
Parisians. NAPOLEON would not now be able to
reckon upon eight millions of votes to convert his
Presidency into an Emperorship. The recent elec-
tions have 'shewn how alienated from the Empire the
people have become. NAPOLEON must, therefore,
resort to milder measures than a cannonade, if the
dynasty and the Empire are to be saved. We can
well conceive that he may hesitate as to the means
which he should take for effecting these ob-
jects. On the one hand, he might abdicate
in favour of Prince NAPOLEON ; on the other,
he might take that step in behalf of his
own son. The first would probably be the more pru-
dent course, the second is the one which natural
affection is more likely to dictate. It is no secret
that between the PRINcE and his cousin the
EMPRESS there is a good deal of jealousy. The
Independance Beige of Friday evening asserts that
the PRINCE has taken his departure from Paris in
order to be out of the way of the EMPRESS, who is
just now greatly aggrieved at his recent speech, and
that as soon as Her MAJESTY has set out for
Suez he will be summoned black to the counseils
of the EMPEROR. At the present moment the
EMPRESS is in possession of the field, and, therefore,
the chances of her son, are in the ascendant. It is
probably at her instigation that the abdication, if
really intended, has been prompted. Once get her child
acknowledged as NAPOLEON IV, and a great step
would be gained, especially if the lad were sup-
ported by the prestige of his father, acting as
Regent, or President of the Council. At the
same time we can never be certain as to what,
or as to whether any step will be taken.
The EMPEROR is a notoriously irresolute man at the
best of times, and now that his constitution is
shattered we may expect to see greater indecision
than ever. There is no doubt that he considers his
condition very precarious, and the Belgian journal
above quoted says that he thinks himself even worse
than he is. That belief may, however, supply the
decision which would otherwise have been wanting.
Even the most dilatory of men make their will when
they think they are dying. NAPOLEON may feel
that the time is come for him to say how he will
bequeath the French Empire.
It is under these circumstances of gloom and per-
plexity that the British Foreign Minister has paid a
visit to the sick sovereign. Lord CLARENDON has
always had something more than an official acquain-
tance with the EMPEROR. The two have been friends
of many years standing, and a no doubt baseless
rumour has even credited them with kinsmanship.
Lord CLARENDON has before now stretched his com-
placency too far, as when he damaged English
prestige by aiding the French Government to
suppress the Belgian revolutionary journals. It is,
therefore, natural enough that NAPOLEON before
making any important move should consult with tne,
if not quite the oldest of active diplomatists in Europe.
Doubtless, Lord CLARENDON has not forgotten the
lesson which was taught him on a former occasion,
and though anxious to tranquilise his invalid friend
as much as possible, he is not likely to have com-
mitted the blunder of promising English intervention
of any kind in the event of the drama that has to be
acted, turning out less satisfactory than the EMPEROR
would wish.