The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-18 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PAkWB•

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, SUNDAY, January 17.
The news from the island of R4union is very grave —se
much so, in fact, that nothing else is talked of, even the
Conference being almost forgotten. From the Journal de
Commerce, of St. Denis, I extract the following leading
facts. On the night of the first of December, a large
crowd of some 2,000 persons had collected in one of the
streets of St. Denis, near the cathedral. Here resides the
editor-In-chief of a certain clerical journal, against whom
this mob had got up a manifestation. From eight o'clock
in the evening the most tremendous uproar, the most
obscene cries, and strange accusations resounded
under the window of the unfortunate editor. But
it does not appear that he 1V11,4 at home ; at least
nothing was to be heard or seen of him. 'The police
did all in its power to calm the excited multitude, and the
gendarmes tried to disperse the people. It was labour in
vain. Soon a squad of infantry arrived, and, to frighten
the mob, fixed bayonets. Nobody stirred. About half-
past eight the assembly grew tired, as mobs are wont to
do, and at length the cry arose to go to the residence
of the Governor, who is a popular man, always
ready to redress grievances. But the may, r inter-
posed, and succeeded in turning the mob from this,
direction, but only to take another, and finally to
return to the residence of the unfortunate editor where
the row began. Other disturbances took place, and
finally the whole town was in uproar. But no
violence ensued, and the riot was quieted about

half-past ten. The next day, however, the
disturbances recommenced, and the governor as-
sembled the militia. But the report then spread that
the militia had been got together only to be disarmed, and
this caused fresh uproar. Finally, the disastrous conflict
already announced took place between the troops and the
people. Six persons were killed and twenty-two wounded.

The causes of this outbreak are attributed to the

violent dispute which had been going on for some
time between a Liberal and a clerical paper. 'But the
Temps believes that the real origin is the bad government
to which the colonists are subjected. At present more
information is required.
The Constitutionnel publishes a couleur de rose budget
touching the colony of Algeria. The weather has been
fine, the rains at the end of the autumn and the eom-

mencement of winter having been so abundant that an
excellent harvest may be looked for. If, says the official
journal, no disease of any kind make its appearance
in the colony, the native population will be
relieved from much of the misery which they have
hitherto been doomed to suffer. Other accounts are by
no means in harmony with this tale, nor does the execu-
tion of a man for eating six persons look at all promising.
But it is to be hoped that the Constitutionnel is right this
time. Is there, after all, to be a change in the system of
colonial government? Modifications of the military regime
have been announced and contradicted, but my last informa-
tion leads to the conclusion that the Emperor has at length
changed in part his opinion of the infallibility of Mar-
shal MacMahon's system of government. lam told that
the following changes will soon be made in the form of
government under which Algeria now suffers :—A
Council-General will be elected, the magistrates will not be
removable, the civil code will be applied-to the property of
Arabs, and several changes will be made in the constitu-
tion of the Superior Council. This is decidedly good news
for Algeria. The colony wants many things, but good
government most of all.

M. de Monstier is rather better, and M. de Lavaiette
has gone back to the Foreign Ministry.

I am told that Senor Olozaga has obtained permission
from the Emperor to advertise the bonds of the Madrid
Loan in Paris. Until a few days ago the loan had been
dealt in as freely as any other investment, when, from
some inexplicable motive, it was ordered that all announce•
ments respecting it be removed from public places. It is
this procedure which Senor Olozaga has managed to
counteract.

Your readers will remember the duel between M.
decker, the banker, who figured so prominently, but so
ingloriously, in the Mexican affair, and M. Odysse•Barot,
one of the writers of the Liberte. An article which
appeared in the columns of that journal, signed by M.
Odysse-Barot, led to the duel, in which the banker came off
triumphant, slightly wounding his adversary. For the first
time "an affair of honour "of this kind has been made the
subject of criminal prosecution. Belgium has frequently
been selected es the theatre of these combats, just as it

has been made the battle-ground of nations, but hitherto
the parties have never been molested. This time, however,
both have been prosecuted, and sentenced by the Correo-
tional Tribunal of Brussels to a month's imprisonment,
besides a fine of £8 each.

THE TVEA TIIER TABLE.-THIS _DAY.

THIRD EDITION,

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CmcK.

OPENING OF THE FRENCI

C lIAMBE RS.

THE EMPEROR'S SPEECH.

PARIS, Jan. 18.
The following is the text of the Speech from the
throne, delivered to-day by the EtnperJr Napoleon
at the opening of the French Chambers
_MESSIEURS LES SENATEURS---
MESSIEURS LES DEPUTIES
The Speech which I address to you every year
at the opting f the session is the sincere expres-
,ion of the thoughts which guide my conduct. To
explain frankly to the nation before the great bodies
of the State: tlle r.,gr,ss of the Government is
the duty cf the responsible chief of a free coun-
try. The task which we have undertaken
together is arduous ; it is uot, el,
without difficulty, that on a soil shaken by so many
revolutions a Government is founded sufficiently
iinpres,:ed with the wants of the age to adopt all
the benefits of Liberty, and sufficiently strong to bear
even its excesses. The two laws which you passed dur-
ing the last session, the object of which was the deve-
lopment of the principle of free discussion, have
produced two opposite effects which it may be use-
ful to point out. On the one hand, the press and
public meetings have created in a certain quarter
a factious agitation, and have caused the re-
appearance of ideas and passions which
were believed to be extinguished ; but, on
the other hand, the nation:remaining insensible to
the most violent incitement, and relying upon my
firmness for the maintenance of order, has not felt
its faith in the future shaken.
Remarkable coincidence ! the more adventurous
and subversive minds sought to disturb publicjtran-
quillity, so much the more profound became the
peace of the country. Commercial transac-
tions reassumed a fruitful activity. The
public revenues increased considerably, the public
interest reassured, and the greater part of the re-
cent elections gave a new support to my Govern-
ment. The Army Bill and the Subsidies Bill,
granted by your patriotism, have contributed to
strengthen the confidence of the country,
and, in the just consciousness of its
pride, it experienced a real satisfaction
the moment it learnt that it was in a position to
confront every eventuality. The laud and sea
forces, strongly constituted, aro upon a peace
footing. The effective strength maintained
does not exceed that which existed under
former systems, but our armament ren-
dered perfect are arsenals, and our magazines
filled, our reserves exercised, the National Garde
Mobile in course of organization, our fleet trans-
formed, and our strongholds in good condition,
give to our Power a development which was indis-
pensable. The constant object of my efforts is
attained, and the military resources of France
are henceforward ou a level with its destiny in
the world. In this position we can loudly
proclaim our desire to maintain peace. There
is no weakness in our saying so when we
are ready to defend the honour and the indepen-
dence of our country.
Our relations with Foreign Powers are most
friendly. The revolution which has broken out be-
yond the Pyrenees has not altered out good rela-
tions with Spain ; and the Conference which has
just taken place to stifle a threatening conflict in the
East is a great act, of which we should appreciate
the importance. This Conference approaches its
termination, and all the Plenipotentiaries have
agreed upon the principles calculated to bring
about a reconciliation between Greece and Turkey.
If therefore, as I firmly hope, nothing shall arise to
disturb general harmony, it will be our fortune to
realise many projected improvements, and we shall
endeavour to solve all the practical questions raised
by the agricultural investigations.
Public works have been sufficiently endowed ;
parochial roads are being constructed ; education
of all classes continues successfully to be developed ;
and, thanks to the periodical increase of the revenue,
we shall soon be able to devote al our solicitude
to the diminution of public burthens. The moment
is drawing nigh when for the third tima since the
establishment of the Empire the Legislative Body
wili he constituted afresh by a general election,
and eich time it will have attained the limit of
its legal duration, a thing unknown hitherto. This
regularity is due to the harmony which has always
existed between us, and to the confidence which I
felt in the sincere exercise of universal suffrage.
The popular masses are staunch in their
faith as in their affection, and if noble
passions are able to rouse them, sophism
and calumny scarcely ruffle the surface. Sustained
by your approbation and your concurrence, I am
thoroughly resolved to persevere in the faith
which I have laid down ; that is to say,
to adopt all real progress, but also to
maintain, without discussion, the fundamental
bases of the Constitution which the national vote
has placed under shelter from all attacks. A good
tree is known by the fruit it bears, says the Gospel.
Well, if we cast a glance at the past, which is the
Government that has given to France seventeen
years of ever-increasing quiet and prosperity ?
Certainly every Government is liable to error, and
fortune does not smile upon all enterprises ; but
that which constitutes my strength is the fact that
the nation does not ignore that for twenty years
I have not had a single thought. I have not
done a single deed of which the motive was
other than the interest and greatness of France.
Nor is it ignorant of the circumstance that I
was the first to desire a rigorous control over
the conduct of affairs ; that I, with this object, in-
creased the powers of the deliberative assemblies,
persuaded that the real support of a Government
is to be found in the independence and patriotism
of the great bodies of the State. This session will
add fresh services to those which you have already
rendered to the country. Soon the nation called
together in its coruitia will sanction the policy
which we have pursued. It will once more pro-
claim by its votes that it does not desire revolu-
tion, but wishes to rest the destinies of France
upon the intimate alliance of power with liberty.