The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-16 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PA.UIS,

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, FRIDAY, Jannary 15.
Save only the Conference, home politics are decidedly
dull, although we may expect an impetus after the.. open-
ing of the Corps Ldgialatif on Monday. The ..official
announcement of the ceremony is published. It will
take place at one o'clock, in the great hall' of the
Louvre Palace. Nobody knows, of course, wilat will be
the result of the speech concoction which has occupied the
Emperor and his ambassadors so long. I should Clink the
speech must have given more trouble than usua 1 this
year. Had it not been for the Conference, the
Emperor might have discoursed very benignantly, -,:or
there is peace and prosperity—the extraordinary number of
bankruptcies being, of course, no business of the Emperor's
—to enlarge upon; and then there is the candid confes-
sion of M. Magne on the Budget report to take credit for,
and many other small things which might be made fairly
large in an Imperial speech. But the Conference
is a very awkward affair. The public is easily

satisfied ; but then it is also easily disgusted,
and this last blow to the prestige of the Empire cannot fail
to cause annoyance. France, which professes to exercise
more influence beyond her boundaries than any other
State, is unsuccessful in every attempt at foreign policy.
Since the war of 1859 the Emperor has had nothing as he
desired it. We shall see how he will e%tricate himself
from the difficulty in which the failure of a Conference
which meets in his capital must involve him.
The two most likely candidates for the seats in the
Academy vacant by the deaths of MM. Berryer and
Viennet are M. d'Haussonville and Count Frantz de
Champagny. It was stated that M. Rouher aspired to
the dignity, and there is no doubt he was asked about the
matter, but he answered that if he succeeded his success
would be deemed only personal, whilst if he failed it would
be interpreted as a check to the Government. Therefore
he declined.

TheCorrectionalTribunal of Marseilles has just condemned
M. Itoyannez to three months' imprisonment and a fine of
£BO for publishing a pamphlet entitled " La France sous
Napoleon III." Of course, the title is a sufficient descrip-
tion of the contents.

The Marquis de Moustier is considerably better, so
much so, indeed, that the doctors have at last been able to
consent to his removal from the Foreign Ministry. He
WAS carried away yesterday in a sedan chair. Prince
Napoleon is quite recovered, and has issued invitations for
a dinner.

Several Englishmen have visited the chitteau of M.
Berryer, with the view of purchasing it. Three have
already bid for it.
An extraordinary tragedy of starvation and cannibalism
has terminated in Algeria. An Arab was found guilty of
murdering and eating six persons in less than a month.
He was sentenced to death as far back as October last,
but was executed by shooting only on the 4th of this
month. Whilst on this cheerful topic, I may mention
that the Vienna tribunals have condemned to six weeks'
imprisonment an individual who carved out for himself the
special career of hunting down and killing dogs, especially
hound. The flesh of these animals formed his regular subsis•
tence. In his dwelling were found the smoked hams of dogs,
cutlets—in short, a complete butcher's shop. In addition,
there was a large collection of sauces for the dressing of the
delectable viands.

A tunnel under the Straits of Dover, as well as a bridge
over them, is under the consideration of the Government.
A mixed commission, comprising naval officers and scien-
tific men of various grades, have reported in favour of this
still more stupendous project. The cost is estimated at
twenty-five millions sterling.

The Avenir National mentions a circumstance which
may give rise to some little trouble between the Dutch
and Prussian Governments. A Dutch merchant ship was
boarded by a Prussian war-ship. This act, the Avenir
National concludes, was intentional, for the Dutch
captain made all the usual signals, and it was open day.
Not content with hauling up the Dutch vessel, the
Prussian captain finished by insulting the crew, exclaiming
that they would speedily suffer the fate of the German
Principalities. The Dutch captain replied that Prussia
might do as she pleased with Germany, but Holland she
would never touch. After a little more silly recrimina-
tion the two vessels sheered off. But when the Dutch
ship entered a Prussian port, it was at once boarded by
the police, who preferred a charge against the captain
of an "outrage to his Prussian Majesty !" The
captain appeared according to summons the next day,
and was invited first of all to deposit a bail of £BOO, being
forbiddenko leave the port until the security was given.

The captain replied somewhat testily that he should go
where he pleased. The authorities, not liking, it is to be
presumed, to apprehend the captain in person, seized a
debt of a few pounds which was owing to him at the port.

This is the story ; it remains to be seen whether the Dutch
Government will tolerate the insult. The arrogance of

Prussian officials is notorious throughout Europe.

THE TrEATII.EI? TABLE.-TIIIS DAY.

METEOROLOGICAL RETORTS.