The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-28 00:00:00

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS IN FRANCE.

The reports by various journals of new ministerial
combinations at Paris, and their denial from official
quarters, have been such an invariable ingredient in
each day's foreign telegrams as to forfeit all claim to
attention. But it seems certain that a-new Ministry
is actually in existence. It is a Right Centre com-
bination, and includes MM. Emile 011ivier, Louvet,
and, perhaps, Segris, of the Moderate Liberals,
whilst MM. Magne, Onasseloup-Laubat, and one
or two more of the present Ministry, will
be retained. Thus AI. Emile 011ivier reaps
what the Times' Parisian correspondent calls
the reward of his cleverness, but which is really the
reward of his great ingenuity in adapting himself and
his principles to any circumstances. The leaders of
the Left Centre, who uphold a more advanced
Liberal programme,
have. all been left out. M.
011ivier tried to get them in, but in vain ; and the
coming plan had no hesitation in finally leaving his
old companions,and drawing still nearer to Imperialism.

11-11ERICAN AFFAIRS.

(From the Angles American Times.)

NEW YORK, Dec. 11.

The late A. D. Richardson continues the topic of
the day, but people are beginning to tire,knowing that
the affair will be served up again on M'Farland's
trial. For the lime it has created a furious excite-
ment, as it combined elements to suit the tastes of
all; ascaudal, atragedy, ceremonies of a doubtful mo-
rality, and religious observances calculated to cause
fierce discussions, the more so as names such as that
of H. Ward Beecher were involved. That reverend
gentleman, however, " sold" his congregation last
Sunday, and others besides. It is said of him, when
a stranger asked the way to Plymouth Church, he
replied, " Cross to Brooklyn and follow the crowd ;"
and on no other occasion could he have given a
better direction, for the stream flowed to that build-
ing. Certainly Mr. Beecher preached, and, his text
was suggestive of the subject occupying the thoughts
of all, " 0, wretched man that I am ; who shall de-
liver me from the body of this death ?" but not a
word did he say on the subject, indeed he had done
it in the funeral address iu the Astor House when
the body was removed to the boat for Boston. On
that occasion he not only defended the deceased,
the widow, and his own course, but denounced in
scathing language the public animadversions ;
" beetles and carrion birds assailing the wounded
victim, who, when down, swarmed by flies; a shame,
bitter and disgraceful, that such should be the case."
Mr. Beecher was, however, compelled to come out
with a card, when he stated that he knew but little
of Mr. Richardson or the circumstances, that lit-
tle he had gathered from friends who might be
misinformed, but the truth would come out on the
trial, and he would bow to it, and if the opinions
he still held proved erroneous, he would make such
reparation as he could to Mr. M'Farlaud. The
Rev. Henry M. Field also published an explanation
of his part in the affair, which was merely that of
a spectator by the accident of being in Mr. Beecher's
centrally when sent for to the death-bed. Dr.
Field takes the boll ground that the marriage was
right from every point of view, whether the two
were innocent or had sinned, that it was a repara-
tion on the part of the man, and tended to benefit
innocent children ; that the woman was between
two husbands, occupying a very painful position,
and one under any circumstances fraught with a
sadness she must carry to her grave. Charity alone
too was sufficient to dictate the course, and ought to
silence the libellers. The Rev. 0. B. Frothingham,
however, acted up to the desires of his congrega-
tion, and made an example of all who took the
other ?side. Although he maintained that he had
nothing to say to the world or to the papers which