The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-17 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, August 16.
Her Majesty, accompanied. by Princess Louise
walked in the grounds this morning.
The other members of the Royal Family also
went out.

ALARMING ACCIDENT A 7 THE GREAT
.NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Rumours to-day were in circulation of an acci-
dent having occurred on the Great Northern Rail-
way of a very alarming nature, but happily the
calamity was not so dreadful as was re-
ported. Although one life, at least, has
been lost. The 11 o'clock train for Barnet, as
was last night shunted after the passengers
had left near the 'Whetstone station, ready for at-
tachment to the first up train this morning, but be-
fore the train was removed it was run into by a goods
train, and the gas holder in the train having been
broken, tire seized the debris of the carriages, of
which several were destroyed. The guard of the
train coming into collision and the stoker were very
seriously injured, but the other guard who was in
the van was unfortunately burnt to death. The
injured men are now in the Royal Free Hospital

PARIS CORRESPONDENCE.
Mormar:

The long-talked-of amnesty has been received evei-y-
-where with the liveliest satisfaction, and has pi.oduc. sI the
most favourable impression. The liberality of its pro-
visions has exceeded the hopes and expectations of the
most sanguine, while those who doubted whether there
would be any amnesty at all are completely taken by
surprise. A full and complete amnesty is accorded totall
persons condemned for political and press offences, for
offences connected with the printing laws, with public
meetings, with the Customs' laws, and for all minor
offences of forest and fishery, and similar sins, as well as
those guilty of infractions of the regulations of the
National Guard. From all the departments I hear the
same accounts of the good effect produced by the publica-
tion of the decree. That it is something more than an
empty letter is shewn by the fact that in Paris alone the
political and press offenders numbered 253. They were
all set at liberty yesterday morning, and many of them
loudly expressed their gratitude. At St. ;Etienne the
scene was very animated. The fifty-six miners who
had been recently imprisoned for participating
in the riots resulting from the strike, and
who, as I mentioned the other day, bad peti-
tioned the Emperor, received the news of the Impe-
rial clemency with shouts of " Vive l'Empereur !" and
lively manifestations of joy. At Strasbourg the political
offenders were released at mid-day. At iteuen large
numbers of persons were present at the cathe-
dral. The cantata, sang in honour of the Empe-
ror, at the gratuitous representation, was loudly
applauded. The Press is almost unanimous in its ap-
proval. The Patric awards the full credit of the act to the
Emperor himself, who has shewn in this, as in all the
other memorable events of his career, the power of
foreseeing and anticipating public opinion. The Ministry
will have the honour of being associated with the work ;
but the amnesty is due to the superb confidence of Napo-
leon 111. in the energy of his dynasty, and in the national
greatness of his mission. Lc Temps is a little more
guarded in its eulogy, and remarks that the Emperor has
obeyed a sentiment which does him honour, but that he
has, at the same time, known how to appreciate the
necessities of the situation. Moreover, the Temps holds
that the publication of the amnesty does not by
any means avert the necessity of fully investigating
the history of the June disturbances. Everyone is
interested in ascertaining the truth—the public, who wish
to know what dangers really threatened them ; and the
magistrates and police, whose credit is affected by the
repressive measures, whose need is not clearly proved.
M. de Girardin, in the columns of the Liberte, gives
hearty and unconditional praise to the " great act" which
elevates the elected of Dec. 1848, the amnestied of bee.
1851, the crowned of Nov. 1852, above the clamour
of partisans who are neither to be conquered by force nor
by clemency. Another writer in the Liberte expresses a
hope that a new era will date from this amnesty, an era
in which the journals will be more moderate and the
Government less rigorous in the interpretation of the press
laws. _ . _

The Constitutionnel, which reprints with evident satis-
faction the Times leader on the Napoleonic cen-
tenary, rejoices over the amnesty, and foretells most bene-
ficial results. Press prosecutions are always, it maintains,
useless, and the vigilance of M. Baroche has only
served to increase their number of late years. Hencefor-
ward the Opposition journals will no longer be martyrs,
and will therefore lose their strongest claim to popularity.
The independent papers will feel themselves more free to
combat the injustice and extravagance of the Opposition,
which hitherto they hesitated to attack. In a country
like France the most liberal policy is also the most
prudent.
To-day the Ministers are to be heard before the Com-
mission on the amendments to the Senatus-Consultum.
The amendment of M. Chevalier, proposing to render the
sittings public immediately, has been rejected by the
committee.

The National Fête of the 15th of August,which has been
celebrated by Napoleon 111. ever since 1852, has always
attracted a number of strangers to Paris. The first cele-
bration of this affair took place in 1802, when the First
Napoleon decided that the 15th of August should
henceforth be his fete-day. The most remarkable of
these national solemnities during the First Empire was in
1809, which was attended with great eclat, in conse-
quence of the glorious treaty of Tilsitt. After his
elevation to the throne the present Emperor
restored the old custom of honouring this anniversary.
Immense crowds-came to Paris on the eve of the Rite, and
the greatest satisfaction was expressed at the arrange-
ments that were made. The programme of the Fete
differed little from that of former years. Flags of all
nations waved from the houses, and the profusion of
colours in the Boulevards and the Rues de la Paix and
Eivoli was particularly striking. The decorations of the
Hotel de Ville were especially brilliant, and the illumina-
tions that took place at theTuiler'eg, the Champs Elysles,
end the Place de la Concorde, afforled great delight to the
crowd. Charitable works were not forgotten on this occa-
I m, and crowds of p)or persona presented themselves at
the mayoralty-house and other places, where liberal
succour was bestowed. Most fortunately the weather was
splendid, an 1 the enjoyment of the visitors was thus
greatly enhanced. The ceremony of the performance of
the " To Dunn " was most imp,sing. The free representa-
tions at the theatres gave great delight, and from an early
hour crowds waited round them to attain an early
The greatest order was maintained every-

entrance.

where, and no attempt was made to disturb the
general harmony that prevailed. One of the most elegant
decorations of this Fête was that displayed at the fountain
of the Chateau d'Eau. The basin was converted into a
garden, and all kinds of flowers and shrubs appeared in
the most bcantiful variety. The whole was surmounted
by a magnificent fan-palm tree. The fireworks in the
evening were very brilliant, and after the display at the
Champs Elysks, one would wander off to the Rue de
Rivoli, where the effect produced was vary striking.
The painted paper lamps imparted a Chinese aspect to the
place, and some attach Es of the Chinese Legation, who
were in the crowd, declared that they were reminded of
Pekin. The splendours of this Fête will long live in the
memory of those who witnessed it, and the attendance,
both of French and foreigners, was very great. All the
public places were so crowded that each might have passed
for the only point of attraction. One of the most inter-
esting sights was the appearance of the old soldiers of the
First Empire, who collected on the Place VendOme, and
proceeded to the special service at the chapel of the In-
valides. The wreaths of inzmortelles were renewed on the
iron railing of the Place Vendome.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Mis Day.