The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LOADON, MoNDAY

cipal leader of the extreme Republicans no longer
thinks it worth his while to modify his declarations
or to affect anything like equity or justice. The
sudden confiscation of Southern lands without the
excuse of a fresh outbreak would be so outrageous
and unreasanable that even the Radicals, strong as
they are, could hardly hope to carry it through
Congress. The Southern people know now what
they have to hope or expect from Mr. STEVENS and
his associates. Even if they submit to the ob-
noxious Reconstruction Act, they will not be re-
garded as members of the Union, so far as political
rights are concerned. So far from being permitted to
send representatives to thenational assembly, and to
have a voice in their own legislation, they are to be
treated as if they were actually in arms against the ex-
isting Government. THADDEUSSTEVENS, violent and
vindictive as he is towards the South, is by no means
the most extreme Radical in his views, so that we
are left to speculate upon the projects of those who
go beyond him, unless indeed he is trying to outbid
his more unscrupulous fellows. The publication
of such a letter looks almost as if the Radicals wished
to provoke the South into some exhibition of dis-
contefit or disloyalty. They can hardly suppose
that the Southerners will bear patiently w th such a
prospect. The condition of many parts of the
South is still lamentable. In the interior of
Georgia the destitution is described as general,
and thousands of persons are said to be iu danger
of actual starvation. No part of a great nation can
be long in such a condition without the effect being
felt, more or less, throughout the other parts.
America has to thank the Radicals for having pro-
longed the evil influence of the war, by damaging the
produce and checking the enterprise of the South,
and thus affecting directly and indirectly the
trade and commerce of the North. The relations
between black and white are, on the whole,
improving. The Virginian Legislature has made
an appropriation for the educatian of children, irre-
spective of colour. Mr. PEABODY'S noble gift has,
we may hope, set an example which may stimulate
the whites of the South to liberal efforts in the
cause of education, and may remove the reproach
which has so long attached to them for their neglect
of the best interests of the negro.

The new military Governments of the South
have already got into some difficulties, and,
judging from their recent actions, they are
inclined to introduce sJin.e new features
into American politics. A Richmond paper
has received a " a first notice" from General
SCEIOFIELD, with an intimation that upon a repeti-
tion of the offence it would be suppressed. Cer-
tainly the article which called forth the General's
ire was very intemperate, but it is something very
new for any one to find, fault with the intempe-
rance of American journalism. So much for the
freedom of the Press under the Reconstruction Act.
Another difficulty has arisen with the firemen of
Charleston. The American firemen, as is well known,
belong to regular organisations and mix a good
deal in politics. The Charleston firemen, it seems,
have been in the habit of marching in procession
through the city with flags, among which the illus-
trious " stars and stripes" were omitted. General
SICKLES, who commands the district, thought this
omission of sufficient importance to stop the parade
on one of these occasions, and to issue commands
that the Union flag should be carried in front of
the column with a guard of honour. The men
agreed and the parade was resumed, but the
guard could not have been very attentive,
since a man was subsequently arrested and sent to
gaol for mutilating the flag! But the stars and
stripes which have hitherto been pretty well able to
take care of themselves are thought by General
SICKLES to i:eed further care and protection. He
has, accordingly, issued orders to the effect that
every person in the column shall salute the colours
by lifting his hat three times before be reaches the
colours, and carrying his cap uplifted as he marches
past to an equal distance on the other side. A Demo-
cratic journal is very indignant at this, and talks about
GESSLER. Another dispute under the Reconstruc-
tion Act has occarred in Georgia, but the subject
was also trifling. Still these trifles are significant
alike of the difficulties which attend such a form of
government and of the dangers which threaten in-
dividual liberty of speech and action under it.

The approach of the Presidential contest is begin-
ning to excite all parties, and the names and merits
of possible candidates are eagerly compared and can-
vassed. General GRANT is still highly popular with
the people, but the Radical party, who once looked to
him as a powerful, ally are now apprehensive that
he will lose them their victory. He is by no means
committed to the extreme views advocated by
STEVENS and ASHLEY. What if he should prove to
be another JOHNSON, and when once he gets the
reins of power in his hands remembers that he is
PRESIDENT, and forgets that he was a Radical.
The Radicals are not likely to get much sympathy
from this side of the Atlantic, but the result of the
election will be watched with deep anxiety.

CORRESPONDENCE FROYI PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Sunday Evening.
There was a Cabinet Council yesterday at the
Tuileries, under the presidency of the Emperor.
The Empress was present at the Council.
Prince Napoleon Jerome and the Princess Maria
Clothilde received yesterday at their palace, Palais
Royal, his Highness Prince Toukoungava Minbor
Tago, the brother of the Tycoon of Japan. They
also gave an audience to take leave to Baron Penedo,
appointed Minister of Brazil in England.
The Moniteur has the following news :

"The transport Aube for Mexico has arrived at
Brest. This vessel lirings back to France a de-
tachment of the 12th Regiment of Chasseurs, which
forms the last portion of the troops belonging to
the expeditionary army sent there some years ago.
All the troops have been landed in perfect health.

" The Loudon Conference assembled yesterday
(Sattp.day) at five in the afternoon. The telegrams
from that city anticipate that the treaty for the re-
gulation of the question of the Grand Duchy of
Luxemburg would be signed during the sitting.
" The House of Lords of Prussia has received a
Ministerial letter, declaring that the Constitution of
the North could not be presented to it until after
the second reading by the Chamber of Deputies,
which was appointed for May 31. M. de Bismarck
expressed a hope that the Upper Chamber would
approve of the motives by which the Government
had been actuated, so that no person could hereafter
contend that the Constitution had not been adopted
by legal means." .

It is stated from Berlin that some communica-
tions have been exchanged between the Prussian
and French Governments, which commenced on the
part of the Cabinet of Berlin, who complained that
armaments had been continued in France after the
publication of an article in the 111(miteur stating that
they had been discontinued. The explanation made
upon the subject by the Marquis de Moustier is said
to have been quite satisfactory to the Prussian Go-
vernment.

It is believed in well-informed quarters that the
Prussian troops will evacuate the garrison of Lux-
emburg within a month, although it is said that
Prussia at first asked for a delay of two months.
As the plan for the reorganisation of the army is
about to undergo discussion, some particulars of its
present constitution, translated from the Annuaire
Militaire for 1867, will be useful. The present
Minister of War is Marshal Adolphe Niel, who was
born at Muret in 1802. Some of the most eminent

EVENIP

Ministers of War iu France commenced their career
as simple soldiers. The military household of the
Emperor includes one Marshal of France, Grand
Marshal of the Palace, eleven generals of division,
six generals of brigade, three chiefs of battalion or
squadron, ten captains, exclusive of naval officers.

The number of marshals of France is six in time of
peace, and twelve in time of war. The present
marshals are—Marshal Valliant, Marshal Baraguay
d'Hilliers, Count Randon, Marshal Canrobert,
Marshal Regnard de Saint Jean d'Angely, the Duke
de Magenta, Marshal Niel, General Furey, and
General Bazaine, who has just returned to France
from Mexico, where he commanchd the expedi-
tionary corps sent to that country. The French
army includes 92 generals of division iu activity or
at disposal, and 67 in the reserve. The number of
generals of brigade of the active army is 164, and
173 for the army of reserve,
The Staff is composed of 35 colonels, 35 lieuten-
ant-colonels, 110 chiefs of squadron, 300 captains,
and 400 lieutenants.

The corps of the Cent Gardes of the Emperor has
10 officers. It is a gleudid corps, and the uniform
is tasteful and magnificent.

The Imperial Guard is composed of a battalion of
foot chasseurs, four regiments of voltigeurs, three
regiments of grenadiers, a regiment of Zouaves, a
regiment of horse gendarmerie, a regiment for each
arm of chasseurs, guides, dragoons, lancers, cara-
bineers, and cuirassiers, a, regiment of mounted
artillery, a squadron of artillery train, and a squa.
dron of equipage train.
The gendarmerie is composed, independently of a
squadron of picked gendarmes and a regiment of
gendarmerie forming part of the Imperial Guard, of
26 legions for the service of the departments, a
legion for Algeria, four companies of colonial gen-
darmerie, and five detachments stationed in New
Caledonia, Hayti, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Senegal,
and Lower Cochin China, the guard of Paris, and
a company of veteran-gendarmes.

The infantry of the Line is composed, indepen-
dently of the Imperial Guard of 100 regiments of the
Line, 20 battalions Foot Chasseurs, three regiments
of Zonaves, one regiment of Sapeurs Pompiers (fire-
men) of Paris, three battalions of light infantry of
Africa, five companies of fusileers of discipline, two
companies of pioneers of discipline, one foreign re-
giment, three regiments of Algeriue Tirailleurs, one
company of veteran sub-officers, one company of
veteran fusileers.

The cavalry is composed, independently of the
regiments forming part of the Imperial Guard, of
10 regiments of reserve cavalry (Cuirassiers), 20
regiments of cavalry of the Line (12 of Dragoons
and eight of Lancers), 23 regiments of light cavalry,
and three regiments of Spahis.
The artillery, independently of that of the Im-
perial Guard, includes 20 regiments, 10 companies
of working artillerymen, five companies of working
cannoners, one company of armuriers, five squa-
drons of train artillery.
The Genie Corps includes 29 colonels, 29 lieut.-
colonels, 108 chiefs of battalion, 148 captains of the
first class, 148 captains of the second class and
lieutenants, 100 principal guards, 300 guards of the
first class, 170 guards of the second class, three re-
giments, and one company of working men. The
oldest colonel of Genie is M. Charpauhet, director
of the fortifications of Lyons.
Among the many interesting processes connected
with industrial arts at the Exhibition is the manu-
facture of felt hats. The machines for this purpose
are to be seen in the machine classes 57 and 95.
Among them is an exact model of a steam machine
used for their manufacture by M. Haas, of Aix, in
the South of France. Strange as it may appear,
by means of this machine a rabbit skin may be con-
verted into a hat in 50 minutes ! During the pro-
cess the hat undergoes six operations. They are
lined and trimmed by a sewing machine. An imi-
tation of the whole process can be witnessed. By
theba
t systembodiesat
in dao pdaeyd,
stwo t workmenthat a ttb e
ev canil o m
f a,
,a make l,s
be
k 2ionog
bad hat" may be remedied in a very brief space of
time. At the hat manufactory they will take your
measure, and if you choose to wait 50 minutes it

will be ready for you.
The Emperor continues to raanift.st great interest
iu the Exhibition. His Majesty spent some time
there yesterday afternoon. During these visits his
Majesty usually selects for purchase some ob-
ject of prominent beauty or interest. I remark
that the magnificent ewer with dragon and serpent
handle, manufactured by the eminent firm of E. F.
Hancock, Son, and Co., is marked " sold •to the
Emperor." I have already given a description of
this triumph of art and manufacturing skill. It is
of massive silver, and is as beautiful as it is costly.

Ile Emperor will probably allow it to remain at

the Exhibition for some time, as fit attracts such
general admiration, but it may be well for visitors
to inspect it without delay, lest it might be removed.
Hundreds go to look at it daily, for the Parisians
have such confidence in the Emperor's taste as to
know that when he selects an article it must be
something peculiarly remarkable. I believe the
Emperor has not yet purchased anything else
p
This morning about three o'clock there was a
etcpetro ther objects I have already described.
violent storm of thunder and lightning, with heavy
rain. The day has been sultry, with a lowering
aspect and occasional rain. Another storm seems
inpending. The wind was very violent.
Some interesting particulars are given by M.
Richard Cortamberg respecting sub-marine tele-
graphs. The writer, after describing the submarine
telegraphs of England, who, he admits, was the
first to make use of this great invention, says that
the Danish. Islands, Iceland and Fionie, are joined
by them to the Continent. Sweden is united to
nlieraurs stin Pomerania. a by a line from Trelleborg, which reaches
con-
nected with Sweden, which governs it, by the tele-
graph from Vesby to Vaterwick. The submarine
teiegraphs of the Atlantic are joined to the Anglo-
Norman islands of Guernsey, Alderney, and Aurigny,
which thus place Jersey in connection with one of
tt
ah
ne sub-prefecturesnen.
In
the
Mediterranean
the extension of such of La Manche, Con-
tances.
communications is marvellous. France can have
immediate news from Algeria by the following
route : Spezzia, near Genoa, Bastia and Bonifacio
(Corsica), Cagliari (Sardinia), Marsala (Sicily),
Bherte (Africa), and to the coasts of Alge-
ria. Another line by Spain will also shortly
place France in connection with Africa. An-
other important line is from Sicily to Malta,
Tripoli, senghary to Egypt
Here is the chain of communication
fromf(rio
(Alexandria).
x Wrestn theredria
to
to
East.ner
There are other marine cables
in the Mediterranean, from Sicily to Calabria and
Messina, and one from Stranto and Corfu to, and
a third line between, Stranto and Ilevat (Turkey).
Asia is connected to Europe by two of the points
nearest to it—the channel of Constantinople and
the Straits of the Dardanelles. Another sub-
marine cable has been finished between Bletelin and
Chios, and from Chios to Syria. In another year
an immense line will go round the world by the
North, and at the same rate of progress in five years
another line will reach to all the countries of the
equinox.

Eloi Pivost, of whose trial and condemnation
for the murder of his father I gave an account at
the time, has been executed at Vers.tilles. His
wife was charged as an accomplice in the crime, but
as the jury contrived to find extenuating circum-
stances in her favour, her sentence was hard labour
for life. The convict was very penitent. As usual
in cases of parricide, the culprit was almost en-
tirely enveloped in a black veil,
bare-footed to the scaffold. and he walked

The Plenipotentiaries accredited by the European
Powers to the London Conference on the Luxemburg
question met on Saturday for the fourth time at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in
Downing-street.

TIE NEW FRENCH GUN, which shoots people
without powder or smoke.—The weapon is really a
sling improved up to the nineteenth-century standard.
Bullets are placed in a, circular groove on a disc of steel,
which, driven by a wheel of much greater diameter, re-
volves at a prodigious pace, and hurls out the bullets at
the rate of about 390 per minute. They strike as hard as
rifle balls. We do not vouch for the account, but it is
trusted by a correspondent of the Times, and is not mecha-
nically impossible, as anybody may test with a tin spin-
!tin top and a pea.