The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-26 00:00:00

Miscellaneous French News.

(From Correspondents rje the Anglo-A mcwirqn Times)
PARIS, March 20.

• Monsieur Tillers' great speech in support of his
interpellation on foreign affairs was delivered last
Thursday. As early as six o'clock in the morning
the neighbourhood of the Corps Legislatif was in-
vaded by an eager crowd desirous of listening to
one of the most eloquent orators of the age. More
than 10,000 applications for admission had been
addressed to the Deputies by their' friends, but as
the galleries could only accommodate a few, the
greater portion had to leave disappointed in their
expectations. Those who remained were, in due
time installed in the balconies. Among them were
remarked the Prince Napoleon, Mustapha Pacha, a
large number -of Senators, and various literary and
diplomatic celebrities. The orator commenced
speaking at about two o'clock, and continued for
nearly four hours, resting only ten minutes from
beginning to end. At the close of the speech his
voice and delivery showed some fatigue, but all was
eloquently and impressively pronounced. Monsieur
Thiers is seventy-five years of age, in the full en-
joyment of his intellectual faculties, which are of
such vigour and fecundity that they impressed all
who heard him on this great occasion with the
power and authority of the gift of speech.
A society of learned men is now assembled at
Geneva for the purpose of issuing a new translation
of the Bible: A facetious French writer remarks
on this subject that "the Bible is one of those
books which the savants translate every two or
three years, without being satisfied with their .
labours. They are less occupied in discovering the
true sense of a text than in finding fault with their
predecessors." For our part we are pleased to
know that the good Book is to be again translated.
Perhaps things will be brought to light which we
did not dream of before. We believe firmly all that '
this Book tells us ; but, at the same time, would not
be sorry to know if it really tells us what we be-
lieVe.

An interesting and touching ceremony took place
ast Friday in a church in this city. The Society
of Foreign Missions was assembled to witness the
departure for distant countries of some thirty or
forty pioneers of the Catholic faith. It is a remark-
able fact that, of this number, who are sent out
every year, but few, if any, ever return. They
either suffer martyrdom from the hands of the
savages they are sent to Christianise, or fall victims
to disease. _ _ _

This well-known fact gave a melancholy interest
to the spectacle, as the missionaries were receiving
the parting blessings and embracing of their Chris-
tian brethren and relatives. _ _

The twelfth birthday of the Prince Imperial was
celebrated here on the 16th March. The theatres
and public buildings were decorated with flags in
the day, and illuminated at night in honour of the
event.

The cession of the statues of the Plantagenets to
England has caused so much dissatisfaction in France
that it is hoped the former Government will decline
to accept the generous offer of the Emperor. In
compliance with the will of Henry 11. (Plantagenet)
and Richard Cur de Lion, their bodies were
brougllt back to Anjou, their tombs to be erected
in the Abbey of Fontevrault, and their statues
executed by French artists.
Advertising "theatre curtains" have been introduced
into the Paris theatres. This experiment was at-
tempted several years ago, but had so much Ameri-
can progressiveness in it, that it did not please the
delicate sensibilities of refined Parisians. Now it has
been resumed, and several days ago in the centre of
a curtain, written in glaring capitals, the following
advertisement appeared, as a bait to credulous visi-
tors to the Exposition
General Agency of International Marriages.—
Happiness Guaranteed for One Year." This was a
little trop fort, and after some difficulty the enter-
prising undertaker of " happiness guaranteed" was
prevailed upon to efface it.
• Captain Hudson, of New York, and the owner
and commander of the celebrated little ship, Red,
White, and Blue, has arrived in Paris. He crossed
the Channel in his ship, leaving Dever in a severe
gale of wind, and arrived safe and well in the quiet
waters of the Seine. The little ship is now lying
some distance below Paris, where she will remain
until brought to the Pompeian Palace, where it will
be on exhibition during the Eiposition. This is
the first American craft that ever registered as
arriving in Paris.
I learn that the Rev. J. S. C. Abbott, the his-
torian, has received an autograph letter from the
Emperor, giving him permission to present to the
Prince Imperial a magnificent work, in three vo-
lumes, on the American Indians.
The agent for American artists at the Exposition
Mr. Avery, has arrived in Paris with a fine
collection of paintings, bronzes, and statuary.
There are many magnificent specimens of art
among them, and the most celebrated were
executed by Bierstadt, Colmore, Huntington,
Hart-Leutze, Weir, and Dix, artists well
known to the American public. Among the
recent arrivals in the Exposition is the celebrated
"Ferris Gun" from the United States. It has
already been placed in the American Department.
This is considered the most wonderful invention of
the day in the way of light artillery, and is capable,
it is said, of throwing a 121 b. ball the distance of
nine miles. The restaurant in the American de-
partment of the Exposition building is being rapidly
finished. A ladies' parlour has been added, beau-
tifully furnished, and supplied with one of Clicker-
ing's best pianos. The proprietors have engaged
the services of fifteen coloured men, so that it will
be carried on a la mode Americaine.

It was my intention to give in this letter a slight
description of the interior of the Exhibition build-
ing, and of some of the contents which have already.
arrived. However, as the interior is still in dis-
order, and the exhibitors have not arranged all of
their goods yet, I will defer a description of it to a
future letter. Mention may be made of a new in-
vention, which will no doubt prove very beneficial
to the public not only of America but throughout
Europe. It consists of a new style of railway car-
riage, particularly adapted to the stteets of cities,
but which can be also used with steam. The inven-
tor has also contrived a railway different from any-
thing yet used, and so arranged as to suit all kinds
of carriages or vehicles. The rails are of a con-
clave form, and carriages can pass in the grooves,
in or out, and across them without obstruction.
The weight and cost of these rails will be less than
those of ordinary railways. The cone-pointed rim
of the wheels of the carriages, of smaller circle than
the concave of the rails, makes a small bearing-point
of the metal to sustain the entire weight, thereby
causing little friction while running. The wheels
are so formed as to assist in keeping the track, and
also to get out of the grooves when necessary to come
out, by acting as a wedge upon an inclined plane,
and they will run on other parts of the road or pav-
ing as well as wheels of carriages of ordinary con-
struction. The inventor of the above described car-
riage and railway is Mr. Z. Eastman, an American,
from the State of New York, and at present the
United States' Consul at Bristol, England.

PARrs, March 19.

Concerts and official evening receptions are the
order of the night, while make-believe Lenten
penance is the disorder of the day.
At all the well-attended sermons, we have " robes
penitence," all grey and shimmer, and the only pecu-
liarity kcal]. discover Li the cut of these is that they