The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-25 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY. —Morning, 6h. 2m.—Afternoon, 6h. 24m.
I'o-moßaow.-Morning, 6h. 44m.—Afternoon, 7h. 6m.

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THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25, 1867.

South, but at least the abandonment of this absurd
and dangerous scheme for the impeachment of the
PRESIDENT gives hope for a more conciliatory
future. What with the growing conviction of
their unpopularity and the dissensions between the
two branches of Congress the power of the Radi-
cals is evidently on the wane. The last report is
that the Senate will reject the bill passed the other
day by the Lower House for the issue of one
hundred million dollars worth of greenbacks for
the redemption of the compound interest notes. If
so, this will be the third or fourth measure on
which the two Houses have differed ; and though
we must not insult the Radicals by quoting the old
adage, there is reason to hope that the indifferences
and divisions may strengthen the position of the
PRESIDENT and his associates.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

PARIS, Sunday Evening.

There was a Cabinet Council yesterday at the
Tuileries, at which the Emperor presided. The
Empress was present.
The Illoniteur states that the Deputies of Bavaria,
by rejecting, at the last sitting of the Chamber, the
proposal to give a permanent character to the Com-
mittee of Social Legislation, and for the examina-
tion of the project of military law, thus gave an
indirect opinion against the close of the Legislative
Session which had been determined upon.

Since the arrival of M. Barzanelleno at Lisbon
the negociations have been actively proceeded
with for the treaty of commerce which is to be
entered into between the Spanish and Portuguese
Governments, and also a consular and postal con-
vention. The treaty of extradition with Spain is
to be removed, and a similar treaty is also to be
signed between the Government of Portugal and
America.

The interpellations which I mentioned would take
place in the Legislative Body respecting the recent
circular of the Postmaster-General, M. Vandal, ex-
cited very great interest. M. Pelletan energetically
denounced the practice of opening private letters,
and said that at all periods the inviolability of the
secrets of letters was considered as only secondary
in importance to religion. The Constituent Assem-
bly manifested its respect for the principle. At the
time of the flight of Louis XVI. to Varennes, when
letters seized at the Tuileries were taken to that
Assembly, it refused to read them, and ordered that
they should be sent sealed to the persons to whom
they were directed. During the Hundred Daysthe
Minister of the Interior, the illustrious Carnot,
sent a circular to the prefects directing them to ob-
serve the secret of letters. M. Pelletan proceeded
to give an historical review of facts under the Resto-
ration, the Republic, and under Louis Philippe, to
prove that even in times of plots and conspiracies
letters were not opened even when it was known that
they were from men adverse to the Government.
He then argued that there was no danger in the
circular of the Count de Chambord. In former
days Frederic called Voltaire to his court. The
two kings could not long agree. The two of a
trade were jealous. Voltaire had written a pamphlet
against Maupertius. The King of Prussia took the
part of Maupertius, and ordered the pamphlet to be
burnt. Voltaire was present at the auto-qa-fe, and
when the smoke began to ascend he said to the
King, with a Voltarian smile, "You have forgotten
the four little deserters on their way at this moment
to Holland." These deserters were four copies of
his pamphlet. It was printed, and the name of
Maupertius was soon covered with immortal ridi-
cule in Europe. He (M. Pelletan) had received
two little deserters, one in English and one in
French. In conclusion, M. Pelletan contended that
the measure adopted by the Government was both
useless and illegal.
AI. Vandal, Postmaster-General, contended that
the course adopted was sanctioned by law. Articles
8, 10, and 90 of the Criminal Code gave the pre-
fects power to do everything they thought proper
to prevent crimes and offences, and no exception
was made in regard to letters sent to the Post-
office. The power of opening letters had been exer-
cised by all Governments. The Post-office could
not be compelled to conceal " punishable" facts.
When a letter was seized, and it was not thought
necessary to retain it for the ends of the law, it was
sent sealed to the person to whom it was directed,
marked with the words " opened by authority of
justice." M. Vandal then said that letters were
never opened to seek for printed matter. As to the
circular of the Count de Chambord, only five letters
had been seized, and not 15,000, as Al. Pelletan had
asserted, two of which were sent to the Prefect of
Police, who had forwarded them. There had bee❑
only a delay of 24 hours. Respect for the in-
violability of the secrets of letters was the constant
principle by which the persons employed by the
Post-office were actuated.
After a desultory conversation M. Rouher, the
Minister of Finance, contended that the law gave
the Post-office power to open letteis. At the same
time he said, on the part of the Government, that
when suspected letters were opened the contents
should not be judged by the Prefect of Police, but
that there should be a judicial investigation into the
subject. This explanation seemed perfectly satisfac-
tory to the Chamber, and the subject was concluded
without further incident.

It is stated from Rome that on Friday last the
Holy Father held a Consistory, at which he made
known his intention to canonize the " very happy
Leonard de Port Maurice." He then made a short
speech relative to the religious relations of Rome
with the Italian Government. Pius the Ninth re-
ferred to the letter written by him to King Victor
Emmanuel last year with a view to provide for the
vacancies in so many Episcopal sees in Italy. He
recalled to recollection the many negotiations at-
tempted, not by the fault of the Holy Father, and
resumedttihuennr
llesaid illis
that v
o/entthibe bishops
rerum po-
tu
sent to govern
the vacant churches in Italy will find their pro-
perty dispersed and the religious congregations
expelled. They will find affliction and misery.
id
Nevertheless he sent them for the good of souls.
The Holy Father then said that in the meantime
he gave authority to some bishops, iu the hope of
appointing others at succeeding consistories. The
number of bishops then invested with authority was
32, of whom five were in partibus infidelium.
To-morrow is fixed for the opening of the Cir-
cular Railway round Paris throughout the whole
extent. The following are the stations :—Rue St.
Lazare, Batignolles, Courcelles, Porte-Maillot,
Passy, Point du Jour (Auteuil), Vaugerard, Western
Railway Station, Montrouge, Gentilly, Maison
Blanche, Orleans Railway, La Rapee-Bercy, Bel-
Air, Charonne, Menilmontant, Belleville, la Villette
in the new park of the Buttes Chaumont, Chapelle
St. Denis and Avenue de Clichy in the lower part of
the Batignolles. For the information of those not
acquainted with the localities it may be as well to
state that by this railway persons may go from
Paris to many interesting suburbs in a few minutes
only, and of course at a very small expense.
Passy is immediately opposite to the Exhibition
in the Champ de Mars, and the Auteuil station is
about 10 minutes' walk from the Exhibition at
Billancourt. There will be many omnibuses direct
from that station to Billancourt. One goes at pre-
sent, but at rather long intervals.
While some workmen were digging the other day
on the farm of M. de Vielville, at Survilliers, they
discovered,a vase containing 350 bronze medals. This
portion of the land has not been cultivated for cen-
turies. About 100 of the coins were so rusted that
nothing could be deciphered, but the rest are in good
preservation, and have the effigies of Antoninus,
Marcus Aurelius, Faustinas, Lucius Verus, Lucil-
lus, and CriTinus. This depot was no doubt
the fortune of some Roman colonist, who hid his
treasure on the first invasion of the Germans. Ac-
cording to tradition there formerly existed on this
spot a temple dedicated to Mercury, the idol of
which was destroyed by St. Rieul, first Bishop of
Senlis, in the third century. The spot is on the hill
of Montmeliort, in the territory of St. Witz.
During the month of January the receipts at the
theatres and other places of amusement were—lm-
perial theatres which receive subventions were
609,169 f, 79c.; secondary and single theatres,