The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-06 00:00:00

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Thursday Evening.
The Vienna Gazette makes an official announce-
ment of the pregnancy of the Empress of Austria.
The discussions respecting Italy continue to hold
the first rank in public attention. The report of
what took place yesterday occupies nearly thirty
columns of the Illoniteur.
In the Legislative Body the Marquis de Moustier,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, entered into an elabo-
rate defence of the whole foreig❑ policy of the
Government. He contended that it WAS not un-
certain and changeable, as had been asserted, but
that it had carried out all the principles it pro-
fessed. In respect to the Pope, its object was to
place the Papacy under the safeguard of Italian
honour, and under the safeguard of the engagement.
entered into with France by Italy, and thus to
furnish to the latter country the opportunity of de-•
stroying, by the faithful performance of its engage-
ments, the mistrust and the accusations which
we had it at heart to remove. After refuting the
arguments of M. Jules Favre, the Minister said
that the Convention of the 15th September was not
forced upon Italy ; not only it was not forced upon
her, but she had desired it, and therefore she must
have signed it freely. So far from leaving any un-
certainty to the Cabinet of Florence, the French
Government had never left it the shade of a doubt
as to its intentions. The Government pointed out
to M. Rattazzi the circumstances which had caused
uneasiness. We could not adopt the policy recom-
mended by M. Jules Favre. The Italian Govern-
ment bad posted a considerable number of troops
upon the frontiers. By some the number of men
is estimated at 40,000. This may be an exaggera-
tion, but certainly the number was sufficient to
guarantee the security of the frontier, if those troops
had assumed the active attitude which we recom-
mended instead of the passive position which they
kept. The Marquis, after a further minute and
elaborate defence of the Government, concluded in
the following terms :
" We have given satisfaction to the principle of
right and to the religious sentiments of the immense
majority of the French people, and we shall contrive
to act upon the same policy without losing sight of
the great general interests of France. We do not
believe that any of those interests are irreconcilable
with it. At all events, if our task be difficult we
rely upon the sympathies of the country, and upon
the energetic support of that Assembly which is the
living expression of those sympathies. Fortified by
that assistance we shall pursue our task to the end."
Energetic and numerous marks of approbation
greeted his speech.
Then followed M. Thiers with the voluminous
and cutting denunciation which I told you some
days ago he was preparing. Last year the speech
of M. Thiers rivetted attention from the memorable

accusation that the Ministry had not left any crime
to commit. This year his speech is distinguished
by the astounding assertion that conciliation be-
tween the Pope and Italy is impossible. " The
Pope says, if I have not Rome I shall be obliged
to descend from the throne ;" and Italy says, " My
unity is not possible without Rome. What com-
promise therefore could be expected ?"
The drift of the long and laboured oration of
M. Thiera may be understood by the following sen-
tences. It may be remarked, en passant, that
although M. Thiers occupied hours in cavilling at
the policy of the French Government, his great
point was to prove that it had no policy at all.
M. Thiers said—" Of policy, there is none. There
was a bad policy, allow me to say, and you will
find -these words pardonable with my convictions.
There was a bad policy when there were propaga-
tors in Europe of those false ideas of nationality
which has placed us in the deplorable con-
dition in which we now find ourselves. (Marks
of assent on some benches). This was discovered
but too late, when the evil was irreparable, and now
there is no policy. (Laughter from several benches.)
Here is the argument of M. Thiers to prove the
failure of the course which has been identified :--
"Is not the Pope in a desperate condition ? You
have assisted him. Yes, but already, I know not
by what management, you withdrew, and im-
mediately uneasiness prevails at Rome. This un-
fortunate Pontiff, of whose august virtues no one
is ignorant—(very good)—is now in frightful
trances. More than this. It is with difficulty that
he can can procure the means of living. His bud-
get is known. Italy has not gained by the Pope
being deprived of his authority and dignity. Dis-
order reigns there. It is not possible to
provide for the most simple expenses except
by issuing oceans of paper money. Look
now to the results of this policy in Europe. There
was a Germanic Confederation which was during
fifty years the principal authority for the mainte-
nance of European peace. Well, it has disappeared.
It is replaced by a military monarchy, disposing of
40 millions of men. You find yourselves between
two unities, one which you made yourself, and the
other which you allowed to be made, which shakes
hands above the Alps, and which places the condi-
tion upon peace that you will allow it to finish its
'There is the situation. I defy
work, one by taking possession of the States of the
States Pope,
ot
f Germany.
e o t h er
by swallowing
up the Southern
any one, whoever he may be, to deny it.. (' Right,' from
some benches.) I should be grieved to increase the
flames which spread in Europe, but there is a strik-
ing proof of the agitation in the minds of all—the
uneasiness of the various great interests."

It is understood that the damage done at the
Exhibition by the late storm will amount to £4,000
sterling. The palm trees and the exotic plants be-
longing to the city of Paris have been nearly all
destroyed. The roof of the family restaurant was
entirely carried away, sheds torn down, and even
iron pillars broken. The storm has so aided the
work that, according to the architect, a week's
labour will be saved.

A lamentable affair has occurred on the Boule-
vard de la Villette. A gentleman and his wife re-
siding there have been on bad terms for some time.
The differences are said to have arisen from jealousy,
although the character of the wife is irreproachable.
About midnight on Tuesday the husband came
home, and cries were heard soon afterwards from
the apartment. The persons in the house have been
accustomed to scenes of violence, but this time the
noise was so terrific that the door of the apartment
was broken open. A frightful spectacle presented
itself. The room was streaming with blood,
and in the midst of it was the body
of the husband pierced to the heart with
a sharp knife. On the other side was the wife, who
was dangerously wounded in the chest with the
same instrument. It appears that in a fit of anger
and jealousy the husband bad stabbed his wife, and
believing he had killed her, he stabbed himself
and died instantly. It is feared that the wife can-
not recover.

This has been a day of real winter. Dull and
intensely cold. It has snowed for some time this
afternoon, and seems likely to continue. The tem-
pest, however, has passed away. The accounts
from the provinces give indications of very severe
weather. The barometer seems to denote more
storms or reverse weather.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—Lord William Lennox de-
livered yesterday one of the free Thursday lectures to a
large and appreciative audience on the subject of "Loco-
motion, and how people travelled from the days of Charles
IL up to the present time." The lecture was instructive
and most entertaining, and interspersed throughout with
a variety of amusing aad well-told anecdotes.

M. BLONDIN.—A paragraph having appeared in
a contemporary staticg that H. Blondin bad fallen from
the rope at Cologno, we are requested to announce that
the accident did not befall "the hero of Niagara," he
having just returned from a most successful tour on the
Continent.

THE OXFORD. —On Monday, Mr. Alfred Stodare
(brother of the late Colonel Stodare) will introduce his
magical entertainment, as given by him during the last
five months at the Theatre dos Boulevards, Brussels, and
in Paris. Mr. Harry Sidney also commences an engage-
ment, during which he will instruct Cattle Show visitors
in contemporary social politics. Mr. E. W. Mackney will
appear as soon as he has recovered from his late accident;
and the pro-Christmas entertainments, which wo shall
notice more in detail, are likely to prove very attractive
this side of Christmas.