The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-06 00:00:00

Vine l'Empereur ! simultaneously shouted by three

hundred throats.

The messenger was cheered, em-

braced, and carried in triumph around by the pri-
soners, who, intoxicated with joy, made the old walls
resound with songs, laughter, dancing, and the
_ _

most extravagant— manifestations of delight. In
the evening all the windows of the prison were
illuminated, and no doubt that night many sweet
dreams of liberty attended the slumber of the
involuntary inhabitants of Clichy.
Count Walewski, the distinguished president of
the Corps Legislatif, gave in his resignation of that
post of honour on last Friday. In the course of
the announcement he addressed the Chamber as
follows :—" It is not without deep regret, gentle-
men and dear colleagues, that I have arrived at this

resolution, but in 1t superior interest of union and
concord I have felt it my duty to renounce the

honour of presiding over you." The Count ac-
quainted the Emperor with his determination, and
his Majesty accepted the resignation, expressing at
the same time many regrets, and thanking Walew-
ski for the unceasing proofs of devotion which he
had ever accorded him. This resignation was in-

fluenced by the hostile attitude which the members
of the newly-organised political club had taken
towards the Count. It is asserted that their object
is to replace him by one of their body.
The official organ has not yet announced the
name of the successor of Count Walewski, though
it is affirmed that the 'present Vice-President, M.
Schneider, will either be formally appointed, or will
preside, with the simple title of vice-president, until
the end of the session.

France is much occupied at this time with nego.
tiations for the cession of the Duchy of Luxem

bourg. Many conflicting reports are circulating in
regard to the matter, and it is impossible to learn
the true condition of the question. To insure the
annexation of the Duchy to France three things are
necessary to prevent a disturbance of international
tranquillity. The first is the consent of the King
of Holland, who is also Grand Dukeof Luxembourg.
We are told that this monarch is ready to part with a
country which is separated from the rest of his States,
and enjoying a sort of independent existence is of
little profit or use to him, in consideration of a
pecuniary indemnity to be paid by France. The
sum demanded is said to be 100,000,000 francs
020,000,000), which sum France is doubtless
willing and ready to pay. 'The population of the
Duchy is 200,000, so that, in case of purchase, the
Imperial Government will have paid 500 francs per
head for its new subjects. The second essential
condition is the consent of Prussia to the aforesaid
purchase. The Prussian Premier has declared that
he will not yield one inch of German territory to
foreign powers, but it is believed that the King of
Prussia will so far control his Minister as to induce
him to consent to the annexation, provided France
will raze the fortifications of Luxembourg, and give
assurances that the occupation of this territory shall
not become a disadvantage to the new German
empire. Rumour says that another condition im-
posed by Bismark is the consent of all the European
powers to the purchase. France, as a matter of
course, will indignantly reject several of the con-
ditions, and unless Prussia becomes less exacting,
difficulties may at once arise between these two
great Powers, which, in spite of all efforts, are daily
growing more and more inimical. The third con-
, dition necessary to the contemplated annexation is
the consent of the country to be annexed. This in
all probability will be easily secured, as the inhabi-
tants of the Duchy are well known for their anti-
pathies to German rule and preferences for French
institutions. The only obstacle in the way of a
peaceful annexation is Prussian interference.
Without this, the King of Holland and the people
of the Duchy would soon come to a satisfactory
settlement with the French Government.
Mid Lent was celebrated in the city last Thurs-
day, with the usual extravagant demonstrations of
fancy processions, masked men, women, and children,
and an opening of all the dancing saloons at night.
The washerwomen celebrated this their fete day by
a promenade of fancy cars, ornamented with allego-
rical designs representing the ideal and beautiful of
their philanthropic avocation. A butchery for the
special sale of horse flesh delighted the curious with
a procession of twenty horses, well fed and fattened
for an early slaughter. This convoy, with banners
flying, and music, traversed the principal thorough-
fares of the city, welcomed in some quarters with
shouts of approbation, and received in others with
hisses and unmistakeable evidence of disgust.
Though it may be to some extent t la mode to eat
horse flesh, the Parisians cannot all be induced to
relish the idea. Lent is again triumphant after this
brief revival of the scenes of the Carnival, and fast-
ings, abstinence, prayers, and sermons are the order
of the day. The only legitimate recreations en
vogue during this season are public and private con-
certs, which are frequent is the houses of the
nobility, and a privileged few. The fourteen masked
balls during the Carnival at the opera produced a
sum total of 190,512 francs, an increase of nearly
1,000 francs over those of last year. This augmen-
tation is the more remarkable, as the fancy balls at
the Italian Opera, Theatre Chatelet, and elsewhere
occurring on the same nights, were largely attended.
Parisians since the first of last month have been leav-
ing the city en masse for their country residences, and
rural pleasures, away from the bustle, dust, and con-
fusionwhich the Exhibition, with its hosts of visitors,
will ere long inflict on our metropolis. Many are flee-
ing the capital to avoid exorbitant prices for living,
while others, unable to leave, are preparing to re-
taliate on the pockets of the stranger for the impo-
sitions they are compelled to endure, on the part of
avaricious townsmen.
Nadar, the celebrated French aeronaut, is going
to profit by the Exposition and the enormous
number of strangers to exhibit his monster balloon
the Geant. Many ascensions are contemplated, in
each of which he proposes to carry as many as
seventy persons. Meals are to be served to the
guests at the height of a half mile in the air, and
other novelties and amusements will be introduced
to contribute to the pleasures of aerial navigation.
Distinguished visitors are arriving in numbers for
the Exposition. The King and Prince Royal of
Prussia, King and Queen of Spain, King and
Queen of Portugal, and the Viceroy of Egypt are
expected soon. Queen Victoria will, perhaps, make
a visit incog. at a later day. The Prince of Wales
intended to be present on the opening day, but was
prevented by the protracted illness of the Princess.
I need scarcely say that Americans are to be en-
countered on all sides and everywhere in the streets,
promenades, drives, cafes, theatres, ball-rooms, &c.

PARIS, April 3, 1867.

The great event of this week, and not only of
this week, but of our present time, is undoubtedly
the opening of the Universal Exposition. Pessi-
mists may discontentedly complain that " nothing
is ready," that " the whole affair is a mistake." Are
there not grumblers in every country, and was there
every a grand enterprise brought to an end without
previous disapproval from the very people in whose
interest perhaps the noble work was undertaken ?
Such is the gratitude of man. If we look back and
recall a few facts, I think we shall find there is in-
finite cause for rejoicing in what has been already
accomplished, and that the ringing shout of thanks-
giving which rose on Monday within the walls of
the Exhibition building ought to find its echo in
the hearts of all who look forward to glorious
conquests achieved in fraternal emulation and
peaceful strife. It may here be as well to re-
mind your readers that the space occupied by the
Exposition is 160,000 metres in extent, of which
146,000 are now undulating park-land covered with
exotics and ornamental dwellings, and was before
the 25th of September, 1865, a sandy plain, but
that on this date the first spadeful of soil was dug up
by order of the Imperial Commission ; that on the
3d of April, 1866, the first cast-iron pillar was
firmly set in the ground ; and that on the Ist
April, 1867, on the appointed day and at the ap-
pointed hour, scattered members from every part
of the world joined their voices in one long viva
under the largest edifice ever dedicated to human
industry. When this stupendous temple will again
lay low in dust may these simple dates Remain as
annals wherewith posterity will draw fit conclusions.
Figures ever must be the grandest eloquence. On
the eve of the opening great fears were entertained
by the most sanguine that the inaugurative cere-