The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-27 00:00:00

Miscellaneous News.

(From the Anglo-American Hines.)
The great event of the week in Paris has been
the Emperor's Speech at the opening of the
Legislative Session, on the 18th inst., which has
been attended with no ordinary interest. The
necessity of resuming the consideration of im-
portant legislative enactments, coupled with the
grave bearing of recent events, has been the alleged
cause for the early calling together the French
Parliament. In regard to the question of any
changes of Government, which have taken or may
take place in Germany, the French nation will not
interfere unless in case its honour or interests should
be menaced. The allusion of the Emperor to the
Universal Exposition is couched in noble and
sensible language, and shows how much Napoleon
has had a: heart the carrying out this his favouri to
work. The few remarks are well worthy of being
quoted—" The Universal Exposition," says the
Emperor, "which has been visited by nearly all the
Sovereigns of Europe, and where also the represen-
tatives of the working classes of every country have
met each other, has drawn closer the links of
fraternity amongst nations. It has disappeared,
but its traces will remain deeply marked upon our
epoch, for, if after being carried out in so magni-
ficent a scale, it has shone with only a momentary
splendour, it has destroyed for ever a past of
prejudices and errors, hindrances of labour, and in-
telligence ; barriers between different people, as
between different classes, international anti-
pathies. These are the things the Universal
Exposition has cast behind her." This is a
simple and noble strain of language, which
will find an echo in the breast of every right-
thinking individual, and, to say the least, cannot
but induce a belief in the political honesty of the
monarch who could thus think and act. Perfect-
ing the military and naval organisation of France
is not, however, to be neglected, and t ob-
serve as a significative corollary upon this fact, that
a considerable portion of the space occupied at
Billancourt by the Agricultural Exposition will be
devoted to the formation of a rifle ground, as well
for the practice by the regular troops of the fusil
Chassepot—which they are now receiving constantly
—as for that of Franc Tireurs or Volunteers, the
organisation of which body is now being pushed
rapidly in France, whether however for a still fur-
ther increase of the military power of France, or to
be used eventually as a means of diminishing the
standing army, I cannot say. It is certain that
scarcely any troops in Europe cost less than
those of France ; nevertheless the large num-
ber entails a considerable expense upon the coun-
try. One of the principal alterations to be effected is
in increasing the period of military servitude in
time of war, and diminishing it in time of peace.
The organisation of the Garde Nationale Mobile
will also undergo a modification. The question of
the Pontifical States is next touched upon, the
reason assigned for the sending the troops to Italy
being the non-execution of the Convention of the
15th of September, and the danger incurred by the
principle of monarchy and European order in the
revolutionary attack upon the temporal power of
the Pope. The Emperor disclaims the charge of
hostility to the unity and independence of Italy in
his course of action, averring that the Italian nation
itself has commenced to comprehend the danger of
such attempts as that of Garibaldi, states that calm
and order is already nearly established in the Papal
States, and that the recall of the French troops is
imminent ; concluding by remarking that for the
French nation the Convention of the 15th Sept. will
remain in operation until replaced by a new inter-
national action ; that the relations of Italy with the
Holy See interest the whole of Europe; and that
for this purpose he has invited the great Powers of
Europe to a conference, with a view to prevent
fresh complications. The statement of the Emperor
appears frank and straightforward, and the only re-
maining difficulty will probably be found in the
demand of a basis for consultation by the great
Powers, or, perhaps, of the mutual assent of Italy
and the Holy See to such a conference. In regard
to the E ;stern question, his Majesty assures the
nation that, whatever minor differences may exist
between the great Powers, they are of accord upon
the principle—namely, the maintenance of the in-
tegrity of the Ottoman empire, and the amelioration
of the condition of the Christians. The only re-
maining points of importance in the address are
the Budget and the present high price of provi-
sions. With regard to the latter, the badness
of the harvest has been alleged as the principal
cause, whilst a free commerce is equally designed
as the principal remedy. With regard to the Bud-
get, which appears the only difficulty in the Speech,
the question is submitted to the best consideration
of the French Parliament. Taken as a whole, the
address of the Emperor is greatly reassuring, and
calculated alike to dissipate much of the present
prevailing inquietude, as well as to present the poli-
tical horizon of Europe under a brighter and more
confidence-inspiring aspect.

The American Commission of the Exposition
Universelle is equally defunct with the Exposition
itself, and its members have left Paris, having in all
probability completed their labours and returned to
lay their report before Congress. I observe that
the prizes reserved in groups 8 and 9 will be decreed
on the 18th and 26th of November. The Grand
Prize of 10,000 francs and the gold medals cm-
fleeted with a diploma will be made the subject of a
special solemn distribution.

An amusing incident just before the close of the
world-renowned Palace bears testimony to the
might and majesty of the Fourth Estate. A new
star had arisen on the Champagne horizon in the
person of M. Theodule Joly, of Aix, who out of a
hundred competitors shared the only two prizes
given with the celebrated firm of Rcederer. The
successful fabricant, however, was at a loss how to
name the victorious stimulant. In his dilemma, he
invited a number of the representatives of the In-
ternational Press to a banquet, and submitted to
them the all-important question. There was a
solemn silence, but what difficulty can long avoid
giving way before so august a presence as the united
International Press? " There is to me come an idea,"
said the editorof the Sancho, of Brussels, rising from
his seat, and speaking in none the best English.
"The grand wine of our friend shall take the name
of the Volunteer, and by its help he shall make for
him the conquest of Angleterre, and that victory
shall efface the last remembrances of the field of

Waterloo." It is needless to add that the delighted
fabricant accepted in all humility the fiat of the
all-powerful, and under the patronage of the Prince
de Galles, the Volunteer champagne has long since
found its way to Wimbledon, and to the table of

the Lord Mayor, to commence the campaign as

signed to it. Since the departure of the strangers
the Parisian Escroes have turned their faces against

their fellow-citizens. One of the hardiest and

at the same time most skilful dodges hearl of for

some time past was played off last week upon the
wife of a nzarchand de vans. A tolerably well-

dressed stranger entered, and stepping to the counter
demanded a glass of wine, at the same time in-

forming the hostess that he was expecting the
arrival of a Commissionaire, who would bring
him the sum of 200 francs. Shortly after a

commissionaire entered, placing upon the counter
a sack, which he stated to contain that sum.

The stranger at once took possession of the sack ;

and after paying the commissionaire liberally, and
at the same tune treating him to a glass, walked off.

lii the evening the proprietor of the estabPshment,
on his return, asked his wife what was 63 su Wen

necessity which had induced her to send to their
neighbour the baker for the sum of 200 fr. The
lady of course denied the soft impeachment, and a

quarrel appeared to be imminent, when the remem-
brance of the event of the morning came to calm
the rising tempest. A general reunion having taken
place at the boulanger's, it was discovered that a

skilfully forged letter had been forwarded to the

baker, in the name of Madame, requesting him at
once to forward the sum of 200 fr. to meet a neces-

sity which had arisen in the absence of her husband.

If London thieves will steal (as it is said) the teeth
out of a body's head, what must be said in behalf of

,heir brethern in Paris ?

Our correspondent at Naples writes :—" Nothing
new in politics ; people waiting events with perfect