The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-07 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FRO:11 PARIS.

PARIS, Wednesday Evening.
In consequence of the religious observance of
Shrove Tuesday; several papers have not appeared
to-day. The Moniteur was published, but it does
not contain any news of importance. It, however,
announces the departure from Lisbon of the Portu-
guese Commission, appointed in reference to the
Exhibition. It is composed of Councillor Paiha de
Faria e llacerda, Chief of Division of Commerce at
the Ministry of Public Works in Portugal, and of
several gentlemen connected with that department,
and some civil engineers.
The Moniteur also states that a private telegram
from Bombay mentions that the Emir Schir-Ali-
Khan has been completely beaten by the troops of
Azim Khan, and compelled to take refuge at Herat.
There was another meeting of Ministers yester-
day at the Tuileries, under the presidency of the
Emperor, when the discussion was renewed relative
to the project of law for the relaxation of the
restrictions now in force in regard to public meet-
ings. There are some reports to the effect that
France, as well as England, is to have a modifica-
tion in the composition of its Ministry. For the
moment I have not authentic information sufficient
to enable me either to confirm or contradict these
reports, and I therefore merely mention their
existence.

One of the papers has mentioned that the
Minister of the Interior, the Marquis de la Valette,
is about to retire, and to be superseded by M.
Baroche, the Minister of Justice. This report, at
all events, is apparently unfounded, for
it is known that the Emperor places I
great confidence in him, and men of all
shades of opinion acknowledge the zeal and liberal
spirit which have characterised the administration
of the department. While I am speaking of the
composition of the French Ministry, it may be well
to explain a point upon which some misapprehen-
sion exists in England. What is meant by a Minis-
ter without a portfolio (portefeuille) does not seem
to be generally or accurately understood. A Minis-
ter without a portfolio is simply a Minister who does
not hold any specific office, but who participates in
Cabinet Councils, gives explanations, and defends
the Government in the Chamber, and affords gene-
ral assistance to the Administration. The Adminis-
tration of France is composed of nine Ministers,
called the Minister of State, the Minister of
Justice and Public Worship, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Interior,
the Minister of Marine and the Colonies, the
Minister of Public Instruction, the Minister of
Agriculture and Commerce, the Minister of the
Household of the Emperor and the Fine Arts, and
. the Minister President of the Council of State.
There is a saying of the grandfather of Charles the
Fifth that the Ministers of a King are the spectacles
to which he is obliged to have recourse when he
does not wish to look upon the course of events with

his own eyes.
A Cabinet Council has been held to-day at the
Tuileries, at which the Emperor presided. It lasted
a considerable time, and, if I be rightly informed,
a final decision has been arrived at, both in regard
to the proposed law respecting public meetings and
the regulation of the press. 'The latter project will,
I think, be satisfactory.
In the absence of " metal more attractive " the
peculiar weather forms a general and interesting
topic of conversation. The most learned astrono-
mers announced that there would be a partial but
rather extensive eclipse of the sun this morning.
The fact is, that there was a total eclipse. The
appearance of the clouds at the tune for the eclipse
was dark and gloomy. The sun was not to be seen MADRAS.
at all. 'The time for the greatest observation, The traffic receipts on di's company's souili-wes‘
according to astronomical prediction, had hardly line for the half-year ending the 31st of December
passed away whin tho sun broke forth with great last amounted to £190,733 against £185,898, for
splendour in its full proportions. The snow then the fir ,t half of the year, and £192,055ear. for the n
began to fall, and for nearly au hour it snowed corresponding half of the previous y O
slightly, the bun shining all the time. Such a the north-west line the receipts for the six
spectacle as this, perhaps, has not been often wit- months have tithe ears
against £27,778 for the
nessed. The cold has relaxed a little in its first half of the year, and £33,058 for the corre-
rigour. In the Champs Elysees a remarkable sponding half of the previous year. The mileage
phenomenon attracts many. The beautiful iof the south-west line had been the same
and rare tree, known as the pear tree, throughout. On the north-west line the open
of Japan (pirus japonica) which exhibited its red mileage had increased 28 miles during the half-year,
buds some days ago, has, under the influence of the equal to 23} per cent. The receipts had shown
frost, broken forth into full flower. The mild much steadiness under the unfavourable circum-
weather seemed to stop its process of vegetation, stances of the stagnation of trade, failure of crops
but winter for this tree seems to be its spring. At from drought, famine prices of food, and distress,
all events it is now in full and beautiful flower. which during the last year had afflicted the south of
The price paid for hounds in Paris shows the in- India, but were now happily disappearing under
creasing taste for hunting. The hounds of M the influence of the late favourable monsoon.