The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 28, 1867.

thanks of masters and men should be his for seek.
ing to put before them in its true colours the con.
dition of things at present affecting the question a
labour.

The people of Prussia seem already very much
dissatisfied with the state of things, and the popu-
larity of BISMARCK which had increased so much of
late seems again on the wane, if we are to judge of
what is said in various quarters. This is not to be
wondered at, when we take into consideration the
way in which he has carried on affairs of late.
He has framed his Federal Constitution in such a
manner that it may be looked upon as adverse to
the system of Parliamentary Government. It is one
thing to make the beat of the great success
which he met with in the last campaign, and
another to keep up the advantage for any
great length of time. We have no doubt that in a
short time he will find out his mistake, and regret
that he failed to adopt a wiser course. If anything
were wanting to show the fallacy of those who think
that a new era is dawning for Germany, it is
afforded in the desire expressed by the Berlin
Government to have the complete control and
direction of military matters. The clause which is
to grant military supplies in perpettcum is indeed a
significant one, and aptly represents the real meaning
of the BISMARCK manoeuvring. What the Berlin
authorities want is to get all the power into their
our hands, totally irrespective of the claims of
justice, and then they will set at defiance all the
remonstrances of those who persevere to differ from
them. Altogether there seems such a confusion of
interests and such a variety of plans in formation
that undei the best management it would be ex-
tremely difficult to arrive at a srtisfactory conclu-
sion. The work which the Prussians have under-
taken to perform is one of far too much extent and
importance to be hurried over lightly and super-
ficially, still less should it be carried on by those
who are actuated by selfish motives.

The Atlantic Telegraph, again in working order,
brings us brief but most important intelligence.
The telegram dated New York, January 23, even-
ing, tells us that the House of Representatives has
passed a bill prohibiting any person who took part
in the rebellion from practising at law. The news,
two days later, says there is a tendency to panic in
the share market, and several failures are reported.
Nothing seems to deter the Radicals from pursuing
their headlong course, although they must by this
time be able to realise the effect which their policy
produces upon the commerce of the country. The
notion of prohibiting any one who took part in the
rebellion from practising at law is preposterously
unjust. Perhaps they fear to have the Constitu-
tion continually pleaded against them by the
Southerners themselves towards the negroes. The
whites excluded the blacks from courts of law. The
Radicals are willing indeed to allow the testimony
of the Southern whites, but they virtually condemn
them to have their causes pleaded by their
antagonists. The feeling between South and North
is unfortunately not such that a Southerner would
willingly entrust all his interests to Northern hands.
Yet, if no person who took any part in the re-
bellion is to be permitted to practice in the law
courts, all the Southerners of standing and education
will be silenced, since the Radical deputation in-
cludes, as we know, every one who subscribed or
aided in any manner the Confederate cause, or even
consented to its maintenance. The exclusion of
Southern members from the national Congress was,
one would imagine, intolerant enough ; but this
further step of the Radicals shows very clearly
that their object is to reduce the South to absolute-
subjection. These intolerant advocates of Repub.
lican doctrines emulate the most unscrupulous of
despots in their impatience of free speech and free
thought. Conscious of the harshness of their
conduct towards the South, they are unwill-
ing to allow its people the smallest opportu-
nity of representing their grievances, and
every fresh movement seems to increase the ani-
mosity of the Radicals against the population of
the South, and the merchants and stockbrokers of
New York may well feel apprehensive of the results
when they see such recklessness and folly in the
leaders of the Congress. By the mail we shall have
fuller details of the state of parties, though, of
course, intelligence of an earlier date, but meanwhile
the telegraph has told us enough to make us fear
that peace and prosperity are still some distance
removed from the people of the United States.

official character. The Tribunal has decided that
M. Dentu has alone the right to publish a guide to
the Exhibition, and the appeal of Messrs. Lubigne
and Duquesne is dismissed with costs. This deci-
sion will cause some disappointment in the literary
world, as several publishers had made arrangements
to publish guides or hand-books to the Exhibition
of a more or less comprehensive character at a cheap
rate.

Lately much interest was excited about the head
of Cardinal Richelieu. A day or two ago there was
strong competition at Rouen among the amateurs of
valuable relics to obtain the cast of the head of a
renowned robber and murderer, named Durame,
which was put up to auction at that town. Durame
was executed at Rouen on the 26th of January,
1708. It appears that some people delighted to
honour this brigand, for his portrait is still preserved
in the public library of that town, and some poet of
the day wrote a verse, which is still to be read under
the likeness. There is rather a facetious originality
in the register of his death. It is in these terms :
" Francois Durame, aged 40 years, workman, born
in the commune of Bondeville-les-Rouen died sud-
denly on the 7th pluvoise, an. 6 (Jan. 26, 1798)
in the Place du Vieux, Marches, before mid-day.''
It is not mentioned at what price the fortunate
bidder paid for the cast.

M. Borella, a Spaniard, the proprietor of two
hotels, one at Madrid and the other at Valladolid,
has made proposals to the Imperial Commission to
supply during the Exhibition 400,000 dinners a day
at the price of lf. per head. The dinner is to con-
sist of soup and three dishes.
Some improvements in progress in the Faubourg
St. Germain have brought to recollection a re-
markable building in the Rue Visconti—the ancient
Hotel de Ranes, built upon the eite of the Petit
Pre-aux-Clercs, where Racine died on the 22d of
April, 1699. Adrienne Lecouvre also died there in
the year 1730. Two celebrated actors, La Champ-
mele, and Hippolyte Clarion once inhabited the
Hotel de Ranes. These biographical facts are
recorded upon a tablet of black marble, which the
curious in such matters have an opportunity of
inspecting.

On Wednesday afternoon there was a tremen-
dous tempest at Boulogne-sur-bier, and a violent
snow storm at sea, which it appears made it impos-
sible for sailors to distinguish objects even a few
yards off. Two fishing boats of Calais, the Eole
and the St. Joseph, were dashed about with great
violence while endeavouring to enter the port, and
several of the crew were drowned. The tempest
continued until Thursday. The communication
with the English coast was interrupted.
" There is many a slip between the cup and the
lip," says the adage, and the Civil Tribunal of the
Seine has given a decision which not only verifies
its truth, but exhibits the remarkable difference
which exists between the French and English law
as regards breaches of promise of marriage. It
seems that on the month of October last, M. C—,
a tailor, came to Paris from one of the Eastern
departments, in order to be present at
the marriage of his daughter. M. C. has
arrived at years of discretion, at least he
has seen the full accomplishment of fifty-
six years. While in Paris he was introduced to
the sister of his son-in-law, a buxom and capti-
vating lady of 46, who follows the useful occu-
pation of a cook. Mr. C. being a widower thought
he had not only the right to fall in love with her,
which he did, as the saying is, at first sight, but to
offer her marriage, which he did also. On his re-
turn home a tender correspondence ensued. The
lady accepted his offer of marriage, and she also
accepted some handsome presents which he sent to
her. The happy day, which was to make the cook
his own, was anxiously expected. Although time
seemed to drag very slowly along, the day at
length arrived, and the plaintiff and his friends all
assembled, as was mutually agreed, at the Maine in
bridal costume to fulfil the requisite formalities.
Nothing was wanting to complete the tailor's happi-
ness but the bride. Two hours of dreadful anxiety
elapsed, and still she did not come. At length
came, not the bride, but, the unkindest cut of
all, a message from her, stating that she was not
disposed at that Inc:Anent to say the fatal " yes," but
that she wanted several days for reflection. Some
days after she sent a letter refusing to fulfil her
promise of marriage, but offering to send back the
presents. Ultimately the action was brought for
the breach of the cook's promise, the tailor estimat-
ing his damages for her loss at 2,500 f. Among the
items to make up this amount the plaintiff estimated
Court his travelling expenses, the cost of living at his
ahotel,
aarnkdabthl
ee cost of tnh, et
to
presents.th eeffect that
The
e gave
appre-
ciating the liberty of marriage—a matter of public
order, which involves the right of breaking a con-
tract of union up to the latest moment," it rejected
the demand of the plaintiff, and ordered him to pay
the expenses. At the same time the Court held
that the right was not so absolute as to preclude an
action for damages under some circumstances de-
fined by article 1,382 of the Code Napoleon, but
that such circumstances did not exist in the present
case. And so the tailor lost his suit, his bride, and
his presents. lie will probably be more careful
about a wedding present for the future.
I am informed that among the first bills to be
presented to the Chamber will be a bill for the
abolition of imprisonment for debt, which the Go-
vernment was desirous to pass last session.
To-day the weather has been extraordinary.
There was a violent wind and some rain,
but it was
really warm, as warm as some days of summer.
Last Sunday the snow was abundant and the cold
prostrating.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
(Per Atlantic Cable.)
NEW YORK, Jan. 25.
The Inman steamer Kangaroo arrived to-day ;
all well.

NEW YORK, Jan. 23 (Evening).

The House of Representatives has passed a bill
prohibiting any person who took part in the rebel-
lion from practising at law.
Gold, 1351. Sterling exchange on London, 109.
Five-twenty United States Bonds, 1071. Illi-
nois, 116 ; Erie, 66.
Cotton, middling upland, 341 c.
The royal mail steamer Cuba arrived out yester-
day.

Jan. 25 (Evening).
Gold, 135 k. Sterling exchange on London, 109.
Five-twenty United States Bonds, 107 ; Illinois,
116 ; Erie, 66.
Cotton, middling upland, 35c.
There is a tendency to panic in the share-market,
and several failures are reported.

BELGIUIII.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 28.

Royal decrees have been issued prohibiting the
import or export of cattle in the town of llassel-
band, the entry or transportation of cattle or hides,
horns, &c., on the Eastern Belgian frontier from
Montzen to Athens.

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Jan. 27 (Evening).

The bill for the liquidation of the ecclesiastical
property is followed by the convention concluded
between the Italian Government and M. M.
Langraud Dumoneean. This stipulates that if the
bill be approved by Parliament and the majority
of the bishops consent to effect the conversion of
the property, M. M. Langraud Dumoncean will
undertake on behalf of the Government to collect
the 600 millions lire, or whatever less sum may b e
determined as the quota appertaining to the State
from the proceeds of the liquidation.