The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-18 00:00:00

Miscellaneous French News.

(From Correspondents of Anylo-American Tinte3.)
PARIS, March 15.

The festivities of Carnival are over, and in sack-
cloth and ashes the sober Parisians are repenting
of their sins and sighing for gaieties to come. Lent
and bad weather set in together, and have kept
inseparable and disagreeable company. The
first part of the week was ushered in by wind, rain,
and snow, rendering locomotion on foot anything
but agreeable to those who are devoted to the
" comfortable." Dullness and an indescribable
feeling of ennui seems to prevail on all sides, as this
triste season of penance and sobriety is dragging its
weary length along. Mid-Lent will afford a brief
respite from these melancholy days, and until its
arrival we must—

"Live with a hope of a bettor time coming."
The Exposition Building at the Champ de
Mars daily presents more interest, for the crowds
of sight-seers who throng to witness its progress.
The space allotted to Great Britain is alive with
workmen, and quantities of goods are rapidly filling
it up ; while that occupied by American exhibitors
is comparatively quiet. There are spaces in the
American section, already marked by the different
States, among which can be seen the names of
Missouri, Ohio, New York, Arkansas, South Caro-
lina, &c. The Emperor, in a recent visit to the
building, expressed his gratification at its rapid
progress, and that so large a quantity of goods, to
be shown by foreign nations, had already arrived.
He also said he hoped the French exposants would
not allow themselves to be surpassed by their com-
petitors, but that by the 28th of March each and
all would be ready. Switzerland will exhibit, it is
said, the famous reliquaries, donated by -Charle-
magne to the Abbey of St. Maurice. They consist
of two vases, one formed of precious metals, with
Arabic enamels, and presented by a celebrated Arab
chief to Charlemagne; the other is of onyx,
beautifully covered with mythological figures in
relief. Northern Germany is sending forward im-
mense trains, loaded with the manufactured produc-
tions of that country.
There was quite an event here last week for the
novelty loving—in the execution of the murderer
Lemaire. Many endeavours had been made since
the condemnation of the prisoner to obtain a com-
mutation of the sentence, but he strongly dis-
countenanced every effort in his behalf, and urged
quick work in the affair. This gave an increased
interest, and a great desire was felt by many, to
witness the execution. Though great secrecy was
observed, the evening before the day appointed for
the condemned to die it was whispered about that
on the morrow the guillotine would perform its
fatal work. Multitudes of the curious cc la mode
Anglaise at a London hanging, determined not to
lose sight of so interesting a spectacle, took up
their positions on the ground the night before, and,
notwithstanding the freezing, wintry weather, kept
their long watch until the victim's head had fallen,
and his soul was launched into eternity. Many
handsome equipages were present, and among
the spectators were to be seen several fair
women dressed in furs and velvets to
shelter their frail frames from the piercing cold.
At last the executioner arrived, examined the frame-
work, and tested the slide to 3oe that it worked
smoothly. Ile then let fall the mass of lead, to
which the knife was to be attached, to be assured
that it would operate properly in its grooves. The
crowd, on the tip-toe of expectation, was silent ;
and scarce a sound was heard during all the prelimi-
naries of the mournful ceremony. At 6 o'clock the
gates of the Grande Roquette prison were thrown
open, the soldiers'stood with drawn swords, a buzz
was heard in the crowd, and silence again prevailed.
An aide appeared, ascended the steps of the scaf-
' fold, and placed the glittering knife in its socket.
The prisoner then came forward, sustained on his
right by the executioner, and an the left by an as-
sistant. his hands were bound behind his back
with a cord, which then descended to his feet,
which also were tied, leaving just play enough for
him to walk without difficulty. His head was bare,
his hair closely cut, and a collar turned down over a
blue blouse exposed his handsome white neck.
He was a tall, fine-looking man, with fair com-
plexion, light-coloured hair, and rather a distingue
moustache and imperial. He marched with a firm
upright manner, looking calmly to the right and
left at the crowd gathered around him, and ascended
the steps of the scaffold without any show of trepi-
dation. The attending priest then conversed a short
time with him, offered the crucifix to kiss, which he
declined ; the executioner approached, adjusted the
bead of the condemned, by a simple movement de-
tached the elevated knife, a dull heavy sound was
heard, and the head was severed from the body. A
long low murmur arose from the assembled multi-
tude, and many expressed their gratification that
the poor fellow bad died game to the last. The exe-
cutioner raised the head, placing it in the basket,
while his assistant took charge of the body for
burial, and the crowd dispersed fully satisfied with
the sight they had witnessed.
Tiieee has been a petition, it is said, started in
Faris, addressed to the Senate, praying that