The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-31 00:00:00

afternoon the Imperial Commission decided that it
should remain open until Sunday next, which will
be the day of closing, a decision to which the
foreign commissioners promptly agreed, making
only the graceful stipulation that the reecipts of
those days should be distributed among the poor of
Paris. This will form a welcome and appropriate
conclusion to the Imperial display, and since the
last days of any exhibition aro usually the most
thronged with visitors who are eager to seize the
opportunity, the amount thus benevolently disposed
of will probably be of considerable amount. More
especially will it be welcome to the poor of Paris at
the approach of the winter months, and at the close
of a season in which, notwithstanding the vast in-
flux of visitors and consequent gaiety, the high
prices of the necessaries of life have told heavily on
slender purses. 'rho price of bread, which, as we
know, is the most important staple of the lower
classes among the French peasantry, has been for
some time past a serious grievance, and there is un-
happily not much hope of a speedy improvement.
The proposal of the Foreign Commissioners is,
moreover, a graceful act of international courtesy,
and manifests that kindly sympathy towards the
suffering classes of another country which betokens
a real entente cordiale. Sunday being the regular
day for sight-seeing in Paris, the numbers who
witness the close of the Great Exhibition will pro-
bably be very large. Last Sunday the visitors were
estimated at no less than 15%000. Many of these
had free tickets and belonged to the working classes.
Tuesday was the day for the children, and thou-
sands of eager little faces were visible. All accounts
agree that as the brilliant spectacle approaches its
end the throngs of visitors increase. Indeed, the
Exhibition, it is said, has been so full that it has
been difficult to move about.

Not the least important of its functions has been
its office of educator to the working classes. French
artisans, as a rule, have no lack of taste in their
workmanship, but for that very reason they may be
better able to appreciate and to profit by the gor-
geous variety of the Exhibition. Thanks to the
kind and considerate exertions of geuine well.
wishers to the working classes, mechanics and
artisans from other countries have been able to
inspect the Exhibition. The great advantage of
this is that they can understand the full force of
that universal competition which nowadays exer-
cises so potent an influence over the action of trade
and commerce. No words, however forcible, no
delineations, however able, could so forcibly im-
press on the minds of the English work-
man the rapid progress of his Continental
rivals in every industrial art as a single
visit to the Paris Exhibition. Our Paris
correspondent in yesterday's impression comments
upon the difference perceptible in the French and
English departments. " England," he says, " has
shown great advance in art, taste, and industry,
but as a spectacle the English department is dull
and flat compared vi ith the French." " The Exhi-
bition of Aubusson," he adds, " forms a fairy palace
with which the Palace of Aladdin could not bear
comparison." The strong points of English work-
manship lie in other directions, and there is little
fear but that they can hold their position against
all competitors if they but exert themselves to do it.
The Paris Exhibition, it is to be hoped, will disabuse
them of the notion that they can retain their position
without exertion, and if it gives a fresh stimulus
to their energy, their industry, and their ambition,
it will have done good service to England as well
as to France.

The news from Italy, though eagerly looked for,
is as yet in no way decisive. The Moniteur of yes-
terday announces that the French fleet arrived at
Civita Vecchia on the 28th, at which date Rome
was tranquil. GARIBALDI was within a few miles
of the city on the 29th, but the rumour that the
Italian troops would cross the Papal frontier on
that night is now declared to have been premature.
GARIBALDI'S answer to the request of the Italian
Government that he should lay down his arms is
expected this day, though it cau hardly be hoped
that he will listen to the voice of prudence and obey
the call. ills outposts on the 29th were little
more than three miles from Rome, and he will
be reluctant to abandon his enterprise at the very
crisis. At Florence up to the latest date all was
quiet, and the demonstrations made at Turin and
Naples have, according to the Moniteur, been re-
pressed without any disturbance. Precautions have
been taken at Rome, and all remains in suspense.
The situation is a critical one for the peace of
Europe, and it would be well if those who occupy
the posts of leaders would pause and consider what
the consequences of rash and reckless action are
likely to be to Continental freedom. The old fable
of the shadow and the substance is likely to
be realised ; not that the Continental nations are
as yet in full possession of popular rights,
but that violent and reactionary changes will im-
peril all they have won. Italy at least has little
reason to be dissatisfied with the progress of the
last ten years, but who can foretell her position ten
years hence should zeal without discretion bring
upon her all the evils of foreign intervention, and
make her once more " a .geographical expression"
instead of a hopeful and prosperous reality.