The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-19 00:00:00

ME suN, LON DON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 19, 1867.

thing as he can do under the circumstances. He
mentions the fact that revolutionary agitations have
threatened the Papal States, and that, in order to
sustain the September Convention, he has been
compelled to send troops to Rome and to " protect
the Holy See by repulsing the invaders." This,
however, in no way concerns the independence and
unity of Italy, and that nation now comprehends
the situation, though for a moment she was natu-
rally surprised. It will afford general satisfaction
to see that the EMPEROR counts confidently upon
the time when his troops can be recalled from Italy.
The Convention of September exists so long as it
is not replaced by a new International Act. " The
relations of Italy to the Holy See interest the whole
of Europe, and we have proposed to the Powers to
settle those relations at a Conference, and thus to
prevent new complications." Having thin disposed
of the rumours concerning war in Germany and
Italy, the EMPEROR passes on to dwell upon topics
nearer home, and declares that foreign politics per-
mit them to devote their thoughts to domestic im-
provements. He admits that the state of affairs
presents some embarrassments, but he urges upon
his Parliament that they should have faith in them-
selves, and direct all their most earnest efforts to
the good and glory of France. It is encouraging
at this season of depression at home and war
abroad to find one so intimately acquainted with
the true meaning of events thus exhibiting a
brave spirit and manifesting a hopeful disposition.
We do not know when a speech from the Emperor
NAPOLEON has been more indicative of peace and
progress than this one we now refer to, and we
hope that the faith which ,the EMPEROR declares
he has in the future, in spite of obstacles and
unjust opposition, will not be deceived or dis-
appointed.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Sunday Evening.

The Moniteur, in publishing the Speech of the
King of Prussia at the opening of the Prussian
Chambers, characterises its language ." as emi-
nently pacific," and sees in it the proof " that the
personal interviews which the King had last summer
with the Sovereigns of Germany and foreign coun-
tries were in conformity with the amicable character
of the relations which his Government still keeps
up with all the Foreign Powers."
The Tunisian Prince Sedi-El-Adel Bey, who
took part in the late revolt, and who, as your
readers will recollect, was sent to prison by his
brother, against whom the revolt was directed, has
just died in that prison. The Prince was only 32.
According to the West accounts from Madrid
the state of siege has been discontinued in all the
provinces, but Spain is far from being in a tranquil
condition.

I mentioned that M. Peyrat, the chief editor and
manager of the Avenir National, was to appear
before the Correctional Tribunal on the charge of
having inserted an article in that paper calculated
to "excite hatred and contempt against the Go-
vernment." The Tribunal decided that the charge
had been proved, and sentenced M. Peyrat to im-
prisonment for a month, a fine of 1,000 f., and to
pay the expenses of the prosecution.
M. Maple, who now resumes his position asMini-
ster of Finance, is a native of Perigueux, and is 61.
The town where he was born was illuminated when
the news of his appointment was received. He was
born of poor but honest parents, who had some
difficulty in paying for his education. In 1831 he
was called to the bar at Perigueux, and a few years
afterwards he was named as Counsel to the Prefec-
ture. On the 11th of July, 1846, M. Magne received
a legal appointment as the Minister of Finance.
After the Revolution of 1848 M. Magne returned
to Perigueux, and again practised at the Bar in
that town. In 1850, under the late Achille Fould,
the great Finance Minister, he was under Secretary
of State at the Ministry of Finance. M. Magne
has been a Senator since 1852. He is peculiarly
versed in matters of finance.

M. Pinard, the new Minister of the Interior, is
only 45. He was born at Autun, and, like M.
Magne, began his career as a b irrister. After prac-
tising at Angers, he became an advocate at the
Tribunal of the Seine, and was subsequently At-
torney-General at Douai. His eloquence is remark-
able and convincing, of which he gave many proofs
before the Council of State.

I have received an Italian paper, which makes
some corrections in the official account sent to the
Government by General de Failly relative to the
battle of Mentana. It states that after the capture
of Monteßotondo, Garibaldi, on his march to Rome,
had 24 battalions, the effective maximum of each of
which was 250 to 280, in all 6,500 men. In retreat-
trig from Rome on the night of the 29th, a retreat
the motive for which was the entrance of the French
troops, a thousand volunteers recrossed the frontier
in small detachments. An advanCed guard of about
400 had marched to Tivoli on the day of the battle
of Mentana, and consequently could not take part
in the battle. A rear guard of more than 500 men,
including a few companies of the Roman Legion,
had remained at Monte Rotondo and at the railway
station. This corps also was not with the main
body of troops. It is therefore materially impos-
sible that more than 4,000 volunteers were opposed
to the Papal troops. Besides, on the day of the
battle and in the night, more than 3,500 passed the
frontier at Corese and laid down their arms.
Nearly 700 who had capitulated at Mentana
were also conducted to the frontier dur-
ing the day of the 4th. A numerous detachment
was dissolved at Tivoli by Colonel Panciani. It is
therefore evident that the alleged total of 600 killed
(and wounded in proportion) and 1,600 prisoners
are inexcusable exaggerations and errors in the
report of the French General. In another respect
we have also to point out errors. Besides artillery
there were six French battalions engaged at Men-
tana. Calculating only 500 to each battalion, 3,000
Frenchmen at least must have taken part in the
combat. The Journal de Rome reckons the number
at more than 3;000; The French -are actively en-
gaged in erecting fortifications at Rome and Civita
Vecchia. A contract has been made for the pur-
chase of wood to the amount of £3,000 or £4,000.
This wood is to be employed in the erection of
palisades along the walls, where there will be cannon
so as to enable the French soldiers to keep up a
murderous fire in the case of attack.

The cholera, which has prevailed more or less in
France since 1865, is now quite extinct. The
Asiatic epidemic first broke out at Marseilles in
July, 1865, and shortly afterwards manifested itself
at Toulon, where the mortality was very great, as
well as in several localities of the departments of the
Var and the Bouches du Rhone. At a small com-
mune, near Toulon, there were 50 deaths in one
night. The cholera appeared in Paris in September.
At first the mortality was trifling, but it increased
in intensity towards the latter end of October,when
there were 250 deaths daily. It prevailed, but not
with violence, until the 15th of January, 1866, when
there were only a few isolated and not frequent
cases in the hospitals. During the four months
which the dread disease existed the total number of
deaths was 6,000 in Paris. There was then a
period of calm, favoured by the decrease in the
rate of temperature. It re-appeared when the
weather became warmer. The mortality was not
alarming in Paris, but it invaded the suburbs and
adjoining departments, and then broke out at
Amiens, where the ravages were frightful. The
heroic conduct of the Empress will not be easily
forgotten. Her Majesty repaired to Amiens, brav-
ing all danger, attended the sick in the hospitals,
and acted like a ministering angel to the sick and
the afflicted. This visit will ever form a bright
and noble record in the history of France. After
January, 1867, the epidemic followed precisely
the same course as in the corresponding period of
1866. There were only a few isolated cases in
the hospitals, and the deaths were from 10 to 15 a
month. It particularly attacked newly-born chil-
dren. There was alarm lest it should increase
during the warm weather at the time el the Great