The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-23 00:00:00

'ny ou§ht to e tQ„ st . consi eratip. wa
all parties concerned. There is a great disparity
between the rates charged at the different offices,
which is atrributable partly to the fact that marine
insurance has not, like its fellows, been reduced to
a science. "It is, moreover, a much more complex
problem to work out a scale of premiums for
them with mathematical eNactness that shall
combine both safety and remuneration than
for fire and life risks." The means which the
writer recommends for the improvement and secu-
rity of the whole system is that a committee of
underwriters should be formed of representatives
from all the principal marine companies, and
representatives elected by the principal body
of the private underwriters at Lloyd's, who shall
be duly empowered to fix upon one uniform sliding
scale of charges for marine risks, both in peace and
war, binding upon all its members. By this means
the experience of all the companies could be exa-
mined into to obtain a fair estimate and correct ave-
rage of the risks and profits of a bona fide insurance
system. Excessive charges would be avoided on
the one hand, and insufficient premiums, which
naturally lead eventually to the collapse of the
office, would be shunned on the other. There
would, of course, be an advantage to the
newer and minor societies in joining a body, of
which the old-estableshed offices formed part, while
the latter would naturally take the lead, and would
not diminish their individual prestige by joining the
corporation. The public would have more security,
while the offices would run less risk by incurring
less responsibility. At present they naturally dis-
like to refuse business, and if they find that the
ship owners will not pay what they consider a fair
premium, they reduce their scale rather than see the
insurer go elsewhere. The whole system of insur-
ance offers especial temptations to the specu-
lator ; there is always a happy chance which
the sanguine man may trust to if he will, but
the only way to secure a sound business is to take
both sides of the question into consideration. If the
whole system were thoroughly studied by competent
persons, and a fair rate charged, there would be an
end of a great deal of rash and speculative dealing.
The objection may certainly be urged against the
scheme that it is of a centralising tendency, and
opposed to that full and free competition which
Englishmen prize so highly. At the same time it is
worthy of consideration on two or three heads, and
we commend it to the attention of all who are en-

gaged in marine insurance.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Sunday Evening.
The desire for the observance of the Sabbath on
Sunday is on the increase. It is true that in many
instances workmen continue their labour during a
portion of Sunday, but such cases are becoming the
exception rather than the rule. Comparatively few
shops are now open on Sunday afternoons, and in-
deed business is suspended as much as possible.
Saint days are very rigorously observed. Some
months ago a carter at Saint Foy, . a Protestant
named Elie Paris, was proceeded against for cart-
ing goods in a cart drawn by oxen on All Saints'-
day, which in France is observed with greater so-
lemnity than any other day in the year. The local
tribunal inflicted only a small fine, but insisted on
the principle of maintaining the day with solemnity.
The defendant appealed against the sentence to
the Court of Cassation in Paris, but that tribunal
rejected the appeal, and confirmed the sentence,
with costs, on the ground that there had been no
repeal of the law ordering the observance of Sun-
days and fête days, and particularly founding its
judgment on the fact that the law was passed in
the interest of public order and police regulation.
The Act in question, for the observance of Sundays,
was passed on the 18th of November, 1814, and
although it has at several periods fallen into
desuetude, it ordains a general suspension of ordi-
nary labour on Sundays and the fête days recog-
nised by law. There were, however, some exceptions
for the exercise of labour and professions of neces-
sity. In 1802 it was decreed that public offices
should not exercise their functions on Sundays, and,
as is the case in England, no arrests for debt could
be made on Sund•.►y. According to historical
records, it was the Emperor Constantine who
first ordered a rigorous observance of the
Sabbath. In the year 425 theatrical repre-
sentations were forbidden in Prance on Sundays.
I do not find any record of the period when this
law was abrogated.
Another instance has occurred of the second mid-
centennial celebration or fete of the marriage cere-
mony with the same persons. The wedding pair
are the father and mother of Mdlle. Cico, a fa-
vourite singer of the Opera Comique. The divine
service was celebrated very impressively at the
church of Auteuil on Friday, and there was not
only an affecting speech from the curate, but some
magnificent music, vocal and instrumental, by
artists belonging to the Conservatory of Music. It
is not an ordinary occurrence when a daughter
sings at the marriage of her father and mother, but
such was the case on this occasion. The Ave Maria
was sung by Mdlle. Saxe, also a vocalist of great
repute. M. Auber, director of the Conservatory of
Music, was present, and a great many singers and

actors.
_ Madame Agnes Shakespere de Gapouska has
just died at Nice, who is stated to be a lineal
descendant of Shakespere. She was a lady of dis-
tinguished manners and most amiable character.
Although married to a foreigner, she was born in
England.
A man, named Pierre Harnois, has been executed
at Nantes for the murder of his father. He died
very penitent, as is usual in cases of parricide. The
culprit walked from the prison to the place of exe-
cution barefooted, dressed in white trousers, and
with no covering over his shirt. He attempted to
resist when the executioners were about to cover his
head with a black veil, but he immediately ceded to
the exhortations of the priest, the Abbe Benoist.
The crowd was immense. At first he complained
that he was only informed of his approaching death
a few minutes before it was about to take place.
The Governor of the prison told him that to have
done so would only have been to prolong his anguish,
and he then seemed resigned to his fate.
The horse show at the Palais de l'lndustrie was
concluded on Saturday with becoming manifesta-
tions of interest. About 7,000 persons were present,
and the Emperor, the Prince of Denmark, and many
distinguished individuals attended to mark their
sense of the importance of the exhibition. The
horses which gained the prizes, harnessed to car-
riages, were paraded before the spectators. The
Emperor's post-horses excited great interest. They
have been. frequently spoken of during the progress
of the exhibition.
The papers mention the death of M. de Saint
Marsault, Senator, Chevalier d'Honneur to the
Princess Alathilde. He was formerly prefect of the
Department of the Seine-et-Oise. -
In the Senate a petition has been presented from
M. Beclker, an advocate of the Imperial Court of
Paris, paying that a law should be passed to insure
the legality in France of deeds executed or judgments
given in foreign countries. Baron Brenier, how-
ever, on. the part of the Government, opposed the
reception. of the petition on the ground that France
would not act on this subject without being assured
of reciprocity on the part of other nations. At-
tempts ha,d been made to effect the object in view
by means of treaties with Russia, Switzerland, and
the Graud Duchy of Baden ; but the results ob-
tainea hal not been such as to encourage the French
surmountable
Governmentl
difficulties
t op rocee d
alwaysn their
presentedend ea v our s h
et- -
selves,
in jurisprudence, and local
opposite features
arisiug from differences of legislation, various
preju-
dices. The Speaker therefore, proposed that the