The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-10 00:00:00

of the treaties of 1815, should the conduct of Aus-
tria and Prussia force him to begin a course of
action. Your readers will no doubt recollect that a
few days ago I alluded to the probability that the
Emperor would speak out " trumpet-tongued,"
should the course of events render it desirable that
he should do so.

The Temps predicts that the speech at Auxerre
will create immense sensation all over Europe, and
recalls to recollection the words uttered by the Em-
peror on November 5, 1863, at the opening of the
first session of the present Legislative Body. The
Emperor then said, " The treaties of 1815 have
ceased to exist. The force of circumstances has over-
thrown them, or tends to overthrow them, every-
where." The Avenir National say :—" The treaties
of 1815 can only be destroyed in two ways—by a
general war, which would put a violent end to them,
or by a Congress which would change international
right in Europe. As a Congress at this moment is
impossible, the evident conclusion to be drawn from
the Emperor's speech is war. Well, then, as war
seems to be inevitable, let it take place promptly,
for the uncertainties and the alternatives to which
we have been exposed for the last six weeks are in-
tolerable to the public mind and disastrous to busi-

ness."

Last week I thought I had never seen such con-
fusion at the Bourse as I then witnessed. To-day,
however, the aspect of affairs there was worse.
Then it was confusion now it is "confusion worse
confounded."

'I he Great Exhibition of next year will form but
a portion of many marvellous alterations incident
to it. The commission, say the Paris papers, intend
to make the locality a real scene of enchantment.
Magnificent fetes are to be organised, and there
will be an extensive fair, which will combine the
characteristic features of the fairs of Brittany, Nor-
mandy, Belgium, and Holland. At these fairs all
the wonders of the world are to be exhibited.
There will be games and sights for young children
and children of larger growth—Russian mountains,
lotteries, magic lanterns, donkey riding, carriages
drawn by goats, firing for prizes, races; and, indeed,
marvels and amusements too numerous to mention
and even difficult to imagine. On the Ist of July,
1867, on the Palace of the Champs Elysees there
will be a distribution of prizes, a solemnity which
will cost 800,000 f., and the Emperor intends to add
from his private purse 200,000 f. to increase the
extent and value of the prizes.
Baron Haussman, the Prefect of the Seine, is
engaged upon a very interesting work, "114 e Gene-
ral History of Paris." The Emperor has sent to
M. Haussman an autograph letter, in which he
highly approves of the idea of an authorised and
comprehensive account of ancient and modern Paris,
and of all the beautiful objects it contains. The
descriptions will be derived from authentic docu-
ments verified by personal inspection. It may not
be generally known that the many modern beautiful
improvements and embellishments are the result of
suggestions made by M. Haussman. Near the
Madeleine, a locality changed and embellished like
magic within a year or two, there is now a long
and beautiful boulevard, called the Boulevard
Haussman, a name given to it with a view to
identify him with the changes and improvements of
modern Paris. The Emperor, in his letter to M.
Haussman, expresses his full appreciation of these
improvements, and says that, " Thanks to your
indefatigable activity, Paris is now the most splen-
did and most salubrious capital of Europe."
The papers announce the death of 111. Boutenef,
formerly Minister at Constantinople and Rome,
aged 74. Some 30 years ago M. Boutenef enjoyed
considerable reputation as a diplomatist, and figured
in several important transactions in which Russia
was engaged.
I gave you at the time the particulars of the
murder and mutilation of three children by a girl
of 15, named Marie Francoise Bougaran. This
girl has just been tried before the Court of Assize
for the Department of the Finistere. It was proved
that she forced her hands into the mouths of these
young children, plunged a knife into their throats,
and multilated the legs and arms. Besides this,
she filled their mouths with the most filthy sub-
stances. The girl confessed that she was guilty,
but said she was compelled to commit the acts by

"an inward voice." No doubt she is insane. The
jury found her guilty without "extenuating circum-
stances;" but, considering her youth, the Court did
not sentence her to death, but to 20 years' impri-
sonment in the House of Correction.

The old acacia in the Garden of Plants is coming
into full vegetation. This tree was planted by M.
Robin in 1635, and it is therefore 230 years old. It
is in good condition, and the sap is not deteriorated.
Great precautions are taken for its preservation.