The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-05 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Sunday Evening.
I believe that the only point of importance
mooted by the Opposition now to be disposed of is
that which calls upon the Chamber to pronounce
some opinion respecting the projects attributed to
Prussia in reference to the Duchies. The amend-
ment upon this subject is referred to the committee
on the address. The Constitutionnel says that a
despatch from Berlin announces that Prussia is
adopting energetic steps with a view to the solution
of the difficulties in accordance with her peculiar
interests. That paper, however, contradicts the
report that General Manteuffel was about to proceed
to Vienna with a communication from the Prussian
Government to that of Austria announcing the de-
termination of Prussia to effect a solution of the
whole question with as little delay as possible.
A very remarkable case of forgery has been tried
before the Court of Assize at La Vande'e. A young
girl, named Mathilde Lafrechome, and Emile
Menard, a fashionably-dressed man of 30, were
found guilty of forging and circulating eight bills
of exchange, to the value of 7,830 f. The most re-
markable case of forgery was committed against a
gentleman named Savary de Beauregard, and it
was proved that Lafrechome, who had been brought
up at the convent, drew the bill in favour of Hor-
tense Hardy, superior of the convent, and forged
the acceptance of Madame de Beauregard, pretend-
ing that the latter had given the bill of exchange as
payment for a loan of 3,500 f. The male prisoner
is a notary's clerk, and was on intimate terms with
the young girl, and no doubt instructed her as to the
mode of drawing bills of exchange. The jury having
found both prisoners guilty, the girl was sentenced to
a year's imprisonment and a fine of 100 f. Emile Me-
nard was sentenced to five years' imprisonment and
a fine of I,ooof. Menard has appealed against the
sentence. The girl is described as being of re-

mailable beauty, and of peculiarly mild and modest
demeanour, and under 20 years of age. According
to the statement of one of the witnesses (there were
40), Menard seduced her by promises of marriage,
and being very vain and of expensive habits she
committed the forgeries to provide for the expenses
which they entailed.
The musical event of the last week was the com-
position of some beautiful variations to what is
called the Romance du Sauk, (the song of the mil-
lion) sung by Desdemona in " Otello." There are
three stanzas, Malibran and her sister Viardot
Garcia, as well as Grisi, always created great sen-
sation, when they sang the air in its original state.
Patti has sung the variations recently composed
by the great master Rossini, but I believe not in

public. The report is that they are admirable.
The Moniteur states that the young Prince Im-
perial has been attacked with measles, but in a very
mild form, and that his illness does not create the
least uneasiness. It is serious enough, however,
to cause the postponement of the intended Court
to-morrow.

Baron Hottinguer, the rich and influential Ger-
man banker, has just died in Paris, aged 63. His
fortune is said to be 60 millions of francs.
In England it is the common custom for a Mi-
nister to request members to abstain from discussing
political matters while negotiations are in progress
respecting them. This abstinence from discussion
was requested in the Corps Legislatif on Saturday,
in regard to Mexico, by M. Rouher, on that ground,
and thus the sitting does not claim any particular
notice. I may, however, explain that Baron
Saillard, Envoy Extraordinary for France, was
not expected to arrive at Vera Cruz till the 15th
of January, and therefore the Government is yet
without an answer to the despatches of which he is
the bearer to the Emperor Maximilian. It appears,
however, certain that the Government has quite
decided to withdraw the French troops, and not to
interfere any further with the affairs of Mexico.

The submarine cable for establishing a telegraphic
communication between France and Corsica, which
was laid down a few weeks ago, works perfectly.
It will not only afford telegraphic communication
between that island and the continent, but it will
form an important portion of a mixed line from
Sicily to Upper Italy by Sardinia. From Cor-
sica a second telegraphic communication is effected
with the Indies and Algeria, which at present is
carried on by means of the continental lines of Italy.
France is now placed in rapid and direct communi-
cation not only with Corsica and Algeria, but with
the various islands contiguous to her shores.
The Journal de St. Petersbourg, in an article re-
specting the events' in Moldavia and Wallachia,
says that " they were rather precipitate in choosing
the son of the King of the Belgians to rule over
them, such election being in formal contradiction to
the stipulations of the treaty of August 19, 1858.
If the Principalities have got iid of a prince who did
not possess either their sympathy or their respect,
they must not flatter themselves that they have yet
been able to replace him." The Count de Flandres
is at all events engaged for the present. He has
just left Marseilles for Rome, it is said, with a view
to an interview with the Pope in reference to some
regulations connected with the Roman Catholic re-
ligion in Belgium.
The second official reception of the Emperor at
the Tuileries was very numerously attended, The