The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-11 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Sunday Evening.
The Moniteur is deficient of actual information
in regard to the war, except that derived from the
telegraphic despatches. The Constitutionnel, how-
ever, has a semi-official article, in which, after
reviewing the position of affairs, it states that France
will preserve strict neutrality, unless forced to inter-
fere by circumstances. This assertion of course
leaves a large margin for future action on the part
of France. The Emperor is a man of impulse, and
such " circumstances" may arise at any moment.
An Austrian paper received in Paris, the Notes
Frenulenblatt, says that war may yet be prevented.
All that is required is for France to declare
to Prussia and Italy that she will remain neuter
even in the pretence of Russian intervention in
favour of Austria. I might cite other puerilities of
the German Press.

The proposed curtailment of the
.Luxemburg
Gardens excites some opposition, and various peti-
tions against it have been presented to the Senate.
These petitions will be referred to the Ministers of
State, and there seems a probability that the
proposed curtailment may be abandoned. M. de
Boissey spoke strongly against the proposal, and
expressed the idea that the curtailment of the Lux-
emburg was only a step towards the curtailment of
the gardens of the Tuileries. The subject is con-
sidered so important that a solemn official inquiry
is about to take place.
A letter from Florence, dated June 5, says :

" War is now inevitable. It is said that at the ex-
piration of three or four days we shall hear cannon
on the Elbe and on the Po. Do not forget, how-

ever, that we have 30,000 volunteers to organise,
equip, and arm. The arsenals can furnish equip-
ments for a million of men, but uniforms are wanted.
It is not impossible that the present state of uncer-
tainty may be prolonged for a few days, unless
Austria should take the offensive, which is not im-
possible, at least in Germany. The King returns
in great haste to Florence, and on his arrival im-
portant measures will be adopted ; the first of which
will be a forced loan of 750 millions. The credit of
the State is much shaken abroad."

The French Government has received despatches
from Mexico to the 10th May, and from Vera Cruz
to the 13th. Nothing of political or military im-
portance had occurred since the last accounts. The
Emperor Maximilian, wishing himself to promote

the economy recently suggested under the new
financial system, had considerably reduced the ex-
penses of the Imperial establishment, and thus they
had been brought within the limit of 500,000
piastres. The movements of General Lozada, in
the Linoloa, had been suspended, the prompt paci-
fication of that promise being anticipated. The
position of affairs in the Tamanlipas had been much
improved, the capture of Ciudad-Victoria, by Col.
du Pin, being considered as the guarantee of tran-
quillity by the natives.
Curious devices are now adopted by some of the
Paris papers to attract subscribers. The Nouvel
Illustre, a halfpenny illustrated paper, sends the
journal in a band on which the name and address
of the subscriber is tastefully printed on beautiful
paper, so that the band may serve as a visiting card.
The Paris papers are not supplied through the
medium of newsmen as in London, but are sent
direct from the office. It may not be known that
these printed envelopes form a serious item in the
general expenses of a newspaper. A paper which
has 50,000 subscribers pays for these envelopes
rather more than £3OO a year, or, upon the average,
say 2s. on account of the name and address of each
subscriber. It is now the rage with Paris papers
to offer prizes of all sorts to subscribers
for six months and upwards. These prizes
consist of books, maps, and miscellaneous
fancy articles. The system bids fair to
progress, and ere long the probability is that
offers will be made to those who subscribe for a year
to supply them with hats, shirts, coats, and not only
articles
s s, but
o
perhaps
rh
o aercertain
provisions
qu quantity
ne eachtityap
ofs
beef, ofdress,
mutton, grocery,
month. It may not be very inappropriate,t
to supply food for the body as well as for the mind
at the same time. So capacious is the imagination
of Frenchmen of business that this idea, fanciful,
perhaps, for the moment, will only, I think, become
an accomplished fact.
According to the private correspondence of the
Moniteur, the Austrian troops in the Duchy of
Holstein, commanded by Baron Gablenz only com-
prise 2,400 infantry, 150 horse, and one battery of
artillery. The Prussian army in Schleswig, under
the command of General Manteuffel, amounts to
19,000 men, to which are to be added 13,000 men
cantoned in the Duchy Lauenbourg.
Ike fete day of the French St. Swithip, St. Me-