The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-20 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Sunday Evening.
The Moniteur does not contain a word of news
in addition to the telegraphic despatches. It states
that on the occasion of his fete the Emperor, at the
suggestion of the Minister of the Interior, has
ordered 70,000 f. to be shared between the 75 ad-
mirable societies of material charity in Paris. Our
Minister for the Home Department might usefully
follow the example of the Marquis de la Valette,
who makes it part of his business to understand the
wants and aid the necessities of the population of
Paris. Was it not a beautiful trait in the official
character of the Minister that when he heard of the
terrible accident last Wednesday he immediately
repaired to the spot and superintended the arrange-
ments for the succour of the victims ? To some of
them he gave money at once.
Although various reports and conjectures are
afloat respecting the intentions of the Emperor in
regard to his visits to the Provinces, I have reason
to believe that at present nothing is settled as to the
time when his Majesty will leave St. Cloud or about
the spot to which he will proceed. Probably it will
be Biarritz. It is certain, however, that he will not
go to Chalons, an official announcement to that
effect having been made to the troops. The prizes
were to be distributed to-day by Marshal Regnault
de St. Jean d'Angely, in the name of the Emperor,
who intended to perform that office himself, but
during last week he was engaged with Cabinet
Councils, and diplomatic receptions, and commu-
nications.

The number of deaths from the accident at the
fete it appears was over-estimated. It is sufficiently
serious—nine—and several persons are not expected
to survive the injuries they received. It is noticed
as a singular fact that the man who first lost his
footing did not receive the least hurt. The bodies
of those who fell over him formed a sort of arch,

and he was thus enabled to breathe until he was
extricated. In modern times accidents have been
rare at Paris, even when there had been immense
assemblages of people, for in general the police ar-
rangements are much better than in London. There
has, however, been immense loss of life upon such
occasions in former days, for instance at the fetes
upon the marriage of Louis XVI. and Marie An-
toinette. A great many people were killed in 1837
at the marriage fetes of the Duke of Orleans.
The Superior Tribunal of Lyons has just given its
decision on an appeal case of a curious character,
strongly illustrative of the adage—" Penny wise and
pound foolish." The amount involved is 15 cen-
times (three halfpence). An individual residing
near a toll-bridge conceived the clever idea of evad-
ing the toll in this way. The toll for a horse and
carriage or cart is six sous. The person in question
drew his vehicle over the bridge himself, and then
went back for his horse. By this plan he paid only
the toll of one sou for a person drawing a vehicle,
one sou for the return, and one sou for the led
horse, thus effecting an economy of three sous. The
before an inferior Court, which decided in their
favour. The Superior Court, however, has over-
ruled the decision on the ground that the defendant
had paid the legal toll under the circumstances.
The appellant, however, in spite of this judgment
has not much reason for congratulation. The pro-
ceedings have been carried on for two years, and the
law expenses amount to more than the sum which
would have enabled him to pay the toll for his
natural life.

It is understood that the treaty of peace between
Austria and Italy will be signed at. Paris. General
Menabrea has arrived here, and will be assisted
during the negotiations by M. Nigra, the Ambas-
sador from Italy at the French Court.

A letter from Munich states that the young King
of Bavaria will shortly be affianced in that capital
to the Grand Duchess Maria, daughter of the Em-
peror Alexander of Russia.

The camp at Chalons is about to be broken up,
and the troops have begun their preparations for
their return to their garrisons.
It has been supposed that the ironclad vessel is
a modern invention, but this is not the case. A
war galley, equipped by the Knights of St. John of
Jerusalem, cased with lead for protection against
bullets, is described by Bosio, the historian of the
Order. This ship was built at Nice in 1530, and
formed part of the great squadron sent by the Em-
peror Charles the Fifth against Tunis to assist in the
expedition against the pirate Barberousse 2vTuley
Hassan. The expedition was commanded by the
celebrated Andre Doria. There was a siege of
several days, and the vessel, the Santa Anna, gave
great assistance in capturing the town. Though
much exposed, it did not receive any injury. Ithad
six decks, and a crew of a hundred men. There is
still a picture of this vessel among the ancient
frescoes of the Palais des Hospitaliers at Rome.
The death is announced of M. Gisors, a member
of the Fine Art Academy, of apoplexy. He was the
architect of the Palace of the Senate.

The cholera still prevails in the south of France,
at Arias and Marseilles. It is nearly extinct at
Amiens. In Paris there are deaths from cholera.

M. Dreyse, the alleged inventor of the needle-gun,
is about to place at the disposal of the Prussian Go-
vernment the model of a new cannon, which will give
to the artillery the same advantages as those conferred
upon the infantry by the needle-gun. M. Dreyse is
also engaged in the manufacture of a needle-gun
made entirely of iron, but which, nevertheless, weighs
3 lbs. less than the present needle-gun. French
manufacturers are also engaged in making destruc-
tive fire-arms. A cannon has arrived at Toulon
made at Angouleme of a murderous description ;
it is in two pieces ; it is nearly five yards in length,
and weighs more than 30,000 lbs. English. It will
form part of the armament of the Taurean, now at
Toulon, and it is said will project an immense mass
of metal.

There is another unfavourable change in the
weather. Early in the morning there was a heavy
'dew with fog. It began to rain about eleven, and
there has been much rain during the day. It was
cold in the morning, and not very warm as the day
advanced.

Prince Napoleon Jerome has been much on the
move of late. The other (lay he was at the chateau
in Switzerland. lle retuimed again to Paris, and
visited the Emperor at St. Cloud, and he has again
left Paris, some say on a political mission.

CHARLES DICKENS.--Wbc► will not be rejoiced to
learn that our great humorist intends to give another series
of readings, beginning, wo aro given to understand, imme-
diately after Christmas.
MUSICAL INTELLIGENCE.— -RICHARD WAGNER,
we hear, is at a work upon a new grand opera en-

titled "Fritz de Hohenstauffem."—JAELL, the eminent
pianoforte player and composer, was recently married to
Mdlle. Trautmann at the Church of the Madeleine, Paris.—
We have to record the deceasey on the 23d ult., at the ad-
vanced age of 84, of Mr. T. F. Walmisley (formerly or-
ganist of St. Martin's-in-then-Fields), father of the late
gifted Dr. Thomas Attwood Walmisley, the Cambridge
Professor of Music, and himself favourably known as a
glee writer cud excellent inusiqia4 .-31-usical 'Standard.