The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-06 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Monday Evening.
The Moniteur states that the Minister of Marine

and the Colonies has just presented to the Emperor
the first copy of the French edition of the Commer-
cial Code of Signals. An English and French com-
mittee was appointed to prepare a book of signals
to insure communications between trading vessels
of all nations, and the two Governments adopted
the basis of a plan for one universal code, and im-
portant modifications were made in that which had
appeared in England. Mr. Larkins, of the Board of
Trade, and Naval Lieutenant Sallandvouze superin-
tended this minute work, the printing of which, in
French and English, has just been finished. Copies
of the French edition will be furnished to
all trading vessels, and at the same time the
arrangements have been made at all the Semaphore
stations to receive their communications. Arrange-
ments have also been made to receive by telegraph,
and the post communications by ships with the land.
Very shortly' a mutual language by signal will be
established between English and French merchant
ships, when they are in sight of the coast of France,
so that they may be in communication with all the
French telegraphic stations. Several Governments
have expressed a desire to adopt the Commer-
cial Code of Signals soon after its publica-
tion at Paris and London. All nations are invited
to give it their adhesion, and it is to be hoped,
thanks to the good understanding between France
and England, that we shall attain the realisation of
that great idea of peace and civilisation, " the esta-
blishment of one universal maritime language."
The Journal des Debats has a long and remark-
able article in reference to the differences which
existed between the Egyptian Government and the
Suez Canal Company. " With Lord Palmerston,"
says the Journal des Debats, "has disappeared the
last representative of those ancient passions which
looked upon France as the natural enemy of Eng-
land, and on the undertaking of M. Lesseps as a
conspiracy against English interests in the East.
It is well to remember that the two principal mem-
bers of the present Cabinet, Earl Russell and Mr.
Gladstone, at the period when they sat in the ranks
of the Opposition, energetically opposed the policy
adopted by Lord Palmerston relative to the Suez
Canal. Now that they have received their full liberty
of action, there is reason to hope that Earl Russell
and Mr. Gladstone will not place themselves
in open contradiction with the attitudethey assumed,
and the speeches they made in open Parliament at
another period." The Debats proceeds to state that
the French Government has appointed for its com-
missioner M. Lebasteur, and the Canal Company is
represented by Baron Mallet, Senator, and seems to
entertain no doubt that, on the arrival of the com-
missioners at Alexandria, for which they sailed on
the 9th ult., and after further conferences, the
Sultan will agree to a convention for negotiating the
affairs of the company. The works on the canal
are proceeding with extreme activity and vigour.
The Pope has sent I,ooof. to the central com-
mittee formed to receive subscriptions in aid of the
numerous sufferers from the terrible devastations of
the cholera at Guadeloupe, expressing his regret to
M. Chigi, his Nuncio here, that under present cir-
cumstances it was not in his power to send a larger
sum.

I recently sent you the particulars of the terrible
murder and mutilation of a woman at Toulouse,
the crime being
supposed to have been committed
by the keeper of a wine shop, named Aspe. A
human head has been found in the canal near that
city, and although considerably decomposed it has
been recognised as that of the murdered woman.
Aspe will shortly be tried on the charge of murder.
Another case of murder and mutilation has been
discovered. It took place at the village of Littoy,
near the town of Bayeux. The victim is a widow
of 77 years old, named Savary. She resided in a
lonely house. The body was found horribly muti-
lated, and deep stabs were found on various parts
of it. It was known in the neighbourhood that she
had money in the house, to obtain which was no
doubt the inducement of the murderers. There is a
field at the back of the premises of the deceased
woman which leads to the farm occupied by a man
named Elie. The researches of the police have in-
duced them to apprehend Elie and his sou as the
supposed murderers.
The Legislative Body have voted a law granting
a prize of 50,000 f. to be awarded within five years
to the author of a discovery which will render the
voltaic battery applicable with economy either to
industry as a source of heat, to chemistry, to
to mechanism, or to practical medicine. Should
there be no reason to grant the prize at the
period named, the competition may be deferred, by
decree of the Emperor, for another period of five
years.

Poncet, after his condemnation for the murder in
the wood near Argenteuil, became very talkative,
and reproached one of the gendarmes because he
was not disposed to converse with him. " Well," said
Poncet to him, " is it because a man is condemned
to death that you won't speak to an old acquaint-
ance ?" The place of execution is rather a romantic
spot, west of Versailles, distant a mile or two on the
road to Sceaux. On the border of a road did Pontcet
assassinate a defenceless man, and such a spot is the
locality for the expiation of the crime. In addition
to his appeal to the Court of Cassation, he sent a
petition to the Emperor praying for pardon. An-
other murder has been committed near Argenteuil.
Halfway between Sartrouville and La Frette the
body of a man of 65 has been found in a field of
asparagus. Mortal wounds had been inflicted on
his head with some sharp instrument. He was
known in the country by the name of the Sorcerer
(le Sorcier).

MARKETS.---This Day.

HAY.

SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 10s; clover,
£5 5s to £6 15s Od ; and straw, £1 16s to £2 2s per load.
Trade firm.
CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, £4 48 to £slss Od; clove;
£5 5s to £7 Os Od; and straw, £1 188 to £2 4s per load.
A fair demand.
WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 108; clover,
£5 5s to £6 15s Od; and straw, £1 16s to £2 2s per load.
Trade steady.

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