The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 7, 1866.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PA.RIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Sunday Evening.

The Paris papers to-day, in giving a summary of
their telegraphic and other news, describe it as still
tending towards war. The Sicle says—" If, as we
are assured, the Saxons, commanded by King John
in person, are on the march to the frontiers of
Prussia, it must be confessed that there will be a
remarkable concentration of troops at Prague. But
what does it matter ? M. Thiers possesses talent
enough to prove to the majority of the Legislative
Body that it is the fault of Italy."
The same paper says that every one at Vienna
believes that the time has come for the cannon to
speak. The negotiations are only continued as a
matter of form, for every one knows what to think
of the policy of Prussia. Troops and cannon tra-
verse the city on their way to the north and south
railway stations.

The excitement produced at the Bourse by the
speech of M. Thiers had not subsided yesterday.
lle•introduced a new element of discord, or, at all
events, of difficulty, in regard to Italy, by urging
France not to allow her to attack Austria with a
view to regain possession of Venetia. Even M.
Jules Favre, who coincides in the general views of
M. Thiers, dissented from this portion of his argu-
ment, and said that France had made great sacri-
fices for Italy, and ought to support her in further
aspirations for complete independence. " Should
Italy desire to reconquer Venetia," said M. Favre,
" she had the right to do so." The mischief of AI.
Thiers' speech seems to be that he said one thing
and meant another. His fiery denunciations of the
Powers for deserting Denmark told too well. One
is reminded of the story of the plaintiff who, on
hearing his advocate unfold in successive detail
the story of his griefs, burst into tears, and said he
never knew before that he had been so much wronged.
Politicians had forgotten how sacrificel Denmark
has been until Al. Thiers unfolded the story of her
spoliation with added force and bitter colouring.
The frequenters of the Bourse, however, were agi-
tated by the more practical and pressing philippics
of M. Thiers against Prussia. All along he pro-
fessed his desire to be for a pacific solution of the
difficulty between Austria and Prussia, but the
financial world, at all events, is feelingly alive to
what would be the result if France should take the
advice he gives. "France," said M: Thiers, "ought
to disavow Prussian policy—first, in the name of
equity; and, next, in the triple interest of Germany,
France, and society generally. The Government
said it would preserve neutrality. That was some-
thing, but it was not enough. No oue would be
insensate enough to say that to avoid war you must
go to war ; but could not France adopt another
mode than war to stop the progress of a dangerous
policy ?"
Although M. Thiers has a world-wide reputation,
the occasion may not be inappropriate to say a few
words of his personal characteristics. M. Thiers
was born at Marseillies on the 16th April, 1797, and
is consequently in his 70th year. He is short of
stature, has a weak voice, and is of delicate organi-
sation ; but little vivacity and movement can be
observed in his mild speaking. Some of the French
orators in the Chamber, on the contrary, " out
Herod-Herod" by their violence and gesticulations.
One would almost think that M. Thiers had for-
gotten Hamlet's advice to the players—" Be not
too tame either." In person and manner he some-
what resembles Earl Russell. He was a Democrat
by birth but an aristocrat by taste. M. Thiers was
received as an advocate in 1820, but did not long
follow the legal profession. In 1821 he was
one of the editors of the Constitutionnel. As
historian, M. Thiers is too well known to need a
word of notice, but every one is not aware that he
has realised large sums by his writings—perhaps
more than a million of francs. His " History of
the Consulate and the Empire " was purchased by
M. Paulin, the bookseller, for 500,000 f. The
Biennial Academia prize of 20,000 f., founded by the
Emperor, was awarded to him. He accepted the
honour, but devoted the money to a new prize. In
addition to his historical works, M. Thiers wrote
"Le Salon de 1822—Law, and his System of
Finance," " The Monarchy of 1830," " The Right
of Property," " The Pyrenees and the South of
France," and also various memoirs, speeches, and
commentaries.

The Chinese Mission, whose arrival at Mar-
seilles I mentioned, has reached Paris. The mem-
bers of it were sent to Europe by the Prince Kong,
Regent of the Celestial Empire, with the order to
traverse, but without any official character, France,
England, Belgium, Prussia, Denmark, and Russia.
Their object is to study the question of the establish-
ment of direct diplomatic relations between China and
those European Powers who have already concluded
treaties with the Chinese Empire. The name of the
head of this mission is Pinn-ta-Jen. For many
years he has held the position of sub-director of the
European Custom-houses in China. He is accom-
panied to Europe by Mr. Hart, an Englishman,
Inspector-General of these Custom-houses, who is
going to England on leave of absence. Pinn-ta-
Jen, who has lived much with Europeans, and is
acquainted with the mode in which they conduct
business, is a man of enlightened mind, who can
appreciate the advantages of European administra-
tion, and who has the intention to introduce im-
provements into that of China. He is a member
of the Imperial Council of Trong-li-Yanien, and
possesses the entire confidence of Prince Kong. He
brings with him four or five men of letters of
different ranks, and four young pupil interpreters,
two for the French language and two for the
English.

The affecting ceremony which takes place on the
sth of May, the anniversary of the death of Napo-
leon, was observed yesterday in Paris with unde-
min ished reverence. Early in the morning imm ortalles
and various funeral emblems were placed on the
column in the Place Vendome, as well as great
quantities of flowers. The old soldiers of the grand
army on this day put on again the uniforms they
wore in the field. In diminished numbers they
marched to the column, and after assembling at the
Staff of the Major-General commanding the city of
Paris, they proceeded with the flag in advance to
the Invalides, where a solemn service to the memory
of the Emperor was performed in the presence of
the Governor, troops, National Guards, Senators,
and many eminent men. A company of old
soldiers did the honours at the Invalids. A
commemorative mass was performed at the Tuileries
before the Emperor and Empress. It was on the
sth of May, 1821, that Napoleon the First died at
St. llelena. The 3[oniteur of the 7th July, 1821,
contained the following

" We have received by express the English papers
of the 4th inst. The death of Buonaparte is of-
ficially announced. The Courier gives this news.
Buonaparte is no more. He died on Saturday, the
sth of May, at six o'clock in the evening, after a
languishing illness, which confined him to his bed
for more than 40 days."
A remarkable poisoning case has just been tried
before the Court of Assize for the department of the
Orne. The victim
was a man named Lefevre, who
resided at Batilly. The persons charged with the
murder were his wife and a man named Denault,
with whom she was
known to be on intimate
terms. It was proved that the death of the man
was caused by drinking cider, in which phos-
phorus had been dissolved. Denault was acquitted,
but the jury found the wife guilty, and she was
sentenced to hard labour for life.

Stern old winter is gone again,
it is to be hoped
not to return until the reasonable time for his reap-
pearance. The weather has been warm, bright, and
magnificent to-day. Almost all Paris has taken
advantage of it, and has been to Versailles to see
the waters play, or to the fite at Billancourt, a
charming country vale, about half-way between
Paris and Versailles. Chantilly races attracted the
rest.

Count Colonna Walewski. T
TIIE DUKES OF THE EMPIRE.—The Emperor
Napoleon has just conferred the title of Duke upon the
created seven dukedoms—Malakoff, de Montmorot (son of
Queen Christina), Magenta, Morny, de rersigny, de Mont-
morency, and de Colonna Walewski. Of this number, two,
The second Empire has thus
the dukedoms of Malakoff and de Montraorot, havo already
bectot extinct.