The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 16, 1866.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Wednesday Morning.
As the Post-office closes to-day at one p.m., in-
stead of 6.30, as usual, the time for the reception of
news is limited. It is deficient both in quality and
quantity. Indeed, if there were anything important
to-day Ido not think any one would read it. It
must be an earthquake, or something especially
moving and peculiar to interest the Parisians to-day
—the Emperor's Fete day. All Paris is afoot. All
is joy and gaiety. From almost all the houses flags
and other emblems of rejoicing appear, and the
mi-
litary bands are playing in various quarters. Some
persons have supposed that the Parisians are not
religious. To-day has afforded conspicuous proof
that they are. This is not a religious
,fete, but the
authorities have taken care to have thanksgiving to
God before the amusements and rejoicings begin.
The archbishops and bishops, by order of the Em-
peror, announced some days ago that Te Deum
would be sung in all the churches. The people have
responded to this religious appeal. The attendance
at the churches of Paris has been so numerous that
absence from public worship may almost be said to
be the exception. I was at Sevres and St. Cloud
this morning, and there the case was the same. As
I write the streets are thronged with gay-looking
people on their way to see the preparations for the
magnificent illumination to-night. On the occasion
of his fete the Emperor has either remitted or com-
muted the punishment of 1,527 prisoners at the
hulks and elsewhere. The morning has been beau-
tiful, but now ominous clouds gather and threaten
to mar the effect of the grand spectacle. It rains
again.
The Gazette de Spener says that the negotiations
for peace between Prussia and the States of Wur-
temburg and Baden are nearly brought to a con-
clusion. Difficulties have arisen on the part of
Bavaria, and it is possible that hostilities may be
resumed at the expiration of the armistice on the
22d of August.
The visit of the Empress Charlotte of Mexico to
Paris, recalls to recollection circumstances which
show that the governors of that country do not
sleep on a bed of roses. Of 19 personages, most
of them Generals, who were Presidents or Dictators
in Mexico in the 36 years from 1824 to 1860, only
two were legally and peaceably elected. The most
eminent of them, Guerrero, Santa Anna, Busta-
mente, Herrera, and Zuloaga were elected four or
five times. One only was allowed to fulfil his
functions for the whole period allotted. Some of
these Presidents were shot before they had been
long in office.
An attempt at three murders has been made at
the workshop of M. Froge, leather manufacturer,
in the Rue Lafayette, by a man named Julien.
One of the workmen, a man of 54; had for some
time been what is called chaffed and joked upon by
his fellow workmen, and to such an extent that
he determined upon revenge. Three of them were
particularly insulting to him. On the evening be-
fore last, while all the workmen were present,
Julien rushed into the shop, having three pistols
in his pocket. He discharged each successively
at the three men in question. One of them was
not hurt, but the two others dangerously wounded,
one in the jaw and the other in the neck. The
pistols were loaded with marbles. The work-
men arrested the assassin, and he is now in the
custody of the police. The crime was committed
so instantaneously that the men could not prevent
him from carrying his intention into execution.
A rich lady of Rueil, Madame Martignon, re-
cently deceased, has left by will the sum of £16,000,
and all her jewels and effects, to the authorities of
the town, with the understanding that they are to
build a house to support and educate 20 orphan
girls.

The Duke de Chambord, not thinking his money
safe at Vienna, has withdrawn it all, and placed in
the Bank of Berne (Switz .rland) five millions of

rancs.

Mr. Hawkshaw, the English engineer, is still
engaged in making soundings, with a view to the
situation of the most eligible point for the tunnel

which is to unite England and France. It is ex-
pected that the labour will occupy seven weeks.
Le Temps has a rather remarkable article about
Prussia. It says :
" The Prussian Government.seems determined to
bring its work of unification to an end with as much
as it employed in the war. It signs with
its future vassals treaties of absorption, which it
dice y
deigns riegnistto call treaties of alliance. Preparations are
made in the countries destined to be annexed.
There seems to be no difficulty on the part of the
deputies. Thus the route on which M. de Bismarck
drives his triumphal chariot is smooth and shady.
There is, however, a little cloud above his horizon,
for it appears that, although the negotiations pro-
ceed well with Baden and Wurtemburg, that is
not the case as regards Bavaria. M. Von der
Pfordten is one of the few Ministers who preserved
their posts among those who in the Secondary
States advised and organised resistance against
Prussia. An agreement may be easy between
Prussia and Baden, because the present Minister
has friendly feelings towards Prussia. M. Von der
Pfordten, on the contrary, has for Bavaria arubi-

tions which it would be difficult for him to satisfy
the day after a defeat. It appears, however, im-
possible for him to refuse to accept the law of the
conqueror, for where could he find the elements of
resistance ?"

It is stated that at the Great Exhibition a prize
of 10,000 f. for singing will be competed for by all
nations.

The Constitutionnel says—" The fate of Hanover
seems to be decided. General de Voigts-Rhetz has
just been appointed Governor-General of that
kingdom. It is known that the Queen persists in
residing in the capital. Prince d'Ysembourg has
proceeded thither with the mission of endeavouring
to persuade her Majesty not to prolong her stay in
llanover.
Meeting of the Reform League.

-

Last evening a special meeting of the vice-presi-
dents, council, and delegates of branches of the
Reform League was held at the League-rooms,
Adelphi-terrace, Strand—Mr. Edmond Beales in
the chair.

The Secretary read correspondence from various
parts of the country, thanking the League for its
recent action in upholding the right of public meet-
ing.

The CHAIRMAN then reported the proceedings
connected with his recent visit to Manchester, East
Lancashire, and Bradford, at each of which places
large and enthusiastic meetings had been held, and
the principles of the League affirmed by reso-
lutions passed unanimously. His own reception,
as president of the League, had been of the most
enthusiastic character, and not only at the public
meetings, but in private circles, he found the objects
of the League upheld, and the general feeling pre-
valent throughout the country that the events of the
last month have done more to hasten on the progress
of reform than all the exertions of the last 30 years.
(Hear.)

Reports were then, given in by various deputations
of meetings having been held and branches formed
in the City, Walworth, Paddington, Poplar, Wool-
wich, Marylebone, Soho, and other places.
On the motion of Mr. Leverson, seconded by Mr.
Merriman, it was resolved, 64 That a bazaar in aid
of the funds of the League be held early in the
ensuing spring ;" and a committee of seven were
appointed to attend to the same.

On the motion of Mr. Mantle, seconded by Mr.
Brighting, a committee was appointed to consider
the propriety of holding a demonstration at the
Crystal Palace in the month of September, and to
report to the next meeting.
Some routine business having been transacted
connected with extending the organisation of the
League, the proceedings then terminated with a vote
of thanks to the chairman and to Mr. Sanders, the
chairman of the City Lands Committee, for the 0)
cellent arrangements made by him in connection
with the late meeting at the Guildhall.

MR. EYRE, ex-governor of Jamaica, has accepted
an invitation to a banquet at Southampton on Tuesday
next. •

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, Aug. 16.
A split is about to take place in the Fortschitt
party. A portion of the latter intends forming a
separate faction, whose policy will be more in har-
mony with that of the centre party.
MUNICH, Aug. 16.

The Official Bavarian Gazette of to-day says :
" In reply to the asEertions of several journals, we
are in a position to state that the negotiations for
peace between Bavaria and Prussia are being unin-
terruptedly carried on.