The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-19 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE 1 Po:v:7 PARIS.

(FROM OUR OW} CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Friday Evening.
For one I shall dispense with the task of analys-
ing or even mentioning the various reports, tele-
graphic or postal, in reference to the supposed ad-
vent of war. For the most part they are warlike
to-day, but to-morrow the political vane may per-
haps point to peace. I may remark, however, that
although the greater portion of the Paris news-
papers publishes accounts which seem to make war
certain, few, if any, seem to have lost all hope of
the continuance of peace. The Siecle is very in-
dignant against Austria to-day. It says it " has
contended, nay proved, that it was Austria, who in
connivance with M. Bismark in the odious affair of
the Duchies quarrelled with Prussia, as is gene-
rally the case with robbers at the moment of the
sharing of the booty. Austria has made her ar-
maments in Venetia with the double object of de-
ceiving her accomplice, and of aiding the counter-
revolution beyond the Alps. It will be such a noble
deed to restore to their thrones the Duke of
Modena, the Archduke of Tuscany, and the King
of Naples, that it is natural the reactionists should
'applaud the efforts made by the Cabinet of Vienna."
Some alarm has been excited in Paris by the dis-
covery of the body of a man in the Place du
Havre, a populous part of the city, who has been
evidently murdered. The police have discovered
that he is a journeyman shoemaker, who has lately
been employed by a bootmaker in the Rue des
Pretres St. Germain l'Auxerrois, close to the church
of that name. Two men have been arrested on
suspicion. They are known to have passed the
evening with the deceased on the night of the
murder. They say that they and the deceased
were attacked by four men and two women as they
were passing late at night, and that the wounds
which caused death were inflicted with a knife by
one or more of them.
In Paris amusement is extensively subservient to
charity, as will be seen by the following account of
the large sums levied upon the theatres for the relief
of the poor during the month of April. The Impe-
rial theatres are subventioned, 785,336 f. 38c. ;
secondary theatres, vaudevilles, &c., 988,493 f. 25c. ;
balls, concerts, cafés-concers, &c., 160,962 f. ;
curiosities, panoramas, &c., 95,145 f. 50c. ; total,
1,029,937 f. 13c. I add a few items of theatrical
news. The regular season of the Italian Opera is
closed, but it is to be opened again in a few days,
under the direction of another manager, M. Rossi.
The opening opera will be " Ameleto" (Hamlet).
The singers engaged seem, for the most part, to
belong to the fraternity of the great unknown. Patti
is said to be suffering from typhus fever at Florence,
Such was the report here, but other Paris papers
say that she is well and singing in London. I men-
tion the report to show you that fabrications prevail
irrespective of politics. The first representation of
Dion Boucicault's piece, under the title of the
" Noces Irlandaises," is about to take place at the

Gait& The representation will be under the direc-
tion of that gentleman. The Odeon is now closed.
The ensuing season will commence with a new piece,
in five acts, by M. Victor Sejour.
Among the many doubtful reports of the day are
two published by La Liberte. That paper states
that the Emperor of Austria will shortly be at Verona
to take command in chief of the army. The other
report is that Prince Napoleon had an interview
with the Emperor immediately on his return to
Paris, and gave it as his opinion that Italy must go
to war.

The Moniteur states that at a council held at
Constantinople the Sultan Abdul-Aziz, after having
heard the advice of his Ministers, decided, upon the
demand of the Viceroy of Egypt, that the succes-
sion to the Viceroyalty of Egypt should henceforth
be transmitted from father to son in a direct line,
and not in collateral line, according to the heredi-

ary law now in vigour in Mussulman countries.

A very splendid building is in course of con:
struction in the Champs Elysees. People here are
at a loss to know for whom it is intended. By way
of Lyons, however, we learn that it is being built
for Victor-Emmanuel. The Progres of that city

says the King of Italy means to come to Paris for

repose when the destinies of Italy are fulfilled.
Previous to this becoming " an accomplished fact,"
he intends (says that paper) to abdicate in favour of
his son Humbert.

The ruinous, unfinished building at Auteuil, once
intended for a great International Exhibition, has
been sold by auction at the Palais de Justice. The
biddings commenced at 2,250,000 f., and it was sold
for 2,500,000 f. The purchaser is M. Carteret, who
is described as the founder of the General Omnibus
Company of London, and it is said that after all the
building will be devoted to some kind of public
amusement.

The musical world is waiting with some interest
for the result of the election to the chair of music
at the institute to-morrow, in the room of the late
M. Clapisson. The institute is composed of five
academies—the French Academy, the Academy of
Inscriptions and Belles Lettres, the Academy
of Fine Arts, and _the Academy of Science.
The present election is to the section of music,
which is thus composed : Monsieur Auber,
elected in the room of M. Gsssec ; M. Carafa,
elected in 1837 in the room of M. Lesuer ; M. Am-
broise Thomas, elected in 1851 in the room of

Spontini ; M. Reber, elected in 1853 in the room of
Onslow ; and M. Hector Berlioz, elected in 1856 in

the room of Adolphe Adan. An interesting
anecdote is now iu circulation appropriate to this
election. Adan is said to have had a great antipathy
to the music of Berlioz, and even to that composer
personally. A mutual friend, however, brought
them together, for they were then personally un-
known to each other. The result was that they
soon became the best and most attached friends.

One day Adan said to Berlioz, "Ipromised my vote
to Clapisson at the next vacancy, but I shall give it
to you." Alas ! for human promises and expecta-
tions. Adan could not keep his word, for he died,
audit was Berlioz who was Adan's successor. The
foreign members of the section of music at the In-

stitute are—Rossini, Mercadante, and Verdi.
corresponding members are Messrs. Daussoigne
Mehul of Liege, Conte of Naples, de Valldemosa of
Madrid, Gaspan of Bologna, Benedict of London,
and Flotow of Vienna. I believe I have already
mentioned the names of the five candidates. They
are M. Charles Gounod, M. Felecien David, M.
Victor Massd, M. Aline Maillart, and M. A. Elwart.
They are each more or less favourably known as
musical composers. M. Elwart is also a bit of a
poet. The following is the terse paragraph of the
law of August 12,
1:795, which sanctioned the
foundation of the Institute :--c, There is for the
whole of the Republic a National Institute, whose

The

mission is to record discoveries and to perfect the
arts and sciences."

Again is the weather, settled and beautiful. The
cold northerly wind has passed away, it is to be
hoped for some time to come, and we have had a
bright, warm summer day.
Nothing is sacred to a Sapper, says a French
writer. It would appear that nothing is sacred to
French punsters. Just now they imagine a play of
words mixed with curious finesse at the expense. of
M. Bismarck. Even royalty is called into requisi-
tion to aid these bons mots. These punsters who,
•according to an English humourist, would pick a
pocket, tell us that the day after the attempt upon
the life of M. Bismarck the King of Prussia went
to congratulate his Minister, and said, " So they
have drawn upon you." yes," answered Bis-
marck, " but I would not accept the bill." To
make the point of this generally understood, let me
explain that the verb tiror (to dm?) MOD§ 11109 to

fire. A new piece has been played at the theatre
at Nancy, which turns upon political events in the
16th century. The chief character is a warlike
Minister who would set all Europe in flames. The
audience saw in him a resemblance to Bismarck,
and at the end of the piece vociferously called for
the director. The name of this gentleman is Marc.
To show their approbation of the piece and their
desire for its repetition, they called out Bismarck.
The word bis in French is used in the sense in which
an English audience cry out encore when they want
a song to be repeated. Another cut at the poor
Minister is that he was very ill the other day and
sent for the doctor. The doctor reassured him and
said he,did not want medicine ; all that was requi-
site
was attention to diet. " The Diet," M. Bis-
marck is reported to have replied, " let the Diet go
to the devil." An ironclad vessel is in French called
an navine BLINDh. Since the attack by Blind,
Bismarck is said to be blinde; or ironclad, so that
Blind's bullet could not touch him.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

THE WAR CRISIS.

BERLIN, MAY 19.

Russia continues her endeavours with the
Middle States, with which the Imperial family is
allied by marriage, to exercise an influence ad-
verse to their alliance with Austria.

Among other motives Russia urges that the for-
mation of Polish regiments might lead to dangerous

movements.

Russia is principally apprehensive that Austria
might favour a movement in Posen which might
spread into Russian Poland. -

FLORENCE, May 19.

The rumour that the Italian Government con-
templated making changes among its diplomatic
representatives at London, Berlin, and Constanti-
nople, is unfounded.

NAPLES, May 19.

The journals of this city assert that the late re-
actionary movements in the Calabrias were insti-
gated by Austrian agents.

FIELD-MARSHAL BENEDEK'S PROCLA-
MATION TO THE AUSTRIAN ARMY.
The following is the proclamation addressed by
Field-Marshal Benedek to the Northern Army :
" HEAD-QUARTERS, VIENNA, May 12.
" His Majesty, our most gracious Emperor and
I master, has deigned to order me to take the com-
mand of the Northern army, now in course of
formation. After the 15th inst. my head-quarters
will be provisionally established at Vienna. At
that date the generals, troops, branches of ad-
ministration, and military establishments com-
posing the said army will be placed under my
command.
" Aware that a soldier's duty is fidelity and devo-
tion, I know how to obey every order of the
Emperor with joy. But this feeling of duty is
still more increased now by the conviction that each
one of the members of the army united under my
orders will display the utmost zeal in combating
and repulsing every enemy who shall dare rashly
and unjustly to threaten our august Emperor and
master, his illustrious dynasty and his monarchy,
and our dear country.
" In a short time the army will •be completely
organised and equipped, great, strong, and valiant,
animated by the best spirit—the spirit of order,
discipline, honour, and fidelity of bravery and abso-
lute devotion. The eyes of the Emperor and of his
noble court will follow the army everywhere. The
resolution to make sacrifices and the enthusiasm of
all the peoples of Austria will lead us on. The
sympathy, the expectations, and the hopes of our
compatriots, and of all who are dear, will go with
us. At the approach of the decisive struggle for
the sacred right of the Emperor and the country,
the Austrian army, filled with enthusiasm and show-
ing the ancient tenacity of the Empire, will always
know how to conquer or to die with fidelity and
honour for monarch and fatherland.
" Soldiers ! I bring you the heart of an ardent
soldier, an iron will, supreme confidence in your
prowess, humble reliance upon the justice of Pro-
vidence, and trust in my old military good fortune.
I greet you, soldiers, with God—you whom the will
and orders of the Emperor have confided to my
command and my care. I greet you in the firm
conviction that the blessing of Heaven will not fail
to crown our just cause, our fidelity, our bravery,
and our constant perseverance."

MILAN, May 15 (Evening).
The latest advices from Venetia, to the 4th inst.,
announces that the Austrian military arrangements
have assumed a strictly defensive character. The
cavalry and light corps that were echeloned along
the right bank of the Po from Astiglia to Polesella
are now moving towards the centre. It is reported
that the Hungarian troops in Venetia will be trans-
ferred to Bohemia. The emigration of young men
from Venetia into Italian territory, in order to enrol
themselves in the national army, has assumed large
proportions since the publication of the royal de-
cree for the organisation of the volunteers. About
300 students have left Padua, and the emigration
from Fruili and Cadore even exceeds that c,f 1860.
Parties of young men are also leaving Venice daily.
FLORENCE, May 16.
The Nazione onto-day has the following :—" It
was reported yesterday that a note had arrived from
the Cabinet of the Tuileries proposing a Congress
to the Italian Government in concert with the other
Powers for the settlement of the pending questions.
France, it was added, declared that she made this
proposal with the desire of preventing war, but it in
no way pretended to impose the mode of settlement
of the questions at issue. The Italian Cabinet is
stated to have replied that it did not decline the pro-
posal, but that the preliminary basis of any nego-
tiation must be the cession of Venetia. France
undertook to communicate this declaration in ex-
plicit terms to the other Powers. We publish the
above with all due reserve."

SPAIN.

MADRID, MAY 19.

Senor Alonso Martinez, Minister of Finance,
tendered his lesignation yesterday, but at the re:..
quest of Marshal O'Donnell has consented to remain
at his post.

The declaration made by Mr. Layard, in the
English House of Commons, relative to the bom-
bardment of Valparaiso, has produced a great sen-
sation here, and it is expected that the Government
will be questioned on the subject in the Cortes.

CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.
SUEZ, MAY 18.
The Mooltau arrived at 11 a.m. to-day (Friday).

FRANCE.

The Emperor went the day before yesterday to
the Bois de Boulcgne to visit the grounds of the
Club des Patineurs. Ills Majesty also drove the
same day along the boulevards quite unattended.
Advices from Berne pmnounce that the Federal
Council has named a military commission, under
the presidence of General Dufour, to consider the
steps necessary for the maintenance of Swiss neu-
trality. The Council has also decided on the occu-
pation of the frontiers by the Brigade of General
Escher.

At Havre the work of unloading the ship Argean,
which took fire a day or two since, is being pro-
ceeded with, and about 80 bales of cotton have
been landed all more or less damaged. As the
cargo is removed the pumps are still kept going as
a measure of precaution.
The France, in speaking of Prince Napoleon's
interview with the Emperor, states that his Imperial
Highness declared that " Italy could not help going
to war, even if she stood unsupported on the field
of battle."

In the town of Havre, two evenings ago, a man
suddenly appeared at the window of one of the
houm on the Qui, and seating himself on the sill

on the fourth storey commenced to gesticulate vio-
lently. The spectators fearing to enter the room
lest he might be startled,. remained watching until
the suspense became too great and a police agent
entered quietly and managed to seize the man by
the arm, but by a violent jerk the other released
himself and fell outwards, striking against various
projections of the house in his descent. When the
bystanders came to raise him they found that, al-
though dead, there were no apparent fractures or
any blood. The deceased was not a native of the
town, and seems to have been suddenly seized with
folly.

The Emancipateur of Cambrai announces the
death, at Turcoing, of Mine. Bayard, aged 75, who
was nurse to the Duke of Bordeaux.

The Bishops of Perpignan and of Anger have
just addressed to their clergy pastoral letters in
favour of Peter's Pence.

A letter from Issoudun (Indre) states that at a
recent fair held there a number of horses were pur-
chased for Italy.

Accounts from the Levant mention a great fer-
mentation in the island of Candia. The Greek
populations were holding armed meetings, at one
of which 2,000 persons were present. The demands
made to the Turkish Government are these :-Ist
Exemption from taxation for a period of four years.
2d—A confirmation of certain privileges granted in
1858, but frequently infringed by the Pachas set
over them ; and 3d—An application of the rules
adopted by the Church of Constantinople to the
property of religious houses.

A letter from Bale to the Courrier die Bas Rhin
says :—" Communications from Paris state that the
exhibition of animals of labour, which was to have
taken place in the French capital in 1867 during
the great Universal Exhibition, has been abandoned.
The Government, it appears, has interfered, because
of the fears inspired by the cattle disease raging in
England and some parts of Belgium and Holland.
Apprehensions were entertained lest the bringing
together of so many animals and the necessary re-
laxation of the scrutiny on their entry into France
might favour the appearance of the epidemic.
BOURSE, May 18, Three o'clock.--The market
has given way during the last hour, and quotations
have declined to close as follows :

4i. per Cents 95 50
Do. end month —

3 per Cents. 64 20
Do. end month 66 95

Credit Mobilier ... 537 5O

Do. end month MO
Credit Foucier —

Bank Shares 3400
Italian Loan 38 65
Do. end month 3B 70
Mexican Loan 33
Do. Bonds., 235
Spanish Threes
Home Debt ... : —
Deferred
'AY&

Do. end month 1117 50

For Account.
Orleans 795
Northern 1055 --

_—
Lyons and Mediterranean 7BB 75
Southern 525
Western —
Eastern .-. 5OO
Sardinian —
Austrian
Lombard 295
North of Spain , ll5
Saragossa 162 50
Ditto to Barcelona — --
Roman —

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Duke of Somerset held a levee yesterday
afternoon at the Admiralty, Whitehall. The follow-
ing officers attended :—Admiral Purcell, Rear-Ad-
miral Ommaney, Capt. Robert Jenkins, C. 8., Capt.
T. A. B. Spratt, Capt. W. J. S. Pullen, Capt. N.
Salmon, Capt. C. R. F. Boxer, Capt. T. Saumarez,
Capt. T. F. Birch, Capt. R. Purvis, Capt. W.
Graham, Capt. H. C. Majendie, Commander A.
Morrell, Commander E. A. T. Stubbs, Commander
G. Parsons, Commander J. A. Poland, Com-
mander W. J. F. Jackson, Commander W. L.
Stainforth, Lieut. J. A. Forbes, Lieut. N. Bowden
Smith, and Lieut. A. F. Freese, Commander C. B
Theobald.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Commander W. E. Gordon,
to the Petrel, commissioned ; Dr. W. H. Lloyd,
Burg., to the Jason ; W. P. Clapp, assist.-surg., to
the Royal Adelaide ; Richard G. Roe, second master
to the Achilles ; Herbert Swire, master's assist. to
the Achilles ; and Herbert T. Garland, nominally
a naval cadet.

The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :.—Capt. J. C. Wilson, to the Nar-
cissus, vice Campbell, to be flag captain to Rear-
Admiral George Ramsay, C.B. ; Commander Geo.
R. Wilkinson, to the Curacoa, additional, for sur-
veying service ; Lieut. Harcourt T. Gammell, to
the Narcissus, as flag-lieut. to Rear-Admiral Geo.
• Ramsay, C.B. ; Wm. E. Archdeacon, master, addi-
tional, to the Seringapatam; Dr. John J. Crawford,
staff-surgeon, to the Trincomalee ; Edwin Harris,
paymaster, to be secretary to Rear-Admiral George
Ramsay, C.B. ; G. F. Norman, paymaster, to the
Hibernia; J. T. Sueter, paymaster, to the Spiteful;
B. F. Meyer, assist.-paymaster, additional, to the
Narcissus; Gerald M'Carthy, master's-assist. to the
Orontes ; J. R. H. M'Farlane, master's-assist., to
the Mullet ; J. P. Braine, clerk to the Canopus ;
T. W. Hall, to the Pembroke ; W. W. Inch, assist.—
clerk, to the Terrible ; Lieut. John R. D. Cooper,
to the:Donegal ; Robert L. Bett, assist.-surg., to
the Victory, additional, for service in Haslar Hos-
pital ; and George W. J. Sutherland, assist.-surg.,
to the Impregnable.
In the Royal Naval Reserve Robert Lee Sands
and Henry George Wilcox have been appointed
sub-lieuts.

te_i=
(Burt CA DIE, lirtzlar

HER MAJESTY•

WINDSOR CASTLE, May 16.
The Queen, with Princess Helena, drove out in
carriage-and-four yesterday afternoon, attended
by the Dowager Duchess of Athole. Colonel the
Hon. A. Hardinge was in attendance on horseback.
Her Majesty walked and drove in the groundo
this morning, attended by the Dowager Duchess of
Athole.

We have authority to state that the marriage of
H.R.H. the Princess Helena is definitely settled
to take place on the sth July, in the private chapel
at Windsor Castle.

VISIT OF PRINCE ALFRED TO LIVERPOOL AN9
BIRKENHEAD.—We understand that his Royal highness
Prince Alfred will visit Liverpool and Birkenhead on the
23d June next, and not the 25th, as originally oar nod:
The Prince will deliver the prizes to the boys on board
the Conway training ship, and open the new entrance t°
the Birkenhead Docks.