The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-16 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR-OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Sunday Evening.
German affairs are in the ascendant to-day, or at
all events take the lead in the minds of political
observers. The Memorial Diplomatique states that

nearly all the representatives of the Germanic
Confederation are already in the possession of in-
struction from their respective Governments as to
the course they are to adopt upon the proposal of
Federal Reform presented by Prussia at the sitting

... _
of the Federal Diet on the 9th inst., the discussion

on which was adjourned fora week. The substance

of these instructions is to the effect that the Ger-
man Confederates without distinction acknowledge

the desirability of a Federal Reform, but that they
consider the mode proposed by the Plenipoten-

tiary of Prussia to be ill-calculated to effect the

object in question. Another proposition, drawn
up by the Secondary States, will be introduced with
a view to carry into effect a more practical plan of
Federal Reform. Several of the Paris papers have

alarmist articles in regard to the attitude and

feelings of Austria. That Power, it is said, can
only see in the project of M. Bismark an aim to
destroy her influence in Germany, and as she will
not expose herself to partition, while admitting the
popular will as the proper motive for regulating
the internal affairs of the Confederation. Austria

15 ready to pursue a policy of legitimate defence,
and to take arnis against a policy which places
her existence in danger. Some of the Vienna
papers take up this bellicose tone, and indeed urge
the Austrian Government to pursue its hostile pro-

pensities. The Siecle draws from the articles in the
London papers that the time has come when Austria
must declare war unless she is disposed to allow

herself to be annihilated.

For some days past there have been reports of
interviews between the Count Arese and the Prince
de Metternich, the Austrian Ambassador at Paris,
having for object to enlist Italy in favour of Aus-
trian projects. How this may be it is difficult to
say. The Count has certainly been in Paris, but
he has left for Florence. Of the fact of the inter-
views, however, there is no doubt, and it is possib e
that the Emperor of Austria may not forget the
title claimed in former days of Emperor of Germany
and King of the Romans.
Mr. Hudson, the Railway King, wanted to " make
things pleasant" for railway shareholders ; but when
his short reign was over he fell to rise no more.
Not so with M. Mires, the great French financier
and railway manager. He was prosecuted, impri-
soned, maligned, condemned and released, but he is
likely to be more than re-established in his former
position. He is said to have ruined hundreds of
railway shareholders ; but at a great meeting of
upwards of 3,000 of them, which has just taken
place, all seemed forgotten and forgiven. He made
various propositions, all of which were agreed to
unanimously. lle advised union and forgetfulness,
and his advice was taken by all.
A splendid ball has been given by his Excellency
Sarfet Pacha, Turkish Ambassador at Paris, who
did the honours, it is said, with truly Oriental dig-
nity and courtesy. Nothing was/wanting at this
beautiful Eastern fete. All that was illustrious in
the Senate or the diplomatic world, and all the
beauty and rank of fashion was present. Marshal
Canrobert, the Duke de Persigny, Baron Haussman,
M. Michel Chevalier, and the Messrs. Pereire were
among the guests. Only one great personage, the
Austrian Ambassador, was conspicuous by his
absence. The Princess de Metternich, however,
more than made up for it ; and, according to a
somewhat malicious chronicler, explained as the
; reason for the" Minister's non-attendance, " that he
was ill of La Prusse," or, according to the English
• denomination of an illness, that he had got the
! Prussia.. The word enlivened the saloons of the
Turkish Embassy almost as much as the dancing.
An old General gave his opinion that it was a
disease which might require bleeding.
The total amount of the payments made by the
directors of the Paris theatres during the month of
; I March, on account of the percentage levied for the
relief of the poor, was no less than 1,931,826 fr.
'1 has do the French combine charity and amuse-

ment.
Thiers has again favoured the Legislative
Body with a long and rather remarkable oration,
the subject being the mercantile navy. He said
he looked upon the military marine, which rested
upon the prosperity of the mercantile marine, as
one of the forces of France, and indeed as one of
its arms. 31. Thiers professed to throw out of con-
sideration the subjects of the abandonment of
protection and free trade, but, in truth, his speech
as usual comprised various indirect attacks upon
those principles. He denied that there was any
proof of the advantage of removing protective duties
from the mercantile navy. The proof had not
commenced in respect to various branches of indus-
try. It would only commence when America should
enter the lists. M. Thiers remarked upon the dis-
tressed condition of the mercantile navy of France,
and argued that it would be dangerous to follow
the example of England in her relaxations of the
Navigation Laws. The construction of French
merchant ships was excellent, and it was not dearer
than in England. The English mercantile navy
flourished, but that of France declined. France
could not, upon the present system, successfully
rival England or America. 31. Thiers descanted
upon the " monstrous regulations" of the French
mercantile navy, and contended that the proposed
emancipation of charges and duties would not be
sufficient alone to enable her to rival with foreign
countries.

General Garibaldi is a grandfather. Teresita
Canzio Garibaldi, his son's wife, has given birth to
a little girl, who has been christened Annita. There
was a general fete at Caprera upon the occasion.
A new piece was produced ' last night at the
Theatre Beaumarhais, called the " Tourbiere du-
Val d'Enfer." It is a drama in five acts, and is
said to be .mysterious and interesting. I shall give
an account of it if it be worth description.
A subscription has been opened at Rouen for the
purchase of the ancient chateau of that town, where
Joan- of Arc was imprisoned.

THE LIBRARY OF MR. GEORGR AUGUSTUS SALA
was sold on Thursday. It contained many curious books,
with presentation volumes, and other interesting memorials
of literary friendship.
STRANGERS IN THE ETERNAL CITY.—According to
the Osservatore Romano, there wero over 40,000 foreign
visitors within the walls of the Eternal City during Easter

week.
JAMES THE FIRST OF ENGLAND, being nick-named
Solomon, Henri Quatre remarked that he was well-named
so, being the son of David !
" LILLIPUT," although an imaginary country, is
the name of a parish near Deal, and one probably well
known to Swift.
NAPOLEON 111. AND THE TRAPPIST FATHERS.—
The,Emperor of the French has granted a sum of 80,000 f.
from his privy purse to aid the Trappist Fathers in the
important works they have undertaken for draining the
ponds of Les Dombes, in the Ain. •
THE CATTLE PLAGUE, according to the South
London Chronicle, has,appeared again in Newington, and a
cowkeePexhas lost his Whole stock of 13 beasts by it.