The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-20 00:00:00

CORRESPO

,OM PARIS

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, THURSDAY, November 19.

The funeral of Baron James Rothschild yesterday was
a simple but imposing ceremony. Prince Metternich
and the other Ambassadors of the chief Courts were
present, and the Emperor and his Ministers were repre-
sented. The cortege was remarkably unpretentious. The
immense crowd, and the numerous distinguished men who
paid the last honours to the great financier, gave an
appearance of remarkable solemnity to the ceremony.
The funeral was worthy of the man. In commercial affairs
the head of the house of Rothschild played a part not less im-
portant than that of the greatest men who have dis-
tinguished themselves in other walks of life. He was the
pillar of French finance after the fall of the First
Empire. More than any of the statesmen of the day
he aided to relieve France from the terrible burdens
cast upon her by the wars of Napoleon and by
the enormous concessions exacted by the Allies.
During the reign of Louis Philippe he gave great assist-
ance to the various projects for the construction of French
railways. The overturning of Governments mattered little
to the Rothschild House ; its mission of peace was pursued
under all circumstances. Baron Rothschild's financial
skill was of signal service to the nation after the revolution
of February, and he did not forfeit his high position when the
coup d'etat took place. His influence on the destinies of
France has been silent and unseen, but none the less
momentous. His departure is a great event in the great
world of finance.

Amongst the numerous invalids of distinction who
claim attention just now, the state of none is more a
question of- general interest than that of the Princess
Charlotte, late Empress of Mexico. A sensible
improvement is reported of this lady. Since the great
heat of last summer has disappeared her Majesty has
gradually recovered her sleep, the beneficial influence of
which has not been slow in shewing its effects. Rest-
lessness having ceased, a general appeasement of
mind has followed. Her Majesty has resumed her letter-
writing and devotes her leisure also to music, painting,
and reading ; she has even conceived the project of com-
posing a history of the re-establishment of the Mexican
Empire. For this purpose' she has made application
all persons who had any connection with her late consort
to forward her any documents which may throw light
upon the Mexican expedition. -
An odd story is told of Rossini respecting the want et
intimate relations between him and Meyerbeer. Rossini,
on being questioned on the subject, admitted that both
musicians had great esteem for each other ; that they
admired eadi other's works. "But," added the Italian,
" we cannot get on together, because he will have it that
sour krout is a better thing than maccaroni."
The A!oni!eur has published a sort of counterpoise to
the article in the Journal de St. Petersbourg. It says the
Baron de Talleyrand-Perigord, who has returned to his
post as French Ambassador at St. Petersburg, has been
warmly received by the Emperor Alexander. The
Czar congratulated the French representative upon the
pacific spirit and the sentiments of mutual goodwill which
personally animate the sovereigns of Europe. His
Majesty expressed his satisfaction at the progress of the
works for the reconstruction of the cupola of the Holy
Sepulchre at Jerusalem.
The press of France is en proie to an extraordinary attack
from the Government. The Baudin affair has pro-
duced a terrible rout amongst the Liberal papers. The
Independant du Ccntre, published at Clermont, and the
Independant du Midi, at Nimes, are being prose-
cuted, and five journals of Paris have again been cited
on account of those subscription lists. It is
confidently asserted that if the Liberte had joined the
movement, and if the tribunals had not seconded the
Government, the latter had decided to have recourse to
another coup d'etat rather than tolerate these manifes-
tations.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

M ETEOROLOGICA L REFORM