The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 29, 1868,

SIJARE LIST.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM FARM

',Frbou OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, THURSDAY, May 28.
The telegrams from Berlin announcing that irsurrec-
tionary Polish bands have appeared in Gallicia, and that
they have been recruited from the Polish emigrants in
this city, have attracted a good deal of attention. It is
noticed that they come from Berlin, and not from Vienna,
which would seem most natural, considering that Gallicia is
an Austrian province. The general impression is that there
is no truth in these telegrams, but that have been
originated by the Russian Government in order to furnish
an excuse for inflicting fresh severities upon its unhappy
Polish subjects. Even that explanation, however, leaves
the matter sufficiently serious. It cannot be doubted that
Russia is determined to crush out the Polish nationality
altogether, and seems to desire rather to outrage than to
respect French susceptibilities, always very keen on this
subject. The question is, if France will much longer sub-
mit to this. For my own part lam beginning to suspect
that the enormous armaments which are still going
on, and which must certainly mean war somewhere, will
be used for, among other purposes, the re-establishment of
the Polish Kingdom, with perhaps Prince Napoleon at
its head. Such a measure would be immensely popular
in France, where the belie:! in the Polish nationality is
still an article of the popular creed, is still one of the
" ideas " for w Lich Frenchmen would be prepared to
" make war." The fact that General Langiewicz, the
ex-dictator of Poland, has just gone to Constantinople,
whither Prince Napoleon is now setting out, seems to con-
firm the suspicion that some project of the kind I have
mentioned is on the topic. The Avcnir National boldly
declares that " the acts of the Russian authorities in the
ancient Kingdom of Poland afford only too great justifica-
tion for armed protests." The same paper adds :"It is
certain that the Eastern Question would be raised, with
all its consequences, in a fortnight, if the different move-
ments in Bosina and Gallicia are not immediately
suppressed. What would be the part which the French
Government would take in connection with events so grave?
It is impossible for us to foresee. The Moniteur ought
clearly to give us some explanations upon the Eastern
policy of the Marquis de Moustier, but it may be.. pre-
dicted that no explanations will be forthcoming."
In this. last Statement the Arcnir National is certainly
correct. At the same time we have just had a very serious
indication of what our Government thinks of the present
political position. The announcement has been made within
the last day or two that the contingent of 100,000 men for
next year will be voted at once. The announcement seems to
have puzzled the Paris journals, and very few of them
have as yet taken any notice of it. Those that have
see in this move, which will enable Marshal Niel to call
out the recruits for 1E69 five months before the time, an
omen by no means peaceful.

An article in the Berlin paper the Kreuz Zeitung has
attracted some notice on account of its very unfriendly
tone towards this country. As the mot d'ordre to the
Berlin press has been of late to be courteous towards
France, this renewal of semi-hostile utterances excites
some surprise. It is scarcely likely, however, that Bis-
marck had anything to do with the article.
The Temps asserts that the report upon the loan, which
I mentioned was to be presented to the Corps
Lflgislatif to-day, shews that the disagreement between
the Commission on the Budget and the Council of State
has not terminated. The commission insists on reducing
the original figure 444 millions (£17,760,000) to 411 millions
(16,440,000) including the 8 millions (£320,000) recently
appropriated to the construction of roads. The commis-
sion propose to devote of this total the following amounts
for extraordinary expenses : £5,560,000 for the army,
£1,320,000 for the navy, and £3,400,000 for public works.
Baron Haussmann's destructive mania has become so
intolerable that the Parisians are determined to bring the
matter before the Chamber. 11T. Ernest Picard, one of
the deputies of Paris, is going to move, as an amendment
to the proposed loan from the Cr6dit Foncier, that a com-
mission of eighteen members shall be appointed which
shall make a valuation of all the buildings and lands
belonging to the city, and to divide them into lots, which
shall be submitted to public auction. There is a
method in the baron's madness. If report speaks
truth, he has on more than one occasion be-
come a large purchaser of house property, which
(infelix home I) had to be destroyed very shortly after he
purchased it. satisfactory
and that the baron got a
ance,
to know that virtue did
n
good deal more in the way of compensation than he had
paid in the way of purchase money.
The projected telegraphic reform is exciting much in-
o t go unrewarded
is
i n tbs
in-
terest in this country. The Paris journals are asking that
there shall be an increased charge for messages during
the busy hours of the day, say from twelve to four; but it
is doubtful if the Government will adopt the suggestion.
There is still much talk of the circular which it is said
the Government has determined to address to the prefects
respecting the new Press Law. Hitherto the members of
the Government have not agreed upon the terms of this
address, but there are unpleasant rumours that instructions
will be issued which will have the effect of greatly
impeding the circulation of the journals.
The Emperor goes to Rouen on Sunday. He will be
received at the cathedral by the Archbishop, Cardinal
Bonnechose. There will be no political speech any more
than there was at Orleans.
The latest correspondence respecting the Algerine
quarrel has been published. Writing on May 22 to
Marshal Niel, the Archbishop expresses his " profound
surprise" at the letter written by Marshal MacMahon on
the 6th, accusing him (the Archbishop) of having demanded
the suppression of liberty of conscience for the Mussul-
mans of Algeria. The Archbishop states that his whole
life and career as
a bishop protest beforehand against
such an interpretation of his words. He goes on to
deny with great vehemence that he ever wished
to use force. On the contrary, he refused to baptise some
widows who demanded baptism because he thought they
were not sincere.
He goes on to speak of what he has
done for the Arabs, and says all that he wants is that his
liberty and rights as a bishop shall be respected.
To this letter Marshal Niel replies at great
length. He says that the difference which has arisen
between the Archbishop and the Governor is due to a mis-
understanding rather than to any difference of opinion,
and that really they are agreed. The Marshal says he is
rejoiced to know that the Archbishop is prepared to respect
the religious liberty of the Arabs, and be may be sure that
there is no thought of trespassing upon his rights as a
bishop. The Archbishop may rest assured that so long as he
exercises those rights subject to the necessary conditions
of their existence in a colony like Algeria, he will have the
support of the Government. The letter concludes with a
very flattering eulogium upon the life and character of
the Archbishop.

The Paris correspondent of the Morning Herald views
with the greatest alarm the announcement just made, that
the contingent of 100,000 men for 1869 is to be voted at
once. '" Never since the days of the First Empire have
two contingents been voted in one session. The measure
is most ominous ; it leaves no doubt as to the intgn-
tions of the French Government, but it does not
imply that war will break out before next yev,
unless indeed Prussia should take umbrage at such
an evident menace, and think it her interest to
precipitate matters and bring about the crash before
the preparations of Fiance are completed. It may be ex-
plained by the fact, that as the Government contemplates
a dissolution and thinks it may want a fresh supply of
chair a canon before the next Legislature meets, it wishes
the present Chamber to vote the contingent which in
ordinary times should only have been voted next session.
However that may be, this extraordinary measure is
sure to create the greatest sensation throughout France
and continental Europe." The Gazette de France
comments upon this step, aro asks,
" Why so much
haste ?" It will enable the Minister of War to proceed
with the recruiting five months earlier than usual. This is
certainly " not calculated to restore confidence to commerce
and put an end to the strike of the milliard (£40,000,000)
now lying idle at the Bank." It is remarkable that this
step should have been taken simultaneously with the noti-
fication of Prussia that two contingents of the Landwehr
are to be immediately relieved of their liability to further
service.

It may be news to some of our readers that the Isthmus
of Suez Canal is already available for some kinds of traffic,
and is actually earning a revenue. For the first quarter of
1867 the receipts were over £lO,OOO ; for the corresponding
period of 1868 they were nearly £23,000.
The French postal authorities are exceedingly
deficient in enterprise. It is not astonishing, perhaps,
that they should fail to see the advantages of the Brindisi
route, by which the overland mail would be quickened
three or four days. But it is remarkable that they should
virtually render the Mont Cenis railway useless by keeping
English letters for Italy twelve hours in Paris, and by
refining to run an early morning mail to St. Michel. In
this matter the Italian authorities are little better
than the French. For instance, when Mr. Fell's
line is open, which will be on June 8, the
mails will arrive at Turin about 9 p.m., and should
start immediately for Florence, in which case they would be
delivered there before noon. At present they do not arrive
until nine on the following morning. There is, however,
reason to hope that this service will be improved, for the
recent complaints which have been made respecting the
mails between. London and Genoa have induced the Italian
POstmaster-General to attempt an alteration. He met
with opposition from the French Government at first, but
it is believed that this will be overcome, and that the
letters will now take only three days which used tc. take
Satia4l42kjefitWPlo44l_

IBIPERIAL PARLILMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVES SING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the; Woolsack
at five o'clock.
Tho Sale of Poisons and Pharmacy Act Bill was read a
second time.