The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-17 00:00:00

CORRES

PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, WEDNESDAY, December 16.
Ministerial changes are more and more the subject of
anticipation. The belief that the Imperial Cabinet will
shortly undergo great modification has become very
general. The necessity for having a united Cabinet, says
the Journal de Paris, has been impressed 'upon the
Emperor by the bitter experience of the evils which
result from divided counsels. The portfolios of the
Interior, Foreign Affairs, Public Works, and the Presi-
dency of the Council of State will be amongst those which
will pass into different bands. A Ministerial change is
inevitable.
With respect to one of the offices mentioned—that of
the Foreign Affairs—the Emperor may very likely be
spared some embarrassment. M. de Moustier is ill, and
if he does not improve I hear that he will resign.
General Cialdini has arrived at Paris previously to
setting out for Madrid. What is his mission at Madrid
has been a favourite topic with the gossips, but the only
explanation they can furnish is that he has been sent to
negotiate respecting the throne of Spain.
It is not improbable that some of Bcrryer's letters may
be published, Altogether they form an immense collec-
tion, many of them of the highest historic interest and
value. Berryer was a master of epistolary composition.
He wrote all his correspondence himself, and prided him-
self upon it. No one knew better than he what was the
exact turn of expression required in any, even the most
delicate, epistle, and no one could dash off a simple billet
with such perfect grace. Berryer occupied one suite of
apartments for fifty-three years, and without a lease !
Some of the papers relate a most amusing story, the
scene of which is laid in one of the communes near
Amsterdam. Jerome S—was the sole clerk and factotum
of M. Ambroise, one of the functionaries of the commune.
M. Ambroise, though some sixty years of age, was not
insensible to the tender passion, and for a month had laid
siege to the heart of Alphonsine, a seamstress, the wife of
Jerome, the clerk. The bouquets and sonnet arrived in
such profusion that they at length attracted the notice of
Jerome, who jealously inquired of his wife resp ecting them.
She confessed that M. Ambroise had for some time past
annoyed her by his numerous presents, but urged that
she was unwilling to speak about the matter, lest Jerome
should lose his situation. Jerome, acknowledging the just-
tice of this plea, decided to repay his patron for his atten-
tions to his wife. The next day the worthy Falstaff presented
himself at the residence of his clerk, bouquet and sonnet in
band. He was just endeavouring to compensate for his
lack of beauty by the vigour of his eloquence when a step
was heard on the staircase. "Itis my husband," cried
Alphonsine. The worthy functionary was inclined to dis-
pute this, as ho had just sent Jerome on a nine-miles
errand ; hut Alphonsine knew full well that it was her
husband, and so Falstaff was quickly bundled into a large
box that lay in the chamber. Jerome entered with two
peasants, who took up the box and laboriously carried it
out of the door. Alphonsine made a preconcerted show
of questioning Jerome on this proceeding, but he answered
that he had determined to sell the box, which was an en-
cumbrance, or if he could not find a customer, to throw
it into the river. The box was brought into the little
market-place, and Jerome, mounted on the lid, commenced a
sort of auction. Some of the crowd that gathered wished
to see the interior, but Jerome assured them that it was
empty, and that they might have everything they could
find in the inside. Thirty sous was the first bid, and
little by little the price of the chest crept up, until it
reached six francs. " What ! only six francs for a
chest like this !" cried Jerome, in true auctioneer
style, " I will throw it into the river first." At
length the total reached seven francs, and then Jerome,
thinking the play had gone far enough, " knocked down "
the article. The box was opened by the buyer—and there
was the unfortunate Falstaff in an insensible condition.
The alternative of disgrace or immersion in the river had
been too much for him. Jerome has lost his place, but
M. Ambroise has deemed it advisable to seek fresh woods
and pastures new. He has quitted the commune.

THE RUMOUR OF LORD MAYO'S RECALL.
(From the Correspondent of a Contemporary.)

---¢----

During the last few days the statement has been widely
circulated, both in London and the provinces, that the
Government had determined to recall Lord Mayo, whose
place would be filled by Sir John Lawrence for another
year, at the end of which time the Marquis of Salisbury
would go out to India as Viceroy. This change
was rumoured last week ; it was something more than a
rumour on Tuesday. It was on that day communi-
cated to a London journalist of old standing, emanating,
in point of fact, from a very distinguished member of the
Liberal party, a nobleman of all but the highest
rank, who has filled more than one very important office
under the Crown. This nobleman added that the step had
been decided upon at the Cabinet Council on Monday,
and that th letter of recall had actually been written. In
fact, his statement was so positive and so precise in its
details that it was impossible to suppose there could
have be.n any inaccuracy in his inCrmation. This
morning, however, I am assured, on the authority of a
Cabinet M.n.ster, that the measure referred to will not be
taken—that Lord Mayo will not be recalled. The matter
has indeed been under the consideration of the Cabinet,
but after deliberation it has been decided not to make a
change, which would have been only a little less painful to
the authors than to the subject of it.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

METEOEOLOGICAL Error,Ts.

Extreme Sea
Thursday, NC'S F. 0
Dec. 17, 13. T. Ito F. D. WR. to
p
8 a.m. 1 l2 9
---1
Nairn
Aberdeen
Leith 1—
Shields
Scarborough 29'60r. 44 42 W. 3 7 W.S.W. cr.b 0 OS' 3
Yarmouth 29'75r. 43 41 W.S.W.I 3 5 S.S.W. ' c.m 3
Helder
Cu' haTen
Eikudesrues
Ardross an
Green castle 44 44 W.S.W. 1 3 S.S.W. c.ro
o'l4
Holyhead .. 29'701. 46 44 S.W. 3 8 S.S.W. c. 10 01'—
Liverpool .. 29'22r. 47 144 W.S.W. 3 10 S.W. r.c.'o 'l6) 3
Valentia .. 29'48f. 49 48 S. 810 W. c.r.!0'17 8
Cape Clear.. 29•54 f. 49 48 S.S.W. 7 8 i N.W. c.r. ,0 11 5
Roche a Pt. 29 5.9 r. 49 49 S, 7 7 W.S.W. c. 0.10 20 4
Penzance .. 29'79r. 52 52 S. 5 6 S.W. c.m o'so 4
Plymouth . 2986 r. 51 50 S.S.W. 5 7 W.S.W. c.m ,o'l4 4
Weymouth. 29'89r. 51 49 S.W. 1 5 S.W. c. 10104 2
Portsmouth 29'90r. 48 46 W.S.W. 4 7 W. c. 10.01 3
London , 29'86r. 44 43 W.S.W. 3 6 S.W. or.lio'o7
CpeGris.N ez 29'70r. 50 46 V. 7 8 W. o.c.'0•01 4
Brest . .
L'Orient .... 29'98r. 50 50 , S.S E. 4 6 W. c.r.'o'o4 4
Roch e fort .. 30'13r. 50 50 1 W. 8 8 W. r. 10'06 5
Biarritz .... 30'15f. 52 50 W.N.W. 5 5 W.N.W. r. o'o4 7
Corunna.... _
Brussels.... _
Strasbourg..
Lyons
Toulon 3015 r. 46 N.W. 8 7 rntbl 6
Heart's Con-
tent (9 a.m.
local time)
REMARKS.
Since yesterday morning there has been a general increase of ban-

Since yesterday morning there has been a general increase of baro-
metrical pressure, amounting to more than half an inch on the E.
coast of England. In Scotland the change during the night has been
rapid ; in the S.W.of Ireland, however, a fall in pressure is again re-
ported since midnight. The least readings now lie to the north ; the
difference between Nairn end Rochefort is O'66in. Temperature has
Slightly risen in the S. and W. On the S. coast of Ireland and in the
Irish •ea the gale from the S.W. blew yesterday ; at Valencia the
kind has backed to S , and is now blowing hard. At the entrance of
the Channel the wind is fresh from the same quarter. At Rochefort
the wind continues strong, but has veered to W. Rain has been
general, and in Scotland heavy. Mist is reported at places on our S.
and E, coasts, whilst the sky is cloudy with i ain in Ireland. The sea
at Valencia is very high. Warnings were issued yesterday to all
coasts.