The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-26 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PAM.

;FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, MONDAY, May 25.

The tug of war still goes on between the Government
and the Budget Commission. The first insist upon a loan
of 440 million francs, the second insist upon reducing it to
400 millions. The Prase says that 440 will certainly
be the figure. However, the commissioners bave succeeded
in making other deductions. It is not supposed that the
report of the commission will be presented until June 10,
qo that there is no knowing when the session will be over.
It will be the longest for many a year.

M. Delisle, the reporter of the Commission of the Senate
the Public Meetings Bill, has presented his report. It
is a document occupying several columns ; but the long
and the short of it is that the Commission do not intend to
oppose the bill. Nevertheless, there is likely to be a sharp
debate upon it.
AL Rouher was seriously ill last week, though not
dangerously so. He is now getting better, but the doc-
tors have told him that he must have some rest. He is
at his chateau, and will remain there until the end of the
week.

Cui bono the new press law? Another press prosecution
is announced—this time not in Algeria, but in France
itself. The three editors and the printer of the Messager
dzc Sud-Ouest have been summoned to appear before the
tribunal of Agen on the charge of "exciting to hatred and
contempt of the Government."

Some more elections to the Councils-General have just
taken place. In two instances the Government preserved
neutrality ; in the third the Government candidate was
returned by the narrow majority of ninety votes. This
was in the Toulouse, district where the new army conscrip-
tion law is so unpopular.
The long-announced brochure, " La Paix par la Guerre,"
has at last been published, or rather the proof sheets have
been sent round by Dentu to the newspapers. They were
sent to one of the leading German journals a fortnight
ago, but the editor refused to have anything to do with
them, believing that if inspired at all, the pamphlet was
inspired only by the ex-King of Hanover. Here it is en-
deavoured to produce the impression that the work is a
pilot-balloon sent up by the Emperor himself. But the
inspiration trick has been played so often that Parisians
have ceased to pay any regard to it. Nevertheless, it may
be well to give you the substance of the pamphlet. The
author sets out with stating that the idea of inevitable
and imminent war between France and Prussia has
taken such possession of all minds that no one now
has the power to remove it. The Emperor has again
and again pronounced in favour of peace (here
all his vnri.ms utterances and those of MM.
Rouber and Baroche are quoted) ; but in vain. The acts
of the Emperor have been in honourable accordance with
his words. Unfi ez,unately, it is undeniable that since the
battle of Saclowa, Prussia has been steadily Pursuing her
plans of assimilation and absorption. "The Treaty of Prague
is exceeded, the line of the Mein is crossed ; the moment
is near when, in the face of such encroachments,
which will not be the last, the Imperial Government will
be forced, to recall Prussia to the observance of treaties,
and demand those guarantees which the conduct of this
Power has rendered indispensable. There is only one
guarantee which can calm the just susceptibilities of
France and the uneasiness of public opinion. This is
disarmament. Not merely the sending home of a few
men whose military instruction is completed, and who
may be back under the flag within a week when wanted,
but real and serious disarmament. Everybody knows the
•-blitary organisation of Prussia. Without being as per-
t tas some pretend, it is such as to enable a very consi-
rable effective force to be placed in the field almost
instantaneously. Last year this organisation was extended
to all the States of the North German Confederation, and
the Berlin- Cabinet has so managed that the South
German States will shortly be modelled also after the
Prussian military pattern." The writer then goes on to
speak of the sacrifices which France has made in order to
meet the danger, and declares that the country having
done its duty, the Government has to do likewise, and
will do so. " Peace, definite and fruitful peace, can come
to us only as a result of war. France and Prussia are at
this moment like two men between whom there is an un-
settled affair of honour. So long as they have not met
reconciliation or any relations whatever are impossible.
Once the combat over, whoever be victor or vanquished,
they may honourably and sincerely shake hands." There
is very little fear about the result. The war will be
s'iort, for lengthened wars belong to a past age. England
wll be neutral. Russia will be Prussia's only ally, and
even she is not prepared for war. Austria, Sweden, Den.
mark, and Holland, " who fears for the future " will be on
the side of France. Italy will be neutral at least. But
the best ally of France will be Germany itself, for
Prussia has by her Protestantism and her aggrandisement
alarmed and estranged Catholic and Southern Germany.
Finally, the pamphleteer maps out Europe afresh. Poland
is to, be reconstituted, and Austria compensated for the
loss of Gallicia by Roumania ; and Turkey would really
gain by surrendering her fictitious. suzerainty over
that country, and would become a real barrier against
Russia.

All Paris was at Chantilly to celebrate the French
" Derby." The winning horse, Suzerain, was the object
.4 an ovation such as has not been known here since
Gladiateur. His owner, M. Schickler, is said to win,
besides the-entries and the Jockey Club Stakes, something
like two millions of francs (280,000).

The Paris correspondent of the Morning Herald, who
has been hitherto the most firm believer in the imminence
of hostilities, now thinks that there will be none this year.
Ills change of opinion is due to the fact that the navy is
quite unprepared for a war, and cculd not be got ready for
some months to come. The ships are maimed to a consider-
able extent by the men registered in the Inscription Mari-
time, but they are not available for this year, inasmuch as
a large number have sailed for the Northern and American
fisheries. They cannot return until September or October.
Moreover, the correspondent repeats his statement made
in a previous letter, that the Mobile Garde has been so far
a failure, and that it will take a considerable time to
organise. When it is organised France will be able to go
to war at ten days' notice.

The German Arctic expedition, which the telegraph tells
us has sailed, consists of a single ship, equipped at the
expense and through the energy of one man—Dr. Peter-
mann, the well-known geographer of Gotha, though it is
hoped that a considerable portion of the money will be
repaid to him by private subscription, the King of Prussia
having led off with 5,000 thalers. The Germania is a
Norwegian brig of only eighty tons, built specially for
navigating the Polar seas, and commanded by a Hanove-
rian. She is to explore the eastern coast of Greenland
from the 75th to the 80th deg., and to return if possible
before the winter; but she is provisioned for a much longer
period.
The. Florence correspondent of the Daily News gives
some very interesting particulars of the late important
votes in the Italian Parliament. For some time previous
the deputies had been most remiss in their attendance,
and their absence had at last led to strong censures.
Before the divisions the telegraph was kept constantly
at work, so that every deputy absent from Flo-
rence must have received at least three telegrams:
one from the Government, another from his per-
sonal friends, and another from the Opposition. It
was generally predicted that many of the deputies
loudest in their denunciations of the Government would,
when the critical division was taken (the ballot being
used), support the Ministerial finance. So far as outward
appearances went, the hostility to the Government and to
the proposed Government measures was never more bitter
and determined than during the sitting of the 21st, and
never was there shown a firmer determination by the
Ministerial supporters to stand by the Cabinet,
and not to flinch from their posts until,
the bills were passed. It was close on eight o'clock
when the voting began. The registration and stamp law
was carried by a majority of 89. Then the law on Govern-
ment concessions was carried by a majority of 103. At
last came the really critical division, that on the
multure tax. Count Cambray-Digny was his own
whipper-in, and might have been seen ten minutes
before the vote began sending out friends to the
adjoining Cafe del Parlament to bring up to the division
whatever stray members might have been found loiter-
ing there. As deputy after deputy went up to
the voting urns a breathless silence pervaded the
whole Chamber, and much satisfaction was felt
when the result was made known.. Then away the
members rushed to their dinners, grim old Guerazzi
muttering to a colleague as he strode out of the
Chamber, ' Well, the first effect of this tax on hunger,
as they call it, has been to give me a terrible appetite.'"
It would seem as if after eight years United Italy had at
last got a financier.
None understood better the importance of Count
Cambray-Digny's measures than the Piedmontese, his
most bitter opponents, for their constituents are the
largest holders of Government securities, and how
greatly the fundholders have benefited may be gathered
from the fact that when the present Government came
into office the Five per Cents. were at 32, and
that they varied just before the critical division
'rem 50 to 57, according as it was thought that
the Government would be beaten or would win. The
unexpectedly decisive victory may be said to be the salva-
tion of Italy. Count Cambray-Digny has at last sue-
ceededin stopping that fearfully rapid descent towards
the Avernus of bankruptcy which Italy has been making
for the last six years.

417

HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL CASTLE, May 23.
The Queen drove out in the morning, attended
by the Duchess of Athole ; and her Majesty again
drove out in the afternoon, accompanied by Prin-
cess Louise.

The Prince of Wales and Prince Arthur went
out fishing.

Ills Royal highness the Crown Prince of Den-
mark arrived at Marlborough House yesterday
afternoon on a visit to the Prince and P&incess of
Wales.

The Princess of Wales drove out afterwards, ac-
companied by the Crown Prince of Denmark.

LITERATURE.

From • Olympus to glades. By Mrs. Forrester,
Author of " Fair 'Women." Three Vols. Hurst

and Blackctt.

A very charming heroine is Olive Hamilton. She
enlists the readers sympathies from the first moment
of her introduction. The opening scene of the
story is very gracefully described. We find ourselves
in one of those pleasant gardens that slope down to
the river Thames. Two fair girls are in a little
boat preparing to set off on some pleasant expedi-
tion, when their younger sister Olive hurries across
the lawn and proposes to join them. The two
elder sisters peremptorily refuse. It is their habit
to treat Olive as a child, and to keep her in the
background. The boat glides over the tranquil water,
and poor Olive with a swelling heart, embittered
with a sense of unjust treatment remains behind.
It might seem that the heroitie is introduced to us
at a somewhat unfortunate moment, but we under-
stand at once her sensitive, impressionable tempera-
ment, and the peculiarly trying position in which
she is placed. Her sisters are fair and elegant, her
mother is " blond and precise," and regards her
dark-haired little Olive somewhat like the ugly
duckling of Haus Christian Andersen's famous
fable. Very bitter are poor Olive's thoughts that
bright July afternoon. "She felt as if she could
never be happy again. No one loved her—nay, she
thought they hated her, and she was ugly !" How
a few minutes afterwards one passing incident
changes the whole aspect of the world to Olive, and
she becomes "gladly conscious of the brightness of
the summer day, of the beauty of the tranquil
scene, and the blithe carol of the birds," we shall
not relate. Her mother never again has occasion
to chide Olive for careless dress or gloomy mood•
The happiness which the first dawn of love awakens
in little Olive's sensitive heart is very tenderly de-
picted ; and soon afterwards, when her joy is at the
full, and she is for the time being (according to the
theory of the authoress) high up in Olympus, she
exclaims, in the exuberance of her heart, to her old
nurse, who had been the confidante of all her
childish griefs, " Oh, Greet ! I am so happy ; I do
not think I could complain if I never had any more
happiness all my life long !" The old woman hastily
checks the thoughtless expression, and later on,
when her darling is (according to the metaphor)
down iu the depths of Hades, very tender and wise
is the teaching with which poor Greet endeavours
to speak comfort to a heart made desolate. The
extremes of joy and sorrow, as experienced by
Olive Hamilton, so vividly described in this
history, remind the reader of a glimpse of
the two widely contrasting portraits of "
blsr-
guerite," when she is kneeling before the
shrine animated with such different emotions•
But Faust's Marguerite was abased in a deeper
Hades, and endured an anguish to which, in all
her afflictions, the innocent Olive is a stranger•
So very vividly is the great passion of the heroine 0
life depicted, that the reader who has followed her
through the various phases of emotion is inclined to
quarrel with the termination of the story. We do
not like to reveal what that termination is ; but we
can assure the authoress that it has disap-
pointed us. The love of Olive for her husband
so beautifully and powerfully portrayed should
never have given way to a lesser emotion, and it
should, by all the laws of poetical justice, have
produced a happier result. Some of the other por-
tions of the story, indeed the whole career and
character of Henrietta French, are singularly re-
pulsive ; and it is much to be regretted that a
novelist who can write so well, and who can so
vividly pourtray good characters and enforce noble
sentiments, should introduce in her pages passages
from the life of an adventuress, which are neither
pleasant to read nor worthy of being recorded. The
charming remembrance of Olive Hamilton, hog'
ever, will linger in the reader's mind when the de-
testable Henrietta is forgotten.

ROY AL GARDENS, NORTH WOOLWICH•

This delightful suburban retreat, which is now
under the management of Mr. Charles Morton, of
the Oxford and Canterbury Hall, was thrown opal
to the public on Saturday last, in honour of her
Majesty's birthday, when a day and night festival
took place. In consequence of the inclemency of
the weather very few persons witnessed the opening'
of the fete, but towards 5 o'clock the sun made it°
first appearance through the dark clouds, and Prn".
mising a splendid evening the boats and train°
from London brought down a large number
of pleasure seekers. A concert, conducted bY,
Mr. Jonghmans, took place in the colossal
Hall, in which Miss Fitzhenry sang her descriptive
song of "Launch the lifeboat" most charmingly'
and received a perfect ovation from the audience'
who having demanded an encore she sang, " Houle,
sweet home." Mr. Jonghmans sang " The Mule-
teer" and " Rule Britannia." Amongst the en.
miques Miss Kate Santley, Sidney Franks, and rr•
Foster vied with each other who should carry away
the palm. At eight o'clock the gardens were bill'
liantly illuminated by Duffell, and when the
dancing commenced on the monster platform to Herr
Jonghmans' band,lof fifty peformers we might have
fancied ourselves in Fairy Land. A display °I
fireworks took place on the borders of the lake,
concluding with the Flight of Fancy. The corn'
pany departed at midnight, having passed a rags'
enjoyable evening. We wish Mr. Morton every
success in' his new undertaking,' as we feel certain
he is the right man in the right place. Great pre-
parations are being made for Whitsuntide, whel
a new ballet is to be produced, the scenery painted
under the superintendence of Mr. M. Morgan,
of the Theatre Royal, Covent-garden. We under:
stand that over 3,000 persons patronised the gar
dens on this occasion.

Mr. Josiah Smith, Q.C., judge of the coullti
courts of Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Mont-
gomeryshire, and the legal gentlemen who practise
throughout his extensive circuit, have, mutually/
very unpleasant time of it, altercations between
the bench and bar being of frequent occurrenc'
At a court held last week, Mr. Bodenhao,
solicitor in charge of a case, objected on tech
grounds to a certain piece of evidence being the
nutted, whereupon a " scene " occurred, in r
course of which Mr. Smith called upon t73i
Bodenham to apologise, and reminded binl
there was " such a thing as contempt of courli
Mr. Bodenham refused to apologise, on the gr°llllo
that be had nothing to apologise for. His Non° g
hoped that Air. Bodenham " would live /V.v•
enough to be sorry for what be had said.'' 'llO
Bodenbam, in subsequent remarks, showing ato
present signs of sorrow, the judge was moire of
the following outburst :—" I say it without Woe
contradiction, and I wish it to go through
United Kingdom that no one emanated from Lill
coin's Inn with abetter reputation for legal 1;1119
osvr
ledge than myself—no one either on the bencheif.
at the bar, unless it be Lord St. Leopards bultst
And now a gentleman who, on my appointralegal
this circuit, expressed his gratitude for IDY itipg
labours, which have been the means of edue,ae or
the generation of lawyers for the last .tweitves to
sixteen years, sets me at nought, and 111111.11 JO
me that I do not administer a course of thing'
accordance with the law of the land."