The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-28 00:00:00

UORRESFONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR. OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, SUNDAY, December 27.

The (lecree announcing the opening of the Senate and
Corps I.6gislatif on the Bth of January is formally pub-
lished in the Moniteur.
The Prince of the Asturias is the object of much atten-
tion just now from the Imperial Court. He takes lessons
in riding with the Prince Imperial, and is altogether
deemed a far more important personage than his ex-royal
mother.

The new paper named Le Paris starts with a sensa-
tional description by M. Oudet of how he was treated
whilst undergoing five year's incarceration in the prison of
Fontevrault. The hideous disclosures of this article, which
is to be followed by others, have created intense excite•
meat throughout this excitable city. M. Oudet was
sentenced on the 13th of March, 1856, and was confined
for some months at Mazas and St. Pdlagie ; then he was
removed to the Central House of Correction at Fonts-
vrault. His name was exchanged for a number, which
he wore for four years. The system adopted in
these prisons is absolute silence and deprivation of tobacco.
Let M. Oudet speak for himself :—"Before I was sent to a
workshop, I was included in the category of chorpilleurs--
the scum of the Old Cour des Miracles—fellows guillotined
by scrofuloussores, others half destroyed with more fearful
disease, others half paralysed, inertbodics and bestial heads.
In my turn I was called up and asked if I had any complaint
to make. I asked first permission to write to my family.
The director brutally replied that according to the regula-
tions I must wait two months, and conduct myself satis-
factorily during the time before I could get leave to write
home. On my remarking that I was a political prisorier,
lie replied in contemptuous tones, that as I was raw, they
had not made me feel the rules yet ; `but,' he added,
' never fear ;we have our eye on you. You will find
stop e stronger than flesh.' Three days la ter I was transferred
to the black hole. You are first made to put on a pair of
trousers like those of very young children ; your hands
are tied behind your back by handcuffs that bruise your
wrists ; the food is bread and water—the water, fresh at
first, soon grows putrid ; to get at the bread you have to
crawl along the floor and gnaw it with your teeth, not
having the use of your hands to hold it with." In this
situation the writer remained seventeen days. The article
appears amongst a series which is to be contributed by
writers who have undergone political imprisonment ; but
there is much reason to apprehend that the conductors of
Le Paris will be informed that such a history will not
be tolerated. It is odd that one of the prisoners who
has contributed some of his experience was guarded by
a keeper who had charge of Napoleon 111., Emile de
Girardin, and others.

Prince Salm-Salm, formerly general of the Mexican
army, and noted for his devotion to the cause of the
unfortunate Emperor of Mexico, has entered the Prussian
army. He is provisionally attached with the rank of
major to the Queen's Regiment of Grenadiers.
Letters from Rome state that the Prince and Princess
of Wales are expected in the Eternal City by the Easter
festival, on their return from the Nile. Archbishop
Manning will pass the winter at the English college. The
Etendard, I see, announces officially that the Pope has
nominated two archbishops for Scotland, to have their
sees at St. Andrews and Glasgow. Ten new bishopric;
also, have been created. The centres of these dioceses are
to be Edinburgh, Perth, Aberdeen, Orkney, Ross, Caith-
ness, Dundee, Argyle, and two other places, the names of
which the Eten'lard has mangled so effectually that I
cannot recognise them.

An exciting scene occurred the other day at Alcazar.
Aidlle. lose Saqui, a rope dancer of great reputation, was
performing some jugglery feats, balancing daggers, lighted
torches, &c., on the tight rope, when suddenly the terrible
cry " You are on fire !" arose from the audience. In
reality a piece of burning stuff from one
of the lighted torches had fallen on her head,
and set her long hair on fire. With one foot
on the iron rape and another in the air, the woman did
not lose her presence of mind. She passed her hand over
her clothes and felt nothing. Aux cheraux, cried the
excited people. Mille. Saqui understood, and carrying
her hand to her head, rapidly stifled the fire. She then
continued her performance as if nothing had happened,

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

-P-

METEOROLOGICAL RETORTS.

Extreme

'Monday,
Dec. 28,
8 a.m.

T.
,41
35 33
35 33
36 35
28 36
3.3 36
41 38
-

8
6
7
9
7
10

Aberdeen
Leith

Shields
Scarborough
Yarmouth
II el (ler
Cux haven
Skudeamea
Ardrouan
Green castle
flolyh ea('
!Aver pool
Valor' tin 1
Cape Clear
.l
es rt.
Penzance
P:imont h
Weymouth
Portant° uth
London
C'peGrisNez
Brest
L'Orient
Roth e fort
Biarritz
Corunna
Brussels,.,
Paris
Strasbourg
Lyons
Toulon ,
Heart's Con-
tent (9 a.m,
local time)