The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-27 00:00:00

coßßEsro

OM PARIS.

(rnom OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, SUNDAY, July 20.

Friday's debate in the Corps L6gislatif was of great
importance. The Government proposed to distribute
'our millions of Fente, Three per Cents., to the Mexican
)ondholders. MM. Berryer and Jules Fare embraced
-,he opportunity to reopen the mysterious question of the
Pecker Bonds, and the speech of the latter caused au im-
'nense sensation in Paris, though the usual result followed
—the Chamber refused, by a large majority, to entertain

the question. The bill brought in by the Government
%t first proposed a distribution of three millions only. The
state of public opinion on the question may, however, be
judged by the fact that the Budget Commission, theugh
appalled by the state of the finances, and anxious to effect
some appearance of reduction, proposed to increase the
amount by one-third. This offer the Government eagerly
closed with. It was evident that it was troubled with
:erious qualms on the subject of the Mexican debt,
but at the same time was afraid to propose
any further increase of expenditure. A few deputies,
moreover, made a further proposal to increase the sum to
seven millions and a half—an amount which was not
sanctioned by the Government. The chance of introducing
the question of the Jecker Bonds gave M. Favre the oppor-
tunity of making a most telling speech, which at least
had the effect of creating an immense uproar. M. Favre
charged the Government with duplicity. Twelve millions
had been paid to the Swiss banker, whilst a wretched
pittance of five was all that was available, after
a length of time, for the French creditors. The
affair had been roalaged by open condemnation of
Maximilian for paying the sum to Jecker, whilst the
Government secretly aided and abetted it. Neither M. Jules
Favre nor M. Berryer could throw much light upon the
matter ; it remains a mystery, although we know
sufficient to lustify all that M. Jules Favre said.
The Chamber was, however, afraid of the question, and
shelved it. The Liberte calls this scene the epilogue to
the Mexican tragedy. I hope it may prove such. It is a
lamentable, melancholy, disgraceful affair ; and whatever
good may be gained by discussing it, it will not be by a
discussion in the Corps Legislatif. _

..._ -
Nobody seems to know what has become of Prince Napo-
leon. I have been told that he will be in Paris in about a
week. The question is, where is he now ? The latest
news of him was that he had quitted Malta, taking a
northerly direction. In that case he must have reached

land by this time.
La Lanicrne continues to be the chief newspaper sensa-
tion of the French capital. All Paris is laughing at
the prosecution which has just been commenced against
M. Rochefort. When the last number was about to be
published, a communiqu6 was sent by the Government and
ordered to be inserted. M. Rochefort's famous paper
contains sixty-four pages. The communique would occupy
the modest proportion of forty-five. M. Rochefort
naturally demurred, and applied for at least a condensa-
tion of the detested document. He could, however,
get no permission to condense, and went to press
without the communique. The logic of the proceeding is
clear. The official document would have cost, according
to M. Rochefort's estimate, some £240 to print. The utmost
penalty which will be awarded by the tribunal will be
£4O fine and a fortnight's suspension. This, I am
told, was pointed out to the editor of La Lanterne by M.
Emile 011ivier. But one point seems to have been over-
looked in making this elaborate calculation. What if
the Minister of the Interior still insist upon the insertion
of the communiqué 7
The proposition of the Russian Government relative
to the use of explosive bullets in war has
revived the discussion on the fatality of modern
warfare. The statistics of mortality in great

battles have V been given before, but the
following, which are, I believe, pretty correct,
may interest your readers. At the battle of Fried•
land the French lost 14, the Prussians 30, and the
Austrians 44 I.er cent. At Wagram the French lost 13,
and the Austrians 14 per cent. At Borodino the French
lost 33 and the Russians 44 per cent. ; at Waterloo the
French lost 36 and the Allies 30 per cent. At Solferino
the loss was, respectively, French and Piedmontese 10,
and the Austrians 8. At l‘lagenta it was 7 per
cent. on each side. The proposition of the Cabinet of St.
Petersburg is somewhat shyly received here.
The fate of Renitzky, the president of the Honved
Committee, whose mysterious disappearance from Pesth
you noticed a few days ago, remains a mystery. One of
the authorities of the city of Pesth informed a deputation
of Honveds that a slight trace bad been discovered, but
that in the public interest it would be kept secret. I fear
that this affair will terminate more tragically than your
Speke disappearance.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS.