The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-11 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE PROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, TIIESDIY, March 10.

At last the Press Bill has passed the Corps Lggisfatif.
It has now to go to the Senate, and it is to be devoutly
hoped that this body will not alter it for the worse. There
is certainly no need of increased stringency. French
journalism is now in a worse position than English, Bel-
gian, German, Swiss, or Italian.
The concluding debate on this bill was very animated.
The Government proposed a clause by which "any conductor
of a journal shall be authorised to establish a printing-
office exclusively for the production of the publication."
M. Berryer proposed to stop at the word" office,"and urged
that if a newspaper proprietor were not at liberty to print
circulars, bills, pamphlets, &c., he would be often working
at a heavy loss. The Ministers opposed this alteration, on
the ground that it would be unfair to the present holders
of printing licenses, of whom there are 649 in Paris and
4,239 in the departments. It was then argued by the
Opposition that these persons should be compensated for
the loss of their monopoly. Jules Favro declared that the
word " exclusively " in the above clause was worthy of the
middle ages. In France there was not a printing-press
for every 40,000 persons; and he added : " I blush for my
country when I see that in free America people always
begin by establishing a school, a printing-office, and a
church." But in spite of arguments and eloquence the
whole clause was passed by 171 to 72 votes. Another dis-
cussion took place upon M. Javal's amendment to the
effect that foreign journals not printed in French should
he allowed to circulate freely in France. M. Javal said that
there were no fewer than 1,206 foreign newspapers and other
periodicals sent to France, and that it was absurd that all the
subscribers to these should be kept waiting until the pleasure
of a few clerks belonging to the Minister of the Interior
had been consulted. M. Glais-Bizoin provoked considerable
bruit from the Right, by declaring that this continental
blockade was a disgrace to civilisation. The amendment
was not put to the vote, the Chamber deciding not to take
it into consideration. After several other amendments
had been disposed of the Chamber voted on the entire bill,
and it was adopted by 242 votes to 1, that one being M.
Berryer's. The other most distinguished members of the
Opposition did not vote. This bill, and that for the sup-
plementary military contingent, have been brought before
the Senate to-day. The Corps L6gislatif will commence
the discussion on the Public Meetings Bill on Thursday.
If the Presee is to be believed, the Prince Imperial's
twelfth birthday, on the 16th instant, is to be signalised
by a general amnesty for political and press offences. I
own I am rather sceptical.
M. Kervtguen has "skedaddled." Finding that he has
raised a hornets' nest about his ears, and that the more he
stirred them the more unplessuit was his position, he has'
taken to his heels and has fled to Spain. In the mean-
while M. de Girardin vows vengeance against him, and
declares that he will insist upon demanding from the
Corps L6gislatif an authorisation to prosecute him.

The manufacturers and Baron Haussmann have made
up their quarrel after a fashion. It will be remembered
that several months ago some of them closed their esta-
blishments rather than pay the enormous octroi levied
upon the raw produce which they used in their factories.
The "Emperor of Paris" has now consented to make
a considerable reduction. But there seems to be great
inequality, and some of the manufacturers are taxed two-
thirds again as much as others.

The Elea,.lard (semi-official paper) publishes a glowing
account of the success of the National Guard in the South
of France. This journal tells its readers that the con-
scripts marched with drums beating, clarions blowing, and
arrived at the capital of the canton " gay and in good
humour." They replied with empressement when
their names were called, and when asked if they
were suffering from any infirmity they almost
unanimously said they were not, and refused to be examined
by a surgeon. Out of 314 inscribed, 15 only demanded to
be inspected. The number of young men who demanded
dispensation on the ground that they were the support of
their families did not reach the 10 per cent. allowed by the
law. All which proves, says the Etendard, that "if the
agricultural and manufacturing working classes do not
desire war, they have not for the noble profession of arms
that repugnance which was gratuitously attributed to
them by those who, without authority, represented them."
The new opera of " Hamlet" was played last night for
the first time. The music is by Ambroise Thomas, the
libretto by Michel Carr 6 and Jules Barbier. In spite of
the fact that the Empress was giving a concert at the
Tuileries, in which Patti was singing, this first representa-
tion was a great success. Mille. Nilsson was rapturously
applauded, especially in the scene in which Ophelia pulls
the flowers to pieces in a song of laughter and tears. She
was, after this scene, called before the stage and
smothered with bouquets.

The Florence correspondence of the Times describes the
evil effects which have resulted to Italy from last autumn's
" Garibaldian folly." The Papacy is more elated than it
has been for many a day. It looks upon the ruin of the
kingdom of Italy as certain. On the other hand, last
year's invasion has brought money to the Pontifical coffers
and men to the Pontifical army. Under these circum-
stances all attempts at negotiation on the part of the
Florence Government are useless. The non possnmus
more accentuated ti.an ever. Even should the French
troops be withdrawn, the Court of Rome believes that it.
can rely upon the devotion to the Papacy which exists
throughout the world for defenders. Moreover, the de-
fences of the city and of Civita Vecchia have now been so
much strengthened that a c)up de main would be almost
impossible, and an Italian army, much more a half-armed
body of volunteers, would have to attempt the reduction
of these places by a regular siege. At the present moment
the French troops give not the slightest intimation of
withdrawing from the Papal territory, and the correspon-
dent believes. that they will remain there until after the
French elections.

The Avenir National publishes a special telegram from
Rome, dated March 9, to the effect that " in accordance
with new arrangements with Italy the last French troops
will evacuate Roman territory very shortly. The Pon-
tifical armaments are being doubled."
Upon one matter the Governments of Rome and
Florence are said to have come to an understanding. The
brigands are to be put down, and all difficulties respecting
the pursuit of them from one territory into another have
been arranged. General Pallacivini is to direct the opera-
tions on the Neapolitan frontier.
The rumour that the Marquis Pepoli was to be the new.
Italian Minister in this country is not confirmed. The
Opinicne of Florence says that the Marquis will represent
his country at the Austrian Court.
The late King Ludwig forwarded, a few minutes before
his death, a request to the Pope for his blessing. The
Holy Father sent it without delay in the shape of a
telegram.

The mother of the present King of Bavaria, daughter-
in-law of the just-deceased King Ludwig, and widow of
the late King Maximilian, is said to be dangerously ill. It
would seem as if her journey to Nice, to attend the funeral
of her father-in-law, had been too much for her.

While Italy is almost overwhelmed by financial difficul-
ties, her ancient rival, Austria, is emerging from hers with
wonderful rapidity. The two Financial Ministers of Austria.
and Hungary seem to be engaged in friendly rivalry as t,
which of them will first restore a financial equilibrium.
The Hungarian Minister has won the race, for while his
competitor has presented a scheme by which Austria will
be paying her way three years hence, he himself is able tt.
chew a clean balance-sheet at once. Moreover, tin
Austrian Minister is compelled to resort to a measure
which is " heroic " in its proportionth, and eemlnds great
sacrifices from capitalists. Capital, whether movable of
immovable, is to pay a certain percentage for three years.
Landed property, houses, financial societies, industrial un
dertakings, all are to contribute in a certain ratio, accord
ing to their capital; the holders of funds by a coupon tax,
which is to be increased in proportion.

The latest rumour respecting Prince Napoleon's visit
to Germany is, that he is endeavouring to bring about a,
alliance between France, Prussia, and Italy. To-morrov
we shall hear no doubt that he is promoting treaties o
friendship between Juarez of Mexizo, the Mikado of
Japan, and Theodore of Abyssinia. Why should it 13(
thought impossible for princes to travel for their own
amusement ?

The Western Morning News records the destruction o
the inside of the Church of St. Michael's and All Angels
at Princetown, Dartmoor. During morning service 01
Sunday the fire broke out in the heating- apparatus, any
spread through the interior of the building. By grea
exertions the building itself was happily saved. Th,
church was erected by the French and American prisoner:
of war who were incarcerated in Dartmoor Prison at tht
beginning of the present century. It had no pretension:
to architectural beauty.
The addresses of Mr. Mason Jones in reference to th
Irish Church, in which he violently denounced that esta
blishment, are provoking replies. A large public meeting-
has been held at Preston, the vicar in the chair, at whit]
a petition against the disendowment of the Irish Churei
was carried almost unanimously.
According to the Western Morning News, Sir . Masse:
Lopes, who at present sits for Westbury, and Mr. Bast=
will probably be the Conservative candidates for Sout]
Devon, and Sir L. Palk and Mr. Kekewich will stand fo
the new divisicn of East Devon, unless Sir L. Palk shoul,
be raised to the peerage. In that case Lord Courtenay
eldest son of the Earl of Devon, who now represent
Exeter, will probably be brought forward for the county
The Liberals have not yet made any movement. In Nortl
Pevon it is thought that Sir S. Northcote and Mr, Aclan.
1411 not be opposed,