The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-01 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

IFROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, THURSDAY, Al Hi

The article in the Journal des Debate is the great topic
of to-day. The minute particulars which it has given of
the opposing policy of M. Rouher and Marshal Niel are
supposed to be as accurate as they are minute, and indeed
it is commonly reported that M. Rouher inspired if he did
not write the article. According to this production,
Marshal Niel is moderate compared with some of the
officers of the army. He believes that war may break
out any day, and that the presence of Prussia, armed as she
is, on the French frontier, is a perpetual menace ; but his
subordinates declare thiit the gamy thirsts for war, is cer-
tain of victory, and asks only to be led to the gates of
Berlin. The Debats declares that the Marshal is no politi-
cian, but has been entrusted by the Emperor with the
portfolio of War Minister only because of his organising
skill. He knows nothing of the satisfactory de-
spatches which the Emperor receives from Berlin. The
article concludes by declaring that while the science of war
has become changed by the events of MG, and while it is
necessary to substitute new organisations and newweapons
for old, there exists no cause of war ; all appearances are
in favour of peace, which was never more certain. " The
resolutions of the Emperor are pacific, immovably so, be-
cause they have been inspired by an understanding of the
true interests of France." This is the language which it is
hoped the Emperor will hold at Orleans, to which city he
goes on May 10. That is the expectation of the optimists.
May it be fulfilled.
Meanwhile, the pessimists are not at all cast down by
the article in the Dibats. They state that there have beer
long and frequent interviews between the Prussian Minis-
ter, Count Goltz, and our Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
Marquis de Moustier. They state, and I have reason to
believe with truth, that the commission on the Budget is
divided into two nearly equal parties, the one for a reduc-
tion, the other for the maintenance of military expenditure:
but that the latter will prevail, being supported by the
Emperor. There is talk also of new inventions—the latest
a gunboat which has the power of spreading out and con-
tracting at pleasure like a fan !—very easy of transport,
and capable of being launched immediately.
The Etcndard comes out this evening with an article iz
favour of the optimists. It is evidently written with great
care, and points out that the whole of Germany is virtuall3
one nation, so far as the people go, and that therefore,
necessarily, questions discussed by the Customs Parlia-
ment must partake of a political character, even when
they are economical. Such a question is now before the
Parliament, viz., that all Germans, no matter to what
State they belong, may be able to settle in any part of
Germany—a demand that, if granted, will, as . the Eten-
dard pointsout, contribute more powerfully than any law
to the unification of Germany. Nevertheless, the semi-
official journal is not jealous, but adds : "We avow that
the chaos is clearing off rapidly, and whether people like
it or not, we do not refuse the evidence of that fact ; let us
acknowledge that Germany, absorbed by an interior
reconstruction still in course of formation, has
other things to do than to launch upon the
hazards of war ; let us acknowledge that if there is any
people who has need of peace it is the German people ; that
if there is a State which can profit by it, it is Prussia; and
that if there is a sovereign who ought to desire it, it is
King William." Very good ; but if so why push on the
armaments?

To-day we have news of great Russian camps being
formed in Poland and on the Pruth. We hear also that
our Government has remonstratedwith the Greek Govern•
ment respecting the assistance given to the Cretans, that
our fleet in the Archipelago is being reinforced, and that
the Austrian fleet has sailed from Trieste in that direction
with sealed orders. This is for the pessimists.

Prince Napoleon is not going to the fetes at Florenet
He is so little pleased at his reception by the Italians that
he does not care to prolong his stay among them. I ilea/
that in writing to the Emperor he has ascribed the
unfriendliness of the Turinese to their anger at the
removal of the capital to Florence--a measure which, you
will remember, was dictated by France.
There has been much talk about the commission of the
Senate appointed to inquire into the Public Meetings
Bill before presenting it to that Chamber. M. de
Maupas, who had been appointed reporter, drew up a re-
port hostile to the measure, in accordance with the opinions
of the majority of the commissioners. Thereupon M. Trpp.
long, who as President of the Senate had the right to pre-
side at this commission,interposed,succeededin winningover
one of the commissioners, and so rendered the report in-
valid. Thereupon M. do Maupas resigned, using very
hitter words. Meanwhile, and until the law has passed
both Chambers, the Government seems determined to
maintain its old arbitrary conduct. M. de Malleville, the
Opposition candidate at Dordogne, having asked the
Prefect to sanction an election meeting, the Prefect has
refused, stating that Brutes conrenanccs prevented
his acceding to the demand. In another district
where an election is impending, an old soldier has been
deprived of his pension for supporting the Liberal candi-
date, by whose exertions the soldier had got the pension
granted.
The bureaux have decided unanimously in favour of
sanctioning the interpellation by Ponycr Quertier respect-
ing the working of the commercial treaty with England.
We shall therefore have a lively debate on free trade in
the Corps LFgislatif. It is understood that the Public
Meetings Bill will be warmly debated in the Senate.

- - -
You will be glad to hear that the last reports of M.
Forcade, the eminent contributor to the &rue des Deux
Mondes, are very favourable. There is no paralysis nor
softening of the brain, as had been feared, and there is
every reason to hope that the illustriJus /itt6rateur will be
restored to health. He is now enjoying perfect rest at the
favourite watering-place of Trouville.
It is believed that the Prince Imperial is going to have
sea-bathing at Dieppe.

There seems to be no doubt that there is a serious con-
flict of opinion in the councils of the Emperor. M. Rouher
is decidedly in favour of peace ; Marshal Niel and Admiral
Genouilly as decidedly for war. In this country the policy
of the chief Minister would, of course, prevail, or else he
would resign ; but this is not always the case in France.
Eouher has on more than one notable occasion
shewn himself terribly out, and although it is
confidently stated by the Debats that he is supported by
the Emperor, it is certain the other Ministers are sup-
ported, so far as the maintenance of their Budgets is con-
cerned.

The Prussian Government is going to try our Armstrong
and Whitworth guns, being dissatisfied with those guns
now in use in the Prussian navy,

The Prussian party has prevailed at Darmstadt, and
Prince Ludwig (husband of our Princess Alice) is reported
to be gone to Berlin in order to bring about the accession
of the Duchy to the North German Confederation. This
news—very important, if true—needs confirmation.
The Sickle says that llanover is still unsubdued ; that
Saxe-Coburg,-Gotha refuses to pay the new impost whicl
is the price of her admission to the North German Con-
federation ; and that there is widespread complaint of
Prussian rule.

It is said that serious differences respecting foreign
affairs have arisen between the Prince of Prussia and
Count Bismarck ; but it is believed that they have been
surmounted.

The Federal Council of North Germany has rejected
unanimously Herr Lasker's motion which was carried in
the Reichstag for the inviolability of speech in Parliament.
Cisarly, there is room for progress even in. Germany.
There have been great rejoicings at Buda-Pesth since
the birth of a Hungarian princess. Three days after the
event the infant was baptised. The christening day was
a public Me. The nobles turned out in those gorgeous
costumes for which Hungary is so famous, and magnificent
equipages crowded the streets. The ladies were loaded
with jewels. The throne room was for the occasion con-
verted into a chapel, and in it was erected a splendid
altar veiled in gold-embroidered velvet, and surmounted
by a magnificent picture of the Virgin, brought from the
Imperial Museum at Vienna. The baptismal font and the
water-jugs were chefs-dWurres of the mediaeval goldsmiths'
art. The water was brought from the River Jordan, the tapers
from Jerusalem. By the side of the altar was a table, on
which the royal infant was undressed previous to being
sprinkled with the water. For more than a hour before the
service the magnates were crowding in, magnificently
attired in the national costume. The Archbishop of Gran,
Primate of Hungary, and fifteen bishops assisted at the
ceremony. The Ex-Queen of Naples (sister of the Empress
of Austria) was the officiating godmother, and was dressed
in violet, and wore a diadem of opal and diamonds.
The political crisis in this country is serious. The
Budget of the Minister for Foreign Affairs has again been
rejected, though only by a very narrow majority. The
Cabinet Las offered to resign, but the King refuses to
:teeept its resignation, and the reactionary party will
probably prevail upon him to dissolve the Chambers for
the third time within a few months.

The Montreal correspondent of the Indepenclance Beige
;ays that the ac.:sassination of Mr. D'Arcy M`Gee will have
important political consequences. It has given the coup
de grace to Fenianism on that side of the Atlantic—has
reaffirmed the authority of the Queen more than could have
been done by the despatch of 20,000 Highlanders, and
"retarded by some ten years " the annexation of the
country to the United States. It is on that account, the
correspondent thinks isle. Seward's letter of regret is
perfectly sincere.