The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-17 00:00:00

CORL'ESTO.NDEECE FROM FARIS

(FnoM 01;11 OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, TErunsDAY, July W.

The Correspondance Busse is troubled with some inquie•
tude on the subject of Prince Napoleon's journey to Aus-
tria and Turkey. It "frankly expresses its fear that the
`seducing reception" which the Emperor's cousin met
with in the Austrian capital, may have caused him tc
forget the trao interests of France. The latter country is
warned against a Machiavellian scheme in which Austria
is represented as desiring not only to acquire territory in
the East, which will compensate her recent losses, but as
aiming at the command of all the traffic between Europe
and Asia. Prussia would favour such a plan, because it
would turn the attention of Austria from German unity,
and favour its development ; Germany would become one,
and Austria would gain new strength as the great highway
to the riches of the East. The Correspondence Ruzse is to
be complimented on its ingenuity. There is very little
need, however, to warn Prince Napoleon, for, whatever he
may haw, intended, it is pretty certain that he has accom-
plished nothing. Austria's foreign politics must be nil for
some time to come. Turkey would no doubt be glad to
accept any ally that might present itself, but who would
accept Ttirkey?

Marshal Niel has been attacked again. The Opposition
attempted yesterday to suppress some costly military corn.
mands, and another display of warlike logic was the result
Last time an attempt was made to reduce the military
expenditure, the War Minister spoke of the unlimited
manufacture of Chassepots, of the necessity of keeping
horses out of the hands of the agriculturists, lest their
trotting form should be spoiled, and of the moral
effect produced by artillery that would mow
down entire regiments. These peaceful arguments
were immediately followed by the assertion that the
Government did not contemplate war. Yesterday Marshal
Niel announced that he could despatch to the frontier six
corps d'armee, fully equipped fur war, in five days. A
declaration in favour of peace followed in ludicrous
proximity to this announcement. He further added, of
course to prove the same conclusion, that sixty-two regi-
ments of the line and twenty-four regiments of cavalry
were now under canvas. He afterwards, however, at-
tempted an explanation by comparing the forces
of France and the North German Confederation to
the numerical advantage of the latter. People, here, how-
ever, are thinking a good deal just now of the remarkable
disbanding of the United States army. In a brief space
of time above a million soldiers melted away into the ranks
of the people, and the standing army of the Republic is
now very little over 17,000 men.
Marshal Niel, I hear, has armed himself with another
peace argument. He has just purchased 3,000 horses—of
course to preserve their trotting powers.
The last pillar of the Exhibition of 1807, and the last
trace of the fairy city which surrounded it have vanished.
The Champ de Mars has once more become the arid, waste
of yore. We have profited by your experience. The pre-
cedent of the Drompton boilers has not been followed in
the case of the Paris gasometer.
Yesterday the Imperial advocate, M. Chevrier, an-
nounced his opinion on the case brought by the United
States Government against MM. As-man and Co., ship-
builders, and M. Erlanger, banker. He has decided
against the American Government, his principal argument
being that the Federal Government had no right or claim
upon the Confederate funds.
Schemes for bridging, in various ways, the narrow sea
which so gr,atly interrupts communication between Eng-
land and France are contlinally being discussed here.
For the most part, however, they are merely repetitions
of old plans modifie lor improved. The Emperor is now
considering one of the simplest of the many projects pro-
posed. This is a variety of the design of an enormous
raft, to be placed upon three steamboats, each of 100 horse-
power. The train, locomotive and all, will be received
upon the raft, which will be able, it is hoped, to cross the
straits in all weathers.

The torrid heat of the last few weeks has given place to
.errible storms, which have visited nearly the whole of
France. Normandy and other northern districts have
suffered very severely. Rain, hail, and the electric fluid
have combined to render the country a desert ; the
trees have been stripped and the crops swamped
with water or beaten down l'y the wind. Several fatal
accidents from lightning are reported. The devastation in
the south, especially to the vines, has also been great. I
hear the heat in London and other parts of England is
even greater than in Paris. It is quite possible that the
war of the elements may pass over to you, and it would be
well to prepare for a similar visitation.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.