The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-09 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR. OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, MONDAY, June 8.
I take for granted that you have already by telegraph
particulars of the race yesterday for the Grand Prix, and
that the important fact of the success of the Marquis of
Hastings's horse, The Earl, has been made known some
thirty-six hours before this letter reaches you. The Mar-
quis's losses and gains aro really becoming a matter of
international interest. The French journals, like
your own, are now coming to look upon racing
less as a sport than as a pecuniary transaction. Parisians
have been duly informed of the amount which the owner
of Lady Elizabeth dropped at Epsom, and they are good-
natured enough to hope that his victory over their French
horses may put back a few millions of francs into his lord-
ship's empty pockets. The
„Emperor was at the race
in a great coat, and he congratulated the Marquis when
The Earl, ridden by Fordham, came in first.
The prize was £4,000 ; but I suppose the stakes
were really very much heavier. The prize of £240 given
by the city of Paris was,won by another British noble-
man, the Duke of Hamilton, with his horse Crystal. The
Summer Prize of £l6O. was earned by M. Fould's Milton.
When I add that all the world, including the Count of
Flanders, was at Longchamps, and that the weather was
brilliant, I hope you will think I have clone my duty with
regard to a subject which, personally, has no interest for
me.

In my last letter I described the stormy scene in the
Corps L4gislatif, and told how M. Emile 011ivier had
called the Minister of the Interior a "show " Minister,
and how M. Pinard, coming in at the close of the debate
and challenged to disprove what had been said about him,
answered and said nothing. This afternoon, however, I
hear that he has been making a somewhat animated reply,
insisting that the most perfect harmony exists between
him and the other officials of his department.

M. Emile de Girardin, writing in his paper, the Libert4,
takes M. Baroche to task for declaring that the stamp
duty upon newspapers "is only an equivalent to the con-
ditions imposed upon the exercise of other industries." M.
de Girardin points out that there is no other industry so
heavily weighted as journalism is. Not only is the tax
higher—being 33 per cent. on the selling price—but the
Government has entered into competition with the

journalists, and has claimed immunities which would be
deemed intolerable in any other business. Wine, no doubt,
is taxed heavily, but not to the extent of 33 per cent.,
nor is there any Imperial wine merchant entering into
competition with the traders of Bordeaux. M. de Girardin
goes on to point out how hard the Government is upon its
own supporters. The Pays cost £BO,OOO, the Patrie
£O,OOO ; the France, the Etendarcl, and the Epoque heavy
sums not specified. Their capital has been sunk, the
journals are not profitable, and all because the Govern.
ment grants the most unfair advantages to the 2lfoniteur
and the Petit Moniteur, allowing them, for instance, to
be transmitted post free.
M. Rochefort's new paper, the Lanterne, has again been
forbidden for sale in the kiosques, but has been largely
sold in the shops. The second number is even more bitter
than the first. For instance, here is a dialogue at a café:—
Customer : " Waiter, bring me La France." Waiter:

"As soon as it is at liberty, sir." Customer : " Never
mind ; I should have to wait too long." Again : M.
Rochefort declares that the death of the Emperor's
favourite clog Nero was first discovered by the
courtiers who went to take the animal his
morning coffee ; " for you must know that in France cour-

tiers are not proud ; when they cannot approach the
master they make friends with the dog." Sometimes there
are allusions of an almost scandalous nature. Altogether
the Lanterne is very clever, very bitter, and, I think.
likely to be very short-lived.

We have curious news from Luxembourg. During the
night of Saturday and Sunday a placard was posted on
the walls demanding the annexation of the country to
France. Numerous arrests took place, among them those
of the editors of the two French journals, the Union and
the Avenir, published in Luxembourg. It was natural to
suspect the editors of being concerned in the affair, for they
have before now strongly manifested their French sympa-
thies. Ido not know if they have been charged with any
specific action in the matter.

The new Russian Ambassador, Count Stackelberg, has
been received this afternoon in state at the Tuileries.
There were three state carriages, each drawn by six horses,
and in the second were the Ambassador and his first secre-
tary. The Count, in presenting his credentials, said that
he should be only fulfilling the wishes of his sovereign in
using all his efforts for the maintenance of the friendship
existing between France and Russia, and which rested
upon mutual interests. The Emperor replied that the
representative of the Czar was always sure of a warm
reception, and that he had no doubt the new Ambassador
would contribute to maintain between France and
Russia the friendship which now exists, and to which he
(Napoleon) attached very great value.

THE IVEATHEI?, TABLE.-THIS DAY.