The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-18 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PAWS:

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, SUNDAY, May 17.

The Paris journals are now beginning to take notice of
the extraordinary speech of General Failly, which I sent
to you several days ago. The semi-official Patrie has en-
deavoured to explain away the speech, and argues that in
declaring the camp was no pleasure ground, and that as
war was possible the soldiers must perfect them-
selves in their acquaintance with the use of the
Chassepot, the General meant nothing in particu-
lar, but dealt only in vague generalities. But this
explanation does not go down at -all. It is pointed out
that the General is an intimate confidant of the Emperor,
and that this speech, taken in connection with the no-mani-
festo in behalf of peace at Orleans, has a very unfavourable
aspect. The Moniteur de l'ArntJe mentions that the War

Office is busily engaged in organising the cadres for the
Garde Mobile. In this last fact, taken by itself, there is
no particular significance ; but taking it in connection with
others, it is clear that the Emperor has no thought of
suspending his preparations for war.
I have already referred to the rumour that additional
French troops were about to be sent to Roman territory,
and mentioned that it was not generally credited. The
France now denies it, and says that if fresh troops are
sent to Rome they will merely replace those who
are relieved. Thereupon the Temps somewhat hyper-
critically remarks that it thought all our troops
were at Civita Vecchia, and that therefore if
any are sent to Rome this is a fresh development of the
occupation. Without troubling to split hairs, however, I
may mention that letters from Rome tell me that the
Government fully counts upon a prolonged French occu-
pation, and sees with satisfaction the estrangement be-
tween France and Italy. Here the rapprochement between
Italy and Prussia and the coolness between Italy and Aus-
tria are matters of comment, and it is considered that if a
war should break out it would be found that France
and Austria would be on one side, Prussia and Italy on
the other. Still speaking of foreign politics, I may men-
tion that the quarrel between Austria and Roumania
seems to be getting more serious, and that our journals
are beginning to speak out somewhat strongly upon the
non-fulfilment of the Treaty of London so far as the
destruction of the fortifications of Luxemburg is concerned.
Even Prussian journals admit that the King of Holland has
done really nothing, and that to all intents and purposes
Luxemburg is just as strong as it was this time last year,
when it seemed likely to become the bone of contention
for all the clogs of war.

Prince Napoleon has returned to Pads from his by no
means pleasant trip to Italy. lie is now going to
set forth on another of those roving missions which
are unofficial, and may therefore be disavowed if they
fail, but which, not the less, have a political object. Prince
Czartoryski has thought it necessary to deny the rumour
of his having gone to Galicia in order to meet Prince
Napoleon there. The fact is, the distinguished Pole is
still in Paris, and no. doubt he can see his Imperial ngh-
ness here if he has anything to say to him.
The Opposition mean to make another attempt to obtain
a reduction of the Military Budget. They have given
notice that they will move as au amendment to the
Budget of the Minister of War that the six great military
commands created by the Imperial decision of the 7th of
August, 1559, he suppressed from January 1, 1869. It is
signed by Jules Simon, Glais-Bizoin, Garnier-Paos,
Carnot, Dorian, Magnin, Bethmont, Pelletan, Picard,
Jules Favre, Himon, &c. Of course they have no idea
of carrying it, but the discussion will probably lead to
some' important ministerial statement respecting the
intentions of France. Another motion of which notice
has been given is to deprive prefects and sub-prefects of
the power of opening and detaining closed letters in the
post office.

The Siecle says that although the Marquis de Lavalette
is not in the Ministry he appears to play a very important
part in the Government. He is very much listened to,
and very often consulted. He is credited with having
defeated the last manoeuvre of M. Pinard, and it is sup-
posed that this Minister will.not long continue to hold the
portfolio of the Interior, but will be appointed to a high
post in the magistracy. On the other hand, it is
mentioned that M. de Saint Paul, whom M. Pinard
endeavoured to dismiss, is going to give a grand dinner to-
morrow to the chief officials of the Home Department, at
which M. Pinard will assist ; and as men who have
quarrelled don't poison one another at banquets now, it is
supposed that this entertainment is to let the world know
that the disputants have made up their quarrel.
The Governor P: Algeria and the Archbishop of Algiers
have certainly not made up theirs. It is a very bitter
one; Marshal Niel, Minister of War, has • sided with the
Governor, as was natural ; but the semi-official Patric
sides with the Archbishop. It seems impossible that the
Governor and the Archbishop can henceforth work toge-
ther, and it is rutnoured that the Government has (leter-
mined to transport Monsignor Lavigerie to another see.
The Ministerial journals compliment M. E►nile
upon his speech in behalf of free trade, though he (lid say
some rather sharp things about the foreign policy of the
Government. It is the cue of those jourt:al3 to flatter M.
Ql:ivier, who has not yet abandoned the idea that he is to
be the Mirabeau of the Bonaparte dynasty.
M. Emile Girardin has made a speech in the great Pro-
tection debate, but, so absurd is the press law, he cannot
publish a ref opt of it in his own paper, the Liberte,
until the official shorthand writer has sent him the eflicial
report.

The new marriage law continues to give rise to much
excitement in Austria. The clergy most strongly oppose
it. The Bishop of Linz has written to the Gorernor of
Upper Austria a letter, in which he says: " I shall always
obey and enforce, on the part of those under my orders,
obedience to the laws of the country so long as these are
not contrary to the divine commands ; but whenever such
a contradiction should unfortunately- arise, I can only be
guided by the apostolic law, to which I must conform my
actions as well as the exercise of my influence over the
flock entrusted to me. My obedience is due first to God,
and not to the laws of man." The bishop goes on to say
that the law on marriage and the law on schools are con-
trary to the test by which he tries all laws, their coniformity
to the Catholic Church ; and that the Church is therefore
" bound to oppose them by every means not morally
wrong of which she can dispose."
A certain amount of coldness has sprung up between
Austria and Italy on account of the absence of the Arch-
duke Lsuis Victor from Prince Humbert's marriage. In
consequence of this the Marquis Pepin, who had been
appointed Ambassador to the Court of Vienna, has not yet
set out.

The murmur of incredulity with which Serjeant
Armstrong's motion was received in the House of Com-
mons, the disclaimer of the Opposition leaders of all
previous knowledge of it, and the prompt repudiation of
all the Liberal journals of influence, have shorn the reso-
lution of all interest whatever. There is a strong feeling
that such a move, taken as it was without Mr. Gladstone's
knowledge, should be rebuked in a way which would
prevent its being attempted again. The member for Sligo
is probably unknown, even by appearance, to two-thirds of
the House of Commons, and those who are acquainted with
his manners and tone are fully conscious of the singular un-
fitness of such a man to occupy the post of leader of a great
and enlightened party. Though possessing a certain blunt
humour, an audible voice, and 921 unbounded air of confi-
dence, the learned serjeant is emphatically not the style of
man whom the scrupulous and perhaps somewhat fas-
tidious section of the Liberal party would listen to with
patience as their self-appointed chief, or whom under any
circumstances they could be induced to follow. If the states-
man who has lcd them so triumphantly this session does not
think the time has arrived for moving a vote of want of
confidence, or for delegating that ticklish and responsible
duty to one of his able lieutenants, the thing ought not to
be mooted. It was a very different case in 1855; when, on
the receipt of the news of the disasters in the camp before
Sebastopol, Mr. Roebuck gave notice of the memorable
resolution which led to the break-up of the Coalition
Ministry. The mover was a man of acknowledged stand-
ing and talent.; the case was one of admitted urgency; the
Liberal minority below the gangway were in open
revolt ; and it was in avowed concert with the Tory
Opposition that they resolved to seek the deliverance of
the Crimean army at the cost of overthrowing the
Administration.

The Calvinistic Methodists of three Welsh counties
lately resolved that a petition to the House of Commons
should be adopted, praying for the disestablishment of the
Irish Church, and the document was forwarded to Mr.
Gladstone for presentation. This was done, but as no
reply arrived, the secretary of the Presbytery wrote
to the right hon. gentleman telling him that he had
been very remiss in not having acknowledged
the receipt of the petition. This elicited a
reply from Mr. Gladstone, in which he says: " I doubt
whether a day has passed for many weeks on which I have
not received, besides many petitions of a like character,
accounts of public meetings or resolutions pased by
important bodies having the same object. I am truly
sorry to have been unable to acknowledge the letter to
which you refer, but in a case like this, where the mind
and feeliug Of the country have been deeply stirred, I
must draw largely upon the indulgence of many persons
and assemblages of persons, who have sent me, in various
forms, expressions of their concurrence, which, if it had
been possible, I would gratefully have acknowledged. But
I could not and cannot do this without neglecting my
main duty, which is an incessant attention to the means
of prosecuting the great cause in Parliament." It seems
scarcely reasonable to expect a great party leader to
write a letter of acknowledgment to every person from
whom he may receive a petition for presentation to the
U4ll,se9iSAlnaons. •