Nebraska advertiser., 1857-12-03
Foreign correspondence.
Paris, Oct. 2lst, 1857.

Keep yOu P0StSu % ~ AON
things are going On in the Old WoridE
Probably you often thought since had
forgotten my promise not So 7howeTer.
But my departure from America having
been deferred for some months by unex-
pected business, l could not leave New
York; and you may see that, not only I
did not forget what l promised you, but
that my first letter is within a reasonable
time Of my ARRIVAL here .tl
Well, after nine years Of absence, l am
again a resident of Paris, but in quite diff
ferent circumstances. Nine years ago,
prescribed for my political opinions, pur-
sued by the doghounds of the police, ! was
compelled to change every dayof disguise
and every night of sleeping place. With
,he assistance Of some friends, | at last.
succeeded, however, inescapingt to Ameri-
ca; and, on returning here, the simple
exhibition of an American passport,
granted. to- M as citizen of the United.
States, has been sufficient to protect me
against persecution, and establish my
right 10 stay or go when and where l
please
Since my arrival 1 spent considerable
time looking for my old acquaintance,
friends and relations, but with little sue
cess. Many of them have changed of res
idence, and nothing is harder than a search
for somebody in Paris when you do not
know where direct your steps to find him.
Others have died, eitherby sickness or on.
the barbados, during the nefarious days
of December, 1852, or cowardly assassin
ated after the battle, Others are in exile;
and several, sent in Algeria or at Cayenne,
are expiating there, among thieves and
~murderers, the crime of having upheld
and defended the Constitution of their
country, that it washer duty to protect
against the audacious hand of an usurper.
During the, nine years l was absent such
a, change has taken place in my native
country that now l am almost a perfect
stranger in it. 1t will require a study on
my part to become acquainted with the
system and men of this time. 1 have also
to undergo new aeclimatation; for my
lungs accustomed to the pure and vivifying
air Of your land Of liberty breathe i'll at
ease in this atmosphere of despotism.-
France, when | left, was a Republic; on
my return, l found an Empire. All the
tprominent men of the Revolution have
disappeared from the political scene. A
man, called emperor, surrounded by SOL
diers, and a staffof princes, dukes, counts
and barons, all mobiles of new creation, fill
the stage and perform before the world
an2ndiqus comedy. The reign Of the sabre
is i~naugurated, and under It's rule liberty
hides herself and her advocates must be
tsilent.r The political leaders the people
used toihsten and follow cannot be heard
any more. Manyof themhave retired in.
disgust from political life ;-Lamartine,
the bright orator Of the Revolution, con-
fines himself in literary studies; the poet
Victor Hugo ontemplates the nature, and
in unsurpassed verses, paintsoits beauties.
while Mlchelet, the profound observer.and
historian, asks of it its secrets, and BY. the
publication of his discoveries adds new
riches to the acquired domain Of natural
history; Louis Blanc is in London, and
Raspail in Belgium, the former writing
his admirable History of the French Re-
volution, the latter devoting the rest of his
career to scientific purposes. Blanqui and
thousands of republicans remain in prison,
while multitudes of prescribed democrats.
wander over Europe, all a~nxiously await
ing the hour when France will open the
doors of their dungeons or make cease
their exile.
But those are not the only surprising
changes of the last nine years. Another
one is the present aspect of Paris. Al
though | had been a resident of this CITY
for some twenty years and was familiar
with almost every corner, hardly can |
recognize the Paris / left. Vainly did I
look for streets where acquaintance used
to live, they were no more. Immense
public works have been : undertaken
whole ranges of old, narrow, filthy streets
have disappeared; thousands Of houses
demolished; and in their stead wide, re-
gular, clean boplevards established, Dor
dered by long lines Of elegant construc-
tions. These improvements, together
with the achievement of some monuments
and the re-modeling of others, greatly
contribute to the establishment of the
French capital. had not yet sufficient
time to notice all the changes brought,
and you cannot expect particulars in a
first letter, but, bye and bye, l viii furnish