, 1865-05-02

Correspondence Of the Chicago Tnbune.1
PARIS, Tuesday, April ii. 1865.
The aspect Of our city has undergone quite
marvellous change during the past week.
Ten days ago We were still in the midst o.
| frost aud SLOW, and hail, and the most chill
ling blasts. Our winter habits and cur win.
ter clothing were continued as Though the
month had been January instead Of April,
In enc moment, or at least In twenty-tous
hours, all thtswas changed asst by the stroke
of an enchanter's wand, and We were
launched at once from Christmas into mldsnm.
mer. Fires were. e1tinguished, window.
opened, great coats abandoned. Never was
60 sudden and seemingly continuous change
of temperature known, even :: in this
variable climate. Since the Sd Of
the month The heat. has been quite
oppressed IN the middle Of the day and bur
gay population has taken to early morning
and evening exercise as If We we're IN the
height OF summer. Whole cayalcades Of a.
eeen vending their way to the Bois de Bou-
1egne to take their ride before breakfast. re-
serving carriage exercise for the evening.
Bat it IS quite curious to witness this splen-
did weather without an appearance Of Vege-
tation upon the trees Everything lis, in
usual time, aud though we have plenty Of
sunshine we have as yet no shade.
The apprehension entertained of pest1-
lence coming amongst us from Rnssia, has al
most entirely subsidized. The Government
published note In the Monueur Of yesterday
stating that official accounts received from
st Petersburg represent that capital Us free
from all diseases of'an extraordinary charac~
ter.
The sa1e of the great Pourta1es gallery Of
paintings and antiquities terminated last
week, after attracting purchasers from all
ratts Of ,he world. The result shows that
nan OF tas'a and Judgment may make the
fine arts $ source Of yery profitable specula-
tfon Us well as amusement. The Count Pour
tales, whnsc family belongs originally to the
Swiss canton OF Neuf:hatel. spent about
million Of francs upon his collection. It has
lust been disposed Of for about three millions.
The Count, by his visit, directed the gallery
to be pr cured and thrown open to tho pub
lie for ten years after his death, then to be
disposed Of for the benefit Of his heirs. The
above period has just expired and the
collection been sold. The prices fetched
we're very great and the competition high.
Several wealthy Americans have been pur-
cbaters, and also many Russians. One paint
Ing wasccntsnded for between the French
Louvre and the British National Gallery, the
former finally prevailing amidst loud cheers
and at the cost Of 113,000 frs. The picture is
cniy small one, representing the bust Of q
young man.. But It Is the only one known
called Antonello di Messina, who first intro.
duced oil paintings from Flanders into Italy,
about the middle Of the 18th century. The
Emperor bought a eult Of gladiator'a armoz,
1ound at Hesculaneum. for Il, ,000frs. Itonce
belonged to the Empress Josephine A
curious Italian musket, Of the 10th
10 Count Nicverkerke for nearly
{, ,o00f., and pair Of pistols Of the same date
and manufacture, fetched about 5,Oo0f. 4
picture By the French artist, Greuze, Of 3
{oung girl holding lamb. was bought hy an
Epghsh,man; Lord Hcrtford. for 100, ,ssooE,
other rich Englishman, Lord Ward. Tha
l., ,ter IoEe the bid at once from $1,000 to
100, ,00of., hoping thereby to finish OF his op-
poDeut- But Lord He1tford coolly bid 2Otc
more and got the picture. But it was an I'M
mense Price 70 pay for it.
The discussion on the address continues in
the Representative Chamber, but it has turn.
ed almost entirely of late upon internal
affairs. A curious amendment was put for
ward and signed By fifty-six members, pro-
posing change in the French laws respect
ing wills and allowing greater, latitude to the
4 head Of family IN di:PSsing Of his property.
an.i-dem cratic, and was therefore rega ~ded
eth much suspicion. It was also said to be
nstigatcd By the Jesuits, in order to provide |
acilities for property beieg bequeathed to
heir Order: The government opposed aug |
'hange, and one speaker said that the greater
Iber1y" professed to be demanded was
.eally the liberty todlsfnherit ones children. |
The measure was reject. by large majority. |
In any other country but Germany the yofe |
n the Diet, by which Austria and Prussia /
'aye taken opposite sides, at the head Of
majority and minority Of the smaller States, !
night lave been attended with serious con-
equences. BUTT is believed that bath par
l ite Will still continue to "pegotiate," !" and
ittie or no apprehension is felt Of more de-
'is've isa measures being Ind recourse to on