The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-01
PARIS LETTER.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
PARIS, January IL, 1869.
THE EASTERN QUESTION.

PARIS, January IL, 1869.
THE EASTERN QUESTION.
Barnum said, during the impeachment
Of Andrew Johnson, that if he met any
man who had read oil tie speeches con-
nocted with it, that man would make him
| for life. lie might offer to do the same for
any man who can be found in Paris that
believes the conference will succeed in set
Ting the Turco Greek dispute. The reason
is, diplomacy desires rather to elude diff
| cultics than to solve them its science is
| limited to an adjourning Of the evil day.
The chinks in the present difficulty may be
"plastered up nothing more. France
gains whatever advantage the conference
can coufer.-thc fattery to her pride of
having il held in Paris. There is a very
natural curiosity to know what the "seven
sages will agree to: how Greece-that is,
Russia and Prussia-will be bound over to
keep the peace g; but we are all of little
faith in their being able to effect permanent
| good. Many think that if Pasha Hobart
and Omer Pacha had been permitted to
commence their peculiar Diplomacy con-
Gress afterwards might haze done some
good. In the mean time tic Sultan does
well to call upon his Egyp; n satrap to be
ready with his contingent. must be rs q
set off to this to gain the sympathy Of John
Bull that the municipality Of Missolonghi,
after some five and forty years of neglect,
have agreed to erect a monument to her
poetic hero, Byron, by guaranteeing one
half Of the expense, trusting to "gen-
erous public" for the other. Greece un-
doubtedly feels
1.-THE sharp convulsve paus of agonizing
pride
in not being backed up, by permission, to
make crusade q la mode Mahomet to
convert the Turks to the Greek Church,
and come to the rescue of their co-religion-
lists who only desire to be let alone.
Nothing of any importance has leaked
out as to the "goings on " Of the " congress-
new to the assembled plenipotentiaries.
The Emperor's speech at the opening of the
Chambers on the 18th, will likely be the
first reliable information respecting their
labors.
THE PRESS.
As usual, reports are circulating that in
his address to the Chambers, Napoleon will
announce general amnesty to the press.
Ii is curious that while the " floating popu-
lation " of rogues experience on state occa-
sions the Emperor's clemency, editor jail
birds never do. 1t is said that his Majesty
has been very much annoyed about the re-
marks circulated as to his growing incapa-
city, and his "know- -nothingism about
what is going on in the Empire, and will
give practical refutation to these ISLANDERS
on Monday next. 1t is a byeword in Paris,
when Ministers commit g blunder, which
is not rare event, " Oh if the Emperor
only knew it." A few days will show what
the chief of the State thinks Of these re-
Elections on his vigilance.
FINANCIAL.
The Minister of Finance, NJ. Mayne, has
submitted his report to the Emperor. 1t is
addressed more to the public than to his
Majesty, tending to refute that the recent
loans have fallen in public esteem. lie
does not prove that Ia rerte trdnCaise is yet
a good investment. He purposes reducing
the debt by 1000 000f. (from 727 900,
600 to 627 ,000,000), by drawing upon the
the army dotation fund for the amount-a
kind of robbing Peter-to-pay-Paul plan.
4 saving of $780, 600 has been effected in
the amount estimated for the balancing OF
accounts in last years loan. This sum it
is proposed to carry over to public works
very good, doubtless, but it might be better
| first to get the authority Of the Chambers to
sanction the change. A surplus of some
$4,000, 900 is expected of receipts over ex-
pcnditures for the financial epoch ending
1870 but French Chancellors of the Exche-
qucrs have the mysteries Of reCtifCatf"
budget to fall back on that very often are
as potent as an Aaron's rod in swallowing
UP the advantages of its predecessors 1--WE
call it deficiency bilD. On the whole, the
budget is not so interesting as last years.
The nation would like to see army estimates
less bloated, and its army of 100000 men
either employed or reduced. Fight or dis
arm, is the formula in which Frenchmen
now express their views. If the military
fever is to be cooled down, let the Emperor
clearly and frankly say he Is resigned to
what he can never prevcnt-the unihcation
of Germany. His not doing 30 has for CO.
rollary the maintenance of an army beyond
all precedent, unsettledness in home poll
tics, and uneasiness everywhere.
ITALY. r.
In Italy the "millers' strike" is be-
coming less alarming. The Chambers could
levy tax on the grinding Of corn, but
they overlooked the possible " stoppage OF
the mills" The Italian millers resemble
much their celebrated brother Of the Dee,
which history records:
"-this the burden of his song
For ever used to be
! care for nobody, no not l,
For nobody cares for me-"
At Rome the troubles of Victor Emma
nuel were certainly more gratifying TO his
Holiness than the New Years dcy ccn-ra-
tulations of the cardinals, and it must be
in consequence of them few mere cnnnons
were placed in position. Meanwhile. Carl
baldi has gone "clean over" tp Ma-zini,
and promises to out-do Victor hugo IN the
art of letter writing. He finds fault with
Victor Emm anuel's kinG-craft, while the
poor King only longs to throw It to the
winds, to be off to hunt and live n the
mountains with his fair Roselind, the
Countess Rosine. He got over his nnrnnl
State dinner remarkably well. AS frugal
as Piedmontese royal "blow-outs cTer
are, who that has enjoyed Count Cavour 5
hot suppers can forget the one smoking hot
dish. the smiles of his niece, and the plate
in the hall to receive the smallest silver
coin of the realm for the not-to-be-for-
gotten" members Of the house
-...--.-~~AU AUSTRIA.
Austria, it appears, has made all "snug "
for the approaching storm from Russia, who
has a long memory for her desertion in the
Crimean war, and adds to the debt to be
bslanced-her late bounding on of Turkey
against Greece.