New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-30
THROUGH FRANCE.
ON THE MEDITERRANEAN-TIE WAR AND THE
HMPRE-FEELING IN THE PROVINCES.

THROUGH FRANCE.
ON THE MEDITERRANEAN-TIE WAR AND THE
EMPRE-FEELING IN THE PROVINCES.
MARsEILLEs, Aug. FL left Malta by the
French steamer the 7th and arrived here last nght
I'm the midst Of a tempest. The Mediterranean has Dad
reputation; disposed to trust 1t in midsummer
a. did to my cost. violent west wind met us In the
Malta hanneI the sirocco from the desert pursued us
ND the coast of Sicily; the MaGsrale from the
lay wait for at the Straits OF Bona1acio' between
Corsica and Sardinia, and I'm the idion OF tne Sou Wv
down our throats all the way through the Cur Oh Lynn"
/ have never heavier Diow-hot even on 40" :,
foupdlandthan the gale last night at the entrance Oh
the harbor OF Marseles. Excepting the ceopi"'ou
gale "a northeast wind Of winter which mas .c oro, VI
having blown the Apostle Paul ashore on Maital' pe
lieye we had all the varieties OF weather kho"n W 'o
Medlterranean-from dead calm 70 tempest anu io"
sitting heat to the temperature OF november III Ne"
York Tho oppressive sr0cco died away very suddenly
betyeen Sicily and Sardinia, and In al hour was sue
ceeded by the Masrae which kept us shiverDg though
dressed In full Winter clothing the rest OF the voyage
No sea has q worse name than the Mediterranean
or deserves It more. With the great deserts of Arabia
and Africa on the east and SOUTH the complicated coast
line and mountain ranges OF Europe the north, 1t Is
never at rest and to be trusted so all travellers
may be warned to avoid 1t If they Nevertheless for
person who is seawOrthy to say there are few more
beautiful trips than the voyage from Malta to Marseiles
With the caution characteristic OF Mediterranean sailors
from the Ph9nclans down. all vessels cling to the coast
which questionable seamanshp as there are only one
two good harbOrs the whole route but 1t Is very
fortunate for the tourist who is treated to series OF the
loveliest landscapes in the world. Whosoever mas
watched as we did the long slopes OF Sicily from MI
Ena to Trapano under the afternoon sun aud seen tine
full moon rise the Isle Egades will confirm me III tn
Still delightful are the shores OF SARDINIA anu Co
sca and the very noble coostne OF France nom iouo
to Narcotics The Province of VAR which mere ies '
sea- is an outlying district of the Maritime APPS ~ "
though containing no mountains Of great night OF mag
n,,do sbows Landscape full OF those continual sur
nrises which are 80 characteristic Of the scenery Oh
Switzerland a.,
OF course the great question Of the voyage was the
war We left Malta Just after the first vague reports OF
the battles of the 5th which were supposed 10 DO mere
sirmshes No board seemed to dream OF serious
disaster for the French The captain, hearty Imperial
ist with great contempt for Victor Hugo Rochefor Vic
tor Nor ct gems In one Of his discourses pro-
duced genuine needle-gun, for the instruction OF the
passengers and pointed out with much learning the
superior merits Of the chassepot, and the superaVe
merits OF the mitraileur The nerminable and deadly
range these two weapons he was sure, would decide
the issue OF the war; and all his audience assened 1t
did not seem TO occur to any that the Prussians
might have had their wits at work. in the mean time, as
WELL that there was any mental or moral force OF
either side that would do much settle the question.
suspect this little fallacy OF the captain reflects an u
sion Of all France-indeed, Of nearly all Europe
of Toulon we met great transport just putting to
sea- bound to Oran for the troops Of Agers the only
sign OF actual war met on the trip. An American
vessel in the circumstances would have had her
signals going continually, and have known all the news
long before entering port; but although we passed
steamer after steamer outward bound and telegraph
station on every headand not question asked or
answered. SO entered the harbor Of Maiselles at
midnight In profound ignorance, and woke up this
morning to find landing the city under martial law,
In the French formula 6dt de SIEGE and the whole
population In that stupOr Of establishment and dis
may-so familiar to few years agO-which follows
first great national disaster The earliest announce
ment made here last Saturday, the day after the
fighting and followed by great commotion. With
the instinct TO all Frenchmen In cities, vast
poured TO the Prefecture and Hotel de Vile,
demanding and II is said that affairs looked
little ugly at time but to-day the city is perfectly
tranquil One hears occasional strain of the Marseil
aise and a crowd always assemblies whenever levy Of
the Garde Mobile passes But otherwise the people
could be quiet in time OF peace Indeed it is
probable that for the moment the Empire
secure at home-even in Parsas is now. 1t has been
instantly and universally felt that OF sudden
and overwhelming danger is time for revolu-
ton, and that the only government which
face the enemy is the standing Govern
ment, simply because. the Prince do Joinville
said the other day, it is actually constituted and organ
lied. For tho moment the wind is 80 high the
not rise The real danger to the Empire will come later
For, judging from what hears everywhere in the
shops and the streets well from what is said
less frankly Of course In the Liberal papers Of the city,
there is deep resolve after reckoning with the invader
to reckon with the Government. You Will, of course,
have authentic accounts OF French opinion from
your Paris correspondents but 1t may be worth while TO
know that here seems to be felt however obscurely
that the Empire got o death-blow at Weissenburg
A great victory can hardly save 1t. On the
one hand the campaign has been inaugurated
by the Prussians with such magnificent fore
sight and precision, with such complete sue
cess that nothing coming ateran materially impair the
reputation for diplomatic and military genius they have
already gained. The fame q Bismarck and Motke is
secure in spite Of the repulse which all Frenchmen
pect them to find before Metz Indeed, Ulysses Pic Of
the Marseiles CoWier-a welknown name on the pro-
yincia presspOns out what everybody in fact think
ing Of that across the Rhine this thing have been
planned and prepared for in cool blood ever since the
ahair or Luxembourg. How does II happen that the slow
gong German, instead or being trapped uDawares and
forced unready into fight by olivier and Gramon has
got his whole army on foot and over the frontier
Whereas, the Emperor has been hoisted with his own
petard. He has preciptated which could have
been avoided, without adequate preparations at the
very moment Prussia would have chosen.
Is curious illustration of the improvidence OF tho
late Ministry, the "lghtheartedness," as n. Olivier
said with which 1t went into the war; that the municipal
eecuohs are proceeding all over France, at least over
this part of It, The voting here took place the 5th
and 9Th, but the Mayor issues proclamation to-day that
In the disorders d tho change TO military Government,
the result cannot yet he definitely announced. The
streets are pacarded with the procamaons and lists of
candidates for the City Council issued by the different
parties OF which there seems to be half Dozen The
Lis:e Muncpale Independence includes the names Of
Bernex, Marie de Marsele Dor Docteur en- Medicine;
SAL ancien officer de Marine, and other respectable
ues, while the "COmte SociaIIste the
trolne Radicals, suppose boldly for Auber