The New York herald., 1877-12-26

gray whiskers and his protected by tortoise
shell specaces, which he has worn since an apopec-
tic attack deprived him OF the sight Of one OF ms
eyes. When he passes he leaves behind him an odor
OF Piccadiliy old Bond street, II you visit him In
the small hotel which he inhabits In the Ruo Ducae
(No. III you will Gnd him slipping tea He at once
kind obligng, but cold He is tho providence OF all
the unfortunate and damaged OF society Ho is very
court Of cessation, and the justice tnat no admins
ters Is not long IN making Its effects iclt This hign
influence excited against him tho jealousy OF the
entire Ministry, but he treats II with indifference.
Immensy rlch and great patron OF the arts, he has
formed In building ut the back OF his hotel magn-
cant gallery OF pictures Living alone, ana attended
only by bonnie and single man servant, he dimes
almost daily at the house OF his broiher-ih-law, Al.
Dcveaux, whose son Is cher 9u cabinet OF the King or
highly cultivated aud liberal mind, NJ. Van Praet
has written a work which Is very III uch esteemed in
the Chancelieries, and which Is entitled 'Souv-
cnirs Historiqucs OF Foliliques Although the book
commences with the reign or Philippe IL II lull OF
the spirit OF The authors royal friend, Leopold An
ambassador, speaking ono day OF the leading mon Of
Belgium Observed :--"Whilo ~ Frere Orban Is party
man like MN. Duiaure and Grevy, MN. d'Anethan
and Van Praet are Two honest patriots In the ab-
solue sense Of the word" H.. Van Pract represents
Al the Court the English element IL was he VINO
caused tho Notifications Of Antworp to bs built Il IL
he also who has the last word In opposlion 10 Major
dc sommcrfcd, who after that Is obliged TO take
refuge In his correspondence with Prince Fritz N.
Van Praet Is in continual relations with Mr. Lumley,
the English Minister.
A CHAT WITH H. VAN PnAET.
''The political situation OF Belgium observed
Count NJ. TO NJ Van Praet the other day, AIS daily
becoming more and engaged in the German
views DO you not thiuk that II win bo said OF hor
That she IS the first TO forget the duties that neutrality
imposes on her?
II. VAN PRAEr-The observation could only bo made
by the guaranteeing Powers and In the present state
OF Europe England is tho only OF them that ia In
q position 10 speak.
Count M.-Why does she not do II, then?
NJ. VAN PRAEr-Is is perhaps because that is al that
Is waited Tor TO gvc rise to another series OF events
and the COVER nlcnt OF Queen Victoria IS prudent
Count Mt Is too much Germany is daily ex-
hibting the growth OF ner influence IN Belgium, and
II has become almost a domination. You know this
better than any one for II is you who, through the
Queen, seek to influence her daughter, tho wlfc OF
Prince Fritz. Are you not apprchcnsive that 1t will
soon be too later
n. VAN pRAgT.-It will never be too late, for tho
family that you nave just given me yourself
Tho liberty OF Belgium will never be mepaccd by Ger
many.
Count N IL Ou say ''ilDcTty" unu not lnuepenuonco
that woulo almost give rise to the inference that you
arc thinking OF the replacement oil neutrality guar
antecd by all tho European Powers by
ofa siagle Power hut shall not press this point.
Let me ask you another question. Is IL true that 1t
was tho expcdiionof Mr.. Stanley that Inspired King
Leopold with the idea Of the civilization OF Central
AfricaS
N. VAN PRAET--No. Every one in Belgium knows
that for than twenty years tho King has bson
ooking out Tor colonies.
Count M.--When you have got them what force will
you have to protect our compatriotsY
M. VAN PRAgT-Our neutrality prevents from
sending troops beyond own boundaries. A special
corps will probably be formed for the purpose similar
to that enrolled by the British East India Company.
BARoN D'ANErHAN.
The Belgian Minister OF State and formerly Prcsi-
dent OF the Council OF chief OF The Catholic
party. He is about seventy years OF ngc. Ho
great honesty aud energy and undoubted patriot
He is Of middle height, with white hair and whskers,
and wears gold spcc.aces For more than forty Years
he has inhabited the same house In the Rue Royalc
mo 234) One OF his officer OF ordnance 70
the KING and tho other is Belgian Mnslcr TO the
Vatican. Baron d'Ancthan has always been men,
bcr OF the Catholic Cabinets that is to say since 1880
he has been several times Minister, post which has
procured him the title Of Minister OF Stale, rank
which the King can confer on those whose counses he
may like TO demand when the exigences OF stSse
quire them This title s generally speaking, honorary
II Is not so, however, In the Of tho Baron
9'Anethan who, forced by riot to retro from the
present Cabinet, OF which he was President, has re-
mained among the number OF the mtants of the
situation. He has preserved his patrmonal fortune
just as he received II, without ever having been
tempted to increase 1t by speculation.
VIEWS p'ASgrnAx
On the annou ncemcnt OF the fact that the Germans
had succeeded in getting their views In relation
the Belgian dofenccs adopted ex-tunctionary had
an opportunity OF speaking with Baron dAncthan on
the subject.
Count M.-You know, OF course Baron, that the
two forts which the Germans have demanded on the
Ncthc and the Ruppe TO DO built in spite Of the
resistance OF NJ. Maou, your SUCCESSORS
Baron D'ASETHAN--The government has done we'll
to decree them and it will do well accsde every
thing that military necessities may demand. A.
the time Of the last elections on attaining power
had no reason 70 believe that tho Of 1870
near at hand. wo believed In o long Of peace,
and we had pledged ourselves not to increase the
military expenses, which already pressed heavily
upon tho country But now things are changed, ana
our two ncghbors occupy such q situation uis-dvis
OF each other that second war must break ous be-
tween them sooner or iatcI We snail uc caught DO.
tween the two jaws of the vice, and for that
wo must take be sufficiently ironplatod to pre-
wont our toing entirely crushed. Whatever may DO
tho secret Intentions or tho Germans, tor they un
doubtedy have some, unite with thom in urging
forward the Development Of our military dcfenoes
We must have iorncations and 100 coo soldiers, and
more If possible. However large may be invad-
ing army It will always hook twice before provoRiug
an additional enemy, who might divert zoo, 600 men
OF forces from the main struggle, result which
would inevitably happen TO tho first who put foot
upon our SOIL ior then should become orccdly the
alIes OF tho other Power. II wo strong, there
FORE territory will be respected For that rcason
wo are bound TO complete our unfinished forti1ca-
tons and our insufficient artillery possible.
Ii may become for the nation question Of ndcpen-
dence.
Count M-But whoro are you to get tho money for
all this?
Baron D'ASErHAx-Tho country must DO asked for