The New York herald., 1877-12-26

have arrogated TO themselves right OF control which
will stop God knows where. After the fortncatons
and the material tho army itself viii be controlled.
Its progress will be watched; from that point TO the
installation Prussan generals at It's head there
but short step. IL Is to tho secret influences
that this Will be due
Count MO what is all this going to conduct the
country
General BRIALmoSr-Inquire OF the Ministry. As to
me. occupy no political position, and, what is more
do not want
COLONEL HIcAsE,
tho director OF the artillery and officer OF ordnance
to tho King, is about fifty years OF age He Is the
beau ideal OF skilfui .ncgotiator-of a diploma.
rather than soldier. He Is bald aud wears a long
mVetacne d la CAtnoise he owed his first advance.
ment 10 his marriage, having welded the sister OF
General Brialmont THIS marriage procured him
footing at court his father-in-iaw being ade-de-canp
to tho King. or modest origin, Colonel Ntcaise owes
TO his own merit the high position which he occupies
at present His relations with Major dc Sommericld
are very Close and he iS often to be th road
TO Berlin where ho is familiarly received by Prince
Fritz The Colonel is laughed at in Brussels because
hc has adopted the celebrated German spurs which
ring like bells. He lots people laugh. His ambition
Is to become ~ soon possible Minister OF War.
He has already invaded the prcrogives Of the pres
ent Minister, whose authority Is held Of no account
Constituting with Generals Van Der smissen aud
Bralmont ono OF the little knot Of officers with whom
the King consults, he is the only one OF them that
belongs TO the Ministry. Through his royal intimacy
he arrogates to himself rights which 70 SO fur as 10
control tho Minister even his Cabinet. A good
worker and aided by cxceiont officers Colonel
Nicaise's reports are highly appreciated n Germany
He Is generally 10 be seen at the Ministry Of War;
especially since tho death Of his wife, during whose
life he received occasionally at her house Oh the
Chareroi road. at the corner OF the Rue veydt
GREAT FRIEND GERMANY
''You have tho reputation OF being great friend
Of Germany" observed our ex-iunc,ionary to the
Colonel; "you arc always to be met on the road TO
Bcrlin.n
CoLoSEL-I only execute my orders.
Count M.-Tko suspicion must, however, be accept
able to you for ordinarily exchange OF reports be-
tween two countries is made through tho personnel
OF the diplomatic corps
Colonel NIcAsE-we have no military attaches
therefore the communications effected by courier
Count M-You must own that tho high position
which you occupy the Ministry entities you 70 bc
considered something moro than a couricr, espc.
ciay present. hon tho Minister Of War passes for
nn h0ntne de pGiHe. You are diplomat.
Colonel NIcAsE-Just you please. Nay ask
what you are driving atY
Count MI want to oe enlightened little as 10 tho
negotiations which passing between tue two coun
tries
Colonel NIcAIsE-Every one knows thor nature.
They have reference tho defences Of tho country
Count M.-Supposc France were tomorrow to re-
gain her old authority andin her turn wero demand
OF you to dispose your dciences against Germany,
what would you do?
for II France were TO resume the position she formerly
occupied toward Belgium 1t is to be feared that she
would at once seIze upon our country.
Count M.-And Germany DO you not fear tho
same proceeding on her part9
Colonel NIcAIsE--If such wero her intentions who
could have prevented her from roalizing them
already. You must admit that the German govern.
mont Is merely our prot tcctor, nothing more.
Count M.--An cxacting protector.
Colonel NloAIsE-she Is right. Tho thing is TO be
done or let alone.
Count NIL is said that she wants TO see you ap.
pointed Minister.
Colonel NIcAsE-There is no reason why, having
be como general, should not become Minister
N. JULES DGvEAUx
Tho Chez dm Cabinet Of tho king s about forty Ave
years Of age He is q tall. elegant looking man. with
long, pointed lace, framed large whiskcrs which
W.
Van Praet, who educated him TO succeed him, and Is
as great an amateur OF music as his unco la of paint
ing 1t no who introduced the celebrated singer
Faure, to the Court, ana procured Tor him dccora
tion. Ho arranges concerts with the. Queen, who
equally adores music. lie Is of Her Majesty's
croquet party. N. Dcveaux lycs principally in tho
Queens circle, which e essentially Prussiau. lie has
also that proclivty, unlike his unclo, because he is
too young to have established h,mseifunder Leopold
LIS personal relations in England. Dtsln0ue and
amiape IN manncrs, and an oblging ana gay com
panlon, It was he who In 1870 received The fuet,yes
from the Court OF Napoleon III. and gave them his
own clothing. He accompanies. the King on all his
journeys and lives at the palace. where he occup,cs
the corner OF the ground floor, facing the park near
the Corps do Garde. Underneath an apparent frivoy
N. Doveaux conceas prudent mind, more prone to
listen atton,iveiy than to commit itself by useless
words.
RSGLANp's PR0rRCroRATE REPLACED.
can your sympAs.Ios arc with tho Germans said
our sx.functonary TO II Deveaux "They take no
pains conceal these tendencies in the Queen circle
to which you belong. WIN you tell mo why you are
all or that way OF tninkinG9"
NJ. pEvEAUx-Wilngly. II being the fact that
there remain Of all the effective guaranteeing Pow crs
OF our neutrality only England and Germany, much
prefer DO protected by tho latter than by the former
who never occupied herself with any OF deencss
but that OF Antwerp. 1t seems that she had always
present to her mind that saying OF Napoleon l.,
stWith Antwerp hold pistol pointed at England
CouSr M.-Then you arc OF opinion that England
always coveted Antwerp?"
NJ. DEvEAux--I do not affirm It; ! only repeat what
every one in Europe says You know u as we'll as
do.
Count M.-And what does Germany covct2
NJ. DsvEAUx--To Withdraw Belgium RON tho inter-
estcd friendship OF England.
Count N. What do tho English say to that7
N. DEv gAux-NothiIg; but that does not prevent
them thinking good deal on the subject
Count M.-rhcn you think the protection OF Ger
many would be grand thing for Belgium?
NJ. DEvEAux-~-Un ndoubtcdly. The English will not
withdraw their aid from that account; so that
in place OF one protector we shall havo two We
would do wrong 10 complain
coMrE pE PLANDRE
In discussion any other question, In order that
the gallery OF Belgian celebrities VINO have lust de-
filed before your readers should DO complete tho
Comto do Fiandre. heir presumptive 10 tho throne
should by rights igurc in 1t. Snce the German ques