New-York tribune., 1881-03-27
FRENcH AFFAIRS OF STATE.

RESULT OF rHE scRUTIs DE nsrEs
yrnox rBE nEat4AR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIboNSl
p.srs. March 15--The state bah at the Elysee,
from which came home hot and weary was IN
many respects noteworthy. 1t was q inonstTousV
big ball. Ten thousand persons anu some scores
besides attended. Very few invitations were Scn'
back. and a greater number solicited than usual
II was felt that this ball would nave po'icai sig
n;fcsnce which it had. Members OF the diplomatic
eoyns who had felt that something was brewing,
fbouebt n rnust be Ministerial crisis and came 10
stpdy the attitudes of Ministers and Deputies VINO
were not at their ease but not for the exact reason
which the diplomats thought. A report had also
rome forth that the President OF the Chamoer
would take advantage of the ball TO come ana
manifest his desire to keep on friendly terms Win
[,r6yv. Curiosity as to the probable delneanor OF
these riyaIs-for rivalry is declaring tself-in the
presence OF one another, was also felt .Ihere was
never, dare say, at the palace OF the Executive
larger attendance of political men processing diner
pnt shades of Republicanism.
When I arrived, at about 10 o'clock, found
large number of qnidnuncs and Journalists drawn
nm In the antechafnber. Those whom knew said
that they were stationed there to watch the dehie
of great personages, who. it was rumored were ex-
pected. They mentioned the Prince OF wales as
being one of the probable lions OF the evening" but
when I entered the Salon dHonneur, In which
was received by NJ. Grevy with words OF kinoy
greeting, and taken by him for chat TOT iew
moments with his wife and daughter, asked hau-
sme Grevy whether his Royal HigbnesS was W 10
among her guests. She replied, put wi'nou' any
dir of piQue, that be was not minister 49, a.
ward told me that he had arranged to make nlgnt
% a with the Maruuis de Gallifet Madame de
Bacbevet and Gustave Dore. Gambetta the Presi'
dents wife volunteered to state, would be at tne
bali uness his cold, which takes the form OF acute
bronchitis, was very much worse.
STATE BALL DRRss.
, n win interest the ladies to hear how Madame
fsr6yy dressed. She was in black satin and lilac
brocade and wore lilac flowers in her hair They
were 30 arranged with lace as to appear like cap
She wore some rich lace round her mock. and on the
lilac front of the skirt Her daughter was in white
ailk satin and tulle and had no train to her skirt
Her coiflure was formed of tv lists OF seed pearls
wrought through the heavy braids OF her dark halr
THE PRESIDENT IN SOCIETY.
, Greyy's manner OF receiving company is excel
lent There is great courtesy in the mans nature.
He ia Gallant toward ladies, to whom he admin
listers compliments in the lozenge form. He
soueezes deal of gallant pOliteness into very Few
words. and varies In way that is perfectly aston
fishing his pretty little speeches to tair guests bis
diction Oh such occasions is neat and elegant. a
king or emp error who could address ladies as NJ.
C,revy does habtually, would be reckoned the most
lgraclous gracefully spoken and wittiest OF mon
archs. Aud yet the President is the son OF
Francbe Corntois peasant. and would in all prob
ability be himself nothing higher than forest
guard had it not been for the llherating power OF
The Revolution and its quickenng eifec: on the In
fellect of the humber classes
THE GREvY-GAMBETTA FEUD.
Dancing went on in the new greenhouse and IN a
fem porary ballroom which was of immense size
and vet dreadfully crowded. Circulation was out
of the question for many hours. / got in rela-
tiyely empty corner near one Of the doors OF the
Salon d 'Honneur 1t turned out that had selected
The best place for dropping in with political men,
who found were very uneasy lest the coming de-
bates on the scrutn de lste might lead to conflict
between Ganbetta and Grevy. just now, ascer-
tanned from some OF them, there IS kind OF truce
They called it the truce OF the mlliard loan. But
when the great financial operation this loan would
jnyolye would be got through. they warned me to
look out for struggle. / had some days previously
solicited an interview with Gambetta, and had been
accorded one. ! wished to learn from his own lips
why he had gone the other day to the Elysee. and
how he had been received there. he told me that he
had gone for peaces sake and to remove the effect
produced on Gr6vy's mind by the calumnies OF his
tCambettas enemies, as well as to gain the Presi-
dent. whose moral influence is immense, to the
scrutin de liste. Grevy was extremely cordial.
He let Gambetta, who had come TO give eXplana-
tions and to convince, to do most OF the talking.
and was reserved in stating opinions or IN saying
ANYTHING That might appear like promise. But be
admitted the force of some OF the arguments al
duced by Ga s:nbetta. what these arguments were
am not at liberty to state. They were only re-
peated to ME TO enable me TO steer clear OF the IN
yentions of the Paris journalists which have indeed
shown their inventive powers ID renlaIKaDie oe-
gree in their articles on the Elysee interview
COMPLAINTS AGAINST GAMBETrA.
/ was told at the ball that Gambettas manner of
d,scharging the duties of President of the Chamber
had long given umbrage to the President OF the
Republic and the Ministers who complained among
each other Of the dual Government which has in
consequence sprung up. n. Jules Ferry's patience
had almost broken down. His department was
Thrown into state of confusion, 1T was alleged, by
the officials belonging to it erecting the Petit Bour-
bon into sort of appeal tribunal against Minis
ferial decisions. II they did not like Ministerial
act they went to the Petit Bourbon to complain.
n they wanted promotion they tried to obtain III by
paving their court to NJ. Gambetta. who being
man OF kindly disposition enjoyed the feellng tnat
he was rendering the services demanded OF him. In
the case of the Greek armaments, the Government
6eoided on one conrse, and the bureaus OF the war
Office entered upon one which was dlametrlcaiiy
opposed to it. NJ jules Ferry did not dare state en- IN
been hampered. If he had done so he would have
declared war on the Petit Bourbon, which would
have had the effect of spelling tho success OF the
loan and of throwing much lat into an already
ardent hres
MINISTERIAL DISSATISFACTION
IN. Greyy and the Cabinet, was also informed
were not pleased at the series Of military banquets
given ct the Petit Bourbon. All the heads Of army
corps who were received in small groups and sepa-
rately at dinner at the Elysee were received in
body at Nj. Gambetta's table. This charge was met
by the explanation atprobably Ganbetta. whoiss
bachelor and dimes very seldom at home received the
generals for convenience sake at single dinner
This might have been so, it was conceded. But the
military banquet coincided with the extending OF