The Sun. — 1869-01-15 (London, England)

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.  (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)  PARIS, THURSDAY, January 14. If there is such a possibility as a rational suicide, the merchant of Vanvres who has ended his days because he despairs of the state of politics may lay some claim to that title. Such an instance of political insanity is not without parallel. A strange case of madness is now causing considerable sensation at Paris. Father Mingeard, companion of the illustrious Lacordaire, has gone mad. Your readers will doubtless remember that this Christian orator was endowed with the most exalted ideas of democracy, which he carried to such an extent that the Government thought it necessary to forbid his preaching, after a celebrated discourse on behalf of the Poles. His political convictions, however, remain as strong as ever, and there can be little doubt that his enforced silence led to this melancholy result. Father Alingeard suffers from political madness. The Committee of Finance for the city of Paris has published the budget report for the capital. The Journal Officiel highly lauds this document. The good people who pay the bill, though not adverse to the beautifying of their city, do not express an equally enthusiastic approval. The Tribunal of Correctional Police is coining down rather heavy upon the duellists. Several have suffered penalties during the last few weeks, and now six— two principals and four seconds have just been mulcted in a fine each, besides having to go through the process of a public trial. It is satisfactory to find that the Second Empire is doing something to repress this evil. The law, however, is by no means so strict as it ought to be.  The proposed bridge across the Straits of Dover crops up occasionally. The Emperor, who takes a very lively interest in the project, has examined the plans, and they will shortly be submitted to several eminent engineers. Whether the stupendous undertaking will ever be commenced I cannot say, but it has already gone through much of the preliminary stage. The Channel has been carefully sounded, and it is found that the depth varies from 180 to 100 ft., in no case exceeding the former figure. M. Boutet is the originator of the scheme, which finds much favour here.  The consumption of horseflesh is on the increase here. Not only is there a pretty brisk trade done at the public shops, but it is quite an open question how much that passes for beef is really horse. Many an Englishman who has innocently sat down to a steak in a Paris restaurant has unwittingly partaken of the new food. In Berlin 4,044 horses have been slaughtered for food during the last year. The Langham banquet did not succeed in dissipating English antipathy to innovations in food, but the Continentals are by no means equally particular.  There is some talk that the Figaro will be sold for £4o,ooo—a very fair price, I should imagine, for a [Paris journal. M. de Sainte Beuve, who has gone over to the Temps, receives less than £l,OOO for his yearly services. This is indifferent pay for such a man, but then France is not the land of the remunerative newspaper, and proprietors are compelled to recompense genius according to their pockets, and not according to its worth. London rents are outrageously high, but they can hardly outrun the prices demanded here. For the ground floor. entresol, and cellars of a house in the Avenue Napol6on £2,200 is to be paid, according to the terms of a lease, for the first three years, and £2,880 for the next six. The Journal de Liige gives an interesting incident apropos of the illness of the Duke of Brabant. The young invalid has a great passion for music, and much:of the longsuffering which has excited such just admiration has been due to the soothing effects of Orpheus. His mother, perceiving • that he had a special taste for the harp, resolved that none but Iherself should furnish him with that distraction. In the midst of her melancholy duties she has found time to learn the instrument, and, thanks to an efficient harpist, now plays well.