The Express. — 1866-08-07 (London, England)

PARIS, MONDAY MIMIC M. Drcrayu de Lhuys presided to-day at the distribution of prizes at the Sorbonne. His speech, elegant and not too long, was listened to with peculiar attention because some forty years ago the present Minister of Foreign Affairs carried off the first prize (priz d'honneur) which he now awarded as the alter ego of M. Duruy, the Minister of Public Instruction. M. Drouyn de Lhuys committed himself unreservedly to the laudation of that classical education in colleges which several bishops have opposed and which during the reign of the now exploded system of "bifurcation," invented by the late M. Fortoul, was under a cloud. He insisted that to-day, as much as in the time of Rollin, the beat discipline for a youth d'ilite was the study of the ancient languages and the constant reading of the great writers of antiquity. On this point he said the church agreed with the universities, Oxford with the Sorbonne, and Northern with Southern Germany. He could find no serious conflict on the subject. In the foL ' lowing passage, the only one at all political, the Minister for Foreign Affairs took an opportunity to I illustrate his thesis by a compliment to the author of the " Life of the Caesar " and the mediator of Nikolsberg : -  Why seek far back examples of the benefits of classical education ? Have we not before our eyes a living proof of the truths I am demonstrating? Amidst the events which threatened to overturn Europe a tutelar genius apron, and, soaring above the dorm, restores serenity : Ceisa sedet arcs Sceptre tennis, mollitque animas et temperat inks. In whet school was formed this calm and vigorous mind? Was it initiated into the art of governing men and things by deep study of the annals of antiquity ? Did not the pen which has just traced the preliminaries of peace write the " Life of Ciesar r Happy the young prince who finds at once a model in the acts and a lesson in the writings of his august father, and is thus prepared to show to the generation of which you are the ancestors, Quid mess rite, quid indoles Nutrita taustis sub penetralibus Poe&  In conclusion, M. Drouyn de Lhuys encouraged the laureates of the Sorbonne by confidently predicting that in the future, as for the last sixty years, the prize list would contain by anticipation the names of generals, judges, administrators, and savants. His modesty probably prevented him from adding—ministers. The first prize of the year was awarded to M. L. le G. Widner. It is remarked that the King of Prussia's speech appears in the Moniteur in small print, and requires looking for among news of small importance. It is that of a sovereign who feels himself master lof a great situation. The expectation of a further , extension of his power than that secured by the I immediate treaty of peace is clearly expressed. The France mentions a rumour that the Prince of Wales intends to be at Deauville races incog.  M. Roses, the Brussels publisher just convicted' of a libel on the Emperor in the Femme de Cesar, is a Frenchman by birth, naturalised in Belgium. He refuses to give up the name of the author. The Bourse was almost empty. The settlement of July made so many victims that few people have courage to speculate for the moment. The conversation among the thin groups present turned uponthe failure of some dozen petty bankers and the large sacrifices made by the house to enable certain brokers to meet their differences. The subscription for the new Algerian company, formed in pursuance of the Emperor's recommendation after his visit to Algeria and called the Societ4 Generale A lgerienne, was opened to-day. It found very little favour. " Button up your pockets" is the motto for the present. There is abundance of money in the banks ; but the money does not come to the Bourse. Rente fell 10c. for account, closing at 89fr. 10e. ; for cash there was no change. Italian rose 55c., closing at 52fr. 45c. There was scarcely any change in other securities. A cashier of an agent de change is said to have committed suicide. The total number of bankruptcies pronounced by the Paris Tribunal of Commerce during the month of July amounted to 182 ; a higher figure than has been seen for a very long time.  Several journals of Berlin announce that M. de Bismarck, who was honoured with the title of Count at the conclusion of the war against Denmark, is about to receive new distinctions from hie sovereign. He will, it is said, be named Duke de Lauenburg, with en 'panne which ought certainly to be very oonsiderable, if it bear any proportion to the extent of territory which the Prime Minister is at this moment annexing to Prussia.  ------ - The principal editors of the Brussels journals, the Echo du Parlemma and the Jackpot(lance, have just been condemned each to two months' imprisonment and 200 fr. fine for having fought a duel, on the 20th June lest, although neither of the combatants waa wounded. GENERAL Gsimst,ni. The Italian journals publish the following. order of the day issued by General Garibaldi :—" Creto in Pieve di llono, July 29. The volunteers who, oontrary to their duty and without legitimate motives, are absent from their respective corps without being furnished with a regular permission, must return to their poste within three days. Those who do not comply will he indicated ea deserters, that they may be arrested and sent before a court martial.—Gsaisaun." Tax