Year: 1866

tNAA'iStSA "
diplomatic correspondence between Mr.. Seward and


the French Government another it is the taking of
Bagd2d; the question our lips is what next?
The American question takes the placeof honor in
the address of the Senate. Brother Jonathan will


stand no nonsense aud the French must go with
out any fine and round about diplomatic phrases


More than one Frenchman will thank US for their


frankness, for the 90 ahead style of the Ameri-


can diplomacy is much more effective than our cid
European rigmarole.


Orders have already been sent to General Bazaine,
to beg in shipping off several French regiments
We have not much else to tell you We may be
said to be bei1oeen the acts waiting to see what will


take place. when the curtain goes up on the debates
relating to the address.


There is a calm before the storm-the 0ladiators of
the opposition preparing for thefgh in the mean
time Paris Is preparing to bury the cdrRiUdl-next


week will see in sackcloth and ashes. En- attendant


the gay capital which may be likened to a child
always thirsting for toy, which it plays with
one day. and breaks the next


LAMARTINE, THE BROKEN IDOL.
Aou Will well remember the time when the great


poetwas the idol the French nation The French
President has turned meadicnnt, and is constantly
complaining that ne is in difficulties, not knowing


what way to turn to pay his debts He has organized


lottery n n order TO get rid of his latter produc-
ago. piece given at the Opera C0mg.e the plot
of which was taken from one of the once popular


ting in rather prominent position in of the side
boxes; the public received with much indifference


Jle announcement OF MS name as the author OF the


piece, whist the composer Of the music called
for and warmly applauded. He can well exclaim !:
"A long ftTe,0et1to all my greatness"
THE GUILLOTISE ABOLISHED IN BELGIUM
The Kingdom of Belgium, which is always setting
us good example is desirouS of doing away with
capital punishment formerly our little neitbbor usad
to borrow everything from us-our language. our
laws, and our iterature,iti is high time we should
take leaf out Of their book, and borrow some of
their liberty.


THE QUEENS SPEECH.
y report had been current that her Majesty the


Queen OF England. would this year dispense with the
usual ceremony OF opening Parliament, which dates


from the time Of the middle ages but it turned out


not to be the cse as the coach state and the beef
eaters were there usual. The Queens speech was


transmitted to Paris by the electric telegraph in the
short space of eleven minutes. The enlargement of
the franchise will no doubt be very much debated in


the coming sessions. There is doubt but that the


question is of great interest and will give the


papers something to write about.


Mr.. Bright had an interview with Lord Russell on


the 5th February. The English Premier seems to be
very familiar terms with the leader of the radical
party. Mr. Stansfeld much abused by the tories


for bis friendly relations with Mazziui, has been
named under Secretary OF State for India This new


will be anything but pleasantly received at the
Tuieres.


THE GONFALoNIER OF FLORENCE


has sent Victor Hugo the Dante Medal in the name


of Italy. 1t is of silver and is enclosed in an elegant


caske on which are inscribed the arms of the Italian


Capitol. The GontaiOnier tells the celebrated author


Of Notre Dame. Bug Fargal and Les Mserables. that
his name Will live as long as that OF Dante.
Victor Hugo has answered as follows:


o. HAAUTEyLLE HOUSE. GUERNSEY lst Feb. 1866.





feel myself profoundly honored IN receiving the


Dante Medal sent me in the name Of Italy. Ny name,
it appeared, is Synonymous with France to you. Yes


there is in me as with every Frenchman, something


OF the spirit of France which wishes for progress


ghf liberty aud peace; the spirit OF FRANCE wishes
for the grandeur of all nations the soul of France
sister to the soul OF Italy. Yours sincerely,
VICTOR HUGO.


In Spain, the Prim revolution has left no trace
behind it, The arbitrator never intended the


emancipation, of the Peninsula; he wanted only to
disp!ace one despot to put another in power.
ODOnnell thinks he is all right again. and that he


can shootsand hang he likes. The most rigorous
measures are being carried out against all suspected


persons there have already been several executions
at the Fuente Castellaua, the Champs ElySoes of


Madrid, where the people daily congregae and place
white crosses on the grave of the martyred.
The most momentous question of the day is the
Chiian question. Spanish vessels no longer leave
the Spanish main, and commerce will receive a
serious blow.


MUSICAL GOSSIP.


Tho musical world has gone through the winter Of


1866 without anything worth mentioning; but it ap-


pears We are to have reDiUot as Lsz. the tate great
Dtdirtst who has turned monk for the good OF his


soul is about TO visit the French capital in order to


have of his compositions Ia mass performed at
the church Of st. Eustachc.


Listz has now been monk for more than a year or


to find time pray for his fellow creatures in the


midst OF his musical occupations.


Some time back we heard that Able List had Just
performed one OF his masses before the Pope which
much gratifed his holiness.


| The great pianist need not however have taken to


the coWl II he intended continuing to blow his own


trumpet heretofore, for the vanity of the church
man seems to be no less than that of the layman;
UdRhGs UQadruW, seems not TO be one Of his max
inns. for he does not disdain the vanties of this
wicked world. The Hungarians offered him a sword
OF honor some time time back, and now hear that


some tanatlca admirers are about to offer elegant
snuh box to the musical triGr | think the latter


present will be the more acceptable, for do not well
see what either monk or musician can do with a


sword-a pinch Of snuff the contrary must often be
welcome to the leader of an orchestra.
have often spoken to you of the celebrated singer
n Tho J,r &c II
AlIaZar, now the rendezvous of the whole world,


which come to the wonders of the French Capital
she Is getting quite the rage amongst the higher


classes for she sung some her celebrated low
IN the salons of Mdme la PrincesSe ue Tremonille;


we must again exclaim: % tempora 'aores."
There IS but one singer who gains more mon ey


than Theresa an that Is the celebrated Italian pria
donna Patti the melodious Adelina. who is to have


10000 francs 900 for six months: there is an on


DIT that shall never hear tho diva again in Paris
after this is over; for having made large
fortune, and being tired of single lie, she intends
retiring from the stage and taking lord and master


The happy man is young and handsome prince, but


his name is for the present kept secret


As an talking to you of the idol of the Partisan


public Il should rather say OF the public of the old
and neY wOridl allow me to give you few details
concerning this charming sOngstress, who belongs
rather to America than to EuroIe, having been
born in the United States if | am not mistaken


Patti, who has very childish appearance, is gen


orally thought to be younger than she really is and
many persons fancy her to be eighteen years old.
Adena is IN her twenty third year. she is how
ever, still minor as her father is Spanish subject


and women do not obtain their majority in Spain be-
fore the age of five end toenty She has therefore,
two yea. want before she gains her independence
his circumstance of apparently little importance
at first sight, is nevertheless Of consequences 90


Mad lie Patti In virtue of contract Signed by her
father with Mr. Strakosh. ner DrOther-in-law, she
has to Divide ner earnings with her parent and
brotner-n-law; third she keeps for herself
riage portion.


The contract was signed wheE tle Drnaa donna was


not eight years old Mr.. strakOsh then fOresaw that


his little sister law you'd one day be star of first
magnitude. Her father also gifted singer, and
her mother was a soprano, who unfortunately lost
her voice after she gave birth TO Adena Patti made


her debut at the age of sixteen and met with much
success at New Iork