FRANCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 297, 5 September 1855, Page 4

FRANCE.

(From the "Times" Correspondent.)

Paris, Wednesday, May 2, 6. pm,

The assassin Pianori does not, it appears, suffer much from his wound, but his violence has been so great that it has been found necessary to put on the camisole de force in order to prevent his destroying himself. The unfortunate man's rage at his disappointment, and perhaps his dread of the result to himself, keep him in a state of perpetual delirium. He sometimes displays the excitement of a maniac, and at other times sinks iuto deep dejection. On these occasions he is seized with nervous trembling, from which he only recovers lo lash himself into fury. He has made few or no disclosures, but it is thought that he has said sufficient to allow it to be understood that he had watched for an opportunity to shoot the Emperor during His Majesty's sojourn in London, but was disappointed owing to the crowds that intercepted him; and also that for some days in Paris he had carefully studied every movement of the Emperor, his manner of riding on horseback, of takiug off his hat when returning tbe salutes ofthe crowd—every motion of horse and rider— in order to fix his aim more accurately. It is certain that it was o.iiiig only to accident that the Emperor had two attendants with him on the day in question; aud the details on that point, which ate strictly accurate, are not without interest. The Equerry in ordinary to the Empress, the Baron de Pierres, was indisposed and his duty consists in riding by tbe carriage door of Her Majesty during hef drives. On Saturday it so happened that M. de Pierres was indisposed, and could not attend Her Majesty, who intended to proceed to the Boisde Boulogne WHbonlytbe grooms in attendance. The Emperor, seeing ibe carriage in the court ofthe Tuileries, but without the Equerry, inquired the cause and was informed of the illness of M. de Pierre. He requested therefore that Colonel Valabreoue his own Equerry, should attend the Empress" as be was unwilling to allow her to go alone. Colonel \alabregue presented himself as the Empress was about to drive off. Her Majesty stopped and asked why he was not with the Emperor, and on being informed that he was in attendance on Her Majesty by the Emperor's order she declared that she would not hear of His Majesty's riding out with only one attendant, and desired that he should follow the Emperor immediately, which he did. Her Majesty then drove off to the B<ds de Boulogne. It is'necessary to mention that, according to the etiquette of the Imperial Court, when the Emperor rides out accompanied only by .'one attendant, this last rules always at his left, and it was thai place that Colonel Ney occupied when Colonel Valabregue overtook the Emperor near the spot from which Pianori fired. Colonel Ney, as Premier Veneur, is, it seems, entitled to the right hand, so that when the Equerry came up the former quilted the left for the right, and, as I mentioned on Sunday, it was while Colonel ISey was iv the act of taking his place to the

rightithut Pianori made his attempt. The shot, as you are aware, was fired from the right of tbe Emperor. The assassin was so close at band that he leant his pistol on the crupper of Ney's horse, and he expresses himself utterly amazed how he could have missed bis aim at so short a distance. He had two pistols, both were double barrelled, one barrel being placed above the other, and, though it is said of English manufacture, has no maker's name. I-have not beard that the bullets have been found, but tbe Emperor's grooms, who were riding not far behind, declared they heard tbe whistling of the balls. It is thought that a change in the War Department here is imminent, and that General Canrobert will be recalled from the Crimea to take the place of Marshal Vaillant as Minister of War, and, according to tlie same account. General Pelissier will, in all likelihood, be appointed General Canrobert's successor. At least such are the on dits. Admiral Hamelin's incompetency to administer the details of tbe Naval Department is also said to be admitted. He holds his portfolio only provisionally, and has never been really installed in bis department. It is thought likely that a civilian will be appointed to succeed him. Several names are mentioned, but perhaps prematurely so. With respect to our operations in the Crimea, it is currently reported that the armies are to change their position ; that tbe works in front of Sebastopol will be entrusted to the guardianship of the Turks under Omar Pasha and the Sardinian contingent, who will strongly fortify themselves against all attacks, and the French and English armies will imitate tbe French under Bonaparte at tbe siege of Mantua, quit the lines before Sebastopol, advance on Simpheropol, aud give battle to the Russians.